Extra Questions and Notes

THE LITTLE GIRL

INTRODUCTION

This is a story about a little girl. She feared her father greatly. She thought that he was hard-hearted and strict. She always avoided him. He often rebuked her. Once he beat her severely for tearing his important papers. But one night, her mother was in the hospital. The little girl was afraid of the dark. But her father consoled her. She slept beside her father. Then she realised that her father was very good.

(यह एक छोटी लड़की की कहानी है । वह अपने पिता से बहुत डरती थी । यह वह सोचती थी कि वह बहुत कठोर ह्रदय एवं सख्त है । वह सदा उससे बचती थी । यह अक्सर उसे डाँटता था । एक बार उसने उसे अपने महत्वपूर्ण कागज फाड़ने के लिए बहुत पीटा । मगर एक रात उसकी माँ अस्पताल में थी । छोटी लड़की अंधेरे से डरती थी । मगर उसके पिता ने उसे सांत्वना दी । वह अपने पिता के पास सोई । तब उसने महसूस किया कि उसका पिता बहुत अच्छा है। )

THEME

The story is based on the theme of a young child’s point of view about her father. Children take time to understand the actions of their elders. Till then, they tend to develop a negative opinion and sometimes even distrust. However, as kids grow older, their attitude towards their elders undergoes change. The theme of this story is based on this process of change that makes little children notice the soft and caring heart of their overtly strict elders.

TITLE

The title of the story “The Little Girl” is apt as it is about a little girl Kezia. All the episodes in the story describe the experiences, opinions and observations made by Kezia. This story is in fact narrated from the point of view of Kezia alone. Her views about her father, her mother, her grandmother, their cook Alice, and their neighbours – Macdonalds, let the reader know what a little girl thinks and how she feels regarding the people around her. Thus, the title is appropriate.

Justification of the Title (2)

Kezia’s father was a busy man and she was afraid of him. Her father would always give her instructions but never made any effort to know what she expected from him. She wanted his love and company. He only wanted her to be obedient, disciplined, organised and a perfect person. As a little girl, she couldn’t build up self-confidence to feel free to talk. The entire story moves around her expectations. So, the title is apt and appropriate.

MESSAGE

The story conveys a beautiful message that there is a very strong bond between parents and children. This bond has the strength to survive every type of challenge. However, in order to prepare their little children for the hardships of adult life, parents resort to strict punishment and it is difficult for children to understand the true motive behind the stern actions of their parents. As a result, they develop negativity. Therefore, the story gives message to both the children and parents. Children should trust their parents and the parents should understand that physical punishment can leave emotional scars that hamper the growth of a balanced personality of their child. So, the responsibility to strengthen the parent-child bond rests equally on both.

DETAILED SUMMARY

Kezia was a little girl. She feared her father. She thought that her father was like a giant. He had big hands and a big neck. His mouth was also very big. She always avoided him. She thought that he was very cruel.

Kezia’s father worked in an office. He went to an office in the morning. Before going, he went to the little girl’s room. He gave her a casual kiss. The father went to the office in a carriage. She felt very happy when her father had gone.

In the evening, the little girl’s father came back. He spoke loudly in the house. Kezia feared her father’s loud voice. Her mother would ask her to go and take off his shoes. When she entered his room, he looked at her sternly. Kezia thought that her father was a hard-hearted person.

One day Kezia made a pin-cushion. She wanted to present it to her father on his birthday. She needed paper to stuff the pin-cushions. She found some sheets of paper in her father’s room. She tore the sheets to stuff the pin-cushion. Her father had written an important speech on them. He was very angry with her. He took a stick and beat her severely. He told her not to touch anything that did not belong to her. Kezia wept bitterly. She wondered why God had made fathers. Now she trembled even at the sight of her father.

One day, Kezia saw her neighbour, Mr Macdonald. He was playing with his children. They all looked very happy. But Kezia’s father never played with her. Now she thought that there were different kind of fathers in the world. Her own father was very cruel.

After a few days, Kezia’s mother became ill. Her grandmother took her to the hospital. Kezia was alone in the house with the nurse. She had to sleep alone in her bedroom. At night, she had a horrible dream. She saw that there was a botcher with a knife. She was terrified. She gave a loud cry. Her father came into her room. He lifted her and took her to his own bed. She lay beside her father. He was tired and fell asleep before her. She was lost in thoughts. She thought that he had to work hard every day. He came in the evening. Then he was too tired to play with her. She thought that it was her fault to tear those important papers. She realised that her father was not bad. He had a big and loving heart.

SUMMARY IN HINDI

केज़िया एक छोटी लड़की थी । वह अपने पिता से डरती थी । वह सोचती थी कि उसका पिता एक दैत्य की तरह है उसके बड़े हाथ और बड़ी गर्दन थी । उसका मुंह भी बहुत बड़ा था । वह सदा उससे बचती थी । वह सोचती थी कि वह बहुत क्रूर है । केज़िया का पिता एक दफ्तर में काम करता था । वह सुबह दफ्तर जाता था । जब उसका पिता चला जाता था तो वह बहुत प्रसन्न होती थी ।

शाम को छोटी लड़की का पिता लौट आता था । वह घर में जोर से बोलता था । केज़िया अपने पिता की तेज आवाज़ से डरती थी । उसकी माँ उसे कहती थी कि वह उसके जूते उतारे । जब वह उसके कमरे में घुसती थी तो वह उसकी ओर कठोरता से देखता था । केज़िया का विचार था कि उसका पिता एक कठोर –ह्रदय व्यक्ति है ।

एक दिन केज़िया ने पिन लगाने का कुशन बनाया। वह इसे अपने पिता को उसके जन्मदिन पर भेंट करना चाहती थी । पिन कुशन को भरने के लिए उसे कागज की आवश्यकता थी । उसे अपने पिता के कमरे में कुछ पन्ने मिले । उसने पिन-कुशन को भरने के लिए उन पन्नों को फाड़ दिया । उसके पिता ने उन पर एक महत्त्वपूर्ण भाषण लिखा था । वह उससे बहुत नाराज हुआ । उसने एक छड़ी ली और उसे बहुत पीटा। उसने उससे कहा कि वह ऐसी किसी वस्तु को हाथ न लगाए जो उसकी नहीं है । केज़िया बहुत रोई । उसे हैरानी हुई कि भगवान् ने पिता क्यों बनाए हैं। अब यह अपने पिता को देखने से भी काँपती थी ।

एक दिन केज़िया ने अपने पडोसी श्री मैक्डोनाँल्ड को देखा । वह अपने बच्चों के साथ खेल रहा था । वे सब बहुत प्रसन्न आते थे । परन्तु केज़िया का पिता उसके साथ कभी नहीं खेलता था । अब उसने सोचा कि संसार में अलग-अलग प्रकार के पिता होते हैं। उसका अपना पिता बहुत अत्याचारी था ।

कुछ दिनों के पश्चात केज़िया की माँ बीमार पड़ गई । उसकी दादी उसे अस्पताल ले गई । केज़िया घर में अपनी आया के अकेली थी । उसे अपने शयनकक्ष में अकेली सोना पड़ा । रात को उसे एक भयानक सपना आया । उसने देखा कि चाकू लिए हुए एक कसाई है । वह डर गई । उसने जोर की चीख मारी । उसका पिता उसके कमरे में आया । उसने उसे उठाया और अपने बिस्तर में ले गया । वह अपने पिता के पास लेटी रही । वह थका हुआ था और उससे पहले सो गया । वह विचारों में खो गई । उसने सोचा कि उसे सारा दिन कठिन परिश्रम करना होता है । यह शाम को घर जाता है । तब यह इतना थका होता है कि उसके साथ खेल नहीं सकता । उसने सोचा कि उसके महत्वपूर्ण कागज फाड़ना एक गलती थी । उसने महसूस किया कि उसका पिता बुरा नहीं था । उसका दिल बड़ा और प्यार करने वाला था ।

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct answer :

1.Name the writer of the story ‘The Little Girl’.

(A) Coates Kinney.

(B) Phoebe Cary.

(C) Katherine Mansfield.

(D) Robert Frost.

2. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

(A) Because he never talked to her lovingly.

(B) Because he never played with her.

(C) Because he kept finding faults with her.

(D) All the above.

3. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?

(A) Her parents.

(B) Her parents and her granny.

(C) Her parents, her sister and her granny.

(D) Her parents, her brother, her sister and her granny.

4. What would Kezia’s father do before going to his office?

(A) He would give Kezia a goodbye kiss.

(B) He would read the newspaper.

(C) He would sit and have a pleasant chat with Kezia.

(D) He would help Kezia with her homework.

5. What would Kezia’s father do after coming back from his office?

(A) He would play with Kezia.

(B) He would go out with Kezia and her mother.

(C) He would go to sleep in his bedroom.

(D) He would sit in the drawing-room, have tea and read the newspaper.

6. What would Kezia’s father do on Sundays?

(A) He would stretch himself on the sofa in the drawing-room.

(B) He would put his handkerchief on his face and his feet on a cushion.

(C) He would sleep soundly and snore.

(D) All the above.

7. Why would Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to talk to her father?

(A) So that she could learn many new things.

(B) So that she could explain her problems to him.

(C) So that she could give him some company and make him feel less lonely.

(D) So that she could know her father better.

8. How did Kezia feel when her father looked at her through his spectacles?

(A) Excited.

(B) Elated.

(C) Terrified.

(D) Shocked.

9. What would Kezia do while saying something to her father?

(A) She would stammer.

(B) She would begin to cry.

(C) She would speak very loudly.

(D) She would run away in fear.

10. When would Kezia start stuttering?

(A) While talking to her father.

(B) While talking to her mother.

(C) While talking to her granny.

(D) While talking to a stranger.

11. What would Kezia feel while thinking about her father?

(A) She felt she was thinking about an angel.

(B) She felt she was thinking about a giant.

(C) She felt she was thinking about a god.

(D) She felt she was thinking about a stranger.

12. What would the father say on seeing Kezia looking at him?

(A) He would say she looked like a fairy.

(B) He would say she looked like a little brown owl.

(C) He would say she looked like a fool.

(D) He would say she looked like a clever cat.

13. What kept Kezia indoors one day?

(A) A cold.

(B) A fever.

(C) A toothache.

(D) A headache.

14. What gift did the grandmother suggest to Kezia to give her father on his birthday?

(A) A pen.

(B) A table-lamp.

(C) A cigar-case.

(D) A pin-cushion.

15. What did she fill the pin-cushion with

(A) Sheets of paper.

(B) Tiny pieces of paper.

(C) Little pieces of cloth.

(D) Some pieces of straw.

EXTRACTS

To the little girl, he was a figure to be feared and avoided. Every morning before going to work he came into her room and gave her a casual kiss.

(a) Who does ‘he’ refer to in this extract?

Ans: He refers to the father of the little girl, Kezia.

(b) What were the feelings of the little girl towards him?

Ans: The little girl was afraid of him and tried to avoid him.

(c) What did ‘he’ do before going to work every morning?

Ans: Before going to work every morning, he came to the room of the little girl and casually kissed her.

(d) What does this gesture show about him?

Ans: This gesture shows that he loved her girl but was not very expressive in his affection.

EXTRACT

She never stuttered with other people – had quite given it up – but only with Father, because then she was trying so hard to say the words properly.

(a) Who is ‘she’ in this extract?

‘Ans: She’ is Kezia, the little girl who was afraid of her father.

(b) What had she ‘quite given up’?

Ans: She had quite given up the occasional stuttering in front of other people.

(c) How did ‘she’ speak in the presence of her father?

Ans: In the presence of her father, Kezia stuttered while speaking and displayed lack of confidence.

(d) Why did ‘she’ speak so differently before her father?

Ans: Being afraid of her father, Kezia hesitated to speak to him. Whenever she had to, she would stutter and sound different because her natural speech would be obstructed.

EXTRACT

He was so big – his hands and his neck, especially his mouth when he yawned. Thinking about him alone was like thinking about a giant.

(a) Who is ‘he’ in the above extract?

Ans: In this extract, ‘he’ refers to the father of Kezia, who was a veil, strict disciplinarian.

(b) why does the speaker find him so big?

Ans: The speaker is his little daughter Kezia who was very scared of him. Hence she finds him so big – with big hands, neck and mouth.

(c) why does the speaker think of him as a giant?

Ans: The speaker, Kezia, thought of him as a giant because to a small girl like her, his big body structure was as frightening as that of a giant of children’s stories.

(d) When did his mouth especially appear big?

Ans: His mouth especially appeared big when he opened it wide while yawning.

EXTRACT

“Mother, go up to her room and fetch down the damned thing – see that the child’s put to bed this instant.”

(a) Who speaks these lines and to whom?

Ans: Kezia’s father speaks these lines to his mother.

(b) What is the mood of the speaker in these lines?

Ans: The speaker, Kezia’s father, is in a very angry mood while speaking these lines because Kezia had torn his important speech to pieces.

(c) What does the speaker refer to as the ‘damned thing’?

Ans: The ‘damned thing’ referred to by the speaker, Kezia’s father, is the pin-cushion Kezia had made for him.

(d) Who is the ‘child’ here? Why does the speaker wish the child to be put to bed immediately?

Ans: The ‘child’ here is Kezia. Her father, the speaker, wishes her to be put to bed immediately because he is furious at the damage caused by her. He does not want to lose his anger further due to her presence in front of him.

EXTRACT

“Here’s a clean hanky, darling. Blow your nose. Go to sleep, pet; you’ll forget all about it in the morning. I tried to explain to Father but he was too upset to listen tonight.”

(a) Who speaks these lines to whom and when?

Ans: The kind and affectionate Grandmother speaks these lines to a sobbing Kezia after she is hit on her little pink palms with a ruler by her father.

(b) Why does the speaker offer a clean hanky?

Ans: Grandmother, the speaker, offers a clean hanky because Kezia had been crying after she was punished by her father for tearing his important papers. She needed a clean hanky to blow her nose.

(c) What did the speaker want the listener to forget? Why?

Ans: Grandmother, the speaker, wanted Kezia, the listener to forget all about the beating that she had got from her Father. She wanted her to forget it because the punishment was not given to hurt her but to make her understand that things belonging to others must not be touched.

(d) What did the speaker try to explain to Father?

Ans: Grandmother, the speaker, tried to explain to Father that Kezia was a ‘little girl and had not destroyed the papers intentionally. She was, in fact, trying to complete his surprise birthday gift.

EXTRACT

“What’ll I do if I have a nightmare?” she asked. “I often have nightmares and then Ginnie takes me into her bed – I can’t stay in the dark – it all gets ‘whispery’…”

(a) Who is the speaker in these lines? Who is being addressed here?

Ans: In these lines, the speaker is Kezia, the little girl and she is addressing Alice, the cook.

(b) What happens when the speaker has nightmares?

Ans: When Kezia has nightmares, she is comforted by her grandmother who takes the little girl into her bed.

(C)Why can’t the speaker stay in the dark?

Ans: Kezia can’t stay in the dark because she is a little girl and the deep silence of darkness scares her.

(d)Where is Grannie right now?

Ans: Kezia’s Grannie is at the hospital with Kezia’s mother who is unwell.

(VII)

“Oh,” said the little girl, “my head’s on your heart. I can hear it going. What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear.”

(a) Who is the little girl in these lines?

Ans: The little girl in these lines is Kezia.

(b) Where has she put her head? Why?

Ans: Kezia has put her head on the big heart of her father. She has done so because she is free from her fears and nightmare and is happy to discover the tender and loving side of her otherwise strict daddy.

Ans: Kezia can hear the heartbeat of her father. Symbolically, it means that she can understand the true love that is buried deep in her father’s heart.

(d) How does the little girl feel at this time?

Ans: Kezia feels happy and safe at this time. She does not think her father to be cruel, dominating, and giant-like. Instead, she knows that he is actually a kind, loving, and considerate person with a big heart.

8. Slowly the girl would slip down the stairs, more slowly still across the hall, and push open the drawing-room door.

By that time he had his spectacles on and looked at her over them in a way that was terrifying to the little girl.

Questions

(i) Name the lesson.

(ii) What did the little girl’s mother tell her?

(iii) Where was her father?

(iv) Why was her father’s look terrifying for her?

Answers

(i) The name of the lesson is The Little Girl’.

(ii) She told her to come down and take off her father’s boots.

(iii) He was in the drawing-room.

(iv) Her father’s look was terrifying for her because she was afraid of him.

She never stuttered with other people — had quite given it up — but only with Father} because then she was trying so hard to say the words properly.

“What’s the matter? What are you looking so wretched about?

Questions

(i) Who is ‘you’ here?

(ii) With whom is she talking here?

(iii) How did she speak with other people?

(iv) Why did she stutter before her father?

Answers

(i) ‘You’ is Kezia, the little girl here.

(ii) She is talking with her mother here.

(iii) She never stuttered with the other people.

(iv) She stuttered before her father because she was afraid of him.

What are you looking so wretched about? Mother, I wish you taught this child not to appear on the brink of suicide… Here, Kezia, carry my teacup back to the table carefully.”

He was so big — his hands and his neck, especially his mouth when he yawned. Thinking about him alone was like thinking about a giant.

Questions

(i) What is Kezia afraid of?

(ii) Whom does the author think like a giant?

(iii) What does her father with her mother to teach Kezia?

(iv) How does Kezia’s father look physically?

Answers

(i) Kezia is afraid of her father and does not want to face him.

(ii) The author compares Kezia’s father with a giant.

(iii) Kezia’s father wishes to her mother that she would teach her not to appear on the brink of suicide.

(iv) Kezia’s father has very big hands and neck and his mouth look huge when he yawns.

Her grandmother told her that father’s birthday was next week and suggested she should make him a pin-cushion for a gift out of a beautiful piece of yellow silk.

Questions

(i) Who is ‘she’ referred to in the above passage?

(ii) What did her grandmother suggest her?

(iii) What was her problem?

(iv) What does the pin-cushion symbolise for her?

Answers

(i) `She’ is referred to Kezia.

(ii) Her grandmother suggested that she should make a pin-cushion and gift it to her father on his birthday.

(iii) Her problem was to find scraps to fill the pin-cushion.

(iv) It symbolises her love and affection for her father.

12. Laboriously, with double cotton, the little girl stitched three sides. But what to fill it with? That was the question. The grandmother was out in the garden, and she wandered into the mother’s bedroom to look for scraps. On the bed-table, she discovered a great many sheets of fine paper, gathered them up, tore them into tiny pieces, and stuffed her case, then sewed up the fourth side.

That night there was a hue and cry in the house. Father’s great speech for the Port Authority had been lost. Rooms were searched; servants questioned. Finally, the mother came into Kezia’s room.

Questions

(i) Why did the little girl go to her mother’s bedroom?

(ii) What did she discover on the bed table?

(iii) Why was there a hue and cry in the house?

(iv) Why did she need paper sheets?

Answers

(i) She went to her mother’s bedroom to search for something to stuff the pin cushion.

(ii) She discovered a great many sheets of fine paper on the bed-table.

(iii) There was a hue and cry in the house because the great speech for the Port Authority was missing.

(iv) She needed them to fill the pin-cushion.

That night there was a hue and cry in the house. Father’s great speech for the Port Authority had been lost. Rooms were searched; servants questioned. Finally, the mother came into Kezia’s room.

“Kezia, I suppose you didn’t see some papers on a table in our room?”

“Oh yes,” she said, “I tore them up for my surprise.”

Questions

(i) Who made a hue and cry in the house?

(ii) Why were the servants questioned?

(iii) How did Kezia’s mother ask her about the papers?

(iv) Why did Kezia tear up the great speech?

Answers

(i) Kezia’s father made a hue and cry in the house.

(ii) They were questioned to know about the papers on which the great speech was written.

(iii) She asked her about the papers in a polite manner.

(iv) She needed scraps to fill her father’s gift.

And she was dragged down to where Father was pacing to and fro, hands behind his back.

“Well?” he said sharply.

Questions

(i) Who is ‘he’ here?

(ii) Why was she making a ‘pin-cushion’?

(iii) Why were the servants questioned by her father?

(iv) What quality of her is reflected in the above lines?

Answers

(i) ‘He’ is Kezia’s father here.

(ii) She was making it present her father on his birthday.

(iii) The servants were questioned by her father because his great speech was missing.

(iv) She had a great love for her father.

Hours later, when Grandmother had wrapped her in a shawl and rocked her in the rocking chair, the child clung to her soft body.

“What did God make fathers for?” she sobbed.

“Here’s a clean hanky, darling. Blow your nose. Go to sleep, pet; you’ll forget all about it in the morning.

Questions

(i) Why was the little girl sobbing?

(ii) How did the grandmother show her love for the girl?

(iii) What did the girl want to know about the father?

(iv) What kind of memory do children have as expressed in the above lines?

Answers

(i) The little girl was sobbing because she was beaten by her father.

(ii) The grandmother wrapped her in a shawl and rocked her in the rocking chair.

(iii) The girl wanted to know why the father gives punishments to children.

(iv) Children forget things quickly.

“Oh, a butcher — a knife — I want Grannie.” He blew out the candle, bent down and caught up the child in his arms, carrying her along the passage to the big bedroom. A newspaper was on the bed. He put away the paper, then carefully tucked up to the child. He lay down beside her. Half asleep still, still with the butcher’s smile all about her it seemed, she crept close to him, snuggled her head under his arm, held tightly to his shirt.

Then the dark did not matter; she lay still.

“Here, rub your feet against my legs and get them warm,” said Father.

Questions

(i) What was Kezia’s nightmare?

(ii) How did her father comfort her?

(iii) Where did she see the butcher?

(iv) How did her father behave when she had a nightmare?

Answers

(i) In her nightmare, Kezia saw a butcher, with a knife and a rope in his hands.

(ii) He asked her to rub her feet against his legs to make them warm.

(iii) She saw him in the nightmare.

(iv) He behaved with love and affection.

He was harder than Grandmother, but it was a nice hardness. And every day he had to work and was too tired to be a Mr Macdonald…She had torn up all his beautiful writing…

Questions

(i) Who does ‘He’ refer to here?

(ii) How could the hardness of Kezia’s father towards Kezia be nice to her?

(iii) Why couldn’t her father be a Mr Macdonald?

(iv) What did Kezia regret about?

Answers

(i) Here ‘He’ refers to Kezia’s father.

(ii) His hardness kept Kazia in the discipline.

(iii) Her father worked very hard and was too tired to be a Mr Macdonald.

(iv) Kezia was regretted about tearing up her father’s papers.

CHARACTERS

Kezia

Kezia, the young female protagonist of the story “The Little Girl”, is an emotional and sensitive girl. She is as much affected by her father’s disciplinarian attitude as by his love.

The behaviour of Kezia is typical of a young girl. She sees her father as the boss of the family who must be served properly all the time. So, she feels relieved when he leaves for work every morning.

Kezia is an obedient girl. She is afraid of her father and wishes to avoid him, still, she takes off his shoes when her mother asks her to. However, she fears her father so much that she begins to stutter in his presence. Sometimes she even thinks that there should not have been any fathers in this world. When she compares herself to other children, she is pained to observe that her father does not pamper her like the fathers of other children.

Kezia is innocent but impulsive. She makes a pin-cushion for her father as his birthday present but innocently picks up his important papers as stuffing for the pin-cushion. Impulsively, she tears those papers without seeking permission and hence spoils matters.

Kezia’s strong bond with her father comes to fore when she is quick to observe his affection on the night she gets terrified by a bad dream. She feels happy when her father protectively takes her to his bed and comforts her. Her distrust for him changes into the appreciation for his hard work. She admires his big heart and discovers her love for him. She changes from a resenting and frightened girl to a soft-hearted, understanding and affectionate daughter.

Kezia’s Father

Kezia’s father displays two divergent characteristics in the story. Initially, he appears as a domineering, head of the family and demands complete obedience from other members. He wants them to be at his beck and call all the time. As soon as he returns home in the evening, he wants his tea brought to him along with the newspaper. Instead of taking off his shoes himself, he makes Kezia do it for him. He is so strict with his daughter that the poor girl stutters in front of him and feels relieved when he leaves for work in the morning.

This negative aspect of his personality is highlighted even more when he punishes Kezia with a ruler. It appears that he fails to understand the innocent emotions of his daughter who damages his papers accidentally.

However, the positive aspect of his persona surfaces when he takes care of his little girl in the absence of the women of the household. He not only carries her in his arms to his room but also tucks her comfortably in his bed. He asks her to rub her feet with his legs to make them warm. This reveals his paternal affection, protective nature, and caring attitude. Kezia’s father thus makes a typical father who poses a stern exterior which actually hides a soft, affectionate, and tender big heart, full of love.

Kezia’s Grandmother

Kezia’s Grandmother is addressed as ‘Grannie’ by Kezia and as ‘mother’ by Kezia’s father, her son. Her character comes up as a mature and understanding elder in a household. She does not question the authoritarian attitude of her son but keeps prodding her young granddaughter to make efforts to build her bond with her parents. She advises Kezia to talk nicely to her parents when they are relatively relaxed on Sunday afternoons. She does not interfere in any matters of the household and simply provides background support. When Kezia’s father

punishes Kezia with a ruler, Grandmother wraps her in a shawl and rocks her in a chair clinging her to her soft body. She is a mature woman who understands that the upbringing of children is a delicate issue and parents should be allowed to discipline their children in their own way. Grandmother’s supportive character can also be seen when she accompanies her daughter-in-law to the hospital. Hence, the Grandmother is an important character even though she remains mostly in the backdrop.

IMPORTANT

PASSAGE

To the little girl, he was a figure to be feared and avoided. Every morning before going to work he came into her room and gave her a casual kiss, to which she responded with “Goodbye, Father”. And oh, there was a glad sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage growing fainter and fainter down the long road!

In the evening when he came home she stood near the staircase and heard his loud voice in the hall. “Bring my tea into the drawing-room……… Hasn’t the paper come yet? Mother, go and see if my paper’s out there—and bring me my slippers.”

Questions :

(i) What was the name of the little girl?

(ii) What was her father’s routine before going to work?

(iii) When did the girl feel relieved?

(iv) What was her father’s daily routine after coming from the office?

(v) Give the meaning of ‘a figure to be feared’.

Answers :

(i) The name of the little girl was Kezia.

(ii) Every morning before going to work he came into her room and gave her a casual kiss.

(iii) The girl felt relieved after her father had gone to work.

(iv) After coming from office in the evening he cried loudly for tea and newspaper.

(v) ‘a person to be feared.’

PASSAGE

That night there was a hue and cry in the house. Father’s great speech for the Port Authority had bee lost. Rooms were searched; servants questioned. Finally, Mother came into Kezia’s room.

“Kezia, I suppose you didn’t see some papers on a table in our room ?”

“Oh yes,” she said, ” I tore them up for my surprise.”

“What!” screamed Mother. “Come straight down to the dining-room this instant.”

Questions :

(i) Why was there a hue and cry in the house?

(ii) Why were the servants questioned?

(iii) What was Kezia’s surprise?

(iv) Give the meaning of ‘hue and cry’.

(v) Name the chapter and the author.

Answers :

(i) There was a hue and cry in the house because the father’s great speech for the Port Authority had been lost.

(ii) The servants were questioned if they had seen the report anywhere.

(iii) A present of a pin-cushion to her father on his birthday was Kezia’s surprise.

(iv) ‘angry protest’.

(v) ‘The Little Girl’ by Katherine Mansfield.

PASSAGE

The Macdonalds lived next door. They had five children. Looking through a gap in the fence the little girl saw them playing lag’ in the evening. The father with the baby, Mao, on his shoulders, two little girls hanging on to his coat pockets ran round and round the flower-beds, shaking with laughter. Once she saw the boys turn the hose on him—and he tried to catch them laughing all the time.

Questions :

(i) Who were the Macdonalds?

(ii) What did Kezia see through the gap in the fence?

(iii) Name the child on Mr Macdonald’s shoulders.

(iv) What did the boys do with the hose?

(v) Was Mr Macdonald angry with his children?

Answers :

(i) The Macdonalds were Kezia’s next door neighbour.

(ii) Kezia saw Mr Macdonald playing ‘tag’ will all his five children.

(iii) His name was Mao.

(iv) The boys turned the hose on Mr Macdonald.

(v) No. he was not angry with his children.

PASSAGE

Tired out, he slept before the little girl. A funny feeling came over her. Poor Father, not so big, after all—and with no one to look after him. He was harder than Grandmother, but it was a nice hardness. And every day he had to work and was too tired to be a Mr Macdonald She had torn up all his beautiful writing She stirred suddenly, and sighed.

“What’s the matter?” asked her father. “Another dream?”

“Oh,” said the little girl, “my head’s on.your heart. I can hear it going. What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear.”

Questions :

(i) Why did the father sleep before the little girl?

(ii) How did the girl feel her father’s hardness now?

(Ill) Who was Mr Macdonald?

(iv) What could the little girl hear?

(v) Who was Kezia lying with?

Answers :

(i) The father slept before the little girl because he was much tired.

(ii) She felt that her father’s hardness was a nice hardness.

(iii) Mr Macdonald was Kezia’s next door neighbour.

(iv) The little girl could hear her father’s heartbeat.

(v) She was lying with her father.

PASSAGE

On Sunday afternoons Grandmother sent her down to the drawing-room to have a “nice talk with Father and Mother”. But the little girl always found Mother reading and Father stretched out on the sofa, his handkerchief on his face, his feet on one of the best cushions, sleeping soundly and snoring.

She sat on a stool, gravely watched him until he woke and stretched, and asked the time — then looked at her.

Questions :

(i) Why did Grandmother girl send the little girl to the drawing-room?

(ii) What did she always find her mother doing?

(iii) What did she always find her father doing?

(iv) Where did the little girl sit and wait?

(v) Name the chapter and the author.

PASSAGE

(Page 33) She never stuttered with other people — had quite given it up — but only with

Father. because then she was trying so hard to say the words properly.

” What’s the matter? What are you looking so wretched about? Mother, I wish you would teach this child not to appear on the brink of suicide ………Here, Kezia, carry my teacup back to the table carefully.”

He was so big — his hands and his neck, especially his mouth when he yawned.

Thinking about him alone was like thinking about a giant.

Questions

1.”She never stuttered with other people – but only with her father.” Why?

2. What did Kezia think about the size of her father?

3. What made Kezia’s father look like a giant?

4. Was Kezia’s father really indifferent towards her?

PASSAGE 8

(Page 34) One day, when she was kept indoors with a cold, the grandmother told her that father’s birthday was next week and suggested she should make him a pin-cushion for a gift out of a beautiful piece of yellow silk.

Laboriously, with double cotton, the little girl stitched three sides. But what to fill it with? That was the question. The grandmother was out in the garden, and she wandered into the mother’s bedroom to look for ‘scraps’. On the bed-table, she discovered a great many sheets of fine paper, gathered them up, tore them into tiny pieces, and stuffed her case, then sewed up the fourth side.

That night there was a hue and cry in the house. Father’s great speech for the Port Authority had been lost. Rooms were searched — servants questioned. Finally, the mother came into Kezia’s room.

Questions

1. Why was Kezia kept indoors?

2. Why did Kezia make a pin-cushion?

3. What did Kezia fill the pin-cushion with?

4. Why was there a hue and cry in the house?

Answers

1.Because she had a cold.

2. She wanted to gift it to her father on his birthday.

3. She filled it with pieces of paper.

4.Because Father’s speech for Port Authority had been lost.

PASSAGE 9

(Page 35) “What did God make fathers for ?” she sobbed.

“Here’s a clean hanky, darling. Blow your nose. Go to sleep, pet; you’ll forget all about it in the morning. I tried to explain to Father but he was too upset to listen tonight.”

But the child never forgot. Next time she saw him she quickly put both hands behind her back and a red colour flew into the cheeks.

Questions

1. What did Kezia feel about her father?

2. Why did grandmother give a hanky to Kezia?

3. Why did Father not listen to anything that night?

4. Why did Kezia put both hands behind her back on seeing him?

PASSAGE -10

(Page 37) But the same old nightmare came – the butcher with a knife and a rope, who came nearer and nearer, smiling that dreadful smile, while she could not move, could only stand still, crying out, “Grandma! Grandma !” She woke to shiver to see Father beside her bed, a candle in his hand.

“What’s the matter ?” he said.

“Oh, a butcher — a knife — I want Grannie.” He blew out the candle, bent down and caught up the child in his arms, carrying her along the passage to the big bedroom. A newspaper was on the bed — a half-smoked cigar was near his reading lamp. He put away the paper, threw the cigar into the fireplace, then carefully tucked up to the child. He lay down beside her. Half asleep still, still with the butcher’s smile all about her, it seemed. She crept close to him, snuggled her head under his arm, held tightly to his shirt.

Questions

1. What was Kezia’s nightmare?

2. Did Kezia have the nightmare only once?

3. What did Kezia’s father do when she had a nightmare?

4. Was Kezia’s father indifferent towards her or did he love her?

Answers

1. A smiling butcher with a knife and a rope came towards Kezia in her nightmare.

2.No, she had it many a time.

3. He took her to his own bed.

4. Kezia’s father loved her very dearly.

PASSAGE 11

(Page 37) Then the dark did not matter; she lay still.

“Here, rub your feet against my legs and get them warm,” said Father.

Tired out, he slept before the little girl. A funny feeling came over her. Poor Father, not so big, after all, and with no one to look after him. He was harder than the grandmother, but it was a nice hardness. And every day he had to work and was too tired to be Mr Macdonald… She had torn up all his beautiful writing ….. She stirred suddenly and sighed.

“What’s the matter ?” asked her father. “Another dream ?”

“Oh,” said the little girl. “my head’s on your heart. I can hear it going. What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear !”

Questions

1.” Then the dark did not matter; she lay still.” Why was she no longer afraid?

2. What reason does Kezia find for her father not playing with her?

3. Why did the girl sigh?

4. What did the girl tell her father

Short Answer Type Questions (30 to 40 words)

Additional Questions

Q.I. What made Kezia’s father punish her? Was he right to do so?

Ans. Kezia’s father had written a speech on some papers. Kezia had made a pin-cushion for her father on his birthday. She needed paper to stuff the pincushion and put them into the cushion.

So her father punished her. Father was not right to beat her. He could have made Kezia realize her mistake with love

Q.2. Why did the little girl start making the pin-cushion?

Ans. One day Kezia was suffering from cold. She was kept indoors. Her father’s birthday was next week. Her grandmother suggested that she should present a pin-cushion to her father. So she started making the pin-cushion.

Q.3. What did she stuff it with? Why was the stuffing very important for her father? Did she know that it was important?

Ans. Kezia found some sheets of paper in her father’s bedroom. She tore them into pieces. She stuffed the pin-cushion with those pieces. The stuffing was very important for her father. An important speech was written on those papers. But the little girl did not know about it

Q.4. Kezia looked through a hole in the fence into Mr MacDonald’s garden. What did she see?

Ans. Kezia saw that Mr Macdonald was playing with his children. They were running around the flower beds Baby Mao was on his shoulders. The two little girls were hanging on to his coat pockets. They were very happy.

Q.5. Describe the departure of Kezia’s father for his office.

Ans. Kezia’s father went to the office early in the morning. Before going, he went to Kezia’s room. He gave her a kiss. She said goodbye to her father.

Q.6. Describe the arrival of Kezia’s father at home from the office.

Ans. Kezia’s father returned from office in the evening flies coming was a noisy affair. He raised his voice on entering the house. Kezia’s mother asked her to take off her father’s shoes.

Additional Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What was the name of the little girl?

Ans. Her name was Kezia

2. To the little girl who was a figure to be feared and avoided?

Ans. To the little girl, her father was a figure to be feared and avoided.

3. How did the little girl feel when her father left for the office in the morning?

Ans. She felt relieved.

4. What WAS the little girl’s fault when she appeared before her father?

Ans. Before her father, she stuttered badly.

5. What did Kezia always find her father and mother doing on Sunday afternoons?

Ans. She always found her mother reading and father stretched out on the sofa.

6. On what occasion did Kezia’s grandmother ask her to present a gift to her father?

Ans. She asked Kezia to present a gift to her father on the occasion of his birthday.

7. What gift did Kezia prepare for her father?

Ans. She prepared a pin-cushion for her father.

8. What did Kezia stuff the pin-cushion with?

Ans. She stuffed the pin-cushion with the paper’s on which her father’s important speech was written

9. Who was ‘the Macdonalds’?

Ans. They were Kezia’s next door neighbour.

10. How many children did Mr Macdonald have?

Ans. He had five children.

11. How many brothers and sisters did Kezia have?

Ans. Kezia had no brothers or sisters, she was the only child of her parents.

12. Why was there hue and cry on the loss of the papers in the house?

Ans. There was so much hue and cry in the house on the loss of the papers because the father’s great speech for the Port Authority was written in them.

13. Why was Kezia left alone one night with her father?

Ans. Kezia’s mother was ill and the grandmother went with her to the hospital.

14. Who was Alice?

Ans. Alice was the cook in Kezia’s house.

15. What was Kezia’s nightmare?

Ans. Kezia saw a butcher with a knife in her nightmare.

16. Name the writer of the lesson ‘The Little Girl’.

Ans. Katherine Mansfield.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

Ans: Kezia was afraid of her father’s strictness and terrifying angry looks. Instead of tender love and affection, she would get harsh words of scolding and physical punishment from him. Evert his giant like size would terrify her.

Q2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?

Ans: Kezia’s family had four people in all. Her very strict father, her stern mother, her soft-hearted grandmother and little Kezia herself.

Q3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine before going to an office and after coming back in the evening?

Ans: Before going to an office, Kezia’s father would come to her room, give her a casual kiss and leave for work. He would return in the evening and demand that tea is brought into the drawing-room, and ask for his papers and slippers in a loud voice.

Q4. What would Kezia’s mother ask her to do when Father returned from office?

Ans: When Father returned home from the office, the mother would tell Kezia to come downstairs and take off her father’s shoes. She would also be told to take the shoes outside. Further, she was ordered by Father to put his teacup back on the table.

Q5. Why did Kezia go slowly towards the drawing-room when the mother asked her to come downstairs?

Ans: Kezia never enjoyed the company of her dominating father. He always scolded her for one thing or the other and never appreciated or loved her. She was so frightened of him that she went very slowly towards the drawing-room when she was’ asked to come downstairs to take off his shoes.

Q6. Which expressions on Kezia’s face annoyed Father?

Ans: Besides her stuttering, the expressions of gloom and wretchedness on Kezia’s face annoyed Father. He felt that with such expressions, she seemed as if she were on the verge of suicide.

Q7. Why did Kezia stutter in the presence of Father?

Ans: Kezia’s father’s domineering personality and frequent scolding shook her self-confidence. She felt under pressure to please him, so she would search hard for appropriate words in her mind while talking to him. This pressure made her stutter in his presence.

Q8. Why did Kezia feel that her father was like a giant?

Ans: Kezia felt that her father was like a giant because he had very big hands and neck. His mouth seemed big especially when he yawned. In addition, his stern and cold behaviour too made the little girl think of him as a giant.

Q9. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her parents better?

Why did Kezia’s grandmother send her to the drawing-room every Sunday afternoon?

Ans: Kezia’s grandmother wanted the little girl’s bond with her parents should be strong. Therefore, every Sunday afternoon she would encourage Kezia to go downstairs to the drawing-room, have a nice conversation with them, and get to know them better.

Q10. What was Kezia’s father’s routine on Sundays? (Textual)

Ans: On Sundays, Kezia’s father would relax in the afternoon. He would stretch out on the sofa in their drawing-room, put the handkerchief on his face, feet on the best cushion and sleep snoring soundly. All this while, her mother would be absorbed in reading the newspaper.

Q11. What would Kezia do while her father slept on Sundays? what happened when he woke up?

Ans: Kezia would sit on a stool and gravely watch her father until he woke up and stretched to ask the time. Then, he would look at her and tell her not to stare at him as it made her look like a brown owl.

Q12. What did Grandmother ask Kezia to make and why?

Ans: Grandmother asked Kezia to make a pin-cushion out of a beautiful piece of yellow silk as a birthday present for Father. She wanted the little girl to present this pin-cushion as a surprise gift and make her father happy. This could possibly bring them both close to each other.

Q13. What did Kezia make as a birthday gift for her father? How did she prepare it?

Ans: Kezia made a pin-cushion as a birthday gift for her father. In order to prepare it, she laboriously stitched its three sides with double cotton and stuffed it with papers that she took from the bed-table in her mother’s room. Finally, she sewed up the fourth side and the gift was ready.

Q14. Why was there a hue and cry in Kezia’s house at night before her father’s birthday?

Ans: Nobody knew that Kezia had mistakenly torn the papers that had her father’s great speech for the Port Authority. She had stuffed them in the pin-cushion that was to be a surprise gift for her father on his birthday. The hue and cry at night were for those missing papers.

Q15. Why was Kezia dragged down to the dining-room at night?

Ans: Kezia was dragged down to the dining-room at night to be br’aligilt in front of her father who was extremely angry as she had o the papers that had his great speech for the Port Authority.

Q16. Why did Father come to Kezia’s room with a ruler?

Ans: Father was a strict disciplinarian who believed in the use of physical punishment to correct children. He came to Kezia’s room with a ruler because he wanted to punish her and teach her not to touch what did not belong to her.

Q17. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen?

Ans: On grandmother’s suggestion Kezia decided to make a pin-cushion as a birthday gift for her father hoping that it would please her. But instead, he was furious because she had inadvertently torn the papers of his Port Authority speech and used them as a stuffing in the pin-cushion.

Q18. Do you think Kezia was wrong in tearing the papers of her father? What does it show about her character?

Ans: Kezia was certainly wrong in tearing the papers of her father because they formed his important speech for the Port Authority. She should not have used any of his things without his permission. The incident only shows that she was too innocent and immature to know the wrong she was doing. All she wanted was to please her father with a birthday gift.

Q19. How and why did Grandmother comfort Kezia after her father hit her with a ruler?

Ans: Hours after Kezia’s father hit her with a ruler, her grandmother wrapped the little girl in a shawl and rocked her in the rocking-chair, with the child clinging to her soft body. She gave her a clean hanky to blow her nose and tried to put her to sleep comforting her with affectionate words.

Q20. Why did Kezia ask, “What did God make fathers for?”

Ans: Kezia questioned why God made fathers because she was very upset with her father’s strict behaviour. She felt that he was too harsh and unforgiving. He did not give her even one chance to explain herself.

Q21. Why did Grandmother tell Kezia that her father was too Upset that night to listen to her? Ans: Grandmother always tried to bridge the gap between Kezia and her parents, especially her father. She told Kezia that her father was too upset that night to listen to her because she did not want the little girl to nurture any grudge against her father.

Q22. How did Father punish Kezia? What was the impact of this punishment?

Ans: Father punished Kezia by hitting hard on her little, pink palms with a ruler. The impact of this punishment was so strong that Kezia could never forget it. Next time when she saw him, she at once hid her hands behind her back and her cheeks flushed with fear.

Q23. Who were Kezia’s neighbours? What did she observe about them?

Ans: The Macdonalds were Kezia’s neighbours. She observed that Mr Macdonald played cheerfully with his children. He laughed when they turned the hose on him and ran about flower-beds with his young son, Mao, on his shoulders and his two little daughters hanging on to his coat pockets.

Q24. Kezia felt that Mr Macdonald was a better father as compared to her own father. Why?

Ans: Kezia observed that Mr Macdonald was a jolly fellow who played and enjoyed in the company of his children. Contrary to this, her own father was domineering and suppressive and (ha not express any affection or showed any leniency for Kezia.

Q25. Why was Kezia left alone in the house with the cook Alice?

Ans: One day Kezia’s mother had suddenly taken ill and had to be I hospitalized. Grannie too went along to look after her in the hospital. Kezia was thus left at home and Alice, their cook was deputed to take care of the little girl in the absence of elders.

Q26. Why did Kezia suddenly grow afraid when Alice put her to bed?

What did Kezia tell Alice, the cook, about her fear?

Ans: When Alice put Kezia to bed at night, the little girl suddenly got afraid as she had to sleep alone. She told Alice that she was scared of darkness and often had nightmares at night. Earlier Grannie would take her into her bed but today she was alone.

Q27. What kind of dreams did Kezia usually have?

Ans: Usually, Kezia had horrible, frightening dreams. In her nightmares, she saw a butcher with a knife and a rope. The butcher came closer and closer to her with a dreadful smile while she stood still overpowered by fear.

Q28. How did Father comfort the little girl, Kezia, when she got scared in her sleep?

Ans: When Kezia got scared in her sleep, her father came to her room, lifted her in his arms, took her to his bed and made her sleep close to him. He allowed her to warm her feet against his legs. She felt secure and protected as she snuggled up to him.

Q29. When and how does Kezia’s view of her father undergo a change?

Ans: Kezia’s view of her father underwent a change for the better when her father came to her rescue when she had a nightmare. He carried her to his room, carefully tucked her up and slept beside her. Kezia felt reassured and safe and snuggled up to him. That is when she realised that her father was not a cruel giant but a large-hearted, hard-working man who got extremely tired by the end of the day.

Q30. How did Kezia feel when her father beat her?

Ans. Kezia needed some papers to stuff her pin-cushion. She tore her father’s important speech for the Past Authority. When she admitted her act, her father beat her. Undoubtedly she was annoyed with her father. But her grandma consoled her.

Q31. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

Ans. She was afraid of her father because of his rude and harsh behaviour. He never interacted with her politely and humbly. He always kept ordering her to do one thing or the other. He even beat her.

Q32. How did Kezia’s birthday present for her father prove to be a disaster for her?

Ans. Her grandmother asked her to prepare a pin-cushion as a birthday gift to her father. She couldn’t find anything suitable which she could use to stuff her pin-cushion. So, she used her father’s papers for this purpose. She tore them into pieces and stuffed the cushion with them. When her father came to know about it, he was very much annoyed and beat her with a ruler. Thus, Kezia’s birthday present proved to be a disaster.

Q33. What was the morning routine of Kezia and her father?

Ans. Before going to his office, Kezia’s father used to visit her room. He would give her a casual kiss. She responded with “Goodbye, father.” Since she was afraid of him, she always felt relieved after his departure.

Q34. Why was Kezia punished by her father?

Ans. Kezia wanted to present a pin-cushion to her father on his birthday. She filled it with some papers. These papers contained an important speech for the Port Authority. When her father came to know about it, he punished Kezia.

Q35. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen?

Ans. She stitched cotton cloth three sides and looked for the things that could be stuffed into the stitched cloth. Soon she found out many sheets of paper.

Actually, they contained her father’s speech for the Port Authority. She tore them into pieces and stuffed her case. Next day when her father looked for the papers, he did not find them. After some time, he came to know that Kezia had torn them into pieces to make a pin-cushion. He got infuriated and beat her with a ruler.

Q36. What kind of father was Mr Macdonald, and how was he different from Kezia’s father?

Ans. Her father was always busy with his official work. He had no time to talk to her. For Kezia, her father was a figure to be feared and avoided. On the other hand Mr Macdonald, the neighbour always play with his children. He had time to spare with his children.

Q37. Give in brief the message of the story ‘The Little Girl’.

Ans. Appearances can be deceptive. Kezia’s father looked like a cruel giant to her. She trembled and stuttered in his presence. His harsh words made her curse her fate. However, she, later on, found that her father was not devoid of tender human feelings. Beneath his rough exterior was hidden his deep love and affection for his daughter.

Q38. Why was a hue and cry in the house? Why did her father punish Kezia?

Ans. There were a hue and cry in the house. Kezia had stuffed her father’s important papers into the pin-cushion. It was a birthday present she wanted to gift to her father. His father became furious after knowing this. He beat her with a ruler for tearing his important papers into pieces.

Q39. Why did Kezia always stutter while talking to her father?

Ans. Kezia was a normal girl but whenever she was in front of her father she felt nervous. She would try hard to speak words but would end up in stuttering. She was too afraid of her father.

Q40. How did Kezia make a pin-cushion for her father?

Ans. Kezia’s grandmother advised her to make a pin-cushion for her father on his birthday. She made it out of a beautiful piece of yellow silk. She wanted something to fill it with. She found some sheets of paper lying on the bed table. She tore them up and filled in the pincushion.

Q41. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better?

Ans. On Sunday afternoons, Kezia’s grandmother sent her to her father’s room to have a nice talk with him. Besides, she asked her to make a gift of a pin-cushion on her father’s birthday.

Q42. Why was Kezia’s father to be feared and avoided? What did she think of him?

Ans. For Kezia, her father was a figure to be feared and avoided. No doubt, Kezia responded his casual kiss with ‘Goodbye Father’. However, she felt relieved when her father disappeared along the road. In the evening he would ask in his loud voice to bring his tea and paper into the drawing room. She felt very uncomfortable in his presence.

Q43. How did Kezia feel when her father left for office and why?

Ans. Kezia was a little girl. Her parents were working. She had formal relations with her parents. She often felt a sense of relief when her father left for office. Actually, she was afraid of her father.

LONG TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. How did the little girl start understanding her father?

Narrate in about 100 words the story ‘The Little Girl’.

Ans. Kezia was a little girl. She was very afraid of her father. To her, he looked like a giant. He spoke very loudly in the house. So she always avoided him. One day she tore up an important speech written by her father. He became very angry and beat her with a stick. Kezia started weeping. She wondered why God had made fathers.

One day Kezia’s mother was ill. She was taken to the hospital. Kezia was alone in the house. At night she had a bad dream. She cried with fear. Her father took her to his own bed. She lay beside him. Then she realised that her father was not bad. lie had to work hard. lie had no time to play with her. It was her fault to tear up the speech. Now Kezia felt that her father was large-hearted

Q.2. Kezia slept one night with her father and changed her opinion about him. What was her opinion about her father before? What change did take place?

Ans. Earlier Kezia thought that her father was a cruel man. She always avoided him. She saw that her neighbour Mr Macdonald loved her children. But her father never cared for her. One day Kezia’s mother Was taken to a hospital. Kezia was alone in her room. At night she had a nightmare. She cried with fear. Her father took her to his bed. She slept with him. Her father asked her to rub her feet against his legs to make them warm. She felt sorry for her father. He worked hard. the lie was so tired that he had no time to play with her She realised that it was her fault to tear up the sheets. Now it appeared to her that her father was not a hard-hearted man

3 Relate in your own words the pin-cushion incident.

Ans. The little girl wanted to gift a pin-cushion to her father on his birthday. She took a piece of yellow silk and stitched its three sides. She left the fourth side for filling. But she did not know’ what to fill it with. She found some sheets of paper. She tore them into pieces. She stuffed the cushion with them. She then stitched the fourth side also. Unfortunately, those papers contained a very important speech. It was written by her father. When he came to know that Kezia had torn the papers, he was very angry. He took a ruler and hit Kezia on her hands.

4. Write a short character-sketch of Kezia’s father.

Ans. Kezia’s father has big hands, neck and mouth. In the beginning, he appears to be a very cruel person. He never talks to his daughter kindly. He never plays with her. Once Kezia tears up his speech. He beats her badly. But in fact. he is not cruel. He is very good at heart. One day Kezia cries out at night. She has a nightmare. Her father comes and carries her to his room. He puts her by his side. Now Kezia feels how her father loves her. In fact, he has to work very hard. He becomes too tired to play with his daughter. But the little girl thinks her father does not love her. At last, she does come to know how dearly her father loves her

5Write a short note on the relationship between Kezia and her father.

Ans: The relationship between Kezia and her father was a delicate one. He was a conventional disciplinarian and as the head of the family, he asserted his authority over everyone, including his little girl. He often scolded her for her sad looks and for stuttering. She was made to take off his shoes and put them outside when he returned home from the office in the evening. He even punished her when she mistakenly tore his important papers. He did not give her even one chance to explain herself and failed to see her loving intention behind the mistake. As a consequence of her father’s overly strict behaviour, Kezia developed a strong fear for him. She preferred to stay out of his sight and was relaxed only during his absence from the house. She compared him to be a giant – a dreadful creature for little children. After being beaten by him with a ruler, she even questioned the purpose of God in making fathers.

However, this dry relationship undergoes a drastic change towards the end of the story. Father displays his soft corner when Kezia is alone and gets scared by her nightmare. He carries her in his arms to his room, tucks her comfortably in his bed, lies down close to her and gives her the assurance that children seek from parents. This protective, caring and considerate side of her father arouses her sympathy for him. She realises that he has a big heart which is full of love for her.

6. How did Kezia once earn her father’s wrath? What punishment did she get for her mistake? Was it justified? What light does this incident throw on her father’s character?

Ans: Kezia once earned her father’s wrath for tearing his speech for the Port Authority to stuff a pin-cushion she was making for him as a birthday present. When he discovered that Kezia was the culprit, he punished her by beating her little pink palms with a ruler to teach her not to touch what did not belong to her.

I think it was a very harsh punishment for an innocent mistake of a fond little daughter. It is true that the papers were extremely important for him and their loss must have caused him a lot of inconveniences but he should have understood and appreciated the fact that Kezia was making a birthday present for him. Gentle but firm words would have sufficed to teach the sensitive Kezia that she should not touch things that do not belong to her. But Father instead chose to beat her little pink palms with a ruler. That was much too cruel on his part.

This incident shows that he was a very cruel and insensitive father who demanded a very high standard of discipline from his daughter and could not tolerate any disobedience.

7. How do you interpret the behaviour of Kezia’s mother towards her?

Ans: The behaviour of Kezia’s mother towards her is unlike the expected role played by mothers in households. Perhaps, her husband’s strict nature does not leave enough room for her to pay the desired attention to her daughter. The story reveals that her relationship with her daughter is distant. She treats the little girl in accordance with her husband’s expectations. She orders her to take off her father’s shoes and put them outside as this would indicate obedience. On Sunday afternoons, she spends time engrossed in a newspaper sitting with her husband instead of talking to her daughter. When Kezia mistakenly tears the papers of her father, she drags her downstairs to face the wrath of Father. She does not try to soothe her when Father scolds and beats her. Neither does she defend her or try to protect her in any way. That is why Kezia turns to her grandmother to fulfil her need for motherly care and affection.

8. Why did Kezia feel drawn towards her grandmother?

Ans: Failing to get any expression of affection from her Parents, especially her father, Kezia feels drawn to her grandmother. She turns to her to fulfil her need for love and protection. Grandmother too showers abundant love upon the little girl. She keeps trying to build her bond with her parents. She advises Kezia to talk to her parents when they would be relaxing in the drawing-room on Sunday afternoons. Again, she tells Kezia about Father’s birthday and suggests that she should make a pin-cushion for him as a present. When Father beats Kezia, it is a grandmother who consoles and comforts her by covering her with her shawl and allowing the child to cling to her soft body. Earlier too, whenever Kezia would get scared by her nightmares, grandmother would take her in her own bed. Hence, her affinity and support make Kezia look up to her for everything.

9. Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers.” What kind of father was Mr Macdonald and how was he different from Kezia’s father? (Textual)

Ans: Mr Macdonald, Kezia’s next door neighbour, had five children and Kezia would often see them playing in their garden.

One day, when Kezia looked through the gap in the fence she saw the Macdonalds playing the game ‘tag’. It was evening, and Mr Macdonald had just returned from work but unlike her father, he looked happy and energetic. He was having a good the hose on him and he tried to catch them laughing two girls time with his children – baby Mao was on his shoulders, were hanging on to his coat pockets and the party ran around the flower beds, shaking with laughter. Mr Macdonald’s sons turned This happy scene made Kezia conclude that there were different sorts of fathers. Mr Macdonald was so different from her own father. He was not at all strict, was always happy and thoroughly enjoyed the company of his children.

In contrast, her own father was often in an angry mood and remained much too busy in his work. She dreaded him and avoided his company as much as she could. Whenever she was with him, he would get upset because out of fear she would stammer and fumble and look silly.

His strict discipline and his domineering nature would often make Kezia wonder what God made fathers for.

10. How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy? (Textual)

Ans: Kezia was used to being scolded by her father and sometimes even got punishment for her little mistakes. She lived in awe of him, for he would often find fault with her manners, behaviour, speech, her general timidity and silliness. Little wonder then that she would tremble, stutter and look clumsy in front of him. He would often find her looking wretched as if she was on the verge of committing suicide.

However, a nightmare one night made Kezia discover the tender, caring and loving side of her father. Since her mother and grandmother were away to a hospital, Alice, the Cook, had put her to sleep but she was bothered by her usual nightmare of a butcher with a knife and a rope, and a dreadful smile. When her father heard her shrieking, he came to her room, lifted her in his arms and took her to his room. He comforted her and tucked her up nicely and slept next to her. He told her to rub her feet against his to warm them. She snuggled her head under his arm and held tightly to his shirt. At that moment, she discovered that her father was very much a human being and needed her sympathy. He was big, hard, snug and reassuring but there was no one to look after him. These thoughts filled her heart with love and affection for him.

Q11. Every father has a love for his child whether he expresses his love or not. Comment on the basis of the story “The Little Girl”.

Ans. Fathers are not alike. Some play with their children while others love and care for them. They show their love to them by working hard and giving them all the facilities as well as instructions. Though they never express their love they have a deep love for their child. Kezia’s father belongs to the second type. He did not believe in showing off his affection for his daughter. He believed in showing his love by making her future more secure. When she tore his papers unknowingly, he beat her harshly. But in thean end, we find him a very loving and caring father. Thus it is true that every father loves his child’s but the way of love is different from one person to another. Most of the fathers live their dream in their children. Their strictness is also a kind of love.

Q12. Father who seems hard from outside is not so from within. Comment on this statement with reference to Kezia’s father in ‘The Little Girl’.

Ans. Parents’ contribution in shaping and framing the life of their kids cannot be compared with anything. The values, courage, and virtues are all implanted by parents at a young age. The early years of a child’s life are very delicate, his future is made or marred at this age. For cultivating good qualities, for making their kids better than them, they have to chide, scold or show their strictness but, in reality, a spring of love remains behind it. As in the story ‘The little girl’, Kezia’s father appears strict to her and she makes her opinion about him as a strict and hard-hearted father but when she realises the warmth of love she understands the love of her father.

Q13. How can you say that punishments given by parents hold love for you?

Ans. Parents are very fond of their children. They always desire to see them on the top. If they punish them, it does not mean that they want to hurt them. Kezia had stuffed the pin-cushion with the papers that contained important speech, which was great damage for her father. If her father beat her, he only wanted to teach her that she should value the important things in life. So his punishment had a lesson for Kezia and before doing any work, she would think twice whether the work that she was going to do was right or wrong.

Q14. “That night there was a hue and cry in the house.” Why did her father get agitated?

Ans. One day, when Kezia was kept indoors due to cold, her grandmother suggested her to make a pin-cushion for her father. She stitched three sides of the cushion and went to her mother’s bedroom to look for scraps with which she could fill the cushion.

On the bed-table, she discovered a great many sheets of fine paper, gathered them up, tore them into tiny pieces and stuffed her case and then sewed up the fourth side.

That night there was a huge hue and cry in the house because those papers were very important. It was a great speech for the Port Authority. So her parents were in search of those sheets. This was the reason that her father got agitated and punished her with a ruler.

Q15. How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy?

Ans. One night Kezia had a nightmare which made her too terrified. She was crying out of fear. When she woke up, she found her father beside her bed with a candle in his hand. He asked her what the matter was. When he came to know about her nightmare, he blew out the candle, bent down and caught up the child in his arms. He carried her to the big bedroom. He laid her on the bed and pulled the covers up around her. Apart from this, he lay down beside her.

After some time, still half asleep, she crept close to him, snuggled her head under his arm and held tightly to his shirt. Now she felt comfortable.

Her father told her to rub her feet against his legs and get them warm.

Now, Kezia realised that her father was not as harsh as she thought. She realised that her father had to work all day long and got so tired that he could not play with her. She realised that her father wanted her to understand his compulsion. At bottom, he was a very good person,

QUICK REVIEW OF THE CHAPTER

1.To the little girl who was a figure to be feared and avoided

(A) a ghost (b) her father

Ans. (B) her father

2. How did Kezia feel when her father left for the office?

(A) a sense of relief (B) lonely

Ans. (A) a sense of relict

3. What thing did Kezia’s father demand when he reached home in the evening?

(A) a cup of tea (B) newspaper

Ans: (D) all the options are correct

4. Who did the father ask for newspaper and his slippers?

(A) the link girl (B) the little girl’s mother

Ans. (C) his own mother

5. What was the name of the little girl?

(A) Margie (B) Kezia

Ans. (B) Kezia

6. When did Kezia speak with halts?

(A) while talking to her father (B) while talking to her teacher

Ans. (A) while talking to her father

7. Why did Grandmother send Kezia down to the drawing room on Sunday afternoon?

(A) to give her father and mother tea (B) to have a nice talk with them

Ans. (B) to have a nice talk with them

8. What did Kezia find her mother always doing?

(A) peeling vegetables (B) watching T.V.

Ans. (D) all the options are false

9. Where did Kezia sit in the drawing room?

(A) on the sofa (B) on a chair

Ans. (C) on a stool

10. What does Kezia’s father compare her to?

(A) a cat (B) a fox

Ans. (D) an owl

11. Why does the grandmother ask the little girl to go make a present for her father?

(A) the father’s birthday was the next week (B) the father was going to be retired the next week

Ans. (A) the father’s birthday was the next week

12. What gift did Kezia want to give to her father on his birthday?

(A) a pin-cushion (B) a cigarette lighter

Ans. (A) a pin-cushion

13. Where was Kezia’s father to give the great speech?

(A) Parliament (B) State Assembly

Ans. (C) Port Authority

14. Who tore up father’s great speech?

(A) Kezia’s mother (B) Kezia’s grandmother

Ans. (B) Kezia’s grandmother

15. Who lived in ‘Kezia’s neighbourhood?

(A) The Macmillan (B) The Macdonalds

Ans. (B) The Macdonalds

16. How many children did Mr Macdonald have?

(A) two (B) three

Ans. (D) five

17. In Kezia’s view, what type of father was Mr Macdonald?

(A) very cruel (B) very good

Ans. (B) very good

18. What was the name of the cook in Kezia’s house?

(A) Alice (B) Lucy

Ans. (A) Alice

19. Kezia had a nightmare about ………..

(A) a fairy (B) her father

Ans. (C) a butcher with a knife in his hand

20. Where had Kezia’s grandmother and mother gone one day?

(A) to market (B) to hospital

Ans. (B) to hospital

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Thursday, June 13, 2019

THE LITTLE GIRL-Extra Questions and Notes

THE LITTLE GIRL

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