The Mysterious Picture 

1. Tyl calmly strode out of the hall and rode away on his donkey from the palace . On the way he meets one of his friends and narrates the experiences he had in the palace. Write the narrative..

Answer :

Tyl: The Clever Painter

On the course of my wandering from court to court on my donkey Jeff, I reached the palace of the Archduke of Battenburg. I wanted to become the court painter. As I informed that I was a Flemish painter, the captain of the guards allowed me to meet the Archduke. I showed the painting of Our Lady, The Virgin’ to the Archduke. The Archduke was flattered by the painting and appointed me as his court painter.

As I came to know that the Archduke wanted his portrait to be remembered by his descendants, I put forward a suggestion that I could draw his portrait along with his lady and all other courtiers. The Archduke was very much impressed by that idea and offered me a hundred gold pieces in advance.

The next day as per my wish, all the courtiers who were to painted came to see me one by one. The first one was the Commander in chief of the army. He was a short, fat, bald man with an enormous paunch.  But he wanted himself to be painted handsom and threatened to hang me if I didn't obey him. Similar kinds of threats were followed by all the other courtiers . But alas! The Archduke commanded that my painting should be very real and if I missed anything in it, I would be slaughtered like a pig.

I realised that I was in danger. I want to save myself at any cost. I found a solution. I asked for three assistants to help me in mixing colours. All of us enjoyed our living at the palace by drinking and eating for sixty days. But we didn't draw any pictures on the wall. On the sixtieth day, I summoned everyone to the hall. Before unveiling the curtain, I announced that only those who had noble blood in their veins would be able to see the painting. I also added that all the rest would only see a blank wall. As I drew the curtain, everybody started admiring my painting! Suddenly the Duke’s jester told that he couldn’t see any picture there except a blank wall. Hearing this I calmly moved out of the palace by saying that "When fools begin to talk,‘it’s time for wise men to walk." Thus I saved my life.

 2 Prepare the character sketch of Archduke.

The Archduke of Battenburg.

The Archduke is one of the powerful character in the story 'The Mysterious Picture' written by Charles De Coster. He is the ruler of Battenburg. He loves paintings and artists very much. Though a little pompous he is sincere and just.  He always keeps his promises. He is a very kind person as he gives Tyl reward in advance. And also he has a mind to welcome guests with good feasts., He loves to be remembered after his death. He has a good patience . So that he waits , about two months for completing the painting of Tyl.

3. Prepare the character sketch of Tyle.

Answer :

Tyl: The Flemish Painter

Tyl is the central character of the story 'The Mysterious Picture' written by Charles De Coster. He is a painter from Flanders and wants to be the court painter at the palace of the Archduke of Battenburg . He comes to the palace on his donkey Jeff. He is slim and looks like a skeleton. He always wears a cap with three bright feathers. He is very clever and tricky. He knows very well how to escape safely from a crisis. He has a good sense of humor and values his own freedom and creativity. He is very talkative and confident fellow. He can impress anyone by his sensible way of talking.

4. Write a diary entry of Tyl

20 May 2024

Monday 

Oh God! What an unforgettable day it was! I never expect that I could get my life back. The Archduke ordered me to draw his portrait along with his lady and all other courtiers. All his courtiers demanded that I should make them more attractive in my painting. But the Archduke demanded that my painting would be so realistic. He warned me that if I missed anything in it, I would be slaughtered like a pig. What shall I do? I would be killed either by Archduke or by the courtiers. I wanted to save my life at any cost. My assistants and I enjoyed our living at the palace by drinking and eating for sixty days. But we didn't draw any pictures on the wall. On the sixtieth day, I summoned everyone to the hall. Before unveiling the curtain, I announced that only those who had noble blood in their veins would be able to see the painting. I also added that all the rest would only see a blank wall. As I drew the curtain, everybody started admiring my painting! Suddenly the Duke’s jester told that he couldn’t see any picture there except a blank wall. Hearing this I calmly moved out of the palace by saying that "When fools begin to talk,‘it’s time for wise men to walk." Thus I saved my life.