Qwertyuiop: Practice

Practice 1

1. Who are the people involved in the story?
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2. Where did the events in the story take place?
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3. Why didn’t Lucy and her uncle Bert get along?
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4. How did Lucy’s mother react to her daughter getting a job?
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5. What strange thing happened to Lucy on her first day of work?
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6. How did Lucy handle the situation?
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7. Why was Ms. Broome unhappy?
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8. How did Lucy persuade Ms. Broome to ‘leave her job’?
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Practice 2:

1. Describe the life of Lucy Beck. Focus on:

a) Her relationship with her family
b) Her work
c) Her ‘relationship’ with Ms. Broome

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2. In your opinion, why do Lucy and her mother have a strained relationship with Lucy’s Uncle Bert?
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3. “Beggars can’t be choosers.” How does this expression apply to Lucy with regards to her job?
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4. Why was Ms. Broome reluctant to let go of her job?
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5. In your opinion, did Lucy do an amicable job at persuading Mrs. Broome to move on? Justify your answer
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Practice 3

Read the following questions and provide short answers.


1. Describe Lucy's two feelings when the letters 'QWERTYUIOP' kept popping up on the typing paper?
(a) _________________________________________________
(b)_________________________________________________

2. The typewriter 'took over' from Lucy. How did this happen?
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3. What was the change in Lucy towards Uncle Bert? What did she do?
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4. Lucy handled Miss Broome's spirit skillfully. How did she do it?
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5. What lesson have you learnt from this short story?
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Qwertyuiop: Practice

SECTION A

Charactererisation:

Read the following statements. Write (T) for statements that are True and (F) for statements that are False. 

1. Lucy is persuaded to stay on and fight against Miss Broome's spirit. [    ]  
2. The ghost of Miss Broome is angry with Mr Ross. [    ]  
3. Harry Darke admires and respects Lucy for her unyielding spirit. [    ]  
4. Lucy regrets that she is unkind to her Uncle Bert. [     ]  
5. Lucy is able to accept her Uncle Bert as a result of her sympathy for Miss Broome. [    ]  
6. The principal of the Belmont Secretarial College has high expectations of Lucy. [    ]  
7. Miss Broome was asked to retire because of her inefficiency as a secretary. [    ]  
8. The existence of Miss Broome's spirit does not set back Lucy's intent to stay the course. [    ]  
9. Harry Darke hints to Lucy what awaits her at the office. [    ]  
10. Lucy's mother believes in her daughter that she will get a job easily. [    ]

SECTION B

Understanding the plot:

Reaarrange the sentences below according to the sequence of events in the story. 

1. Lucy is apprehensive about finding a job with her low qualifications. [    ]  
2. Lucy finds out from Harry Darke who Miss Broome was. [    ]  
3. She is offered a job as a secretary at Ross and Bannister's. [    ]  
4. She makes Miss Broome's spirit undertstand why she should not remain in the office any longer. [    ]  
5. She types her first letter and is shocked to find unsual words all over the letter. [    ] 
6. She continues to type and correct the letter but is constantly challenged by the typewriter. [    ]  
7. Harry Darke shows her the typewriter she is to use. [    ]  
8. Lucy finally understands her Uncle Bert. [    ]  
9. Miss Broome takes leave of the office. [    ]  
10. She resolves to find out the cause of the extraordinary behaviour of the typewriter. [    ] 

Qwertyuiop: Practice

Answer the following questions based on the excerpt.

Lucy Beck was young and small and mouse-coloured, easily overlooked. She had a lonely ‘O’ level and a typing speed that would make a tortoise laugh.

“Whoever will want to employ me?” she had asked Mrs. Price once, and Mrs. Price had been at a loss to answer.

Lucy wanted a job. More than anyone, more than anything, she wanted a job. She was tired of being poor. She was fed up with macaroni cheese and baked beans. She was sick of second-hand clothes.

1. What do you think the author means when describing Lucy as “easily overlooked”?
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2. What is the author implying when saying that Lucy’s typing speed would “make a
tortoise laugh?
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3. Which words or phrases have similar meanings to the following?
a) To hire : ______________________________________________
b) Used items : ___________________________________________

4. Why couldn’t Mrs. Price answer Lucy when she asked whether she would ever find a job?
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5. If you were in Lucy’s situation, how would you feel? Elaborate.
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Answer the following questions based on the excerpt.

She was early. She smoothed down her windy hair, and waited.

At five past nine, an elderly man, with small dark eyes like currants and a thick icing of white hair, came hobbling up the stairs. He was jingling a bunch of keys.

“Ah,” he said, noticing Mary. “Punctuality is the courtesy of kings – but a hard necessity for new brooms, eh? You are the new broom, I suppose? Not an impatient customer waiting to see our new range of Sunburst cushions, by any chance?”

1. In your opinion, why did Lucy arrive early that Monday morning?
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2. Which words or phrases from the story have similar meanings to the following?
a) Being on time : _______________________________________
b) Selection : __________________________________________

3. Explain what the author means when describing Lucy as a ‘new broom’.
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4. Describe the man who opened the door for Lucy.
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5. Paraphrase the excerpt: “Punctuality is the courtesy of kings-but a hard necessity for
new brooms”.
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Answer the following questions based on the excerpt.

For an hour, she battled with the machine. As fast as QWERTYUIOPs and unwanted capitals appeared, she attacked with a loaded brush. The white fluid ran down the typing paper like melting ice-cream, and dripped thickly into the depths of the typewriter.

YOU’RE DROWNING ME, it complained pathetically, and she swiped at the words with her brush.

HELP!

Another swipe.

PLEASE!

But Lucy showed no mercy. The large bottle was half-empty when she reached the end of the letter in triumph.

Yours faithfully,
George Ross,

She typed, and set back with a sigh of relief.

The machine began to rattle. Too late, Lucy snatched the completed letter out of the typewriter. Across the bottom of the otherwise faultless page, it now said in large, red capitals:

I HATE YOU!

Furiously she painted the words out.

1. Describe the ‘battle’ between Lucy and the typewriter.
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2. Which words or phrases from the story have similar meanings to the following?
a) In a sorrowful state : _________________________________
b) Without error : _____________________________________

3. Why was the typewriter complaining that Lucy was drowning it?
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4. Which sentence showed that Lucy was ruthless in the ‘battle’.
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5. Describe the outcome of the ‘battle’.
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Qwertyuiop: Characters and Characteristics

LUCY BECK

A young seventeen year old lady who got a job as a secretary at Ross and Banister’s

Characteristics:

She is a young, shy, a low achiever, not competent and highly qualified and insecure graduate of secretarial studies.

Textual evidence:

Lucy Beck was young and small and mouse-coloured, easily overlooked.

She had a lonely ‘O’ level and a typing speed that would make a tortoise laugh.

Characteristics:

She has a very low self esteem, inferior complex, no confidence and pessimistic

Textual evidence:

She is wondering who will employ her as she is aware of her inadequacies.

Lucy assumes that there are more qualified and brighter people than her who are qualified for the job vacancy.

Characteristics:

She became ambitious, determined and optimistic to change her life style.

Textual evidence:

Lucy is tired of being poor and she is fed up with macaroni cheese and baked beans. She is also sick of wearing second-hand clothes. She gathered her strength and determined to get a job to get out of poverty.

Characteristics:

Lucy becomes enthusiastic and a quick learner when she got a job. She also became courageous when she has to face the conflict with the spirit of Miss Broom.

Textual evidence:

Lucy got a job at Ross and Bannister’, a small firm with a factory just outside the town. She is so excited so came to her work place on Monday morning, at ten to nine and waited as the door to the office is closed. She faces problems when each time she types, the word ‘QWERTYUIOP” appears on the paper. When she finds that it was the ghost of Miss Broom, she became courageous and keep typing and liquid the unwanted words and reached the end of the letter by triumph.

Characteristics:

Lucy became sympathetic, caring, insightful and understanding after knowing Miss Broome’s history. She took the initiative to look for an amicable solution.

Textual evidence:

Lucy is shocked when she heard the news about Miss Broome from Harry Darke. She was forced to stop working after she had been working for forty three years. Lucy sympathizes Miss Broome

and tells her that Mr Bannister is only acting out of concern as he was worried of her health. Lucy managed to convince Miss Broome that the late Mr Bannister needs her help in the after life.

GHOST OF MS.BROOME :

The spirit of Ms Broome who haunts the office where she once worked as she is so attached to her job.

Characteristics:

Loyal, dedicated and took her job seriously at Ross and Bannister’s.

Textual evidence:

Ms Broome had worked for forty three years :girl, woman, old misery. She is unwilling to let go of her position and continues to defend her post, even after her demise.

Characteristics:

Lonely as she had no family and friends.

Textual evidence:

The office was her home; the job was all she lived for as she did not have any family of her own. She had no place worth to go and she insists to stay on.

Characteristics:

She is persistence, vengeful and also possessive over her secretarial job at Ross and Bannister’s.

Textual evidence:

Miss Broome dies but she does not want to leave her job and insist to stay on. She types nasty messages to new secretaries to instill fear. The typewriter rocked as if with laughter, its keys clicking like badly fitting false teeth. She creates havoc with intention to scare those who will replace her place at the office.

Characteristics:

Finally she is convinced that she should leave as her help is needed.

Textual evidence:

Miss Broom leaves the office permanently after Lucy managed to convince her that Mr Bannister needs her help in the afterlife. The typewriter became silent, sunlight glittered on its keys making them looked wet.

HARRY DARKE :

Ross and Bannister’s handyman. He is an old man who has been working with the company for years.Characteristics:

Helpful and concern

Textual evidence:

He does all the odd jobs in the office and helps out new employees. He is helpful in giving useful information to Lucy regarding the spirit of Miss Broome and shows concern to her. He even told Lucy not to be like a frightened mouse, and not to worry.

Characteristics:

A loyal worker at Ross and Bannister’s.

Textual evidence:

He has been working for thirty years with Ross and Bannister’s, retired with a silver watch but still can’t keep away from his job.

Characteristics:

Encouraging and supportive to his colleague

Textual evidence:

He praises Lucy for her braveness and determination to keep on her job even after she has confronted the spirit of Miss Broome. He said that Lucy is no longer the timid mouse and she is a right little lion. Then he gives her chocolate biscuits with her tea as a credit and encouragement.

LUCY’S MOTHER/ MRS BECK

She is a patient and hardworking housewife who live a hard life. She has to support her brother.

Characteristics:

Content with her status in life.

Textual evidence:

Mrs Beck is satisfied with her status, she said to Lucy that “We are jumble sailors on the rough sea of life.” Thus she accepts her fate and shows no actions or thoughts of wanting more than what she has in life.

Characteristics:

Forgiving and compassionate

Textual evidence:

She had an argument/quarrel with Uncle Bert and had turned him out once. Six weeks later, she asked him to return as she sympathize him. She said he looks so lonely, so lost, living all by himself in a horrid little room with the worn lino and the curtains all shrunk.

Characteristics:

Patient

Textual evidence:

Lucy could not help wishing her mother would sometimes lose her temper, shout, scream, throw saucepans at the spinning, grinning head of Uncle Bert.

Characteristics:

Low expectations

Textual evidence:

She does not expect Lucy to get a job as she was not confident in Lucy’s ability.

UNCLE BERT :

A drunkard man who depends on his sister for support.

Characteristics:

Dependable and irresponsible

Textual evidence:

He drinks heavily and borrows money from Lucy’s mother.

Characteristics:

Caring

Textual evidence:

He is concern of Lucy and thought to prepare her supper since she is now a working girl.

MR. ROSS :

Lucy’s bossCharacteristics:

Accommodating and concern

Textual evidence:

He is easy to deal with, willing to help and even offers to do something about the typewriter if any problems continue.

Qwertyuiop - More Notes

SETTING
The story revolves around two main settings: Lucy’s house which she shares with her mother and her Uncle Bert, and the office of Ross and Bannister’s where Lucy works as a secretary.

CHARACTERS
Lucy Beck : She is a young, shy and insecure graduate of secreterial studies. She is issatisfied with her current life and is determined to improve it. She obtains a position with Ross and Bannister’s, only to find that the position comes with a chilling secret.
Ghost of Ms.Bloome : She was the previous employee of Ross and Bannister’s. She is unwilling to let go of her position and continues to defend her post, even after her demise.
Lucy’s mother : A housewife who lives a hard life. She has to support her brother.
Uncle Bert : Depends on his sister for support. He is also a drunkard.
Harry Darke : Ross and Bannister’s handyman. He is an old man who has been working with the company for years.
Mr. Ross : The younger partner of the company.

THEMES
Possible themes that can be found in the short story are determination, possessiveness, loyalty, loneliness, commitment, the supernatural, and compassion.

DETERMINATION:
Despite the supernatural nature by which Ms. Broome badgers and demoralises Lucy, she shows no signs of giving in to her demand. Instead, she is steadfast in defending her position as the secretary.

POSSESIVENESS:
Not even death could part Ms. Broome from what she feels is rightfully hers. She continues to haunt the office through her electronic typewriter.

LOYALTY:
As with her possesiveness towards her job, Ms. Broome was also extremely loyal towards Mr. Bannister. Even after she passed on, her spirit continued in its endeavour to serve her employer.

LONELINESS:
Loneliness can be a strong influence in a person’s life. Ms. Broome had no life outside of her office. That made her more possesive of her position in the company; a possesiveness that went beyond the grave.

COMMITMENT:
This attribute can be clearly seen in both Lucy and Ms. Broome. Both are extremely committed to their profession.

THE SUPERNATURAL:
It is interesting that such an integral character in the story happens to be an ethereal entity. Yet this theme is rather prominent in the story.

COMPASSION:
This theme holds water especially in the final confrontation between Lucy and Ms. Broome. It is not through hatred nor coercion that Lucy manages to outsmart Ms. Broome, rather, it was through compassion and understanding of Ms. Broome’s intentions.

MORAL VALUES
• Do not judge a person merely through credentials or qualifications
• We must be committed and responsible to our vocation or profession
• We must value our family.

QWERTYUIOP

by Vivien Alcock

SYNOPSIS

The story QWERTYUIOP tells of how a young secretary battles with ex-secretary who haunts the typewriter. Lucy Beck is as determined as Miss Broome to hold on to the job for Ross and Bannister’s. Miss Broom haunts the typewriter and frightens anyone who uses it with the word QWERTYUIOP and others. Lucy manages to overcome the problem and sends Miss Broome away with a peaceful heart.

THEMES

• The will to succeed is the road to success
• Letting go
• Opportunity knocks but once

MORAL VALUES

• If we want to be successful, we must work towards it.
• We must make good use of opportunities that come our way.
• We must know our limits and let go when the time is right.

CHARACTERS

• Main character     : Lucy Beck
• Minor characters :

1. Harry Darke
2. Miss Broome
3. Lucy’s mother and uncle
4. Miss Price and Mr Ross

PLOT

• EXPOSITION – Lucy starts working in Ross and Bannister’s. Harry Darke gives her hints of the haunting of the typewriter by Miss Broome.
• CONFLICT – Lucy types her letter but she is bewildered that her letter has extraordinary words that are not typed by her.
• CLIMAX – Lucy retypes her letter but is challenged by Miss Broome who asks her to leave and even threatens her. Lucy battles woth it by using correcting liquid to clean off words typed by Miss Broome.
• FALLING ACTION – Lucy learns about Miss Broome and her haunting of the typewriter.
• RESOLUTION – Lucy types and talks to Miss Broome and convinces her to leave this world peacefully and go to other world. Lucy keeps her job in Rose and Bannister's

QWERTYUIOP

QWERTYUIOP