NCERT Solutions for Princess September Class 8 It So Happened English
Book Solutions1
How many daughters did the royal couple have?
Answer
The Royal Couple had nine daughters.
2
Why were they named after the months of the year?
Answer
The nine daughters were named after the months of a year
because the Queen found it to be very difficult and confusing to remember so
many names in one go.
3
The King had a peculiar habit. What was it? Why is it
peculiar?
Answer
The King of Siam had a very peculiar habit of giving gifts
on his birthday instead of receiving them. It is considered to be unfamiliar
because, on the occasion of a birthday, one usually receives presents and gifts
as a token of love and care.
4
(i) What was Princess September's reaction to the loss of
her parrot?
(ii) What was her Mother's reaction to it?
(iii) What do the reactions indicate about the nature and
temperament of each?
Answer
(i) Princess September was extremely shattered to see
her parrot lie dead on the bottom of its golden cage. She immediately burst
into a flood of tears and nothing that her Maids of Honour said, comforted her.
(ii) When the Maids of Honour could not comfort and
stop Princess September from crying, they went to the Queen (her mother) to
find a solution to her terrible emotional condition. In response to the
situation, the Queen said that it was stuff and nonsense and for a day she
could go to bed without having supper.
(iii) The reaction of the youngest of all, Princess
September indicates that she was very sensitive in nature. She was very
depressed at the death of her parrot whom she deeply admired.
The reaction of the Queen indicates that she was a firm
woman who did not pay much heed to petty issues. The manner in which she
responded to the Maids of honour reflects her rough and tough attitude.
5
What pulled the Princess out of her gloom?
Answer
When Princess September was lying in her bed, hungry and
crying continuously, she saw a little bird hop into her room. Wiping her tears
as she sat up, the little bird sang a beautiful song all around the place. The
little bird, thus, helped her in coming out of the gloom.
6
How did the Maids of Honour come to know that the
Princess and the bird had become intimate friends?
Answer
When the Maids of Honour brought breakfast for the Princess
in the morning, the little bird quickly began eating rice out of the Princess's
hand and also had his bath in her saucer. Consequently, as he again began to
sing a melodious song, the Maids of Honour became aware of the intimacy that
had grown between the Princess and the bird.
7
The new bird was full of new songs but the old parrots
always repeated themselves. What did they say?
Answer
The old parrots always repeated themselves saying, "God
save the king" and "Pretty Polly' in seven different languages.
8
What is the king's opinion about his Councillors? Why did
he form that opinion?
Answer
The parrots repeating Pretty Polly in seven different
languages reminded the king of his councillors who also said "God save the
king" in his praise all the time. Similar to the parrots, the councillors
also kept on flattering the king by praises which in reality did not mean
anything in any way to them.
9
(i) The eight Princesses made an offer to Princess
September. What was it?
(ii) Why, in your view, did they do it?
Answer
(i) The eight Princesses in an attempt to put forward
their opinion offered Princess September a lovely green and yellow coloured
parrot by pooling their pocket money together.
(ii) The eight Princesses did so out of a feeling of
discontentment. They were somewhat not comfortable due to the level of
attention grabbed by the melodious little bird and the youngest princess along
with the appreciation given by the King.
10
What did the sisters advise the Princess to do about her
bird?
Answer
The sisters advised the Princess to keep the little bird
locked inside a cage in order to prevent him from running away, thus being sure
of its presence.
11
In the following sentence elaborate the parts given in
bold. Under the circumstances, it was a very unfortunate remark for the bird to
make.
Answer
Under the circumstances- Princess September
was surrounded by many thoughts and fears as she kept on waiting for the bird
to return. Negative thoughts such as if something happened to the bird, or if
he might forget her or if he might take a fancy to somebody else were some of
the worrisome circumstances that surrounded the Princess.
A very unfortunate remark- The remark made by
the little bird about nearly not coming back that night because of his
father-in- law giving a party and their constant efforts to make him stay was
considered to be "unfortunate" by the Princess.
12
(i) What did Princess September do to ensure the safety
of her pet?
(ii) How did the bird react to it?
Answer
(i) Princess September locked up the little bird
inside a golden cage in order to ensure the safety of the bird.
(ii) The bird was quite surprised at what the
Princess did to him. He was very much averse to being locked up inside a cage
and as the -day passed, he felt depressed and distressed.
13
Why did the bird refuse to be taken out in her cage?
Answer
The bird refused to be taken out in her cage as the
situation was not the same anymore because the meaning of flying freely in the
air was a kind of experience which could not be captured inside a cage. The
bird wanted to see the trees, the lake and the green rice growing in the fields
but not from the pillars of the cage.
14
(i) What persuaded Princess September to give the bird
his freedom again?
(ii) How did the bird react to it?
Answer
(i) When Princess September saw the bird lay nearly
dead inside the cage, the next morning, she immediately opened the door of the
cage. As she took him out, she realized that the freedom and happiness of the
little bird were more important than her fears of losing him and was thus
persuaded to give the bird his freedom back.
(ii) The bird was filled with joy and happiness as he
came out of the cage. He expressed his love and affection towards the Princess
and promised to always come back to her and sing the loveliest songs even if he
goes far away.
15
Princess September kept her window open day and night.
(i) How did it help the bird?
(ii) How did it help the Princess herself?
Answer
(i) The window being open day and night helped the bird in
coming back to the Princess whenever he felt inclined.
(ii) This was also helpful for the Princess herself because
the bird always came back to her and ate from her hand. Eventually, the
Princess grew extremely beautiful.
16
The eight sisters kept their windows shut. How did it
affect them?
Answer
The eight sisters always kept their windows shut and this
affected them terribly. They grew extremely ugly and disagreeable and when it
was time for them to get married, they were given away to the King's
councillors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.
1
Are the sisters unkind and cruel? Find evidence in the
text to support your idea.
Answer
Yes, the sisters are unkind and cruel.
Firstly, when they saw the melodious little bird with
Princess September, they got very upset and distressed and tried to get away
with him by offering a yellow and green colored parrot to September. The idea
of locking the bird in a cage was also given by the sisters. They not only
suggested her to keep her windows shut and be firm with the bird but also went
on to say that if the bird died inside the cage, it would be ungrateful of him
and would serve him right, thus, getting her rid of him. Later on, when
eventually the Princess was compelled to set the bird free, her sisters mocked
at her and made fun of her giving him the freedom of going out. The mentioned
instances and situations reflect the harsh and insensitive nature of the
sisters who were envious of their younger sister.
2
Which, to you, is the most important idea in this story,
and why?
(i) importance of music.
(ii) value of freedom
(iii) beauty of nature
Answer
(ii) value of freedom
Explanation- The story successfully makes an attempt
to capture the real meaning of freedom and liberation. It shows both the phases
in a different manner wherein the adverse conditions of the bird are shown when
it is caged and captivated inside along with the happiness that the bird
experiences when it is removed from the cage.
Although the young Princess, in a way to overcome her
insecurities, cages the bird but soon realizes that the freedom and happiness
of her loved ones are much more important than her own happiness. This incident
teaches her a life lesson which changes her attitude completely and helps her
grow into an extremely beautiful individual. Thus, the plot enables the readers
to understand the true value of the core idea of 'freedom' and its essence in
the real world.