Chapter 10
THE GIFT
1. What is the main idea of the story “The Gift”?
Answer: The story explains how God gave special gifts to different animals and how the bee’s foolish desire for a weapon caused suffering for itself and its descendants. It highlights the consequences of greed and poor judgment.
2. What gifts did God give to the animals?
Answer: God gave each animal a gift suited to its nature: the dog got faithfulness, the deer got speed, the swan got grace, the owl got sharp eyesight, the peacock got a beautiful tail, the elephant got strength, and the fox got cunningness.
3. Why were the animals happy with their gifts?
Answer: The animals were happy because each gift enhanced their natural abilities, making them special and useful in their own way.
4. Which animal came to God last and what was its request?
Answer: The bee came last and requested a weapon, like the lion, tiger, or snake, which would allow it to kill other animals and be feared.
5. How did God react to the bee’s request?
Answer: God was displeased because the bee wanted a weapon of death. He thought it was foolish, but he still decided to grant the bee its desire.
6. What gift did God finally give to the bee?
Answer: God gave the bee a tiny sting that could bring death to anyone it stung. This sting was a weapon, as the bee had requested.
7. How did the bee react to receiving the sting?
Answer: The bee was delighted and excited. It flew around God’s head shouting that it had received exactly what it wanted.
8. What warning did God give to the bee?
Answer: God warned the bee that while the sting could kill others, it would also cause the bee’s own death when used. It was a double-edged gift.
9. Why does the story say bees suffer today?
Answer: Bees suffer because every time they use their sting to attack, it causes their own death. This suffering is a result of the foolish desire of the first bee.
10. What lesson does the story teach about desire?
Answer: The story teaches that blind desire, especially for harmful power, can lead to suffering. One should think carefully before asking for something.
11. How is the bee different from other animals in the story?
Answer: Unlike other animals that were content with gifts suited to their nature, the bee wanted a weapon, which was unnatural for it and led to negative consequences.
12. What does the gift of faithfulness symbolize for the dog?
Answer: Faithfulness symbolizes loyalty and trustworthiness, qualities that make the dog a dependable companion.
13. What does the gift of grace mean for the swan?
Answer: Grace gives the swan an attractive and elegant way of moving, highlighting beauty and charm in its behavior.
14. Why did God give cunningness to the fox?
Answer: Cunningness helped the fox to be clever and resourceful, often enabling it to get what it wanted, like food or safety.
15. Why was the bee’s request considered foolish?
Answer: The bee’s request was foolish because it wanted a weapon of death, which was not natural for it, and it ignored the consequences of such a desire.
16. What is the moral significance of the sting for the bee?
Answer: The sting represents the danger of reckless desires and the principle that harmful power can have serious consequences for the user.
17. How did the bee feel immediately after receiving the sting?
Answer: The bee was overjoyed and celebrated its new gift, not realizing the harm it would bring to itself.
18. Why does God allow the bee to have the sting despite His displeasure?
Answer: God allowed the bee to have the sting because He respected its choice, teaching that individuals may make their own decisions, even foolish ones, but must face the consequences.
19. How is the story an example of cause and effect?
Answer: The bee’s desire for a deadly gift (cause) led to its own suffering and death whenever it used the sting (effect).
20. What does the story suggest about greed?
Answer: The story suggests that greed, especially for power or harming others, can backfire and cause harm to the one who desires it.
21. How does the story show that every action has consequences?
Answer: The bee acted out of selfish desire, and the result was a permanent harmful effect on itself, showing that actions, even choices, have consequences.
22. How did God distribute gifts to the animals?
Answer: God called the animals one by one and gave each a gift that suited their nature, ensuring that each received something special and appropriate.
23. Which animals were given gifts of strength and fear?
Answer: The elephant was given strength, and animals like the lion, tiger, and snake were given weapons or traits that made them feared.
24. How did the bee’s desire differ from the other animals’ gifts?
Answer: Other animals were content with gifts enhancing their natural abilities, while the bee desired a weapon to kill, a gift meant for predators, which was unnatural.
25. Why does the story say the bee “could not believe what it heard”?
Answer: The bee was shocked when God told it that using the sting would also bring death to itself. It did not anticipate the negative consequences of its desire.
26. What does the story teach about wisdom?
Answer: The story teaches that wisdom involves thinking about the consequences of one’s desires and actions before asking for or taking something.
27. What kind of gift did the bee refuse?
Answer: The bee refused gifts like lovely colored wings, a red beak, a bushy tail, or a hump, because it wanted a weapon instead.
28. How is the bee’s behavior a warning for humans?
Answer: It warns that selfish or harmful desires can lead to suffering, and humans should consider the results of their choices carefully.
29. What does the bee’s excitement tell us about its character?
Answer: The bee’s excitement shows it was impulsive and focused only on immediate gratification, ignoring the potential risks.
30. How is the sting both a gift and a curse?
Answer: The sting allows the bee to defend itself or harm others (gift), but it also causes the bee’s death when used (curse).
Answer by Mrinmoee
