WBBSE 10th Class English Solutions Chapter 1 Father’s Help
WBBSE 10th Class English Solutions Chapter 1 Father’s Help
West Bengal Board 10th Class English Solutions Chapter 1 Father’s Help
WBBSE 10th Class English Solutions
Introduction
About the Author: R. K. Narayan (1906-2001) is one of the leading figures of early Indian literature in English. His notable works include ‘Malgudi Days’ and ‘The Guide’. He was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award in 1958 for ‘The Guide.
R. K. Narayan was born on October 10, 1906 in erstwhile Madras. R. K. Narayan studied for eight years at Lutheran Mission School close to his grandmother’s house in Madras and also for a short time at the CRC High School. When his father was appointed headmaster of the Maharaja High School in Mysore, R.K. Narayan moved there to live with his parents. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mysore.
R. K. Narayan is one of the most famous and widely read Indian novelists. His stories were grounded in compassionate humanism and celebrated the humour and energy of ordinary life.
R.K. Narayan began his writing career with ‘Swami and Friends’ in 1935. Most of his work is set in the fictional town of Malgudi which captures everything Indian while having a unique identity of its own. R. K. Narayan’s writing style was marked by simplicity and subtle humour. His stories are of ordinary people trying to live their simple lives in a changing world.
R. K. Narayan’s famous works include ‘The Bachelor of Arts’, ‘The Dark Room’, ‘The English Teacher’, ‘The Financial Expert’, ‘The Guide’, ‘The Man-Eater of Malgudi’, ‘The Vendor of Sweets’, ‘Malgudi Days’, etc.
R.K. Narayan won numerous awards and honours for his works. These include Sahitya Akademi Award for The Guide’ in 1958, Padma Bhushan in 1964, and A.C Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature in 1980.R.K. Narayan was elected an honorary member of the ‘American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters’ in 1982. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1989.
SUMMARY AND CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE STORY
The story is an edited excerpt from ‘Malgudi Days’. It is about a young boy called Swaminathan, who is forced by his father to attend school. The story explores how, through the events that follow, Swami’s original observations about his teacher, Samuel, get transformed considerably.
Swami, like any other kid, does not like school. It’s Monday morning and Swami lies to his mother to get a day off. Luckily he gets the permission. Trouble brews when his stubborn father is determined to send him off to school even when Swami says he has a headache. From then on we see the active imagination of a boy who conjures story after story against his teacher Samuel, so that he is not sent to school. But all of it goes against him and now he is on his way to school with a letter from his father which he has to deliver to his headmaster.
On his way to school, Swami feels that he is committing a criminal offence. Personally he has no experience of Samuel’s cruelties against him. To justify what has been written in the letter he wants Samuel to do something. So he decides to deliver the letter at the end of the day.
When Swami reaches his classroom, Samuel is teaching arithmetic. Contrary to his expectations, Samuel permits him to enter the class. Thereafter, Swami deliberately provokes Samuel, but all his efforts are useless. The arithmetic period comes to an end. At the end of school, he rushes to the headmaster’s room, but finds the room locked. When he reaches home, hearing Swami’s excuses, father reproaches him. Father tears the letter into pieces commenting, “You deserve your Samuel.”
Narayan gives remarkable insights into Swami’s mind. The lies which are an outcome of Swami’s active imagination creates guilt that weighs down Swami when he thinks about Samuel, the class teacher. Narayan never fails to capture the inner turmoil as well as the joys and aspirations of any character-a feature of any great writer.
R. K. Narayan reveals the inner psyche of a schoolgoing child. This short story highlights the need of understanding between parents and children and the significance of an ideal teacher-pupil relationship.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE
‘Father’s Help’ begins with the word ‘lying’. “Lying in bed, Swami realized with a shudder that it was Monday morning.” Here ‘lying’ means ‘resting in a horizontal postion. But the other meaning of the word ‘lying ‘ occupies a major role in the story. The boy tells lies, about his physical condition as well as about his teacher. This leads to the dramatic events described in the story. Why does the boy lie? School does not appear interesting to him. But when his father compels him to go to school, all his misconceptions related to school and the teacher are erased. Samuel, the teacher who appeared to him awe-inspiring becomes friendly in his eyes. So Swami’s father helps him to realise his misconceptions about school and the teacher. It is a case of reawakening for Swami. Father helps him to do that. So the title is justified both literally and symbolically.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1. With a shudder Swami realized that it was –
A. Friday
B. Thursday
C. Wednesday
D. Monday
2. When Swami ought to have been in the school prayer hall, he was lying on the
A. bench
B. table
C. bed
D. desk
3. According to Swami, Samuel is especially angry with boys who are —
A. absent
B. late
C. inattentive
D. undisciplined
4. Swaminathan’s mother was-
A. strict
B. lenient
C. angry
D. foolish
5. Swami should have been in the school prayer hall at –
A. ten o’clock
B. nine o’clock
C. half past nine o’clock
D. quarter past nine o’clock
6. The person, who ordered Swami to dress and go to school, is –
A. the Headmaster
B. Swami’s father
C. Mr Samuel
D. Mrs Samuel
7. Swami’s father asked Swami if —
A. he had no school that day
B. he had no school today
C. there was a holiday in his school
D. he wanted to stay in his home that day
8. Swami’s father suggested that he should not loaf about —
A. on Sunday
B. on Saturday
C. on Monday
D. on Tuesday
9. The name of Swami’s teacher is
A. Mr John
B. Mrs John
C. Mr Samuel
D. MrS Samuel
10. Finally Swami changed his tactics that he –
A. cannot go so late to the class
B. could not go so late to the class
C. can even go so late to the class
D. could even go so late to the class
11. According to Swami, the headmaster
A. disliked Samuel
B. admired Samuel
C. was indifferent to Samuel
D. was afraid of Samuel
True or False
1. Swami said that he had a headache.
Ans. True
2. Swami was lying in his father’s room.
Ans. False
3. According to Swami, the headmaster was not afraid of Samuel.
Ans. False
4. Swami’s father asked Swami if Mr Samuel always rebuked the students.
Ans. True
5. Mr Samuel feels delighted with the boys who generally reach school late.
Ans. False
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
1. Knowing how strict his father is ………………..
Ans. Knowing how strict his father is Swami changed his tactics.
2. Swami will not have headache if ………………..
Ans. Swami will not have headache if he would loaf about less on Sundays.
3. According to Swami’s father, he will have to go to school because ………………..
Ans. According to Swami’s father, he will have to go to school because it is his own fault.
4. Swami knew if ………………..
Ans. Swami knew if he would go late for having a headache the teacher would scold him.
5. Swami’s father advised him to tell his teacher that ………………..
Ans. Swami’s father advised him to tell his teacher that he was late due to his headache.
6. On Monday morning Swami hoped that ………………..
Ans. On Monday morning Swami hoped that he didn’t have to go to school.
Answer the following questions very briefly:
1. How did Swaminathan want to avoid going to school?
Ans. To avoid going to school Swaminathan started to wail, complaining of a headache.
2. What suggestion came from Swami’s mother?
Ans. Swami’s mother suggested that Swami might stay at home.
3. What did Swami’s father advise him to get rid of a headache?
Ans. To get rid of a headache, Swami’s father advised him to loaf about less on Sundays.
4. How was the relationship between Samuel and the headmaster, according to Swami?
Ans. According to Swami, even the headmaster was afraid of Samuel.
5. When and why did Swami shudder?
Ans. On Monday morning, lying in bed, Swami shuddered. He shuddered with fear thinking about going to school.
6. Did his mother believe Swami? How do you know?
Ans. Yes, his mother believed Swami.
On Monday morning, when Swami complained about a headache, his mother believed him and suggested to stay at home.
7. When and how did Swami change his tactics?
Ans. Swami’s father was very strict about his going to school and refused to listen to his excuses. Then Swami changed his tactics and said that he could not go to school so late.
8. How did Swami describe Samuel, the class teacher?
Ans. According to Swami’s description, Samuel was a very angry man. He was especially angry with boys who came in late. Even the headmaster was afraid of him.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
1. Father decided to send the headmaster a —
A. telegram
B. notice
C. letter
D. report
2. While going to school Swami was bothered by-
A. conscience
B. headache
C. toothache
D. fever
3. The colour of Samuel’s coat was –
A. black
B. blue
C. white
D. yellow
4. Father’s letter was
A. brief
B. rude
C. prolonged
D. editorial
5. Swami’s father wrote the letter to Swami’s —
A. friends
B. headmaster
C. teacher
D. mother [মাকে]
6. The letter made Swami feel
A. happy
B. sad
C. excited
D. worried
7. Swami stopped on his way to school to decide whether Samuel was a/an
A. bad person
B. good and friendly person
C. honest person
D. dishonest person
8. Swami felt dizzy because he was
A. excited
B. indifferent
C. afraid
D. puzzled
9. The more Swami thought of Samuel the more
A. aggrieved he felt
B. cheerful he felt
C. disappointed he felt
D. angry he felt
10. Compared to other teachers Samuel was more —
A .friendly
B. learned
C. strict
D. humorous
11. Swami thought himself the —
A. the best boy
B. an unlucky fellow
C. the worst boy
D. happy-go-lucky fellow
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
1. Father’s behaviour took an ………………….
Ans. Father’s behaviour took an unexpected turn.
2. Swami went to school feeling ………………….
Ans. Swami went to school feeling that he was the worst boy on earth.
3. Swami stopped on the roadside to ………………….
Ans. Swami stopped on the roadside to make up his mind about Samuel.
4. Swami’s father asked him to ………………….
Ans. Swami’s father asked him to give the letter to his headmaster.
5. While going to school Swami felt.
Ans. While going to school Swami felt that he was the worst boy on earth.
6. Samuel was more friendly to Swami than other teachers and Swami also felt ………………….
Ans. Samuel was more friendly to Swami than other teachers and Swami also felt Samuel had a special regard for him.
7. Other teachers were not as ………………….
Ans. Other teachers were not as friendly as Samuel.
True or False
1. Samuel was a bad man.
Ans. False
2. Father’s behaviour took an expected turn.
Ans. False
3. Samuel was unamiable in behaviour.
Ans. False
4. Swami supported Father’s decision to send a letter to the headmaster without any protest.
Ans. False
Answer the following questions very briefly:
1. Where did father put the letter?
Ans. Father put the letter in an envelope and sealed it.
2. What did Swami fail to decide about Samuel?
Ans. Swami failed to decide if Samuel really deserved the allegations.
3. How did Samuel look?
Ans. Samuel had dark face, thin moustache, unshaven cheek and wore a yellow coat.
4. Why did Swami’s conscience bother him?
Ans. Swami’s conscience bothered him as he wasn’t at all sure if his description of Samuel had been accurate.
5. What was Swami not sure of?
Ans. Swami was not sure about his description of Samuel.
6. How did Swami recall Samuel’s appearance?
Ans. Swami sorrowfully recalled Samuel’s dark face, his thin moustache, unshaven cheek and his yellow coat.
7. Why did Swami think himself to be the worst boy on earth?
Ans. Swami thought himself to be the worst boy on earth because of his own misdeed. He had falsely alleged about his teacher Samuel to his father.
8. How did Father’s attitude take an unexpected turn?
Ans. Father’s attitude took an unexpected turn as he became very rigid about Swami’s going to the school. He proposed to send a letter with Swami to the headmaster.
9. What was Swami’s actual assessment of Samuel?
Ans. Stopping on the roadside Swami started to think that Samuel was not such a bad man. Personally he was much more friendly than the other teachers.
10. What picture of Samuel appeared in Swami’s mind?
Ans. Swami could recall Samuel’s dark face, his thin moustache, unshaven cheek and yellow coat. All these filled Swami’s mind with sorrow and sympathy for Samuel.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
1. When Swami entered the class, Samuel was teaching-
A. history
B. arithmetic
C. science
D. geography
2. Swami was late to school by-
A. half an hour
B. an hour
C. two hours
D. three hours
3. The headmaster was on a leave for one —
A. day
B. month
C. year
D. week
4. Before entering his school Swami halted —
A. at a stall
B. at the book stall
C. at the gate of the school
D. at the headmaster’s room
5. Swami decided to give the letter to the headmaster —
A. at the recess
B. at the end of the day
C. in the last period
D. in the first period
6. We want more parents like him.” ― Here ‘him’ refers to —
A. Samuel
B. Samuel’s father
C. Swami
D. Swami’s father
7. Samuel gets most angry while he —
A. teaches the class
B. conducts the prayer
C. checks the homework
D. checks the handwriting
8. The last period of the school ended at –
A. 4.00pm
B. 4.15pm
C. 4.30pm
D. 4.45 pm
9. The school was over at –
A. 3.30pm
B. 4.30am
C. 4.30pm
D.3.30 am
10. Swami found the headmaster’s room-
A. open
B. vacant
C. locked
D. dirty
11. At last Swami’s father told him that —
A. Samuel deserved a student like Swami
B. Samuel did not deserve a student like Swami
C. Samuel was suitable for a student like Swami
D. Samuel was preferred by the headmaster
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
1. As Swami entered the school gate, ……………………..
Ans. As Swami entered the school gate, an idea occurred to him.
2. Swami stood at ……………………..
Ans. Swami stood at the entrance to his class.
3. Father snatched the letter away from Swami and ……………………..
Ans. Father snatched the letter away from Swami and tore it.
4. Swami decided to deliver the letter to the headmaster at the end of the day because ……………………..
Ans. Swami decided to deliver the letter to the headmaster at the end of the day because there was a chance Samuel might do something during the course of the day to justify the letter.
5. Swami appeared at the entrance of his class when ……………………..
Ans. Swami appeared at the entrance of his class when Samuel was teaching arithmetic.
6. The question asked by Samuel was an ……………………..
Ans. The question asked by Samuel was an unexpected question to Swami.
True or False
1. Samuel was teaching arithmetic.
Ans. True
2. After taking the letter from Swami’s hand, father kept it in the shelf.
Ans. False
3. The letter against Samuel was justified.
Ans. False
4. Samuel did not scold Swaminathan.
Ans. True
Answer the following questions very briefly:
1. What idea occurred to Swami as he entered the school gate?
Ans. The idea was not to deliver the letter then. [ভাবনাটি ছিল, চিঠিটি তখনই না দেওয়া।]
2. Pick out a sentence to show that Swami’s assumption on Samuel was wrong.
Ans. The sentence is: “This was an unexpected question from Samuel.”
3. “Samuel looked impressed.” – What made Samuel so impressed?
Ans. When Swami said that his father forbade him to miss school, Samuel was very impressed.
4. What did Swami’s father do, snatching away the letter from him?
Ans. Snatching away the letter, Swami’s father tore it up. [চিঠিটা ছিনিয়ে নিয়ে, স্বামীর বাবা সেটা ছিঁড়ে ফেললেন।]
5. Why did Swami take the decision to deliver the letter at the end of the day?
Ans. Swami took the decision to deliver the letter at the end of the day because there was a chance Samuel might do something during the course of the day to justify the letter.
6. What was the unexpected question from Samuel ?
Ans. Samuel asked Swami why he had come to school when he had been suffering from a headache. This was an unexpected question from Samuel.
7. Why did Samuel want more parents like Swami’s father?
Ans. Swami’s father was against missing school. This is good for education. So Samuel wanted more such parents.
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