Excerpt

Excerpt from Rewards and Fairies, by Rudyard Kipling

‘“I know that as well as you do, dearie,” he said. And--and that was all
that came of my going to give him a flogging. I wonder whether he made
poor Troubadour shy when I lashed at him? Jerry has his ways of getting
even with people.’

‘I wonder,’ said Una. ‘Well, did you try the charm? Did it work?’

‘What nonsense! I told Rene about it, of course, because he’s a doctor.
He’s going to be a most famous doctor. That’s why our doctor hates him.
Rene said, “Oho! Your Master Gamm, he is worth knowing,” and he put up
his eyebrows--like this. He made joke of it all. He can see my window
from the carpenter’s shed, where he works, and if ever the maple stick
fell down, he pretended to be in a fearful taking till I propped the
window up again. He used to ask me whether I had said my Apostles
properly, and how I took my deep breaths. Oh yes, and the next day,
though he had been there ever so many times before, he put on his new
hat and paid Jerry Gamm a visit of state--as a fellow-physician. Jerry
never guessed Rene was making fun of him, and so he told Rene about
the sick people in the village, and how he cured them with herbs after
Doctor Break had given them up. Jerry could talk smugglers’ French, of
course, and I had taught Rene plenty of English, if only he wasn’t so
shy. They called each other Monsieur Gamm and Mosheur Lanark, just like
gentlemen. I suppose it amused poor Rene. He hasn’t much to do, except
to fiddle about in the carpenter’s shop. He’s like all the French
prisoners--always making knickknacks; and Jerry had a little lathe at
his cottage, and so--and so--Rene took to being with Jerry much more
than I approved of. The Hall is so big and empty when Dad’s away, and
I will not sit with old Amoore--she talks so horridly about every
one--specially about Rene.

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Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Rewards and Fairies by Rudyard Kipling

Context of the Work

Rewards and Fairies (1910) is a collection of historical short stories and poems by Rudyard Kipling, linked by a framing narrative featuring two children, Dan and Una, who interact with magical and historical figures. The stories often blend folklore, history, and Kipling’s characteristic themes of colonialism, cultural exchange, and the supernatural. This excerpt appears in the story "The Wrong Thing" (sometimes titled "The Wrong Head" in other editions), which is set in early 19th-century Sussex, England, during the Napoleonic Wars.

The narrative follows a young girl (likely Una, though the framing device is fluid) recounting her experiences with Jerry Gamm, a local "cunning man" (a folk healer or wise man), and René, a French prisoner of war who works as a carpenter on her family’s estate. The excerpt captures a moment of social tension, cultural clash, and the girl’s frustration with the adults around her.

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Breakdown of the Excerpt

1. The Failed Confrontation with Jerry Gamm

‘“I know that as well as you do, dearie,” he said. And--and that was all that came of my going to give him a flogging. I wonder whether he made poor Troubadour shy when I lashed at him? Jerry has his ways of getting even with people.’

• Situation: The narrator (likely Una) had intended to punish Jerry Gamm, possibly for his supernatural practices or for mocking her. She went to his cottage with the intention of whipping him (a bold act for a child, suggesting her strong-willed nature), but he disarmed her with a calm, almost patronizing response: "I know that as well as you do, dearie."

  • This implies Jerry is unfazed by authority, even that of a child from the gentry. His use of "dearie" is condescending, reinforcing his confidence in his own knowledge (likely of folk magic or local secrets).
  • The mention of Troubadour (a horse) suggests she may have ridden there to confront him, but the horse shied (startled) when she tried to lash out, possibly due to Jerry’s influence (supernatural or psychological).

• Jerry’s Character:

  • A "cunning man"—a folk healer who uses herbs and charms, often distrusted by formal medicine (represented by Doctor Break).
  • He has a reputation for subtle revenge ("ways of getting even"), hinting at his cunning nature. This aligns with Kipling’s recurring theme of hidden power dynamics—those on the margins (like Jerry) often wield influence in unexpected ways.

• Tone:

  • The narrator’s frustration is palpable. She expected to assert dominance but was outmaneuvered, leaving her humiliated and reflective.

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2. The Charm and René’s Reaction

‘I wonder,’ said Una. ‘Well, did you try the charm? Did it work?’‘What nonsense! I told Rene about it, of course, because he’s a doctor. He’s going to be a most famous doctor. That’s why our doctor hates him. Rene said, “Oho! Your Master Gamm, he is worth knowing,” and he put up his eyebrows--like this. He made joke of it all.’

• The "Charm":

  • Likely a folk remedy or supernatural cure Jerry Gamm provided. The narrator dismisses it as "nonsense," reflecting the skepticism of the educated class toward folk medicine.
  • However, she still consulted René, a French prisoner with medical training, suggesting she secretly values his opinion despite her initial dismissal.

• René’s Character:

  • A French prisoner of war, possibly a surgeon or physician, working as a carpenter (a common fate for POWs in rural England).
  • He is intelligent, observant, and amused by English superstitions. His reaction ("Oho! Your Master Gamm, he is worth knowing") suggests:
    • Irony: He recognizes Jerry’s skill but finds the narrator’s belief in charms amusing.
    • Cultural Superiority: As a trained doctor, he likely views folk medicine as primitive, but he engages with it playfully.
  • The mention of Doctor Break hating him implies professional jealousy—René’s knowledge threatens the local doctor’s authority.

• Body Language:

  • "Put up his eyebrows--like this" → A theatrical, mocking gesture, emphasizing René’s sarcastic humor. This physical detail makes the scene vivid and underscores the cultural and generational gap between the narrator and René.

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3. René’s Teasing and the Window Incident

‘He can see my window from the carpenter’s shed, where he works, and if ever the maple stick fell down, he pretended to be in a fearful taking till I propped the window up again. He used to ask me whether I had said my Apostles properly, and how I took my deep breaths.’

• The Window as a Symbol:

  • René watches her from the carpenter’s shed, creating a power dynamic—she is under his observant, teasing gaze.
  • The maple stick props up the window, a metaphor for her vulnerability. When it falls, René pretends to be alarmed, mocking her need for order or superstition (possibly a reference to folk beliefs about open windows inviting illness or spirits).
  • This is playful but condescending, reinforcing his role as a mentor-like figure who enjoys provoking her.

• "Said my Apostles properly":

  • Likely refers to reciting the Apostles’ Creed, a Christian prayer. René, as a Frenchman (possibly Catholic or secular), teases her about her religious rituals, suggesting:
    • Cultural difference: He finds English Protestant customs amusing.
    • Intellectual superiority: He sees her as a naïve child clinging to superstitions.

• "How I took my deep breaths":

  • Could be a medical reference (René checking her health) or a mocking jab at her anxiety. Either way, it shows his intrusive but caring presence in her life.

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4. René’s Visit to Jerry Gamm

‘Oh yes, and the next day, though he had been there ever so many times before, he put on his new hat and paid Jerry Gamm a visit of state--as a fellow-physician. Jerry never guessed Rene was making fun of him, and so he told Rene about the sick people in the village, and how he cured them with herbs after Doctor Break had given them up.’

• A "Visit of State":

  • René formalizes the meeting, wearing his "new hat" (a sign of respect or irony) and treating Jerry as a colleague ("fellow-physician").
  • This is performative—René is amused by Jerry’s ignorance of his mockery, yet he engages seriously with his knowledge.

• Jerry’s Trust in René:

  • Jerry, a smuggler who speaks French, assumes René is a genuine ally. He shares medical secrets, revealing how he cures patients abandoned by Doctor Break.
  • This highlights:
    • Class and Professional Rivalry: Jerry and René are outsiders (one a folk healer, the other a foreign POW) bonding over their shared exclusion from formal medicine.
    • Cultural Exchange: Despite René’s amusement, there is a genuine transfer of knowledge between them.

• Language and Identity:

  • They address each other as "Monsieur Gamm" and "Mosheur Lanark" (a French corruption of "Mr. Lanark"), playacting at gentility.
  • This ironic formality underscores the absurdity of social hierarchies—two marginalized men mocking the very system that oppresses them.

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5. The Narrator’s Disapproval and Isolation

‘Jerry had a little lathe at his cottage, and so--and so--Rene took to being with Jerry much more than I approved of. The Hall is so big and empty when Dad’s away, and I will not sit with old Amoore--she talks so horridly about every one--specially about Rene.’

• The Narrator’s Jealousy/Disapproval:

  • She resents René spending time with Jerry, possibly because:
    • She feels excluded from their bond.
    • She disapproves of Jerry’s influence (seeing him as a charlatan).
    • She fears René is being corrupted by folk superstitions.

• Loneliness and Social Isolation:

  • The Hall is "big and empty" when her father is away, emphasizing her youthful vulnerability.
  • She refuses to sit with old Amoore, a gossipy servant who likely spreads rumors about René (as a foreigner, he would be a target of suspicion).
  • This reflects Kipling’s theme of isolation—the narrator is caught between childhood and adulthood, superstition and science, English tradition and French influence.

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Key Themes in the Excerpt

1. Cultural and Class Tensions:

   • Folk vs. Formal Medicine: Jerry (superstition) vs. René (science) vs. Doctor Break (established authority).
   • English vs. French: René’s outsider perspective allows him to see English customs as absurd, while the narrator is defensive of her culture.

2. Power and Manipulation:

   • Jerry subtly controls situations (making horses shy, outwitting the narrator).
   • René uses humor and intellect to assert dominance over the narrator.
   • The narrator lacks agency—she is watched, teased, and excluded by both men.

3. Isolation and Belonging:

   • The narrator is alone in the Hall, rejected by the servant (Amoore) and ignored by the men.
   • René and Jerry find camaraderie in their outsider status, while she is left out.

4. Superstition vs. Rationality:

   • The charm represents folk belief, which René mockingly engages with but does not fully accept.
   • The narrator wavers between belief and skepticism, reflecting her transition from childhood to adulthood.

5. Colonial and Wartime Undertones:

   • René is a French prisoner, symbolizing the displacement of war.
   • His superior medical knowledge contrasts with English distrust of foreigners, a common Kipling theme (see Kim or The Man Who Would Be King).

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Literary Devices

1. Irony:

   • Dramatic Irony: The reader sees René’s mockery, but Jerry does not.
   • Situational Irony: The narrator tries to assert authority but is undermined by both men.

2. Symbolism:

   • The Window: Represents the narrator’s fragility and exposure to René’s gaze.
   • The Maple Stick: A temporary, unstable support—like her own understanding of the world.

3. Dialogue and Dialect:

   • Jerry’s "dearie" and René’s "Oho!" reveal character through speech.
   • The mixing of French and English ("Mosheur Lanark") highlights cultural hybridity.

4. Foreshadowing:

   • René’s growing bond with Jerry suggests he may abandon the narrator for this new alliance.
   • The hostility of old Amoore hints at future conflict over René’s presence.

5. First-Person Narration:

   • The child’s perspective makes the story intimate but unreliable—she misinterprets René’s humor as cruelty and Jerry’s wisdom as nonsense.

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Significance of the Excerpt

• Historical Context:

  • Reflects early 19th-century rural England, where folk healers coexisted with emerging scientific medicine.
  • The presence of French POWs (from the Napoleonic Wars) adds a layer of cultural exchange and suspicion.

• Kipling’s Broader Themes:

  • The Clash of Knowledge Systems: Folk wisdom vs. formal education.
  • The Outsider’s Perspective: René, as a foreigner, sees English society clearly, while the narrator is blinded by her upbringing.
  • Power in Marginalized Figures: Jerry and René, though socially inferior, hold real influence.

• Character Development:

  • The narrator is on the cusp of adulthood, struggling with authority, belief, and loneliness.
  • René is a complex figure—mocking yet protective, superior yet trapped as a prisoner.
  • Jerry is the embodiment of cunning folk tradition, respected yet feared.

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Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

This passage is a microcosm of Kipling’s exploration of power, culture, and growing up. The narrator’s frustration mirrors the larger tensions between tradition and modernity, insider and outsider. René and Jerry, though seemingly opposites, find common ground in their marginalization, while the narrator is left grappling with her own ignorance and isolation.

Kipling does not judge—he presents the complexity of human interactions, where mockery and camaraderie, superstition and science, loneliness and connection all intertwine. The excerpt is rich in subtext, inviting readers to question who truly holds power in this small, tangled world.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific aspect, such as the historical role of cunning men or Kipling’s portrayal of French prisoners?

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Questions

Question 1

The narrator’s description of René’s visit to Jerry Gamm as a "visit of state--as a fellow-physician" primarily serves to:

A. highlight Jerry’s gullibility in accepting René as a legitimate medical professional.
B. underscore the performative and ironic nature of René’s engagement with folk medicine.
C. demonstrate the narrator’s admiration for René’s diplomatic skills in bridging cultural divides.
D. reveal the narrator’s resentment toward Jerry’s growing influence over René.
E. emphasize the genuine mutual respect between René and Jerry as practitioners of healing.

Question 2

The "maple stick" in the passage functions most significantly as a:

A. metaphor for the narrator’s precarious sense of control and stability in her interactions with René.
B. literal object that symbolizes the narrator’s adherence to superstitions about open windows.
C. device to illustrate René’s practical carpentry skills and his role as a craftsman.
D. representation of the cultural divide between the French and English approaches to medicine.
E. tool used by Jerry Gamm to manipulate the narrator’s environment and assert his influence.

Question 3

René’s repeated questioning of the narrator—"whether I had said my Apostles properly, and how I took my deep breaths"—is best interpreted as:

A. a sincere attempt to monitor her spiritual and physical well-being.
B. a subtle critique of the narrator’s lack of discipline in religious and health practices.
C. a playful yet condescending assertion of his intellectual and cultural superiority.
D. an effort to distract the narrator from his growing friendship with Jerry Gamm.
E. a reflection of his own anxiety about her susceptibility to folk superstitions.

Question 4

The narrator’s refusal to sit with old Amoore is most thematically resonant with:

A. her rejection of gossip as a form of social control in rural communities.
B. her alignment with René’s outsider status and her own sense of isolation.
C. her fear of being corrupted by the same superstitions that Amoore embodies.
D. her desire to maintain a sense of superiority over the household staff.
E. the broader tension between youthful idealism and the cynicism of age.

Question 5

The passage’s portrayal of Jerry Gamm and René’s interaction ultimately suggests that:

A. folk medicine and formal medicine are fundamentally incompatible systems of knowledge.
B. René’s engagement with Jerry is purely exploitative, devoid of any genuine curiosity.
C. Jerry’s wisdom is ultimately validated by René’s willingness to learn from him.
D. power dynamics between marginalized figures can create unexpected alliances that subvert traditional hierarchies.
E. the narrator’s skepticism toward both men is justified by their mutual deception.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: B

Why B is most correct: The phrase "visit of state--as a fellow-physician" is steeped in irony. René, a trained medical professional, deliberately adopts the trappings of formality (e.g., wearing his "new hat") to engage with Jerry, a folk healer. The description emphasizes the theatricality of the encounter—René is performing the role of a colleague while internally dismissing Jerry’s practices as superstition. This aligns with his earlier mockery ("Oho! Your Master Gamm, he is worth knowing") and his amused tolerance of folk medicine. The "visit of state" is thus a satirical act, highlighting René’s ironic engagement with a system he does not truly respect.

Why the distractors are less supported:

• A: While Jerry’s gullibility is a minor theme, the primary function of the phrase is not to highlight his naivety but to frame René’s performative irony.
• C: The narrator does not express admiration for René’s diplomacy; her tone is resentful and exclusionary ("much more than I approved of").
• D: The narrator’s resentment is a secondary effect, not the primary purpose of the phrase.
• E: The passage undermines the idea of "genuine mutual respect." René’s engagement is mocking, and Jerry’s trust is unwitting.

2) Correct answer: A

Why A is most correct: The maple stick props up the narrator’s window, a literal object that becomes a metaphor for her instability. When the stick falls, René pretends alarm, exposing her dependence on fragile supports—both physical (the stick) and psychological (her need for order, her belief in charms). The stick’s fall symbolizes her vulnerability to René’s teasing and the precariousness of her control over her environment. This interpretation aligns with the broader theme of her youthful insecurity in a world where adults (and outsiders like René) manipulate or dismiss her.

Why the distractors are less supported:

• B: The stick is not primarily about superstition; it’s a practical object repurposed as a symbol of instability.
• C: René’s carpentry skills are mentioned, but the stick’s significance lies in its metaphorical weight, not his craftsmanship.
• D: The stick does not represent a cultural divide in medicine; it’s a personal symbol tied to the narrator’s relationship with René.
• E: Jerry is not depicted as manipulating the narrator’s environment; the stick is René’s tool for teasing.

3) Correct answer: C

Why C is most correct: René’s questions about the Apostles’ Creed and deep breathing are not sincere (A) nor purely critical (B). Instead, they are playful jabs that underscore his intellectual superiority. His mocking tone (evident in his earlier "Oho!" and eyebrow-raising) suggests he views her rituals as childish or superstitious. The questions serve to assert his dominance—as a learned outsider, he teases her naivety while positioning himself as the rational observer. This aligns with his broader condescension toward English customs.

Why the distractors are less supported:

• A: René’s tone is too sarcastic for sincere concern.
• B: While there is critique, the primary effect is playful condescension, not disciplined correction.
• D: The questions are not a distraction tactic; they’re part of his ongoing teasing.
• E: René’s anxiety is not evident; he is amused, not concerned.

4) Correct answer: E

Why E is most correct: The narrator’s refusal to sit with old Amoore is not just about gossip (A) or alignment with René (B). It reflects a generational and ideological clash: Amoore represents cynicism, superstition, and judgment, while the narrator—though still tied to some superstitions—rejects Amoore’s bitterness. This tension mirrors the broader theme of youthful idealism (the narrator’s curiosity, her mixed feelings about René) versus the jadedness of age (Amoore’s "horrid" gossip, Doctor Break’s professional jealousy). The refusal is a symbolic rejection of cynicism, even as the narrator herself is not yet fully rational.

Why the distractors are less supported:

• A: While gossip is a factor, the deeper theme is generational conflict.
• B: The narrator does not align with René’s outsider status; she resents his bond with Jerry.
• C: She does not fear corruption; she dislikes Amoore’s meanness.
• D: There’s no evidence she seeks superiority over staff; her refusal is personal, not hierarchical.

5) Correct answer: D

Why D is most correct: The interaction between Jerry and René subverts traditional power structures. Both are marginalized—Jerry as a folk healer, René as a prisoner—but they form an alliance that excludes the narrator (a member of the gentry). Their bond is unexpected: René, though mocking, engages seriously with Jerry’s knowledge, and Jerry, though ridiculed, shares his secrets. This dynamic challenges hierarchies—the educated outsider and the local "cunning man" find common ground in their exclusion, while the young narrator (representing the established order) is left powerless. This aligns with Kipling’s theme of power in the margins.

Why the distractors are less supported:

• A: The passage does not contradict compatibility; René engages with Jerry’s knowledge, even if ironically.
• B: René’s engagement is not purely exploitative; there is genuine curiosity in his questions about Jerry’s methods.
• C: René does not validate Jerry’s wisdom; he tolers and mocks it.
• E: The narrator’s skepticism is not justified; the text undermines her reliability as a narrator.