The Interview – Class 12 English
Christopher Sylvester
📘 Summary
Introduction
“The Interview” by Christopher Sylvester is an extract from *The Penguin Book of Interviews*. The chapter is divided into two parts. It discusses the importance, methods, and different opinions about interviews in journalism and includes an interview of Umberto Eco, a famous Italian writer and scholar.
Part I – The Concept and Opinions about Interviews The first part talks about the **different views and opinions** people have about interviews. Christopher Sylvester begins by saying that **the interview has become a common feature in journalism**. Today, almost every newspaper or magazine includes interviews of celebrities, writers, politicians, and thinkers. However, opinions about the interview vary widely. Some people think that an interview is **a great means of discovering truth**. It helps the interviewer understand the personality, thinking, and experiences of a person. Some even consider it **a fine art** that requires skill and intelligence. Through interviews, we get to know the ideas and emotions of famous people in their own words, making them seem more human and relatable. On the other hand, **many people dislike interviews**. They consider interviews to be **an invasion of privacy**. Such people feel that interviews reveal too much about a person’s private life and often misrepresent their true personality. The author gives several examples of famous writers and thinkers who were **against the idea of being interviewed**. * **V.S. Naipaul**, a famous writer, said that some people are “wounded by interviews” and feel that a part of their personality is stolen in the process. * **Lewis Carroll**, author of *Alice in Wonderland*, **never agreed to be interviewed**. He believed that an interview was something to be avoided and feared. * **Rudyard Kipling**, another famous writer, called interviews “immoral” and compared them to a crime or assault that deserved punishment. These examples show that although interviews are an important part of journalism, not everyone enjoys giving them. Some people see interviews as a way to share knowledge, while others see them as a personal intrusion.
Part II – Interview with Umberto Eco The second part of the chapter is an extract from an **interview of Umberto Eco**, conducted by **Mukund Padmanabhan**, a journalist from *The Hindu*. In this conversation, Eco shares his thoughts about his life, writing style, and how he manages his time. Eco explains that he has a very busy life, but he still manages to write so much because he makes use of the **“empty spaces”** in his day. He calls these spaces **“interstices”**, just like the empty spaces found inside an atom. According to him, every person has such gaps in their life, and if used wisely, they can be very productive. He also talks about his writing style. His essays are **both scholarly and narrative**, meaning they contain deep knowledge but are written In a storytelling way. He says that he likes to be known more as a **university professor** than as a novelist, because teaching and academic work are his main passions. Eco’s famous novel **“The Name of the Rose”** made him world-famous. It is a serious and intellectual novel dealing with **philosophy, theology, and medieval history**, yet it became popular with the general public. Eco feels the novel’s success was due to good timing — he believes if it had been published ten years earlier or later, it might not have received the same appreciation. Throughout the interview, Umberto Eco comes across as **humble, intelligent, and disciplined**. He shows how one can balance academic work with creative writing by managing time effectively.
Conclusion In conclusion, *The Interview* explores both sides of interviewing. While some see it as a useful and artistic way to understand people, others see it as an intrusion into their privacy. Through the example of Umberto Eco, the lesson highlights how a person can express deep ideas through simple communication. The chapter thus helps readers understand the **power and limitations of interviews** in the modern world of journalism.
Part I – The Concept and Opinions about Interviews The first part talks about the **different views and opinions** people have about interviews. Christopher Sylvester begins by saying that **the interview has become a common feature in journalism**. Today, almost every newspaper or magazine includes interviews of celebrities, writers, politicians, and thinkers. However, opinions about the interview vary widely. Some people think that an interview is **a great means of discovering truth**. It helps the interviewer understand the personality, thinking, and experiences of a person. Some even consider it **a fine art** that requires skill and intelligence. Through interviews, we get to know the ideas and emotions of famous people in their own words, making them seem more human and relatable. On the other hand, **many people dislike interviews**. They consider interviews to be **an invasion of privacy**. Such people feel that interviews reveal too much about a person’s private life and often misrepresent their true personality. The author gives several examples of famous writers and thinkers who were **against the idea of being interviewed**. * **V.S. Naipaul**, a famous writer, said that some people are “wounded by interviews” and feel that a part of their personality is stolen in the process. * **Lewis Carroll**, author of *Alice in Wonderland*, **never agreed to be interviewed**. He believed that an interview was something to be avoided and feared. * **Rudyard Kipling**, another famous writer, called interviews “immoral” and compared them to a crime or assault that deserved punishment. These examples show that although interviews are an important part of journalism, not everyone enjoys giving them. Some people see interviews as a way to share knowledge, while others see them as a personal intrusion.
Part II – Interview with Umberto Eco The second part of the chapter is an extract from an **interview of Umberto Eco**, conducted by **Mukund Padmanabhan**, a journalist from *The Hindu*. In this conversation, Eco shares his thoughts about his life, writing style, and how he manages his time. Eco explains that he has a very busy life, but he still manages to write so much because he makes use of the **“empty spaces”** in his day. He calls these spaces **“interstices”**, just like the empty spaces found inside an atom. According to him, every person has such gaps in their life, and if used wisely, they can be very productive. He also talks about his writing style. His essays are **both scholarly and narrative**, meaning they contain deep knowledge but are written In a storytelling way. He says that he likes to be known more as a **university professor** than as a novelist, because teaching and academic work are his main passions. Eco’s famous novel **“The Name of the Rose”** made him world-famous. It is a serious and intellectual novel dealing with **philosophy, theology, and medieval history**, yet it became popular with the general public. Eco feels the novel’s success was due to good timing — he believes if it had been published ten years earlier or later, it might not have received the same appreciation. Throughout the interview, Umberto Eco comes across as **humble, intelligent, and disciplined**. He shows how one can balance academic work with creative writing by managing time effectively.
Conclusion In conclusion, *The Interview* explores both sides of interviewing. While some see it as a useful and artistic way to understand people, others see it as an intrusion into their privacy. Through the example of Umberto Eco, the lesson highlights how a person can express deep ideas through simple communication. The chapter thus helps readers understand the **power and limitations of interviews** in the modern world of journalism.
✍ Short Answer Questions for Practice (In Simple Language)
1. “Most celebrity writers hate to be interviewed.” Is that so? Why?
Yes, most famous writers do not like being interviewed because they feel that interviews invade their privacy and personal space. They believe interviews may misrepresent their thoughts and give a wrong image of their personality. Some writers also find interviews tiring and unnecessary.
2. Umberto Eco does not prefer to be called only a novelist. Is the statement justified?
Yes, the statement is justified. Umberto Eco was not only a novelist but also a teacher, philosopher, and scholar. He wrote many academic essays and research papers. He preferred to be known as a university professor who also wrote novels.
3. What according to Mukund, is a marked departure from academic style?
According to Mukund Padmanabhan, Umberto Eco’s essays are very different from traditional academic writing. Academic writing is usually serious and difficult, but Eco’s essays are simple, lively, and interesting. He combines facts with storytelling, which makes his writing easy to understand.
4. In your opinion, what is the reason for the huge success of the novel “The Name of the Rose”?
The novel became highly successful because it combines mystery, history, and deep philosophical ideas in an engaging way. It educates readers while entertaining them. Both common readers and scholars liked the novel, which made it popular worldwide.
🗣️ Debate & Report Writing (Practice)
1. Debate: “Interviews are Intrusions in Life”
For the Motion:
Interviews are real intrusions in a person’s life. They expose private feelings and personal matters that should remain hidden. Many famous people dislike interviews because they feel their privacy is stolen. Sometimes interviewers ask unnecessary or rude questions only to attract attention. The answers are often misquoted or presented wrongly in the media. Instead of understanding a person’s true self, interviews make them uncomfortable and defensive. Every individual has the right to privacy, and interviews often cross this limit. Therefore, interviews should be conducted with respect or avoided when they invade personal life.
2. Report on the Interview (by Mukund Padmanabhan) I recently interviewed Umberto Eco, a famous writer and scholar. During the interview, Eco explained how he balanced his academic life with his passion for writing novels. He said that he considered himself mainly a university professor, and writing novels was something he did in his free time. Eco also spoke about his concept of “interstices,” meaning the unused or empty spaces in one’s daily life, which can be used creatively. He talked modestly about his success and shared that *The Name of the Rose* became popular unexpectedly. Eco also expressed that interviews are meaningful only when they are conducted seriously and thoughtfully. The interview was inspiring and reflected Eco’s intelligence, simplicity, and sense of humour.
2. Report on the Interview (by Mukund Padmanabhan) I recently interviewed Umberto Eco, a famous writer and scholar. During the interview, Eco explained how he balanced his academic life with his passion for writing novels. He said that he considered himself mainly a university professor, and writing novels was something he did in his free time. Eco also spoke about his concept of “interstices,” meaning the unused or empty spaces in one’s daily life, which can be used creatively. He talked modestly about his success and shared that *The Name of the Rose* became popular unexpectedly. Eco also expressed that interviews are meaningful only when they are conducted seriously and thoughtfully. The interview was inspiring and reflected Eco’s intelligence, simplicity, and sense of humour.