CBSE Class 11 Woven Words: The Luncheon - NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 11 PDF

CBSE Class 11 Woven Words presents NCERT Solutions for the short story 'The Luncheon.' This engaging narrative humorously depicts the author's encounter with an extravagant woman at a pricey restaurant. The solutions explore the author's internal conflict as the bill climbs, his efforts to remain courteous despite his growing financial unease, and the lady's complete unawareness of his predicament. We examine how the first-person perspective effectively conveys the author's feelings and the story's comedic undertones. The analysis also touches upon the idea of 'foibles,' highlighting how characters often fail to recognize their own peculiar habits. These solutions aim to deepen students' understanding of the story's subtleties, literary techniques, and provide clear explanations to aid in exam preparation.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 11
Subject	Woven Words
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	8. The Luncheon - (Short Stories)

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for 'The Luncheon' (Short Stories) for Class 11 Woven Words. This chapter focuses on analyzing the story's humor, irony, and the author's use of first-person narrative. It explores the protagonist's financial predicament during an expensive meal and the lady's unaware extravagance. The solutions help students understand character foibles and literary techniques employed by the author.

Learning outcomes

Understand the concept of irony as used in 'The Luncheon'.
Analyze the author's use of humor and self-deprecating remarks.
Identify and explain the author's emotional state and financial anxieties.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the first-person narrative in storytelling.
Recognize and discuss character 'foibles' and self-awareness.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Analysis of 'The Luncheon' short story
Understanding irony in literature
Exploring literary humor
First-person narrative techniques
Character analysis: The author and the lady
Concept of 'foibles'
Financial anxiety in narrative
Author's self-deprecating humor
Literary devices in short stories
CBSE Class 11 English Literature

Important topics

Irony and Humor in 'The Luncheon'
Author's Financial Struggle and Internal Monologue
Effectiveness of First-Person Narration
Character Foibles and Self-Awareness
Analysis of Key Dialogue and Events

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Questions and Solutions

Understanding The Text - Q1

Although the author was not a vindictive man, he was very happy to see the twenty-one stone lady who had impoverished him twenty years ago, and says he had finally had his revenge. What makes him say this?

Solution: The author's statement about having his revenge stems from a past encounter with the lady. Twenty years prior, when the author was financially less stable and lacked the confidence to refuse, the lady ordered a series of the most expensive dishes on the menu. This led to the author spending all his money, leaving him with nothing for the rest of the month. He recalls the embarrassment of this experience. Now, seeing the lady significantly overweight ('twenty-one stone'), he feels a sense of ironic satisfaction or 'revenge', perhaps implying that her excessive indulgence over the years has led to her current size, mirroring his past financial 'impoverishment' at her hands.

Understanding The Text - Q2

There are quite a few places where the author uses the expressions 'my heart sank', 'panic seized', etc. What was the reason for this?

Solution: The author uses expressions like 'my heart sank' and 'panic seized' to vividly convey his growing anxiety and distress as the lady continuously ordered the most expensive items on the menu. These phrases highlight his internal struggle and the realization that he was rapidly spending all the money he had, with the meal far from over. They effectively communicate his inability to refuse the lady's choices and the mounting financial pressure he was under, adding a layer of humor through his extreme reaction to the situation.

Understanding The Text - Q3

Locate instances of irony in the story.

Solution: The story is rich with irony, primarily stemming from the stark contrast between the young lady's words and her actions. A key instance is her repeated declaration that she 'didn't have anything for luncheon except...', immediately followed by ordering the most luxurious and expensive items on the menu, such as salmon, asparagus, and caviare. This creates irony because her statement implies she eats very little, yet her choices are extravagant. Another layer of irony is the author's polite demeanor and feigned friendliness while internally experiencing panic and dread over the escalating bill, highlighting the social pressures that compel him to maintain appearances.

Talking About The Text - Q1

People with foibles are often not conscious of them.

Solution: This statement accurately reflects a common human tendency. Foibles are minor weaknesses or eccentricities in character. People often act according to their own perspectives and habits, perceiving their actions as normal or justified. Consequently, they may remain unaware of how these minor peculiarities might appear to others or how they deviate from conventional behavior. It is typically the people around them who observe and are affected by these 'foibles', while the individual themselves continues to act without recognizing their own eccentricities.

Talking About The Text - Q2

The author's attempts at keeping up his pretence of friendliness while he was mentally preoccupied with the expense of the Luncheon.

Solution: Throughout the story, the author masterfully portrays his struggle to maintain a friendly and gentlemanly facade despite his mounting financial anxiety. With each expensive order placed by the lady, his internal state worsened, marked by phrases like 'my heart sank'. However, he consciously suppressed his distress and continued to engage in polite conversation, never once objecting to her extravagant choices. This effort to uphold social etiquette and appear hospitable, even when facing personal financial strain, underscores his commitment to being a 'true gentleman' and adds to the story's subtle humor and tension.

Appreciation - Q1.a

The author is a humorist. a. How does the story reflect his sense of humour?

Solution: The story strongly reflects the author's sense of humor through his witty narration and the comical situation he finds himself in. The humor arises from the dramatic contrast between the lady's claims of eating lightly and her extravagant orders, the author's internal panic versus his external politeness, and the eventual ironic twist regarding the lady's weight. The author uses these elements to create a light-hearted yet relatable narrative about the pressures of social obligations and financial constraints, allowing the reader to find amusement in the absurdity of the situation.

Appreciation - Q1.b

What makes his lady friend remark—'you are quite a humorist'?

Solution: The lady friend makes the remark 'you are quite a humorist' in response to the author's witty and self-deprecating comment. When the lady states she only eats a little for lunch ('I don't have anything much on a luncheon except...'), the author jokingly replies that if he were to eat as much as she implied, he would have to skip dinner entirely. This humorous exaggeration, born from his financial predicament, reveals his ability to find amusement even in his own discomfort, which the lady perceives as wit.

Appreciation - Q1.c

Give instances of the author's ability to laugh at himself.

Solution: The author demonstrates his ability to laugh at himself throughout the narrative. He begins by expressing excitement about visiting an expensive restaurant with a woman, implicitly acknowledging a certain vanity or eagerness for the experience. More significantly, he uses self-deprecating humor when he jokes about skipping dinner due to the lady's large orders, highlighting his own financial limitations in a comical way. His internal narration, filled with descriptions of his panic and sinking heart, also serves as a form of self-mockery, as he recounts his own exaggerated reactions to the social and financial pressures.

Appreciation - Q2

How does the first-person narrative help in heightening the literary effects of the story?

Solution: The use of the first-person narrative is crucial in heightening the literary effects of 'The Luncheon'. It provides readers with direct access to the author's innermost thoughts, feelings, and anxieties, particularly his financial panic. This intimate perspective allows the humor and irony to resonate more deeply, as we experience the awkwardness and embarrassment alongside the narrator. By telling the story from his own point of view, the author can effectively control the pacing, emphasize specific details (like the cost of each dish), and use self-deprecating humor, all of which contribute significantly to the story's comedic and ironic impact.

Common mistakes

Confusing the author's initial happiness with genuine malice.
Overlooking the subtle irony in the lady's statements about not eating much.
Failing to connect the author's expressions of distress to the escalating bill.
Misinterpreting the lady's remark about the author being a 'humorist'.

Revision tips

Reread the story, highlighting instances of irony and humor.
Focus on the author's internal monologue to understand his feelings.
Discuss the lady's character and her unawareness of her extravagance.
Analyze how the first-person perspective enhances the story's impact.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the primary reason for the author's distress during the luncheon?

Q2. The lady's statement 'I don't have anything for luncheon except...' was ironic because:

Q3. What does the author mean by 'foibles' in the context of the story?

Q4. How did the author react internally to the lady's expensive orders?

Q5. The lady's remark 'you are quite a humorist' was made in response to:

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of the short story 'The Luncheon'?

The main themes include the contrast between appearance and reality, the author's financial anxiety, the irony of social interactions, and the humor derived from awkward situations.

Why does the author feel he had 'revenge' on the lady?

The author feels a sense of ironic revenge because the lady, who had caused him financial embarrassment twenty years prior by ordering excessively, is now significantly overweight ('twenty-one stone'), implying she has indulged excessively over the years.

How does the first-person narrative enhance the story?

The first-person narrative allows readers direct access to the author's thoughts, feelings, and financial panic, making the humor and irony more personal and impactful.

What are 'foibles' as discussed in the text?

Foibles are minor weaknesses or eccentricities in a person's character. The text suggests that individuals are often unaware of their own foibles.

What specific items did the lady order that caused the author distress?

The lady ordered expensive items like salmon, asparagus, and caviare, despite repeatedly stating she ate 'nothing much' for luncheon.

How does the author maintain his composure despite his anxiety?

The author maintains a facade of politeness and friendliness, acting as a 'true gentleman' by not objecting to the lady's expensive orders, even though he was mentally preoccupied with the cost.

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