Mother’s Day — J. B. Priestley (Class 11, Snapshots) — Complete Guide
Detailed explanations, notes, themes, Q&A, extracts, and MCQs in clear classroom English.
Introduction to the Play
Mother’s Day is a short comic play set in the Pearson living room. It shows how a mother’s unpaid work is taken for granted. With a smart plan by the neighbour, the family realises its mistake and agrees to share chores and give due respect.
Characters (with exam-ready sketches)
| Name | Sketch (4–6 lines) |
|---|---|
| Mrs Pearson | She is the heart of the home, doing all chores quietly. The family treats her service as routine. Guided by Mrs Fitzgerald, she speaks firmly and sets limits. Her change is calm, not rude. By the end, the family apologises and promises to help. |
| Mrs Fitzgerald | A bold, practical neighbour. She sees the unfairness at once and pushes for a plan that will shake the family. Her sharp lines expose bad manners. She is the guide who helps Mrs Pearson claim fair treatment. |
| George Pearson | The father who enjoys comfort but ignores his wife’s tiredness. He expects food, tea, and service without thanks. When faced with firm talk, he understands and softens. He agrees to help and behave kindly. |
| Doris Pearson | The daughter, stylish and self-centred at first. She orders her mother about dresses and tea. When corrected, she feels the sting of truth, says sorry, and is ready to share work. |
| Cyril Pearson | The son who also avoids chores. He is casual about the load on his mother. The new firmness makes him reflect. He agrees to do his part. |
Summary
A) Short (≈120 words)
Mrs Pearson runs the house without help or thanks. Her neighbour, Mrs Fitzgerald, urges her to be firm. A planned shake-up follows in which Mrs Pearson stops rushing to serve and speaks plainly about manners. Doris, Cyril, and George are shocked at first but soon see how rude and lazy they have been. The talk is funny yet clear. Each family member apologises and offers to help. The play closes on a warm note as they plan tea together. The message is simple: home runs best when all share work and show respect.
B) Detailed (step-wise)
- Setting: A middle-class living room; mother busy, others carefree.
- Problem: Mother’s work treated as duty without thanks.
- Plan: Mrs Fitzgerald advises firm talk and a bold stand.
- Turning point: Mother refuses to be ordered; points out daily rudeness.
- Realisation: Children and father accept their fault.
- Resolution: Family agrees to share chores and be polite.
- Close: Tea together; tone friendly and hopeful.
Scene-wise Explanation & Key Lines
Opening
We see Mrs Pearson tired but active; others call for tea and clothes. This shows the habit of ordering without thanks.
Key line: “I’ve been on my feet all day…” — sets the mood of overwork.
Middle
Mrs Pearson, with Mrs Fitzgerald’s support, speaks firmly. Sharp replies reveal how the family takes her for granted. Humour keeps the tone light so the message is easy to accept.
Key line: “Time you learned some manners in your own home.” — a clear call for change.
End
The family feels sorry and promises to help. The shift from rudeness to good sense is shown through simple talk and small gestures.
Key line: “We’ll all have tea together.” — symbol of unity and shared work.
Themes & Messages
- Respect at home: Polite words and gratitude are basic manners.
- Shared work: Housework is work; everyone should help.
- Self-worth: Calm firmness changes behaviour.
- Humour for change: Light jokes make hard truths easy to accept.
Moral of the Play
Value care work. Speak kindly. Share chores. Keep promises.
Title Justification — Why “Mother’s Day”?
The title suggests a special day for a mother, but the play argues for daily respect. The family’s change makes every day the mother’s day.
Literary Devices & Techniques (with examples)
- Irony: The one who serves must finally “put her foot down.”
- Satire: Light teasing of lazy habits at home.
- Foil: Mrs Fitzgerald’s boldness highlights Mrs Pearson’s growth.
- Dialogue-driven action: No big set changes; talk creates change.
- Everyday setting: A normal room shows the issue is common.
Appreciation (for long answers)
The play is short, fast, and rooted in home life. Priestley uses crisp lines and comic touches to correct rude habits without bitterness. The lesson is clear: a family is fair only when work and respect are shared. The ending is warm and practical, which suits school-level study and real family life.
Word Meanings / Glossary
| Word / Phrase | Meaning (simple) | Use in line |
|---|---|---|
| Cross | Annoyed or irritable | He sounded cross after work. |
| Take for granted | Use someone’s help without thanks | They took her work for granted. |
| Put one’s foot down | Be firm and refuse | She put her foot down about chores. |
| Foil (character) | A contrast figure who highlights traits | Fitzgerald is a foil to Pearson. |
| Satire | Gentle mockery to correct habits | The scene uses satire on bad manners. |
| Resolution | End part where problem is solved | The resolution is warm and friendly. |
NCERT: Reading with Insight — Model Answers
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Q. What unfair habit does the play expose?
Ans. The play shows how a mother’s unpaid housework is treated as duty, not work. Family members order her about, expect instant service, and do not say thank you. The firm talk forces them to accept that courtesy and shared chores are basic manners at home.
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Q. How does humour help the message?
Ans. The jokes and sharp replies make correction easy to accept. Instead of a bitter fight, laughter opens the mind. The family can see itself in the mirror of comedy and change without losing face.
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Q. Comment on the role of Mrs Fitzgerald.
Ans. She is the guide and contrast figure. She encourages plain talk, pushes for limits, and stands by Mrs Pearson. Her bold style exposes rude habits but keeps the scene lively, not harsh.
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Q. Is the ending convincing?
Ans. Yes. The family’s quick remorse fits a short comic play. The promise to share tea and chores is a practical sign of change. The close is hopeful and workable in real homes.
Short Answer Questions (2–3 marks) — with Answers
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Q. What is the turning point of the play?
Ans. The turning point is when Mrs Pearson refuses to rush and answers firmly. This shocks the family and begins their self-check.
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Q. How do Doris and Cyril treat their mother at first?
Ans. They order her to get tea, clothes, and small comforts. They complain if she delays. They forget to thank her.
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Q. Give one example of irony.
Ans. The person who serves everyone must finally “put her foot down” to receive basic respect. The helper must teach manners to the helped.
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Q. Why is the living-room a good setting?
Ans. It is where daily ordering and service happen. The common space makes the issue feel familiar and real.
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Q. What change do we see in George at the end?
Ans. He drops his careless tone, accepts fault, and agrees to help. His softer voice shows true change.
Long Answer Questions (5–6 marks) — with Answers
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Q. “Firm limits bring fair behaviour.” Discuss with reference to Mrs Pearson.
Ans. At first, Mrs Pearson works without rest or praise. The family sees her effort as natural duty. On Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice, she sets limits: no instant service, no rude tone. The firm yet calm talk makes the family face its selfish habits. Because the correction is not bitter, they do not defend themselves; they apologise. By the end, they plan tea together and promise to share chores. The play suggests that gentle firmness, not anger, turns a house into a fair home.
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Q. Show how dialogue builds action and change in the play.
Ans. The play has one room and few props, so words carry the action. Short, quick exchanges reveal the habit of ordering. Crisp replies from Mrs Pearson expose the unfairness. Jokes prevent the scene from turning sour. Each reply pushes the family from shock to reflection to apology. Thus, dialogue replaces big events and still produces a real change at home.
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Q. Do you find the close realistic? Give reasons?
Ans. The close is realistic for a short school play. People do feel ashamed when their rudeness is shown plainly. A warm promise to share tea and work is a believable first step. Real life change needs practice, but a new start often begins with a clear talk and a small joint act like making tea together.
Extract-Based Questions — with Answers
Extract A: “I’ve been on my feet all day and not a word of thanks.”
- Who speaks and to whom? — Mrs Pearson to her family (general complaint).
- What feeling is shown? — Tiredness and hurt due to lack of courtesy.
- How does this move the plot? — Prepares for firm talk and change.
Extract B: “Time you learned some manners in your own home.”
- What behaviour is criticised? — Ordering the mother about and speaking rudely.
- What device is used? — Satire/irony in a sharp, corrective tone.
- Effect on listener? — Shock that leads to reflection and apology.
Extract C: “We’ll all have tea together.”
- What does “together” suggest? — Unity and shared work.
- What stage is this? — Resolution.
- How is the theme shown? — Respect is proved through action, not words only.
Interactive MCQs (15)
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Central issue of the play is—
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Mrs Fitzgerald mainly serves as—
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The action is driven by—
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Tone of the play is—
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“Put one’s foot down” means—
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Setting in one room helps to—
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Ending shows—
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Device used when a helper must demand help—
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Best word for Mrs Pearson’s final voice—
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Which pair forms a clear contrast?
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Themes include all except—
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Humour is used mainly to—
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George changes because—
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Best description of the plot—
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The title suggests—
Worksheets / Practice Tasks
A) Skill check
1. True/False: The play argues for hiring help, not sharing work.
2. Match the columns: Click an item from 'Device' and then its matching 'Example'.
Device
- Irony
- Foil
- Setting
Example
- Single living-room
- Helper must demand help
- Fitzgerald vs Pearson
3. Fill in: “Respect is shown through ______ and ______.”
(Click the two correct answers)
B) Short writing
Write 80–100 words: “How can a family plan a fair chores chart for a week?” Include 3 concrete steps.
Quick Revision Notes (1-page)
- Issue: Mother’s unpaid work ignored.
- Method: Humour + firm limits.
- Turn: Mother speaks plainly; others reflect.
- End: Apology, shared tea, chores plan.
- Key device: Contrast (Pearson vs Fitzgerald).
- Exam cue: Use “cause → effect” chain in answers.
FAQs
Q. What single line sums up the theme?
A. “Respect and share work at home.”
Q. What should I quote in answers?
A. Use lines that show firmness and courtesy, e.g., “Time you learned some manners…”
Q. How to score better?
A. Link a quoted line to a theme and device (e.g., irony, foil), then conclude with the lesson.
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