Text Book Solutions All Class

Q1: What was decided by the king and the idiots of the kingdom of fools?
Ans: They decided to change night into day and day into night.

Q2: What was the punishment for disobeying the rule of the kingdom?
Ans: Anyone who disobeyed would be punished with death.

Q3: Who came to the kingdom of fools, without knowing the rules of the kingdom?
Ans: One day a guru and his disciple came to the kingdom of fools.

Q4: What is Duddu?
Ans: In Kannada language, its meaning is money.

Q5: Why did the disciples not want to leave that kingdom?
Ans: The disciple did not want to leave the kingdom as everything was cheap there.

Q6: What were the things the disciples started eating every day?
Ans: The disciples started eating bananas, ghee, rice, and wheat every day.

Q7: Who came to the king to make a complaint?
Ans: The thief’s brother came to the king to make a complaint.

Q8: Why did the bricklayer not make the wall properly?
Ans: The bricklayer did not make the wall properly because of a dancing girl, whose anklet’s jingling sound distracted him.

Q9: Who went to search for the goldsmith?
Ans: A bailiff went to search for the goldsmith.

Q10: What problem was seen while giving the punishment to the old merchant?
Ans: The merchant was too thin to be executed on that stake.

Q1: Who is the writer of the story “Iswaran the Storyteller”?
Ans: It was written by R.K Laxman.

Q2: Who was the narrator of the story of Iswaran?
Ans: Mahendra was the narrator of the story of Iswaran.

Q3: What was the profession of Mahendra?
Ans: Mahendra was a junior supervisor of a company.

Q4: What was the asset Mahendra had with him?
Ans: Mahendra had his cook, Iswaran, with him.

Q5: Which book did Iswaran read after his lunch?
Ans: Iswaran used to read some popular Tamil thrillers after his lunch.

Q6: What did the fences seem like for the elephants?
Ans: The fences seemed like matchsticks for the elephants.

Q7: Who made the elephant frightened?
Ans: Iswaran made the elephant frightened.

Q8: Why did Iswaran leave the story unfinished?
Ans: Iswaran left the story unfinished as he had to go warm the dinner for them.

Q9: How did Iswaran manage to bring down the elephant?
Ans: Iswaran used some Japanese art – karate or jujitsu – to bring down the elephant.

Q10: Why did Mahendra enjoy the story told by Iswaran, whether it was credible or not?
Ans: Mahendra enjoyed the story told by Iswaran whether it was credible or not because of his unique storytelling method.

Q11: What is the culinary skill?
Ans: Culinary skill refers to skills related to cooking.

Q12: Why did Iswaran take permission for preparing a special dinner from Mahendra?
Ans: Iswaran took permission for preparing a special dinner as it was an auspicious day, and according to tradition, special food should be prepared to feed the spirits of their ancestors.

Q13: According to Iswaran, what was the factory site before?
Ans: According to Iswaran, the factory site was a burial ground before.

Q14: Describe the woman ghost seen by Iswaran?
Ans: The woman ghost was horrible looking and appeared on a full moon night. She was very ugly and had matted hair with a wrinkled face. She was seen holding an unborn baby in her arms.

Q15: Why did Mahendra decide to resign from the job?
Ans: Mahendra decided to resign from the job as he became horrified by the scary experience of the ghost.

Q1: Who was Toto?
Ans: Toto was a naughty monkey.

Q2: From where did the grandfather buy Toto, the monkey?
Ans: The grandfather bought Toto, the monkey, from a Tonga driver.

Q3: Why did the writer’s grandfather buy Toto from the Tonga driver?
Ans: The writer’s grandfather bought Toto to add to his collection in his private zoo.

Q4: Why did the writer and his grandfather decide to keep the news of Toto a secret from his grandmother?
Ans: The writer’s grandmother was against bringing new pets into the house, so they decided to keep the news of Toto a secret from her.

Q5: Where did they keep Toto after bringing him?
Ans: They kept Toto in a little closet in the writer’s bedroom.

Q6: What were the other animals that stayed with the monkey in the grandfather’s zoo?
Ans: There was a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a squirrel, and the writer’s pet goat in the grandfather’s zoo.

Q7: Where did the writer’s grandfather go to collect his pension?
Ans: The writer’s grandfather went to Saharanpur to collect his pension.

Q8: What is a turnstile?
Ans: A turnstile is a mechanical gate with a revolving horizontal arm that allows only one person at a time to pass through.

Q9: How much money did the grandfather have to pay for Toto’s ticket?
Ans: The grandfather had to pay Rs. 3 for Toto’s ticket.

Q10: Who was the companion of Toto in the writer’s grandfather’s house?
Ans: The family donkey Nana was the companion of Toto in the writer’s grandfather’s house.

Q11: What was a great treat for Toto?
Ans: During winter evenings, a large bowl of warm water for his bath was a great treat for Toto.

Q12: What did Toto take from the lunch table?
Ans: Toto took a dish full of rice from the lunch table.

Q13: Where did the grandfather sell Toto again?
Ans: The grandfather sold Toto to the same Tonga driver.

Q14: Why was Toto sold to the Tonga driver?
Ans: The writer’s grandfather realized that Toto was causing losses by breaking things and causing trouble, so he decided to sell him to the Tonga driver.

Q1: In which season is the story set?
Ans: The story is set in the spring season.

Q2: What were the people doing?
Ans: People were coming out of their houses, walking, and some were being carried in bamboo or bullock carts.

Q3: Why did the child lag behind?
Ans: The child lagged behind because he was attracted by the toys at a stall and stopped to look at them.

Q4: What did the child ask from his father?
Ans: The child asked for a toy from his father.

Q5: What is the third reason for the child lagging behind?
Ans: The child lagged behind again because he stopped to watch little insects and worms along the footpath, which were coming out to enjoy the sunshine.

Q6: What did the child start gathering after entering the grove?
Ans: After entering the grove, the child started gathering the falling petals in his hands.

Q7: Write the meaning of “capers”?
Ans: “Capers” here means running or moving in a playful manner.

Q8: How did they reach the village fair?
Ans: They reached the village fair by walking through the narrow, winding footpath through a mustard field.

Q9: Write the meaning of “Throng”?
Ans: “Throng” means a large crowd of people.

Q10: Write the names of the sweets mentioned in the story.
Ans: The sweets mentioned in the story are Gulab jamun, rasgulla, burfi, and jalebi.

Q11: What answer did the child expect to get from his parents if he asked for a balloon?
Ans: The child expected his parents to tell him that he was too old to play with such toys, implying they might deny him a balloon.

Q12: Why did the child not go near the snake charmer?
Ans: The child did not go near the snake charmer because his parents had warned him not to listen to such coarse music.

Q13: Finally, what did the child request from his parents?
Ans: Finally, the child requested to go on the round-about ride.

Q14: What were the ultimate words uttered by the child after getting lost?
Ans: After getting lost, the child kept repeating “I want my mother, I want my father.”

Q15. Why couldn’t the child get a garland of flowers for himself?

Ans: The child wanted a garland of Gulmohar flowers but spoke in a half-murmur. He knew his parents would likely refuse, claiming the flowers were cheap.

Very Short Answer Questions

Q1: Who offered Lushkoff a job to help him reform? [2025]

Ans: Sergei.

Q2: What task did Lushkoff initially perform for Sergei? [2024]

Ans: Chopping wood.

Q3: Who secretly assisted Lushkoff by chopping wood for him? [2022]

Ans: Olga.

Q4: What was Lushkoff’s occupation after his transformation? [2022]

Ans: Notary.

Q5: What does the story emphasize about the impact of kindness? [2020]

Ans: Kindness can profoundly change a person’s life.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What kind of work was given to Lushkoff initially? Why did he agree to do it? [2025]
Ans. Sergei refused to give alms to Lushkolf, the beggar. lie offered to give him work. He took him home and gave him the work of chopping wood. Lushkoff agreed to do this work, not because he was hungry and scant work. He agreed to do it because of pride and shame and because he had been trapped by his own words.

Q2. How did Olga treat Lushkoff in the beginning? Why did she do this? [2025]
Ans. In the beginning, Olga treated Lushkoff callously. She called him a drunkard. She rebuked him. Then she would sit before him and grow sad. She looked into his face and wept. Then she chopped wood for him. She did so because she felt pity for him. Secondly, she wanted to put him on the right path.

Q3. Where did Sergei send Lushkoff? What advice did he give him? [2024]
Ans. Sergei wanted to give Lushkoff better, cleaner employment. His friend needed a copywriter. As Lushkoff was able to write, so Sergei sent him to his friend. Sergei advised him to work hard and not to drink. He asked him not to forget his advice

Q4. Where did Sergei see Lushkoff after two years? What work was he doing then? [2023]
Ans. One day, after two years, Sergei came across Lushkoff standing at the ticket window of a theatre, paying for a seat. He was wearing a coat collar of curly fur and a sealskin cap. Sergei recognized him. Lushkoff told him that now he was a notary and was paid thirty-five roubles a month. 

Q4. What plea does Lushkoff make to Sergei when he appears at his yard? [2022]
Ans. Lushkoff pleads to Sergei to have pity on him. He says that he has not eaten anything for three days and does not have five copecks for lodging. He further tells Sergei that he had been a village school teacher for eight years and had lost his job due to scheming and lies.

Q5.Describe the physical appearance of Lushkoff when Sergei observes him in his yard. [2022]
Ans. Sergei observed Lushkoff closely when the latter came to his yard asking for alms. At that time, Lushkoff had a ragged appearance. He had worn a fawn-coloured overcoat and his eyes were dull and drunken. There was a red spot on either cheek. He looked every bit a disgusting beggar.

Q6. How did Sergei come to remember that he had met the beggar before? [2021]
Ans. A close look at the beggar’s face made Sergei think that he had seen the man somewhere before. Then his eyes fell on his overshoes, one of which was high and the other was low. This made Sergei remember suddenly that he had seen this beggar in Sadovya Street a couple of days before.

Q7. Why was the beggar taken aback when Sergei asked if he remembered having met him earlier? [2020]
Ans. The beggar was taken aback because he knew that his lies were going to be caught soon. The repercussions of extracting money by exploiting the sympathy of people could be very harsh for him. He could even be handed over to the police.

Q8. Who was the ‘pseudo-teacher’ and why did he sit on a log? [2019]
Ans. The ‘pseudo-teacher’ was the beggar Lushkoff. He sat on a log, lost in his thoughts as his frail health did not allow him to undertake the hard task of chopping wood but he could not get away from it either.

Q9. Describe Lushkoff’s attempt to chop wood. [2019]
Ans. In order to chop wood, Lushkoff irresolutely pulled a billet of wood towards him, set it up between his feet, and tapped it feebly with the axe instead of hitting it hard. As a result, the billet wavered and fell. He again pulled it to him, blew on his freezing hands, and cautiously tapped it with his axe. The billet again fell to the ground without being chopped. 

Q10. Why did Lushkoff become embarrassed when he came to assist Sergei move to another house? [2018]
Ans. Lushkoff became embarrassed when he came to assist Sergei in moving to another house because he could not help in any way. He simply walked behind the wagons hanging his head and shivering in the cold. The other carters mocked at his idleness, feebleness, and his tattered fancy over-coat.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the last meeting between Sergei and Luslikoff. How did Olga help Lushkoff to be a real man? [2025]
Ans. One day, after two years, Sergei came across Lushkoff standing at the ticket window of a theatre, paying for a seat. He was wearing a coat collar of curly fur and a sealskin cap. Sergei recognized him. Lushkoff told him that now he was a notary and was paid thirty-five roubles a month. Sergei was pleased to hear this. He congratulated Lushk off for standing on his own feet in life. At this, Lushkoff disclosed something to him. He said that he had reformed himself not because of him but his maidservant Olga. 

When he used to come to his house to chop wood, he could not do so because he was weak and inexperienced. Then Olga would take pity on him and chop the wood for him. He told Sergei that he never chopped a single stick. It was all done by Olga. Her kindness transformed him. 

Q2. During their conversation, Lushkoff reveals that Sergei’s cook, Olga, is responsible for the positive change in him. How has Olga saved Lushkoff?
OR 
What values did Olga exhibit while saving the life of Lushkoff? [2023]
Ans. Olga, Sergei’s seemingly ill-tempered cook, had been the main motivating factor behind Lushkoff’s positive change. She saved him by rousing the positivity in him that had got suppressed due to his alcoholism. She scolded him, cursed him but also shed tears for him and suffered misery for his sake. Outwardly she expressed disgust for Lushkoff but went out of her way to help him reform himself. She risked the displeasure of her master, Sergei, by hiding the truth about the odd jobs assigned to Lushk off. 

She gave true humane affection to him and showed both pity and concern. Her affection is exhibited by the fact that she chops wood for him so that he can earn some money to feed himself and stay alive. It is Olga’s sincere and selfless efforts that finally give Lushkoff a lease of life. Lushkoff too remembers her with gratitude for her kind words and her noble deeds.

Q3. Imagine you are advocating for Sergei. You meet Lushkoff after a gap of two years and are happy to see him as a reformed man. Write a letter in about 150 words to your friend Antonio Banderas to whom you had sent Lushkoff with a letter of recommendation. [2022]
In your letter you should write:

• When and where you met Lushkoff.
• What revelation he made about Olga.
• How you felt after learning the truth.

Ans.
(Date)
(Address)
Dear Antonio,
Today is a day of pleasant surprises for me. I met Lushkoff, who I had sent to you two years ago with my letter of recommendation. I am extremely happy to share with you that he is now a notary who earns thirty-five roubles a month.
I met him by chance at the theatre and was delighted to see his transformed appearance. He was dressed well and looked good. During the course of our conversation, he made a surprising revelation. He told me that he had never cut a single stick of wood when I had assigned him that task. It was actually my cook, Olga, who would chop it for him. The noble deeds and kindness of the woman reformed him and he quit drinking forever. I salute the spirit of my cook Olga whose selfless service saved a precious life. Her values of humility and mercy have made me realise that compassion has greater worth than money. I must admit that I was a bit startled by this revelation. However, I am genuinely happy because I had honestly wanted Lushkoff to return to the right path.
May God bless the kind Olga for her noble deed!
Hoping to see you for Christmas this year.
Yours,
Sergei.

Q4. How can we help beggars/abolish begging? [2021]
Ans. Most of the countries face the nuisance of begging especially in poor countries. Beggars can be seen in all public places. Some of the beggars have made it a business. It has become a serious problem. Our society and the government should take the necessary steps to solve this problem. The global spread of education is required. Our government should pass strict laws against begging. 

Beggars should be given an opportunity to work. Financial support can be provided to them in order to set up some work. Beggars may be turned into skilled laborers. The government should set up a beggar’s home only for the handicapped. Begging is a bad practice and is an impediment in the way of progress. So, we should discourage begging and beggars.

Very Short Answer Type Questions 

Q1: What were the things the narrator’s mother trying to save from the fire? [2024]
Ans: The narrator’s mother was trying to save important documents, pictures, and letters of his father to keep his memories.

Q2: Who stopped the narrator from entering the house after his mother? [2023]
Ans: A fireman stopped the narrator from entering the house after his mother.

Q3: What was done with the narrator? [2023]
Ans: The narrator was wrapped in a blanket and made to sit inside the car by a fireman.

Q4: What had the fireman put on the narrator’s mother? [2022]
Ans: The fireman put an oxygen mask on the narrator’s mother.

Q5: What happened to the narrator’s mother? [2021]
Ans: She was caught in the fire and had inhaled a little smoke.

Q6: “Does this belong to you?” – Who was the speaker, and what was the thing the speaker was talking about? [2020]
Ans: Here, a woman was offering the narrator’s lost pet cat to him. 

Short Answer Type Questions 

Q1. What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do? [2025]
Ans. One Sunday afternoon, the author smelled something strange and noticed smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling of his house. His mother reacted promptly and the two of them ran out into the front yard. However, she ran back into the house and brought out a small metal box full of important documents.

Q2. What happened to the narrator’s mother when she had run into the burning house? [2025]
Ans. The author’s mother inhaled a little smoke when she ran into the burning house. She was rescued by the firemen who put an oxygen mask on her after bringing her out. However, she was fine soon.

Q3. How did Zan’s mother save important documents from the burning house? [2024]
Ans. Zan’s mother saved important documents from the burning house by courageously rushing inside the house on fire and bringing out a small metal box that contained those documents. She thus risked her life but eventually succeeded in her mission.

Q4. Why did Zan’s mother run back into the house after having saved the important documents? [2023]
Or
“I knew what she was after”. Why does Zan make this observation?
Ans. Zan’s mother ran back to save the pictures and letters of his father who had died when Zan was young. Zan knew that these memories of her husband were extremely precious for her and she did not want them to go up in flames.

Q5. The author’s heart ached for his cat but there was no time to grieve. Why? [2022]
Ans. The author felt pain at the loss of his cat but life had to move on. He could not grieve as a new place to live had to be found and new clothes had to be bought for school.

Q6. Why did Zan’s mother have to borrow money from his grandparents? [2022]
Ans. Zan’s mother had to borrow money from his grandparents because her credit cards, cash and even identification that was needed to draw money from the bank had got burnt up in the fire. She had to rent a new place, buy new clothes for Zan and resettle quickly. She did not have time to wait for the recovery of her lost documents till then.

Q.7. Why did the narrator go over to his burnt house even though they had rented an apartment nearby? [2021]
Ans. The narrator went over to his burnt house even though they had rented an apartment nearby because he hoped that his cat would be found somewhere. He would watch the clearing away of the debris expecting to see his cat.

Q8. What thoughts crossed Zan’s mind when he missed his cat? [2020]
Ans. Zan thought of his cat as the vulnerable little kitten who would tag along after him in the morning. He thought of how she would climb up his robe and crawl into his pocket to fall sleep.

Q9. When the narrator’s house was on fire, how did his mother try to save the threads of life?
Or
How did Zan get back his beloved cat? [2019]
Ans. When the fierce fire broke out in the narrator’s house, his mother ran to the house repeatedly. She had to save the threads of life. She ran to the house to collect important documents. She also tried to save the pictures of her husband and letters because they were the precious gifts of time for her.

Q10. How did the author get rid of his feelings of loss and tragedy? [2019]
Ans. His new friends in the new school and the kindness of the lady, who returned his cat, helped the author in getting rid of his feelings of loss and tragedy. He regained confidence. Now he wanted to live happily in his new home.

Q11. What problem does the author face when he moves to a new school? [2019]
Ans. In the junior school,  he was the head boy of his class. He was very close to all the teachers. He enjoyed the seniority. But when he joins a new school at senior level, he faces many problems. This school was twice as big as his old school. He felt very isolated. 

Long Answer Type Questions 

Q1: What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back? [2025]
Ans: Zan’s cat was brought back home after more than a month of absence. She had run away due to fear of fire and could not be brought back early as her collar had those phone numbers that had got disconnected due to the fire. 

Zan too was back to his normal cheerful life. His absence was emotional, unlike the physical absence of his cat. Zan says that he is also back since he wants to point out the return of his faith in the goodness of life. He had drifted away from joys of friendship and comfort of familiarity on moving to a new school. By the time his cat returned, his gratitude for life had also returned in the company of new friends.

Q2: Suppose you are the woman who rescued Zan’s cat. Write a diary entry in about 150 words describing how you found the cat, what efforts you had to make to trace its home, and how happy you felt after handing over the cat to its rightful owner. [2023]

Ans:
(Day & date)
(Time)
Dear Diary
A month ago, I found a beautiful red tabby cat strolling in my porch. The cat was healthy and clean. Her appearance indicated that she was a much loved and adored pet. I moved closer to the scared little thing and saw that it had a collar on it. I noted down the phone number etched on its collar and took the cat in before calling up its owners.
I fed milk and biscuits to the cute furry thing and she purred gently as if expressing gratitude for having rescued her. Then I put an old rug in a basket and made it her new comfortable home. I sat down by the fire and tried to call the number of its owners.
Unfortunately, the number seemed out of order. Then I searched the telephone directory to locate the address of the owners given against the phone number. Somehow, the directory did not have the complete address but the name of the locality and the city mentioned therein helped me reach the right place. On reaching there, I asked a few locals who guided me to a house under construction.
Lo and behold! I had reached the correct place. I handed over the cat to Zan, its rightful owner. The expression of joy, relief and gratitude on this young boy’s face made my day. I was elated to see his friends jumping around and hugging each other. It was a wonderful day for me because God had allowed me to bring joy to a young boy, his mother and his friends. Tonight I go to bed with gratitude to God for choosing me as an instrument of His goodwill.
Good night!
Mrs. Hillary G. Thomas

Q3: Zan’s life, one month after the fire incident, was happier than his earlier life. Discuss a few reasons for this change. [2022]
Ans: Following are the reasons why Zan’s life changed one month after the fire incident:

1.  Support from schoolmates: After the fire incident, Zan’s schoolmates come forward to help him by providing him with essential items such as clothes, books, and stationery. This support makes Zan feel cared for and less alone in his time of need.
2. Finding his lost cat: Zan’s happiness increases when a neighbor helps him find his lost cat. The reunion with his beloved pet brings him comfort and a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos of his life.
3. Overcoming insecurities: As Zan receives support and affection from those around him, he begins to overcome his insecurities and opens up to others. This helps him form new friendships and feel more confident in himself.
4. Growth and resilience: The fire incident forces Zan to face adversity and grow as a person. He becomes more resilient and learns to adapt to the challenges in his life, ultimately leading to increased happiness.

Q4: Have any of your classmates/schoolmates had an experience like the one described in the story where they needed help? Describe how they were helped. [2020]
Ans: Yes, two years ago, my friend Raju visited the market to buy some household things. It was a crowded market and a shop caught fire due to a short circuit. The panic-stricken people rushed here and there. My friend too was trying to leave that place. He, with three people, got himself locked in a nearby shop to escape from the smoke. But the shop was filled with smoke within a little span of time. They felt suffocated by the fumes. They considered that their end was near. In the meantime, a team of an NGO broke open the shutter and took them out of the shop. They were hospitalised quickly. I could get my friend back because of the team and the grace of God.

Very Short Answer Type Questions 

Q1: How many leaves were there on the tree three days ago? [2025]
Ans: There were almost a hundred leaves on the tree three days ago.

Q2: What was Johnsy watching through the window? [2023]
Ans: Johnsy was watching the falling leaves from the ivy creeper tree through the window.

Q3: Why was it natural for the creeper to shed its leaves? [2022]
Ans: It was Autumn, and it was natural for the creeper to shed its leaves during that season.

Q4: What was Johnsy’s thought? [2021]
Ans: Johnsy believed that she would die after the fall of the last leaf of the tree

Q5: What would Sue do with her painting? [2020]
Ans: Sue would sell her painting to get money for them.

Short Answer Type Questions 

Q1.Who were Sue and Johnsy? Where did they live? [2025]
Ans. Sue and Johnsy were young artist friends who were struggling to establish themselves in the world of art. Both lived in a small flat which was on the third floor of an old house. They shared this place.

Q2. Why did Sue become worried when Johnsy fell ill? [2024]
Ans. Sue became worried because Johnsy would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing out of the window. Johnsy had pneumonia and it seemed curable but her condition indicated otherwise.

Q3. How did Johnsy associate herself with the falling leaves? [2023]
Ans. It was autumn and the ivy creeper leaves were falling gradually. This depressed an already ill Johnsy and strangely enough she associated her falling health with the leaves. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell.

Q4. How did Sue try to revive Johnsy’s interest in things around her? [2022]
Ans. Sue talked about clothes and fashions to draw Johnsy’s interest in things around her. She also moved her drawing-board to Johnsy’s room and whistled as she painted, to keep Johnsy’s mind off her illness. 

Q5.What did Sue see when she heard Johnsy counting backwards? [2022]
Ans. When Sue heard Johnsy counting backwards, she looked out of the window and saw an old ivy creeper climbing half way up the brick wall opposite their window. The creeper was shedding leaves due to the strong autumn wind.

Q6. How did Sue try to convince Johnsy that her belief about dying with the last leaf was nonsense? [2021]
Ans. Sue immediately rubbished Johnsy’s belief as nonsense. She tried to convince her by telling that old ivy leaves had nothing to do with her illness. The doctor too was confident that she would get better.

Q7. Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true? [2020]
Or
What was Behrman’s dream? How did it come true?
Ans. Behrman dreamt of painting a masterpiece some day. His dream did come true when he painted a leaf that was a near replica of a real leaf. This masterpiece saved a young life and fulfilled Behrman’s ambition too. Unfortunately, it cost him his life.

Q8. What made Sue exclaim on looking out of the window on the morning after the storm? [2020]
Or
What did Sue point out to Johnsy when she looked out of the window in the morning after the storm?
Ans. Sue exclaimed in amazement and delight because the last leaf was still there on the ivy creeper. She pointed out to Johnsy that the leaf looked quite green and healthy. It had not fallen in spite of the fierce winds and rain. This meant that Johnsy too could recover. 

Q9. What did Johnsy admit to Sue when the last leaf did not fall? [2019]
Or
When did Johnsy realise her mistake?
Ans. When Johnsy saw the last leaf intact, she admitted that Sue had looked after her so lovingly and she, in turn, had been a bad, wicked, gloomy, and non-cooperative girl. She had now realised that it was a sin to want to die.

Q10. What led to Behrman’s unfortunate death? [2018]
Or
Why did Behrman spend a night out in the storm and rain?
Ans. Behrman died because he had spent the entire stormy night painting a replica of the last leaf on the ivy creeper and had caught pneumonia as a result. He did this to save Johnsy’s life. He did not want her to see the creeper without its last leaf and lose the will to live

Long Answer Type Questions 

Q1. Sue is a true and faithful friend. Comment. [2025]
OR
What values of friendship are prominent in Sue’s character?
Ans. Sue displays the virtues of a true and faithful friend. She and Johnsy were young artist friends who shared a small flat. When Johnsy fell ill, Sue did not spare any effort to nurse her back to health. She exhibited the values of sincerity and commitment to her friend by calling the doctor who would visit them daily to review Johnsy’s condition. She tried to lift Johnsy’s spirits by talking cheerfully to her and thus exemplifying the value of unwavering support to a depressed friend.

She would sit beside Johnsy’s bed and paint so that she could earn for herself and Johnsy. She comforted Johnsy and dealt with her cranky behaviour very patiently. With her cheerful disposition and optimism, she tried her best to reassure Johnsy that the old ivy leaves had nothing to do with her illness. Sensing the seriousness of Johnsy’s health and her state of mind, she at once sought Behrman’s help. Thus, Sue proves to be a compassionate human being and a true friend.

Q2. Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers? [2024]
Ans. Yes, the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers. It is so because, like Johnsy, they too lack emotional maturity. They fail to understand that sorrows are as much a part of our lives as joys are. Certain situations in life are unpredictable as well as unavoidable. Teenagers become nervous while encountering such situations. They begin to gather negative thoughts and have a fear of failure. It becomes a vicious cycle and their weak health aggravates emotional instability. Pessimism begins to destroy their willpower.

Another problem is that like Johnsy, teenagers take a lot of time to get convinced They are difficult to counsel and try their loved one’s patience a lot. The absence of a healthy lifestyle pushes them further into negativity and depression becomes deep-rooted.  

Therefore, teenagers should inculcate positive values like optimism, strong willpower, and faith through meditation and regular exercise to enjoy the blessings of a sound mind in a robust body.  

Q3. How did Behrman save Johnsy’s life? [2023]
Ans. Behrman learnt about Johnsy’s fancies. He did not waste a single second. He took a lantern because it was dark. He took a Ladder because he had to paint the leaf on the wall. He took brushes and colours. He painted the leaf on the wall though it was raining heavily. The real leaf had already fallen. 

The painted leaf stuck to the wall. Johnsy said the last leaf still intact. It revived confidence and will to live in her. It was Behrman’s masterpiece. Behrman died of pneumonia but saved Johnsy’s life.

Q.4. Describe briefly how Behrman saved Johnsy’s life.  [2021]
OR
‘The Last Leaf’ is a story of supreme sacrifice by a wretched drunken artist. Comment 
OR 
Who was Behrman? What was his masterpiece and why did he paint it?
Ans. Sue and Johnsy were two young girl-artists. They lived together in the artists’ colony. Once Johnsy caught pneumonia. She developed a fancy that she would die when the last leaf on the Ivy creeper fell. The doctor said that she should take an interest in life and wish to live. Only then she could be saved.

Behrman was an old painter. He lived on the ground floor beneath them. He was a failure in art. For forty years he had been trying to paint a masterpiece, but he had not yet started. He came to know of Johnsy’s fancy. The night the last leaf fell, he painted a leaf on the wall; He worked all night in the air and snow and painted the leaf. 

The next morning, Johnsy saw the leaf on the wall. Her will to live returned. Her life was saved. But Behrman caught pneumonia and died. Thus he sacrificed his life and saved john’s life. The last leaf painted on the wall was his masterpiece.

Q.5. Write a brief character sketch of old Behrman.  [2020]
OR 
Write a few sentences on the looks and personality of old Behrman.
Ans. Old Behrman was a painter. He was past sixty. But he was a failure in art. He earned very little through his paintings. He always said that he was going to paint a masterpiece. But for the last forty years, he had not even begun it. Behrman was a drunkard. His beard was long and curling. It gave him the look of an imp. He was a tough fellow. He hated weakness in a man. He lived on the ground floor beneath Sue and Johnsy. He considered himself their guardian. 

He was very kind and helpful at heart. When he came to know of Johnsy’s fancy, he decided to help her. He went out in rain and snow and painted a leaf on the wall. It saved Johnsy’s life. But he caught pneumonia and died. Thus Behrman plays a very important role in the story. He sacrificed his life and saved Johnsy’s life. 

Very Short Answer Type Questions 

Q1: What was used to make the eyes of the statue of the Happy Prince? [2025]
Ans: Two bright, shining sapphire stones were used to make the eyes of the statue of the Happy Prince.

Q2: Where was the swallow going? [2024]
Ans: The little swallow was going to Egypt.

Q3: Where did the bird take shelter for a night on the way to Egypt? [2024]
Ans: The bird took shelter between the feet of the statue of the Happy Prince.

Q4: Where did the bird think to change his shelter from the feet of the statue? [2023]
Ans: The bird decided to take a new shelter in the chimney of a house.

Q5: What did the swallow see after the third drop fell on it? [2023]
Ans: The swallow saw tears in the eyes of the Happy Prince.

Q6: What were the things seen by the Swallow on the way to the poor woman’s house? [2023]
Ans: The Swallow saw the cathedral, the palace of the city, a beautiful girl with her lover on the balcony, and lanterns hanging on the masts of the ships.

Q7: What kind of warmth was felt by the little swallow? [2022]
Ans: The little swallow felt the warmth of humanity, the warmth of positivity, which one can get after helping others.

Q8: Whose story was told next by the statue to the swallow? [2021]
Ans: The story of a young writer was told next to the swallow by the statue.

Q9: What was offered to the young writer to heal his problem? [2019]
Ans: The Happy Prince offered one of his sapphires from his eyes to the young writer.

Q10: Where did the writer find the beautiful sapphire? [2019]
Ans: The writer found the beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets. 

Q11: What happened to the matchsticks of the match girl? [2018]
Ans: All the matches had fallen in the gutter and spoiled.

Short Answer Type Questions 

Q1. What made the statue of the Happy Prince cry? [2025]

Ans: The statue of the Happy Prince cried because it could see the misery and suffering of people from its high position. When it saw a seamstress who had nothing to give her sick son except for river water, the Happy Prince was moved to tears.

Q2. Why was the statue called the Happy Prince? [2024]

Ans: The statue was called the Happy Prince because it was a likeness of a prince who had lived a life free from sorrow and tears. He had lived in a palace and died happy, hence earning the name Happy Prince.

Q3.  Why did the Happy Prince request the swallow to stay with him for the night? [2023]

Ans: The Happy Prince requested the swallow to stay with him for the night because he wished to send the ruby from his sword hilt to the seamstress to help her and her sick son. 

However, he was unable to do so as he was just a statue, and the swallow could help him by carrying the ruby to the seamstress.

Q4. What was the last wish of the swallow? [2023]

Ans: The swallow knew that her end had come. He flew on to the shoulder of the Happy Prince and said, “wish to kiss your hand.”  The Happy Prince asked him to kiss him on the lips. He kissed on his lips and then died.

Q5. Describe the statue of the Happy Prince as depicted at the beginning of the story. [2022]

Ans: The statue of the Happy Prince was mounted on a tall column high above the city. It had thin leaves of fine gold-gilded all over. Two bright sapphires were its eyes and a large red ruby glowed on its sword hilt.

Q6. Where was the swallow going? Why did he decide not to go there? [2022]

Ans: The swallow was going to Egypt to join his friends who had already reached there six weeks ago. Initially, he had stopped by only for a night to break his long journey but later got so attached to the Happy Prince that he could not bear to see him crying. He stayed back to be his messenger.

Q7. What were the drops of rain actually? Why did they fall? [2021]

Ans: The drops of rain were actually the tears that rolled down the Happy Prince’s sapphire eyes.  The Prince’s sapphire eyes shed them because he was sad to see the poverty and misery of the city dwellers.

Q8. What made the statue of the Happy Prince cry? [2020]

Ans: The Happy Prince had never seen or experienced sorrow all his life. 

But after his death, his statue was put up on a high pedestal from where he could see the ugliness and misery of his land. This made him cry with sorrow.

Q9. Why and how did the Happy Prince help the seamstress? [2019]

Ans: The Happy Prince decided to help the poor seamstress who was dead tired and whose son was hungry and lay in the fever. 

The poor woman had no money to feed her son and get him medicine. She only gave him water to drink. The Prince wanted the swallow to carry the ruby from his sword hilt so that the seamstress could get rid of her poverty and buy her son food and medicine.

Q10. How did the swallow become the Prince’s eyes? [2019]

Ans: The swallow stayed back with the blind Prince. He would fly over the city and see its people in all their colours. He would report their miseries and sufferings to the Prince. Then, on the Prince’s orders, he would pluck the golden leaves from his statue and give them to the needy.

Q11. Why was a cracking sound heard when the swallow died? [2018]
OR
What happened when the little swallow fell down dead at the feet of the Happy Prince?

Ans: The Happy Prince loved the swallow dearly. So when the bird kissed the Prince and fell down dead at his feet, the latter’s leaden heart broke into two with a curious cracking sound.

Long Answer Type Questions 

Q1. Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘The Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him? [2025]
Or
Why was ‘Happy Prince’ not really happy?

Ans: The courtiers refer to the prince as the ‘Happy Prince’ because he lived a joyful life, free from sorrow within his palace. However, he was not truly happy, as he had never experienced the misery of his people.

When his statue was erected, he could finally see the city and its suffering. He witnessed:

• Pain and hunger among the citizens
• Despair and suffering all around him

Even though his heart was made of lead, he could not help but weep for the plight of those he had never known.

Q2. When and how did the Happy Prince realise the true meaning of life? What did this realisation prompt him to do? [2024]

Ans: The Happy Prince lived a comfortable life, shielded from sorrow, which led to his title. After his death, his statue was placed high in the city, allowing him to witness the pain and suffering of the people below. This experience opened his eyes to the harsh realities of life, revealing that:

• Suffering is a fundamental aspect of human existence.
• The true beauty of life lies in compassion, not in wealth.

Moved by the misery he observed, the Happy Prince decided to:

• Share his riches with those in need.
• Alleviate the pain of poverty among the city’s inhabitants.

His realisation prompted him to act selflessly, demonstrating that true happiness comes from helping others.

Q3. How did the Happy Prince discover true happiness? How did he spread it? [2023]
Or
What the Happy Prince does as a statue should have been done by him when he was alive? Discuss.

Ans:  The Happy Prince lived a comfortable life, shielded from sorrow in his palace. After his death, his statue was erected on a tall column, allowing him to witness the misery and suffering of the city’s people. This experience led him to discover true happiness, which he spread by sacrificing his riches.

• He sent the ruby from his sword hilt to a poor seamstress to help her buy food and medicine for her sick son.
• One of his sapphire eyes was given to a playwright in need of warmth and food to complete his play.
• The other sapphire was sent to a matchgirl who feared punishment from her father for losing her matches.
• He distributed his gold leaves among the poor to help them find success.

Through these acts, the Happy Prince donated all he had to alleviate misery and poverty. His actions exemplify that the true purpose of life is to find happiness by spreading it to others.

Q4. Why did the Happy Prince request the swallow to stay for another day? [2021]

Ans:  The Happy Prince stood on a tall column, observing the suffering of the people below. Unable to move, he wished to help them.

• He noticed a poor seamstress and sent her a ruby through the swallow.
• Next, he saw a handsome playwright, shivering at his desk, struggling to finish a play.
• The young man lacked firewood to stay warm and was faint from hunger.
• Moved by compassion, the Prince wanted to send one of his sapphire eyes to help him.

Thus, he asked the swallow to stay for another day to assist him in his mission.

Q5. Give a brief character sketch of the swallow. [2020]

Ans:  The little swallow plays a significant role in the story. Initially, he is on his way to Egypt to join his friends. However, the Prince asks him to stay for one more day, and the swallow agrees.

• At the Prince’s request, he delivers a ruby to a seamstress.
• He also takes the sapphires from the Prince’s eyes to help a young man and a poor girl.
• Despite becoming blind, the Prince’s kindness inspires the swallow to remain with him.

The swallow demonstrates a kind heart by:

• Fanning the son of a poor woman to provide comfort.
• Staying with the Prince even as winter arrives.
• Enduring the cold and living on crumbs.

Ultimately, the swallow dies from the harsh winter, but his loyalty remains unbroken. Even in death, he is united with the Prince, as the angel of God takes them both to paradise.

Very Short Answer Type Questions 

Q1: What is Duddu?  [2025]
Ans: Duddu is a term in the Kannada language that means money.

Q2: Why did the disciple not want to leave that kingdom? [2024]
Ans: The disciple did not want to leave the kingdom, as everything was cheap there.

Q3: What were the things the disciple started eating every day? [2023]
Ans: The disciple started eating bananas, ghee, rice, and wheat every day.

Q4: Who went to search for the goldsmith? [2022]
Ans: A bailiff went to search for the goldsmith.

Q5: What problem was seen while giving the punishment to the old merchant? [2021]
Ans: The merchant was too thin to be executed on that stake. 

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Now justice had come full circle, thought the king. What argument did the merchant come up with? What counter-argument did the king give?  [2025]
Ans: The merchant claimed that his father had ordered the jewellery, insisting that he was innocent. In response, the king argued that the merchant had inherited not only his father’s riches but also his father’s sins, and thus he must face punishment for the crime.

Q2. Why was it decided to execute the disciple? [2024]
Ans: The rich man was too thin to be executed properly on the stake.  A fat man was needed for this. So the disciple was chosen to be executed.

Q3. How did the kingdom become normal again? [2024]
Ans: The people requested the guru and the disciple to be their king and minister.  They finally agreed and changed all the old laws. Thus, the kingdom became normal again.

Q4. What did the dancing girl say in her defence? [2022]
Ans: The dancing girl explained that she had given some gold to the goldsmith to create jewellery for her. However, the goldsmith made numerous excuses, which forced her to walk back and forth to his house many times.

Q5. How did the guru come to know that his disciple was in trouble? [2021]
Ans: The guru had magical powers. He saw in a vision that his disciple was in trouble.

Q6. What did the king and his minister do at night? [2021]
Ans: At night, the king and his minister secretly visited the prison to release the guru and his disciple. They then disguised themselves as the two prisoners. Following their plan, they were taken to the stake, and executed.

Q7. Who were the people questioned during the course of the trial, and what was each person’s defence? [2020]
Ans: During the trial, several individuals were questioned, each providing their own defence. The owner of the house claimed that the responsibility lay with the bricklayer who built the wall. The bricklayer, in turn, explained that he was distracted by a dancing girl who passed by repeatedly. The dancing girl then stated that she had to walk through the street multiple times because the goldsmith had not completed her jewellery on time. The goldsmith defended himself by saying he was busy making ornaments for a wedding at the house of the same owner who had initially been summoned.

Q8. How was the Kingdom of Fools different from any other place? [2019]
OR
What was so strange about the Kingdom of Fools? 

Ans: The Kingdom of Fools was unique and peculiar compared to other places. It was ruled by an idiot king and his foolish minister, who enforced bizarre laws. They mandated that everyone should work at night and sleep during the day. Even cattle were trained to follow this strange routine. Additionally, all goods had a uniform price of one duddu, regardless of what was purchased.

Long Answer Type Questions 

Q1. Describe in brief the strange case brought to the king and the king’s judgment. [2024]
Ans: One day, a thief broke into the house of a rich man. A wall of the house fell on him, and he died on the spot. The brother of the thief complained to the king that the rich man was responsible for the thief’s death because the wall of his house was weak. The owner of the house was summoned. But he said that the bricklayer who had constructed the wall was responsible. The bricklayer said that when he was making a wall, a dancing girl passed several times through the street. She distracted his attention. 

So, she was responsible. The dancing girl told the king that she had ordered a goldsmith to make jewellery for her. He did not make it in time. So she had to pass through the street several times. The goldsmith was called. He said that he had to make ornaments for a wedding in the rich man’s house. So he could not finish the jewellery of the dancing girl in time. He was the same owner of the house where the thief had died. He said that his father had placed the order. The king and his minister decided that since the rich man’s father had died, he would be executed in his father’s place.

Q2. Name all the people who are tried in the king’s court, and give the reasons for their trial. [2023]
Ans: The first person tried in the king’s court was the merchant. He was accused because the wall of his house collapsed, resulting in the death of a thief who was burgling his property. Following him, the bricklayer was brought to trial, as the merchant claimed that the bricklayer’s poor workmanship caused the wall to be weak. Next, a dancer was accused of distracting the bricklayer with the sound of her jingling anklets while he worked on the wall. The goldsmith was then implicated for repeatedly calling the dancer to his shop to collect her jewellery, which contributed to her distraction of the bricklayer. The merchant’s father was also blamed for pressuring the goldsmith to prioritise his order, which further complicated the situation. Ultimately, the responsibility circled back to the merchant, who had inherited the house from his father, where the incident occurred. Thus, he was held accountable for the tragedy that unfolded.

Q3. How does the guru manage to save his disciple’s life? [2021]
Ans: The guru saved his disciple’s life using his wisdom and magical powers. When the disciple prayed for help, the guru arrived instantly. He first confused the king by claiming he insisted on being executed before his disciple. Then, he cleverly flattered the king, suggesting that the stake was a part of the divine test. He proclaimed that whoever died first would be reborn as the king, while the second would become the minister. This trickery led the king to believe he could secure a better future for himself. Ultimately, he agreed to execute the guru and his disciple, thinking they would be reborn as rulers. In a twist of fate, the king and his minister disguised themselves as the guru and disciple and were executed instead. Thus, the guru not only saved his disciple but also rid the kingdom of the foolish king and his incompetent minister.

Q4. The guru was as wise as King Solomon. Discuss. [2020]
OR
Wisdom and far-sightedness were the most important qualities of the guru’s character. Discuss.
Ans: By saving his disciple’s life and eventually becoming the ruler of the Kingdom of Fools, the guru demonstrated the immense value of wisdom. He was able to tackle even the most challenging problems because he remained calm during crises. His character illustrates that wisdom is a vital asset for overcoming tricky situations. Similar to King Solomon of Israel, the guru accomplished the seemingly impossible task of rescuing his disciple from the foolish execution orders of the king. As a well-travelled and knowledgeable man, the guru quickly realised that the Kingdom of Fools was misruled and that the king’s foolishness could not persist indefinitely. His concerns were validated when his disciple was captured and condemned to execution simply for being fat enough to fit the stake. The wise guru devised a clever plan not only to save his disciple’s life but also to eliminate the foolish king and his incompetent minister. In this way, wisdom triumphed over foolish and unrestrained power.

Very Short Answer Type Questions 

Q1: Which book did Iswaran read after his lunch?  [2025]
​Ans: Iswaran used to read some popular Tamil thrillers after his lunch.

Q2: What did the fences seem like for the elephants?  [2025]
​Ans: The fences seemed like matchsticks for the elephants.

Q3: Who made the elephant frightened? [2024]
​Ans: Iswaran made the elephant frightened.

Q4: Why did Iswaran leave the story unfinished? [2023]
​Ans: Iswaran left the story unfinished as he had to go warm the dinner for them.

Q6: What is the culinary skill? [2023]
Ans: Culinary skill refers to skills related to cooking.

Q7: Why did Iswaran take permission for preparing a special dinner from Mahendra? [2022]
Ans: Iswaran took permission for preparing a special dinner as it was an auspicious day, and according to tradition, special food should be prepared to feed the spirits of their ancestors.

Q8: According to Iswaran, what was the factory site before? [2021]
Ans: According to Iswaran, the factory site was a burial ground before.

Q9: Describe the woman ghost seen by Iswaran? [2020]
Ans: The woman ghost was horrible looking and appeared on a full moon night. She was very ugly and had matted hair with a wrinkled face. She was seen holding an unborn baby in her arms.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. How did Iswaran manage to make even the simplest incident interesting? Give an example. [2025]
Ans. Iswaran had a talent for making even the most ordinary incident interesting by adding suspense to his storytelling. For example, instead of simply saying he saw a fallen tree on the highway, he would describe it as a “enormous bushy beast” before revealing that it was just a fallen tree.

Q2. What did Iswaran do after Mahendra had left for office? [2024]
Ans. When Mahendra left for the office, Iswaran would do his work and take a leisurely bath. While taking bath, he kept muttering a prayer. After lunchtime, he would read for a while before going to sleep. He read popular Tamil thrillers. The stories that he narrated were greatly influenced by these novels.

Q3. How did Iswaran add a prologue to his story of an elephant? [2023]
Ans. Before starting the story, Iswaran gave a detailed description of the place. He said that the place was a richly wooded forest. The logs of wood were hauled by elephants on lorries. But sometimes, the elephants turned mad. When an elephant turned mad, not even a skilled mahout could control it.

Q4. Why did Mahendra resolve to leave the haunted place the very next day? [2022]
Ans. Mahendra had almost forgotten the incident of the previous night. But in the morning, lswaran told Mahendra that he had also heard the moan at night. He had come to his room. He had seen that Mahendra was looking out of the window at the ghost of the woman. Mahendra was cold with fear. As soon as he reached the office, he handed in his papers for transfer from that place

Q5. Do you think the ghost seen by Mahendra was only a trick played by his cook, Iswaran? Give reasons for your answer. [2021]
Ans. First, Iswaran created the background by telling Mahendra that the place used to be a burial ground. Then he told the story of a ghost. One night Mahendra saw a figure outside his window. The figure looked like the ghost described by Iswaran. The next morning, lswaran told Mahendra that he had seen Mahendra looking out of the window at the ghost. This shows that it was only a trick played by Iswaran.

Q6. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full moon night? [2021]
Ans. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination as he did not believe in ghosts. One day Iswaran told him about a female ghost holding a foetus in her arms. On a full-moon night, he woke up from his sleep and looked outside the window. He was shocked to see the same figure and began to sweat profusely.

Q7. How did Iswaran build up his ghost story? [2020]
Ans. Iswaran did not give the proper beginning to his stories. He was also in the habit of leaving the story incomplete in between. He prepared the background of the ghost story by saying ‘he saw a human skull lying on the path’. After this, he told the ghost story.

Q8. Who was Mahendra? What did he do? [2019]
Ans. Mahendra was a young man. He was a bachelor. He was a junior supervisor in a firm. Mahendra’s job was to keep an eye on the activities at the work-site. 

Long Answer Type Questions Q1. Describe lswaran’s encounter with the elephant. [2025]
Ans. One day, lswaran told Mahendra the story of a mad elephant. One day a tusker from timber yard escaped and reached the town. People ran here and there in terror. After sometimes the elephant entered a school ground where children were playing. All the boys ran into the rooms and shut the doors of the classrooms. 
The elephant pulled out the football goalpost, tore the volleyball net and broke the drum kept for water. Everyone watched helplessly. Iswaran said that he was studying in the junior class at that time. He grabbed the stick of a teacher and came to the elephant. He struck the elephant’s third toenail with that stick. It shivered and fell down. A veterinary doctor was called. After two days, the elephant’s mahout came and took it away. Iswaran told Mahendra that he made the elephant unconscious using the Japanese art karate or ju-jitsu.

Q2. What did Iswaran tell Mahendra about a ghost? Describe Mahendra’s horrible experience one night. Why did he resolve to leave that place? [2024]
Ans. Iswaran told Mahendra that the entire factory area where he worked was once a burial ground. lswaran told Mahendra that he often saw ghosts at night. Sometimes, there appeared a horrible ghost of a woman. She held a foetus in her arms. Hearing this tale, Mahendra shivered. But he told lswaran that there were no ghosts in reality. From that time, Mahendra felt somewhat uneasy at night. One night, Mahendra was awakened up from sleep by a moan. The moan became louder. He looked out of the window. 
He saw the dark cloudy form of a woman, not very far away from window. She was carrying a bundle in her arms. Mahendra began to sweat with fear. The next morning, Iswaran told Mahendra that he had also heard the moan at night. He had come to his room. He had seen that Mahendra was looking out of the window at the ghost of the woman. Mahendra was cold with fear. As soon as he reached office, he handed in his papers for transfer from that place.

Q3. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create on his listeners?  ​[2023]​​​
Ans. Iswaran describes the uprooted tree by first adding suspense and then a surprise ending to the account. He uses his eyes and hands quite dramatically while recounting that he was alone on a deserted road when he saw something that looked like an enormous bushy beast. Later, on a closer look, he saw that it was a fallen tree with dry branches spread out.
He adopts this style of description because he wants to catch the attention of the listener. He employs suspense and adds details so that the story captivates his audience. His style of narrating stories was influenced by Tamil thrillers that were quite long. He knew from his experience of reading that elaborate descriptions made the story enjoyable and interesting. He wanted to give the same experience to his listeners.

Q4. “Iswaran is a fascinating storyteller”. Discuss.
Or
Iswaran was a master storyteller. Describe his amazing narrative’ skills. [2022]
Ans. Iswaran is a fascinating storyteller who could weave out endless stories and anecdotes. He acquired this talent by reading Tamil thrillers. He would read these novels every day after lunch and relate them to his master in his leisure time. He always added suspense and surprise even to the smallest incident and could make up innumerable stories on different subjects. He would use facial and body expressions to add interest to the story. He would raise his eyebrows, wave his hands, and jump about imitating the characters in his stories. He would narrate a story in installments and purposely leave it unfinished midway. On returning, he would not pick it up right away till reminded by his listener. He would narrate a new story every day and fill it with adventure, horror and suspense, thus entertaining Mahendra as television does.

Q5. How does Iswaran narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?  [2021]
Ans. Iswaran narrates the story of the tusker in his unique style. He starts by giving an introduction in which he describes elephants that turn wild and become uncontrollable. He then gives an account of how one day a tusker escaped from the timber yard and destroyed the bushes, creepers and branches that came its way. While describing, Iswaran gets carried away by the narrative and jumps about on the floor. He continues narrating the details regarding the forced entry of the elephant first in the town and then in his school. He builds up the suspense by describing the fear that gripped the people of his town, his teachers and the boys in his school. He then very cleverly assumes the role of a hero and goes on to narrate how he, merely a junior student, grabbed a cane from a teacher and ran down to challenge the tusker. It tried to scare him by stamping its feet and kicking up mud. But Iswaran said that he was so brave that he hit hard on the third toenail of the elephant and the stunned animal shivered and collapsed.
The early part of this story that describes the havoc wreaked by the mad tusker is plausible. We often get to read news reports of such incidents in areas close to elephant habitats. However, the later part when Iswaran claims to disempower the elephant is impossible but hilarious. Taming a wild elephant in a snap with a cane held by a junior class student is far fetched but interesting.