NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
NCERT Solution Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
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By Mulk Raj Anand
Summary – Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
“The Lost Child” is an interesting story written by Mulk Raj Anand. In this story, a boy goes with his parents to a fair. It was the season of spring. The people of the village came out of their houses, in colourful clothes and walked towards the fair. The child was very excited and happy. The child was very happy when he saw the toys in the ships and pleaded to his parents to buy him a toy. But his father gave him a tough look upon hearing his request. Meanwhile, his mother asked him to see the mustard field which looked like a field of gold. A group of dragonflies were fluttering flowers.
The child tried catching one of those colourful insects, but as his mother called him to the footpath and he ran towards his parents gaily. He tried to pick up some falling petals and suddenly heard the cooing of the dove bird and in that the petals fell from his hands. His parents called him again, he made his way towards them while he was running around the banyan tree. As they were about to reach the fair the child saw huge crowds of people walking towards the fair. The huge crowd scared him and he stepped back for a while but the next moment, he got attracted to the crowd.
A sweetmeat seller had a shop at the entrance of the fair. He was selling various sweets/ the child’s mouth watered when he saw his favourite burfi. He said in a low voice that he wanted to get the burfi because he knew that his parents would refuse his request. As he did not expect that his demand would be fulfilled, he walked further. As he went ahead with his parents, he heard a flower-seller ‘A garland of gulmohur’. He saw the basket of flowers and wanted to buy a garland. But, he knew his parents would not buy him the flowers, so he moved on with them. Then, he noticed a balloon man selling different colourful balloons.
He wanted to buy those balloons but he knew that his parents would say no, considering he was comparatively older to play with those colourful balloons. Hence, he walked past the balloon man with his parents. Next, the child noticed a snake charmer who was playing a flute and the snake was twisting its neck to the music. He went closer to the snake charmer, but he knew his parents warned him to remain away from the unpleasant music. So he walked further. Then the child saw the roundabout swing. This time he mustered up the courage and told his parents that he wants to go on the roundabout.
There was no reply. He turned towards them. He saw that they were nowhere around. He looked around and behind but his parents were nowhere to be seen. He was lost. He started crying and ran here and there calling out for his parents. The boy ran towards a shrine which was crowded with people. Suddenly, a man heard his cry and lifted him up in his arms. The child was fortunate that he was picked up by an affectionate man. The man tried to console the child and asked him if he would like to take a ride on the swing, took him to snake charmer and asked him to listen to the music being played, took him to bright coloured balloons and offered him a balloon, next he took him to flower seller and offered him a garland and finally, took him to the sweetmeat seller and offered to buy sweets for him. But everytime the child turned his face away from all those things which he wanted to buy earlier. The child only shouted, ‘I want my mother, I want my father!’.
Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
Questions-Answers Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
Question 1:
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
Answer
On his way to the fair the child sees toys, a mustard field, dragonflies, coloured balloons,, garland of gulmohur, a swing and a snake-charmer playing a flute. He gets attracted towards all these things. So, he lags behind.
Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
Question 2:
In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
Answer
The child wants many things in the fair. He wants to have toys, different sweets, garland, coloured balloons and has a keen desire to enjoy the roundabout.
He moves on without waiting for an answer because whenever he stops to see things, his parents gave him a cautionary call, “Come, child, come!”
Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
Question 3:
When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described? [Imp.]
Answer
The child sees a roundabout in the fair and gets attracted to it. He wants to have a ride on it. He asks his parents for permission to enjoy it. But, there was no reply. When he turned to look at his parents, there was no one. That is when he realized that he had lost his way.
His anxiety and insecurity have been described in a very heart-warming way. When he realizes that he has lost his way, a deep cry rises within his dry throat and with a sudden jerk of his body, he runs from where he stood.
Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
Question 4:
Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
Or
For what reasons does the lost child no longer care about the things he once wanted? Elucidate.
Answer
The lost child loses interest in the things that he had wanted earlier because the only thing that he wants at that moment is his parents. He is panic-stricken. Now he first wants his parents. He is afraid and feels unsafe.
Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
Question 5:
What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
Answer
Yes I feel that the child finds his parents at last. The kind-hearted person must have tried his best to find his parents. On the other hand the parents of the child must have left no stone unturned to find their child.
Class 9 Chapter 1 The Lost Child
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