Summary and exercises of the story An Astrologer's Day by : R. K. Narayan

 

An Astrologer's Day

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Main Characters of the Story:

1. The Astrologer: Protagonist of the story (fake and liar, who has run away from his village after a murderous attempt)/ Name not given
2. The Stranger: Antagonist (Name--Guru Nayak, stubborn, arrogant and an ill behaved person)
3. The Astrologer's Wife : A gentle and patient house wife

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Introduction: 

It is a story of a fake astrologer. It deals with a day's event in his life which suddenly brings his dark past before him. That day a stranger came to him to know his future. Ironically the astrologer had tried to kill him long before and had run away from his village. 

The man asked the astrologer when he could find his murderer. He was very revengeful, and wanted to kill him.

It was really a very grave (serious) situation for the astrologer. But as he was a very clever person, he handled the situation well. He not only convinced the stranger with his ability of future telling, but also saved his own life.

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Summary:

This is a story of a fake astrologer who had in fact run away from his village because he had attempted to kill one of his villagers, and also because he did not want to continue with the traditional occupation of his forefathers (farming).

Although he didn't have any knowledge of stars or their positions, he had made it his profession to read other's future. 

He was perfect at analyzing human mind and psychology. With that practice he used  to guess problems of his customers, and used to satisfy them by telling what pleased them. 

He used to start his business at midday, under a tamarind tree on the Town Hall road. 

There he used to spread and display his tools of trade (professional equipment) like cowrie shells, some obscure charts, a notebook, palmyra writing etc. To attract his customers, he used to dress himself very carefully giving himself a perfect look of an astrologer. His forehead looked attractive with sacred ash and vermilion. he wore a saffron turban too.

That evening when the astrologer was packing up his wares for returning home, a man stood before him. He thought the stranger to be a prospective (possible) customer, and asked him to sit. 

When the stranger sat,  the astrologer started his usual common method of dealing with other customers. But the stranger did not agree to that. He challenged the astrologer's knowledge. Although the astrologer was not ready for such a situation, after a lot of bargaining  he finally decided to face it. 

While the astrologer was trying to give answers of the stranger's questions, he (the stranger) lit a cigarette. In the match stick light, the astrologer recognized that the stranger was in fact Guru Nayak, whom once he had attempted to kill.

Then he told Guru Nayak his past story. He even  impressed the stranger by calling him by his name.

Finally the astrologer told him that the person who had tried to kill him was already dead four months ago by being crushed by a truck. He advised Guru Nayak to return back to his village and warned him to never journey south of his village. If he did so, he would surely be killed. If he did not, he would have a long life. 

In this way we find that being a very clever person the astrologer handled the situation smartly and saved himself.

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Pointwise Breakdown of the Story:

1. The Astrologer : Appearance and his Paraphernalia (professional Equipment):

The astrologer used to present himself like a perfect fortune teller. He used to paint his forehead with sacred ash, wrapped his forehead in a saffron turban. 

[The Astrologer in his Perfect Dress]

The combination of his painted forehead, his turban, keen eyes, and a long beard used to give him a perfect look of being an astrologer.

He used to sit under a large tamarind tree, displaying the tools of his trade, which consisted of cowrie-shells, charts, palmyra writings etc. Although such things never helped him in telling fortune, they created a mystic environment.

[Cowrie shells]

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[Palmyra Writings]

2. The Astrologer and his Trick :

 Although he did not know to read stars, or tell any fortune, he was good at his trade. He just made guess-work, when people came to him with their problems. He had a knowledge of some common universal human problems. It is on that basis he comforted his clients with his advices. He told people what they wanted to hear.

3. Arrival of the Stranger (Guru Nayak) : 

That eventful evening, when the astrologer was packing up for the day, he found a stranger standing before him. He was Guru Nayak, whom once the astrologer had attempted to kill, and had pushed him into a well thinking him to be dead. 

But, however, in the darkness neither of them could see each other's face. Thinking the stranger a new client, the astrologer asked him to sit. But the stranger was somewhat rude and skeptical in nature and behaviour. He challenged the astrologer if he could satisfy him.

4. The Haggling (bargaining) : 

The astrologer told him his rate -- it was three pies per question. Then there was a bargaining between the two. Finally it was settled in eight annas (Indian unit of money: that is half Rupee/ sixteen annas is equal to one Rupee), with the condition that the astrologer would return as much if was wrong in his predictions.

5. The Startled Astrologer : 

After the bargaining was settled, as the astrologer was about to start his job, the stranger lit up a cigarette. In the matchlight the astrologer could see his client's face. It was Guru Nayak !! He was the same person whom he had stabbed, pushed in a well, and run away from his village. He felt much uncomfortable thinking if the man also recognized him.

[Guru Nayak with the Astrologer]

He refused to continue further. But the client was stubborn. He did not let the astrologer go, and forced him to continue. Again after a little bargaining the rate was fixed at one rupee.  

7. The Most Spine-Chilling (frightening) Question : 

The stranger was ready at this rate. His question was whether he would be able to find what he was after. It was the most alarming question for the astrologer, since it was clear that the client was searching for him to take revenge.

8. The Stranger's Past : 

The helpless astrologer started telling him his past. He told once a knife was passed on his (client's) chest. He was stabbed and left for dead in a well. The client was excited at this information, and showed the scar on his chest. Fortunately a passerby had seen and saved his life. 

9. The Astrologer's Fash (feeling upset) : 

The only thing that the stranger wanted to know from the astrologer was if he could find his killer. He was searching for the culprit who had once tried to kill him. Now the astrologer was face to face with an impending danger.

10. The Astrologer Outsmarts Guru Nayak by his Wit :

The astrologer controlled himself. He instantly replied that the culprit had died four months ago in an accident in a far off town. As a master stroke of his skill, he addressed his client by his name, which impressed him much. 

Finally he advised Guru Nayak to go back home and never to travel south again. He also said that Guru Nayak's life was in danger if left his home-town again. Thus he tackled the situation smartly and saved his life.

11. At Home : 

Finally the astrologer reached at home at about midnight. As hw was unusually that night, his wife asked about it. He told her the whole story.

He confessed to his wife that in his youth he was into bad company with Guru Nayak. They used to drink, gamble together. One day he had had a fight with Guru Nayak, and had almost killed him. 

He was glad now that Guru Nayak was alive. He felt light hearted.  The burden of being a murderer had gone from his heart. 

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Important Questions and Answers

Before Reading

Answer these questions:

a. Question: Have you ever shown your palm to a fortune teller? Do you believe in fortune telling?

Or

Do you believe in palm reading? Why? Why not?

Answer: No, I have never shown my palm to any fortune teller because I do not believe in all these. There are several reasons behind it. 

Firstly, I think if the fortune teller doesn't know his own fortune well, how can he predict mine? Secondly, if these things are right, I also have a fear that I  might hear some negative things, which might keep me in tension.

b. Question: Why do you think people want to know their futures?

Answer: There are lots of reasons behind it. Above all it is natural human curiosity. Future has always been a curiosity for mankind. 

They think if they knew more about future, they could plan things differently, and in a better way. 

By knowing their future problems they can be mentally ready for them. To give a simple example, if you know what the weather will be tomorrow, you will decide how to get dressed.

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Understanding the text:

Answer the following questions:

Question a. : How does the astrologer's appearance help him attract customers? How does he help the customers satisfy their needs?

Answer: Being skillful in his profession, he knew the importance of a professional look. 

He used to paint his forehead with ash and vermilion and wound a saffron colour turban around his head. His eyes sparkled with an abnormal gleam (reflecting light).

He could read human psychology very well. So he could guess what trouble his clients might have. Depending on the guess work he used to satisfy them starting with some common formulaic sentences.

Question b. How do you characterize the astrologer's attitude toward the stranger?

Answer: In the beginning when he saw the stranger standing before him, he took him to be a prospective (possible) client; and thought of earning a little more before returning home.

Then he felt piqued (provoked) and irritated while bargaining, and finally when he knew the stranger in the match-light, he wanted to get rid of the stranger. His attitude had totally changed in the apprehension of a danger.

Question c. What details does the astrologer give the stranger about his past?

Answer: The astrologer told him that once some body had attempted to kill him. He was stabbed and pushed to die in a well. He was left for dead.

Question d. Why does he advise the stranger to go home immediately?

Answer: The stranger was burning with the feelings of revenge. The astrologer knew that he was real problem for him. If he (the stranger) recognized him by chance, or if encountered (met unexpectedly) him on any day, there was no doubt that he would kill him. So, in order to bring an end to any such chance, he advised the stranger to go home immediately.

Question e. What is your reaction to the conversation between the astrologer and his wife?

Answer: Their conversation makes it clear that although the astrologer had attempted to kill the stranger, he was a good person by heart. The attempt to murder was more due to drink, gambling, and quarrel than an intention. 

When he saw Guru Nayak alive, the burden of murder went off his heart, and he felt lighter.

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Reference to the context:

Question a. Suspense is the feeling of anticipation you may have as you read. In this story, what details contributed to your feelings of suspense and surprise? Explain.

Answer: Being a thriller, this story is full of suspense, which are revealed only at the end.  There is an air of suspense right from the beginning. First, there is suspense about the circumstances which had compelled the protagonist to leave his village all of a sudden, without any plan or preparation.

Suspense increases when the stranger comes in the scene. When he challenges the astrologer to answer a particular question, readers think that the later will fail. The suspense runs if he will prove the astrologer bluffing. Yet another, there is a suspense how a fake astrologer could tell the Guru Nayak's past so accurately.

The suspense is revealed only at the end when the astrologer tells his wife that he had once tried to kill Guru Nayak.

Question b. Analyze the conflicts in "Astrologer's Day". Explain how the conflicts are resolved and what they reveal about the characters involved in the story.

Answer: There are two major conflicts in this story: external and internal conflicts. 

The external conflict is Guru Nayak's challenge to the astrologer. There is a high tension between the two. This conflict was resolved by the astrologer's ability to satisfy Guru Nayak and sending him back.

The internal conflict is in the astrologer's guilt-feeling of having killed Guru Nayak. This conflict is resolved when he saw Guru Nayak alive before him.

The story reveals the astrologer to be a clever person. He had known his opponent in the beginning when the later lit his match. But he did not waver (hesitate), or show any sight of fright (fear or panic). He remained calm and finally dodged (tricked) the impending danger. 

On the other hand, Guru Nayak has a skeptical attitude. He is mean spirited, arrogant (haughty/ unpleasantly proud) and rough. His intention was to cheat the astrologer monetarily, which is proved when the astrologer's wife counts the money.

He wanted to frighten the astrologer, in which he got only a partial success in the beginning. But at last he was fooled by the astrologer.

Question c. "All right. I will speak. But you will give me a rupee if what I say is convincing? Otherwise I will not open my moth, and you may do what you like."

1. Who is the speaker?
2. Who is he speaking to?
3. What does the expression 'open my mouth' mean?

Answer:

1. The speaker is the astrologer.
2. He is speaking to his client, Guru Nayak.
3. It means starting talking about future.

Question d. Descriptions helps readers visualize what is happening in a story. What details and techniques does the author use to describe the astrologer?

Answer : Description is a powerful tool in the hands of writers. It allows readers to open a gateway to the story. Great descriptions help readers understand place, setting, characters and other aspects.

The present story has used this tool well. The writer has developed the character of the astrologer very well. 

First, we find a detailed description of his appearance, trade tools, and his modas-operandi (manner of doing something).

We also find the description of the place (market) of his trade. 

His descriptions are lively, and the images appeal to our different senses. 

At the same time, his details are economic too. They are limited only to the importance of plot and character.

Question e. Irony is a contrast between appearances and reality. What is ironic about Guru Nayak's meeting with the astrologer?

Answer : First, it is ironic that he is standing before the person who had once attempted him to kill. He is also talking with him. Neither he can see his face, nor can recognize his voice.

The most ironic thing is that he is asking the astrologer to tell him where to find his attacker. He doesn't know that the person sitting before him and talking is his assaulter (attacker). 

Question f. How does the astrologer's manner of dress suit his character?

Answer : As he was good at his trade, he knew how to present himself before his clients. He knew that like other professions, an astrologer has also to follow a particular dress code. 

To suit himself for the character of astrologer, he covered his forehead with holy ash and vermilion. He used to wrap a saffron turban on his head. This appearance used to give him a perfect look of a scholar (or pundit). This earned him a reverence which brought his clients to him.

Reference beyond the text

Question a. The astrologer attracts many customers in the street who are pleased and astonished by what he tells them. What does this tell about the people of the town walking in the street?

Answer: The Astrologer used to carry out his business at the market of Town Hall Park. By the detailed description of the market, it is clear that it was visited mostly by the middle and lower strata of society.

Most of them were uneducated and poor. They had a religious mentality, and were superstitious and gullible. For this reason it was easier for the astrologer to befool them.

Question b. Why do most people want to know their future? Do you think astrologers can really help them know their future?

Answer: Most people want to know their future out of curiosity. Some think that if they knew their future, they could manage it better, or if there is some bad days coming, they could figure out some religious ways to stop it.

No, I don't think that any astrologer can really help in telling one's future.

Question c. Is astrology a good practice of fortune telling or is it just a blind faith? Give reasons.

Answer :The whole world is divided into two about this topic. One can sit the whole day and discuss , and a solution will never come.

Personally I don't believe in astrology and fortune telling. These things are all fake. 

I don't believe that some groups of stars or planets can have any influence on a man's life.

If it were true, how people born at the same time, same date, place, with same kundali (horoscope) and lagna (rising sign at the time and place of one's birth), have different life?

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Some Additional Questions and Their Answers:

Question 1. When did the astrologer usually start his day's business?

Answer : He used to start his business punctually at midday.

Question 2. What articles did the astrologer carry with him?

Or

                  What were the professional equipment of the astrologer?

Answer : To present himself as a perfect astrologer, he used to carry and display things like a dozen of cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure (unclear/not clearly understandable) mystic charts on it, a notebook and a bundle of palmyra writing.

Question 3. What made the astrologer's forehead look grand?

Answer : His forehead was resplendent (impressive/splendid) with sacred ash and vermillion. His eyes sparkled with abnormal gleam and this made his forehead look grand.

Question 4. Describe the appearance of the astrologer.

Answer :  Being skillful at his profession, he knew the importance of a professional look. 

He used to paint his forehead with ash and vermilion and wound a saffron colour turban around his head. His eyes sparkled with an abnormal gleam (reflecting light). This attracted many clients to him.

Question 5. Why had the astrologer leave his village? 

Answer : He had left his village because he did not want to continue with farming like his forefathers.

But the main reason was that in his youth he had a bad quarrel with one of his villagers. He had even stabbed him and run away to save himself from punishment.

Question  6. What kind of life the astrologer would have led if he had been in village?

Answer : If he had stayed in the village, he had been working as farmer, farming, marrying and raising children.

Question 7.  How did the astrologer earn his living? Why was he forced to hide his identity?

Answer : After running away from his village, he settled in Malgudi and took fortune telling to earn his living. 

As he had left his village after a murder attempt, he had to hide his identity to save himself from being recognized.

Question 8. How much money did the astrologer usually charge for his fortune telling? 

Answer : He usually charged three pies per question.

Question 9. What were the different names given by the nuts vendor for his business?

Answer : Although the nuts vendor sold the same stuff everyday, he used to give them different names everyday such as Bombay Ice-cream, Delhi Almond, Raja's Delicacy, etc.

Question 10. The astrologer could understand the problem in five minutes, how?

Answer : He had a good knowledge of human troubles, like marriage, money, and many others. He had a good knowledge of human psychology too. He listened very carefully to what his clients used to say. With all these and a strong perception, he could understand problems in five minutes. 

Question 11. What happened one evening when the astrologer was preparing to go home?

Answer : One evening when he was packing up, an unusual client appeared before him, and challenged him in a very rough manner.

Question 12. Who was the stranger and what in fact he wanted to know?

Answer : The stranger was from the village of the astrologer. He was Guru Nayak. He wanted to know when he could meet his attacker.

Question 13. Why did the astrologer feel very uncomfortable in the presence of the stranger?

Or

Why did the astrologer suddenly become nervous after seeing the customer?

Answer : When the astrologer saw the face of the stranger (his customer) in the match light, he immediately recognized the stranger to be Guru Nayak. He had stabbed and pushed the same person in the well. 

So he felt uncomfortable thinking if the other recognized him too.

Question 14. How could the astrologer tell the person about his (past) life?

Answer : The person who had come to him was Guru Nayak, whom once he himself had tried to kill. So it was not a surprise that he could tell the person about his life.

Question 15. Why was the man left for dead?

Answer : The astrologer had a bad quarrel with Guru Nayak and he stabbed him. As he didn't want anyone to know about it, he pushed him in the well, and left him for dead.

Question 16. What was the load on the astrologer's mind?

Or

What was the load that the astrologer had been keeping in his heart? How did he get rid of it?

Answer: The astrologer used to think himself the murderer of Guru Nayak. This was the burden in his heart. The burden went off his heart by itself when he saw Guru Nayak alive before himself.

Question 17. Why did the astrologer think he had committed a murder?

Answer : The astrologer had had a fight with Guru Nayak and had stabbed and thrown him in a well supposing him to be dead. So he thought he had committed a murder. 

Question 18.What mark did Guru Nayak have on his chest?

Answer : He had a mark of injury of knife on his chest.

Question 19. How did he know the name of his customer?

Answer : It was the astrologer himself who had attempted the stranger to kill. When he saw the customer's face in the match-light, he recognized him as Guru Nayak. In this way he knew his customer's name.

Question 20. How could the astrologer get rid of the stranger?

Answer : When the astrologer saw Guru Nayak before him, he knew Guru Nayak would kill him if he recognized him. 

So he tricked him by saying that his murderer was dead and also advised him to return back to his village, which would give him a long life. Thus he got rid of the stranger.

Question 21.Who was Guru Nayak? What was his challenge to the astrologer?

Answer : Guru Nayak was from the same village of the astrologer. It was he whom once the astrologer had stabbed and pushed in a well to die. 

Guru Nayak challenged his astrological science. His challenge was if he was a real astrologer and if he could answer some of his questions without any bluff.

Question 22.Comment on the unexpected turn of events in the astrologer's life.

Answer : The astrologer was compelled by the situation to hide his identity because of his murder-attempt. He thought himself safe in the new place and in new identity. But an unexpected turn of event brought him before the person from whom he had been hiding himself. It was only his wit, that he could control the situation.

Question 23. What advice did the astrologer give the stranger (Guru Nayak)?

Answer : He advised Guru Nayak to give up searching his attacker because he was dead. He had been crushed under a lorry (truck) four months ago in a far off town. He also advised the stranger to return back to his village.

Question 24. Why does the astrologer lie to the stranger that the man he has been looking for has long been dead?

Answer : The astrologer recognized Guru Nayak in the match light. He knew that Guru Nayak was madly looking for the one who had attempted to kill him. He saw real death standing before him. In case Guru Nayak recognizes him, he will certainly kill him. So he lied .

Question 25. Do you think astrology is a true science?

Answer : There might be several answers of this question. I think in some ways it is scientific because it uses scientific knowledge about heavenly bodies. But of course a sound proof in its favour is difficult to present.

Question 26. What are the reasons behind the astrologer's success in his profession?

Answer : There are several reasons behind it. The main reason is that he used to present himself in a perfect astrologer's garb (dress) and look. He had a keen sense of observation. He was good at reading  others' psychology. He was a good listener too, which gave him enough opportunity to guess about problems of his clients and used to talk with them accordingly.

Question 27. How is Guru Nayak defeated twice by the astrologer?

Answer : Both the astrologer and Guru Nayak were from the same village and were silly youngsters. But the astrologer had been more sharp and cunning than Guru Nayak. So, in both major events of the story the astrologer defeated Guru Nayak.

Firstly, when in village, they had a bad quarrel, the astrologer attacked and pushed him into a well and ran away from village.

Secondly, after many years when he saw Guru Nayak standing before him asking and searching for his attacker, the astrologer befooled him by sending him back to his village.

Question 28. Write a character sketch of the astrologer.  (Long answer type question)

Answer : The astrologer is the protagonist of this story. The writer has very carefully developed his character through description and his actions. He is a very shrewd and cunning person. Although he doesn't have any knowledge of fortune telling, he has been able to satisfy his customers and earn his living.

He is both smart and manipulative. He gets into the psychology of his customers and affect their mental and emotional sides. He is a confident person. He never wavers (hesitates) in telling fortune, although he doesn't have any knowledge of the field. 

It was his confidence that he could control his emotions and didn't show any nervousness in front of Guru Nayak and outsmarted him.

But he was good at heart. This becomes clear when at last he says that the burden of being a murderer went off his heart after seeing Guru Nayak.

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A Short Analysis of the Story

1. Name: An Astrologer's Day

2. Writer: R. K. Narayan

[The Writer]

3. Genre: Short story / Thriller story / Suspense / Realism

4. Publication: 1947

5. Setting: 

1. Place: Town: Malgudi (a fictional town created by the writer), Hall Town Park
2. Time: Midday until midnight

6. Point of View: Third person,  Limited omniscient narrator. It              focuses on the point of view of the astrologer.

7. Tone of the story: Sarcastic, Ironic

8. Mood: Light hearted, tensed: when the astrologer is face to face          with Guru Nayak

9. Main Conflict: 

• External conflict:  Man Vs Man  (The astrologer vs  Guru Nayak)
• Internal Conflict (The astrologer's guilt of having killed Guru Nayak)

10. Major Themes:

      What is the main theme of An Astrologer's Day?

      "The story primarily deals with human life with all its                           hypocrisies, shrewdness, revengeful nature and selfishness."               Some of the major themes of this story are:

• Fate, (irony of fate)
• Religion and blind faith
• Religious hypocrisy
• Crime
• Revenge
• Greed

11. Style: Descriptive and lucid style, with a suspense and a twist

12. Message: a. "We must be responsible about what we have done."                 b. "Depend upon your wit at the times of problems and crisis."

 13. Symbolism: 

• The astrologer's garb (dress/outfit) and equipment including cowrie-shells and mystical looking chart: Artificiality of religious practice and hypocrisy
• Market place lights: Illusion

14. Code mixing: (Code mixing is mixing of two or more languages in speech, mostly with one's mother tongue) :  three pies/ eight annas/ jutka driver/ Raja etc.

15. Irony: 

      What irony is there in the story An Astrologer's Day?

      

The main literary focus of the story is 'irony'. Naturally there are several ironical situations in this story. Some of the examples of ironical situations in the story are as follows :

• The protagonist is a gambler. He has no knowledge of astrology. Still he has taken future telling as his earning.
• It shows how for uneducated/less educated people the only qualification needed to be an astrologer is saffron turban, a few mystical charts, ashes on body or some cowrie shells.
• The astrologer who claims to tell other's future, doesn't know his own future.
• Guru Nayak doesn't recognize his attacker even when he is standing before him and is talking with him.
• Guru Nayak asking astrologer where he could meet his attacker.
• It is also an irony that finally Guru Nayak is convinced the astrologer to be genuine and so accepted his advice.
• It is an irony of fate that the astrologer's fate made him confronted with his dark past.

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