Class 6 English Notes Chapter 3 (Taro's Reward; The Quarrel) – HoneySuckle Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 3 from your HoneySuckle textbook. This chapter contains a beautiful story, 'Taro's Reward', and a relatable poem, 'The Quarrel'. Both are important, so pay close attention to these notes for your exam preparation.

Chapter 3: Taro's Reward; The Quarrel

Part 1: Taro's Reward (Japanese Folktale)

• Theme: The story highlights the virtues of filial piety (love and respect for one's parents), hard work, and honesty. It teaches that good deeds and thoughtfulness are eventually rewarded.
• Characters:
  • Taro: A young, poor, hardworking, and exceptionally thoughtful woodcutter. He is the protagonist and embodies virtue.
  • Taro's Parents: Old and frail. The father's wish for a cup of saké drives the initial plot.
  • The Neighbour: Represents greed and gossip. She tastes the saké but later finds only cold water.
  • The Villagers: Represent collective greed and scepticism. They rush to the waterfall expecting saké but are disappointed.
  • The Emperor of Japan: Represents authority and wisdom. He rewards Taro not for the magic, but for his kindness and obedience towards his parents.
• Plot Summary:
  1. Taro's Life: Taro lives a simple, impoverished life with his parents on a hillside. He earns very little by chopping wood.
  2. The Father's Wish: One cold evening, Taro's father expresses a wish for a cup of saké (a popular, expensive Japanese drink made from rice) to warm him and benefit his heart.
  3. Taro's Determination: Saddened that he cannot afford saké, Taro decides to work even harder the next day to earn more money.
  4. The Discovery: While working harder than ever, Taro feels thirsty. He hears the sound of rushing water and discovers a hidden waterfall. He cups the water to drink and finds, to his astonishment, that it tastes like delicious saké.
  5. Sharing the Blessing: Overjoyed, Taro fills his pitcher with the magic saké and takes it home. His father drinks it, feels warm and happy, and even dances.
  6. Spreading the News: A neighbour visits, is offered the saké, and learns about the magic waterfall. She quickly spreads the story throughout the village.
  7. The Villagers' Greed: The next morning, villagers rush to the waterfall with pitchers and buckets, hoping for free saké. However, they find only plain, cold water. They feel cheated and angry, suspecting Taro tricked them.
  8. The Waterfall's Nature: Taro revisits the waterfall later, wondering if the magic was a dream. He tastes the water, and it is still saké for him. The story implies the magic waterfall rewarded Taro's thoughtfulness and purity of heart but denied the greedy villagers.
  9. The Emperor's Reward: The story reaches the Emperor of Japan. He rewards Taro with gold and names the fountain after him. The Emperor's intention is to encourage all children to honour and obey their parents.
• Key Vocabulary:
  • Chopped: Cut (wood) into pieces.
  • Saké: A Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice.
  • Earned: Got money for work done.
  • Thoughtful: Showing consideration for others.
  • Delicious: Having a very pleasant taste.
  • Pitcher: A large jug.
  • Greedy: Having an excessive desire for wealth or possessions.
  • Trick: Deceive or cheat someone.
  • Reward: Something given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement.
  • Filial Piety: Respect and care for one's parents and ancestors.
• Moral/Message: The story strongly conveys that sincerity, hard work, and genuine love for one's family (especially parents) are virtues that bring their own rewards, sometimes even in magical ways. Conversely, greed leads to disappointment.

Part 2: The Quarrel (Poem by Eleanor Farjeon)

• Poet: Eleanor Farjeon
• Theme: The poem explores the common, often trivial nature of quarrels, especially between siblings, and the eventual process of reconciliation.
• Summary:
  • The speaker (likely the sister) quarrels with her brother.
  • The reason for the quarrel is forgotten ("I don't know what about"), indicating its insignificance.
  • It starts small ("slight") but escalates ("one thing led to another," "the end of it was strong").
  • Both siblings believe they are right ("He said he was right," "I knew he was wrong!").
  • The quarrel spoils their mood and the day ("hated one another," "The afternoon turned black").
  • Reconciliation happens unexpectedly when the brother takes the initiative ("Suddenly my brother Thumped me on the back").
  • He admits fault ("Oh, come along! We can't go on all night— I was in the wrong.").
  • This admission breaks the deadlock, and the speaker acknowledges his gesture ("So he was right," meaning he was right to end the fight, even if the original issue remains unresolved).
• Key Ideas:
  • Quarrels often start over minor issues.
  • Stubbornness prolongs fights.
  • Holding grudges makes one unhappy.
  • Taking the initiative to reconcile is important, even if it means admitting fault partially or fully.
  • Resolution brings relief.
• Literary Devices:
  • Rhyme Scheme: Simple, often AABB or ABCB, making it song-like and easy to remember (e.g., about/out, another/brother, strong/wrong).
  • Imagery: "The afternoon turned black" effectively conveys the negative mood caused by the quarrel.
• Message: Fights and quarrels are a normal part of relationships, but they are often pointless and should be resolved quickly through understanding and a willingness to compromise or apologize.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. What did Taro's old father wish for one cold evening?
   a) A warm blanket
   b) A cup of tea
   c) A cup of saké
   d) More firewood

2. Why did Taro decide to work harder than before?
   a) To build a bigger house
   b) To buy expensive clothes
   c) To earn money to buy saké for his father
   d) To impress the villagers

3. What did Taro discover hidden behind the rocks in the forest?
   a) A cave full of gold
   b) A magic tree bearing fruit
   c) A beautiful bird
   d) A waterfall tasting like saké

4. What did the water from the waterfall taste like to the greedy villagers?
   a) Delicious saké
   b) Sweet honey
   c) Plain cold water
   d) Bitter medicine

5. Why did the Emperor of Japan reward Taro?
   a) For discovering the magic waterfall
   b) For being a skilled woodcutter
   c) For his honesty and greed
   d) For his kindness and obedience towards his parents

6. In the poem 'The Quarrel', why did the speaker quarrel with her brother?
   a) Over a toy
   b) Because he hit her
   c) The reason is not clearly stated or remembered
   d) Over sharing food

7. What does the line "The afternoon turned black" signify in the poem 'The Quarrel'?
   a) It started raining heavily.
   b) The day became night suddenly.
   c) The quarrel spoiled their mood and happiness.
   d) They turned off the lights.

8. How did the quarrel between the brother and sister end?
   a) Their parents intervened.
   b) The sister apologized first.
   c) The brother took the initiative to reconcile.
   d) They decided to ignore each other forever.

9. Who is the poet of 'The Quarrel'?
   a) Rabindranath Tagore
   b) Eleanor Farjeon
   c) Robert Frost
   d) William Wordsworth

10. What is the central message of the story 'Taro's Reward'?
    a) Magic happens to everyone.
    b) It is important to be wealthy.
    c) Hard work, honesty, and love for parents are rewarded.
    d) One should always share secrets with neighbours.

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. c) A cup of saké
2. c) To earn money to buy saké for his father
3. d) A waterfall tasting like saké
4. c) Plain cold water
5. d) For his kindness and obedience towards his parents
6. c) The reason is not clearly stated or remembered
7. c) The quarrel spoiled their mood and happiness.
8. c) The brother took the initiative to reconcile.
9. b) Eleanor Farjeon
10. c) Hard work, honesty, and love for parents are rewarded.

Make sure you understand the themes, characters, and plot points thoroughly. Go through the vocabulary as well. Good luck with your preparation!