Important Questions
1.
Short Answer Questions:
1.
Who is the author of The Bishop’s Candlesticks?
The play is written by Norman McKinnell.
2.
Where does the play take place?
The play is set in the Bishop’s cottage, which is a simple
home in a small town in France.
3.
Why is Persome worried about the Bishop’s
generosity?
Persome believes that people take advantage of the Bishop’s
kindness. She worries that he gives away too much, even selling household items
to help others.
4.
Who is the convict, and why is he on the run?
The convict is an escaped prisoner who was jailed for
stealing food to feed his starving wife. He suffered greatly in prison and
became bitter.
5.
What crime did the convict commit, and why?
The convict stole a loaf of bread because his wife was
starving. Instead of receiving compassion, he was sentenced to ten years in
prison.
6.
How does the Bishop treat the convict upon his
arrival?
The Bishop welcomes him warmly, offers him food, warmth, and
shelter, and speaks kindly to him despite the convict’s rough behavior.
7.
Why does the convict steal the Bishop’s
candlesticks?
The convict sees the silver candlesticks as valuable and
believes selling them will help him survive. He does not yet trust kindness.
8.
How does the Bishop respond when the police
bring the convict back?
The Bishop lies to the police, saying he had gifted the
candlesticks to the convict, saving him from being arrested again.
9.
What lesson does the Bishop try to teach the
convict?
The Bishop wants the convict to realize that kindness and
forgiveness can change a person and urges him to live an honest life.
10. How
does the convict change by the end of the play?
The convict is deeply moved by the Bishop’s mercy. He
decides to change his ways and live a new life, carrying the candlesticks as a
reminder of the Bishop’s kindness.
2.
Long Answer Questions:
1.
Discuss the character of the Bishop. How does
his kindness influence the convict’s transformation?
The Bishop is a selfless and compassionate man who believes
in love and forgiveness. Despite the convict’s aggression and theft, he treats
him with kindness and dignity. His act of mercy—telling the police that he had
gifted the candlesticks—shocks the convict, making him realize that there is
goodness in the world. This experience transforms the convict, inspiring him to
leave behind his bitterness and seek an honest life.
2.
Why is Persome skeptical about the Bishop’s
generosity? Do you think she is right in her concerns?
Persome believes that people exploit the Bishop’s kindness,
and she is frustrated that he sells his own belongings to help others. While
her concerns are understandable—since they live a simple life and need basic
comforts—she does not fully understand the depth of the Bishop’s compassion.
However, in the end, the Bishop’s selflessness changes a man’s life, proving
that his kindness was not in vain.
3.
Describe the convict’s experiences in prison.
How did his suffering shape his personality?
The convict was sentenced to ten years of hard labor for
stealing food for his starving wife. Instead of receiving mercy, he was treated
cruelly. His years in prison turned him bitter, violent, and distrustful. He
came to believe that the world was heartless and that survival meant taking
what one needed. His suffering made him feel like an outcast, unable to trust
kindness—until he met the Bishop.
4.
How does the play highlight the theme of
forgiveness and redemption?
The Bishop’s forgiveness of the convict, despite being
robbed, shows that mercy can change a person. Instead of seeking punishment, he
offers a second chance, which leads to the convict’s redemption. This
highlights the idea that people are not inherently bad, but circumstances make
them so, and forgiveness can lead them back to goodness.
5.
Explain the symbolism of the silver candlesticks
in the play. Why are they important?
The candlesticks symbolize love, faith, and transformation.
They were a gift from the Bishop’s mother, representing warmth and guidance.
When the convict steals them, they symbolize material greed and desperation,
but when the Bishop gives them to him freely, they become a symbol of hope and
redemption.
6.
Compare and contrast the characters of the
Bishop and the convict.
The Bishop is kind, selfless, and forgiving, believing in
the goodness of people. He has a deep faith in humanity and follows Christian
values. The convict, on the other hand, is hardened by suffering, distrustful,
and bitter due to society’s cruelty. However, by the end of the play, the
convict begins to resemble the Bishop—learning to trust in kindness.
7.
How does the play reflect Christian values of
charity, love, and forgiveness?
The Bishop’s actions reflect Christian teachings of kindness
and mercy. He embodies love for the poor, forgiveness for sinners, and faith in
redemption. By forgiving the convict and guiding him toward a new life, he acts
in the spirit of Jesus Christ’s teachings on compassion and second chances.
8.
If the Bishop had not forgiven the convict, what
do you think would have happened?
If the Bishop had told the truth to the police, the convict
would have been sent back to prison, becoming even more bitter and hopeless. He
might have lost his last chance at redemption. The Bishop’s forgiveness gives
him hope, proving that kindness can change lives.
9.
Do you agree with the Bishop’s belief that
kindness can reform even the worst individuals? Why or why not?
Yes, because people are often shaped by their circumstances.
The convict was not a criminal by choice—his situation forced him into crime.
The Bishop’s kindness shows that even those who seem irredeemable can change
when treated with love and understanding.
10. What
is the moral lesson of the play, and how is it relevant in today’s world?
The play teaches that forgiveness and compassion can
transform lives. Even in today’s world, where people face hardship and
injustice, acts of kindness and second chances can help change the course of a
person’s life. The play reminds us that humanity should come before judgment.
