Summary of English Chapter 7 The Interview Class 12
Summary of “The Interview” (500 Words)
“The Interview”, written by Christopher Silvester, is a two-part chapter that explores the history, function, and opinions surrounding interviews, especially in the world of journalism and literature. It also includes an excerpt from an actual interview with the famous novelist Salman Rushdie, offering practical insight into the life of a modern writer. The chapter presents interviews both as a powerful journalistic tool and a controversial intrusion into people’s lives.
Part I: The History and Nature of Interviews
In the first part, Christopher Silvester draws upon his extensive research from The Penguin Book of Interviews (1993). He outlines how interviews have become an indispensable part of journalism for over 130 years. Interviews serve as a tool for gathering information, uncovering truth, and revealing the thoughts and personalities of public figures. They offer the public a chance to understand celebrities, writers, and politicians through their own words.
However, Silvester also shows that interviews are a double-edged sword. While the public sees them as informative and fascinating, many well-known figures—especially authors and intellectuals—have expressed resentment toward them. Some believe that interviews are invasive, superficial, and can misrepresent the interviewee.
He cites strong objections from several literary figures:
- Rudyard Kipling regarded interviews as immoral and called them an unwarranted intrusion.
- Lewis Carroll avoided interviews entirely and found them offensive.
- H.G. Wells had a mixed opinion, though he once gave an interview to his adversary.
- V.S. Naipaul and Saul Bellow viewed interviews as a violation of one’s privacy and personal dignity.
Despite such negative views, interviews continue to thrive because of their ability to capture attention, shape public opinion, and preserve voices for posterity. They have evolved into a vital means of modern communication and are often the only way people connect with personalities they admire.
Part II: Interview with Salman Rushdie
The second part of the chapter is an excerpt from an interview conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan, a journalist from The Hindu, with Salman Rushdie, one of India’s most acclaimed contemporary writers.
In this conversation, Rushdie discusses his views on being interviewed and the challenges that come with being a public intellectual. He acknowledges that while interviews can be tiresome, they are a necessary part of a writer’s life in the modern world.
Rushdie shares how his famous novel, Midnight’s Children, started as a short idea but transformed into a massive novel due to the subject’s complexity—India’s journey from colonialism to independence. He also talks about the autobiographical elements in fiction, stating that while fiction often draws from personal experiences, it is transformed and fictionalized to serve the narrative.
He expresses concern over readers’ tendency to confuse fiction with autobiography, insisting that characters and events in a novel are not always reflective of the author’s real life.
Summary of English Chapter 7 The Interview Class 12
