SHOULD WIZARD

HIT MOMMY ?
Class-XII-ENGLISH
BY
V. SUNDaR (P.G.T.ENGLISH)
 CONTENTS
Author

Introduction

About the lesson

Characters

Wizard

Skunk

Owls
Question raised by the lesson

Simplified version of the story

Short answer type question

Long answer type questions

Main points

Moral issue raised by the lesson

Conclusion

Vocabulary
 John
Updike
John Hoyer Updike (March 18,
1932 – January 27, 2009) was an
American novelist, poet, short story
writer, art critic, and literary critic.
Updike's most famous work is his
Rabbit series (Rabbit Run; Rabbit
Redux; Rabbit Is Rich; Rabbit At Rest;
and Rabbit Remembered). Both Rabbit
is Rich and Rabbit at Rest received the
Pulitzer Prize. Updike, who had a
history of smoking tobacco, died of lung
cancer in 2009.
 Style of writing
Describing his subject as "the American
small town, Protestant middle class", Updike
was widely recognized for his careful
craftsmanship, his unique prose style, and
his prolific output, having published more
than twenty novels and more than a dozen
short story collections, as well as poetry, art
criticism, literary criticism and children's
books. Hundreds of his stories, reviews, and
poems appeared in The New Yorker, starting
in 1954. He also wrote regularly for The New
York Review of Books.

Updike populated his fiction with characters who frequently experience

personal turmoil and must respond to crisis relating to religion, family obligations, and
marital infidelity.His work has attracted a significant amount of critical attention and
praise, and he is widely considered to be one of the great American writers of his time
as well as a notable prose stylist.
 Introduction
Little children
love to hear stories from
their parents at bed-time.
Such stories are mostly
fables and have no logic
behind them. Many a time
parents make up stories
out of their own head.
Little children take them
as literally true .
 About the Lesson
In ’should wizard hit mummy?’ John Updike presents
the world view of a little child. Joe warmly responds to
her father’s story telling. But she can’t excuse Roger
Skunk’s mother for making poor little Roger smell bad
again. Her hero must smell like roses and must not
stink at any cost. She wants her father to tell a
different story in which little changes has made. In that
version the wizard takes magic wand and hits Roger
Skunk’s mummy.
 Vocabulary

•Nap = a small sheep

•Fatiguing = tiring
•Stirred = aroused
•Tug = pull hard
•Scraped = made a grating noice
•Curtly = briefly, in politely
Scrunching = crushing

Jumbled = muddled

Grin = smile (here)

Cocktail = drink-party

Lane = street

Dabbling = throwing (here)

Ivory = hard and smooth

substance from the tusk
Characters
Jack (Jo’s father)

Jo
Wizard

Roger Skunk
Wise Owl

Jo’s mother
 Wizard
A magician, sorcerer, wizard, or a person known
under one of many other possible terms in fiction is
someone who uses or practices magic that derives
from supernatural or occult sources. Magicians are
common figures in works of fantasy, such as fantasy
literature and role-playing games; they draw on a
history of such people in mythology, legends, and
folklore (see Magician (paranormal)). Although
occasional practitioners of sleight-of-hand appear in
modern fantasy, they are usually simulating the magic
that others perform—or sometimes concealing their
actual magic.
Fantasy magicians have powers arising from their
study, possibly based on innate talent, rather than
having their magical abilities occur entirely
spontaneously, or be granted by another source.
(Other fantasy characters can use magic or be
magical, but they have generally not acquired their
powers by study.) Still, most fantasy wizards are
depicted as having a special gift which sets them
apart from the vast majority of characters in fantasy
worlds who are unable to learn magic.
 Magicians, sorcerers, wizards, and practitoners of magic by other titles have
appeared in myths, folktales and literature throughout recorded history, and fantasy
draws on this background. They commonly appear in fantasy as mentors and villains, as
they did in older works, and more recently as heroes themselves. Although they are
often portrayed as wielding great powers, their role in shaping the fantasy world they
inhabit varies; much of fantasy literature writes of medieval worlds with wizards in a fairly
limited role as guardians or advisors

Let’s see some wizards

 SKUNKS

Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to

secrete a strong, foul-smelling odor. General appearance
ranges from species to species, from black-and-white to
brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family
Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora. There are 10
species of skunks, which are divided into four genera:
Mephitis (hooded and striped skunks, two species),
Spilogale (spotted skunks, two species), Mydaus (stink
badgers, two species), and Conepatus (hog-nosed
skunks, four species). The two skunk species in the
Mydaus genus inhabit Indonesia and the Philippines; all
other skunks inhabit the Americas from Canada to central
South America.
Skunks were formerly classified as a subfamily within the
family Mustelidae, which includes weasels, otters,
badgers, and relatives. However, recent genetic evidence
suggests that the skunks are not as closely related to the
mustelids as previously thought, and are now classified in
their own family. Some taxonomists dispute this claim, and
continue to group skunks in family Mustelidae
 Owls
Owls have large forward-facing
eyes and ear-holes, a hawk-like beak, a flat
face, and usually a conspicuous circle of
feathers around each eye called a facial disc.
Although owls have binocular vision, their
large eyes are fixed in their sockets, as with
other birds, and they must turn their entire
head to change views.
Owls are far-sighted, and are unable to see anything
clearly within a few inches of their eyes. Caught prey
can be felt by owls with the use of filoplumes, which
are small hair-like feathers on the beak and feet that
act as "feelers". Their far vision, particularly in low
light, is exceptionally good. Contrary to popular myth,
owls cannot turn their heads completely backwards.
They can turn their head 135 degrees in either
direction; they can thus look behind their own
shoulders, with a total 270 degree field of view.
 Different species of owls make
different sounds; the wide range of calls
aids owls in finding mates or announcing
their presence to potential competitors,
and also aids ornithologists and birders in
locating these birds and recognizing
species. The facial disc helps to funnel the
sound of prey to their ears. In many
species, these are placed asymmetrically,
for better directional location.
Owl eggs are usually white and almost
spherical, and range in number from a few
to a dozen, depending on species. The eggs
are laid in intervals of 1–3 days and do not
hatch at the same time. This accounts for
the wide variation in the size of sibling
nestlings. Owls do not construct nests but
rather look for a sheltered nesting site or
an abandoned nest, in trees, underground
burrows, or in buildings, barns and caves.
 Question raised by the lesson
As children grow up they
become inquisitive and they
begin to ask many questions.
They want to know why and how
certain things happen. They want
to know the reason behind the
things. Sometimes parents take
this question of child affront.
They try to discourage them.
They want to accept as true
whatever is said to them.
‘Is this attitude
desirable’? The lesson poses this
very question.
 Simplified version of the story
a) A two year old custom of story telling
*Jack used to tell stories to his daughter
Jo in the evenings and for Saturday
naps.
*This custom began when she was two .
*Every story was a product of his own
head.
*Each story was a slight variation of
basic tale.
b) Story
*Every story had a small creature Roger-it could be a
Roger fish, Roger squirrel or Roger Chipmunk.
*In every story Roger had a problem and he went to wise
owl.
*Owl send Roger to wizard.
*Wizard perform a magic spell that solved the problem.
*Wizard demand in payment a number of pennies
greater than the number Roger creature had.
*Wizard direct Roger to the place were he get extra
pennies.
*Then he settles the wizard and becomes happy and
goes back his home.
c) Ending of story and Jack’s little problem.
*Then Roger was so happy that he played with many other
creatures and went home to his mother just in time to
hear the train whistle that brought his dady home from Boston.
*Jack describe their supper and the story was over.
*Working this way was fatiguing on Saturday because Jo
never fell asleep in naps anymore.
d) Changes in Jo’s perspective
*The little girl grow around four years old did not find that
some magic would occur and would sleep like an infant of two.
*However her brother Bobby was already asleep with his
bottle.
*Jack asked her” who shall the story be about today”? one
day. she at once asked Roger Skunk.
e) Jack’s new story with Roger skunk as a new hero
*Jack thought that Roger skunk was a new animal having a new hero for his
tales stirred his enthusiasm.
*He at once started narrating his story with like “Once upon a time, there
was a tiny little creature named Roger Skunk and he smells so bad…”.
f) Story continuous
*Roger Skunk smelled so bad that no creatures would play with him
whenever he would go out to play other animals would cry ,”Uh-Oh here
comes Roger Stinky Skunk” and would run away.
*Roger Skunk would stand all alone ands tears would fall from his eyes.
g)
*Little Jo could already guess what would be the storyline next.
*She asked “Won’t he see the owl ?“
*Jack continued there lived a big wise owl in the tip top of a tree Roger
Skunk told him his pathetic tale the wise owl advised him to go to the wizard
h) Roger Skunk meets the wizard
*At last Roger skunk came to a little white house and he saw a
little old man who had a long white beard and a pointed blue hat
*Roger skunk told wizard that he smell very badly and due to this
all other little animals ran away from him.
*The wizard asked him seven pennies.
*Roger had only four and he started crying.
*The wizard send him to a magic well were Roger found three
pennies.
*He took them back to wizard , the wizard was very happy and
made him smell like roses.
*All other little animals gathered around him. They played games
and laughed all afternoons.
i) Roger Skunk’s mother doesn’t like the change
*Roger Skunk’s mommy asked him what that ‘awful smell’
was.
*Roger replied that he himself smelled like roses. The wizard
made him smell like that
*Then she brought him right back to the ‘awful wizard’.
*Roger was crying if he got the previous smell back then again
no one will come to play with him.
*But his mother didn’t care about that and made the wizard to
get the awful smell back.
j) Jo wants the story changed a little
*Jo didn’t like the end of the story.
*She doesn’t want the hero of her story to smell bad and
wanted him back to smell like roses.
*She wanted her father to tell her that “that magic wand hit that
mommy”.
• Jack and Clare together
* Jack went downstairs he saw that Clare was stroking
the chair by with a dipped brush.
*Above him Jo (Joanne) was still in the agitated mood
and hadn’t slept. He shouted at her from below.

• Jack’s moral dilema

* Jack felt himself in a peculiar condition. He watched
his wife labour.
* He felt caught in an ugly middle position. He felt his
wife’s presence in the cage with him.
*He didn’t want to speak with her, work with her. He
could not agree with Jo’s plotline and couldn’t ignore
her either.
 Short answer type questions

1. Describe Jack’s art of story telling?

2. What were the common characteristics of Jack’s stories?
3. Who was Roger Skunk and what was his problem?
4. Who did Roger go to complain?
5. What was the change in little animals towards Roger Skunk when he smell
like roses?
6. Why was Rogers mother angry and what did she do?
7. How was the reaction of the mother when Roger Skunk started smelling bad
again?
8. Why does little Jo want that the wizard should hit hard on the head of “the
stupid mommy”?
9. What are the two possible endings of the story? Do you agree with Jo?
 Long Answer type Questions

1. Describe the moral message conveyed through the story?

2. Describe Jack’s art of story telling? How did he create special
effects?
3. Why does Jo think that the stupid mommy of Roger Skunk
should be hit hard on the head by the wizard? Does Rogers
mother deserve such a treatment?
 Main Points
1. Jack used to tell stories to his little daughter Jo.
2. Every story has a little variation from the basic tale.
3. Each story had a little creature Roger, a wise old owl and a wizard.
4. Today he narrated Jo the story of Roger Skunk.
5. Roger Skunk smell very badly that all little creatures kept away
from him.
6. They neither gave him company nor played games with him.
7. He went to the wise owl who advised him to go to wizard.
8. The wizard demanded seven pennies.
9. Roger had four and found three more in a magic well.
10. The wizard was happy to receive seven pennies and made Roger
Skunk smell like Roses.
 11. Roger was very happy all other little animals played
with him as he smell so good now.
12. Roger’s mother became furious he didn’t like her son
smelling of roses.
13. She took Roger straight back to the wizard and hit
the wizard on his head hard.
4. The wizard had no problem in making Roger smell
bad again.
5. Roger’s mother was very happy now. She hugged
and loved him.
6. Roger’s father returned from Boston by train and all
of them had a nice dinner.
7. Jo wanted a little change in the story. She wanted
that wizard hit the mommy and Roger never smell
bad again.
 Moral Issue raised by this lesson
John Updike’s short story ‘Should wizard hit
mommy?’ raises certain moral issues. The basic moral
issue is of racial segregation. Roger Skunk smells very
bad. It is none of his fault. Nature has made him so.
He has to undergo intense sufferings due to his
segregation. All little creatures run away from him
when he comes near to them. They refuse to play
with him. Sometimes the pain becomes unbearable
and he weeps. The wizard make Roger Skunk smell
like roses. The little animals starts playing with him.
They start liking his company. But his mother doesn’t
like the smell change her son had made.
 She goes straight to the wizard and makes him
smell bad again. Now Roger smells like her own son.
She hugs and loves him as before. There is anther
moral that is presented through the story. We should
not lose our originality and identity. The moral values
of children varies with ours. Ugliness and hatred have
no place in their idealised world. Jo is furious at
Roger’s mother. She made Roger smell bad again.
Roger is Jo’s hero and he must smell good.
 CONCLUSION
An adult’s world is different from the world of a child.
The perspectives on life are totally different. A child lives
in a dreamy and romantic world. It may be world of Roger
fish, Roger Squirrel, Roger Chipmunk or Roger Skunk. It is
also the world of a wise owl and a wizard with a magic wand.
In this world of mystery, romance and beauty there is no
place for ugliness. For Jo Roger Skunk is the hero of the
story. Jo can’t tolerate Roger Skunk smelling bad again. It is
due to the stupid mommy of Roger.
Hence she should be punished. The wizard must beat her
with his magic wand. Jack and Clare’s world is the world of
adults. An adult develops his own likes or dislikes. He sees
the world through the coloured glass of his eyes. But a
child’s innocent heart will always say what is just and
natural.
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