The Unthankful Man (Short Story) Class 8th
Introduction:
In this captivating story of thanklessness, we meet Raman, a poor yet kind-hearted man. His encounters with various creatures and a deceitful goldsmith unravel the essence of gratitude and its consequences.
Characters:
- Raman: A compassionate Brahmin struggling with poverty.
- The Monkey: A friendly creature residing in a mango tree.
- The Tiger: A noble beast dwelling in a cave.
- The Snake: A serpent trapped in a well.
- The Goldsmith: A cunning man from Varanasi.
- The King and The Prince: Central figures in Raman's journey.
Raman's Acts of Kindness:
Raman, a poor Brahmin, struggles to make ends meet. Desperate for work, he leaves his village and journeys to a nearby town. On his way, he encounters a strange sight - a well with voices coming from within. He peers down and finds a monkey, a tiger, a snake, and a man all trapped. Raman, with a kind heart, helps them escape one by one. Each creature expresses gratitude and promises to return the favor someday. Despite warnings, Raman extends his kindness to all, unaware of the impending consequences.
The Deceit Unfolds:
Raman reaches the town but fails to find work. Dejected, he returns home, stopping by the forest where he encountered the animals. He visits each creature in turn. The monkey offers him delicious mangoes, the tiger gifts him a precious necklace, and the snake, though initially hesitant, devises a plan to help. Upon receiving gratitude from the tiger, monkey, and snake, Raman's trust in humanity is shattered by the goldsmith's betrayal. His journey takes a dark turn as he faces accusations and imprisonment due to the goldsmith's deceitful actions.
Redemption and Justice:
Through the help of the snake, Raman proves his innocence and earns the king's favor. Justice is served as the goldsmith faces the consequences of his ungratefulness. Raman's journey ends with rewards and a valuable lesson learned.
Conclusion:
"The Unthankful Man" masterfully weaves a narrative of kindness, betrayal, and redemption, resonating with timeless lessons. Overall, "The Unthankful Man" leaves a lasting impression, prompting readers to navigate life with a blend of empathy, wisdom, and discernment
Critical Points:
1. Kindness and Gratitude: Raman's unwavering kindness towards creatures in need highlights the value of compassion and generosity. The gratitude expressed by the tiger, monkey, and snake reflects the reciprocal nature of kindness.
2. Deception and Betrayal: The goldsmith's deceitful actions serve as a cautionary tale, illustrating the consequences of misplaced trust and the existence of ungrateful individuals in society.
3. Consequences of Actions: Raman's journey from kindness to accusation underscores the importance of discernment and foresight. His eventual redemption and the goldsmith's downfall showcase the principle of justice prevailing in the face of adversity.
4. Lessons Learned: Through Raman's experiences, readers learn the delicate balance between kindness and vigilance. The story encourages introspection on human nature, emphasizing the need to appreciate gratitude while being mindful of deceitful intentions.
5. Resilience and Justice: Raman's resilience in adversity, aided by the snake's intervention, symbolizes the triumph of truth and righteousness. Justice is served as the goldsmith faces repercussions, reinforcing the narrative's moral framework.
Critical Analysis:
Theme: The story emphasizes the importance of kindness and the interconnectedness of actions. Even a seemingly insignificant act of helping a stranger can have unforeseen benefits.
Characters: Raman embodies selflessness, while the creatures represent the potential for good found in unexpected places.
Plot: The story follows a cause-and-effect structure. Raman's good deeds are eventually rewarded.
Symbolism: The well can symbolize a low point in Raman's life, and his act of helping can be seen as a way of pulling himself and the others out of a difficult situation.
Moral:
Helping others brings rewards:
Kindness doesn't always have immediate benefits, but it can lead to unexpected blessings in the long run.
Keep your promises:
The creatures' loyalty showcases the importance of staying true to one's word.
Glossary
a) outskirts: the outer area of a city, town, or village
b)peep: to secretly look at
c) ungrateful: thankless
d) steep: having a sharp slope
e) depressed: unhappy and hopeless
f) cell: a small room in a prison.
g) plight: an unpleasant condition
h) chamber: a special room
i) maid: a female servant
j) charge: formal accusation
Q. 1. Working with the Text
1. Why was Raman’s wife fed up?
Ans. Raman's wife was fed up with the abject poverty as she and her husband had to go hungry for days together.
2. What did Raman see when he peeped into the well?
Ans. He saw a tiger, a monkey, a snake and a man in the well.
3. Why was Raman scared of the snake?
Ans. Roman was scared of the snake as he thought that if he pulled it out of the
well it might bite him to death.
4. Raman was hungry. What did the monkey do?
Ans. The monkey showed gratitude to Raman by bringing him delicious mangoes, likely because Raman had helped him earlier. This act of kindness from the monkey was a way of thanking Raman for his earlier help, providing him with a satisfying meal in the forest.
5. What did the tiger give him?
Ans. The tiger gave Raman a necklace that a prince had given him earlier for saving his life. This gift from the tiger was a token of gratitude for Raman's assistance in the past.
6. What did the goldsmith do when Raman showed him the necklace?
Ans. When Raman showed the necklace to the goldsmith, the goldsmith went to the king and claimed that he had crafted the necklace for the prince. He accused Raman of possibly murdering the prince and stealing the necklace.
7. How did Raman cure the queen?
Ans. Raman offered his services to cure the queen. He was taken to the queen's chamber from the prison. He touched the queen's forehead. She opened her eyes and was cured of snake's bite.
8. Why did the king send the goldsmith to jail?
Ans. The king sent the goldsmith to jail because he had lied about the man. The
goldsmith had framed wrong charges against an innocent man who had once saved his life.
Language Work:
Who said the following and to whom?
a) “Why don’t you go to the nearby town and seek some job?”
Ans. Raman’s wife to Raman
b) “I live in Varanasi and I am a goldsmith by profession.”
Ans. Man in the well to Raman
c) “Once, I saved a prince’s life. In return he gave me this necklace.”
Ans. Tiger to Raman
d) “You have killed our prince and stolen his necklace.”
Ans. Guards to Raman
e) “How did you land up in the prison?”
Ans. King to Raman
f) “Go home and live happily.”
Ans. King to Raman
(b) Make sentences using the following phrasal verbs:
fed up with: He has become fed up with city life.
pass through: We have to pass through a tunnel on the way to Jammu.
help out: He helped me out of my trouble.
pull out: He pulled out the monkey from the well.
call out: I called out to him loudly.
slither away: The snake shithered away into the water.
wait for: Wait for me for a few minutes.
lock up: The thief was put into the lock up.
wake up: His failure is a wake up call for him.
land up in: His bad habits have landed in up in trouble.
peep into: The boy peeped into the room and was seen by the teacher.
lock up: The police put the thief in the lock up.
take to: He has taken the insult to his heart.
slip into: I gradually slipped into slumber.
Grammar Work
Report the following sentences in the same way:
1. “Let us push on a little further,” said Shabir.
Ans. Shabir proposed that they should push on a little further
2. He said to me, “Let us wait for our friend.”
Ans. He proposed to me that we should wait for our friend
3. Mubashir said, “Abuji, let us go to the NishatBagh.”
Ans. Mubashir said to Abuji that they should go to the Nishat Bagh.
4. The boy said to the teacher, “Let me take my seat, sir.”
Ans. The boy asked the teacher to let him take his seat
5. Rashid said to Hamid, “Let me have a cup of tea.”
Ans. Rashid told Hamid to let him have a cup of tea
6. He said, “Let him run fast, he cannot catch the train.”
Ans. He said that he might run fast, he cannot catch the train.
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