The Elephant Man: Reading Comprehension Questions and Detailed Answers

Chapter 8: Life at the London Hospital

Question 3: What did the gang in Merrick's room want him to do?

They wanted Merrick to dance, sing, or perform for them. Afterwards, they tried to make Merrick drink wine and poured the bottle over his head.

Question 4: Who saved him from their attack and what did she do?

Nurse Hartley saved him. She shouted loudly, "Guards!", grabbed a pair of scissors, and pointed them at the gang. Shortly afterwards, the guards arrived and trapped the intruders.

Chapter 9: Friendship and Public Appearances

Question 1: Merrick really wanted something and Treves offered a solution to help. What was it?

Merrick deeply desired a loving relationship with a woman because he felt terribly lonely. He wanted to converse with a woman without frightening her. Dr. Treves asked a friend if she would spend some time with him; she was a very kind and pretty widow.

Question 2: What did Leila do for Merrick and how did he respond?

She sent Merrick small presents, and in return, he constructed an intricate model building out of cardboard and gave it to her. They wrote letters to each other, laughed together, and shared secrets. Later, she wrote a newspaper article about him and invited both Merrick and the doctor to attend one of her theatrical performances.

Question 3: How did the crowd react to Merrick at the theatre?

They cheered enthusiastically. On and on, they cheered, clapped, smiled, and some spectators even wept. A gentleman in a black suit with a thick moustache stood up and shouted, "Bravo!" Instead of the audience merely watching Merrick, he was watching them. It became the happiest night of Merrick's life.

Chapter 10: Decline in Health and Countryside Retreat

Question 1: What did Treves notice when he examined Merrick?

Treves realized that Merrick did not have much time left. His medical condition was deteriorating rapidly, and his head was continuing to grow heavier.

Question 2: Where did he want to live instead and why?

He expressed a desire to live in an institution for the blind. There, he hoped he could meet a woman who would enjoy his company without perceiving him as a monster.

Question 3: Where did Treves send Merrick for a holiday and how did he manage to organise it?

Dr. Treves understood his patient's wish and arranged to send him to a friend's estate in the countryside for a few months. That friend was Lady Louise, who accommodated him in a lovely little cottage complete with his own sofa and fireplace. Lady Louise treated him with immense kindness.

Question 4: What did Merrick like best about nature?

For Merrick, the answer was remarkably simple: there are no mirrors in nature.

Chapter 11: Dreams, Fantasies, and the Final Days

Question 1: Why was Merrick's request denied by the hospital for the blind?

The hospital for the blind rejected his admission because the administration feared Merrick would frighten the other patients. Merrick felt deeply humiliated; although the blind patients could not see his physical appearance, they had already heard stories about him.

Question 2: What were two of Merrick's fantasies?

• The Handsome Gentleman: He imagined himself as a refined, handsome gentleman dressed in an elegant black suit and top hat, strolling freely through town.
• The Brave Warrior: He pictured himself as a courageous warrior equipped with a metal shield, polished armour, and a sharp silver sword—the only man brave enough to slay an enormous, repulsive dragon.

Question 3: What was Merrick's biggest dream?

His greatest aspiration was simply to be normal: to take a bath, shave, and dress with ease; to walk across the city without wearing a hood; to speak clearly; to return home to a loving wife and children; and, above all, to sleep horizontally in an ordinary bed.

Question 4: What dangerous thing did Merrick do? Do you think he knew it was dangerous?

He chose to sleep lying flat in bed. He pulled back the bedsheets, blew out the candle, pulled the warm blankets over himself, and rested his heavy head on the soft pillows. He closed his eyes and passed away. He fully knew this was extremely perilous, as Dr. Treves had warned him numerous times that the sheer weight of his head would asphyxiate him if he lay down flat.