Play - A Visit To A Small Planet - English (Compulsory) For Class XI - Exercise 9-11

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A Visit To A Small Planet
Exercise 9-11

Exercise 9:

Work in pairs and compare and contrast between 'life on earth and on Kreton's planet’. After you have done, share your work with your partner.
Ans: Comparison Between 'Life On Earth And On Kreton's Planet’
The people of the two planets have no comparison as the people belonging to Kreton's planet are much more advanced than those of the Earth. They can operate cars without any instruments: they can travel long distances in a single day and can speak almost all languages ever known.
The people of the Earth cannot compete with them as they are far more learned and have made great progress. They are free from hatred and are not in the favour of violence. We can determine from the character of Kreton that they feel proud to serve mankind and are highly sophisticated people. Furthermore, they possess extraordinary powers which are complete myths to humans.
They can listen to the minds of other people and we see in the play that Kreton creates an invisible shield around the spaceship. He proclaims that the human civilization is just beginning and upholds the primitive traits. The statement is quite appropriate as we are far backward in comparison to the people of Kreton's planet.

Exercise 10:

Work in pairs and summarize the play in your words. After you have summarized, exchange the work with each other.
Ans: Summary Of The Play

About Play & Play Writer:

The Play 'A Visit to a Small Planet’ is written by Gore Vidal, an American playwright. It is a reflective science-fiction comedy. It contains the elements of adventure,suspense, and Comments about the modern civilization. Kreton, a mystery character from other planet, is the central character. Though the play was written in 1957, it is still relevant. The story and characters are simple. Vidal originally wrote this play as a television script. After its success he worked it for the stage. Later, a movie was also made on it.

SUMMARY

The play starts with the broadcasting of Spelding in his own home in Silver Glen, Maryland (America). Roger Spelding, with his wife, a daughter and two technicians, denies the presence of spaceship. After broadcasting, they start to discuss the household problems. As, Ellen, his daughter, ironically praises the broadcasting of his father. He criticizes John with whom Ellen is going to be married.

Suddenly, the characters face conflicts, while they see an strange creature landing on the Rose Garden of their house. John points out the spaceship first. They have different ideas about it. Some call it a meteor while others deny it. The story goes towards the climax, when Kreton, an alien, comes out from the spaceship. Spelding calls out General Powers, an army man, who confirms to come soon. After a short discussion with Kreton, they notice the arrival of General Powers with his troops.

From here, the climax of the story starts. General Powers imposes Martial Law in the house of Spelding. No one is allowed to move from the house. The general warns Kreton to surrender otherwise, he will be destroyed.

From here the events leads to the ending of the story. Kreton, tells kindly the reason of his coming to the Earth. He confirms that he is neither a spy nor an observer. At last, when General Powers orders Aide to grab him, he shows his super powers. He makes an invisible wall around the spaceship, after it no one can touch it. He also stuns General Powers, Aide and all other Soldiers. At last, he goes to sleep. The play ends here. (Curtain)

OR

This play is from Comprehensive English Book One For Class XI - Section C. This play is written by Gore Vidal, an American playwright. It contains the elements of adventure, suspense, and Comments about the modern civilization
A visitor from another galaxy happened to land on earth to observe the United States firsthand, a kind of impression would the country made on a complete stranger that he come to vanish human race. This is the main concept (theme) posed in Gore Vidal's Visit to a Small Planet. It is a science-fiction comedy, subtitled as A Comedy Akin to a Vaudeville.
Originally presented as a television play in 1957 (it had a New York City stage premiere in the same year), the satirical play follows the exploits of Kreton, a mystery character and an alien from unknown and technologically more advance planet. He lands on Earth as his hobby, hoping to catch glimpse of the American Civil War 1861. But he has miscalculated and landed 100 years later (of the mid-twentieth century) in the Manassas, Virginia, outside of the Spelding family's home. Later he has decided to take charge of the whole world and its inhabitants and rule them all. Kreton is the central character of the play. He is polite, kind and intelligent and can read the minds of people. His planet’s creatures are immortal.
Kreton ridicules the earthly people and criticised at the idea of nationalities and authorisation of the rulers on Earth. He also proves that he is much more knowledgable and powerful than General Powers and other earthly creatures. General Powers is humbled when he is unable to take control of the spaceship. Kreton finally say them good-bye and leaves for an unknown destination. In the background of the play other character such as Roger Spelding, who is a very reputed T.V. programmer and also plays a significant role in projecting the main character. He does not want her daughter Ellen to marry an ordinary farmer John. General Powers intervention adds to the feeling of suspense in the play.
Vidal's play pokes fun at the post-World War II fear of Communism and the "Red- baiting" (Senator Joseph McCarthy's house hearings on Un-American Activities) common in the late 1950s, as well as military paranoia and the rising importance of television in American life. Using Kreton as the satiric personification of America's ugly underbelly, Vidal's play employs a common science-fiction scenario to explore not alien but American life.

Exercise 11:

Work in pairs. Read the play again and identify the elements (i.e. plot, character, dialogue, and setting). After you have identified, write their examples from the text in the table given below.

Plot
Character
Dialogue
Setting

Ans: The Elements Of The Play "A Visit To A Small Planet":

Plot	The story of the play starts with Spelding's broadcasting. Over all, plot revolves around the Kreton's visit to the Earth. Kreton, an alien, visits here to observe and enjoy this planet. General Powers, represents this planet, encounters the alien. The people of this planet try to resist the alien but fail due to the lack of technological advancement. The play ends with funny scene of stunning the earthly characters by Kreton.
Character	1. Roger Spelding (TV Broadcaster)  2. Mrs. Spelding (Wife of Roger Spelding)  3. Ellen (Daughter of Roger Spelding)  4. John (Ellen's fiancée)  5. General Powers (Army Man)  6. Aide (Captain who works under General Powers)  7. Kreton (An alien, A major Character)
Dialogue	Satirical, ironical, serious and some comic dialogues are used in the play.
Setting	The setting of play is pure American. The time mentioned is 19th and 20th century. The play starts and ends in Silver Glen, Maryland, America.