• The Lost Child is the story of a small child who gets lost in a fair. He had gone with his parents to the fair but loses them when he gets engrossed in looking at a roundabout swing. The story highlights the bond of love and affection that the child shares with his parents. Before losing them he had been demanding different things like sweets, balloons, flowers, swings, etc. Once he loses them, he is picked up by a stranger. The stranger tries to quieten the child by offering him all these things that he had demanded from his parents but the child does not want them any more. He wants his parents first. • • WORD MEANINGS- • wintry shades of narrow lanes and alleys: in the winter season, the narrow lanes were full of shade. • Clad= dressed • Gaily= happily Emerged: came out Brimming over: to be full of something • Lagged behind: was left behind Fascinated by: attracted to Lingering: lasting for a long time Receding: left behind as he walked ahead Suppress: put an end to Cold: without any feelings • Pale: dull, colourless Gaudy: extremely bright and showy • Caper= movement • Grove= a small garden • • Heeded = paid attention • Hawked= shouted • Throngs: huge crowds Converging: meeting at a point • Overwhelming: a very strong emotion • Forbidden: not allowed Coarse: unpleasant • Hither and thither: here and there • Gaze= look intently • Intently: carefully • Shrieked= cried • Fierce= hot like fire, dangerous TEXTBOOK PAGE NO. 6 1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind? Ans. On his way to the fair, the child sees many things. He sees toys that were displayed in the shops lined up on the way. He sees the vast mustard field which seemed like melting gold. There were brightly coloured dragonflies, butterflies and black bees which flapped their wings and sat on the flowers to suck nectar from them. He also sees little insects and worms along the footpath that were crawling out of the holes in the footpath to get sunshine. The child sees a dove bird in the grove. Also, he sees hordes of people walking towards the fair. The child keeps lagging behind his parents because he is fascinated by all the things he sees on his way.
2. In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer? Ans. In the fair, the boy murmured softly for some things that he wanted such as burfi from the sweetmeat seller, a garland of flowers from the flower seller, a balloon from a balloon-seller and. when he saw the snake - charmer he was attracted to the music of the flute and wanted to listen to it. The only demand he voiced loudly was when he wanted to take a ride on the roundabout swing. The child moved ahead from all the stalls without waiting for a reply because he knew that his parents would not heed to his demands. He knew his request would be denied as follows - 1. For the burfi, they would say that he was a greedy child. 2. The garland of flowers would not be bought because it was considered cheap. 3. They would not buy him a balloon because he was grown up to play with it. 4. The child’s parents had warned him from listening to such unpleasant music as was played by the snake – charmer. Q. 3. When does he realize that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described? Answer: When he saw the roundabout in a full swing, he made a bold request to his parents for having a ride on it. But, there was no reply. When he turned to look at his parents, there was no one. That is when he realized that he has lost his way. His anxiety and insecurity have been described in a very saddening and heart- warming way. When he realizes that he has lost his way, a deep cry rises within his dry throat and with a sudden jerk of his body, he runs from where he stood. His face is convulsed with fear and eyes of full of hot and fierce tears. He runs in search of his parents in all directions crying, “Mother, Father”. His turban comes untied and his clothes get muddy.
4. Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier? A. The lost child loses interest in the things that he wanted earlier because now he is sad as he has lost his parents. He loses interest in everything around him such as sweets, flowers, balloons, joy rides and music as he wants to reunite with his mother and father. The only thing that he wants at that moment is his parents. He is panic-stricken and he just yearns (longs) to be with his parents.
Q. 5. What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents? Ans. The ending of the story is not given. I think that in the end, the boy finds his parents . The kind hearted man must have tried his best to find his parents. Even the parents must have left no stone unturned to find their child. Thus, the child must have met his parents at last and they are reunited once again.
