Class 6 English Notes Chapter 2 (The Friendly Mongoose) – A Pact with the Sun Book

Alright class, let's delve into Chapter 2 of 'A Pact with the Sun', "The Friendly Mongoose". This is a poignant story with important lessons, often tested for comprehension and thematic understanding in various exams. Pay close attention to the details.

Chapter 2: The Friendly Mongoose - Detailed Notes

1. Introduction:
This story, taken from the Panchatantra (a collection of ancient Indian fables), revolves around a farmer, his wife, their infant son, and a pet mongoose. It highlights the dangers of hasty actions and judging situations without knowing the complete truth.

2. Characters:

• The Farmer: A kind man who decides to bring home a baby mongoose. He believes the mongoose will be a good companion for his son when he grows up. He seems trusting of the animal.
• The Farmer's Wife: Initially apprehensive about keeping a mongoose as a pet near her baby. Her fear overrides her trust, leading to the tragic climax. She loves her son deeply, and her actions stem from this protective instinct, albeit misguided.
• The Baby Son: An infant, unaware of the events unfolding around him. He represents innocence.
• The Mongoose: The central figure. Introduced as a baby, it grows into a large, friendly animal. It displays loyalty and courage by protecting the baby from a snake. It is ultimately a victim of misunderstanding and hasty judgment.
• The Snake: The antagonist, though acting on instinct. Its entry poses a direct threat to the baby, setting the stage for the mongoose's heroic act and the subsequent tragedy.

3. Plot Summary:

• Arrival of the Mongoose: A farmer living with his wife and newborn son decides a pet is needed for the child's future companionship. He brings home a baby mongoose, believing they will grow up together as friends.
• Growth and Bonding: In five or six months, both the baby and the mongoose grow. The mongoose becomes a large, beautiful animal with bushy tail and shining eyes. It shows no malice towards the baby, and they spend time together, sleeping and playing in the cradle.
• The Wife's Fear: Despite the mongoose's friendly nature, the farmer's wife remains distrustful. She expresses her fear of leaving the baby alone with an "animal".
• The Incident:
  • One day, the farmer's wife needs to go to the market. The baby is asleep. She reminds her husband (who is in the fields nearby or implied to be responsible) about her fear and asks him to keep an eye out, though the story implies both parents are eventually away from the immediate vicinity of the house.
  • While she is away, a black cobra enters the house, moving towards the sleeping baby.
  • The mongoose, true to its nature and protective instinct, confronts the snake. A fierce fight ensues.
  • The mongoose bravely kills the snake, saving the baby.
• The Tragic Return:
  • The farmer's wife returns from the market with a heavy basket full of groceries.
  • At the entrance of the house, she sees the mongoose sitting outside, seemingly waiting for her. Its face and paws are smeared with blood.
  • Blinded by fear and jumping to the worst conclusion (that the mongoose has killed her baby), she screams, "You wicked animal! You have killed my baby!"
  • Without a second thought, in a fit of rage and panic, she brings down the heavy basket full of groceries directly onto the mongoose, killing it instantly.
• The Terrible Realization:
  • She rushes inside, only to find her baby perfectly safe and asleep in his cradle.
  • On the floor lies the dead black cobra, torn and bleeding.
  • She immediately understands what happened: the mongoose fought and killed the snake to protect her son. The blood she saw was the snake's.
  • Overwhelmed with grief and remorse for her hasty, fatal action against the loyal animal, she touches the dead mongoose and cries, repenting her rash judgment.

4. Themes:

• Hasty Actions and Regret: The central theme. The wife's impulsive action, driven by fear and assumption, leads to an irreversible tragedy and deep regret.
• Appearances can be Deceptive: The blood on the mongoose made it look dangerous, but it was actually a sign of its bravery and loyalty.
• Trust vs. Mistrust: The farmer trusted the mongoose, while the wife harboured deep mistrust, which ultimately proved fatal for the innocent animal.
• Animal Loyalty: The mongoose displays remarkable loyalty and courage in defending the child, even at the cost of its own life (indirectly).
• Parental Love and Fear: The wife's actions, though wrong, stemmed from intense love and fear for her child's safety.

5. Key Vocabulary:

• Companion: A person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or travels.
• Cradle: A baby's bed, often rocking.
• Apprehensive: Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.
• Accustomed: Used to something. (The mongoose was accustomed to sitting outside).
• Smeared: Coated or marked messily with a greasy or sticky substance (here, blood).
• Hysterically: In an uncontrollably emotional way. (She screamed hysterically).
• Rashly / Hastily: Acting quickly without careful consideration.
• Repent: Feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing.

6. Moral:
The story strongly advises us to think before acting and not to judge situations or people (or animals) based solely on appearances or assumptions. Understanding the full picture is crucial before making judgments or taking action, especially when emotions like fear are involved.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. Why did the farmer bring the baby mongoose home?
   a) To guard the house.
   b) As a companion for his son.
   c) Because his wife wanted a pet.
   d) To help him in the fields.
   Answer: b) As a companion for his son.

2. What was the farmer's wife's initial feeling about the mongoose?
   a) She loved it instantly.
   b) She was indifferent towards it.
   c) She was afraid to leave her baby alone with it.
   d) She thought it was too small.
   Answer: c) She was afraid to leave her baby alone with it.

3. How long did it take for the mongoose to grow into a full-sized animal?
   a) One year
   b) Two years
   c) Five or six months
   d) One month
   Answer: c) Five or six months

4. What danger did the baby face when his mother was at the market?
   a) The mongoose attacked him.
   b) A thief entered the house.
   c) A snake entered the house.
   d) He fell out of the cradle.
   Answer: c) A snake entered the house.

5. Who killed the snake?
   a) The farmer
   b) The farmer's wife
   c) The mongoose
   d) The baby accidentally scared it away.
   Answer: c) The mongoose

6. Why did the farmer's wife kill the mongoose?
   a) It tried to bite her.
   b) She saw blood on it and assumed it had killed her baby.
   c) The farmer had told her to get rid of it.
   d) It had destroyed her groceries.
   Answer: b) She saw blood on it and assumed it had killed her baby.

7. What did the farmer's wife use to kill the mongoose?
   a) A stick
   b) A knife
   c) Her heavy basket of groceries
   d) A stone
   Answer: c) Her heavy basket of groceries

8. What did the farmer's wife see when she ran inside after killing the mongoose?
   a) Her baby crying loudly.
   b) Her baby safe and the dead snake on the floor.
   c) The farmer had returned home.
   d) The mongoose had followed her inside.
   Answer: b) Her baby safe and the dead snake on the floor.

9. The word 'apprehensive' in the story means:
   a) Happy and excited
   b) Angry and annoyed
   c) Worried or fearful about the future
   d) Calm and peaceful
   Answer: c) Worried or fearful about the future

10. What is the main lesson taught by the story "The Friendly Mongoose"?
    a) Wild animals always make bad pets.
    b) One should always trust their first instinct.
    c) One should not act hastily or judge by appearances.
    d) Snakes are more dangerous than mongooses.
    Answer: c) One should not act hastily or judge by appearances.

Study these notes carefully. Understanding the sequence of events, character motivations, and the underlying message is key. Good luck with your preparation!