English Notes Latest Questions

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    Alex Heathcote sold the statue to save himself from his great debt. Alex gambled away all his wealth and was unable to pay the money for the debt. It was the “family honour at stake” which compelled him to sell the statue. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    Alex Heathcote sold the statue to save himself from his great debt. Alex gambled away all his wealth and was unable to pay the money for the debt. It was the “family honour at stake” which compelled him to sell the statue.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    According to the old Chinese custom that when a stranger has been generous, one must return the kindness within a calendar year. So in order to reciprocate the old man’s generosity, Sir Alexander Heathcote planned out a surprise for him. First he transferred his funds and then with help and permissiRead more

    According to the old Chinese custom that when a stranger has been generous, one must return the kindness within a calendar year. So in order to reciprocate the old man’s generosity, Sir Alexander Heathcote planned out a surprise for him. First he transferred his funds and then with help and permission of the Queen, executed his plan. Almost a year to the day the minister, accompanied by the Mandarin, set out again from Peking for the village of the Ha Li Chuan. On arriving there, he requested the old man to accompany him on a short journey . They travelled for two hours up a thin winding path into the hills behind the craftsman’s workshop and only stopped when they reached a hollow in the hill from which there was a magnificent view of the valley all the way down to Ha Li Chuan. In the hollow stood a newly completed small white house of the most perfect proportions. Two stone lion dogs, tongues hanging over their lips, guarded the front entrance. This was gift, sanctioned by the Queen, given to the old craftsman for his generosity to Sir Alexander.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in the great halls of the Imperial Palace, he walked as slowly as possible, taking in the magnificent collection of ivory and jade statues which were scattered casually around the building much in the way Cellini and Michelangelo today lay stacked against each otherRead more

    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in the great halls of the Imperial Palace, he walked as slowly as possible, taking in the magnificent collection of ivory and jade statues which were scattered casually around the building much in the way Cellini and Michelangelo today lay stacked against each other in Florence. As his ministerial appointment was only for three years, Sir Alexander took no leave, but preferred to use his time to put the Embassy behind him and travel on horseback into the outlying districts to learn more about the country and its people.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    The Chinese Statue was auctioned as it was a valuable piece of art. Even though the statue was fake, it was a beautiful ivory statue and its base was priceless. Hence, after Alex sold it, the statue found its way to the auction room as an item to bid upon by the art lovers. Read summary of The ChineRead more

    The Chinese Statue was auctioned as it was a valuable piece of art. Even though the statue was fake, it was a beautiful ivory statue and its base was priceless. Hence, after Alex sold it, the statue found its way to the auction room as an item to bid upon by the art lovers.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    A Mandarin always accompanied Sir Alexander Heathcote during his stay in China. He acted as interpreter and guide for Sir Alexander as the latter was new to the place and to the language spoken there. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    A Mandarin always accompanied Sir Alexander Heathcote during his stay in China. He acted as interpreter and guide for Sir Alexander as the latter was new to the place and to the language spoken there.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    Sir Alexander Heathcote, as well as being a gentleman, was an exact man. He was exactly six foot-three and a quarter inches tall, rose at seven o’clock every morning, joined his wife at breakfast to eat one boiled egg cooked for precisely four minutes, two pieces of toast with one spoonful of CooperRead more

    Sir Alexander Heathcote, as well as being a gentleman, was an exact man. He was exactly six foot-three and a quarter inches tall, rose at seven o’clock every morning, joined his wife at breakfast to eat one boiled egg cooked for precisely four minutes, two pieces of toast with one spoonful of Cooper’s marmalade and drink one cup of China tea. He would then take a hackney carriage from his home in 11 Cadogan Gardens at exactly eight-twenty and arrive at the Foreign Office at promptly eight-fifty-nine, returning home again on the stroke of six o’clock. He had been exact from an early age, as became the only son of a general.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    The little ivory statue was a fine example of Ming dynasty art. It was a statue of Emperor Kung. Sir Alexander felt confident that the statue was the work of the great Pen Q, who had been patronized by the Emperor. He was sure that the statue must have been crafted around the turn of the15th centuryRead more

    The little ivory statue was a fine example of Ming dynasty art. It was a statue of Emperor Kung. Sir Alexander felt confident that the statue was the work of the great Pen Q, who had been patronized by the Emperor. He was sure that the statue must have been crafted around the turn of the15th century.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    No, the story of the Chinese statue doesn’t seem to true as it is a fictional piece of work by the author, Jeffrey Archer. Though the names of the dynasties and emperors maybe historically true, it is not proven whether this entire story is based on real incidents. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    No, the story of the Chinese statue doesn’t seem to true as it is a fictional piece of work by the author, Jeffrey Archer. Though the names of the dynasties and emperors maybe historically true, it is not proven whether this entire story is based on real incidents.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    The themes of the story are appearance versus reality, the love of art, respect towards the customs and traditions and desire to have the exotics. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    The themes of the story are appearance versus reality, the love of art, respect towards the customs and traditions and desire to have the exotics.

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  1. Debprasad Banerjee
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    Debprasad Banerjee

    There are several ironies throughout the story. The statue which the entire story revolved around, covering several emotions, locations and generations were a copy. This is proof that we value the status that comes with the possession than the possession itself, going into a paradox of the emotionsRead more

    There are several ironies throughout the story. The statue which the entire story revolved around, covering several emotions, locations and generations were a copy. This is proof that we value the status that comes with the possession than the possession itself, going into a paradox of the emotions it generated throughout 5 generations. The irony is that the value of the statue not being proportionate to all the trouble that Sir Alexander Heathcote went through to possess it, going to the extent to build a house with his 3 years of salary for its repayment to Yung Lee. The greed and pride which the statue bearer throughout every generation possessed ultimately resulted in nothing.

    The irony of several people who admired the statue, from the mantlepiece in Sir Alexander Heathcote’s house in Yorkshire to the main hall in halifax. There were many conversations with regards to the statue but nobody questioned its authenticity but rather questioned the base. This also proves the fallacy of credibility of the “exact man” like Sir Alexander Heathcote, who’s story was never questioned.

    The final irony is, the worth of the statue is 700 guineas while the base which Yung Lee attached, saying its unworthy but good work, being evaluated and sold for 22000 guineas.

    In the entire ordeal, nothing is very clear. Doubt also remains whether a man like Sir Alexander Heathcote who was extremely exact can utter words even at a point of complete awe. The reader is left with several unanswered questions, perhaps questions that are subjective and cannot be answered. At the end, we can be sure of one thing in particular, the fake Chinese statue generated every possible emotion throughout 5 generations and thus the sheer unpredictability of life is reflected at the end.

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