The Dinner Party by Mona Gardner

The country is India. A colonial official and his wifeare giving a large dinner party. They are seated with theirguests—army officers and government attachés and their wives, and avisiting American naturalist—in their spacious dining room, whichhas a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors openingonto a veranda.* A spirited discussion springs up between a younggirl who insists that women have outgrown thejumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a colonel whosays that they haven’t. “A woman’s unfailing reaction in anycrisis,” the colonel says, “is to scream. And while a man may feellike it, he has that ounce more of nerve control than a woman has.And that last ounce is what counts.” The American does not join inthe argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees astrange expression come over the face of the hostess. She isstaring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly. With aslight gesture she summons the native boy standing behind her chairand whispers to him. The boy’s eyes widen: he quickly leaves theroom. Of the guests, none except the American notices this or seesthe boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the opendoors. The American comes to with a start. In India, milk in a bowlmeans only one thing—bait for a snake. He realizes there must be acobra in the room. He looks up at the rafters—the likeliestplace—but they are bare. Three corners of the room are empty, andin the fourth the servants are waiting to serve the next course.There is only one place left—under the table. His first impulse isto jump back and warn the others, but he knows the commotion wouldfrighten the cobra into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone ofhis voice so arresting that it sobers everyone. * During the timethis story takes place, India was a British colony. The colonialofficial works for the British government in India. The governmentattachés work for another country’s embassy in India. Finally, anaturalist is someone who studies animals and plants. “I want toknow just what control everyone at this table has. I will count tothree hundred—that’s five minutes—and not one of you is to move amuscle. Those who move will forfeit fifty rupees. Ready!” Thetwenty people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying“. . . two hundred and eighty. . .” when, out of the corner of hiseye, he sees the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk.Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.“You were right, Colonel!” the host exclaims. “A man has just shownus an example of perfect control.” “Just a minute,” the Americansays, turning to his hostess. “Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know thatcobra was in the room?” A faint smile lights up the woman’s face asshe replies: “Because it was crawling across my foot.”

1. What is the genre of the "Dinner Party?"

2. What is the setting for the "Dinner Party?"

3.How do the setting details contribute to the theme of the"Dinner Party?"

4.Which two characters have an argument and what is the argumentabout?

5.Which character lures the snake away from the people and howdoes he/she do it?

6.Who decides to have the dinner guests count to 300? Why?

7.In your opinion, who is the hero of the story? Explainwhy.

8.What are the conflicts of the "Dinner Party?"

9.What are the resolutions to the "Dinner Party?"

10.What is the theme of story?