The Wish Complete Exercise and Short summary

The writer of the story, "The Wish," uses two different ways of telling it. One way is like a narrator telling a story to you, explaining what is happening and what things look like. This narrator knows everything that is going on. The other way is through the child's own thoughts. We get to hear what the child is thinking in his head as he looks at the carpet and makes up his game. This lets us know what the child is feeling and why he does what he does. So, it's like the writer is using two voices - one to describe the scene and the other to show us the child's inner world, his fears, and his determination to get the puppy. This makes the story more interesting because we don't just see what happens, we also understand why it happens from the child's point of view.

1. What did the child do to the scab on his knee?
   Ans: The child picked off the scab on his knee.
2. What kind of effect did the carpet have on the child?
   Ans: The carpet's colors seemed to brighten mysteriously and dazzle him.
3. What was he afraid of while walking across the carpet?
   Ans: He was afraid of the red parts (red-hot coals) and the black parts (poisonous snakes).
4. What motivated and encouraged the child to start and continue on his journey?
   Ans: The wish to be given a puppy for his birthday motivated him.
5. What did the child see as he looked down on the black patterns of the carpet?
   Ans: He saw the black patterns as a deep, curling river with parts stirring and uncoiling

1. The writer creates two voices in the story. Who are they?
   Ans: The writer of the story, "The Wish," uses two different ways of telling it. One way is like a narrator telling a story to you, explaining what is happening and what things look like. This narrator knows everything that is going on. The other way is through the child's own thoughts. We get to hear what the child is thinking in his head as he looks at the carpet and makes up his game. This lets us know what the child is feeling and why he does what he does. So, it's like the writer is using two voices - one to describe the scene and the other to show us the child's inner world, his fears, and his determination to get the puppy. This makes the story more interesting because we don't just see what happens, we also understand why it happens from the child's point of view.
2. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow."...the black parts are snakes, poisonous snakes, adders mostly, and cobras, thick like tree-trunks round the middle, and if I touch one of them, I'll be bitten and I'll die before tea time. And if I get across safely, without being burnt and without being bitten, I will be given a puppy for my birthday tomorrow."
   1. What does 'the black part' mean?
   2. Who is the speaker?
   3. Why doesn't the speaker want to be burnt?
   
   Ans:
   1. In the story, when the child talks about "the black part," he is talking about the black-colored sections of the carpet. The carpet has different colors like red, black, and yellow. But in the child's imagination, these colors become something else. The black parts aren't just colors; they turn into something scary.
   2. The person who is saying these words is the child in the story. He is explaining the rules of the game he has created in his mind. He is pretending that the carpet is a dangerous place, and he has to be very careful how he walks on it.
   3. The child doesn't want to be burnt because, in his game, he imagines that the red parts of the carpet are like "red-hot lumps of coal". Coal is something that is burning and very hot, and if you touch it, it will burn you. So, in his imagination, if he steps on the red parts of the carpet, he believes he will get burned, and it will hurt him a lot, or even worse, "burnt up completely".
3. Which images and metaphors are used in the story?
   Ans: The writer uses descriptive language to paint pictures in our minds, which are called images. They also use metaphors, which are comparisons that aren't literally true, to help us understand what the child is imagining. Here are some examples from the story:
   1. The writer says the red parts of the carpet are like "red-hot lumps of coal". This helps us imagine how dangerous the child thinks those parts are.
   2. The black parts of the carpet are compared to "poisonous snakes, adders mostly, and cobras, thick like tree-trunks round the middle". This creates a scary image of snakes that can bite and kill.
   3. The whole carpet is described as a "vast tapestry of colour and death". This metaphor shows that, in the child's mind, the carpet is not just a rug but a dangerous place where something bad could happen.
4. Summarise the short story "The Wish" in about 200 words.
   Ans: In the story "The Wish," a young child is playing by himself. He notices a scab on his knee and picks it off. He throws the scab onto a big carpet in the hall. Suddenly, the carpet looks very bright and colorful to him. This makes his imagination start working, and he creates a game.
   In his game, the red parts of the carpet become like hot, burning coals, and the black parts become dangerous, poisonous snakes. The only safe place to walk is on the yellow parts. He decides that if he can walk across the whole carpet without touching the red or black parts, he will get a puppy for his birthday the next day.
   The child is both excited and scared. He carefully starts his journey, stepping only on the yellow parts. It's difficult, and he has to concentrate very hard to keep his balance and avoid the "danger". At one point, he gets stuck and loses his balance. He puts his hand down to stop himself from falling, and his hand touches the black part. The story ends with his mother looking for him outside.
   
5. The story shows the events through the eyes of the narrator and the child. Comparing the two styles, who presents more interesting or effective view for the readers? Why?
   Ans: Telling the story through the child's eyes is more interesting and effective for the readers. When we see everything from the child's point of view, we can better understand his feelings and fears. The way he imagines the carpet turning into a dangerous adventure makes the story exciting. If the narrator just told us what happened, it wouldn't be as engaging. We wouldn't feel the same suspense or understand why the child is so scared. Seeing the world through the child's imagination makes the story come alive and helps us connect with him. It allows us to experience the carpet and the challenge as vividly as he does.
6. Is "The Wish" a story about self-confidence overcoming fear or about greed? Give your arguments.
   Ans: "The Wish" is mainly a story about self-confidence overcoming fear, even though the desire for the puppy is what starts the story. The big focus of the story is on the child's struggle to control his fear as he tries to walk across the carpet. He has to be brave to take each step, and he constantly fights against his worries about the "snakes" and "hot coals." While his wish for the puppy pushes him to begin his journey, the real tension and excitement come from his inner battle with fear. The story shows how he tries to be brave, not just that he wants something very much.

1. Do you think our wish can be fulfilled? Why or why not?
   Ans: Yes, I do think our wishes can be fulfilled, but not always in the way we imagine. Sometimes, a wish acts as a goal that motivates us to work hard and make choices that lead to its realization. For example, if someone wishes to become a doctor, that wish can be fulfilled through years of study and effort. However, some wishes depend on external factors beyond our control, or they might be unrealistic. In those cases, the exact wish might not come true, but perhaps something even better or a different version of it might. Ultimately, the likelihood of a wish being fulfilled often depends on how much we can influence it through our actions and the nature of the wish itself.
2. Why do you think some people might have a frightening nature? What would you suggest to them to overcome it?
   Ans: Some people might have a frightening nature due to a variety of reasons. It could stem from past negative experiences or traumas that have made them feel unsafe or on guard. Sometimes, it might be a learned behavior from their upbringing or environment, where aggression or intimidation was modeled or necessary for survival. It could also be linked to underlying feelings of insecurity or powerlessness, where appearing frightening is a way to feel in control or to keep others at a distance.
   To help someone overcome a frightening nature, I would suggest a few things:
   1. Encourage them to explore the roots of their behavior and understand why they might act in a way that scares others.
   2. Help them to consider how their actions impact others and to develop a greater sense of compassion.
   3. Teach them healthier ways to express their needs and frustrations without resorting to intimidation.
   4. If the behavior is deeply ingrained or causing significant problems, suggest therapy or counseling to address underlying issues.
   5. Acknowledge and encourage any efforts they make towards being more approachable and less frightening.
3. Write a folktale that you have heard or read.
   Ans: Long ago, in a small village nestled at the foot of a great mountain, lived a young shepherd named Pema. Pema was kind and gentle, and he loved his flock dearly. One day, while his sheep grazed on the higher slopes, a fierce storm rolled in. The wind howled, and thick fog descended, separating Pema from his sheep.
   Lost and afraid, Pema wandered through the swirling mist. Suddenly, he heard a faint whimpering sound. Following the noise, he found a small, injured snow leopard cub, its paw caught beneath a fallen branch. Despite his fear of the wild cats, Pema's heart went out to the helpless creature. Carefully, he moved the branch and freed the cub.
   The cub, whimpering softly, looked up at Pema with large, golden eyes. Pema gently examined its paw, finding it bruised but not broken. He tore a strip of cloth from his tunic and carefully bandaged the cub's injury. As the storm began to subside, a large snow leopard emerged from the mist. Pema's heart pounded with fear, thinking it was the cub's mother and expecting anger.
   Instead, the large snow leopard approached slowly and nudged Pema's hand with its head, a gesture that seemed like gratitude. Then, it gently nudged its cub, and together, they turned and disappeared back into the mountain mists.
   From that day on, Pema often felt a sense of peace and connection with the wild parts of the mountain. The villagers sometimes spoke of a large snow leopard that seemed to watch over Pema and his flock from a distance, never threatening, always observing. Pema never forgot the day he helped the cub, learning that even between different worlds, kindness could create an unexpected bond.