Daily Success By K.
SREDNI VASHTAR By Saki
OUTLINE
● Summary
● Characters
● Themes
● Past Paper Questions
Summary
“Sredni Vashtar” is a story about a young boy named Conradin who is very ill
and would not
live more than five years. He lives with his cousin, Mrs. De Ropp, who also was
his guardian.
Both hate each other and they knew it. She treated him very bad and strictfully
at the point
she didn't let him eat a toast, get out of the house or even have a friend. It's
because of that
Conradin started using his imagination to escape from his awful life and created
a religious
world where a polecat ferret named “Srendi Vashtar” was his own personal God
and he
organised many things towards it. All his world was concentrated in the tool-
shed in the
garden of Mrs De Ropṕs house. There, he not only kept the ferret but a Houdan
hen. Mrs. De
Ropp noticed that Conradin went to the tool-shed very often. One morning, he
told Conradin,
that she had sold the Hen but he acted as he didńt matter. Conradin wishes that
Mrs De Ropp
die and he started asking for that to his god “Srendi Vashtar” with the words of
“Do ne thing
for me, Sredni Vashtar”. Once again, Mrs. De Ropp realised that the boy was still
going to the toolshed so she decided to find out what was in there. While she
was inside Conradin watches
through the window and he observed after a few moments, that the ferret went
out from the
tool-shed with blood over his body.. Conradin smiles and as he realised what
had happened
He happily started eating a piece of toast while the maids shouted because they
founded the body of Mrs de Ropp.
Characters
Conradin-protagonist
10-year-old boy with an unknown deathly illness.
• Isolated and lonely
• Lives with oppressive cousin-secretly hopes to revenge her.
• Vivid imagination
• lives through it
• seeks happiness through cousin's pain (toothache)
• creates his own religion
Mrs. De Ropp-antagonist
• Officious
• Delights in tormenting Conradin yet won't admit to disliking him.
• Very controlling
• Passive aggressive
• Brings dullness to Conradin's life.
Themes
Imagination and Escapism: .The story is about a sick boy named Conradin who
has a big imagination. He creates a pretend god named Sredni Vashtar to help
him feel better and to stand up against his bossy cousin.
Rebellion against Authority: Conradin's cousin, Mrs. De Ropp, is strict and
controlling. He doesn't like her and wants to get away from her rules.
.
Religious Symbolism and Ritual: Conradin has a pet ferret that he thinks is
like his pretend god. He keeps it hidden and spends time with it in a shed.
The Power of Belief: When Mrs. De Ropp wants to get rid of the ferret,
Conradin hopes that Sredni Vashtar's power will help him. Something
unexpected happens, and the ferret seems to do something to Mrs. De Ropp.
Irony and Dark Humor: The story is about how Conradin wants to be free from
his cousin's rules. His belief in Sredni Vashtar gives him a sense of control and
hope.
Death and Liberation: .The story ends with something surprising happening.
Mrs. De Ropp is in trouble, and Conradin doesn't seem sad about it. He goes on
with his life as if nothing happened.
Control and Empowerment: The story shows how sometimes people make up
stories or things in their mind to help them deal with difficult situations or to
feel stronger
—-----------------------------------------------
Past Paper Questions
1- Conradin, the central character in the short story Sredni Vashtar , is a
sensitive child who uses his active imagination to deal with his painful
situation, Discuss.
In the short story "Sredni Vashtar," Conradin is portrayed as a sensitive child
who copes with his difficult and painful situation by relying on his active
imagination. His imagination becomes a powerful tool that helps him navigate
the challenges he faces.
1. Escaping Reality: Conradin's active imagination serves as an escape from his
harsh reality. He lives under the control of his strict cousin, Mrs. De Ropp, and
he's physically weak due to his illness. This situation isolates him and makes
him feel powerless. To counter this, Conradin creates a world of his own where
he can find comfort and strength through his imaginary deity, Sredni Vashtar.
2. Creating Sredni Vashtar: Conradin invents a god, Sredni Vashtar, whom he
believes has the power to change his circumstances. This deity becomes a
source of hope and empowerment for him. By attributing qualities of vengeance
and liberation to Sredni Vashtar, Conradin gains a sense of control over his life
that he lacks in the real world.
3. Emotional Outlet: Conradin's imagination provides him with an emotional
outlet. He can't openly express his feelings to Mrs. De Ropp or anyone else, so
he channels his emotions into his private rituals and prayers to Sredni Vashtar.
This allows him to release his pent-up frustration and anger, giving him a sense
of release and relief.
4. Coping Mechanism: Conradin's imaginative world serves as a coping
mechanism for his illness and his strained relationship with Mrs. De Ropp. He's
aware of the fragility of his health, and his imagination gives him a way to
confront mortality and suffering. This coping mechanism enables him to face
his fears and anxieties indirectly.
5. Symbol of Empowerment: The ferret, which Conradin believes to be the
earthly embodiment of Sredni Vashtar, becomes a symbol of his own suppressed
desires for control and freedom. The ferret represents a way for him to exert
power over his life, as opposed to his powerless existence under Mrs. De Ropp's
rule.
In conclusion, Conradin's sensitive nature and active imagination are central to
his character in "Sredni Vashtar." His imaginative world, centered around Sredni
Vashtar and the ferret, enables him to cope with his challenging reality, find a
way to rebel against authority, and experience a sense of control over his
circumstances. His imaginative endeavors are a reflection of his resilience and a
means to cope with the pain and limitations of his life.
2- In the story, Sredni Vashtar evil of human nature is clearly defined . Do
You agree?
Yes, in the story "Sredni Vashtar," the darker side of human nature is shown. The
character of Mrs. De Ropp, Conradin's strict guardian, represents this aspect.
She is controlling and oppressive, which makes Conradin's desire for liberation
and empowerment through his imaginative deity, Sredni Vashtar, more
pronounced. Mrs. De Ropp's behavior highlights how people can use their
authority to dominate others, and Conradin's response illustrates the human
drive for resistance and freedom in the face of such behavior.
3- The central theme of Sredni Vashtar is the triumph of imagination over
reality. Discuss
The main idea in "Sredni Vashtar" is that using your imagination can help you
feel powerful and free, even when real life is tough. The boy, Conradin, doesn't
like his bossy guardian, Mrs. De Ropp, and he's not feeling well. So he makes up
a pretend god called Sredni Vashtar. This makes him feel stronger and more in
control. He believes in Sredni Vashtar so much that it becomes real to him. And
in the end, something surprising happens that shows his imagination had a big
impact on what happened in real life. This story teaches us how imagination can
change how we see things and help us deal with difficult situations.
4- Analyse the relationship of the protagonist with his cousin and it
underscores the theme of imagination in the story. Sredni Vashtar.
In "Sredni Vashtar," the protagonist, Conradin, has a complex relationship with
his cousin, Mrs. De Ropp, which plays a significant role in highlighting the
theme of imagination in the story. Their relationship underscores how Conradin
uses his imagination as a coping mechanism to deal with his difficult
circumstances and assert his sense of control.
Relationship with Mrs. De Ropp:
Mrs. De Ropp is Conradin's guardian and represents authority and strict control
in his life. She is depicted as domineering, unsympathetic, and oppressive,
imposing rules and limitations on Conradin. Her rules and actions contribute to
his unhappiness and his desire to escape her dominance.
Role of Imagination:
Conradin's imagination becomes a refuge from Mrs. De Ropp's control. He
creates the deity Sredni Vashtar, a god that embodies his wishes for liberation
and revenge against his cousin. This imaginative construct empowers him to
face Mrs. De Ropp's authority indirectly and assert his independence.
Imaginary Rebellion:
Conradin's relationship with Mrs. De Ropp leads him to use his imagination as a
form of rebellion. He can't openly defy her, but through his belief in Sredni
Vashtar, he is able to challenge her authority symbolically. His rituals and
prayers to Sredni Vashtar provide him with a way to express his desires for
freedom and vengeance, allowing him to confront his feelings of powerlessness.
Coping with Oppression:
Conradin's imagination helps him cope with the oppressive nature of his
relationship with Mrs. De Ropp. The rituals and prayers become a means of
emotional release, allowing him to channel his frustrations and fears into his
imaginative world. This coping mechanism helps him maintain a sense of self
and purpose despite his difficult situation.
Empowerment through Imagination:
As Conradin's belief in Sredni Vashtar grows, so does his sense of empowerment.
He gains a feeling of control over his own destiny, even as his physical health
deteriorates and his guardian's authority remains unchallenged. His imaginative
rebellion enables him to transcend the limitations imposed by Mrs. De Ropp.
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