NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 1 The Lost Child

Class 9 English Moments Chapter 1 The Lost Child

1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
See AnswerThe child sees a number of interesting things on his way to the fair
1. Firstly, he saw toys lined up at a shop.
2. Then he saw a flowering mustard field which seemed like gold.
3. In the fields, the child also saw colourful dragon flies, butterflies fluttering their wings and bees sucking nectar.
4. Then while walking on the footpath he saw the insects and worms crawling.
5. When he entered the grove he could hear and see doves cooing.
6. As he neared the village he saw huge crowd going to the fair
7. The child also came across sweetmeat seller selling sweets like burfi and Gulab Jamun and a flower seller who was selling a garland of Gulmohar
8. Further ahead, he saw a man selling rainbow colour balloons.
9. He also saw a snake charmer who stood playing a flute to a snake.
10. Finally, before losing track of his parents he saw a roundabout swing.
The child often keeps lagging behind his parents on the way and his mother and father have to constantly call him so that he doesn’t lag behind. This is because the child is lured by all the things he sees on his way. Sometimes, he stops to be to buy toys and at other times he stops to admire the beauty of the nature – collecting flowers, catching butterflies.

2. In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
See AnswerThe child many things in fair. They are
1. Toys and Balloons.
2. Sweets like burfi from the sweetmeat seller.
3. Garland of Gulmohar flower.
4. Attracted by the snake charmer play flute to a snake.
5. A ride in the roundabout swing.
The boy moved on without waiting for an answer because he knew that his parents would not fulfil his request and would be denied at each stop.

3. When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?
See Answer He stops at the roundabout and wants to swing on a ride. He observes it swinging with men, women and children enjoying themselves on it and suddenly realises that he has lost his way. Watching keenly he turned to his parents to ask for permission to go on the rounds but there was no reply from them and that is when he realises that they were not there. He looked all around but there was no sign of them. Tears rolled down from his eyes and started running in all directions looking for his parents. His yellow turban was untied and his clothes became untidy. He was screaming and was scared by the looks of the hefty men around.

4. Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
See AnswerThe lost child loses interest in all the things that he had wanted earlier because he was frightened on being separated from his parents in the crowd. His aim was to find and be with them. All the things that fascinated him in the fair no longer attract to him and now the only thing that matters is finding his parents.

5. What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
See AnswerThe ending of the story is open for us to decide. At the end the parents, who continuously make sure that he was with them right from the beginning of their journey may have suddenly realized that he was missing and come looking for the lost child. The helpful man who tried to console the little boy by offering him various things at the fair may have also asked him for the description of his parents and helped him to be reunited with them at the fair reception.

The story begins with the scene of a little boy’s childhood. He visits to the village festival time. Like all the other kids in their childhood. The boy is also looking for the toys. The boy ran to his father with all the love and laughter he gathered there. Leaving his father, the boy went to the toy shop. The father couldn’t break the line and follow, but he called him. Even though the boy was not much old, but his legs followed the command. He went to his father and pleaded with his father. To buy him that toy as he could suppress his desire. To put his hands on to that told, Father dropped the angry glance on him. Like a tyrant withered big-eyed and then mother came with all her calmness and tenderness saving the son. She asked him to look at what is laid before his eyes. All the yellow mustard flower that covers the horizon and long till his eyes can see. Pale like melting gold for miles and miles of even land.

The bunch of butterflies is hovering above the flowers. Looking for the flower sweetness. Then the violet wings of dragonflies are roaming in the fields. Along with all the black bees who are in dire search of nectar and making the lands more beautiful. For the kid and the explanation from the mother making him forget the toy in the shop. And the angry red eyes of his father the boy ran to the field. To catch them, but they went away flapping their wings into the air. Mom gave him the cautionary calls. But the boy “Come, child, come, come on to the footpath.” Abiding the parents call the child went to mother on the footpath. And started to walk with them lost in admiring. The playful worm on the footpath the kid ran to them again leaving his parents behind. And looking for more and more. Parents called him again while sitting on the broken walk-in shade to join them. But the kid was around the wild caper around the Banyan tree. A shower of wild flowers fell on him making him happier. Parents could hear the joyous scream “The dove! The dove!” To get to the child parents took the narrow street which is going through the mustard fields.

While walking amidst the mustard field. The boy could see the many paths leading different directions. Full or throngs creating the whirlpool of the fair, Witnessing. The sweet’s seller in the path screaming “jalebi, rasagulla, Gulab-Jaman burfi.” The kid whispered to his mother that he wants burfi. While controlling watering mouth. knowing that his parents will not hear the plea. And might think that he is being greedy he walked away without waiting for the response from them. As passing by near the flower seller. he saw the stall full of garlands of Gulmohar flower. And looking at the beautiful flowers and fascinated by them. Kid murmured again, “I want that garland.” but knowing that he will not get the garland as parents might say there are not worth the price. Not waiting for a response from his parents. The kids walked away and saw the man holding Balloons of colours blue red yellow. And looking at them, He wants to possess all of them. But knowing that parents would respond. That he is too old to play with them. The kid didn’t ask for them to and reached near. The snake charmer impressed child went to see the charmer making the coiled snake came out with the music. And then he precedes farther and saw the roundabout in full swings. And then asked the parents that “I want to go there. In the roundabout” but there was no reply. And when the kid turned to see parents they weren’t there at all.

Suddenly scared kid started sobbing finding. The way back to where he came from. He tried to find his mother and father. And then cried aloud from his real dried throat out of fear. His entire face went red-hot and teary. Entire to find his mother, Father. The kid went here and there not knowing. Where is going his turban came out and clothes got dirty in the mud. Soon one man heard his cry among so many legs and went to him. The stranger went to the kid and picking him up. And asked if he wants to ride roundabouts. But a thousand shrills came out of his throat crying even louder demanding “I want my Mother, Father.”

To soothe the crying child, the man took him to snake charmer. And asked to listen to the nice music. But this time the kid put a finger in his ears and refused balloon. The man took him to the balloon man asked the kid persuasively. if he would like a rainbow-colored balloon. But the kid refused to even look at them. And kept sobbing and asking “I want my mother, I want my Father.” But the good man tried to make the child happy. Asked he want the Garland of beautiful Gulmohar around his neck. To humour the kid up the guy tried to gift the kid sweets from the same sweet shop. But this time kid turned his face and kept asking “I want my Mother, I want my Father.”