Extension of a story

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Project Work 

on

Extension of a story 

Jimmy Valentine

- O Henry

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Acknowledgement 

 This project has given me golden opportunity for learning through and self development collaborative activities . I want to thank respected Mr. ____________ to whom I owe specially for preparing this project based on the beautiful story , entitled 'Jimmy Valentine' written by O Henry.

I am also greatful to all my friends who took part in the group discussion and helped me in the shaping of this project.

Signature of the student

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CERTIFICATE 

This is to certify that this Project Report entitled Extension of a story  short story  'Jimmy Valentine' prepared by __________, Class:-  XI Roll :- ______, Registration No:- _____, Year 2022-23 submitted in partial fulfillment to class XI English Course during the academic year 2022-23 is a bonafide record of project work carried out under my guidance and supervision . 

 Signature of the Project Guide

____________________

Name:-

Designation:-

Department:-

School:-

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CONTENTS

* Acknowledgement.

* Certificate.

* Introduction.

* Procedures & Input.

* Output of the Project.

* Conclusion.

* References.

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Introduction

As per the new syllabus , Project work has been included as a part of the curriculum . 

objectives:-

The main objectives of our project work are -

( i ) We will be able to dovelop our creative imagination . 

( ii ) We learn how to extend a story following the end of particular story as the beginning . 

( iii ) We learn how to portray different characters and to arrange events coherently . 

( iv ) We learn how experience can be transformed to art .

Guiding Principle:- 

( i ) Creative Imagination is of course very crucial in the extension of the story . 

( ii ) Reading habit helps one to extend the story because rich experience is conducive to this kind of project work . 

( iii ) Character portrayal is very important . A flat character may become a round one in keeping with the events of the story . 

( iv ) Rearrangement of the sequence of events may be needed to establish unity with the new end .

 ( v ) The story which has been an extended one must end meaningfully . 

 Limitations:-

 ( i ) Time for the whole project work is limited .

 ( ii ) We have not read many stories written in English .

 ( II ) At times we lack expressions because English is not our mother tongue . 

( iv ) The structures of the short story are not known to us quite clearly .

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Procedures & Input.

 For the Extension of a story of O Henry's short story  'Jimmy Valentine'  we worked in groups and sometimes in pairs through a systematic process . Our teacher fixed 10 interventions for completing the project . The details of our activities are enumerated below : 

First intervention : On the first day , we discussed some of the stories . Then we minutely listened to all the stories and selected O Henry's short story  'Jimmy Valentine'.

Second intervention : On the second day , our teacher taught us different aspects of Indian society and culture . 

Third invention : On the third day , we tried to locate the differences of the story from the original . 

Fourth intervention : On the fourth day , we started to change the story so that it looks different . 

Fifth intervention : On the fifth day , we prepared the draft of our extension story .Then we read out our manuscripts . 

Sixth intervention : On the sixth day , we selected the best manuscript . Then we worked together for its further betterment .

 Seventh intervention : On the seventh day , we prepared the final manuscript .Then we read out the manuscript in the presence of our teacher .

Eighth intervention : On the eighth day , the photocopies of the final manuscript were distributed among the students for review . 

Ninth intervention : On the ninth day , each group read out their reviews before of the class . 

Tenth intervention : Students shared their experience with the teacher . The project report was submitted for evaluation and assessment .

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Output of the Project.

O. Henry's story ' Alias Jimmy Valentine ' speaks us about the tale of a safe - cracker Jimmy Valentine who has recently been freed from prison . He skillfully watches out a town bank at Elmore as he wants to rob it later on . But as the fortune smiles , he walks up to the door and his eye meets that of the banker's beautiful daughter Annabel . He invariably falls in love with Annabel and decides to give up his criminal career for good . Jimmy takes up the identity of Ralph Spencer , a shoe - maker . Jimmy was planning to hand over his safe - cracking instruments to one of his old associates . At this juncture when Mr Adams , Annabel's father , was showing him his new vault , an accident came to light . A child fell arrested within the vault . There was every possibility that the little child might die as there was very little air within it . Annabel fell on Jimmy's bosom and begged the life of her sister's daughter . Jimmy was aware of the possibility of being traced out as the safe - cracker in case he displays his old skill . But Jimmy didn't ponder much about the consequence ; he immediately started his work and within a few minutes broke the vault and freed the innocent girl from within few minutes.

Jimmy could then note out Ben Price , the detective getting ready to arrest him , sadly smiled at him and told him to take him wherever he wishes as he thinks that makes little difference to his prospect . But to the endless surprise of Jimmy , Ben Price declared not to recognise him allowing Jimmy to settle down in his new identity . 

Where are you going Ralph ? Look at me . I'm your Annabel . 

" Jimmy didn't stop yet and continued to move on his then caught him by hands and gave him a strong jerk . " Are you in your sense , Ralph ? Why are you going away from me ? Are you OK ? Please speak , do speak my Ralph , " Annabel said .

 " Don't you catch what my real identity is ? " Jimmy said . you must know my past . Do you know I'm a safe - cracker ? I got into prison several times for cracking safes . I came to your town for looting out your bank . And then I fell in love with you . But believe me . I love you more than myself . I can't cheat you . Please marry someone else and be happy . Leave me alone , " Jimmy said . 

I am not all that selfish woman . You possibly have no faith in my love . Ralph , whatever you may be in the past you are my love , my dream , my existence . I cannot think even a bit of my life without you . I still believe , my Ralph can't do anything wrong . You are like an angel . " Annabel embraced Jim with her eyes filled with tears .

 Meanwhile Mr. Adams and the mother of the rescued child came to the spot and saw the two arrested in each other's arms . " Who this man Ralph Spencer might be ? He may be that safe - cracker about whom I was made alert by the police . May be he has saved the life of the baby but still I can't accept a criminal as my son - in - law . Anyway , let us interrogate this Spencer . I can't just let it proceed farther .

 I may not hand this man over to police but at the same time I must make sure that this relationship doesn't proceed any more . " " Who are you Spencer ? Speak out who you are actually . I have doubts in my mind about your true identity . Can you prove that you are in reality a gentleman of a good origin ? Come on , speak out Ralph , " Mr. Adams went on speaking .

 " Oh my father whom are you accusing ? Is he not an angel ? Did he not save your granddaughter's life ? Father , don't for heaven's sake accuse a man without understanding his immense value . I simply love Ralph and whoever he may be , he is the man I love . I don't just care if you accept him or not , but for sure I'm going to marry Ralph at the earliest . No force in this world can obstruct or delay our marriage . " 

" Oh dear , listen to me . I'm not possibly the right man you are going to tie your knot . May be your father has spoken the right thing . I don't deserve you with so much darkness behind . You are the infinite source of light . You have a dazzling future that awaits you out . Why are you wasting your life for me , a safe - cracker , a man having criminal record . Oh dear listen to me . Please marry someone your father chooses . I'll have you in the deepest corner of my mind , " said Jimmy being emotionally charged up . Annabel started crying in public . 

Mr. Adams got even more resolute about his decision . He told Jimmy to leave out the place as early as possible . He also claimed that his daughter would very soon detect out her mistake and come to realize the difference between fancy and reality . He , however , expressed his gratitude to Jimmy for saving an innocent baby's life . 

" Hello Ralph , listen to me . May be my daughter is doing the mistake but you should correct her . You love her , don't you ? So to give her a healthy life , you should leave the place as early as possible without letting the matter proceed . " 

" Please have faith on me . I'll go away to a distant place - a place where neither you nor Annabel will be able to track me out . But believe me , whatever it may turn out to be I love your daughter possibly more than anybody in this world and I can do anything for her , even if that costs my life , it's better , " Jimmy said .

 " That sounds like a man , " said Mr. Adams . Jimmy went back to his residence at Elmore pondering as to when to leave out the place . Mr. Adams , Annabel and her sister all went to their residence .

Jimmy met Mr. Adams the next day and begged his daughter's hand for him , a proposal to which Mr. Adams , after a night's serious thinking , agreed . Jim and Annabel got married to each other on the fixed day . They started living a happy conjugal life thereafter . Jimmy settled at Elmore with his shoe business flourishing day by day . Annabel was helping Jimmy in every possible way in his business . In this way two years passed . Annabel gave birth to a male child . They named him Tim . Tim looked like a blossomy flower . Jim and Annabel had to spend a lot of time to take care of the baby . Everything was going well . 

But then something alarming came to light . A rival businessman of Jimmy was trying to destroy him . He was airing all rubbish about Jimmy , about his past and even made contacts with the local hooligans to drive Jimmy out . The name of this rival businessman was Robert Franklin . 

One day he came to the shop of Jimmy along with some hooligans and threatened to kill him if he had not closed down his shop . Jimmy got furious but anticipating the danger got subdued and for the time being promised to do accordingly . As soon as Robert Franklin left Jimmy went to Mr. Adams along with his wife Annabel . They discussed the matter to the police station . The police officer knew Robert . And he promised Mr. Adams , who was a local business magnet , that he would within a day or two arrest Robert . But as long as Robert was not arrested he offered police protection to Jim . However , within twenty - four hours Robert was arrested . And Jimmy and Annabel breathed a sigh of relief . Jimmy had his old association but he promised not to contact them ever in his life . So , he informed the local people about the hooliganism of Robert . All the people assured him of his safety . After the arrest of Robert , two - three years went on smoothly . And Jim turned out to be a business magnet.

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Conclusion

The project we undertook was completed within scheduled time limit . After completing the project we have learnt the following :

 ( i ) How to transform a story into a extended one . 

( ii ) How to make the play lively by adding suitable dialogues .

 ( iii ) The utility of stage performance in learning the target language . 

( iv ) How to enjoy group work .

 ( v ) How to develop essential skills such as collaboration , communication , and critical thinking . 

( vi ) How to use language in context.

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References

1. Zenith Roy& Manas Chattopadhyay, Higher Secondary English Guide,Kolkata,2017.

2. Chakraborty & Chakraborty, Higher Secondary English Digest, Kolkata,2017.

3. Dr. P.C Dhar & P.K Ray, Smart English, Kolkata,2015.

4. W.B.C.H.S.E Text Book.

5. A. S Hornby, Advanced Learner's Dictionary, Eight Edition, 2010.