Princess
September
1. How many daughters did the royal couple have?
Answer: The fact that the names of the royal couple’s daughters started in January and ended with September indicates they had nine daughters.
2. Why were they named after the months of the year?
Answer:
Because of a large number of daughters, they found it convenient to name them
after the months of the year.
3. The King had a peculiar habit. What was it? Why is it
called peculiar?
Answer: The
king had a peculiar habit of giving gifts instead of receiving them on his
birthdays. Normally, people get and enjoy getting gifts during their birthdays.
The kind was the opposite in this sense. So, his behaviour is called peculiar.
4. (i) What was Princess September’s reaction to the loss
of her parrot?
Answer: The
princess became very sad after the loss of her parrot. She was so sad that she
cried inconsolably.
(ii) What was her mother’s reaction to it?
Answer: Her
mother was angry at her behaviour. She said her to be left at that state
because she thought that hunger and isolation will put her mental state in
proper shape.
(iii) What do the reactions indicate the nature and
temperament of each?
Answer: The
princess’ reaction says that she is an emotional girl. She became so emotionally
attached to the parrot that she couldn’t think of anything else after the parrot’s
death. On the other hand, the queen is practical but somewhat rude. She doesn’t know
how to console a child.
5. What pulled the Princess out of her gloom?
Answer: The arrival of the little bird and
its pleasant song lifted the princess out of the gloom.
6. How did the Maids of Honour come to know that the
Princess and the bird had become intimate friends?
Answer: When
the Maids of Honour brought breakfast, they saw the bird eating rice from
princess’ hands. After savouring the rice the bird sang a beautiful song. This
was enough for the Maids of Honour to know about the new friendship of the
princess and the little bird.
7. The new bird was full of new songs but the old parrots
always repeat themselves. What did they say?
Answer: All
the old parrots said the same things, “God save the king,” and “Pretty Polly”
in seven different languages.
8. What is the King’s opinion about his Councillors? Why did
thees he forms that opinion?
Answer: King’s
councillors always sang praise in the name of the king. All of them were
sycophants because the king could observe there was no emotion involved in the
councillors saying. They parroted everything like machines.
9. (i) The eight Princesses made an offer to Princess
September. What was it?
Answer: The eight princesses offered to
purchase a new parrot out of their pocket money for the youngest princess.
(ii) Why, in your view, did they do it?
Answer: They were jealous of they were
jealous of the real happiness on the youngest princess face. They were also
jealous of the way the King appreciated the little bird’s song.
10. What did the sisters advice the Princess to do about
her bird?
Answer: The sisters scared the Princess about
the safety of the little bird. They advised her to keep the little bird in a cage
instead of letting it roam freely everywhere.
11. In the following sentence elaborate the parts given
in bold. Under the circumstances, it was a very unfortunate remark for the bird
to make.
Answer: The
princess was worried about the little bird’s safety as she was under her
sister’s influence. At the same time, the bird said that it might not have
returned on that day. This statement was enough to provoke the princess to put
the little bird in the cage. The mental condition of the princess was further
aggravated by the bird’s statement leading to its imprisonment. Chances of the
bird losing its freedom increased after its statement. So it was an unfortunate
statement under those circumstances.
12. In the following sentence elaborate the parts given
in italics. Under the circumstances, it was a very unfortunate remark
for the bird to make.
Answer: The princess was worried about the
little bird’s safety as she was under her sister’s influence. At the same time
, the bird said that it might not have returned on that day. This statement was
enough to provoke the princess to put the little bird in the cage. The mental
condition of the princess was further aggravated by the bird’s statement
leading to its imprisonment. Chances of the bird losing its freedom increased
after its statement. So it was an unfortunate statement under those
circumstances. nature. So the bird refused to be taken out in her cage.
14. (i) What persuaded Princess September to give the
bird his freedom again?
Answer: The
falling condition of the bird and the danger of its death convinced the princess to
give freedom to the bird.
15. Princess September kept her window open day and
night.
(ii) How did the bird react to it?
The bird was happy and thankful to the
Princess. She promised to come every day and sing for the Princess.
(i) How did it
help the bird?
Answer: The
open windows helped the bird to come to meet the princess as and when it
wished.
(ii) How did it help the Princess herself?
Answer: The
princess could get nature’s nourishment which enhanced her beauty. It brought a
beautiful glow on her face.
16. The eight sisters kept their windows shut. How did it
affect them?
Answer: The
eight sisters couldn’t get nature’s nourishment. They grew pale and ugly. It is
common knowledge that natural air and sunshine helps keep you in beautiful and
cheerful shape