NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo: Chapter 7 — The Interview
This chapter, 'The Interview,' is an excerpt from Christopher Silvester's introduction to 'The Penguin Book of Interviews.' It explores the evolution and perception of the interview as a journalistic tool over its 130-year history. The text highlights contrasting views: some see it as a source of truth and an art form, while others, particularly celebrities, view it as an intrusion. Famous figures like V.S. Naipaul, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, H.G. Wells, and Saul Bellow are quoted, expressing varied, often negative, sentiments about being interviewed, comparing it to soul-stealing or assault. Despite these criticisms, the chapter acknowledges the interview's indispensable role in modern communication, stating that our vivid impressions of contemporaries are largely formed through interviews, giving interviewers significant power and influence. It concludes by emphasizing the interview's supreme serviceability as a medium.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Flamingo |
| Chapter | Chapter 7 — The Interview |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 4 minutes |
| Word count | 750 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the historical context and evolution of the interview.
- Analyze different perspectives on the interview's value and drawbacks.
- Recognize the power and influence of interviewers in contemporary media.
- Appreciate the interview as a significant communication medium.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cosmopolitan | Familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures. |
| Commonplace | Not unusual; ordinary. |
| Extravagant | Lacking restraint in spending money or using resources; costing too much. |
| Intrusion | The action of putting oneself deliberately into a place or situation where one is unwelcome or uninvited. |
| Diminishes | Make or become smaller, less, or weaker. |
| Lionized | Treat (a person) as a celebrity. |
| Condemnatory | Expressing very strong disapproval. |
| Perpetrated | Carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action). |
| Ordeal | An extremely unpleasant or difficult experience. |
| Interviewee | A person who is being interviewed. |
| Supremely | To the highest degree; extremely. |
| Serviceable | Useful, practical, or durable. |
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Practice questions
- What is the historical significance of the interview as a journalistic tool? Answer: The interview has become a commonplace of journalism since its invention over 130 years ago.
- What are the two extreme views on the interview mentioned in the text? Answer: Some view the interview as a source of truth and an art form, while others see it as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives.
- Why did Lewis Carroll dislike being interviewed? Answer: Lewis Carroll had a horror of being lionized and wanted to repel acquaintances and interviewers.
- How did Rudyard Kipling's wife describe the impact of reporters on their day? Answer: His wife described their day as 'wrecked by two reporters from Boston'.
- What does Saul Bellow compare interviews to? Answer: Saul Bellow described interviews as being like 'thumbprints on his windpipe'.
- According to Denis Brian, what is the role of the interviewer today? Answer: The interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence, as almost everything of moment reaches us through one man asking questions of another.
Practice MCQs
Q1. In which year did V.S. Naipaul receive the Nobel Prize in Literature?
Explanation: The text mentions V.S. Naipaul received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001.
Q2. Who wrote the introduction from which 'The Interview' is an excerpt?
Explanation: The text states that the excerpt is from the introduction to 'The Penguin Book of Interviews' edited by Christopher Silvester.
Q3. What primitive belief is compared to the interview's effect on celebrities?
Explanation: The text compares the feeling of being diminished by interviews to the primitive belief that photographing someone steals their soul.
Q4. Rudyard Kipling's wife reported him calling interviewing what?
Explanation: Rudyard Kipling is quoted by his wife as saying, 'Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because it is immoral! It is a crime... It is cowardly and vile.'
Q5. H.G. Wells referred to interviewing as:
Explanation: The text mentions H.G. Wells referred to 'the interviewing ordeal' in an interview in 1894.
Q6. According to the text, how long has the interview existed as a journalistic tool?
Explanation: The text states that since its invention a little over 130 years ago, the interview has become a commonplace of journalism.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main subject of the chapter 'The Interview'?
The chapter discusses the history, purpose, and varied perceptions of the interview as a journalistic tool and a medium of communication.
Who are some of the famous personalities mentioned in the text regarding interviews?
The text mentions V.S. Naipaul, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, H.G. Wells, and Saul Bellow.
What is the positive view of the interview presented in the chapter?
Some believe the interview, in its highest form, can be a source of truth and is a practice that can be considered an art.
What is the negative view of the interview mentioned?
Many celebrities see interviews as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives, feeling it diminishes them or is a crime.
Why is the interview considered a 'supremely serviceable medium of communication'?
It is considered serviceable because, in the modern era, most vivid impressions of contemporaries are gained through interviews, making it a primary way information reaches us.
What power does the text attribute to the interviewer?
The text states that the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence because they are the primary conduit through which information about people reaches the public.
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NCERT Class 12 English — Flamingo — Chapter 7 — The Interview. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.