A Fondness for Cheese Summary Class 7 Buzzword

Key Points of the Story

• A friend buys strong-smelling cheeses in Liverpool and asks the narrator to take them to London.
• The narrator faces humorous challenges while transporting the cheeses on a train.
• Upon reaching home, the cheeses cause a commotion and must be disposed of discreetly.

Detailed Summary

In this chapter from "Three Men in a Boat" by Jerome K. Jerome, the story begins with the narrator's friend buying some very pungent cheeses in Liverpool and asking the narrator to take them to London. The cheeses were so strong-smelling that people around them were greatly affected by the odor.

The narrator, willing to help his friend, takes the cheeses on a train journey. Initially, people in the crowded carriage were polite, but as they began to smell the overpowering scent of the cheeses, they started to react negatively. First, an old gentleman and another man complained about the smell, causing them to leave the carriage abruptly. A lady also expressed her disapproval and left.

As the journey continued, even a solemn-looking man, possibly an undertaker, associated the odor with a dead body, prompting the remaining passengers to hurry out of the carriage. Despite some initial banter with another passenger, the narrator found himself alone in the compartment after reaching Crewe.

At subsequent stations, people would rush towards the narrator's empty carriage, thinking there was space, only to encounter the strong smell of the cheeses and quickly retreat to find another compartment.

Upon reaching London, the narrator delivers the cheeses to his friend's house. His friend's wife, upon smelling the cheeses, was displeased and contemplated drastic measures to get rid of them, even considering paying someone to dispose of them discreetly.

When the friend finally returned, he realized the trouble the cheeses were causing and decided to dispose of them. His attempts to get rid of the cheeses were comical and met with various obstacles. From throwing them into a canal, to the parish mortuary, and finally burying them on a beach, the cheeses caused quite a stir wherever they went.

Ultimately, the cheeses garnered a reputation in the seaside town for their strong odor, attracting curious visitors and even becoming a gathering spot for those seeking the purported health benefits of the pungent air.

This humorous chapter highlights the absurdity surrounding the cheeses and the lengths to which the characters went to rid themselves of the overpowering scent, leading to a series of comical misadventures and misunderstandings.

Theme/ Message

Themes:

• The story humorously shows what happens when someone carries very smelly cheeses, making the journey difficult for the protagonist and those nearby. 
• It highlights how strong smells can change how people interact and make decisions. 
• The story also shows the lengths people will go to avoid bad situations while exploring themes of friendship, responsibility, and the unexpected effects of simple actions.

Message:

• Small problems can escalate quickly if not addressed promptly.
• Social expectations can lead to humorous and unexpected outcomes.
• People's reactions to unpleasant situations can be unpredictable and extreme.

Difficult Words

1. Ripe - Fully matured and ready to be eaten.
2. Oppressive - Unpleasantly overpowering.
3. Disgraceful - Shameful or unacceptable.
4. Undertaker - A person whose job is to prepare dead bodies for burial or cremation and to arrange funerals.
5. Commotion - A state of confused and noisy disturbance.
6. Discreetly - In a careful and prudent manner, without drawing attention.
7. Escalate - To increase rapidly in intensity or significance.
8. Unpredictable - Not able to be predicted; changeable.
9. Extreme - Reaching a high or the highest degree; very severe or serious.
10. Perception - The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted.