Think about It
1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
Answer: Iswaran is an asset to Mahendra because he is a devoted cook who follows him uncomplainingly wherever he is posted. He cooks, washes clothes, and keeps Mahendra company with endless stories. He can also produce fresh vegetables and ingredients in the most desolate places, making life comfortable for his master.
2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
Answer: Iswaran describes the uprooted tree in a dramatic and suspenseful way. He says the road was deserted and he was all alone when he spotted something like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. He was half inclined to turn back, but as he came closer, he saw it was a fallen tree with dry branches spread out. He uses arched eyebrows and dramatic gestures to create suspense and a surprise ending, wanting his listeners to be captivated and amazed.
3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
Answer: Iswaran narrates the story of the tusker with great excitement, jumping about and stamping his feet to imitate the mad elephant. He describes how the elephant escaped from a timber yard, broke fences, smashed stalls, entered a school ground, and caused havoc. He claims he grabbed a cane and whacked the elephant's third toenail on the quick, which paralysed it. The story does not appear plausible because it is highly exaggerated and dramatic. It is unlikely that a young boy could bring down a mad elephant with a single blow to its toenail.
4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra's living quarters?
Answer: The author says this because Iswaran was a gifted storyteller. He narrated endless stories packed with adventure, horror, and suspense. His dramatic gestures, suspenseful pauses, and surprise endings kept Mahendra entertained. His stories provided as much entertainment and engagement as a television would, so they made up for the absence of a TV.
5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
Answer: On a full-moon night, Mahendra woke up to a low moan near his window. He tried to dismiss it as a cat, but the sound was too guttural. He looked out and saw a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle in the moonlight. He broke into a cold sweat and fell back, panting. Later, he reasoned it away as auto-suggestion, but Iswaran confirmed that he had seen the female ghost with a foetus in its arms. This terrified Mahendra so much that he left the haunted place the very next day.
6. Can you think of some other ending for the story?
Answer: (Sample alternative ending) Mahendra might have realised that the so-called ghost was actually a trick played by Iswaran using a dummy wrapped in cloth to frighten him. He could have confronted Iswaran, discovered the truth, and stayed on. Or, he could have decided to investigate further with the help of the police, discovered that the burial ground story was false, and proved that ghosts do not exist. Alternatively, Mahendra could have accepted the supernatural explanation and become a believer, deciding to leave but spreading the story of the haunting.
Talk about It
Is Iswaran a fascinating storyteller? Discuss with your friends the qualities of a good storyteller. Try to use these qualities and tell a story.
Answer: Yes, Iswaran is a fascinating storyteller. He has the ability to hold his listener's attention with suspense, drama, and vivid descriptions. A good storyteller should have the following qualities: a good command of language, the ability to create suspense, expressive gestures, facial expressions, voice modulation, and the skill to connect with the audience. They should also be able to improvise and make the story engaging. (Students can then narrate a story using these qualities.)
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