HSSC - 1 Play - Visit To A Small Planet - Questions/Answers and Summary

VISIT TO A SMALL PLANET 

Theme and Summary

"Visit to a Small Planet" is a play which satirizes the present race. The play shows that the people of the 20th century are still in the beginning of their civilization as compared to those of the planets of other solar systems. The man of future will be free from hatred and violence, and will feel a sense of pride in the service of mankind.

As a television play, it starts with Roger Spelding who is a TV commentator at a comfortably middle-class home near Manassas, Virginia. He is giving a piece of news to the whole nation about a UFO. General Tom Powers who is the friend of Roger Spelding, is explaining to him as to what that flying object is. Roger Spelding is announcing to television viewers that there nothing like UFOs. When the UFO lands outside the house.

Questions and Answers

Q1. How does Kreton prove his extra ordinary powers? Write five sentences at least.
Ans: Kreton, who is man from outer space, visits to the earth in a flying saucer. He has some
extraordinary powers because is able enough to read the people’s thoughts and makes them surprised.
When the troops try to destroy his flying machine, he makes its door shut and raises some kind of
invisible protective wall all around it. He makes them surprised by telling them that he has come on the
earth to take charge of the whole world. When General Powers and AIDE rush at him, he forces them
to stop stunned within a foot of him.

Q2. Explain the theme or the central idea of the play.

Ans: The theme of the play is a comparison our earthly life on another planet from which Kreton
comes. The present play is a criticism of our so-called modern life. Kreton calls this life much more
undeveloped as compared with life on his developed planet. The play shows that the people of the 20th
century are still in the beginning of their civilization as compared with those of the planets of other solar
systems. The man of the future will be free from hatred and violence and feel a sense of pride in the
service of humanity.

Q3. How does the playwright expose the inferiority of the present race to that of the future?

Ans: A man visits the earth in a flying saucer. He tells that he has come from a world that does not
belong to this universe. Earth is much smaller as compared to that planet. He further astonishes them
by telling this that he can read their minds. He can learn their languages without any difficulty. He has
the power to get hold of the whole world. In this way, the writer exposes the inferiority of the present
race to that of the future.

Q4. Compare and contrast the people of the two planets.

Ans: The people of the earth are more backward in science and technology as compared with the
people of the other planet. The people of this earth are very weak. The people of the other planet are so
strong that only one man of that planet can get hold of the whole world. The people of the earth have
short lives while people of the other planet enjoy endless lives.

Q5. Describe the scene of the arrival of the flying saucer.

Ans: Mr. Spelding is a TV reporter. He is at home along with his wife, daughter and John who is his daughter’s boy friend. First of all, John sees an object going to land right there. He enters Mr. Spelding’s home breathlessly and tells them about it. They go out to see it. They see it falling. It shines brightly. In no time it lands right in Mrs. Spelding’s garden.

Short Questions

Q1. How does Kreton prove his extraordinary powers? 

Ans: Kreton can listen to the thoughts of a person. He can speak every language. When General Powers wants to catch him he forces him to stop at a distance. 

Q2. What is the purpose of Kreton’s visit? 

Ans: Kreton wants to study the civilization of earth. For this purpose, he wants to take charge of it. 

Q3. How much more advanced is the civilization of Kreton than that of earth? 

Ans: Kreton’s civilization is extremely advanced. They have overcome death. They travel in such ships which have no instruments and control panel. 

Q4. Can the people of earth compete with those of Kreton? 

Ans: No, the people of earth cannot compete with them. They are scientifically advanced. It is out of question to contend against them. 

Q5. How much damaging is violence in life? 

Ans: Violence is no cure. It can solve problems temporarily. To avoid violence is the ultimate remedy of problems that can maintain bliss in the society. 

Q6. What type of life do you foresee in year 5000? 

Ans: In A.D. 5000, life will be full of miracles of science. 

Ans: The people will travel in strange vehicles. They will overcome death. Intergalactic journey will be common. 

Q8. How impressive were the morals of Kreton? 

Ans: Kreton had good moral values. He kept himself cool and calm in certain adverse situations. He did not mind aggressive thoughts. When General Powers attacked him, he stopped him at a distance but did not harm him. 

Q9. What is the role of General Power in the play? 

Ans: General Powers is one of the central characters of the play. He is a vigorous military official. He is concerned with the security of the country. He is zealous of his promotion. 

Q10. What is the theme of Kreton’s study? 

Ans: The theme of Kreton’s study is to study the habits and civilization of earth people. He is interested in earth civilization because it is in its initial stages according to his civilization. 

Q11. How does Kreton impress General Powers? 

Ans: Kreton listens to General’s thoughts and tells him that he is thinking of his promotion. He also amazes General when he attacks him. Kreton stops him at a distance. He also erects an invisible wall around his flying saucer to protect it. 

Q12. Why don’t Kreton’s people travel much? 

Ans: Kreton’s people have seen everything in the universe through special monitors. So, they do not need to travel much. 

Q13: What was the impression of Kreton on seeing the inside of the house of Mr. Spelding? 

Ans: Kreton was delighted to see the interior of the house. It was better than he had hoped. 

Q14. Why was Mrs. Spelding worried about her rose garden? 

Ans: Mrs. Spelding was worried about her rose garden because Kreton’s spaceship had landed right on the garden. She was worried that rose garden will be crushed. 

Q15. What is optical illusion? 

Ans: Optical illusion is a phenomenon in which a person sees things which actually do not exist. 

Q16. How did Ellen defend John? 

Ans: Ellen defended John by telling her father that John was a hard worker. He was a farmer of English Walnuts not simple peanuts. 

Q17. Who is John? What are Mr. Spelding’s views about him? What is Spelding’s idea regarding Ellen’s marriage? 

Ans: John Randolph is Ellen Spelding’s fiancé. Mr. Spelding does not like him. He is of the view that John has no will to work and progress. He likes for Ellen to marry a wealthy, ambitious and hardworking man instead of John. 

Q18. What were the rumours regarding the flying saucer? 

Ans: Some people believed that the flying saucer was a secret weapon of the country. Some believed it a spaceship; some, a meteor. To some persons it was a weather balloon. 

Q19. How does General Powers accuse Kreton? 

Ans: General Powers does not believe that Kreton is an alien. He accuses him to be a spy who is sent for reconnoitring prior to invasion. Compare and contrast the people of the two planets. 

Q20. How does the playwright expose inferiority of the present race to that of future? 

Ans: Earth people have made much progress according to themselves. But they are at initial stages of development according to Kreton’s people. Kreton’s people are much more scientifically advanced. They have overcome death. 

Q21. Give the gist of Spelding’s announcement. 

Ans: Spelding had made a commentary about the flying object. The main part (the gist) is that the object was a meteor nothing else. He rejected assumptions of the other people about it. 

Q22. Where does the object land? 

Ans: The flying object landed in the backyard of Spelding’s house on Mrs. Spelding’s rose beds. 

Q23. Write note on: Kreton, Mr. Spelding, Mrs. Spelding, Ellen, John, General Powers Kerton: 

Ans:
Kerton
Kreton is an alien. He has arrived in a spaceship. He can read minds of the people. He does not die. He has extraordinary powers. He is interested in Earth civilization. 

Mr. Roger Spelding: 

Mr. Spelding is a broadcaster. He owns a TV station. He is unctuous. He is always in pursuit of news. He is personal friend of General Powers. 

Mrs. Spelding: 

Mrs. Spelding is wife of Mr. Spelding. She is a house lady who takes a great care of the house. She likes gardening and has planted a rose garden in the backyard of her house. 

Ellen Spelding: 

Ellen is daughter of Mr. Spelding. She is a lively girl of twenty. She is fiancée of John Randolph. She is always at dispute with her father. 

John Randolph: 

John is Ellen Spelding’s fiancé. He is interested in agriculture and grows English Walnuts. He is brave and dauntless.

General Powers: 
General Powers is a vigorous military official. He has the duty to guard the security of the country. He is dutiful and ambitious. Describe the arrival of the flying saucer. The flying saucer was the centre of the attention of the people. It landed in the rose garden of Mrs. Spelding in the backyard of the Speldings’ house. An old fashioned man came out of it.