Class XII (Flamingo) Chap. -7 "The Interview" By "Christopher Silvester"
By Christopher Silvester
Introduction
About the Author-: Christopher Silvester (Editor of the extract)
Christopher Silvester is a British author, journalist, and editor.Christopher Silvester (1959) was educated at Lancing College Sussex, and Peter House, Cambridge, where he read history. From 1983 to 1994, he worked for Private Eye, initially writing the ‘New Boys’ column. He has written for several newspapers and magazines. He is also the Editor of The Penguin Book of Interviews: An Anthology from 1859 to the Present Day and the author of The Pimlico Companion to Parliament. He currently writes obituaries for the Times (of London) and book reviews. He is writing a three-volume social history of Hollywood for Pantheon Books. His work reflects a deep interest in journalism, media, and the historical evolution of the interview as a literary form.
| Author Name | Christopher Silvester |
| Born | 1959, London |
| Education | Lancing College, Sussex, and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he read history |
| Books | The Pimlico Companion to Parliament: A Literary Anthology |
| Books edited | The Penguin Book of Interviews: An Anthology from 1859 to the Present Day |
The Interview- (Theme)
The essay is an extract from the Introduction to The Penguin Book of Interviews. It discusses the interview as a communication genre that has come to stay.
Part I gives us two contrasting opinions about interviews—their functions, merits and methods. It tells us explores the origin, significance, power, and art of interviews in modern journalism and literature. It also tells us about the importance of interview as a medium of conversation. Our most vivid impressions of our contemporaries are through interviews. Therefore, the interviewer holds a position of power. • It includes opinions from various writers and thinkers— both in support of and against the practice of interviewing.
✍️ Key Figures (Characters) and Their Sketches – Part I
1. Christopher Silvester (Editor/Compiler)
• Role: He is the narrator and editor of the essay.
• Character Sketch:
• A thoughtful journalist who presents a balanced view of the interview as a modern journalistic tool.
• He draws from over 130 years of interview history, quoting various famous personalities.
• His objective is to analyse how interviews are perceived — as both a source of truth and a form of intrusion.
2. Rudyard Kipling
• View on Interviewing: Highly critical.
• Character Sketch:
• Described the interview as immoral, vile, and a crime.
• Believed it was an unjustifiable intrusion into a person’s private life.
• A very private and reserved author who disliked publicity.
3. V.S. Naipaul
• View on Interviewing: Reluctant interviewee.
• Character Sketch:
• A Nobel laureate and distinguished writer.
• He found interviews uninspiring and tiresome.
• Believed they didn’t allow depth or genuine insight.
4. Lewis Carroll
• View on Interviewing: Completely rejected it.
• Character Sketch:
• The famous author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
• Hated being interviewed so much that he sometimes refused to meet strangers.
• A reclusive intellectual who valued privacy.
5. H.G. Wells
• View on Interviewing: Mixed feelings.
• Character Sketch:
• An influential science fiction writer.
• He once interviewed Joseph Stalin but also criticized interviews for being superficial and sometimes exploitative.
• Saw interviews as both a necessary evil and a flawed art form.
6. Interviewers (as a general group)
• Often seen as intrusive, manipulative, or even predatory by the people they interview.
• Yet, many argue that interviewers also act as chroniclers of history, bringing valuable insights to the public.
The Interview -Part-I Summary
The lesson begins with the introduction to interview as a commonplace of journalism since its invention, which was a little over 130 years ago. According to the author, it is not very surprising that people have very distinct opinions about the usage of interview. Some think of it in its highest form whereas some people can’t stand being interviewed. An interview leaves a lasting impression and according to an old saying, when perceptions are made about a certain person, the original identity of his soul gets stolen. Famous celebrities, writers and artists have been heard criticizing interviews. Rudyard Kipling’s wife wrote in her diary how their day in Boston was ruined by two reporters. Kipling considers interviewing an assault, a crime that should attract punishment. He believes that a respectable man would never ask or give an interview.
The Interview- TEXT & Word meaning
Part I
Since its invention a little over 130 years ago, the interview has become a commonplace of journalism. Today, almost everybody who is literate will have read an interview at some point in their lives, while from the other point of view, several thousand celebrities have been interviewed over the years, some of them repeatedly. So it is hardly surprising that opinions of the interview — of its functions, methods and merits — vary considerably. Some might make quite extravagant claims for it as being, in its highest form, a source of truth, and, in its practice, an art. Others, usually celebrities who see themselves as its victims, might despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives, or feel that it somehow diminishes them, just as in some primitive cultures it is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is stealing that person’s soul.
Commonplace- not unusual; ordinary
Extravagant- excessive or elaborate
Despise- hate, dislike
Unwarranted- not justified or authorized
Intrusion- the action of intruding; intervention
Primitive- ancient, olden
V. S. Naipaul ‘feels that some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves,’ Lewis Carroll, the creator of Alice in Wonderland, was said to have had ‘a just horror of the interviewer’ and he never consented to be interviewed — It was his horror of being lionized which made him thus repel would be acquaintances, interviewers, and the persistent petitioners for his autograph and he would afterwards relate the stories of his success in silencing all such people with much satisfaction and amusement.
V. S. Naipaul- Known as a cosmopolitan writer. In his travel books and in his documentary works he presents his impressions of the country of his ancestors that is India. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001.
Lionized- give a lot of public attention and approval
Repel- drive or force back
Persistent - continuous
Petitioners- a person who asks for something
Amusement- the provision or enjoyment of entertainment
Rudyard Kipling expressed an even more condemnatory attitude towards the interviewer. His wife, Caroline, writes in her diary for 14 October 1892 that their day was ‘wrecked by two reporters from Boston’. She reports her husband as saying to the reporters, “Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because it is immoral! It is a crime, just as much of a crime as an offence against my person, as an assault, and just as much merits punishment. It is cowardly and vile. No respectable man would ask it, much less give it,” Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an ‘assault’ on Mark Twain only a few years before.
Rudyard Kipling- A prolific writer who was known as the poet of the common soldier. Kipling’s Jungle Book which is a story of Kimball O’ Hara and his adventures in the Himalayas is considered as a children’s classic all over the world.
Condemnatory- expressing strong disapproval
Wrecked- destroyed or severely damaged
Assault- make a physical attack on
Vile- extremely unpleasant
Perpetrated- committed; performed
H. G. Wells in an interview in 1894 referred to ‘the interviewing ordeal’, but was a fairly frequent interviewee and forty years later found himself interviewing Joseph Stalin. Saul Bellow, who has consented to be interviewed on several occasions, nevertheless once described interviews as being like thumbprints on his windpipe.
Yet despite the drawbacks of the interview, it is a supremely serviceable medium of communication. “These days, more than at any other time, our most vivid impressions of our contemporaries are through interviews,” Denis Brian has written. “Almost everything of moment reaches us through one man asking questions of another. Because of this, the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence.”
H. G. Wells- An English novelist, journalist, sociologist and historian he is known for his works of science fiction. Wells best known books are The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The War of the Worlds.
Joseph Stalin- A great Russian revolutionary and an active political organiser.
Saul Bellow- A playwright as well as a novelist, Bellow’s works were influenced widely by World War II. Among his most famous characters are Augie March and Moses. He published short stories translated from Yiddish. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1976.
Ordeal- a very unpleasant and prolonged experience
Serviceable - fulfilling its function adequately; usable
Vivid- producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind.
Contemporaries- a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another.
Unprecedented- never done or known before
📘 Chapter: The Interview – Part II
Title: An Interview with Umberto Eco
Interviewee: Umberto Eco
Interviewer: Mukund Padmanabhan (from The Hindu)
🎯 Theme of Part II: “The Interview”
The second part of the chapter is a real interview of Umberto Eco, a celebrated Italian writer, academician, and philosopher. Conducted by Indian journalist Mukund Padmanabhan, this interview reveals:
🔹 Central Themes:
1. The Dual Identity of Umberto Eco:
• He is both a serious academic and a bestselling novelist.
• The interview explores how he balances scholarly work with popular fiction.
2. Time Management and Creativity:
• Eco speaks about using “interstices” (empty spaces in life) to write.
• Highlights how time, if managed well, can lead to productivity.
3. Writing with a Message:
• Eco believes all his work, including fiction, deals with non-violence, peace, and human values.
• Even a detective novel, according to him, can carry a philosophical or ethical message.
4. Success of “The Name of the Rose”:
• Eco discusses how this complex and intellectual novel became a surprise international bestseller.
• He attributes its success partly to people’s hidden thirst for serious reading, even if publishers underestimate readers.
5. Power of the Interview as a Genre:
• The interview itself shows how a thoughtful conversation can uncover a person’s ideas, methods, and personality.
👤 Characters and Character Sketches
1. 🧠 Umberto Eco – (Interviewee)
• An Italian writer, semiotician, professor, and philosopher.
• Famous for his novel The Name of the Rose and many academic works.
• Character Sketch:
• Intellectual and Analytical: Deep thinker with expertise in semiotics (study of signs and symbols).
• Balanced Personality: Manages both popular and scholarly writing successfully.
• Disciplined and Efficient: Uses free time or “interstices” wisely for creative writing.
• Modest: Doesn’t boast about his success; surprised by the popularity of his novel.
• Committed to Values: Believes even fiction should carry meaningful messages like peace and tolerance.
2. 📰 Mukund Padmanabhan – (Interviewer)
• An Indian journalist associated with The Hindu newspaper.
• Known for intellectual and engaging interviews.
• Character Sketch:
• Well-prepared and Respectful: Comes with knowledge of Eco’s background and work.
• Observant and Curious: Asks thoughtful questions about Eco’s writing habits, success, and ideas.
• Facilitator of Insight: Plays a crucial role in bringing out Eco’s personality through calm and intelligent questioning.
• Balanced Tone: Maintains the right balance between being professional and friendly.
The Interview -Part-II Summary
Part II
“I am a professor who writes novels on Sundays” – Umberto Eco
The following is an extract from an interview of Umberto Eco. The interviewer is Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu. Umberto Eco, a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy had already acquired a formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on semiotics (the study of signs), literary interpretation, and medieval aesthetics before he turned to writing fiction. Literary fiction, academic texts, essays, children’s books, newspaper articles— his written output is staggeringly large and wide-ranging, In 1980, he acquired the equivalent of intellectual superstardom with the publication of The Name of the Rose, which sold more than 10 million copies.
Aesthetics- a branch of philosophy that deals with nature and appreciation of beauty
Staggeringly- to an astonishing or shocking degree
Mukund: The English novelist and academic David Lodge once remarked, “I can’t understand how one man can do all the things he [Eco] does.”
Umberto Eco: Maybe I give the impression of doing many things. But in the end, I am convinced I am always doing the same thing.
Umberto replied by specifying that maybe it looked like he did a multiple distinct tasks, but according to him, he was always doing the same thing.
Mukund: Which is?
Umberto Eco: Aah, now that is more difficult to explain. I have some philosophical interests and I pursue them through my academic work and my novels. Even my books for children are about non-violence and peace...you see, the same bunch of ethical, philosophical interests. And then I have a secret. Did you know what will happen if you eliminate the empty spaces from the universe, eliminate the empty spaces in all the atoms? The universe will become as big as my fist.
Similarly, we have a lot of empty spaces in our lives. I call them interstices. Say you are coming over to my place. You are in an elevator and while you are coming up, I am waiting for you. This is an interstice, an empty space. I work in empty spaces. While waiting for your elevator to come up from the first to the third floor, I have already written an article! (Laughs).
Philosophical- relating or devoted to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.
Pursue - follow
Ethical - relating to moral principles
Eliminate - remove
Fist - a person's hand when the fingers are bent in towards the palm and held there tightly, typically in order to strike a blow or grasp something.
Interstices - space, gap
Elevator - a lift
Mukund: Not everyone can do that of course. Your non-fictional writing, your scholarly work has a certain playful and personal quality about it. It is a marked departure from a regular academic style — which is invariably depersonalized and often dry and boring. Have you consciously adopted an informal approach or is it something that just came naturally to you?
Umberto Eco: When I presented my first Doctoral dissertation in Italy, one of the Professors said, “Scholars learn a lot of a certain subject, then they make a lot of false hypotheses, then they correct them and at the end, they put the conclusions. You, on the contrary, told the story of your research. Even including your trials and errors.” At the same time, he recognised I was right and went on to publish my dissertation as a book, which meant he appreciated it.
At that point, at the age of 22, I understood scholarly books should be written the way I had done — by telling the story of the research. This is why my essays always have a narrative aspect. And this is why probably I started writing narratives [novels] so late — at the age of 50, more or less.
I remember that my dear friend Roland Barthes was always frustrated that he was an essayist and not a novelist. He wanted to do creative writing one day or another but he died before he could do so. I never felt this kind of frustration. I started writing novels by accident. I had nothing to do one day and so I started. Novels probably satisfied my taste for narration.
Dissertation- a long essay on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree or diploma
Hypotheses - theory
Frustration - the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something
Narration - the action or process of narrating a story
Mukund: Talking about novels, from being a famous academic you went on to becoming spectacularly famous after the publication of The Name of the Rose. You’ve written five novels against many more scholarly works of non-fiction, at least more than 20 of them...
Umberto Eco: Over 40.
Mukund: Over 40! Among them a seminal piece of work on semiotics. But ask most people about Umberto Eco and they will say, “Oh, he’s the novelist.” Does that bother you?
Seminal- influential
Umberto Eco: Yes. Because I consider myself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays. It’s not a joke. I participate in academic conferences and not meetings of Pen Clubs and writers. I identify myself with the academic community. But okay, if they [most people] have read only the novels... (laughs and shrugs). I know that by writing novels, I reach a larger audience. I cannot expect to have one million readers with stuff on semiotics.
Mukund: Which brings me to my next question. The Name of the Rose is a very serious novel. It’s a detective yarn at one level but it also delves into metaphysics, theology, and medieval history. Yet it enjoyed a huge mass audience. Were you puzzled at all by this?
Umberto Eco: No. Journalists are puzzled. And sometimes publishers. And this is because journalists and publishers believe that people like trash and don’t like difficult reading experiences. Consider there are six billion people on this planet. The Name of the Rose sold between 10 and 15 million copies. So in a way I reached only a small percentage of readers. But it is exactly these kinds of readers who don’t want easy experiences. Or at least don’t always want this. I myself, at 9 pm after dinner, watch television and want to see either ‘Miami Vice’ or ‘Emergency Room’. I enjoy it and I need it. But not all day.
Mukund: Could the huge success of the novel have anything to do with the fact that it dealt with a period of medieval history that...
Umberto Eco: That’s possible. But let me tell you another story, because I often tell stories like a Chinese wise man. My American publisher said while she loved my book, she didn’t expect to sell more than 3,000 copies in a country where nobody has seen a cathedral or studies Latin. So I was given an advance for 3,000 copies, but in the end it sold two or three million in the U.S. A lot of books have been written about the medieval past far before mine. I think the success of the book is a mystery. Nobody can predict it. I think if I had written The Name of the Rose ten years earlier or ten years later, it wouldn’t have been the same. Why it worked at that time is a mystery.
The Interview Question and Answers
1. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
A. Eco is a university professor who attends academic conferences all week. He finds so much time to write in the empty spaces that we all have in our lives, just like the structure of atoms and Universe. He terms these empty spaces as ‘interstices’. If he is waiting for someone coming to his house via the escalator, he would use that time to write an essay rather than sit idle. Therefore, he considers himself a scholar who writes novels on Sundays.
2. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
A. Generally, academic scholars write false hypothesis, rectify them and then give conclusions. On the other hand, Umberto takes the readers through the journey of his research, quoting all the trials and errors to reach the conclusion. His narrative style of writing made him distinctive.
3. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
A. Umberto Eco identifies himself with the academic community. According to him, he is a university professor who attends academic conferences all week and writes novels on Sundays.
4. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?
A. The novel, The Name of the Rose is a hard-read, differentiating it from other novels. It is a detective narrative that contains metaphysics, theology and medieval history. Thus, it targeted the audience that is not interested in an easy reading experience, probably not all the time. However, the success of the novel still remains a mystery. According to Umberto, had the novel been written ten years earlier or later, it would have not attracted the same proportion of audience.
EXTRA QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER HINTS
📘 Chapter: The Interview – Part I
Author: Christopher Silvester
🟦 1. Theme-Based Questions
Q. What is the central theme of Part I of “The Interview”?
Answer Hint:
• Explores the history, evolution, and significance of interviews as a journalistic tool.
• Discusses mixed perceptions — some view interviews as a useful means of truth-finding, others see them as intrusive.
• Brings out the conflict between public curiosity and personal privacy.
Q. How does the chapter reflect the power of interviews in modern society?
Answer Hint:
• Interviews shape public opinion, history, and culture.
• They give insight into personalities, minds, and creative processes.
• They are central to modern media and a dominant form of communication.
🟦 2. Title-Based Questions
Q. Is the title “The Interview” appropriate for Part I of the chapter? Justify.
Answer Hint:
• Yes, it discusses interviews in theoretical and practical terms.
• Covers different opinions, both favorable and critical.
• The simplicity of the title reflects its universal presence and importance in the modern world.
Q. Suggest an alternative title for Part I of the chapter and justify your choice.
Answer Hint:
• Title: “The Art and Intrusion of Interviewing”
• Justification: Reflects the dual nature of interviews — as an art form and a perceived invasion of privacy.
🟦 3. Competency-Based Questions
Q. How do various authors express their discomfort with interviews in the text?
Answer Hint:
• Rudyard Kipling: Called it immoral, a crime.
• V.S. Naipaul: Reluctant and found it boring.
• Lewis Carroll: Avoided people to escape interviews.
• Shows that creative minds often feel misrepresented or intruded upon.
Q. What is the historical evolution of interviews as mentioned in the chapter?
Answer Hint:
• Interviews emerged over 130 years ago.
• Initially seen with suspicion, now part of everyday journalism.
• Have become a popular medium for getting to know public figures.
🟦 4. Value-Based Questions
Q. What values are reflected in the views of those who oppose interviews?
Answer Hint:
• Respect for privacy, individual dignity, and personal space.
• Belief in authentic self-expression rather than media-crafted images.
• Value of creativity over publicity.
Q. How does the essay reflect the importance of ethical journalism?
Answer Hint:
• Raises the question: Where is the line between curiosity and intrusion?
• Calls for responsible interviewing — with sensitivity and fairness.
• Highlights the need to respect the interviewee’s boundaries.
🟦 5. Situation-Based Questions
Q. Imagine you are a famous writer who dislikes being interviewed. How would you respond if a journalist insisted on meeting you?
Answer Hint:
• Politely decline, citing preference for privacy.
• Suggest a written/email interview instead.
• Emphasize that creative work speaks louder than personal life stories.
Q. Suppose you are a journalist about to interview a reserved personality. How would you make the interview ethical and comfortable?
Answer Hint:
• Start with light and respectful questions.
• Avoid probing into private matters.
• Ensure the guest feels heard, not judged.
• Allow them space to skip any question.
🟦 6. Creative Writing-Based Questions
Q. Write a short editorial paragraph on the relevance of interviews in the age of social media.
Answer Hint:
• Social media allows people to share their own stories, reducing the need for traditional interviews.
• Yet, interviews still offer depth, structure, and credibility.
• A blend of both formats ensures more honest and layered communication.
Q. Draft an imaginary interview of your favorite author, using 5 thoughtful questions that avoid intrusiveness.
Answer Hint:
• Focus on their inspiration, writing process, favorite books, advice for students, and view on literature.
• Maintain a respectful and engaging tone.
🟦 PART II: The Interview (with Umberto Eco)
🟩 1. Theme-Based Question
Q. What is the central theme of the interview with Umberto Eco?
Answer Hint:
• The interview explores the dual life of Umberto Eco — as a scholar and a popular novelist.
• It discusses how Eco integrates serious philosophical ideas in fiction.
• It also brings out the creative use of time and the idea that literature can convey deep human values.
🟦 2. Title-Based Question
Q. Justify the title “The Interview” in the context of Part II.
Answer Hint:
• The chapter literally features an interview.
• The title is simple yet symbolic — it showcases how interviews can reveal the mind, process, and philosophy of a thinker.
• It reflects the power of the interview as a journalistic and literary tool.
🟨 3. Competency-Based Question
Q. How does Umberto Eco balance his academic responsibilities and fiction writing?
Answer Hint:
• He uses “interstices” — the gaps in daily life (like waiting at the airport) to write.
• He believes in making every small moment count.
• His writing is planned around themes, not characters.
🟧 4. Value-Based Question
Q. What values are reflected in Umberto Eco’s approach to literature and life?
Answer Hint:
• Discipline – managing time efficiently.
• Humility – does not brag about his fame or success.
• Responsibility – believes writers should convey moral messages.
• Humanism – his books reflect themes like peace, tolerance, and non-violence.
🟪 5. Situation-Based Question
Q. Suppose your friend says that people are not interested in serious reading anymore. What would you say to convince them, using Umberto Eco’s interview?
Answer Hint:
• Share Eco’s belief that people secretly crave serious reading.
• The Name of the Rose sold millions of copies despite being a complex novel.
• Publishers underestimate readers, but people do appreciate intellectual depth.
🟥 6. Creative Writing-Based Question
Q. Imagine you are a student journalist. Frame five questions you would ask Umberto Eco in a follow-up interview.
Answer Hint (Possible Questions):
1. How do you choose the themes for your novels?
2. What advice would you give young writers today?
3. How do you handle writer’s block?
4. What role does your academic background play in your fiction writing?
5. Do you think AI will impact literary creativity?
🟫 7. Current Affairs-Linked Questions (from Part I & II)
📌 From Part I: Theoretical Essay on Interviews
Q. Many celebrities today use social media, podcasts, or vlogs to control their image. How does this relate to the views expressed in Part I?
Answer Hint:
• Part I discusses how interviews can intrude on privacy (Naipaul, H.G. Wells).
• Modern celebrities prefer platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube, Podcasts to control narratives.
• Just like Lewis Carroll avoided interviews, many today opt for scripted or self-made content.
📌 From Part II: Eco’s Literary Philosophy
Q. How is Eco’s writing style relevant in the age of AI-generated content and short attention spans?
Answer Hint:
• Eco believed in depth and philosophy in fiction — unlike shallow content.
• He shows that readers can still be drawn to serious, meaningful literature.
• In contrast to AI trends, his work supports originality and human values.
🟩 8. HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) / Reflective Question
Q. Do you think popular fiction should always carry a message? How does Umberto Eco support or challenge your view?
Answer Hint:
• Eco believes that even detective stories can have a serious message.
• His fiction blends entertainment and ethics.
• Whether all fiction should carry a message is debatable, but Eco proves that it can.
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