Chapter 6
THE OLD MAN AND HIS GRANDSON
1. Who is the central character of the story and what problem does he face in his old age?
Answer: The central character of the story is an old man who lives with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. In his old age, he faces physical weakness such as trembling hands and poor eyesight. Because of these problems, he spills food while eating, which makes his son and daughter-in-law irritated. Instead of showing care and patience, they treat him badly and isolate him.
2. How did the old man’s physical weakness affect his daily life?
Answer: The old man’s hands trembled, and he had difficulty holding a spoon properly. As a result, he often spilled soup on the tablecloth or let it run out of his mouth. These physical limitations made eating difficult for him and became the reason for his humiliation and neglect by his family members.
3. How did the son and daughter-in-law behave towards the old man?
Answer: The son and daughter-in-law behaved very cruelly and disrespectfully towards the old man. They were disgusted by his inability to eat properly and made him sit in a corner behind the stove. They gave him very little food and treated him as a burden rather than as a respected elder of the family.
4. Where was the old man made to sit while eating, and why?
Answer: The old man was made to sit in a corner behind the stove in the kitchen. His son and daughter-in-law did this because they did not like his presence at the dining table. They felt ashamed of his weakness and wanted to keep him out of sight.
5. What kind of bowl was given to the old man initially?
Answer: Initially, the old man was given an earthenware bowl made of clay. It was a simple and fragile bowl, unlike the proper utensils used by other family members.
6. What happened to the earthenware bowl?
Answer: One day, due to the trembling of his hands, the old man could not hold the bowl properly. It slipped from his hands, fell to the ground, and broke into pieces.
7. How did the son and daughter-in-law react when the bowl broke?
Answer: Instead of showing sympathy, the son and daughter-in-law scolded the old man harshly. They did not understand that it was an accident caused by his weakness. Their reaction showed a lack of compassion and respect.
8. How did the old man respond to being scolded?
Answer: The old man did not say anything in response. He remained silent and only sighed, showing his deep sorrow and helplessness. His silence reflected his emotional pain and resignation.
9. What kind of bowl was given to the old man after the earthen bowl broke?
Answer: After the earthen bowl broke, the son and daughter-in-law bought a cheap wooden bowl for the old man. This showed further disrespect, as the bowl was given not out of care but to avoid loss if it broke.
10. What emotions did the old man experience while looking at the family dining table?
Answer: The old man used to look at the dining table with eyes full of tears. He felt lonely, sad, and humiliated because he was separated from the family and denied love and dignity.
11. Who noticed the ill-treatment of the old man?
Answer:The grandson, who was only four years old, noticed the treatment given to his grandfather. Though he did not fully understand it, he observed his parents’ behaviour carefully.
12. What strange activity did the grandson begin one day?
Answer:One day, the grandson began gathering pieces of wood and arranging them on the floor. His action appeared strange and caught the attention of his parents.
13. What did the grandson say when his father asked him about the wooden pieces?
Answer:When asked by his father, the grandson replied that he was making a little wooden bowl for his father and mother to eat from when he grew up.
14. What message did the child’s action convey?
Answer:The child’s action conveyed a powerful message that children learn by observing their parents. He unknowingly showed that the same disrespect shown to elders would be repeated in the future.
15. How did the child’s words affect the parents?
Answer:The child’s words shocked the parents deeply. They realized that their behaviour toward the old man was wrong and that they were setting a bad example for their son.
16. What emotional reaction did the parents have after realizing their mistake?
Answer:The parents looked at each other silently and then began to cry. Their tears reflected guilt, regret, and shame over their cruel behaviour toward the old man.
17. What realization came to the parents at that moment?
Answer:They realized that they had been ill-treating their father and teaching their son the same lack of respect. They understood that kindness and respect must begin at home.
18. What change did the parents make after their realization?
Answer:After realizing their mistake, they took the grandfather back to the dining table and allowed him to eat with the family again.
19. How did their behaviour toward the old man change?
Answer:From that day onwards, they treated the old man with patience and respect. They did not scold him even if he spilled food.
20. What lesson does the story teach about old age?
Answer:The story teaches that old age requires love, patience, and understanding. Elders deserve respect, not neglect, especially when they are weak and dependent.
21. What moral lesson does the story convey?
Answer:The moral of the story is that we should treat elders with kindness because our actions become lessons for the next generation.
22. How does the story highlight the importance of children’s observation?
Answer:The story shows that children closely observe and imitate their parents’ behaviour. Even small actions can have a deep impact on a child’s thinking.
23. Why is the grandson an important character?
Answer:The grandson is important because his innocent action brings about the transformation in the parents and restores dignity to the old man.
24. How does the story reflect family values?
Answer:The story reflects that true family values are based on love, respect, and care for every member, especially elders.
25. Why did the old man not complain about his treatment?
Answer:The old man did not complain because he was helpless, emotionally hurt, and possibly did not want to create conflict within the family.
26. What does the wooden bowl symbolize?
Answer:The wooden bowl symbolizes neglect, disrespect, and the harsh treatment given to the old man.
27. What does the dining table symbolize in the story?
Answer:The dining table symbolizes inclusion, respect, and family unity, which the old man was denied initially.
28. How does the author portray the suffering of the old man?
Answer:The author portrays the old man’s suffering through silent tears, sighs, and his isolation, making the reader feel sympathy for him.
29. What role does guilt play in changing the parents’ behaviour?
Answer:Guilt acts as a turning point that makes the parents realize their wrongdoing and motivates them to correct it.
30. How does the story promote moral education?
Answer:The story promotes moral education by teaching empathy, respect for elders, and responsibility within the family.
31. Why is silence important in the old man’s character?
Answer:The old man’s silence highlights his dignity, patience, and suffering, making his character more touching.
32. How does the story reflect social realities?
Answer:The story reflects the real-life issue of elder neglect in families and warns against such behaviour.
33. What change happens in the family atmosphere at the end?
Answer:At the end, the family atmosphere becomes warm, respectful, and caring, restoring harmony.
34. How does the child become a teacher in the story?
Answer:The child becomes a teacher by unknowingly showing the parents the consequences of their actions.
35. Why is the ending of the story satisfying?
Answer:The ending is satisfying because the old man regains dignity and the parents correct their mistake.
36. What does the story say about respect?
Answer:The story says that respect must be given regardless of age or weakness.
37. How does the story emphasize responsibility toward parents?
Answer:It emphasizes that children have a moral responsibility to care for and respect their parents.
38. Why is the story relevant today?
Answer:The story is relevant today because elder neglect still exists and needs awareness.
39. What would have happened if the parents had not realized their mistake?
Answer:If they had not realized their mistake, the cycle of disrespect would have continued into the next generation.
40. What overall message does the story give to society?
Answer:The story gives a strong message that kindness, respect, and empathy toward elders are essential for a moral and humane society.
Answer by Mrinmoee
