Chapter 5 – The Fly Questions and Answers

Content structure

  • A. Short questions & answers
  • B. Long questions & answers

The Fly Solutions

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A. Short questions & answers

1. When could Mr. Woodifield go out alone? What did his family think he did?
Ans: Mr. Woodifield was allowed to go out alone only on Tuesdays. On other days, his wife and daughter kept him at home. They thought that whenever he went out, he was going to meet his friends at the pub, but in reality, he went to enjoy the city and visit places he liked.

2. How would you describe Mr. Woodifield?
Ans: Mr. Woodifield was an old and kind man. He was weak in body but polite in manners. Even though he tried to enjoy life, he still carried sadness in his heart because he had lost his son in the war.

3. What did Woodifield want to tell the boss?
Ans: Woodifield wanted to tell the boss that he had visited the cemetery and seen the grave of the boss’s son. He mentioned that the grave was close to Reggie’s grave, which was important because it reminded the boss of his lost child.

4. Why did Woodifield’s daughters go to Belgium?
Ans: They went to Belgium to visit the grave of their brother Reggie, who had died during the war. They wanted to pay their respects and see the place where he was buried.

5. Who are the girls and who is Reggie?
Ans: The girls are Woodifield’s daughters. Reggie is their brother, who died during the war, and whose grave they visited in Belgium.

6. Why did the boss call the wind “refreshing”?
Ans: The boss called the cold wind blowing through the window “refreshing” because it made him feel alert, strong, and full of energy. He enjoyed the feeling of being active even though he was older.

7. Who said “There’s miles of it, and it’s all as neat as a garden”? What does it mean?
Ans: The boss said this to Woodifield while describing the cemetery where the soldiers were buried. He meant that the cemetery was very large, very well-organized, and looked tidy like a beautiful garden.

8. Who was Macey and what was in the telegram?
Ans: Macey was the office messenger. He delivered a telegram to the boss, which informed him that his son had been killed in the war. The telegram also expressed deep regret over the death.

9. What is a cubby-hole and what does the messenger do like a dog?
Ans: A cubby-hole is a small space or little room. The messenger moved around restlessly in the office, like a dog waiting to be taken outside for a walk, showing his eagerness and alertness.

10. Who cried for help in “Help! Help!”? Why?
Ans: The fly appeared to cry for help while it struggled in the ink. The boss had accidentally dropped it into the inkpot, and it tried desperately to escape.

11. How many times did the boss drop ink on the fly? Why?
Ans: The boss dropped ink on the fly three times. He wanted to test the fly’s strength and ability to survive. It was also his way of feeling a sense of power and control over something small in his life.

12. Who said “That was the right spirit. Never say die” and what does it mean?
Ans: The boss said this to himself. He admired how bravely the fly tried to survive and thought that it had a strong will to keep fighting despite the danger.

13. Why did the boss kill the fly?
Ans: The boss killed the fly after repeatedly testing it with drops of ink. He did not intend to kill it at first, but his actions showed his need to control and assert power, and ultimately the fly died.

14. Who is the “tree” in the metaphor “We cling to our last pleasures as the tree clings to its last leaves”? What are the “last leaves”?
Ans: Mr. Woodifield is the tree in this metaphor. The last pleasures he enjoys in his limited freedom are compared to the last leaves of a tree, symbolizing how he tries to hold onto small joys in the last phase of life.

15. What changes did the boss make in his office?
Ans: The boss made several changes to his office. He added a red carpet with a pattern of large white rings, new furniture including a big bookcase and a table with twisted legs, and installed electric heating with five bulbs to make the office more comfortable and impressive.

16. What idea did the boss have about the fly?
Ans: The boss had the idea to test the fly’s endurance and strength by putting drops of ink on it. He may have done this because he was deeply sad about his son and wanted to focus on something else to feel a sense of control.

17. What does “sacrilege” mean in “It’s sacrilege to tamper with stuff like this”?
Ans: The word “sacrilege” means showing disrespect. In this context, the speaker meant that adding water to whisky would spoil it and was a disrespectful thing to do to a fine drink.

18. What changed in Woodifield’s life after retirement and his stroke?
Ans: After retirement and his stroke, Woodifield had to stay at home most days. He was only allowed to go out on Tuesdays, which were special days for him to enjoy life in the city.

19. What did the boss think about his son and business?
Ans: The boss had worked hard to build his business and hoped that his son would grow up and take over, continuing the work he had done. His son’s early death destroyed these plans.

20. How did the fly recover the first time?
Ans: The boss picked the fly from the inkpot and shook it onto blotting-paper. The fly cleaned its wings, rubbed its legs together, expanded its wings, and cleaned its face before trying to move.

21. How did the boss learn about his son’s death?
Ans: He received a telegram delivered by Macey, the office messenger. The telegram informed him that his son had been killed in the war and expressed regret about his death.

22. What did Woodifield mean by “trading on feelings”?
Ans: He meant that charging extra money for food items sold to people visiting graves was unfair. The visitors were sad, and the sellers were taking advantage of their emotions.

B. Long Questions and Answers

1. “Other men might recover from their loss, but not he.” – Who is “he”? Why is it ironic? What does “recover from loss” mean?
Ans: The “he” here refers to the boss. The phrase “recover from loss” means that people accept the death of someone close and try to move on with life. The speaker thinks that most people show acceptance when someone dear to them dies, but he believes the boss is different and will never be able to accept his son’s death. Ironically, the boss behaves just like others and struggles with grief, even though he thought he would be different. This shows that deep sorrow affects everyone, no matter how strong they are.

2. “The fly was dead.” – Why did it die? How did the boss know it was dead? How did it affect the boss?
Ans: The fly died because it could not survive after the third drop of ink fell on it. The boss realized the fly was dead when he tried to move it with his pen, but it didn’t react at all. The death of the fly frightened and unnerved the boss. To get rid of his fear and uneasiness, he threw the dead fly into the waste-paper basket. He also realized that all living beings, including humans, are helpless against very strong forces. For the fly, the force was the ink, and for his son, it was the bullet that killed him. This made the boss feel deeply helpless and reflective about life.

3. “But just then the boss had an idea.” – Who is the boss? What does “just then” mean? What idea did he have? What happened?
Ans: The boss is the owner of an office and the main character of the story. “Just then” refers to the moment when the fly recovered after the boss had rescued it from the inkpot. The boss had the idea to test the fly’s power of endurance by putting drops of ink on it to see how it would react to a challenge. The fly survived the first two drops but died after the third. From this, the boss realized that no one can survive when faced with a very strong or unbeatable challenge, no matter how much effort they put in. This gave him a lesson about the inevitability of defeat in certain situations.

4. How did the fly react to the third drop of ink and how did it affect the boss?
Ans: When the boss put the third drop of ink on the fly, it did not move at all. Its back legs were stuck to its body, and its front legs could not be seen. The boss tried to encourage it by saying words of support and even tried to stir it with his pen, but nothing worked because the fly was dead. The death of the fly made the boss feel helpless and shocked. He used the paper knife to lift the dead fly and threw it into the waste-paper basket. The experience made him realize that when faced with a powerful challenge, surrender is sometimes unavoidable, no matter how strong one is or how much effort is put in

5. “We cling to our last pleasures as the tree clings to its last leaves.” – Who is “we”? What are “last pleasures”? Why does the tree cling to its leaves? Why is this said?
Ans: “We” refers to humans in general. “Last pleasures” are the small joys and things people enjoy until the end of their lives. The tree clings to its last leaves because they are important to its identity and survival, just like the pleasures of life give meaning and value to humans. People want to enjoy life as long as they can, just as the tree holds on to its leaves until the end. The saying explains how humans try to keep happiness and purpose alive even when life is nearing its end.

6. Do you think “The Fly” is a short story? Why?
Ans: Yes, “The Fly” is a short story because it is not very long and focuses mainly on one important event: the boss testing the fly’s endurance. There are few characters, mainly the boss and Woodifield, and they are developed just enough to understand their feelings and thoughts. The story leaves readers thinking about what the boss might do next, which gives a sense of incompleteness. Overall, it teaches a lesson that human efforts can be insignificant against fate, which is a typical feature of a short story.

7. What role does the fly play in the story?
Ans: The fly is very important in the story. It accidentally falls into the inkpot, which makes the boss focus on it. By watching the fly struggle against the drops of ink, the boss learns a lesson about endurance, struggle, and helplessness. The fly survives two drops but dies after the third, teaching the boss that even with effort, defeat is inevitable when faced with something much stronger. The fly represents the central theme of human struggle and the power of fate.

8. What is the plot of “The Fly”?
Ans: The story begins with Woodifield visiting the boss and reminding him of his son’s death, which the boss had nearly forgotten. The boss feels sadness and remembers the plans he had for his son that will now never happen. He starts testing a fly by putting drops of ink on it to see how it survives. The fly dies on the third drop, and the boss realizes that humans are helpless against powerful forces like fate. The story ends with the boss thinking about life, death, and helplessness, leaving readers to reflect on the lesson.

9. “Now what was it? I had it in my mind when I started out this morning.” – Who is “I”? How did the boss react? What did he have in mind? How did the boss feel?
Ans: “I” is Mr. Woodifield. The boss called him “poor old chap” and thought his forgetfulness showed that he was old and in the later phase of life. Woodifield had in mind to tell the boss that while visiting Reggie’s grave, his daughters had accidentally found the boss’s son’s grave. When Woodifield finally said this, the boss felt deeply sad and remembered his son’s death.

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