Class 12 English — Chapter 7: The Interview

Chapter 7: The Interview is a chapter in Class 12 English (Flamingo), part of the CBSE NCERT curriculum followed by over 25 million students across India. This chapter covers 8 topics including The Interview as a Communication Medium, Negative Views on Interviews by Celebrities, Positive Views and Merits of Interviews. BrainWeave provides free AI-powered explanations — by voice or text, in Hindi or English — with no signup required.

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What you'll learn

▸The Interview as a Communication MediumCore concept

journalismcommonplacemedium of communicationDenis Brianpower and influence
▸Negative Views on Interviews by CelebritiesCore concept

V. S. NaipaulLewis CarrollRudyard Kiplingintrusionthumbprints on his windpipe
▸Positive Views and Merits of Interviews

source of truthart formmeritsextravagant claimsvivid impressions
▸Paradoxical Attitudes of Interviewees

Rudyard KiplingH. G. WellsMark TwainJoseph Stalincontradiction
▸Umberto Eco's Academic IdentityCore concept

Umberto Ecouniversity professoracademic communitynovelist on Sundayssemiotics
▸Eco's Unique Academic Writing StyleCore concept

academic stylenarrative aspectstory of researchpersonal qualityRoland Barthes
▸The Concept of 'Interstices'

intersticesempty spacestime managementprolificuniverse
▸The Success of 'The Name of the Rose'Core concept

The Name of the Rosemass audiencemedieval historydifficult readingmystery

Chapter Summary

Understand the interview's role and evolution in journalism, its function as a 'supremely serviceable medium of communication,' and its power to shape our impressions of contemporary figures.

Analyze the reasons why many famous personalities despise being interviewed, viewing it as an unwarranted intrusion, an act that diminishes them, or a crime akin to an assault.

Explore the counter-arguments that praise the interview as a 'source of truth' and an 'art' in its highest form, providing valuable insights into personalities.

Examine the contradictory behavior of figures like Rudyard Kipling and H.G. Wells, who publicly condemned the interview format but also participated in it as both interviewer and interviewee.

Understand Umberto Eco's self-perception as primarily a university professor and academic scholar who writes novels 'on Sundays', and his identification with the academic community over literary circles.

Identify the distinctive features of Umberto Eco's scholarly writing, characterized by a playful, personal, and narrative quality that tells the 'story of the research,' including trials and errors.

Learn Umberto Eco's secret to his prolific writing output: utilizing 'interstices' or the 'empty spaces' in life, such as the time spent waiting for an elevator, to be productive.

Analyze the reasons behind the immense and unexpected success of Eco's serious novel, which delved into metaphysics, theology, and medieval history, and his belief that its success remains a 'mystery'.

Practice Questions from this Chapter

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Explore interview techniques. Get Solution →
Define semiotics clearly. Get Solution →
Discover productivity hacks. Get Solution →
Who is the author of the excerpt from the introduction to 'The Penguin Book of Interviews'? Get Solution →
According to the text, which author described interviews as being like 'thumbprints on his windpipe'? Get Solution →
What is the title of Umberto Eco's novel that sold more than 10 million copies? Get Solution →
Umberto Eco was a professor at which Italian university? Get Solution →
Who interviewed Umberto Eco for The Hindu newspaper? Get Solution →

Did you know?

💡 Interviews were first published in newspapers over 160 years ago.
💡 Ancient Roman generals interviewed prisoners to gather vital intelligence for battles.
💡 The average person spends almost two hours daily waiting or in transition.
💡 Famous authors like Virginia Woolf wrote standing up to increase their concentration.
💡 Even short bursts of focused effort can boost productivity more than long hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many topics are covered in this chapter?

This chapter covers 8 key topics: The Interview as a Communication Medium, Negative Views on Interviews by Celebrities, Positive Views and Merits of Interviews, Paradoxical Attitudes of Interviewees, Umberto Eco's Academic Identity, and more. The BrainWeave AI tutor explains each one with examples.

Is Chapter 7: The Interview important for board exams?

Yes — Class 12 is a CBSE board exam year, and every NCERT chapter is part of the syllabus. Use BrainWeave's AI tutor to master this chapter, then practice with the auto-generated quizzes and mind maps.

Can I get NCERT solutions for this chapter in Hindi?

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Related Chapters

Chapter 6: Poets and Pancakes

Chapter 8: Going Places

Chapter 5: Indigo

Chapter 3: Deep Water

Chapter 2: Lost Spring

Chapter 4: The Rattrap

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