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My Watch by Mark Twain

[Written about 1870.]

An Instructive Little Tale

My beautiful new watch had run eighteen months without losing or gaining, and without breaking any part of its machinery or stopping. I had come to believe it infallible in its judgments about the time of day, and to consider its constitution and its anatomy imperishable. But at last, one night, I let it run down. I grieved about it as if it were a recognized messenger and forerunner of calamity. But by and by I cheered up, set the watch by guess, and commanded my bodings and superstitions to depart. Next day I stepped into the chief jeweler’s to set it by the exact time, and the head of the establishment took it out of my hand and proceeded to set it for me. Then he said, “She is four minutes slow-regulator wants pushing up.” I tried to stop him–tried to make him understand that the watch kept perfect time. But no; all this human cabbage could see was that the watch was four minutes slow, and the regulator must be pushed up a little; and so, while I danced around him in anguish, and implored him to let the watch alone, he calmly and cruelly did the shameful deed. My watch began to gain. It gained faster and faster day by day. Within the week it sickened to a raging fever, and its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade. At the end of two months it had left all the timepieces of the town far in the rear, and was a fraction over thirteen days ahead of the almanac. It was away into November enjoying the snow, while the October leaves were still turning. It hurried up house rent, bills payable, and such things, in such a ruinous way that I could not abide it. I took it to the watchmaker to be regulated. He asked me if I had ever had it repaired. I said no, it had never needed any repairing. He looked a look of vicious happiness and eagerly pried the watch open, and then put a small dice-box into his eye and peered into its machinery. He said it wanted cleaning and oiling, besides regulating–come in a week. After being cleaned and oiled, and regulated, my watch slowed down to that degree that it ticked like a tolling bell. I began to be left by trains, I failed all appointments, I got to missing my dinner; my watch strung out three days’ grace to four and let me go to protest; I gradually drifted back into yesterday, then day before, then into last week, and by and by the comprehension came upon me that all solitary and alone I was lingering along in week before last, and the world was out of sight. I seemed to detect in myself a sort of sneaking fellow-feeling for the mummy in the museum, and a desire to swap news with him. I went to a watchmaker again. He took the watch all to pieces while I waited, and then said the barrel was “swelled.” He said he could reduce it in three days. After this the watch averaged well, but nothing more. For half a day it would go like the very mischief, and keep up such a barking and wheezing and whooping and sneezing and snorting, that I could not hear myself think for the disturbance; and as long as it held out there was not a watch in the land that stood any chance against it. But the rest of the day it would keep on slowing down and fooling along until all the clocks it had left behind caught up again. So at last, at the end of twenty-four hours, it would trot up to the judges’ stand all right and just in time. It would show a fair and square average, and no man could say it had done more or less than its duty. But a correct average is only a mild virtue in a watch, and I took this instrument to another watchmaker. He said the king-bolt was broken. I said I was glad it was nothing more serious. To tell the plain truth, I had no idea what the king-bolt was, but I did not choose to appear ignorant to a stranger. He repaired the king-bolt, but what the watch gained in one way it lost in another. It would run awhile and then stop awhile, and then run awhile again, and so on, using its own discretion about the intervals. And every time it went off it kicked back like a musket. I padded my breast for a few days, but finally took the watch to another watchmaker. He picked it all to pieces, and turned the ruin over and over under his glass; and then he said there appeared to be something the matter with the hair-trigger. He fixed it, and gave it a fresh start. It did well now, except that always at ten minutes to ten the hands would shut together like a pair of scissors, and from that time forth they would travel together. The oldest man in the world could not make head or tail of the time of day by such a watch, and so I went again to have the thing repaired. This person said that the crystal had got bent, and that the mainspring was not straight. He also remarked that part of the works needed half-soling. He made these things all right, and then my timepiece performed unexceptionably, save that now and then, after working along quietly for nearly eight hours, everything inside would let go all of a sudden and begin to buzz like a bee, and the hands would straightway begin to spin round and round so fast that their individuality was lost completely, and they simply seemed a delicate spider’s web over the face of the watch. She would reel off the next twenty-four hours in six or seven minutes, and then stop with a bang. I went with a heavy heart to one more watchmaker, and looked on while he took her to pieces. Then I prepared to cross-question him rigidly, for this thing was getting serious. The watch had cost two hundred dollars originally, and I seemed to have paid out two or three thousand for repairs. While I waited and looked on I presently recognized in this watchmaker an old acquaintance–a steamboat engineer of other days, and not a good engineer, either. He examined all the parts carefully, just as the other watchmakers had done, and then delivered his verdict with the same confidence of manner.

“She makes too much steam-you want to hang the monkey-wrench on the safety-valve!”

I brained him on the spot, and had him buried at my own expense.

My uncle William (now deceased, alas!) used to say that a good horse was, a good horse until it had run away once, and that a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it. And he used to wonder what became of all the unsuccessful tinkers, and gunsmiths, and shoemakers, and engineers, and blacksmiths; but nobody could ever tell him.

More from Mark Twain :

• A Tramp Abroad
• The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson
• Tom Sawyer, Detective
• Tom Sawyer Abroad
• Those Extraordinary Twins
• Some Rambling Notes Of An Idle Excursion

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It's About Time:Mark Twain's “My Watch” and Relativity

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Hugh Henderson; It's About Time:Mark Twain's “My Watch” and Relativity. Phys. Teach. 1 September 2005; 43 (6): 378–379. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2033527

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Over three decades before Einstein's year of miracles, the American humorist Mark Twain published an essay titled “My Watch,” 1 in which he recounts his experiences with a previously reliable pocket watch and those who tried to rehabilitate it. He begins his essay by confessing his first error: My beautiful new watch had run eighteen months without losing or gaining, and without breaking any part of its machinery or stopping. I had come to believe it infallible in its judgments about the time of day, and to consider its constitution and its anatomy imperishable. But at last, one night, I let it run down. I grieved about it as if it were a recognized messenger and forerunner of calamity.

Twain then sets the watch by guess, and takes it to the “chief jeweler's to set it by the exact time.” To Twain's dismay, the jeweler insists on opening it up and adjusting the regulator inside the watch, and the watch begins to gain time. It gained faster and faster day by day. Within a week it sickened to a raging fever, and its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade. At the end of two months, it had left all the timepieces of the town far in the rear, and was a fraction over thirteen days ahead of the almanac. It was away into November enjoying the snow, while the October leaves were still turning. It hurried up house rent, bills payable, and such things, in such a ruinous way that I could not abide it.

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My Watch: An Instructive Little Tale

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• NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Essay Chapter 1 My Watch
• NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Essay Chapter 1

The NCERT solutions is an additional study material that students can refer to while preparing for their exams. It provides an accurate solution to the exercises of every chapter.

Moreover, NCERT solutions class 11 English Woven Words chapter 1 essay follows CBSE’s curriculum and guidelines. Therefore, referring to them will help students to structure their preparations according to the exam demands.

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Essay Chapter 1 My Watch

Ncert solutions for class 11 english woven words – free pdf download.

The first chapter of this book’s essay section includes a piece by renowned American author Mark Twain. This essay talks about a watch that the writer had and how it troubled him throughout. Even though he took it to various watchmakers for repair, no one can get it right. 

The exercise section of this essay prompts students to study it thoroughly and find appropriate answers. Apart from that, it also helps students to improve their vocabulary. Also, a group-discussion activity here helps students to talk about specific subjects and express their opinions.

NCERT solutions class 11 English woven words chapter 1 is available online in the PDF format. Individuals can download them quickly from any reputed websites.

Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 1 Essay – Overview

‘My Watch’ is one of the famous works of Mark Twain. The premise of this short story is a watch that the author has been using for 18 months without interruptions. He then started believing that this watch is infallible. In his newfound belief, he let the watch run one night.

Resultantly the obvious happened, and it stopped. Next morning, he set it up by guessing the time. However, it made this watch slow and running behind. To resolve this crisis, he went to a watch shop, and the troubles started unfolding next. This struggle continued, and ultimately the author realised that he had spent a lot of money getting it back to its initial condition, and it is not worth this trouble anymore. Eventually, he gave up on it.

The underlying humour of the story is its plus point and gives the reader a different experience. Addressing the ‘chief jeweller’ as ‘head of the establishment’ are bits that make this story an exciting read. Also, the personification of the watch made this essay engaging.

Exercise Questions of Class 11 NCERT Solutions English Woven Words Ch 1 Essay

The exercise section of this piece has four parts. In the first one, students come across several long answer type questions, 5 questions to be precise. These questions demand students to read this essay carefully to solve them.

The first four questions of this part include a discussion about the importance of this watch, author’s attempts to repair it, a reason to give it up and a comment that the author's uncle made regarding tinkers.

The fifth question, however, encourages students to read a particular line and find out its meaning. There are three lines mentioned here, and they require students to read this passage carefully.

In the following section, students get a chance to talk about this text in their classroom and gather different points of views on a particular opinion. Following that is an appreciation section where students get a chance to appreciate the work of Mark Twain. The humour that he has installed in this story and his use of treatment of subject matters allow readers to identify themselves in such situations.

NCERT solutions class 11 English Woven Words chapter 1 essay offers an easy solution to all these questions. Students can follow it for reference and better marks.

Why NCERT Solutions?

NCERT solutions are an essential study material like it, aid students, to improve their final preparations. Here are 5 reasons to follow this study material –

NCERT solutions follow the curriculum of CBSE; thus, following it keep students within the syllabus and stop them from deviating.

The use of language in these study materials is simple. It helps aspirants to comprehend any topic quicker.

Besides, the use of real-life examples helps students to relate to the topics easily.

The answers presented here are accurate with ample explanation. Therefore, the information available in NCERT solutions are satisfactory for students, and they do not have to refer to any additional book.

Lastly, subject experts and experienced teachers are in-charge of preparing these study materials. Hence, the reliability of information presented here is unquestionable.

NCERT solutions class 11 English Woven Words chapter 1 essay is available for free online. Students can download them in PDF format from the official website and mobile application of Vedantu – India’s leading e-learning platform. Along with this, students can also register for live online classes and interactive doubt clearing sessions to better their exam preparations and secure higher grades.

FAQs on NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Essay Chapter 1 My Watch

Q1. What is the author’s impression of the chief jeweller?

Ans: After a long service of 18 months the author's most reliable watch got into some trouble. Even though it was resolved with the writer’s quick thinking, it was not fixed. The chief jeweller and his shop promise competent service, but not to the author’s liking. He addressed him as ‘head of the establishment’ and later on regarded him as ‘human cabbage’ as well. Instead of restoring it, chief jeweller’s efforts made this watch go faster. Hence, the author could not forget this ‘shameful deed’ of the chief jeweller.

Q2. What is the reason behind the malfunctioning of the author's watch?

Ans: The watch was working fine for more than a year, 1.5 years to be precise. This longevity took the author by surprise, and he became a little brave and let it run one night. The result was not surprising at all, as it stopped working. Setting aside all his fears, the author finally set-up the watch by guessing time. The saga of further trouble starts from here taking the writer on a trip of different watch shops in coming months.

Q3. What was the comment of Uncle Williams?

Ans: The character of Uncle Williams is not present in the story. He made an appearance at the end, not physically just in the thoughts of the author. Upon hearing the verdict of the watch repairer, the author finally concluded his efforts as he realised that it costs him more to repair it than the watch itself. In this context, he recalled his Uncle Williams comment that a good horse remains good until it runs away once, and a good watch also remains so until it repairs.

Q4. Why was the author so much attached to the watch?

Ans: The author had an emotional attachment towards the watch. It showed him the accurate time and was perfect from the last 18 months. It never had any problem or ever showed the wrong time. His faith and belief in the watch were immensely high. The author was disappointed when the watch stopped, and he had to take it to the watchmaker for repair.

Q5. What did the author do when he didn't find the watch working?

Ans: The author was very disappointed when he saw that the watch was not working. He was emotionally attached to the watch and never thought that the watch would ever fail him. He was totally dependent on his watch for the time. Finally, he came out of the emotions and made up his mind to take it to the watchmaker. The next day, he immediately took the watch to the chief jeweller to set the watch at the exact time.

Q6. Was the watch repaired?

Ans: Even though the watch was given to several watchmakers to repair, none of them could rectify it. The watch never showed the perfect time - it was either slow, fast, or was stopping after running for some time. The author had spent more than the original cost of the watch. Finally, the author realised to keep it as it is and remembered uncle William’s words that a good horse and a good watch can be considered good till it runs properly.

Q7. What is pain referred to in this chapter?

Ans: The author felt pain every time he gave the watch to repair to a different watchmaker, and they were opening and fiddling with the parts. The pain grew deeper in the author's heart because of the emotional attachment he had for the watch. None of them could rectify it. He was pretty disappointed. We can conclude that even if it is an object and you are emotionally attached to it, you will feel pain if it is damaged or broken.

Q8. How can NCERT solutions help prepare the chapter?

Ans: NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1 are very useful as the explanation of the chapter is given in an effortless way for the students to understand. The answers and the crucial questions will prepare the student to answer different types of questions. The NCERT Solutions are also very helpful in preparing notes and as a guide in exam preparation. The solutions are available without any cost and can be accessed through the Vedantu app.

Looking for high-quality CBSE and NCERT class notes and solutions for English from classes VI to XII? Englishnotes.in offers comprehensive study material and resources to help you excel in your studies. Our focus is on providing top-notch notes and solutions for classes IX, X, XI, and XII, along with free CBSE sample papers, practice sheets, interactive quizzes, and online resources. All our resources are available for free and can be easily downloaded. Start exploring Englishnotes.in now.

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Friday, December 19, 2014

Essay-01 my watch by mark twain, class notes - english - xi - elective - woven words - essay:01, understanding the text.

• What was the importance of the watch to the author? The watch was important to the author as it showed him the correct time thus keeping him punctual. He had it working properly for 18 months until he let it run down. He had staunch faith on its judgement and its prediction. It worked perfectly until then without gaining or losing any part of it.
• What were the attempts made by the author to get his watch repaired? After a possession of 18 months, the author let his watch run down. Devastated, the author went to all possible watch makers starting from the chief jeweller, the very next day. The head of the establishment pushed the regulator of the watch a little too much, which did no good, rather worsened its condition. Then the author went to another watch maker who kept it for a week and slowed it down, however, too much. Then he went to another one who kept it for three days; and then couple of more. Even after having spent thousands dollars, none of the watch makers could fix the watch. Hopeless, the author gave it a last shot and went to a watch maker who turned out to be an erstwhile, not a good, steam-boat engineer. It was now that the author realised that "a good horse was a good horse until it had run away once, and that a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it. "
• Why did the author finally give up on his watch? The author got the watch repaired seven times. By the end, he realised that the watch, with its original cost being two hundred dollars, had cost him two to three thousand on repairs itself. And the watch was still malfunctioning. It was when he reached the seventh watch maker and acknowledged the mechanic to be an old acquaintance, a steam-boat engineer of other days and not a good engineer. He gave his verdict like all other watch makers, the author was not gullible and this time he perceived what his uncle William used to say that a good horse was a good horse until it had run away once, and that a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it. So, he finally gave up the repairing and decided to let the watch be.
• What was Uncle Williams’ comment on the ‘tinkerers’ of the world? Uncle William is not a character in the story; however, the author gives a glimpse of him. When the author gave the watch for mending the last time, he reckoned that it was costing him more than the original cost. All the attempts so far have been futile and the verdict of the last watch maker made him remember what uncle William used to say that a good horse was a good horse until it had run away once, and that a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it. The author perceived what his uncle had known with all his knowledge and experience. All the unsuccessful tinkers in the world are not specialists. They are the 'Jacks' of all trades and masters of none. Uncle William used to wonder what became of all those gunsmiths, shoe-makers, engineers and blacksmiths who never could be successful in their work sphere. It is important to acquire specialisation at least in one particular field, else one is left being a tinker, an apprentice, and not a specialist.
• Explain these lines a. ‘I seemd to detect in myself a sort of sneaking fellow-feeling for the mummy in the museum, and a desire to swap news with him.’ b. ‘Within a week it sickened to a raging fever and its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade.’ c. ‘She makes too much steam—you want to hang the monkey wrench on the safety valve!’ ANSWER: (a) After being oiled and cleaned and 'regulated' for the second time, the watch came home to the author after a week. However, the watch was slowed down to such a degree that the author missed all his appointments, his dinner. He felt like he was drifted in the past somewhere. Gradually the watch slowed even more, he felt like he was living in the previous week. The author felt like he missed all that was happening in the world. He was solitary and lingered in the past all because of his watch. The author here compares his situation to that of a mummy, who belongs to bygone ages. He felt it ideal to find a fellowship with the mummy in some museum he probably had been to or an imaginary one. He felt travelling in the past just like the mummy due to the slow time projected by his watch. (b) When the author let his watch run down after eighteen months, he took it to chief jeweller's to set it by the exact time. The head of the establishment however, despite being stopped by the author, pushed the regulator. This gave the watch, probably, a kick and the watch shot ahead of its time. It gained faster and faster, day by day. Post two months, it appeared to be having some sort of a fever with an extremely high pulse rate. It moved 13 days ahead of the actual date and when the year touched October, the author commented, the watch was enjoying the snow fall of November already. This erratic behaviour annoyed the author a lot and so he decided to get it doctored once again. (c) The seventh time the author took the watch to a watch maker, he reckoned the apprentice to be an old acquaintance, a steam-boat engineer of other days and not a good engineer. Like all watch makers, he diagnosed and gave his verdict. The author observed keenly and judged him at his very verdict when he said, "She makes too much steam-you want to hang the monkey wrench on the safety valve! The author immediately remembered what his uncle William used to say and perceived that a tinker is a tinker after all, this being an unsuccessful engineer and wondered like his uncle what became of all the unsuccessful tinkers.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

• Replacing old machines with new is better than getting them repaired.
• It is difficult to part with personal items like a watch which have a sentimental value attached to them. 

APPRECIATION

• How is humour employed to comment on the pains that the author took to get his watch set right? It is funny how the author and his dear watch had to go through all the pain that was delivered by seven watch makers. In the end, it was all futile and no good was done to the watch. The seven episodes with the watch makers are humorous as while all the watch makers tried their hand on the watch, toying it all up and operating and exploring and dissembling and then assembling every inch of it, it all gave sheer pain to the author to whom the watch was so dear. Every time with all the hope and strength he took it to a new watch maker; however, not a single of all the tinkers could put it all back to place to make it function all properly. How strange it is that none of the seven watch makers could mend the watch while they all experimented and did all sorts of research and development on it.
• ‘The author’s treatment of the subject matter makes the readers identify themselves with the experience.’ Comment on this statement. Samuel L. Clemens, Mark Twain, had less than ten years of schooling. He worked as a printer's apprentice, a steamboat pilot, a prospector and a journalist. All this gave him varied experiences and a wide knowledge of humanity. In all his works, he brings in elements from his own experiences and his own life creating a replica of his own self. All his stories have a combination of realistic and make believe world. What he presents are the situations that any ordinary human might face in her/his daily life; thus, making them all appear very realistic and hence the readers easily connect to the story and identify themselves with the experiences. For instance, in the story, the author faced a problem that is so ordinary. Any of us might have a watch that malfunctions and has a simple error. However, the problem rather than being mended, aggravates every time we take it to be doctored. This is a typical example of how an ordinary human faces problems with not just gadgets; it might be a medical condition or as simple as an argument with a known face.
• Identify some of the improbable images the author has used to effect greater humour.  There are instances when the author goes on exaggerating the actual situation to add humour to the story. For example, when the watch is repaired for the second time, it slowed down. The description is a hyperbole of the actual happening. No matter how slow a watch is, it will show the time according to 12 hours, it cannot literally travel in the past. However, the way the author describes its watch enjoying snowfall before the season arrives is humorous. Also, the citation of the mummy is funny, plus it describes the mental state of the poor author.

thank you these were really helpful

NCERT Textbook: Essays: My Watch | Class 11 English Woven Words - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

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An Instructive Little Tale—[Written about 1870.]

My beautiful new watch had run eighteen months without losing or gaining, and without breaking any part of its machinery or stopping. I had come to believe it infallible in its judgments about the time of day, and to consider its constitution and its anatomy imperishable. But at last, one night, I let it run down. I grieved about it as if it were a recognized messenger and forerunner of calamity. But by and by I cheered up, set the watch by guess, and commanded my bodings and superstitions to depart. Next day I stepped into the chief jeweler’s to set it by the exact time, and the head of the establishment took it out of my hand and proceeded to set it for me. Then he said, “She is four minutes slow-regulator wants pushing up.” I tried to stop him—tried to make him understand that the watch kept perfect time. But no; all this human cabbage could see was that the watch was four minutes slow, and the regulator must be pushed up a little; and so, while I danced around him in anguish, and implored him to let the watch alone, he calmly and cruelly did the shameful deed. My watch began to gain. It gained faster and faster day by day. Within the week it sickened to a raging fever, and its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade. At the end of two months it had left all the timepieces of the town far in the rear, and was a fraction over thirteen days ahead of the almanac. It was away into November enjoying the snow, while the October leaves were still turning. It hurried up house rent, bills payable, and such things, in such a ruinous way that I could not abide it. I took it to the watchmaker to be regulated. He asked me if I had ever had it repaired. I said no, it had never needed any repairing. He looked a look of vicious happiness and eagerly pried the watch open, and then put a small dice-box into his eye and peered into its machinery. He said it wanted cleaning and oiling, besides regulating—come in a week. After being cleaned and oiled, and regulated, my watch slowed down to that degree that it ticked like a tolling bell. I began to be left by trains, I failed all appointments, I got to missing my dinner; my watch strung out three days’ grace to four and let me go to protest; I gradually drifted back into yesterday, then day before, then into last week, and by and by the comprehension came upon me that all solitary and alone I was lingering along in week before last, and the world was out of sight. I seemed to detect in myself a sort of sneaking fellow-feeling for the mummy in the museum, and a desire to swap news with him. I went to a watchmaker again. He took the watch all to pieces while I waited, and then said the barrel was “swelled.” He said he could reduce it in three days. After this the watch averaged well, but nothing more. For half a day it would go like the very mischief, and keep up such a barking and wheezing and whooping and sneezing and snorting, that I could not hear myself think for the disturbance; and as long as it held out there was not a watch in the land that stood any chance against it. But the rest of the day it would keep on slowing down and fooling along until all the clocks it had left behind caught up again. So at last, at the end of twenty-four hours, it would trot up to the judges’ stand all right and just in time. It would show a fair and square average, and no man could say it had done more or less than its duty. But a correct average is only a mild virtue in a watch, and I took this instrument to another watchmaker. He said the king-bolt was broken. I said I was glad it was nothing more serious. To tell the plain truth, I had no idea what the king-bolt was, but I did not choose to appear ignorant to a stranger. He repaired the king-bolt, but what the watch gained in one way it lost in another. It would run awhile and then stop awhile, and then run awhile again, and so on, using its own discretion about the intervals. And every time it went off it kicked back like a musket. I padded my breast for a few days, but finally took the watch to another watchmaker. He picked it all to pieces, and turned the ruin over and over under his glass; and then he said there appeared to be something the matter with the hair-trigger. He fixed it, and gave it a fresh start. It did well now, except that always at ten minutes to ten the hands would shut together like a pair of scissors, and from that time forth they would travel together. The oldest man in the world could not make head or tail of the time of day by such a watch, and so I went again to have the thing repaired. This person said that the crystal had got bent, and that the mainspring was not straight. He also remarked that part of the works needed half-soling. He made these things all right, and then my timepiece performed unexceptionably, save that now and then, after working along quietly for nearly eight hours, everything inside would let go all of a sudden and begin to buzz like a bee, and the hands would straightway begin to spin round and round so fast that their individuality was lost completely, and they simply seemed a delicate spider’s web over the face of the watch. She would reel off the next twenty-four hours in six or seven minutes, and then stop with a bang. I went with a heavy heart to one more watchmaker, and looked on while he took her to pieces. Then I prepared to cross-question him rigidly, for this thing was getting serious. The watch had cost two hundred dollars originally, and I seemed to have paid out two or three thousand for repairs. While I waited and looked on I presently recognized in this watchmaker an old acquaintance—a steamboat engineer of other days, and not a good engineer, either. He examined all the parts carefully, just as the other watchmakers had done, and then delivered his verdict with the same confidence of manner.

“She makes too much steam-you want to hang the monkey-wrench on the safety-valve!”

I brained him on the spot, and had him buried at my own expense.

My uncle William (now deceased, alas!) used to say that a good horse was, a good horse until it had run away once, and that a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it. And he used to wonder what became of all the unsuccessful tinkers, and gunsmiths, and shoemakers, and engineers, and blacksmiths; but nobody could ever tell him.

#AmericanWriters

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• NCERT Solutions
• NCERT Class 11
• NCERT Solutions Class 11 English
• Woven Words My Watch

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1 My Watch

Ncert solutions class 11 english my watch – free pdf download.

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 1 is designed in order to help students understand the theme effectively. The answers to each question are prepared in a lucid manner by the subject-matter experts to help students ace the exam. The objective of preparing solutions is to improve the grammatical and linguistic skills of the Class 11 students. The information provided in the NCERT Solutions is accurate, following the curriculum and guidelines of the CBSE board.

Chapter 1 of NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words is present in both online and offline formats to assist the students. The PDF version of the NCERT Class 11 English Solutions is also available, which can be downloaded by the students whenever necessary. It helps the students to understand the chapter and answer the complex questions that would appear in the annual examination.

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Access Answers to NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1 – My Watch

Page No. 148

Understanding The Text

1. What was the importance of the watch to the author? 

The watch was very important to the author as it showed the correct time and kept him punctual. It was working properly for about 18 months until the author let it run down. He had constant faith in its prediction and judgement. Until then, it worked perfectly without losing or gaining any part of it.

2. What were the attempts made by the author to get his watch repaired? 

The author let his watch run down after keeping it for 18 months. The next day, the author had been to all the watchmakers beginning with the chief jeweller. The regulator of the watch was pushed a little hard by the head of the establishment, which exacerbated its condition. The author then gave the watch to another watchmaker, who slowed it down by keeping it for about a week. Then he gave it to another watchmaker who kept it for three days and a couple more. After spending about a thousand dollars, the watch was not fixed by any of the watchmakers. The author tried for the last time and gave it to another one who was an erstwhile watchmaker. This made the author realise that “a good horse was a good horse until it had run away once, and that a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it.”

3. Why did the author finally give up on his watch? 

The author had his watch repaired about seven times. He finally realised that though the cost of the watch was two hundred dollars, he had spent about two to three thousand on repairs. Despite that, the watch still did not function properly. He then went to the seventh watchmaker, who was considered to be a steamboat engineer, an old acquaintance though not a good engineer. Similar to all the other watchmakers, he delivered his verdict with the same confidence. The author recalled what William, his uncle used to say “a good horse was a good horse until it had run away once, and that a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it.” At last, the author gave up on repairing the watch and wanted to just keep it.

4. What was Uncle Williams’ comment on the ‘tinkerers’ of the world?

The author provides a glimpse of his uncle William who is not present in the story. The author noticed that the repair was about two to three thousand higher than the actual cost of the watch, when he gave his watch for repair. All his attempts to get the watch repaired have been fruitless, and the watchmaker’s verdict reminds him of what his uncle William used to say “a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it.” He understood that his uncle was familiar with it from his experience and knowledge. His uncle used to think about the shoe-makers, gunsmiths, blacksmiths and engineers who were unsuccessful in their work. It is necessary to obtain specialisation in a particular field, or else one will remain an apprentice, a tinker and not progress to a specialist.

5. Explain these lines 

a. ‘I seemed to detect in myself a sort of sneaking fellow-feeling for the mummy in the museum, and a desire to swap news with him.’ 

b. ‘Within a week it sickened to a raging fever and its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade.’ 

c. ‘She makes too much steam—you want to hang the monkey wrench on the safety valve!’ 

a. After being regulated, cleaned and oiled for the second time, the author received the watch after a week. The author had missed his dinner and his appointments as his watch was slowed down to that extent. He felt as if he had been carried away somewhere into the past. The author had a feeling that he missed everything which happened on earth. He was lonely and left alone in the past due to his watch, which was not functioning properly. This situation of the author is compared to a mummy from an earlier age. He thought that it would be ideal to get a friendship with a mummy in the museum he had visited or an unreal one. Owing to the slow time that his watch projected, he felt that he was moving in the past, similar to a mummy.

b. When the author let his watch run down after keeping it for 18 months, he went to the chief jeweller to set the accurate time. Even after the author stopped the head of the establishment, he forcefully pushed the regulator of the watch. This provided a kick to the watch, and it shot ahead of the actual time. As days passed by, it got faster. After two months, the watch appeared to have some kind of fever with a very excessive pulse rate. From the actual date, the watch travelled thirteen days ahead, and when it was October, he said that the watch relished the November snowfall. The author was annoyed by this behaviour and wanted to get it diagnosed again.

c. The author went to the watchmaker for the seventh time and found him to be a steamboat engineer, an old acquaintance though not a good engineer. He diagnosed and delivered his verdict like the other watchmakers. The author keenly observed and judged him when he said, “She makes too much steam— you want to hang the monkey wrench on the safety valve!” The author was reminded of what his uncle William used to say and noticed that a tinker is an unsuccessful engineer and wondered “what became of all the unsuccessful tinkers” like his uncle.

Talking About The Text

Discuss in pairs or groups of four 

1. Replacing old machines with new is better than getting them repaired. 

We face an important question when the old machines begin to malfunction. Should the machine be repaired or replaced? Most of the time, if the malfunctioning is minimal, it is ignored. We get the machine repaired if it creates a problem. The old machines are repaired many times to maintain them instead of purchasing a new one. But what should be considered is that, as the machines get old, they tend to get spoiled. The money spent on repairing the old machine is more than the actual price. To save money and to have a properly functioning machine, it is better to replace the old machine with a new one. This saves the cost of repairing and increases the efficiency of the machine. Hence, replacing old machines with new ones is better than getting them repaired.

2. It is difficult to part with personal items like a watch which have a sentimental value attached to them.

We humans get attached to things which are gifted by our loved ones. We usually have these things surrounding us always. If they do not function properly, we feel pain as we are attached to them emotionally too. These things possess sentimental values, and people cannot even think of losing them. For instance, if a father gifts a doll to his daughter, she holds sentimental value as her father gave it to her. As the girl grows up and if she is asked to keep the doll away, she would find it difficult to do so. Therefore, people find it difficult to part with personal items like a watch, which have sentimental value attached to them.

Appreciation

1. How is humour employed to comment on the pains that the author took to get his watch set right? 

It is humorous how the author and his watch had to undergo the pain which was delivered by the seven watchmakers. It was futile in the end, and no good was done to his dear watch. The episodes with the seven watchmakers are funny as the watchmakers try their best to repair the watch, playing with it, exploring, operating, assembling and disassembling each part of it. The author experienced sheer pain as the watch was dear to him. Each time with strength and hope, he went to a new watchmaker; not even a single tinker was able to put it back together and make it function properly again. It was strange how the seven watchmakers could not repair the watch while they experimented and did lots of development and research on it.

2. ‘The author’s treatment of the subject matter makes the readers identify themselves with the experience.’ Comment on this statement. 

The author, Samuel L. Clemens, or Mark Twain, has less than ten years of schooling. He worked as a printer’s apprentice, a steamboat pilot, a prospector and a journalist. All this gave him varied experiences and a wide knowledge of humanity. His stories are realistic, which makes them sound believable. The situations which he explains are faced by ordinary people in their daily lives, which makes it more realistic. The readers can find themselves in these situations and connect easily to his story. For example, in this story, Samuel L. Clemens faces an ordinary issue. We would have a malfunctioning watch which has an error. The issue, rather than being solved, aggravated each time he wanted to get it repaired. This is an example of the problems faced by humans, not just with materialistic things; it can also be a simple argument or even a medical condition.

3. Identify some of the improbable images the author has used to effect greater humour.

There are examples where the author exaggerates the situation to make the story humorous. For example, the watch slowed down when it was repaired for the second time. The explanation is a hyperbole of what actually occurred. Even if a watch is slow, it will show time as 12 hours, it cannot travel in the past. The way the author explains how the watch is enjoying the November snowfall before the arrival of the season is funny. The mention of the mummy is humorous and explains the mental state of the author.

Language Work

Make a list of the expressions that imbue the watch with human attributes.

The list of the expressions that imbue the watch with human attributes are –

“infallible in its judgments”

“she is four minutes slow”

“it sickened to a raging fever and its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade”

“It was away into November enjoying the snow, while the October leaves were still turning.”

“it would go like the very mischief, and keep up such a barking and wheezing and whooping and sneezing and snorting”

“She makes too much steam— you want to hang the monkey-wrench on the safety-valve!”

Frequently Asked Questions on NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1

What did uncle williams comment on in the ncert solutions for class 11 english chapter 1.

Uncle Williams is not physically present in the story but makes an appearance at the end in the author’s thoughts. After listening to the watch repairer’s verdict, the author concluded his efforts as he realised that the cost of the repair was more than the actual cost of the watch. He finally recalled the comment of Uncle Williams that “a good horse remains good until it runs away once, and a good watch also remains so until it repairs.” To understand this instance, students can refer to the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1 from BYJU’S, which are available online.

Why did the author’s watch malfunction in the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1?

For about 18 months, the watch worked all fine. The longevity took the author by surprise, and he became brave and let it run one night. It was not surprising as the watch stopped working. Keeping aside all his fears, the author sets up his watch by guessing the time. Further trouble began from here, which took the author on a trip to watch shops in the coming months. Students can make use of the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1 to understand the topics effectively.

Explain the impression of the chief jeweller in the author’s mind in the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1.

The author’s reliable watch got into trouble after a period of 18 months. Even after being resolved by the quick thinking of the author, it was not repaired. The chief jeweller promised to offer the best service, but it was not to the liking of the author. In the beginning, the author addressed the chief jeweller as ‘head of the establishment’, and in the end, he was regarded as ‘human cabbage’. The efforts of the chief jeweller made his watch run faster instead of restoring it. To know more about this event, BYJU’S provides NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1, as per the requirements of the students.

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Essay on My Hobby Watching T.V.

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Hobby Watching T.V. in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Hobby Watching T.V.

Introduction.

Watching TV is my favorite hobby. It’s a great way to relax and learn new things.

Why I Love Watching TV

TV shows and movies are full of exciting stories. They take me to new worlds, and I get to experience different cultures and ideas.

Learning from TV

TV is not just about entertainment. It’s also educational. I learn about history, science, and current events from documentaries and news channels.

In conclusion, watching TV is a hobby that offers both fun and learning. It’s a window to the world, right from my living room.

250 Words Essay on My Hobby Watching T.V.

The allure of television.

Television, a ubiquitous component of modern life, has been my hobby for as long as I can remember. It’s not just a pastime; it’s a medium that has significantly shaped my worldview and intellectual growth.

Exploring Cultures and Ideas

Watching T.V. is akin to embarking on a journey of exploration. It exposes me to different cultures, perspectives, and ideas, broadening my understanding of the world. From historical documentaries to foreign films, every program offers a unique lens through which to view humanity.

Understanding Human Emotions

Moreover, T.V. helps me comprehend the complexity of human emotions. Dramas, comedies, and thrillers reveal the intricacies of human relationships and emotions, facilitating empathy and emotional intelligence. The characters’ triumphs and tribulations become lessons in resilience, love, and loss.

Learning and Inspiration

Educational television programs are a treasure trove of knowledge. They offer insights into diverse subjects such as science, history, and philosophy, fostering intellectual curiosity. Inspiring biographies and TED Talks ignite the spark of motivation, encouraging me to strive for personal and academic excellence.

Leisure and Relaxation

Amidst the rigors of college life, watching T.V. serves as a form of relaxation. It provides an escape from academic stress, allowing me to unwind and rejuvenate.

In conclusion, my hobby of watching T.V. is not merely a passive activity. It is an active engagement with diverse cultures, ideas, and emotions. It is an opportunity for learning, inspiration, and relaxation. As I navigate the journey of college life, television remains a constant companion, illuminating and enriching my world.

500 Words Essay on My Hobby Watching T.V.

Television, since its inception, has played a significant role in shaping our society and culture. It has transformed into an indispensable part of our lives, serving as a platform for education, entertainment, and enlightenment. My hobby, watching television, is a pastime that I have found to be intellectually stimulating and emotionally enriching.

Television as a Window to the World

One of the main reasons I am drawn to television is its ability to act as a window to the world. It provides me with a glimpse into different cultures, traditions, and ways of life. For instance, watching a documentary about life in the Amazon rainforest or a travel show about the vibrant streets of Tokyo can transport me to places I may never visit. In this sense, television broadens my perspective, making me a more informed and empathetic individual.

The Educational Value of Television

Television is not merely an entertainment medium; it is also a potent educational tool. Through informative channels like National Geographic or Discovery, I can delve into the mysteries of the universe, explore the depths of the ocean, or understand the intricacies of human anatomy. Television also offers numerous shows that discuss current social, political, and environmental issues, aiding in my personal growth and understanding of the world.

Television as a Source of Inspiration

Watching television can also be a source of inspiration. Biographies and documentaries about successful individuals and their journeys often inspire me to strive for success and overcome obstacles. Moreover, shows that portray characters overcoming adversity or achieving their dreams can serve as a catalyst for personal motivation.

The Therapeutic Effect of Television

Television has a therapeutic effect as well. After a long day, sitting down to watch a favorite show or movie can help me unwind and relax. The humor in sitcoms, the suspense in thrillers, or the drama in soap operas can provide an escape from the stresses of daily life. This cathartic release is a significant aspect of why I enjoy watching television.

Television and Critical Thinking

Furthermore, television can enhance critical thinking skills. Analyzing plotlines, predicting character developments, or dissecting the symbolism and themes in a show can stimulate intellectual engagement. This active viewership encourages me to think critically and creatively, skills that are invaluable in my academic pursuits and future career.

In conclusion, my hobby of watching television is more than a passive activity. It is an engaging pastime that offers education, inspiration, relaxation, and mental stimulation. While it is important to balance television watching with other activities and responsibilities, I believe it can be a valuable addition to one’s leisure time. As a college student, I find that television not only enriches my knowledge but also provides a well-deserved break from the rigors of academic life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on My Hobby Horse Riding
• Essay on My Hobby Football
• Essay on My Hobby Listening to Music

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English Essay, Paragraph on “A Lost Watch” Essay in 300 words for class 8, 9, 10, and 12 Students.

A lost watch.

Peter was on his way to school. He wanted to show his friends the new ‘Ben 10’ watch that hic parents had bought for him. When his friends saw him new watch, they were envious. They asked him many questions and Leonard, his good friend, even asked if he could try wearing it. Peter agreed and soon, a few other boys also wanted to try wearing the watch. Peter was pleased that everyone loved his watch.

It was recess time so Peter hurriedly took back his watch and put it on. During recess, Peter played catching with his friends in the field. He was running all over the field, having a whale of a time. Towards the end of recess, he realised that his watch was missing. He became worried. He thought that maybe one of his friends had not returned him his watch after trying it on but Leonard reminded him that he had seen Peter putting on the watch when they were going for recess. Leonard said that he had probably lost it while running in the field. So, Peter and Leonard looked around and got some of their friends to help in the search.

Their classmates looked around but they could not find it. Peter was very sad. He wanted to continue searching but when the bell rang, all of them had to go to the hall to assemble. Peter was worried and disappointed. He was worried that his parents would scold him and he was disappointed that he had lost his favourite watch which was so new!

In the hall, the teacher on duty held up a watch and asked who it belonged to. Peter recognised the watch. It was his! He ran up to the teacher and said that it was his. When the teacher returned it to him, he was relieved. He reminded himself to put it on and make sure it was properly locked.

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‘At 51, My Mom Became My Surrogate—And Helped Make Me A Mama’

After struggling with infertility, Breanna Lockwood shares how she received the ultimate gift.

As soon as my daughter was born, the doctors handed her directly to me and the whole world stopped. She was healthy, perfect, and looked exactly like my husband. Our surrogate was also healthy, stable, and, officially, a grandma. My mom had helped make me a mama.

My daughter Briar is now 3. She is super spunky and has a big personality. She's kept us on our toes since the day she was born. And she knows she came from Grandma’s belly. They have an extremely close relationship and get to see each other almost every day. Briar is too young to fully understand the concept, but my family decided that our surrogacy story would always be a regular part of our life.

My husband and I were high school sweethearts, and when we got married in 2016, we immediately tried to start a family. After eight months with no luck, I went to my ob-gyn, who referred us to a fertility specialist in Chicago. First, we tried intrauterine insemination (IUI), a procedure that boosts the chances of getting pregnant by placing a sperm directly in the uterus. The first round was unsuccessful, and I was impatient, so we switched to in vitro fertilization (IVF), the most effective type of fertility treatment, in which an egg is fertilized by sperm in a lab before being transferred directly into the uterus.

I ended up having six unsuccessful IVF transfers, including two that ended in miscarriage —once after the second transfer and then again with twins. I was also diagnosed with Asherman syndrome after my miscarriage with the twins due to damaged scar tissue on the inside of my uterus, making future pregnancies more difficult and high risk.

At the time, all my friends were pregnant, and I felt so isolated. Every month I built the strength to try another round of IVF, and each time it didn’t work out, I was crushed. It was a vicious cycle. Infertility also took a serious toll on my body. I was pumping myself with hormones, my body was changing, and I was fatigued, tired, and emotional. The countless procedures, blood draws, transfers, and exams were unpleasant and painful. It felt as if I were in medical stirrups every day.

Eventually, my doctor suggested we look into surrogacy . It took some time to come around to the idea, and of course, I also had extreme sticker shock. Surrogacy can run anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000, and honestly, we couldn’t afford it. Still, it felt like my only option at that point, so I was devastated.

“What if I was your surrogate?” my mom texted me one day.

The text came out of the blue. My mom was 50 at the time. She’s a two-time Boston marathon runner and triathlete and is incredibly healthy. She is my best friend, and I’m her only daughter, so we’ve always been close. But I was still processing my emotions after the failed IUI and IVF, so I told her to drop it. Her suggestion felt like a silly, unrealistic, outlandish idea, and I didn’t even want to get my hopes up. But she was persistent and continued to remind me that she was confident she could be my surrogate.

About two months later, at a routine checkup at the fertility clinic, my mom came to support me. At the end of the exam, my doctor brought up surrogacy again, and my mom chimed in saying she had offered to be my surrogate. I was a little annoyed and embarrassed because it felt like such a crazy idea. But the doctor was clearly considering the idea and offered to run some preliminary tests.

There was never an exact moment when we decided that my mom would be my surrogate.

As she passed each health screening with flying colors (her health report looked better than mine!), we cautiously continued the process. My husband was supportive, trusting that as a very logical, realistic person, I had thought through all the outcomes. He also understood there are a lot of ways to grow a family and appreciated that this could be our path forward.

A few weeks after that initial doctor’s appointment, I saw a People magazine cover at work featuring a surrogate carrying a baby for her own son in Nebraska. I took the magazine home and contacted the mother and son. I wanted to get some answers. My husband and I even drove to Omaha to meet their physician.

All of us—my mom, my husband, and I—had to undergo an extensive psychological exam before starting the surrogacy process, meeting with a psychologist who made sure we were emotionally and mentally stable and ready for this journey. We all had to be on the same page with the right intentions. My mom and I had lawyers representing each of us (everyone had to be in legal agreement and legally protected), and they walked us through every contract, clause, and detail. We discussed all possible outcomes, including what to do in case of a medical emergency.

At this stage, my husband and I also needed to save money and wanted to support my mom throughout the entire process, so we sold our home at the end of 2019 and moved in with my parents.

Once all the screenings, evals, and paperwork were complete, we did an embryo transfer with my mom on February 25, 2020.

None of it felt real. I was emotionally in a dark place after years of infertility and loss, and to make matters worse, COVID-19 hit two weeks later. The world was shutting down, and my mom, who was already considered high risk for COVID infection due to her age, was trying to carry a pregnancy. My baby.

Throughout the entire first trimester, doctors were cautiously optimistic that the baby was developing at a normal rate, but after my history with the miscarriages, I was pessimistic. We held our breath during every appointment, scan, and test.

It wasn’t until the 20-week anatomy scan that I finally felt a wave of relief. My baby girl was growing and healthy. I was still reserved about celebrating, but I tried to let my guard down. We officially announced my mom’s pregnancy to friends and family and posted about it on social media. Of course, strangers online will always have their opinions about our unique surrogacy journey, but our family and friends only celebrated and supported the extraordinary miracle.

Throughout my mom’s pregnancy, we spent our days together. As my husband threw himself into nursery projects, my mom told me about every feeling, symptom, and craving, and I clung to each detail. It made us even closer. Her pregnancy never felt weird or awkward, and I didn’t harbor any jealousy or resentment.

Sometimes it was difficult during routine doctor's appointments since the focus was always on my mom. She was the patient, but as the mother of my baby, I sometimes wished the doctors spoke directly to me and asked questions. (Still, the staff did a great job of including my husband and myself in every conversation and never made us feel like outsiders.) I didn’t hold on to any of those feelings for long because I was just so completely and utterly grateful for my mom’s sacrifice.

My daughter was born on November 2, 2020—World Fertility Day.

She was born via an emergency C-section because doctors were concerned about her heartbeat during delivery. We were still in the throes of the pandemic, and while my doctor originally said we couldn’t go into the operating room—which I expected and made peace with—at the last minute, they let me into the room. It was the happiest day of my life.

We now live 20 minutes away from my parents, and I see my mom almost every day. We have pictures in our home of her pregnancy.

I definitely want to have another baby and recently started going through IVF again. Last year, I got pregnant, but my second daughter was born sleeping [stillborn] at 25 weeks due to a complex heart defect. And once again, I had to pull myself out of a dark hole, process my emotions, and get back on my feet to try again. I’m open to going through another surrogacy, and my mom has offered to carry for me again, but I want to keep her healthy and safe right now.

Although infertility has been the most devastating, difficult thing I’ve gone through, it’s ultimately a story of resilience. It’s financially taxing, emotionally draining, and physically challenging, but at the end of the day, it’s about how many times I get back up and keep going. My mom’s offer was the most selfless, beautiful gift. It showed me that motherhood can come in all different ways, and I carry that idea with me now.

Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based writer and graduate student at Northwestern Medill. She’s a mass consumer of social media and cares about women’s rights, holistic wellness, and non-stigmatizing reproductive care. As a former collegiate pole vaulter, she has a love for all things fitness and is currently obsessed with Peloton Tread workouts and hot yoga.  

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Can’t resist an I Called Off My Wedding essay! (“On another plane ride, I watch Pride and Prejudice. Despite my tendency to be gay, Mr. Darcy makes my heart leap.”)

Discussion   5 comments

Yanni doesn't explicitly mention the phrase, but boy oh boy is compulsory heterosexuality a weird hill to get over. People who aren't queer sometimes don't get the concept, "What do you mean compulsory heterosexuality? It's the 21st century and we're in a country where lots of people are out; surely if you're gay you know right away." But if you're socialized as a girl/woman, you often grow up socialized to climb a ladder of success whose rungs are attention from men, dating men, and ultimately marrying them.

For people who are actually heterosexual this ladder is less problematic for sexuality reasons (like, if you are really and truly a woman who is into men, the successes of the comphet ladder are like getting achievement badges for a quest you were already going on). It's still a set of misogynist expectations, though.

But if you're queer and grow up with comphet, you're wondering when boys are going to start noticing you, and you may not realize that when you finally kiss one you feel more like "yes, I am desirable, I am kissable" than actually enjoying that kissing. If you're caught up in that, sometimes it can be hard to notice that the reason you want to hang out around that *really cool* girl isn't because she's *really cool*; it's because you want to make out with her.

Extra difficulty if you're bi/pan; you actually do like dudes and enjoy kissing them, so you just kind of assume that you must be straight until your sapphic desires sucker punch you one night at a party when you're 25 and you meet a lighting designer who is just so REALLY COOL that you finally realize that your brain has been trying to tell you that "really cool" is its way of telling you that yes, you want to play tonsil hockey with that person.*

Then you slowly realize that when you think about dating women you don't feel the societal pressures that you feel when you're dating men. Maybe the biological clock doesn't feel like such a hurdle, or you realize that dating a woman has somehow made it so that people aren't pressuring you to get married in the same way, or whatever.

And if you happen to already be in a relationship with a man when the really cool lighting designer sapphic feelings sucker punch happens, it can be even harder to parse out the comphetness of it all. Because you can absolutely love someone you're not actually in love with. You can be good partners and friends and not hate sex with them, and not fully realize what you're missing because you haven't had it yet.

Of Little Women , Yanni says "The entire film is a commentary on the female heroine, and how impossible it is for a story not to end with said heroine either married or dead." Compulsory heterosexuality is what drives that impossibility; stepping outside that box (whether to queerness or to happy singleness or to heterosexual relationships that acknowledge that societal pressure and exist despite it or outside of it) feels pretty fucking revolutionary. When you're not focused on the comphet game, you can build your narrative and your sense of self-worth very differently.

*Reader: it happened to me. She was REALLY, REALLY COOL. She was also really, really not single. Thank you, random Brooklyn lighting designer, for my queer epiphany! I did eventually get to play tonsil hockey with other really cool women.

Also: this is the post that finally got me to pony up my money for a membership! I've been reading since 2004-ish, I think? When I was about 20 and had someone yell a slur at me in the street for being queer (even though I thought I wasn't...). But look, a post that relates to late realization of queerness, and now I feel like I have something to say!

Extra difficulty if you're bi/pan; you actually do like dudes and enjoy kissing them, so you just kind of assume that you must be straight until your sapphic desires sucker punch you one night at a party when you're 25 and you meet a lighting designer who is just REALLY COOL that you finally realize that your brain has been trying to tell you that "really cool" is its way of telling you that yes, you want to play tonsil hockey with that person.*

Then you slowly realize that when you think about dating women you don't feel the societal pressures that you feel when you're dating men. Maybe the biological clock doesn't feel like such a hurdle, or you realize that dating a women has somehow made it so that people aren't pressuring you to get married in the same way, or whatever.

And if you happen to already be in a relationship with a man when the really cool lighting designer sapphic feelings sucker punch happens, it can be even harder to parse out the comphetness of it all. Because you can absolutely love someone you're not actually in love with, and be good partners and friends and not hate sex with them, and not fully realize what you're missing since you're not with a woman because you haven't had it yet.

Of Little Women , Yanni says "The entire film is a commentary on the female heroine, and how impossible it is for a story not to end with said heroine either married or dead." Compulsory heterosexuality is what drives that impossibility; stepping outside that box (whether to queerness or to happy singleness or to heterosexual relationships that acknowledge that societal pressure and exist despite it or outside of it) feels pretty fucking revolutionary. When you're not focused on the comphet game, you can build your narrative and your sense of self worth very differently.

*Reader: it happened to me. She was REALLY, REALLY COOL. She was also really, really not single. Thank you random Brooklyn lighting designer for my queer epiphany! I did eventually get to play tonsil hockey with other really cool women.

This comment is kinda blowing my mind. So glad you wrote it. And, so glad you joined.

This is an extraordinary comment. Thank you for posting!

Reply in this thread

This summer’s biggest lesbian hit is about being spurned by a woman who is hanging onto comphet despite herself: “ Good Luck, Babe ” by Chappell Roan.

I'm cliché, who cares? It's a sexually explicit kind of love affair And I cry, it's not fair I just need a little lovin', I just need a little air Think I'm gonna call it off Even if you call it love I just wanna love someone who calls me "baby" You can kiss a hundred boys in bars Shoot another shot, try to stop the feeling You can say it's just the way you are Make a new excuse, another stupid reason Good luck, babe (well, good luck), well, good luck, babe (well, good luck) You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling

Song also just rules in general. Resharing the link bc I think yours is missing a symbol or something https://youtu.be/1RKqOmSkGgM?si=LsHPOB8qlAfhmlsF

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