Q1. How did Mr Gessler feel about big firms?
Ans: Mr Gessler did not feel good about big firms. He told the author that the big firms do not have self-respect. He spoke long and bitterly about the big firms to the author. He told the author that the big firms take it away from the small traders. The big firms use advertisements for selling and not hard work. The situation is so bad that Mr Gessler doesn't have any work at present and with the year the number of customers gets less and less.
Q2. Did Mr Gessler fail as a bootmaker or did he rise as a competitive businessman?
Ans: Mr Gessler did not fail as a bootmaker. Mr Gessler made sure that his customers were satisfied with his work. His boots fitted a person perfectly and they even lasted longer than any other boots. Sadly, he couldn't rise as a competitive businessman as he was poor and didn't have any money to spend on advertising. Due to the establishment of the big firms, he lost his business and did the work alone, it took the brothers to deliver the boots on time. With the money he earned, he paid the shop rent and bought leathers.
Q3. What does the title "Quality" signify? To whom or to what does the title refer?
Ans: The title "Quality" signifies the features of a thing. This chapter signifies the quality of a boot. Or the boots made by Mr Gessler. Boots by Mr Gesslers were of the finest quality leather and were always perfect in size. And the title is compared to the firms that do not worry about the quality of the boots but only money. Mr Gessler believed in quality. He used to work for long hours and did not allow anyone else to help him as he believed in hard work.
Q4. Describe The attire of Mr. Gessler according to the author?
Ans: As the author enters his shop, he feels like it is a church and is sitting on a wooden chair. Mr. Gessler appeared with a harsh sound and the tip tap of his slippers that were beating the wooden stairs. He stood without a coat, wearing a leather apron with sleeves that turned back and a little bent.
Q5. How do we know that Mr Gessler did not live a healthy life?
Ans: Mr Gessler did not live a healthy life. Mr Gessler was the younger brother but still looked older than his elder brother. The author had mistaken him for his elder brother. He didn't have much hair left and it was a thin line on his head. The author realized that Mr Gessler had grown around 10 years within one year. The bootmaker Mr Gessler always looked tired and weary. His memory was weakened and he couldn't recognize the author either.
Q6. 'The states of the shoemakers did not change'. Yet they moved the writer? Do you agree or not?
Ans: The shoemakers were German, they did not change their accent. They died in rags but never failed to deliver what they were good at. Their craftsmanship and dedication were evident in their work. They could not beat the rising consumerism yet succeeded in winning hearts. They could have changed according to the time, yet they relentlessly worked. Their perfection and dedication were unmatched. A craftsman never compromises with quality. So did they.
Q7. What was the author's opinion Mr Gessler as a boot maker?
Ans: The author was impressed with Mr Gessler. He liked the boots made only on order and those boots perfectly fitted the customers. Their boots had the best materials and lasted long. He found the work mysterious and wonderful.
Q8. What was Mr. Gessler's complaint against - "big firms"?
Ans: Mr. Gessler's complaint against big firms was that they got customers only because of advertising, and because of any quality work. Mr. Gessler, who loved his job and who used to make good quality boots, had very little work because people preferred the big firms.
Q9. The passion of Mr. Gessler wasn't fruitful. How?
Ans: Mr Gessler's passion for making high-quality boots did not bring him success because big firms attracted customers through advertisements. As a result, he received very few orders and struggled to survive despite his dedication to quality.
Q10. What happened when the author visited his shop after many months?
Ans: When the author visited his shop, that time it appeared to be his elder brother holding a piece of leather. Mr. Gessler greeted him and said that his elder brother was no more. This news made him quite shocked and he ordered several pairs of boots for himself on the same day. Those pairs of boots were better than the other and lasted too long.
Q11. Why did the author choose to visit the shoemakers?
Ans: The author was fascinated and charmed by the perfectionist shoemakers. He wanted to help them by placing maximum orders. They sincerely worked on the orders to the level of satisfaction of customer satisfaction. He observed the changes in appearance, and felt sorry for their distressed state. He was devastated by the untimely death of the genius of their craft.
Q12. What was the effect on Mr Gessler of the author's remark about a certain pair of boots?
Ans: Mr. Gessler at first found the remark unbelievable. He argued that the author might have got them wet. He was shocked. He told the author that he would either repair them or adjust the money in his bills.
Q13. Why did the author order so many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?
Ans: The author was shocked and filled with sorrow when he knew about the death of Mr. Gessler's elder brother. In order to help him, he ordered so many pairs of boots. No, he didn't really need them.
