Chapter 4: The Storyteller
Short stories are of many types. Match the type of story in column A with its description in column B.
SOLUTION
Complete the following story using the verbs in the brackets in their proper form:-
Footprint
One night a man ______ (have) a dream. He ______ (dream) that he was ______ (walk) along the beach with god. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one ______ (belong) to him and the other, to God.
After the last scene ______ (flash), he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He ______ (observe) that many times along the path of his life there ______ (be) only one set of footprints and that it ______ (happen) at the saddest, most ______ (trouble) times of his life.
He ______ (question) God about it. “God, you ______ (say) that once I ______ (decide) to follow you, you ______ (will) walk with me all the way. So I don’t understand, why you ______ (leave) me alone when I ______ (need) you most.”
God replied, “During your times of trials and sufferings, where you ______ (see) only one set of footprints, they ______ (be) mine for it was then that I ______ (carry) you in my arms.”
SOLUTION
Footprint
One night a man had a dream. He dreamt that he was walking along the beach with god. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him and the other, to God.
After the last scene had flashed, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He observed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints and that it happened at the saddest, most troubling times of his life.
He questioned God about it. “God, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. So I don’t understand, why you left me alone when I needed you most.”
God replied, “During your times of trials and sufferings, where you saw only one set of footprints, they were mine for it was then that I carried you in my arms.”
From the story (Part I and Part II), find 4 words that begin with the prefix ‘un-’ and write their opposites.
______ × ______
______ × ______.
SOLUTION
Unenterprising x enterprising
unable x able
unhappy x happy
Uninteresting x interesting
unsympathetic x sympathetic
unexpected x expected.
Find one example of the following punctuation mark from the story and copy the sentence in which they are used - colon.
SOLUTION
Colon - "Bertha was terribly frightened, and thought to herself: 'If I had not been so extraordinarily good I should have been safe in the town at this moment.'
Find one example of the following punctuation mark from the story and copy the sentence in which they are used - semi-colon.
SOLUTION
Semi-colon - There was a murmur of approval at the excellence of the Prince's decision; so many people would have decided the other way.
Read the following pieces from the story and suggest a title for each as shown in the 1st one.
SOLUTION
Write your opinion, in your own words:-
Why do you think the children dislike their aunt’s story?
SOLUTION
Aunt's story had lacked adventures, no detailing of the characters, and also it was a monotonous tale of goodness that the children had been hearing since infant life. Hence the children disliked their aunt's story.
Why did they appreciate and praise the stranger’s story?
SOLUTION
Unlike their aunt's story, the stranger's story had novelty, detailed descriptions,s and a surprise ending to it which the children found fascinating. Hence they appreciated and praised the stranger's story.
Do you think Bertha should have met such a glory end to her life? Justify your answer.
SOLUTION
No, I don't think Bertha should have met such a gory end to her life because she never harmed anyone and throughout her little life she had been righteous and extremely good to everyone. According to my opinion, she deserved a better ending.
What did the aunt fail to realize in Bertha’s story?
SOLUTION
The aunt fails to realize in Bertha's story that in spite of being an improper story, it managed to keep the children quiet for more than ten minutes, which is the original purpose of any children's stories.
What is that one vice which nullifies all virtues that a person has?
SOLUTION
According to the story, one vice which nullifies all virtues that a person has is overindulgence. If Bertha had not overstayed her welcome to the park, she would not have met such a gory ending.
Write down two or three proverbs/axioms that suit the message in Bertha’s story.
SOLUTION
All good things must come to an end.
It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny.
All that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity. Sweet things are bad for the teeth.
Write 3 to 5 sentences about the following character.
The Aunt
SOLUTION
The Aunt - The aunt is a gentlewoman, who seems to care a lot for all the three children. She tries to teach them all good values in life and also tries to suffice their curious mind, but due to her lack of authoritative nature, she seems to be failing miserably. She seems to be bad at answering their questions and in the art of story-telling.
The Bachelor
SOLUTION
The Bachelor - The bachelor, at first seems to dislike the children due to their constant restlessness. When he realizes that their aunt has failed to keep them quiet by telling a story he finally decides to do it himself. He has an excellent skill in story-telling but lacks moral values. In the end, it almost seems that he told an improper story on purpose so that the children would trouble the aunt more.
Cyril
SOLUTION
Cyril - The small boy, Cyril, seems to be very inquisitive. He is very restless and has a very curious mind. He is also not satisfied easily and keeps asking questions till he gets a satisfactory answer. He loved the stranger's story and found it beautiful. He found his aunt's story so stupid that he didn't even listen to it after the starting bit.
Bertha
SOLUTION
Bertha - Bertha was a good little girl. She did all that she was told, she was always truthful, she kept her clothes clean, ate milk puddings as though they were jam tarts, learned her lessons. She had won three medals for her goodness which she wo~e proudly, which unfortunately resulted in her tragic ending.
Say whether you agree or disagree.
The children would have behaved well on the train if their aunt had scolded them harshly.
OPTIONS
Agree
Disagree
The youngest child was most irritating.
OPTIONS
Agree
Disagree
Being a bachelor, the stranger had no patience with children.
OPTIONS
Agree
Disagree
The children showed disinterest even in the bachelor’s story-telling, throughout.
OPTIONS
Agree
Disagree
Bertha was very good but very proud too.
OPTIONS
Agree
Disagree
The prince had rare, uncommon likes and dislikes.
OPTIONS
Agree
Disagree
The wolf could not trace Bertha because she was behind a myrtle bush.
OPTIONS
Agree
Disagree
The bachelor had narrated an improper story to the children.
OPTIONS
Agree
Disagree
‘The Storyteller’ has a story within a story.
Search from the Internet or your library books for other stories that have another story within. Enlist at least 3 to 5 of them.
SOLUTION
The Blind Assassin
The Thirteen tale
Canterbury tales
The Decameron
The Arabian nights
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
List all the verbs related to the verb ‘say’ or ‘tell’ from the story. Note where they occur. Rewrite at least 3 of the speeches near which they occur using indirect speech.
SOLUTION
said, exclaimed, persisted, recited, asked, quoted.
Read: ‘The Open Window’ by H. H. Munro (Saki).
SOLUTION
Do it yourself.
Balbharati Solutions for English Kumarbharati 9th Standard Maharashtra State Board
• Chapter 1.2: A Synopsis-The Swiss Family Robinson
• Chapter 1.3: Have you ever seen...?
• Chapter 1.4: Have you thought of the verb ‘have’
• Chapter 2.2: A True Story of Sea Turtles
• Chapter 2.3: Somebody’s Mother
• Chapter 2.4: The Fall of Troy
• Chapter 2.6: The Past in the Present
• Chapter 3.2: Reading Works of Art
• Chapter 3.3: The Road Not Taken
• Chapter 3.4: How the First Letter was Written
• Chapter 4.2: The Storyteller
• Chapter 4.3: Intellectual Rubbish
• Chapter 4.4: My Financial Career
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