Question

Dusk
by H.H. Munro (Saki)

So Gortsby’s imagination pictured things as he sat on his bench in the almost deserted walk. He was in the mood to count himself among the defeated. Money troubles did not press on him; had he so wished he could have strolled into the thoroughfares of light and noise, and taken his place among the jostling ranks of those who enjoyed prosperity or struggled for it. He had failed in a more subtle ambition, and for the moment he was heartsore and disillusionised, and not disinclined to take a certain cynical pleasure in observing and labeling his fellow wanderers as they went their ways in the dark stretches between the lamp-lights.

On the bench by his side sat an elderly gentleman with a drooping air of defiance that was probably the remaining vestige of self-respect in an individual who had ceased to defy successfully anybody or anything. His clothes could scarcely be called shabby, at least they passed muster in the half-light, but one’s imagination could not have pictured the wearer embarking on the purchase of a half-crown box of chocolates or laying out ninepence on a carnation buttonhole. He belonged unmistakably to that forlorn orchestra to whose piping no one dances; he was one of the world’s lamenters who induce no responsive weeping. As he rose to go Gortsby imagined him returning to a home circle where he was snubbed and of no account, or to some bleak lodging where his ability to pay a weekly bill was the beginning and end of the interest he inspired. His retreating figure vanished slowly into the shadows, and his place on the bench was taken almost immediately by a young man, fairly well dressed but scarcely more cheerful of mien than his predecessor. As if to emphasise the fact that the world went badly with him the newcomer unburdened himself of an angry and very audible expletive as he flung himself into the seat.



"Dusk" by H.H. Munro ("Saki")

Question
Use the story to answer the question.

In 3–5 sentences, analyze how the theme of perception versus reality emerges and is shaped and refined in the excerpts from the story “Dusk” by H. H. Munro.

(4 points)

Short Answer Rubric (4 points)
Points Awarded Criteria
4
The answer is very clear.

The answer is fully supported by details.

There may be a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.

3
The answer is mostly clear.

The answer is supported by mostly relevant details.

There are a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.

2
The answer is somewhat clear.

Details are weak or not related.

There are some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.

1
The answer is not clear.

There are few or no supporting details.

There are many errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.

0 The question is not answered.
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Answer 1

In "Dusk," the theme of perception versus reality is skillfully shaped through Gortsby’s observations of the individuals around him. While Gortsby perceives his fellow wanderers, such as the elderly gentleman and the young man, through a lens of cynicism and defeat, their outward appearances may not fully represent their inner realities. The elderly man, portraying a façade of dignity despite his likely bleak situation, contrasts with Gortsby's assumptions about his social worth and home life. Similarly, the young man's anger reveals a struggle that goes beyond mere appearances, suggesting that the true nature of one's circumstances can often remain obscured beneath a layer of perceived confidence or despair. This interplay between observation and assumption illustrates how reality can be distorted by individual perceptions, urging readers to question the validity of their judgments.