NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 2 The Thief's Story
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Q. Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25— a tall, lean fellow — and he looked easy-going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I hadn’t had much luck of late and thought I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence. “You look a bit of a wrestler yourself.” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends.
(i) According to the extract, What does ‘simple enough for my purpose’ mean?
(ii) ‘I hadn’t had much luck of late’ means that the boy hadn’t:
(iii) “I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.” Choose the option that DOES NOT display what the statement means.
(iv) Anil looked easy-going, kind and simple to the narrator. Which of the given characteristics would NOT fit in with this description?
(v) Based on the line, “A little flattery helps in making friends.” Choose the option that displays the quote closest in meaning.
Ans. (i) (c) was looking for simple people to dupe.
(ii) (b) been successful in duping people lately.
(iii) (d) He wanted to be able to spend quality time with him.
(iv) (b) suave
(v) (d) One may define flattery as a base companionship which is most advantageous to the flatterer
Q. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind. Anil made money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote for magazines—a
queer way to make a living!
(i) Anil made money ‘by fits and starts’ means that he :
(ii) The information in the extract suggests that Anil could be a :
(iii) If borrow : : lend, then pick the ODD pair from the options below.
(iv) The reference to making a little money ‘this way’ refers to a way that is viewed by most people as :
(v) Based on your understanding of Anil in the extract, choose the option that synchronises with his thinking.
Ans. (i) (c) received money intermittently.
(ii) (b) freelancer
(iii) (c) hop : : skip
(iv) (c) charitable.
(v) (a) So what if I don’t have much money? Giving it to that person who needs it is important as they could be a helping hand.
Read and Find Out :
Q. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Ans: ‘I’ refers to the thief Hari Singh.
Q. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
Ans: He is a fairly successful person at robbing people.
Q. What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
Ans: In return of his work, Hari got a place to live and food to eat. Anil also taught him how to read and write.
Q. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
Ans: Anil’s face, when he discovered the theft, would show only a touch of sadness. Not for the loss of money but for the loss of trust.
Q. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Ans: In his short career as a thief, Hari Singh had made a study of men’s faces when they had lost their goods. The greedy man showed fear; the rich
man showed anger and the poor man showed acceptance.
Q. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?
Ans: Yes, Anil does realise that he has been robbed.
Think About It :
Q. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time? (Hint: Compare, for example, the thought: “I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve” with these later thoughts: “Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal — and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.”) What makes him return to Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh believes that education can change his life. In the beginning, he thought of education as a tool to conduct bigger and more fruitful robberies. However, by the end of the story he starts to believe that education would enable him to be a big man— clever and respected by all. His aim in life changed from just earning money to earning it with respect.
Q. Why does not Anil hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers?
Ans: Anil does not hand Hari over to the police because he thinks that for Hari to change his ways, patience and trust were needed, not punishment, which is what he would have got from the police. No, most people would not have done so. Anil was different from other employers because he dealt with his employee with love and trust. He did not punish him and hand him over to the police and instead waited for Hari to realise his folly and be a better person.
Talk About It :
Q. Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life?
Ans. I think that people like Hari and Anil are there in our society.
Q. Do you think it a significant detail in the story that Anil is a struggling writer? Does this explain his behaviour in any way?
Ans. The fact that Anil is a struggling writer is significant in the story because he can understand Hari’s attitude towards life. Hari too is struggling to make ends meet in his own way and Anil knows that one who is struggling is in need of faith and trust. This is why he wants and manages to make Hari change his ways. Anil’s behaviour towards Hari is that of tolerance which could be because of his own state being similar at some level.
Q. Have you met anyone like Hari Singh? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a fifteen-year-old boy into a thief?
Ans. No, I have not met anyone like Hari but I can imagine what can turn a 15-year old into a thief. Having no one to look after you and living on the streets can make one turn to stealing to make ends meet.
Q. Where is the story set? (You can get clues from the names of the persons and places mentioned in it.) Which language or languages are spoken in these places? Do you think the characters in the story spoke to each other in English?
Ans. The story seems to be set in a small town in the state of Uttar Pradesh. We get this from the fact that Hari was planning to catch a train to Lucknow. The names of the characters are also common ones from UP. Hindi is the main language spoken in the state and the characters must have spoken in Hindi with each other.
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