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MY LOST DOLLAR
Answer the following questions in a sentence or two.
1) Why was the author reluctant to ask Todd to return the amount?
Ans: The author felt that asking his dear friend Todd for the return of the 'one dollar'
loan could look mean and greedy. Todd could get offended by such a request.
 
2) Why do you think Todd didn’t pay back the one dollar he owed the author?
Ans: It would be reasonable to assume that Todd had forgotten about the loan. He was
a major in the army, and was not short of funds. The second assumption is that he felt
was too small to be refunded.
 
3) What sort of person the author was?
Ans: The author was a man of principle. He was sensitive, courteous, and had a sense
of self-respect. Despite his nagging indignation at Todd’s failure to return the dollar,
the author didn’t allow the loss to affect their friendship. 
 
4) Who is Todd? What kind of relationship exists between Todd and the
narrator?
Ans: Major Todd is a friend of the narrator. They are good friends with mutual respect
for one another.
 

5) When and why Todd borrow a dollar from the narrator? How much time has
passed since then?
Ans: Todd wanted some small change to pay off the taxi. He didn’t have any. So, he
borrowed it from his friend, the narrator. Twelve months elapsed, but Todd was yet to
refund the one dollar loan.
 
6) Why has Todd failed to return a loan? What does it tell us about him?
Ans: Apparently, Todd felt the one-dollar loan to be too small to be repaid to his dear
friend. The other reason could be that Todd was forgetful in nature. Anyway, the
reader does not take the lapse not very approvingly.
 
7) When did Todd borrow dollar from the narrator?
Ans: Todd borrowed the dollar from the speaker on the 8th of April just as Todd was
about to leave for Bermuda.
 
8) What ‘painful’ thought has begun to come into the narrator’s mind?
Ans: The painful thought that rather comes in the narrator's mind is that if
Todd has borrowed a dollar from the narrator in similar manner
the narrator would have also taken a dollar from anyone but the narrator does not
want to give the dollar to the person whom he has borrowed a dollar from.
 

9) How do we know that Todd has forgotten about the dollar?

Ans: The narrator explains that Todd meets him in the same frank friendly way as
always. This indicates that he doesn’t remember the dollar.
 
10) Will their friendship be affected by one dollar?
Ans: No, he mentions that the one lost dollar will not make a difference to their
friendship.
 
11) How does the author feel about his lost dollar?
Ans: The author feels miserable about the dollar that his friend owes him. He says
that he will carry the recollection of it to his grave. However he also mentions that the
one lost dollar will not make a difference to their friendship.
 
12) Why did Todd borrow a dollar from the narrator?
Ans: Todd wanted some small change to pay off the taxi. He didn’t have any. So, he
borrowed it from his friend, the narrator.

13) What did Todd send the narrator from Bermuda?

Ans: The narrator received a note from Hamilton, Bermuda sent by Todd.
The narrator thought it was his dollar but much to his disappointment, it was a note
describing the temperature of Bermuda.

14) Did the narrator directly seek his dollar from Todd?
Ans: No, the narrator did not directly seek his dollar from Todd.

 
15) What tone does the narrator employ to describe his situation?
Ans: The narrator employs a humorous tone to describe his situation.
 
16) Why was the narrator willing to pay for Todd?
Ans: Todd needed a dollar in change to pay for his taxi ride so he borrowed the same
from the narrator. 
 
17) Do you think the narrator is obsessed with the loss of his dollar?
Ans: Yes, the narrator seems to be obsessed with his lost dollar.
 
18) What details did the narrator seek from Todd about his trip?
Ans: The narrator asked Todd about the currency used in Bermuda in a hope to
remind him of the one American dollar that Todd owed him. Further, he
asked Todd how much the trip to Bermuda cost him. 
 

19) Why does the narrator bear no grudge?

Ans: The narrator had lent his friend Todd a dollar which the latter has forgotten to
pay back. In this reference, the narrator mentions that despite Todd forgetting about
his dollar, he bears Todd no grudge.
 
20) What kind of list has the narrator made?
Ans: The narrator has a list of men who owe him a dollar and who have forgotten to
repay it. Having understood that Todd will never repay the dollar too, the narrator
has added him to this list.
 
II. Explain the following statements with reference to their context.
1) “I should never pay it, on this side of the grave.”
Ans: The narrator is trying to explain that if he had taken a dollar and had forgotten
about it, and does not have a recollection of it so far then he will never remember in
this life. Todd is a Major in the army and the narrator’s friend, who had borrowed a
dollar from the narrator a year ago. Todd and the narrator seem to be close friends
because they meet each other frequently and the issue of the borrowed dollar does not
make any difference in their trust and friendship for each other.  Todd borrowed a
dollar from the narrator to pay his taxi fare because he did not have any change with
him. One year had passed since he borrowed the dollar from the narrator. Todd has
failed to return the loan because of forgetfulness. This tells us that Todd is a careless
and forgetful man.  It means that the narrator’s friend’s act of borrowing a dollar and
then forgetting to pay it back would not make any difference to their friendship. The
narrator means to say that if somebody borrows something from him, he will
remember it throughout his life. The human memory is strong in the case of lenders,
whereas it diminishes with time in the case of the borrowers. For example, the
narrator not only remembers that he had lent a dollar to his friend, Todd, but also the
exact date on which he had lent the dollar. But, the borrower, i.e., the narrator’s
friend, Todd not only forgets of having borrowed a dollar, he does not even get any
hint from a number of indirect references made by the narrator about debts.
 

2) Let us remember that the greatest nations were built upon the rock basis of
absolute honesty.
Ans:  The narrator reminds the readers that the greatest nations of the world were built
upon the solid foundation of absolute honesty. In the story "My Lost Dollar", the
narrator hoped that if he mentioned about Poland to Todd, he would be able remind
Todd about the dollar he had not paid him. Poland was connected to what the narrator
was thinking because Poland who too borrowed money from him didn't return her the
money. He hoped that Todd would be reminded of his debt if he mentioned about
Poland to him. The narrator had lent his friend Todd a dollar which the latter has
forgotten to pay back. In this reference, the narrator mentions that despite Todd
forgetting about his dollar, he bears Todd no grudge. He does not give a reason for it
except that there are quite a few of his other friends too who owe him a dollar and
have forgotten about it. 
 
3) My dollar has clean gone out of his mind. I fear there is little prospect of his
ever returning it.
Ans: Todd is the narrator’s friend who owes him a dollar. Todd doesn’t remember that
he owes the narrator some money. The narrator explains that Todd meets him in the
same frank friendly way as always. This indicates that he doesn’t remember the
dollar. The author feels miserable about the dollar that his friend owes him. He says
that he will carry the recollection of it to his grave. However he also mentions that the
one lost dollar will not make a difference to their friendship. The narrator employs a
humorous tone to describe his situation. He uses exaggeration and a bit of satire to
begin his story and explain that Todd has forgotten to pay him back a dollar he owes.
The narrator says that although Todd may have forgotten about the dollar, he (the
narrator) will remember it to his grave.
 
4) “Let me have a dollar, will you!”
Ans: The speaker’s friend Todd borrowed the dollar last year on the 8th of April, just
as he was about to leave for Bermuda. He needed a dollar in change to pay his taxi
fare and the speaker lent him the dollar that moment. All this happened quite simply
and naturally and the speaker hardly realized it until it was all over. Todd merely said,
“Let me have a dollar, will you?” The speaker replied, “Certainly. Is a dollar
enough?” The speaker believes that when Todd took that dollar he certainly meant to
give it back later. But it has been twelve month since then. Todd has probably
forgotten that he owes a dollar to the speaker.
 
5) I said, “Certainly, Is a dollar enough?
Ans: Todd needed a dollar in change to pay for his taxi ride so he borrowed the same
from the narrator. When Todd asked for the dollar, the narrator felt with certainty that
Todd meant to pay it back to him, he therefore gave it to Todd willingly. The narrator
received a note from Hamilton, Bermuda sent by Todd. The narrator thought it was
his dollar but much to his disappointment, it was a note describing the temperature of
Bermuda. When someone borrows money, they ought to return it. With this principle
in his mind, the narrator frets and fumes over how Todd has forgotten to pay him
back. He makes several assumptions about how he is never going to get his money
back from Todd. He explains how Todd doesn't remember borrowing the dollar at all
and keeps meeting him as usual. It is thus evident that the narrator exaggerates the
case of his lost dollar. 
 
6) I was thinking of the dollar but of course I didn’t refer to it one simply can’t.
Ans: The narrator never asked Todd directly to return his dollar but instead expected
Todd to remember that he owed him a dollar. When the narrator asked Todd how
much he spent on his trip, Todd told him that he kept no accounts. This practically
proved that since the man doesn't manage his finances well he would never have
remembered the single dollar he once borrowed. Therefore, the narrator realized that
he would never get his dollar back from Todd. the narrator seems to be obsessed with
his lost dollar. He mentions the dollar throughout the story. In fact, every time he
comes across Todd, he only thinks of his dollar, although he never directly asks for it
and claims that it will not stand between their  friendship.   The narrator asked Todd
about the currency used in Bermuda in a hope to remind him of the one American
dollar that Todd owed him. Further, he asked Todd how much the trip to Bermuda
cost him. The narrator made such several indirect references to money hoping that he
would remember that one dollar he owes him. However, all the attempts made by the
narrator failed miserably and he could never get his dollar back.  When the narrator
asked Todd how much he spent on his trip, Todd told him that he kept no accounts.
This practically proved that since the man doesn’t manage his finances well he would
never have remembered the single dollar he once borrowed. Therefore, the narrator
realized that he would never get his dollar back from Todd.
 

7) “On the other hand I know that I shall remember all my life… carry the
recollection of it to the grave.”
Ans: In the story "My Lost Dollar" by Stephen Leacock, Todd is introduced in it as a
friend of the narrator. He is a major in the army and a member of the University Club
of Montreal. Major Todd shares an intimate relationship with the narrator. He is a
close acquaintance of the narrator who borrows a dollar from him to pay the taxi fare
as he is about to leave for Bermuda. Major Todd borrowed a dollar from the narrator
to pay his taxi fare because he did not have any chance with him. One year has passed
since he has borrowed the dollar from the narrator. Todd was about to leave for
Bermuda who did not have the change to pay the taxi fare. Therefore he borrowed a
dollar from the narrator. Todd has failed to return the loan because of his nature of
forgetfulness. This event about Todd tells us that he is a careless and forgetful man.
The narrator doesn't have any hope of getting the money back because whenever the
narrator met with his friend, Todd the dollar did not come into the mind of him that he
had borrowed from the narrator. Sometimes the narrator tried to remind his friend
about the dollar indirectly but Todd did not pay any attention to it.
 
Answer the following questions in 300 words.
1) Explain the theme of honesty, hypocrisy, appearance, letting go, frustration
and acceptance in the story “My Lost Dollar”.
Ans: In My Lost Dollar by Stephen Leacock we have the theme of honesty, hypocrisy,
appearance, letting go, frustration and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by an
unnamed man the reader realizes after reading the story that Leacock may be
exploring the theme of letting go. The narrator appears to be unable to let go of the
fact that Todd owes him a dollar. Though he has never directly alluded to the dollar
with Todd himself it is clear to the reader that the narrator hasn’t forgotten about it. It
is as though the narrator feels as though a wrong has occurred yet it is interesting that
the narrator himself on occasion has borrowed money and not paid it back. Which
may leave some readers to suspect that the narrator is being hypocritical. He wants
Todd to honour his debt to him yet the narrator on the other hand will not return the
thirty cent he received to buy a bottle of plain soda. If anything the narrator is able to
justify the non-payment of that loan. Which is interesting as the man the narrator
borrowed the money off may not necessarily feel the same. As to why the narrator
doesn’t simply ask Todd outright for the money is also interesting. It is possible that
the narrator is concerned about how it will look and how he will look should he ask
Todd for the dollar. Which if anything would play on the theme of appearance. The
narrator does not wish to be judged by Todd in a negative light. He values the
friendship yet he would still like the return of his dollar. Something which is
problematic for the narrator as eventually the reader realizes that the narrator has only
two options. He can either directly ask Todd for the dollar or he can accept that Todd
won’t be giving him the dollar back. The narrator has a decision to make due to his
inability to let go of the fact that he has lent Todd a dollar that he may never see again.
If anything the narrator is in a no-win situation. Should he ask for the dollar back he
might lose his friendship with Todd. He’ll still have his dollar but it cost him his
friendship with Todd. At no stage does the reader feel that the narrator has accepted
that the dollar is gone forever. That Todd won’t be paying it back. The narrator’s
generosity also shouldn’t be questioned. He didn’t hesitate to give Todd the dollar
when he needed it and was even prepared to lend Todd more than a dollar if he had
asked for it. For the narrator the issue is a matter of principle. He believes that
everybody should honour their debts though again it is possible that the narrator is
being hypocritical. Which may be the point that Leacock is attempting to make. He
may be suggesting that the standard that the narrator sets for others. The narrator
himself cannot meet these standards. If anything it would be easier for the narrator to
accept his loss and forget the fact that Todd will not be paying him back. If he doesn’t
accept the loss the narrator’s friendship with Todd could be in jeopardy. It is also
noticeable that the narrator is not judging Todd’s character by the fact he owes the
narrator a dollar. It is simply an issue which the narrator cannot let go of. If anyone is
frustrated by the events that are playing out it is the narrator. Todd is completely
unaware of how the narrator is feeling. The reader also suspects that the narrator’s
plans to set up a Back to Honesty movement are driven by the frustration he feels
over the dollar. As to whether the movement would be a success is another thing as it
would appear that there are no guidelines. Which would leave the movement open to
corruption. Though this is not something that the narrator has thought out. His main
objective is not repaying others but getting others (Todd) to repay him. At all stages of
the story the focus has been on the narrator and the difficulties he felt he has incurred
over the loss of his dollar. The fact that the narrator also considers that the ‘greatest
nations were built up on the rock basis of absolute honesty’, is admirable. Though it is
impractical when it comes to one individual owing individual money. The narrator
himself is being select on who he pays back money to. Being able to justify some
loans and yet being hesitant on naming others he might have borrowed money from.
Though the narrator might claim he has forgotten about outstanding loans he owes to
people ironically he cannot forget the one dollar that Todd owes him. The reader left
suspecting that the narrator may not necessarily be telling the truth. Yet he wants
honesty from others. Again the narrator is looking for a standard from others that he
himself cannot meet.
 
2) Sketch the character of the narrator of the story.
Ans: In the short story My Lost Dollar, the narrator describes his discomfort about
living with the fact that his friends whom he had lent money have totally forgotten
about the same. The author’s character at first appears to be a light-hearted one who
can move on in life with the help of humour. However, as the story proceeds, it is seen
that the author is rather sarcastic about Todd’s poor memory in relation to the lost
dollar. Although he says that he will never hold a grudge against him over a dollar, his
thoughts wander in the direction of his dollar every time the two meet. Deep within
his heart, he wants his dollar back and makes many futile attempts at reminding Todd
of the same. However, he keeps his attitudes and behaviour intact with Todd despite
his problem of the lost dollar. When nothing worked out, he seemed to have written
this story to express his feelings. He tells his readers to circulate the story wisely, as if
trying to hint that if the story, with Todd’s name clearly in it, is read by Todd, he may
remember to pay back the author his dollar after all.
 

3) What hints did the narrator give to remind Todd that he had borrowed a
dollar from him? Did the hints work?
Ans: The narrator asked Todd about the currency used in Bermuda in a hope to
remind him of the one American dollar that Todd owed him. Further, he asked Todd
how much the trip to Bermuda cost him. The narrator made such several indirect
references to money hoping that he would remember that one dollar he owes him.
After receiving Todd at the train, the narrator took him to the Club. He didn’t refer to
his dollar but asked Todd what currency is used in Bermuda and whether the
American Dollar goes at par. He put a slight emphasis on the American Dollar to give
his friend a gentle but unsuccessful hint. A few days later, he asked Todd what his trip
had cost him. Todd replied that he didn’t keep accounts. A little later, he asked him if
he felt settled down after his trip. Todd replied that he had practically forgotten about
it. When all his hints failed to land at the target, the narrator realized that his dollar
was gone for good.
 
4) Explain the attempts made by the narrator to get his dollar back.
Ans: Todd borrowed one dollar from the narrator when he was to leave for Bermuda.
He needed it for paying the taxi fare. After three weeks, Todd came back. The narrator
went to the railway station to receive him. He hoped that the mention of the taxi
would remind Todd that he had borrowed a dollar for taxi fare. That is why he
suggested taking a taxi. But Todd said that he would prefer to walk. The author gave
another hint. He asked him about the currency of Bermuda. But Todd still failed to
recollect the borrowed dollar. The narrator met Todd daily at the Club. Then one day
he asked Todd how much money he had spent on his trip to Bermuda. To this, Todd
replied that he had not kept any accounts. And then he asked him how he was feeling
after his trip. Todd said that he had practically forgotten about it. Thus at last the
narrator realized that it was all over with his dollar. In spite of all his efforts, he failed
to get the dollar back. He now believed that Todd had completely forgotten to pay
back the dollar. None of the hints given by the narrator could work.
 
5) Sketch the character of Todd.
Ans:  Todd was a careless fellow and lived in his own way and he was also a very
forgetful person. He owed a dollar from the author and the time asked was 12 months
however since he was a forgetful person he forgot to pay the dollar back and his
friend(author) tried to remind him through incidents and not directly because he was
a friend of the author. However the author had belief in his friendship with Todd and
was assured that he would return the dollar back. Todd was a pleasure loving person.
He was very care free about his life. And he does not care for anything. He owes a
dollar from his friend and forgot to repay it. It shows that he was a irresponsible
person.
 
6) Justify the title “My Lost Dollar.”
Ans:   The story, ‘My Lost Dollar’, begins by the mention of the speaker’s friend,
Major Todd and the dollar that he owed to the speaker. It had been a year and the
speaker thought he would never return it. The speaker realized that Todd had
completely forgotten about his loan because he met the speaker in the frank and
friendly way as usual. Though the lost dollar did not matter much to the speaker, he
thought that he would carry the recollection of it to the grave. It was not in his nature
to forget about such things so easily. Then he mentioned how his dollar was lost. It
was on the 8th of April last year. Todd was about to leave to Bermuda. He needed a
dollar in change to pay for his taxi. He did not have it and asked the speaker to pay for
him. The speaker gave it to him quite willingly. Todd came back after three weeks and
the speaker went to receive him. From that day, he kept dropping hints for Todd so
that he might remember his loan of one dollar. However, Todd never understood any
of the hints. It took some time for the speaker to realize that he had completely
forgotten the dollar. Nevertheless, he bore no grudge against Todd. He had simply
added him to the list of men who own him a dollar and had forgotten about it. There
were quite a few of them but this had not changed the speaker’s behaviour towards
them. He only wished that he could forget his lost dollars. Meanwhile, a rather painful
thought had begun to come into the mind of the speaker. He had begun to think that
like Todd had forgotten about the dollar, it was possible that he too might own such
dollars and had completely forgotten about them. Hence, he wanted to start a ‘Back to
Honesty’ movement, so that such lost dollars could be repaid to their rightful owners.
He wanted the people to remember that the greatest nations were built upon the rock
basis of absolute honesty. Thus, we see that the whole story revolved around the
dollar that the speaker had lost. Moreover, he mentioned all such dollars and talked
about the probability of himself owing such dollars. Therefore, the title is justified.
 
 

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