Chapter 5
A HERO
ACTIVITY I: COMPREHENSION
(A) Tick the correct alternatives:-
1. The Father wanted to test...
1. The Father wanted to test..........in Swami
(a) courage
in Swami
(b) strength
(c) fear
(d) bravery
Answer: (a) courage
in Swami
2. Swami was instructed to sleep in. by his father.
(a) passage
(b) hall
(c) office room
(d) bedroom
Answer: (c) office room
3. Every moment he expected the ...to come up and clutch at his throat or
carry him away:-
(a) god
(b) tiger
(c) devils
(d) scorpions
Answer: (c) devils
4.Whom did Swami bit in the night?
(a) burglar
(b) monster
(c) tiger
(d) cook
Answer: (a) burglar
5. This chapter is about
(a) a hero
(b) a boy who is afraid of loneliness and darkness
(c) a boy who fights with a tiger
(d) a dispute between a father and son.
Answer: (b) a boy who is afraid of loneliness and darkness.
C. Answer the following questions in not more than 30-40 words each:
1. What did the paragraph of the newspaper describe about?
Answer: The newspaper paragraph described the bravery of a village boy who, while returning home through a jungle path, came face to face with a tiger. It narrated how the boy fought the tiger and then climbed up a tree, where he stayed for half a day until some people came and killed the tiger.
2. Did Swami agree with the theory of courage given by the father?
Answer: No, Swami did not agree with his father's theory of courage. His father said that courage is everything and that strength and age don’t matter, but Swami argued that even if he had courage, he wouldn’t be able to do anything if a tiger attacked him. He believed that the boy in the newspaper must have been strong and grown-up, not a child.
3. What did Swami think of the boy who was reported in the newspaper to have fought with the tiger?
Answer: Swami thought that the boy must have been very strong and grown-up, not a child. He found it hard to believe that a real boy could fight a tiger. Later, out of fear and frustration, he even began to dislike the boy, thinking of him as a monster and wishing the tiger had not spared him.
4. Why did Swami's father want him to sleep alone?
Answer: Swami's father wanted him to sleep alone to test his courage and help him overcome his fear of darkness and loneliness. He believed that sleeping beside his grandmother like a baby was shameful for a boy in the Second Form (class). He wanted Swami to develop bravery and good habits by facing his fears.
5. What did Swami do to avoid sleeping in his father's office room?
Answer: Swami tried several ways to avoid sleeping in his father's office room. First, he argued that the boy in the newspaper story must have been strong and grown-up, not just brave. Then, he tried to change the topic by talking loudly about his cricket club. Later, he pleaded with his father to let him sleep in the hall instead of the office room, saying the room was dusty and might have scorpions. He also asked if he could keep a lamp burning or leave the door open. Despite all his excuses and requests, his father remained firm in making him sleep alone.
6. How did Swami's mother try to protect him from his father's anger?
Answer: Swami's mother tried to protect him by suggesting that he be allowed to sleep in the hall instead of the office room. She pointed out that he didn’t sleep at all the previous night and told the father not to risk the boy’s life again. She also got upset when the father seemed to blame her for spoiling Swami and firmly told him to let the boy sleep where he liked.
7. What did Swami say to his father when he was taken to the office room for sleep?
Answer: Swami pleaded with his father, saying, "Let me sleep in the hall, father." He tried to avoid sleeping in the office room by complaining that it was dusty and might have scorpions behind the law books. He also asked if he could have a lamp burning in the room or at least keep the door open. Despite his fears and excuses, his father insisted he sleep there to develop courage.
8. What did Swami feel in the office room in the night?
Answer: Swami felt extremely scared and lonely in the office room at night. His heart beat faster as the silence deepened, and he remembered all the ghost and devil stories he had ever heard. He imagined devils coming to clutch at his throat and was terrified by every sound—the ticking clock, rustling trees, snoring, and insects humming. He was so frightened that he hid under the blanket like armor and later crawled under the bench, thinking it was a safer place. Eventually, he had a nightmare about a tiger chasing him, which added to his fear.
9. What thoughts came into the mind of Swami when he was sleeping alone in the office room?
Answer: When Swami was sleeping alone in the office room, his mind was filled with frightening thoughts. He remembered all the ghost and devil stories he had heard—like his friend Mani seeing a devil in a banyan tree, and Munisami’s father being slapped by a devil near the river. He imagined devils creeping up to attack him, and he became faint with fear. Even the shadows and small noises in the night scared him. These fearful thoughts made it hard for him to sleep and led to a terrifying nightmare about a tiger chasing him.
10. Why did Swami sleep under the bench?
Answer: Swami slept under the bench because he was terrified and thought it would be a safer, more secure place. The enclosed space made him feel protected, like being in a compact shelter. He believed it would help shield him from the devils and ghosts he imagined in the dark room. Hiding under the bench gave him some comfort, and he eventually fell asleep there despite his fear.
11. What dream did Swami see in his sleep?
Answer: In his sleep, Swami had a terrifying nightmare. He dreamt that a tiger was chasing him. He tried to run, but his feet were stuck to the ground, and he couldn’t move. He could hear the tiger’s claws scratching the ground as it came closer. The dream felt endless and inescapable. Swami was filled with fear and despair, and even when he tried to open his eyes, he couldn’t. The nightmare continued until he finally woke up in a panic.
12. Why did Swami attack the burglar?
Answer: Swami attacked the burglar out of sheer fear and desperation. In the darkness, he saw a figure moving and thought it was a ghost or devil coming to harm him. Believing his end had come, he decided not to wait and crawled out from under the bench. Without realizing it was a real person, he hugged the figure tightly and bit it hard, thinking he was defending himself from a terrifying creature. It turned out to be a notorious burglar, and Swami’s accidental bravery helped catch him.
13. How did Swami's classmates and other people react to the news of his fighting with the burglar?
Answer: Swami's classmates and others reacted with great admiration and praise. His classmates looked at him with respect, his teacher patted him on the back, and the headmaster called him a true scout. Even the police were impressed—one of the inspectors thanked Swami and asked if he would join the police when he grew up. Swami became a local hero for biting and helping catch one of the most notorious house-breakers in the district.
14. Do you think Swami's efforts made him fearless or courageous?
Answer: Swami’s actions were not driven by true courage but by fear and desperation. He did not intentionally fight the burglar; he mistook him for a ghost and reacted out of panic. So, while his efforts made him appear brave to others, Swami himself was still afraid and didn't feel courageous. In fact, he returned to sleeping beside his granny the very next day. Therefore, his efforts didn’t truly make him fearless or courageous—but they did accidentally make him a hero in the eyes of others.
15. What indicates Swami's sleeping beside granny again?
Answer: Swami’s mother told his father that he had gone to bed at 7:30 and was sleeping in his usual place, which meant beside his granny. This shows he had returned to his old habit. Also, when his father angrily said, “Sleeping beside his granny again!” it confirmed that Swami had gone back to sleeping with her. Swami, hearing this conversation from under the blanket, felt tremendously relieved, showing he was happy to avoid sleeping alone again.
D. Answer the following questions in about 60 words each:
1. What kind of a person Swami was and what the people took him to be? Do you agree with the theory?
Answer: Swami was a timid and sensitive boy who was afraid of darkness and sleeping alone. He loved the comfort and safety of sleeping beside his granny and was deeply disturbed by ghost stories and frightening thoughts. However, after he accidentally bit a burglar out of fear, people around him mistook this act for bravery. His classmates admired him, his teacher praised him, the headmaster called him a true scout, and even the police saw him as a hero.
This shows a clear contrast between who Swami really was and how others perceived him.
Whether one agrees with this theory depends on how courage is defined. If courage means acting in the face of fear, even unknowingly, then Swami’s actions could be seen as brave. But if courage means making a conscious and fearless choice to face danger, then Swami was simply a frightened boy caught in a lucky accident.
2. Describe Swami's character on the basis of the story: "A Hero".
Answer: Swami, the central character of R.K. Narayan’s story “A Hero”, is a timid, innocent, and imaginative boy. He is emotionally attached to his family, especially his granny, and finds comfort in sleeping beside her. Swami is afraid of darkness, ghosts, and loneliness, which is why he strongly resists his father’s demand that he sleep alone in the office room.
He has a vivid imagination, which often turns simple sounds and shadows into terrifying devils or ghosts. Despite this fear, he shows cleverness by trying to avoid difficult situations—like changing the topic or making excuses about scorpions and dusty rooms.
However, when faced with a real-life situation involving a burglar, Swami acts out of fear, not bravery, and ends up catching the thief unintentionally. This moment earns him praise and recognition, though he remains the same scared boy deep down.
In short, Swami is a relatable, ordinary child who, through an unexpected incident, becomes a hero in others’ eyes—highlighting the difference between perceived bravery and true courage.
3. What impressions do you get of Swami's father?
Answer: Swami’s father comes across as a strict, practical, and determined man. He strongly believes in discipline and wants his son to develop courage and independence. When he reads the newspaper story about a boy fighting a tiger, he uses it as a way to challenge Swami’s fears and teach him a lesson about bravery.
He can be harsh and unsympathetic at times—for example, insisting that Swami sleep alone in the dark office room despite knowing how frightened he is. He even threatens to make Swami a “laughing-stock” at school if he disobeys, showing that he prioritizes tough love over emotional comfort.
However, he is also persistent and goal-driven, wanting the best for his son, even if his methods seem insensitive. His actions are rooted in the desire to toughen Swami up, though he may not realize the emotional stress it causes.
Overall, Swami's father represents a typical authoritative parent, who values courage and independence, but struggles to see things from a child’s emotional perspective.
4 .Do you think the title 'A Hero' is appropriate in the light of Swami's character?
Answer: Yes—and no. The title "A Hero" is both ironic and cleverly chosen.
On one hand, Swami is not truly heroic in the traditional sense. He’s a young boy who is scared of the dark, hates being alone, and panics at the thought of ghosts and devils. His act of catching the burglar was not planned or brave—it was a desperate reaction, driven by fear.
On the other hand, everyone around him sees him as a hero. He gains respect from his classmates, teachers, and even the police, because they believe he courageously tackled a burglar. This public recognition makes him a hero in their eyes, even though the truth is different.
So, the title is appropriate because it reflects how society quickly labels someone a “hero” without knowing the full story. It also adds a touch of humor and irony, which is typical of R.K. Narayan’s style
5. What have you come to know about the character of Swami's mother?
Answer: Swami’s mother is shown as a caring, gentle, and protective figure. While she doesn’t directly interfere in her husband’s authority, she clearly feels concerned about Swami’s well-being and safety. When Swami is forced to sleep alone in the office room, she tries to defend him by suggesting that he could sleep in the hall instead. Later, she tells the father that Swami hadn’t slept a wink the previous night, showing her compassion and understanding of her son’s fears.
Even when Swami returns to sleep beside his granny, she doesn’t stop him. Instead, she quietly supports his comfort and even stands up to her husband when he complains about it. Her reaction shows she values her child’s emotional needs more than strict discipline.
Overall, Swami’s mother is a soft and loving presence, offering a contrast to the firm and demanding attitude of the father. She represents the nurturing side of parenting, trying to balance Swami’s emotional needs with his father’s desire to build character.
1. What did the newspaper article describe?
Answer:The article described the bravery of a village boy who, while returning home through a jungle path, encountered a tiger and climbed a tree to escape. He stayed there until help arrived and the tiger was killed.
2. What was Swami's reaction to the story in the newspaper?
Answer:Swami said that the boy must have been very strong and grown-up, not a child. He didn’t believe a small boy could face a tiger bravely.
3. What theory did Swami's father try to prove?
Answer:Swami's father believed that courage was more important than strength or age and tried to prove this by challenging Swami to sleep alone in the office room.
4. How did Swami try to avoid sleeping in the office room?
Answer:He gave excuses like the room being dusty and possibly having scorpions. He also tried to change the subject by talking about his cricket club.
5. How did Swami feel while sleeping alone?
Answer:Swami was terrified. He imagined devils, ghosts, and recalled scary stories. Every sound and shadow made him more anxious, and he felt completely alone and helpless.
6. Where did Swami end up sleeping in the office room?
Answer:He crawled under the bench and wrapped himself tightly in a blanket, thinking it was a safer place.
7. What nightmare did Swami have?
Answer:He dreamt that a tiger was chasing him, and although he tried to run, his feet were stuck. The tiger was just behind him, scratching the ground.
8. Who did Swami bite in his sleep?
Answer:Swami, in a panic during his nightmare, bit a burglar who had entered the office room.
9. How did people react to Swami’s act of catching the burglar?
Answer:Swami received praise and admiration. His classmates respected him, the headmaster called him a true scout, and even the police inspector congratulated him.
10. Where was Swami found sleeping the next night?
Answer: Swami was found sleeping in his usual place beside his granny, showing he had returned to his comfort zone after the incident
