Unit 1.
A Hero
– R.K. Narayan
R. K. Narayan is an Indian writer, novelist and short story writer. Malgudi is a fictional
place created by R. K. Narayan. He has beautifully portrayed the child and its psychology.
Swami is a timid boy afraid of dreams and ghosts. The newspaper carried a report about a
village lad who had fought bravely against a tiger, while he was returning home by the
jungle path. Swami argued that a boy could not fight a tiger; it had to be a strong, grown-
up person. His father disagreed saying that courage was more important. Swami was not
ready to accept this.
To save himself from fear he used to sleep with his grandmother during the night. His
father wants him to grow up and face life’s challenges courageously. Swami’s father forces
him to sleep in his office alone. This startles Swami who tries to resist the move. He employs
many tactics like appealing to his mother and grandmother but to no avail.
He also seeks advice from his friends who suggest him to go to bed early and avoid
being caught awake by his father. Unfortunately, Swami’s father does not fall for any of his
tricks and coerces him to retire to his office.
He relents to a degree by allowing Swami to sleep with open doors and windows.
When Swami sleeps in his father’s office he has nightmares about the ghost and wakes up
with a start. At the same time, Swami spots an intruder breaking into the office. Mistaking
him for the ghost, Swami grabs the intruder’s leg, bites his ankle and yells for help. The
family members catch the thief and hand him over to the police. The police appreciate him
and want him to join the police force but Swami wanted to be an Engine driver, a railway
guard or a bus conductor. Appreciations were showered on him. Swami shows his bravery
and gets rid of fear. Humour and irony run throughout the story.
Choose the best alternative and fill in the blanks:
1. Swami’s father was a
a) Teacher b) doctor c) lawyer d) police
2. The interesting news that Swami’s father drew his attention was
a) Five burglars were arrested
b) a girl met with an accident
c) The bravery of a village lad fought with a tiger
d) a burglar was caught by little boy
3. The report said that the boy who fought with a tiger stayed on the tree for half-a-day he
did so because.
a) He wanted to watch the tiger from the top of a tree.
b) He was coward
c) He wanted someone to kill the tiger.
d) he wanted to take rest for some time.
4. The important thing according to Swami’s father was
a) Courage b) strength c) age d)all of them
5. A frightful proposition according to Swami was
a) sleeping beside granny b) fighting with a tiger
c) sleeping in the office room alone d) challenging his father
6. Swami always slept beside
a) his mother b) his granny c) his brother d) his grand father
7. “From a challenge it had become a command”. What does command refer to here?
a) killing the tiger
b) sleeping in the office room alone one night
c) prove the newspaper report wrong
d) catching the burglar
8. The disgraceful thing according to Swami’s father was_
a) sleeping beside his granny like a baby
b) arguing with his father
c) being coward
d) sleeping alone in the office room
9. Swami’s grandmother’s practice before she went to bed was
a) telling stories to Swami
b) singing songs for Swami to sleep
c) eating fruits singing lullaby to Swami
d) writing her diary
10. When Swami’s father pulled away Swami’s blanket, for Swami he looked like
a) an apparition b) a brave man c) burglar d) a head master
11. Swami was supported most by his
a) father b) granny c) headmaster d) mother
12. Swami thought the safe, compact and the reassuring place in the office room was
a) under the bench b) on the ground c) on the cot d) on the table
13. Swami saw a moving creature in the room. It was
a) his shadow b) a scorpion c) a man d) a devil
14. Swami said that there were scorpions behind the law books because
a) He saw the scorpions behind the books before
b) the room was dusty
c) he was afraid of scorpions
d) he wanted to escape from his father’s command
15. Swami’s father wanted him to sleep alone in the office room to
a) be brave b) test his courage
c) he disliked him d) develop good habit
16. Swami was appreciated as a true scout by his
a) class teacher b) friends c) father d) head master
17. Swami did not want to be a
a) bus conductor b) engine driver c) police d) railway guard
18. Swami became a hero when he caught the
a) snake b) ghost c) tiger d) burglar
Answer the following in two -three sentences (2 marks questions)
1) Swami’s father drew his attention to a report in the newspaper. What was the
report about?
Ans: The newspaper report was about the bravery of a village lad who while returning
home fought with a tiger. He stayed half a day on the tree till some people came and
killed the tiger.
2) What was swami’s comment on the newspaper report? How did his view differ
from that of his father?
Ans: Swami commented that the boy cannot kill the tiger and he must be a grown-up
person. But Swami’s father commented that anyone who has courage can do anything
if he has courage and strength and age are not important.
3) What desperate attempts did Swami make to escape from his father?
He tried to change the subject by asking his father to join the cricket club.
He requested his father to allow him to sleep in the office room from the first of next
month.
He went silently and pretended like sleeping beside his granny.
When he was following his father to office room, he looked at his mother and granny.
He told his father that there were scorpions behind the law books and his office room
was dusty.
4) Why do you think Swami looked at his granny and his mother while following
his father to the office room?
Ans: Swami looked at his granny and his mother while following his father to the office
room because he thought they would stop his father taking him to the office room and
support him. He did not like to sleep on the office room alone.
5) As silence deepened in the room, what was Swami reminded of?
Ans: As silence deepened in the room Swami reminded the stories of devils and ghosts, he
had heard in his life. For example, His Chum Mani had seen the devil in the banyan
tree at his street end and the poor Munisami’s father spat out blood when the devil
slapped him near the river.
6) Why did Swami feel that his father’s proposition was frightful?
Ans: Swami thought his proposition was frightful. Because he always slept beside his
granny in the passage, and any change in this arrangement kept him awake all the
night.
7) There was absolute silence in the room. in spite of it, some noises reached Swami’s
ears. What were they?
Ans: ln silence in the office room Swami heard some noises -the tickling off the clock,
rustling of trees, snoring sound, humming sound of vague.
8) As night advanced, Swami felt that something terrible would happen to him.
What would it be? How would it happen?
Ans:It would be devil. As night advanced, Swami felt that something terrible would happen
to him. He thought that the devils would come up to him and carry him away
9) How was Swami honoured by his classmates, teacher and the headmaster? Ans:
His classmates looked at him with respect, and his teacher patted his back. The
headmaster said that he was a true scout.
10) Why were congratulations showered on Swami the next day?
Ans: Congratulations were showered on Swami the next day because he had bitten deep
into the notorious house breaker of the district and helped the police.
11) Why did father want Swami to sleep alone in the office room?
Ans: Father wanted Swami to sleep alone in the office room because he wanted Swami to
sleep alone in the office room to show his courage. He also wanted Swami to stop
sleeping beside his granny like a baby and develop courage good habit.
12) Why did Swami feel relieved at the end?
Ans: Swami felt relieved at the end because his father gave up the idea of making him sleep
alone in the office room thereafter.
13) Do you think Swami really wanted to join the police? lf not, what did he want to
be? Ans: Swami did not want to join the police. He wanted to be an engine driver, a
railway guard, or a bus conductor later in life.
14) Why did Swami say that there were scorpions behind the law books?
Ans: Swami said that there were scorpions behind the law books because he did not like to
sleep in the office room and it was just a trick to escape from his father.
EXTRACTS (3 marks)
1) “I think he must have been a very strong and grown-up person, not a boy at all.
How could a boy fight a tiger?”
a) Who is the speaker? /Who said this?
Ans: Swami
b) What does the speaker mean by this statement?
Ans: The speaker means that the newspaper report was wrong as the boy cannot fight a
tiger and he must have been a grown-up person.
c) What do you understand about speaker? Ans: The speaker means that he believes that
strength and age are important
2) “How can it be father? Suppose I have all the courage what could I do if a tiger
should attack me?”
a) Who is the speaker? /Who asked this?
Ans: Swami
b) Why did the speaker say so?
Ans: The speaker means that he believes that strength and age are important.
c) How did the response affect him?
Ans: His father challenged him to sleep alone in the office room to show his courage
3) “Leave alone strength, can you prove that you have courage? Let me see if you
can sleep alone tonight in my office room?”
a) Who posed this challenge?
Ans: Swami’s Father.
b) Did he accept the challenge?
Ans: No, he did not accept the challenge.
c) Why didn’t Swami accept?
Ans: It was a frightful proposition for him.
4) “From the first of the next month, I’ll sleep alone father.”
a) Who wanted to sleep alone? Ans: Swami wanted to sleep alone.
b) Why did he request his father to allow him sleep alone from the first of next month?
Ans: He requested his father to allow him to sleep from the first of next month only to
escape from his father.
5) “No, you must do it now, it is disgraceful sleeping beside his granny or mother
like a baby. You are in the second form and I don’t like the way you are being
brought up”
a) Who commanded like this?
Ans: Swami’s father commanded Swami like this.
b) What is shameful here?
Ans: Swami slept beside his granny or mother like a baby.
c) Why did the speaker make the statement?
Ans- He wanted his son to be more courageous
6) “Please, please shut up granny. Don’t talk to me, and don’t let anyone call me
even if the house is on fire. If I don’t sleep at once, perhaps I shall die.”
a) Who requested like this?
Ans: Swami requested his granny.
b) did swami success in his effort?
Ans – No
c) Why did he request so?
Ans: Because he wanted to escape from his father by just pretending to be asleep.
7) “Let me sleep in the hall, Father, your office room is very dusty and there may
be scorpions behind your law books”
a) Who wanted to sleep in the hall?
Ans: Swami wanted to sleep in the hall.
b) Why did the speaker complain that there were scorpions in the office room?
Ans: No, there were no scorpions actually. It was just a trick to escape from his father. c)
Why did father want him to sleep in the office room?
Ans: to make him courageous boy.
8) “I’ll make you the laughing stock of your school.”
a) Who is the speaker?
Ans: Swami’s Father
b) Who wanted to make him the laughing stock of his school?
Ans: Swami’s father wanted to make Swami the laughing stock of his school.
c) Why did speaker tell like that?
Ans- Because Swami used to sleep beside his granny like a baby. He wanted him to be
courageous
9) Congratulations were showered on him the next day.
a) Who was congratulated?
Ans: Swami was congratulated
b) How was speaker congratulated?
Ans Headmaster patted his back and police invited him to join police department
c) Why were congratulations showered?
Ans: He had bitten deep into one of the notorious house breakers of the district and helped
the police
10) “Aiyo! Something has bitten me”
a) Who cried “Aiyo! Something has bitten me”?
Ans : The burglar cried.
b) Why caused him to make an agonized cry?
Ans: As he entered the office room swami saw him and managed to catch his leg and bite
with his teeth.
c) When did he make agonized cry?
Ans- When the burglar tries to enter the office room through the window Swami caught his
leg and bit him
11) “No, you must learn not to be afraid of darkness. It is only a question of habit.
You must cultivate good habits.”
a) Who was afraid of darkness?
Ans: Swami was afraid of darkness.
b) What was the good habit according to the speaker?
Ans: Having Courage and bravery
c) Why did speaker suggest so?
Ans: Because swami had the habit of sleeping beside his granny like a baby. He wanted him
to get courage.
IV. Answer each of the following questions in a paragraph of 8-10 sentences
1. A report about a boy in the newspaper was an unexpected event in Swami’s life.
Justify.
Ans:The newspaper carried a report about a village lad who had fought bravely against a
tiger, while he was returning home by the jungle path. Swami argued that a boy could
not fight a tiger; it had to be a strong, grown-up person. His father disagreed saying that
courage was more important. Swami was not ready to accept this. His father then
challenged him to show his courage by sleeping alone in the office that night. While
Swami was sleeping there, he saw a dark figure. Believing it to be the devil. Swami dug
his teeth into its leg. It turned out to be a notorious burglar whose loud cry brought
others to the scene. The burglar was caught and Swami became a hero overnight.
2. What desperate attempts did Swami make to escape from his father?
Ans: Swami’s father challenged him to sleep alone in the office room that night. Swami was
filled with fear and tried desperately to make his father change his mind. He told his
father that he would sleep alone from the first of the next month. But his father did not
agree. Swami then went to sleep near his granny, pulled the blanket over his face and
pretended to be fast asleep. However, his father soon came there and pulled him out of
bed. Swami tried to appeal to his mother and granny but not successful. Then Swami
told his father that office room was dusty and scorpions were there. Swami’s father
didn’t leave him but made him sleep in the office room.
3. Narrate Swami’s dreadful experience when he was lying under the bench.
Ans: Swami crept under the bench, shut his eyes light and covered himself with the blanket.
Soon he fell asleep. He began to have a nightmare that a tiger was chasing him. He tried
to escape. He groaned in despair. He put his hand out to feel his granny’s presence, but
he touched wooden leg of the bench. He moved to the edge of the bench and thought
that the devil would pull him out and tear him as it came nearer, he crawled, hugged and
used his teeth on it like a mortal weapon. Swami had a dreadful experience under the
bench.
4. Narrate how a coward boy Swami became a hero overnight?
Ans: Swami inevitably had to sleep in the office room. He spent that tight with the fear of
the devils and the nightmares. Then He saw something moving in darkness. He thought
that his end had come and the devil had come to carry him away. Finally, as an attempt
for survival he hugged it with all his might, and used his teeth as mortal weapon on it.
It was not the devil but the burglar who cried with agony and fell amidst the furniture
with a bleeding ankle. The notorious house breaker of the district was arrested by the
police. The police were grateful to him. His classmates looked upon him with respect,
his teacher patted him and his headmaster appreciated that he was a true scout. Thus,
unknowingly Swami became a ‘hero’ overnight.
Points to focus on
The report in the newspaper.
Father’s challenge to Swami.
Excuses given by Swami to escape his father’s challenge.
Swami’s dreadful experience when sleeping alone in the office room.
How Swami becomes a hero overnight.
Appreciations showered on Swami.
What did Swami want to become when he grew up?