CBSE Class 10 English HOTs The Thief’s Story

LESSON 1- Two Gentlemen of Verona

Question. Appearance can be deceptive. Discuss with reference to the two boys in `Two Gentlemen of Verona`
Value Points
-One is likely to reach a wrong conclusion if one goes just by appearance.
-Superficial image may lead to wrong decision.
-Looks are not always the mirror.

Question. How does the story `Two Gentlemen of Verona` is the hope for the society?
Value Points-
- A definite message to humanity.
- Difficulties and war could not break their spirit.
- Lived with self-respect and dignity.

Lesson 2 – Mrs. Packletide`s Tiger

Question. A person who is in vain full of self importance and can only think of himself and can go to great length to prove his superiority. Do you think Mrs, Packletide is vain? Give reasons.
Value Points-
- Does not purse hobby of hunting but does so to boast.
- To fulfill her ego exploits the villagers.
- Careful about her own personal risk.

Question. Do you agree with the views that the author ridicules the pretentious nature of the upper class of the prevailing society? Justify your answer.
Value Points-
- Episode of Loona Bimbleton`s flight.
- Challenge accepted by Mrs. Packletide.
- Blackmailing done by Miss Mebin.

Lesson 3- The Letter

Question. Age and experience mellow down a person. Comment with reference to the change in Ali`s outlook?
Value Points-
- Robust hunts in earlier life.
- With the passage of time his outlook towards life changes.
- The pain of separation from his daughter changed his outlook.

Question. Only the wearer where the shoe pinch. It is only after his daughter fell ill that the postmaster realized what Ali was going through. With reference to the story make a diary entry.
Value points-
- Postmaster insensitive towards others feelings.
- Understands the pain when he himself goes through it.
- Has a sense of guilt for his behavior towards Ali.

THE STORY OF THIEF

About the Author
Ruskin Bond (born 19 May 1934) is an Indian author of British descent. He lives with his adopted family in Landour,Mussoorie, India. The Indian Council for Child Education has recognised his role in the growth of children's literature in India. He was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, his novel in English. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.

Summary
The story is about two different people. One is a thief of 15 years of age and the other is a man of approximately 25 years, watching a wrestling match somewhere. The name of the person watching the match is Anil. The thief approaches Anil and starts talking to him because he feels that he had not robbed anyone in the past few days and thought that it would be easy to rob a simple person like Anil. They both start talking and Anil asks the thief his name. The thief introduces himself as Hari Singh. This is not his real name as he changes his name every month to escape his ex employers or police. Then they started talking about the wrestlers and Anil was leaving when Hari called him again and asked him if he could work for Anil. Anil said that he won't be able to pay him but could feed him if he knew how to cook. Hari lied that he knew how to cook. Anil took Hari to his room which was above a sweet shop. Hari cooked a meal which was really bad because Anil did not eat it. Anil asked Hari to leave but he tried to please Anil. Hari smiled in his most attractive way and Anil could not stop laughing looking at him. Anil agreed to teach Hari how to cook, write full sentences and add numbers. Hari was grateful as he knew that there would be no limit to robbing people once he learnt how to read and write.

The narrator used to like working for Anil as he used to make him tea in the morning and then go out to buy the groceries for the day. He also used to steal 1 rupee from the money that was given to him to buy the groceries everyday. Anil knew that he used to steal but did not mind. Anil used to make money by irregular works. Sometimes he used to borrow money and the other day, when he had money, he would be lending it to other people. Whenever he used to get money, he would go out with his friends to celebrate. One day, Anil came in with a bundle of notes and told Hari that he had sold a book to a publisher. At night he kept the money safely under the mattress of his bed. Hari realized that he had been working for Anil for more than a month and had not stolen anything apart from the 1 rupee that he kept everyday from the grocery money. Hari had many chances to steal as he had the key to the room as well. But he was surprised with the amount of trust Anil had on him as he had never seen such a trusting person in his life. This trust thing was preventing him from robbing Anil as Hari thought that robbing a careless person like Anil didn't make much difference because he might not even notice that he had been robbed and that took out all the fun from the work. Then he thought of stealing Anil’s money and justified himself that if he didn't steal money from Anil then also he would waste it on his friends and also, Anil didn't pay him for the work that he did. Hari then woke up at night and quietly crawled to Anil’s bed. He steals the money and decides to leave the city by Lucknow Express that departed at 10:30. When he reached the station, the train had slowly started moving from the platform. He could have easily caught the train, but he hesitated and he himself did not know the reason for it. Before he had reached the station he counted the money and it was 600 rupees in 50 rupee notes. He could live a lavish life for 2 - 3 weeks with so much money. After the train had left, Hari was all alone at the train station. He was left with no place to sleep at night. The only person he knew was Anil and he had looted him as well. He sat on a bench in a park and as it started to rain, he sat down under the clock tower. Then he realized that the notes had got wet. He realized that learning how to read and write would help him to get a much more respectable and honest job which would pay him much more than these few hundred rupees. Then he decided to go back to Anil’s house. He reached the room and placed the money back. Next morning, he woke up a bit late and Anil had already made his tea. Aniul gave a 50 rupee note to Hari as he had got paid for some work and he would be paid regularly. Hari took the note in his hand and realized that the note was still wet from the rain last night. Hari realized that Anil had come to know about his misdeed but there was no sadness, anger or guilt in his mind. The narrator smiled in a beautiful way and it was genuine happiness as he knew that he had saved himself from the wrong road.

LEARN AND WRITE THESE QUESTION ANSWERS IN YOUR COPY.

Question. Why did Hari Singh approach Anil?
Answer. Hari Singh was a thief who had not much luck in his work recently. So he approached Anil with the intention of robbing him, as he seemed to be an easygoing and simple man.According to Hari, winning Anil’s confidence was an easy task.

Question. Anil walked away.
I followed casually’. Why do you think the narrator followed Anil?
Answer. The narrator’s purpose of robbing Anil had not yet been served. He followed Anil to gain his trust and look for an opportunity that may help him give shape to his plans.

Question. Was Hari Singh successful in robbing Anil? Was Anil the only one who was robbed or did Hari also rob himself of something?
Answer. Yes, Hari Singh was successful in robbing Anil. But Anil was not the only one who was robbed at that time. Hari had robbed himself as well. He had lost the chance of receiving education and being literate. He had robbed Anil monetarily but he had robbed himself of the chance for a better and brighter future, which was much more valuable.

Question. What did Anil and Hari agree upon to be the mode of payment?
Answer. When Anil stated his inability to pay Hari, Anil questioned Hari if he could feed Hari. Hari realised that he had misjudged his target and moulded the situation for his benefit. Anil then agreed to feed him if he knew how to cook.

Question. What made Hari Singh go back to Anil’s house?
Answer. Hari Singh realised the importance of education he was receiving from Anil. He knew that learning how to read and write and being a literate person would open doors to many opportunities. He was sure that he would then be able to earn more than a few hundred rupees he had in hand at that time. This made him go back to Anil.

Question. Did Hari like working for Anil? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer. Yes, Hari liked working for Anil. He was happy to carry on the chores for him and was grateful for the education he was receiving. He used to make profit of about a rupee a day as well, which was a decent amount besides being fed.

Question. Why was it difficult for Hari to rob Anil?
Answer. It was difficult for Hari to rob Anil because Anil was the most trusting person Hari had ever met. He was really simple and kind. Hari knew that loss of money will not affect Anil but the loss of trust will make him sad.

Question. State the events that took place on the night of the theft.
Answer. The night of robbery was quite eventful for Hari Singh. After stealing Anil’s money and leaving his house, Hari went to the railway station but didn’t board the train to Lucknow. He walked slowly through the bazaar as he did i ot know anyone who would provide him shelter except Anil, for he didn’t have any friends. He was forced to take shelter under the clock tower later when it started raining heavily. That is where he realised the importance of education and decided to go back to Anil.

Question. How was the morning after the night of the theft?
Answer. The morning after the night of the theft was just like a normal one. Hari woke up late and Anil had made tea by then. Anil gave a fifty rupee note to Hari and told him that he will now be paid regularly. Hari was aware that Anil knew about the theft but he didn’t show anything.

Question. How do you think Anil may have come to know about the theft?
Answer. Anil may have come to know about the theft because of the dampness of the notes because of rain. He was a kind but wise .man. It wouldn’t haye been difficult for Anil to make out the series of events that would have taken place in the night.

Question. Had Anil really forgiven Hari Singh? Support your answer with evidence.
Answer. Yes, Anil had forgiven Hari Singh. It is evident because Anil handed over to Hari a fifty rupee note as soon as Hari woke up. Though he knew that Hari had robbed the money at first but his subsequent actions gave him hope of change in Hari’s character.

Long Answer Type Questions 

Answer. Money can’t make a man as much as education can. Elucidate the statement.
Answer. The statement stands true in almost all the aspects of life. Money may buy us all the luxuries and fulfil our needs but it cannot buy us knowledge, civilised thinking, skills and abilities to achieve our dreams. Education lays the platform for all to act upon our goals according to our abilities. Education enables us to keep up with the fast moving world. It opens the door to opportunities we do not know even exist. Money, on the other hand, can assist us to a certain level. It can buy us a plan but education gives us the knowledge of its execution. Just as in the story ‘A Thief s Story’, Hari Singh prioritised the chance of being literate over a few hundred rupees, we must understand that education can help us to achieve whatever we desire.

Question. Hari Singh didn’t board the express and returned to Amil. Why did he return? On what values does this incidence put light on?
Answer. Hari Singh was a thief and he had stolen Anil’s money. After the theft, he realised that he had robbed not only Anil but also himself of the chance of being literate and having a bright future. His conscience pricked him to think what all he could have got had he not done this. It was difficult for him to rob Anil but it was tougher for him not to back. He realised that he could not make tea, buy daily supplies and learn how to read and write then. His inner self did not agree to bypass this and forced him to return. Hari’s return to Anil shows that despite indulging in criminal acts, he still had a practical and positive attitude towards life. It is the awakening of Hari’s conscience and Anil’s love and care that reformed Hari’s character. It teaches us that love alone can change a person. Anil’s understanding nature and care changed Hari’s thinking to mend his ways for good.