NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller

Class 9 English Moments  Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller

1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
See AnswerIswaran was a good domestic help for Mahendra. Apart from cooking and doing household work he was also a great entertainer for his master. He was expert at managing resources as he could find vegetables out of nowhere and never complained while accompanying his master

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
See AnswerIswaran described the uprooted tree on the highway as eyebrows made appropriately and hands stretched out in a dramatic manner. He would begin by saying that the road was aloof, deserted and he was also all alone. Suddenly he found something that looked like a huge bushy beast lying across the road. He was half bent to turn and go back. But when he came closer he saw that it was a tree which had fallen down and its dry branches were spread out. The effect he wanted to create is suspense resulting in a very small incident which he narrates to the readers.

3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
See Answer He began the story of the elephant by giving a preface in which he called elephants ‘big and huge well- fed beasts.’ He said that after absconding from the timber yard, the elephant started roaming around, engraved on bushes and tore apart the wild creepers. It came to the main road of the town and broke all the stalls which were there selling fruits, mud pots, and clothes etc. Then it went into a school ground where children were playing. It pulled out the football goal-post, broke down the volleyball net and crushed the drum kept for water and uprooted the shrubs. All the teachers and students were so afraid that they started climbing up to the terrace of the school building. According to Iswaran, he was in the junior class at that time. He took a cane from one of the teacher and ran into the open. The elephant was grunting and stamping its feet. The entire scene was frightening. Still, he moved slowly towards it and when the elephant rushed towards him, he moved and dead beat its third toe nail. It looked surprised and then fell down. This story does not appear to be believable so it is not plausible.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?
See AnswerThe author says so because Iswaran provided a great company to Mahendra. He would talk with Mahendra at night when he returned home from his work. Mahendra would get entertained from stories told by Iswaran. Thus, with Iswaran around Mahendra never felt bored with each other and never felt the necessity of having a TV for entertainment.

5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
See AnswerMahendra calls ghosts or spirits a fabrication of somebody’s thoughts because Iswaran had told him that they were living on a funeral site and kept narrating stories of various ghosts to him which he had faced. On a full moon night, Mahendra woke up from his sleep and could hear a low groan close to his window. He thought that it was a cat pouncing around for a mice. But the sound was too deep and did not seem like a cat. He avoided looking outside as he did not want to counter whatever was there. He wanted to avoid that sight which was breath taking. But the groaning became louder and less faint. He could not resist that noise any more so he lowered himself out of the windowsill .he looked out at the moonlight outside and saw a dark cloudy figure holding a bundle. He started sweating due to fear and fell back on the pillow, gasping.

6. Can you think of some other ending for the story?
See AnswerThe story could have ended on a more positive note. Instead of resigning from his job, Mahendra could have shown more courage and proved the ghost theory wrong. Another ending can be of both Mahendra and Iswaran continuing their bond and leaving the place together. 

By profession, Mahendra was a supervisor and his job is to check if all the work is working as it should be. He keeps moving from place to place from mines to railway construction sites. He is a young bachelor, and he moulds himself in different situations and his cook Ishwaran along with him. The bonding between the two of them was quite friendly and professional. So, He followed Mahendra and talks with him cooks for him also does the laundry for him. Ishwaran was quite a cook as he can produce the delicacies in a really short time with fresh ingredients even when the shops are not around in a zinc sheet made tent.

Ishwaran prepares tiffin for work in the morning. Once Mahendra left for work then he does all the chores like tidying the tent and washing and showering.
Ishwaran was fond of Tamil Thriller books. So, most of the conversation had expressions for say when he explains that one tree was fallen in the middle of the road he says “The road was deserted, and I was all alone. Suddenly I spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. I was half inclined to turn and go back. But as I came closer, I saw that it was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out.” Which makes the conversation even more interesting?

Ishwaran begins the story by saying “There is a richly wooded forest all around. The logs are hauled onto the Lorries by elephants. They are huge well-fed beasts. When they turn wild even the most experienced mahout is not able to control them.” Once completing the prologue Ishwaran went on explaining the elephant. He says once the elephant got angry and escaped and ramming trees and stamping the bushes. Ishwaran was so excited while saying these incidents that he started jumping from the ground and acting like one. Then the elephant went to the main road breaking fences and all the roadside stalls. Then the beast entered the school and scared students locked themselves in classes. The beast pulled out the goal post kicked and drums of water, all the teachers went on the terrace and looking all the havoc rained by the beast. Suddenly he took the stick from the teacher’s hand and went to face the angry elephant. He hit the ragging elephant on his toe and then the elephant collapsed. This could be the ending of the story, but he went heat up the dinner after promising continuation.

Ishwaran knew how to hold someone’s attention through stories and lack of TV and entertainment in such tent he fulfils Mahendra’s time and also Mahendra likes to listen to all that story. He never repeats any of the stories and some of them are Horror and thrillers. One day he asked permission from Mahendra if he could prepare something special that day as it was some special occasion that involves peace for the spirits. Mahendra enjoys the delicacies that night prepared by Ishwaran’s skills and knowledge and on top of that, the story about the occasion makes it more special.

While eating the dinner Ishwaran mentioned to Mahendra that the site they’re working currently was once a burial ground. Mahendra was jumped in excitement after hearing this and once he completes the dinner Mahendra mentioned that he witnessed a human skull. Then Ishwaran told that he witnessed such skulls often here and there. He started telling the story of how he sometimes witnessed ghost and how is not afraid of these kinds of things which comes out in the middle of the night when it is full moon ugly face and holding foetus in their hands. Scared Mahendra with the story scolded Ishwaran and went out to vent out. The next morning, he hoped that Ishwaran might feel bed, but he was the same happy cheerful as he is always talkative. After hearing all the brave stories from Ishwaran made he looked outside the tent at night before sleep watching if shadows are moving.

One night Mahendra heard a loud moan and woke up in the middle of the night, but he didn’t gather the courage to look outside after the Ishwaran’s horror story thought voice got louder for cat prowling so does his curiosity to look outside. When saw outside the window milky landscape he saw a figure holding bush and after seeing this went back to bed immediately. The next morning, Ishawaran greeted him and handed over the meal for work, and then he told him, that he saw the female ghost himself last night. He heard the noise from his room, Mahendra avoided the conversation and hurried to work. In the office, he handed the request to leave the haunted place.