1. My Watch - Essay - Class 11 - Woven Words

BhashaLab
Jul 2
4 min read

Author: Mark Twain

Textbook: Woven Words

Genre: Essay (Humorous / Satirical / Autobiographical)

Summary

Mark Twain’s essay My Watch is a humorous account of the troubles he faced while trying to repair a watch. The essay begins with Twain’s admiration for his new watch, which had worked perfectly for 18 months. However, when he accidentally let it run down, he took it to a jeweller to reset it. The jeweller, ignoring Twain’s protests, adjusted the regulator and started a series of unfortunate events. The watch began gaining time rapidly, then after being cleaned and oiled, slowed down terribly, missing all appointments. Each new watchmaker he visited offered a different diagnosis—swollen barrel, broken king-bolt, bent crystal, and faulty mainspring. The watch eventually started behaving unpredictably, spinning wildly or stopping at will. The last repairer, a former steamboat engineer, humorously claimed the watch made “too much steam.” Twain ends with a reflection on how good watches are ruined by repairers, supporting his Uncle William’s view that once repairers get a chance at something, it never works the same again. The essay uses irony and exaggeration to satirize the incompetence of so-called experts and the human attachment to personal belongings.

Character Sketch

The Narrator (Mark Twain):

Witty, sentimental, and self-deprecating, Twain presents himself as both the victim and the observer of a tragicomedy. His attachment to the watch reflects his sentimental nature, while his repeated attempts to fix it show his persistence. Twain’s ability to laugh at his misfortunes and describe them with vivid humor makes him a relatable and charming narrator.

The Repairers (Various Watchmakers):

These characters represent overconfident and often incompetent professionals. Each one claims expertise but worsens the condition of the watch. They symbolize the tinkerers of the world who pretend to know everything and end up causing more harm than good.

Themes

Theme	Description
Human Attachment to Objects	Twain’s emotional connection to his watch reflects the human tendency to value personal items beyond their function.
Incompetence of Experts	The essay satirizes self-proclaimed professionals who often make things worse.
Irony of Modern Repairs	Despite many repairs, the watch keeps getting worse, highlighting the futility of fixing things endlessly.
Humour and Exaggeration	The essay uses exaggeration to turn a simple situation into a comical misadventure.

✨ Literary Devices

Device	Example / Explanation
Personification	The watch is described as having a “pulse” and “sneezing,” giving it human qualities.
Hyperbole	“Pulse went up to a hundred and fifty” exaggerates the malfunction comically.
Irony	The more experts repair the watch, the worse it becomes—contrary to expectations.
Simile	“The hands would shut together like a pair of scissors” gives a visual image.
Humour	Descriptions like “brained him on the spot” are exaggerated for comic effect.
Anecdote	Twain shares a personal, detailed story to entertain and deliver a deeper message.

Title Justification

The title My Watch is simple yet meaningful. It highlights the central object of the essay—a watch that symbolizes not only a timekeeping device but also the author’s emotional attachment and frustration. The title emphasizes Twain’s personal experience and draws attention to how a small possession can lead to a chain of humorous yet frustrating events. The title reflects the tone of the essay—personal, reflective, and ironic.

One-Mark Questions

Why was the author so fond of his watch initially?
He admired it for its accuracy and reliability, as it had worked perfectly for 18 months. He believed it was infallible.
What happened when the jeweller adjusted the regulator?
The watch began gaining time rapidly and became extremely unreliable. This marked the beginning of all troubles.
Why did Twain feel sympathy for the museum mummy?
When the watch slowed down too much, Twain felt like he was stuck in the past. He jokingly felt he could relate better to a museum mummy than the current world.
What was the verdict of the final watchmaker?
He jokingly claimed that the watch “makes too much steam” and suggested hanging a monkey wrench on the safety valve. It was a humorous way to admit he didn’t understand the problem.
What was Twain’s uncle’s opinion about repairs?
Uncle William believed a good watch remains good until repairers get a chance to ruin it. He doubted the skill of unsuccessful tinkerers.

Three-Mark Questions

How did Twain’s watch behave after repeated repairs?
After every repair, the watch developed new problems. It gained time, lost time, made noises, or spun out of control. Eventually, it became so unreliable that it couldn't be used to tell the time. Twain humorously describes each fault with exaggeration, showing how repairs made the situation worse.
What makes Twain’s essay humorous despite the frustration he experiences?Twain uses exaggeration, irony, and sarcasm to turn his troubles into a comic narrative. Phrases like “pulse of 150 in the shade” and “buzz like a bee” give a playful tone. He also mocks his own ignorance and the overconfidence of repairers, making readers laugh while sympathizing with his situation.
Explain the symbolism behind Twain’s watch.
The watch symbolizes personal attachment and the desire to fix what we value. It also represents how too many interventions can ruin something good. Twain’s journey with the watch mirrors everyday struggles with technology and misplaced trust in self-proclaimed experts. It serves as a humorous reflection on human nature.

Value-Based Question

What does the essay teach us about dealing with problems and trusting experts?The essay reminds us that not all experts know what they’re doing. Blind trust without understanding can worsen a situation. It also shows the importance of knowing when to stop trying to fix something and let go. The story encourages us to laugh at our troubles and learn from them, rather than being overwhelmed by them.

End

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