LESSON 5 PRINCESS SEPTEMBER-W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM

ACTIVITY 1

Tick the correct alternative:

i) When the little bird hopped into Princess September’s room, she was

a) clapping her hands

b) crying alone✔

c) sleeping in her bed

ii) The little bird perched on the

a) finger of the Princess✔

b) branch of the willow tree

c) window

iii) The sisters of Princess September

a) loved her

b) were envious of her✔

c) hated her

iv) Princess September was advised to

a) let the bird go free

b) hand the bird over to her sisters

c) put the bird in a cage✔

ACTIVITY 2

Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in the given boxes:

1) All the sisters came together to advise Princess September. [iv]

2) Princess September was crying alone in her room. [i]
3) A little bird hopped onto the end of the Princess’s bed.[ii]

4) Princess September feared that the bird might forget her. [vi]

5) The bird sang a beautiful song. [iii]

6) The Princess was advised to put the bird into a cage. [v]

ACTIVITY 3

Answer the following question:

How do you think Princess September spent her days when the bird was away?

Ans- When the bird was away, surely Princess September spent her days anxiously and lonely. She might have been spending her days waiting for the bird to come again.

ACTIVITY 4

Complete the following sentences with information from the text:

a) The little bird was surprised when - September popped him into the cage.

b) At dawn, the little bird wished to be let out from the cage because - it wanted to have a good fly while the dew was still wet on the ground.

c) Princess September told the bird he was better off in the cage because - he had a beautiful golden cage.

d) The bird told the Princess that it could not sing as - it wanted to see the trees and the lake and the green rice growing in the fields.

ACTIVITY 5

Answer the following questions:

a) ‘So he suspected nothing’. Who is ‘he’? Why did he not suspect anything?

Ans- Here ‘he’ refers to the bird.

When September caught the bird, it did not suspect anything because it was used to sitting in the hands of the Princess.

b) Why did the little bird stop in the middle of his song?

Ans- The little bird did not like being confined in the cage. Therefore, it stopped in the middle of the song.

c) How did he try to free himself from the cage?

Ans- The bird tried to slip through the bars of the cage. It also beat against the door of the cage.

ACTIVITY 6

Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements in the given boxes. Give supporting statements for each of your answers :

a) The little bird was happy to see the rice fields and the lake from within the cage. [F]

S.S.- “The rice fields and the lake and the willow trees look quite different when you see them through the bars of the cage.”

b) When the bird did not eat a thing, Princess September grew anxious. [T]

S.S.- “The Princess was anxious.”

c) The next morning Princess found the bird hopping around the cage [F]

S.S.- “She gave a startled cry, for there the little bird lay with his eyes closed, and he looked as if he were dead.”

d) The bird was granted freedom. [T]

S.S.- “Then take your freedom,” the Princess said.

ACTIVITY 7

Answer the following questions:

a) How did Princess September try to make the little bird happy?

Ans- Princess September tried to make the little bird happy by taking it for a walk around the lake and the green rice fields.

b) Why did the Princess give “a sob of relief”?

Ans- The Princess gave “a sob of relief” because she felt that the little bird’s heart was still beating.

c) Why was the little bird granted freedom by the Princess?

Ans- The Princess felt that the confinement would kill the bird. So, she granted freedom to let it be happy in its own way.

d) “Then he opened his wings and flew right away into the blue. “Would the little bird return to the Princess again? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans- I think the little bird would return to the Princess again because he loved the Princess too. He knew his songs made her happy.

ACTIVITY 8 (a)

In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do not have a subject or a predicate and do not have a finite verb and do not make complete sense :

i) Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

ii) The sun rises in the east.

iii) The farmer lived in a house made of straw.

ACTIVITY 8 (b)

In the following sentences, underline the groups of words that do the work of an Adjective :

i) He was a man full of hope.

ii) A necklace of great value was stolen.

iii) This is a table made of wood.

ACTIVITY 8 (c)

In the following sentences, underline the groups of words that do the work of an Adverb:

i) The bird stood in the corner of his cage.

ii) He spoke in a confident manner.

iii) It’s raining at this moment.

ACTIVITY 8 (d)

In the following sentences, underline the groups of words that do the work of a Noun:

i) Travelling by train gives me great pleasure.

ii) The child refused to answer my question.

iii) He wanted to go home.

ACTIVITY 8 (e)

In the following sentences underline and identify the phrases:

i) The wind blew with great speed. (Adverb Phrase)

ii) The king wore a crown made of diamond. (Adjective Phrase)

iii) The little girl did not know what to do. (Noun Phrase)

iv) She is a lady of great patience. (Adjective Phrase)

ACTIVITY 8 (f)

In the following sentences, underline groups of words that have a Subject and a Predicate and form parts of the main sentences and have Finite verbs :

i) He was surprised when she carried him to the cage.

ii) He drew a picture which was very beautiful.

iii) I did not go to school as I was unwell.

iv) Indian cricket team is confident that it will win the match.

ACTIVITY 8 (g)

In the following sentences, underline the main parts of the sentences that are independent and circle the clauses that depend on the main parts :

i) Although he was unwell, he went out.

ii) He is a king who is very powerful.

iii) Rani said that he had met my brother.

iv) When she was hungry, the baby cried out.

ACTIVITY 9

Replace the underlined words with their antonyms :

a) The boy wrote a different story.

Ans- The boy wrote a common story.

b) The mother placed the child gently on the bed.

Ans- The mother placed the child roughly on the bed.

c) On hearing the news he felt very uneasy.

Ans- On hearing the news he felt very easy.

d) The gate was opened by the porter.

Ans- The gate was shut by the porter.

ACTIVITY 10 (a)

Suppose you are a member of an organization that works for the prevention of cruelty to animals. You come across a monkey in chains being made to perform tricks. You watch it for some time till it suddenly starts talking to you about its sorrow.

Now write an imaginary conversation that takes place between you and the monkey longing for its freedom.

Monkey: Hey little boy/girl!

Me: You can talk! Wow!

Monkey: Yes I can.

Me: That’s unbelievable!

Monkey: Have you enjoyed the tricks?

Me: Yes. your tricks are just awesome. I have enjoyed your performance.

Monkey: But I hate being chained and forced to do tricks.

Me: Oh! I feel sad about you.

Monkey: Everyone shows sympathy but no one tries to help me.

Me: Why do you need help?

Monkey: I do not like the bondage. I am not given food timely.

Me: So, what do you want?

Monkey: I want to get freedom. I want to see my family and friends.

Me: Okay. I’ll help you. I work for an organization that rescues animals from such situations. Give me two days.

Monkey: Thank you so much. You are my hero.

Me: You are welcome. Bye.

ACTIVITY 10 (b)

Suppose you have to obey the orders of someone from morning to night. You are not allowed to act according to your own will. Write a paragraph in about eighty words describing your feelings in this situation.

I feel like a prisoner in my own life. I have no freedom, no choice, no voice. I have to obey the orders of someone who does not care about me or my happiness. I have to do things that I do not like or agree with. I have to suppress my emotions, my opinions, my dreams. I feel frustrated, angry, sad and hopeless. I wonder if there is any point in living this way. I wish I could break free from this situation and live according to my own will.

LESSON 5 PRINCESS SEPTEMBER by W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM || TEXTUAL QUESTION ANSWERS

RATINGS

Out of 1 ratings.

Other Chapters

Suggested