CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story Question Answers (Important) from Footprints without Feet Book
Class 10 English The Thief’s Story Question Answers – Looking for The Thief’s Story question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Book Chapter 2? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 10 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the board exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 2: The Thief’s Story question answers now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions.
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
- NCERT Solutions
- Extract based Questions
- Short Answer Questions
- Long Answer Questions
Related:
- Class 10 The Thief’s Story Class 10 Summary, Explanation
- The Thief’s Story Character Sketches
- The Thief’s Story MCQs
The Thief’s Story NCERT Solutions
Q1. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time? (Hint: Compare, for example, the thought: “I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve” with these later thoughts: “Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal — and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.”) What makes him return to Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh feels that education can make him earn a lot of money in an honest way. His prospect on receiving an education does not change over time. He feels that he can earn much more if he gets an education. He returns to Anil because Anil trusts him, feeds him, treats him well and even teaches him.
Q2. Why does not Anil hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers?
Ans. Anil did not hand over the thief to the police maybe because he knew that Hari Singh had realized his mistake. He was feeling guilty for what he had done and wanted to mend his ways. This was the reason why he had come back and put the money back to its place. Anil wanted to give him a chance to become a better person.
No, I don’t think that anybody in today’s world would have done so because to do so, a person needs to have a lot of patience and compassion which is missing in most of the people today. In today’s world a thief is considered a criminal even if he realizes his mistake. It takes a lot of courage to trust someone who has broken your trust once. Although i feel that if a person realizes his mistake he must be given another chance to win back your trust.
Q3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Ans. In this story, “I” refers to the thief who introduces himself as Hari Singh.
Q4. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
Ans. He was a “fairly successful hand” at robbing and duping people of their money.
Q5. What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
Ans. When he asks Anil that he wants to work for him, Anil clearly says that he will; not be able to pay him. They mutually decide that if the thief would be able to cook food for him, then Anil would feed him. But soon, Anil comes to know that he can not cook. So Anil tells Hari, the thief that he would teach him to cook food, teach him to write his name and full sentences and also to add numbers. Apart from this, Hari also used to steal one rupee from the grocery money everyday.
Q6. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
Ans. The thief though that on discovering that he had been robbed, Anil would definitely be sad but he would be sad because of the loss of trust and not because of the loss of money.
Q7. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Ans. The thief says that according to his experience, upon being robbed the greedy man showed fear, the rich man showed anger and the poor man showed acceptance towards whatever had happened with him.
Q8. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?
Ans. Yes, probably Anil knew that he had been robbed because all the notes were wet and damp from last night. He still did not say anything to the thief and gave him 50 rupees and told him that from now on, Anil will be paying him money as salary every month.
Class 10 English The Thief’s Story Question Answers Lesson 2 – Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A. Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25– a tall, lean fellow – and he looked easy-going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I hadn’t had much luck of late and thought I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.
‘You look a bit of a wrestler yourself,” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends. (CBSE QB,2021)
1. According to the extract, the narrator was talking to the young boy watching the wrestling match because he
A. had been invited there by the wrestlers.
B. was supposed to meet someone there.
C. was looking for simple people to dupe.
D. loved wrestling and followed it very closely.
Ans. C. was looking for simple people to dupe.
2. ‘I hadn’t had much luck of late’ means that the boy hadn’t
A. ever conned people successfully.
B. been successful in duping people lately.
C. understood the consequences of thievery till date.
D. considered the role of fate in deceiving others.
Ans. B. been successful in duping people lately.
3.‘I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.’ Choose the option that DOES NOT display what the statement means.
A. He wanted to win his trust.
B. He wanted him to share his thoughts without caution.
C. He wanted him to feel comfortable revealing more details about himself.
D. He wanted to be able to spend quality time with him.
Ans. D. He wanted to be able to spend quality time with him.
4. Anil looked easy-going, kind and simple to the narrator. Which of the given characteristics would NOT fit in with this description?
A. Compassionate
B. suave
C. uncomplicated
D. carefree
Ans. B. suave
5. Based on the line, “A little flattery helps in making friends.”, choose the option that displays the quote closest in meaning.
A. Imitation is the best form of flattery; people generally understand that my comedy is not intended to hurt anybody
B. I know imitation is the highest form of flattery, but stealing one’s identity is totally different.
C. Nothing is as great an example of bad manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you please none; If you flatter only one or two, you offend the rest.
D. One may define flattery as a base companionship which is most advantageous to the flatterer.
Ans. D. One may define flattery as a base companionship which is most advantageous to the flatterer.
B. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind. Anil made money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote for magazines—a queer way to make a living! (CBSE QB,2021)
1. Anil made money ‘by fits and starts’ means that he
A. deemed it fit to start investing money.
B. started earning money in the recent past.
C. received money intermittently.
D. put his money to use frequently.
Ans. C) received money intermittently.
2. The information in the extract suggests that Anil could be a
A. salaried professional
B. freelancer
C. businessman
D. volunteer
Ans. B) freelancer
3. If borrow: :lend, then pick the ODD pair from the options below
A. give : : take
B. lose : : find
C. hop : : skip
D. buy : : sell
Ans. C) hop : : skip
4. The reference to making a little money ‘this way’ refers to a way that is viewed by most people as
A. sensible
B. inappropriate.
C. charitable.
D. Aggressive
Ans. C) charitable.
5. Based on your understanding of Anil in the extract, choose the option that synchronizes with his thinking.
A. So what if I don’t have much money? Giving it to that person is important as they could do with a helping hand.
B. I better learn how to protect my money. I think I’m being looted.
C. I earn money with such tremendous effort. Where does it all go?
D. When I become rich, I can begin to help friends then. Right now, I will spend only on myself.
Ans. a) So what if I don’t have much money? Giving it to that person is important as they could do with a helping hand.
C. “I hurried back to the room feeling very nervous, for it is much easier to steal something than to return undetected”.
1. Who is the speaker of this line?
Ans. Hari, a young boy is the speaker of this line who is a thief
2. Why was the speaker feeling nervous?
Ans. Because he was keeping back the stolen money and feared getting caught.
3. Why was it difficult for the speaker to return the money?
Ans. He feared getting caught while keeping it back.
4. What is the view of Hari regarding theft?
Ans. It is much easier to steal something than to return undetected.
D. “I could come and go as I pleased. He was the most trusting person I had ever met”.
1. Other than the freedom of moment, what else does the speaker feel happy about?
Ans. He was free to come and go when he pleased. Moreover, he was trusted by Anil.
2. What does the speaker mean by ‘most trusting person’?
Ans. Anil trusted him completely.
3. Who is the speaker speaking about?
Ans. Anil, Hari Singh’s master.
4. What character traits of the master does this line reveal?
Ans. Anil is a caring, kind-hearted, compassionate, understanding and trusting person.
E. He took me to his room over the Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony. But the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and told me to be soft but I just hung around, smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn’t help laughing.
1. What does ‘I’ refer to?
Ans. I’ refers to Hari Singh.
2. Where did Mil take him?
Ans. Anil took him to the room where he stayed, over Jumna sweet shop.
3. How did Anil react when Hari cooked a bad meal?
Ans. Anil gave the food to the stray dogs and asked Hari to leave.
4. How did Hari respond to his reaction?
Ans. Han kept on smiling appealingly.
Class 10 English The Thief’s Story Short Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)
In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from the chapter The Thief’s Story for CBSE Class 10 Boards in the coming session. These questions have been taken from previous years class 10 Board exams and the year is mentioned in the bracket along with the question.
Q1. How was Hari Singh’s ‘appealing smile’ at the end different from similar smiles of his on earlier occasions?
Ans. Hari Singh’s ‘appealing smile’ had previously been fabricated. It was dripping with flattery. But, in the end, his grin was genuine. It was organic and appealing.
Q2. Who is ‘I’ in this story? Why did he change his name every month?
Ans. In this story, ‘I’ is a 15-year-old boy thief. He frequently changed his name every month in order to avoid being discovered by the police and his former employers. This time, he introduces himself as Hari Singh.
Q3. Why did Hari Singh smile in his most appealing way?
Ans. Hari Singh prepared meals for Anil. He had no experience in the kitchen. Anil was unable to consume it. He hurled it at a stray dog. He requested that the boy leave his home. But the boy refused to leave him. So he smiled his most appealing smile.
Q4. Why was the thief grateful to Anil?
Ans. The thief was grateful to Anil because he gave him a job. Secondly, he promised to teach him to read and write.
Q5. Why did he want to become an educated man?
Ans. He was an uneducated person. He made his living by stealing and cheating others. He thought if he were educated there would be no limit to what he could achieve.
Q6. Who was the narrator or the boy thief, Hari Singh?
Ans. Hari Singh had been a thief. He was a seasoned, experienced, and successful thief even at the age of fifteen. To avoid the police and his former employers, he used to change his name every month. He was well-versed in all of his trade’s gimmicks. He knew how to steal money even when it was hidden beneath the victim’s bed.
Q7. How and when did Hari Singh meet Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh met Anil during a wrestling match. He found Anil to be easygoing, kind, and simple enough for his needs. Anil’s trusting personality could help him steal. As a result, he offered to work for Anil. Anil didn’t have a steady income and couldn’t afford to pay him. Nonetheless, Hari Singh took advantage of Anil’s generosity and forced him to stay in his home.
Q8. Anil couldn’t afford to pay Hari Singh. Why did he allow Hari Singh to stay with him?
Ans. Hari Singh volunteered to work for Anil. Anil didn’t have a steady income and couldn’t afford to pay him on a regular basis. Hari Singh wished to take advantage of such a gentle and simple man as Anil. He lied about knowing how to cook. Anil was compelled to let Hari Singh stay in his home.
Q9. Why was it so difficult for Hari Singh to rob a trusting and unsuspecting person like Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh, a fifteen-year-old thief, was a skilled and reasonably successful individual. Because he could afford to be robbed, it was simple to rob him. However, it was very difficult to rob Anil, who was reckless and unaware of his surroundings. Anil didn’t even know he had been taken advantage of. That could eliminate all enjoyment from theft work.
Q10. Why did Had Singh justify himself to rob Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh undoubtedly possessed the wisdom and experience necessary to justify his actions. He provided justification for the theft of Anil, a reckless and unaware individual. Hari Singh admitted to himself that he had not practiced enough. He must steal. Anil would spend the money on his friends if he didn’t take it. Additionally, Anil did not pay him.
Q11. Why did Hari Singh lie that he knew how to cook? Why did Anil have to throw the food cooked by Hari to the stray dogs?
Ans. Anil was Hari Singh’s carefully selected, innocent, and unsuspecting target. Hari Singh responded that he did know how to cook when Anil asked him that. He intentionally lied. He made absolutely terrible food. It had to be given to the stray dogs by Anil.
Q12. How did Hari Singh feel working for Anil? Did Anil know that Hari Singh was making a little money from purchases?
Ans. Hari Singh had a pleasant experience working for Anil. In the morning, he would prepare tea for him. He would shop for the day’s supplies slowly. Hari typically made a profit of around one rupee per day. Anil; complain about the theft. But because he couldn’t pay Had on a regular basis, he let Him do it. It didn’t bother him.
Q13. How did Anil get that substantial money that he brought home in a bundle? How did it tempt Hari Singh?
Ans. Anil didn’t have a steady income. He contributed to magazines. He brought a small pile of notes home one day. A book had just been sold to a publisher by him. Hari observed Anil conceal the cash beneath his bed’s mattress. Hari Singh made the decision to steal the sum because his master was unaware of it.
Q14. How did Hari Singh steal the money that Anil got from selling his book to a publisher?
Ans. Hari Singh witnessed Anil concealing the money bundle beneath his bed’s mattress in person? Hari Singh sneaked up to the bed while Anil was sleeping. Without making a sound, he took the money out of the bundle by slipping his hand under the mattress. In his sleep, Anil turned to face him on his side and sighed. Han Singh quickly left the room after becoming startled.
Q15. Describe Had Singh’s dilemma at the station. Why didn’t he jump into a compartment of the Lucknow Express when he could?
Ans. Hari Singh didn’t stop at the ticket office when he got to the station because he hadn’t bought a ticket before. Just now, the Lucknow Express was leaving. He might have gotten in one of the carriages by himself. He just hesitated. He might not have made a final decision about this.
Q16. What did Hari Singh think when he was standing alone on the deserted platform?
Ans. The train had gone. Hari Singh was at a crossroads. On the empty platform, he was the only person there. He didn’t know where to stay for the night. He didn’t know anyone. He also didn’t want to stay in a hotel. The man he had robbed a few hours earlier was the only person he knew who might be able to assist him.
Q17. What did Hari Singh do in the ‘maidan’ and how did the notes become damp?
Ans. Hari Singh arrived in the “maidan” from the station. He took a seat on a bench. It was chilly at night in November. Hari Singh’s discomfort was made worse by the torrential rain. His pajamas and shirt were stuck to his skin. He sat down in the clock tower’s shade. He felt his way to the notes. The rain had made them damp.
Q18. How did Hari Singh forget about his education in the excitement of his theft? What did he think about it in the end?
Ans. Anil taught Hari Singh to write his name. Additionally, he promised to instruct him in adding numbers and writing complete sentences. He completely neglected his education in the excitement he felt about the theft. However, common sense won out, and in the end, he realized that education could earn him more respect and money.
Q19. Why didn’t Anil hand Had Singh over to the police even when he knew all about the theft?
Ans. Anil was not a fool, but he was careless and unaware. He was aware of the boy’s scheme to steal money from everyday purchases. He also had complete knowledge of the 600 rupees theft. He could have handed him over to the police in a heartbeat. He didn’t want to jeopardize Hari Singh’s life, though. He wanted to provide the unfortunate boy with an education. As a result, he gave him a note for fifty rupees and promised to pay him regularly. His lips and eyes did not reveal anything about the theft.
Q20. Hari Singh is both a thief and a human being. Explain.(CBSE Sample Question Paper 2018)
Ans. Hari Singh is both a thief and a person. As a thief, he always manages to elude the police and rob people. He first earns people’s trust and then waits for the right moment to take advantage of it by robbing them. He began living with Anil with the intent of robbing him. However, while living with him, he changes his mind, and his inner feelings force him to alter his plan. He abandoned the idea of stealing and resolved to live his life as a normal human being. As a result, he did not steal this time and was able to live a peaceful life.
Q21. Why did Hari Singh think that Anil’s job was queer?
Ans. Hari found Anil’s job to be queer because there was no steady income. As Anil was a writer, at times he had to borrow and lend money while at other instances, he would earn cheques of big amounts.
Class 10 The Thief’s Story Long Answer Questions Lesson 2
Q1. Anil plays a major role in the transformation of Hari Singh. Comment on the statement by highlighting the values possessed by Anil which touched Hari’s heart and made him return to his honest ways of earning his livelihood. Write in about 100-120 words.
Ans. Anil was a struggling writer who befriended Hari Singh. Hari Singh was an experienced, 15-year-old thief. He found Anil an easy target to steal. Anil offered to stay with him and to teach how to read and write. Gradually, Anil develops trust in Hari Singh. But Hari Singh was waiting for the right opportunity to do what he was best at. After stealing money, he tried to go away forever but some inner voice stopped him from doing so. He returned to Anil because he wanted to live a life of respect. Anil did not show that he knew the incident and accepted Hari with open hands. Thus, a well-intentioned person, Anil changed Hari Singh and brought him on the right path. The story shows that trust and spirit to forgive someone can bring big changes in someone’s life.
Q2. Hari Singh didn’t confess that he robbed Anil. Did he lack the courage to do so or did he really want to maintain his relationship with Anil at any cost? Explain the values Had needed to imbibe in about 100-120 words.
Ans. Hari Singh was a 15-year-old adolescent. He had a talent for stealing. Anil was his next target because he was a simple man and a struggling author. Had Singh moved in with Anil, who then began instructing him in reading and writing? One day, Hari Singh had the chance to steal Anil’s money. With the money in hand, he tried to disappear forever, but his inner “ice” stopped him. He went back and left the cash where it was. He didn’t mention the incident to Anil when he started his regular work the following morning. He lacked the courage to tell Anil the truth because he was still a teenager. He did not want to betray Anil’s confidence. He desired to maintain the relationship with Anil, wanted to get an education and become a respected man. So, he hid the incident from Anil.
Q3. “But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man was something else.” Hari finally accepted the importance of education and honest living. What do you think about the role of education in changing peeps,like Hari / Comment on it by highlighting the values one imbibes through education.
Ans. Education can play a vital role in changing people like Hari Singh for good.Hari Singh was an experienced thief of 15 years. He wanted to rob Anil who was a struggling writer. When he finally got the opportunity to steal his money and run away his inner voice stopped him from breaking the trust of a simple man who taught him to read and write. Hari Singh realized that through education he can also lead a respected life with no fear of being caught. Through Education, one can have unlimited opportunities to flourish. People like Hari Singh lead a life In isolation as they break people’s trust and make money temporarily. Education provides one with stability and leads an individual on the path of truth and rational thinking. Thus, education can play a crucial role in changing people like Hari Singh.
Q4. Hari Singh believed that it was difficult to rob a man like Anil. Do you think that he really appreciated kind people? Why do you think he found it difficult to cheat a man like Anil? Discuss the values that stop a person from doing something wrong.
Ans. Hari did value good deeds, as the tale demonstrates. Anil stands out in the descriptions he gives of various people. Maybe it was the first time someone had shown so much support for Hari. His conscience kept niggling at him later as he was fleeing after robbing Anil. He was unable to betray the benevolent Anil’s trust. Perhaps it was also the fact that Hari wasn’t a seasoned criminal. He had most likely, and not voluntarily, turned into a thief. His inherent goodness and ability to recognize right from wrong prevented him from committing more wrongdoing. These virtues also benefit others.
Q5. “I couldn’t cook his meals, run to the bazaar or learn to write whole sentences anymore.” Hari Singh could not at once come up with the idea of working for Anil. Do you think he accepted the joy of earning money by following the path of honesty? Explain the values highlighted through Hari’s character in 100-120 words.
Ans. Anil struck Hari Singh as being straightforward, laid-back, kind, and simple to joke around with when he first met him. He believed he would make a good target for a robbery. He made the offer to work for him. When Anil said he couldn’t pay him, he responded by asking if he could feed him instead. Anil retorted that he could work in his home if he knew how to cook. After staying there for a month, he discovered Anil was the most challenging victim to rob because he was the most gullible. Even though he once stole 600 rupees, he gave it back to Anil because he understood that an education would be far more valuable in the long run than money. Hence, he accepted the joy of earning money by following the path of honesty.
Q6. “You look a bit of a wrestler yourself.” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends. Hari Singh believed that a little flattery can help in making friends. Did he lack love and empathy? Was his attitude towards friendship acceptable or not? Explain the values one must have to win over true friends in 100-120 words.
Ans. Hari Singh was a skilled burglar. He knew how to gain people’s confidence. Anil, a slim, lean 25-year-old man, was watching a wrestling match when he was spotted. He was a simple target for him to rob. He began by joking with him that he reminded him of a wrestler. He then informed Anil that he desired employment with him. He asked Anil if he could feed him in an effort to gain his trust after Anil informed him that he was unable to pay him. According to him and even psychologically, a person never gets mad when you give a compliment to them. Also, it is an easy way of starting a conversation. However, later we can see that his views on friendship were also not good. He thought that friendships are troublesome which tells that he might have had bad experiences earlier. Also, it was Anil’s kindness and trust in Hari that changed his mind and made him return the stolen money which shows that he lacked all these things in his life. However, his attitude towards friendship seems to be the one in which people make friends for need and this is not the right attitude. Friendships are above these low standards and provide support and positivity to survive.
Q7. Write a character sketch of the thief boy.
Ans. A boy of fifteen years old committed the theft. However, he has been portrayed in this tale as a skilled and well-versed thief. He was very knowledgeable about how people behave. He was aware that people who appeared straightforward could be easily robbed. He was aware that making friends could benefit from a little flattery. To avoid the police and his former employers, he was cunning enough to change his name. He had a natural ability to tell lies. He wanted to grow up to be a big man. He took Anil’s 600 rupees from him. However, he did have a small amount of faith and goodness in him. He felt that betraying Anil was wrong. Having the desire to become a big man, he knew that he could realize his ambition only when he was educated. Thus, he was an interesting character.
Q8. Draw a character-sketch of Anil.
Or
Who was Anil? How did he treat Hari Singh and how did it influence Hari’s life?
Ans. Anil was a 25-year-old man. He was a tall, lanky man. He appeared friendly and laid-back. A young boy greeted him. It was his intention to rob him. He judged him suitable for the job. The boy informed him that he was interested in working for him. He claimed he could prepare the food. He was hired by Anil. The boy made some extremely bad food. Although he initially told the boy to flee, he later showed him how to cook and how to read and write. Anil worked irregular hours to make money. He produced magazine articles. He received 600 rupees one day. The thief took the money during the night and fled out in the rain. Later his heart changed and he decided to put the money back under the mattress. Anil discovered all this. But he was so large-hearted that he said nothing to the boy. Instead, he promised to pay him regularly.
Q9. How did Hari Singh rob Anil of his six-hundred rupees? What stopped him from rushing away?
Or
What made the narrator steal Anil’s six hundred rupees? What did he do after that? Why did he put the money back under the mattress?
Ans. The young burglar met Anil. He thought he was a laid-back individual. He made up his mind to rob him. He promised to prepare food for him. His name is Hari Singh, he informed Anil. He was assigned work by Anil. He instructed him in reading, writing, and cooking. Anil had no stable source of income. He once brought a tiny bundle containing 600 rupees. When the boy was sound asleep, he placed the bundle under his mattress. At 10:30 p.m., he quickly ran to the station to catch the Lucknow Mail. The train had just left the station. However, something prevented him from launching into the train car. Anil was being good and careless. He realized his folly and decided to go back to Anil. So he went back and placed the money under the mattress.
Q10. Why did Hari Singh decide to return the stolen money? What light does it throw on his character?
Ans. When Hari Singh arrived at the station after robbing the money, he was unable to board the Lucknow Express even though he was able to do so with ease. He pondered Anil as he stood by himself on the empty platform because he knew that when he learned about the theft, Anil would be saddened by the broken trust. If only to read and write, he felt the need to return to Anil. He decided to go back to Anil despite his intense anxiety. The thief enjoyed working for Anil and was grateful to him greatly. Because Anil was the most dependable man he had ever met. His conscience had been stirred by Anil’s assurance. He desired to mature into a good man. He could only become a good man under Anil. He therefore made the decision to come back to Anil and return the money that he had stolen.
Q11. What kind of a life was Hari Singh leading with Anil?
Ans. Singh was hired by Anil to serve as a house servant. It was his responsibility to make food and tea for Anil. He was not a skilled chef. However, Anil taught him how to prepare meals. He went to the market to purchase produce and other necessities. Working for Anil was enjoyable for the thief. He had been promised that Anil would instruct him in reading and writing. The thief was appreciative of Anil’s job offer and assurance that he would become an educated man. He was aware that his potential would be unbounded once he could write with the sophistication of an educated man.
Q12. ‘The Thief’s Story’ is an in-depth study of the human mind. Discuss.
Ans. The human mind is an extremely intricate organ. There are various opposing viewpoints present. Sometimes a man is unable to comprehend his own thoughts. The character of a young thief named Hari Singh serves as Ruskin Bond’s vehicle for presenting the same idea in this story. The young man begins to work for Anil. His main objective was to rob him. His affection is won by Anil’s negligence. However, the youngster’s criminal nature prompts him to steal Anil’s money. He robs him of his 600 rupees one day and flees to the train station. But he decides against getting on the train after all. He decides to visit Anil again and give him his money back. Thus, this tale is a thorough examination of the human mind.
Q13. Give a character-sketch of the thief, Hari Singh. Highlight the gradual changes that come in him.
Ans. The Thief’s Story’s narrator is a thief. Despite being only fifteen years old, he has considerable experience and success. Every month, he used to change his name. To avoid being detained by the police, he took this action. He had numerous employers. He used to defraud them and then flee. He identified himself as Had Singh this time. Hari Singh was a cunning burglar. He was skilled at making fun of someone like Anil. He described Anil as a modest wrestler. He was a master at making up lies. He made up for the fact that he could cook. He had good judgment about people and the circumstances. He profited from Anil’s kindness by setting aside a rupee from the purchase of the day’s groceries for him.
Hari Singh lost track of his passion for learning amid the heat and commotion. He was aware that education would enable him to gain respect, notoriety, and wealth. He certainly violated Anil’s trust by taking his money. He quickly realized he lacked friends and well-wishers. Anil, whom he had robbed a few hours earlier, was the only person who knew and could assist him. In the end, Anil’s big heart and passion for learning transformed him. He returned to Anil and returned the stolen funds to their original location. Anil rewarded Hari Singh despite knowing everything. He handed him a note for fifty rupees and pledged to make regular payments.
Q14. Did Anil know all about the theft? If so, why did he keep Had Singh again to work for him?
Ans. Anil is a gentlemanly scholar. He has a big heart and is giving and forgiving. He is 25 years old and is not yet married. He receives no consistent income. He produces magazine writing. He goes out to celebrate after getting a check. Anil is a straightforward man who is always willing to assist anyone, even a useless youngster like Hari Singh. He is aware that Had Singh lied about having cooking skills. But he still lets him work for him. Anil is a young man who is progressive. He appreciates the value of education because he is a writer. Had Singh is taught by him to write his name. He assures him that he will teach him how to add numbers and write complete sentences.
Anil was fully aware of the theft. He was aware of how and when Had Singh had taken the money and hidden it again under the bed. His eyes nor his lips made any indication of it. Had Singh been someone he didn’t want to turn over to the police. He would have been mined. The thief was forced to go back to such a kind and generous person. Anil, the reformer, gave the young burglar a fifty rupee note as payment. Additionally, he promised to pay him on time.
Q15. How did Hari Singh come into contact with Anil? He breached Anil’s trust in him but why did Anil not only forgive him but also promised to pay him regularly?
Ans. When Hari Singh first met Anil, he was still a thief. Although he was only fifteen, he had some experience and had achieved some success. Hari enjoyed Anil’s humor and wished he would hire him. Anil was unable to pay him because he had no steady source of income. He enquired as to Hari Singh’s culinary skills. When asked if he knew it, Hari Singh lied. Anil told the boy he was completely worthless and asked him to leave. However, the boy wouldn’t budge, so Anil kept him and offered to teach him how to write sentences and add numbers.
Old habits, they say, are hard to break. Anil was, after all, a thief. From the purchases of the day’s supplies, he earned one rupee each day. Anil gave him the door key because he trusted him. The young burglar saw him stow the cash under the bed. The money was taken by Hari Singh, who then left. There were 600 of them in the 1950s, he discovered after counting them. Anil was fully aware of the theft. He even knew how Hari Singh had re-hidden the money under the mattress. Anil, a reformer, however, won the day. The young burglar was not turned over to the police by him. He also did not discipline him by terminating his employment. From a thief to a young man who has changed his ways because of his love of learning.
Q16. Love, human sympathy and education can transform even a thief. How could Anil bring such a change in Hari Singh?
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The chapter shows Hari Singh’s journey from a thief to an honest man who values friendship and other human values. Do you think it was Anil’s selfless friendship that allowed Hari to redeem himself? Give reasons in support of your answer in 100-120 words.
Ans. Man is a result of his environment and circumstances. Although only fifteen years old, Hari Singh had a lot of experience and was a fairly successful player. He became a thief due to circumstances. He was hired to work for Anil even though he was of no use to him. Old habits, they say, are hard to break. A thief couldn’t stop stealing and cheating, after all. Each day, he earned one rupee from the purchase of the necessary supplies. Anil was not a fool, though. He was fully aware of the theft as well as everything else. But he was compassionate, kind, and brimming with human understanding. He helped the poor boy learn how to write his name. Ile also agreed to add numbers and construct sentences for him. The young thief was deeply affected by this and started realizing that education could bring him respect and money.
Anil’s trust was betrayed by Hari Singh, but Anil was merciful and forgiving. Hari Singh neglected his education while committing theft in the fervor and excitement. Then the true epiphany and transformation happened. The young thief realized that the only man who could assist him was the victim of his most recent robbery. The value of education, which could earn him respect and more money than he could by stealing, became apparent to him at that point. He understood where he needed to go. Anil, who had a big heart, promised to pay him on a regular basis and not only forgave him but also gave him a fifty rupee note.
Q17. ‘He was the most trusting person I had ever met.’ Justify this statement of Hari Singh about his benefactor, Anil. Did he breach Anil’s trust?
Ans. Hari Singh had a good understanding of Anil’s nature and character after their initial meeting. He made up for the fact that he could cook. Anil nevertheless gave Hari a job. Hari Singh was an accomplished and experienced player even at the young age of 15. He was proficient in all trade secrets. From the purchases of the day’s supplies, he earned one rupee each day. Anil was aware of it but didn’t care. Anil had a genuine capacity for trust. Hari was free to come and go as he pleased because he had given him the key to the door. But “robbing him was so difficult.” A thieving man is simple to rob. Robbing a careless and trustworthy man like Anil was challenging. He occasionally didn’t even notice that he had been robbed. That took all the pleasure out of Hari Singh’s work.
Anil wasn’t a moron. He was fully aware of the theft’s details, including its timing and method of execution. He made no indication with his lips or eyes that he had seen Hari re-hide the cash under the bed. Trust grows on itself. The young thief eventually came to the conclusion that the only person who could assist him was the man he had robbed earlier. Naturally, Anil was the most dependable person Han Singh had ever met. and promised to pay Had on a regular basis in exchange for a fifty rupee note while forgetting about Tut Chase’s growing breach of trust.
Q18. How did Hari Singh steal the money? Describe the circumstances that brought him back to work for Hari Singh. What was the main motivating factor that forced him to take that decision?
Ans. A publisher had purchased a book from Anil. He received a sizable payment in return. He tucked the cash under his bed’s mattress, as seen by Hari Singh. The young burglar had previous experience. He betrayed Anil’s confidence and took the money. He counted and came up with a total of 600 in the 50s. He understood that he could at least pretend to be a wealthy Arab for a week or two with that amount of money.
Hari Singh made an unsuccessful attempt to flee with the money. In truth, he was battling with himself. He purposely was late for the Lucknow Express. On a chilly night, he was sitting on a bench contemplating himself. He reached a decision. He lacked any pals. The only individual who could assist was Anil and he had robbed him a few hours earlier. Then came the realization of what Anil was doing for him. He promised to give him an education. Hari Singh realized that education could bring respect and money to him. In the heat and excitement of the theft, he had forgotten about the education. Getting an education was the main motivating force that brought the boy-thief Hari Singh back to Anil.
Q19. Describe the sequence of events that took place after Hari Singh stole the money. Evaluate Hari Singh as a thief and as a human being.
Ans. Even at the age of fifteen, Hari Singh was an experienced burglar. He was proficient in all trade secrets. He was a skilled thief who knew how to dupe his master into buying the day’s supplies for one rupee each day. And he took 600 rupees from under the mattress, a seasoned burglar. He could spend a week or two living like a wealthy Arab if he had that much money. He purposefully arrived at the station but left before the Lucknow Express. He was having trouble with himself. On a chilly November night, he arrived at the “maiden” while being soaked in the rain. He didn’t like to stay in hotels and didn’t have any friends. He had a problem. Then good sense prevailed.
Q20. Hari Singh didn’t board the express and returned to Anil. Why did he return? On what values does this incident put light on?
Ans. Hari Singh was a thief and he had stolen Anil’s money. After the theft, he realized that he had robbed not only Anil but also himself of the chance of being literate and having a bright future. His conscience pricked him to think what all he could have got had he not done this. It was difficult for him to rob Anil but it was tougher for him not to back down. He realized that he could not make tea, buy daily supplies and learn how to read and write then. His inner self did not agree to bypass this and forced him to return. Hari’s return to Anil shows that despite indulging in criminal acts, he still had a practical and positive attitude towards life. It is the awakening of Hari’s conscience and Anil’s love and care that reformed Hari’s character. It teaches us that love alone can change a person. Anil’s understanding of nature and care changed Hari’s thinking to mend his ways for good.
Q21. Hari Singh says- “He knew it but neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything.” Anil successfully addressed the situation by not addressing it at all. Elaborate based on your reading of The Thief’s Story. (CBSE Sample Question Paper 2020)
Answer. Hari Singh returns after feeling bad about stealing money from Anil. He puts the money back where it belongs and goes to bed. He gets up late the next morning (because of his night adventure). When he wakes up in the morning, Anil has already awakened and made some tea. He offered some to Hari Singh. Then he took out a note and handed it to Hari Singh, telling him that he would be paid on a regular basis by them. The note was still wet from the rain when he touched it. This implies that Anil was aware that Hari Singh was a thief. He still showed no signs of rage or disgust. This was his way of telling Hari Singh that he had forgiven him therefore, successfully addressing the situation by not addressing it at all.
Q22. Fiction writers prefer creating grey characters rather than black and white. Analyse this in detail, with reference to both the characters of The Thief’s Story. (CBSE Sample Question Paper 2022)
Answer. Fiction writers frequently prefer grey characters to black and white characters because they believe it makes the characters more complex, relatable, and realistic. Grey characters have both good and bad qualities, and they are frequently portrayed as flawed and human. The characters in “The Thief’s Story” can be seen as grey rather than black and white. The story’s thief, for example, is portrayed as a flawed individual who has committed crimes, but he also has a human side and struggles with his own moral dilemma. He is more than just a villain; he is a complex individual with both good and bad traits.Similarly, the story’s other characters have both positive and negative traits, making them multidimensional and relatable. The use of grey characters allows writers to explore more complex themes and issues in their works, such as morality, justice, and the human condition, by using grey characters. Grey characters also allow writers to create more nuanced and dynamic plots because the reader is not limited by preconceived notions about the characters’ actions and motivations. Finally, fiction writers believe that creating grey characters rather than black and white characters makes their characters more complex, relatable, and realistic.
The use of grey characters allows writers to explore a wider range of themes and issues and creates a more engaging and dynamic reading experience for the reader.
Also See:
Class 10 English Syllabus
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CBSE Class 10 English Lesson Explanation, Summary
CBSE Class 10 English Question Answers (Important)
CBSE Class 10 English MCQs
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