Class 6 English Notes Chapter 8 (A Pact with the Sun) – A Pact with the Sun Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 8, 'A Pact with the Sun', from our supplementary reader. This is a touching story with important themes, so pay close attention as we break it down for your exam preparation.

Chapter 8: A Pact with the Sun - Detailed Notes

1. Introduction:
This story revolves around a young girl named Saeeda, her ailing mother, and the desperate measures Saeeda takes to bring sunshine, believed to be essential for her mother's recovery, into their lives. It highlights themes of love, hope, the healing power of nature, and the innocence of a child's faith.

2. Characters:

• Saeeda: The protagonist, a young, loving, and determined girl. She deeply cares for her sick mother and takes initiative to help her. Her faith and innocence lead her to make a 'pact' with the sun rays.
• Saeeda's Mother: A woman suffering from a chronic illness (cough, cold, fever, body aches). She is confined to a small, dingy room and initially deprived of sunshine and fresh air based on previous, less effective advice. She represents vulnerability and the need for proper care.
• The Doctor (Physician): An expert who diagnoses the mother's condition. He prescribes effective medicine and emphasizes the crucial importance of sunlight and fresh air for recovery, contrasting with previous advice. He represents scientific knowledge and sound medical practice.
• The Sun Rays: Personified elements of nature. They are depicted as celestial beings who hear Saeeda's plea and promise to help, honouring their pact despite obstacles. They symbolize hope, life, and healing energy.
• The Clouds: Personified as antagonists or obstacles, thick and mischievous, trying to block the sun rays' path to Earth. They represent the challenges and gloom that can obstruct healing and hope.

3. Plot Summary:

• The Illness and Initial Treatment: Saeeda's mother has been sick for a long time, treated by various physicians without much success. She suffers from persistent ailments and is kept in a small, dark room, forbidden from normal food, sunshine, and fresh air.
• The Specialist's Advice: A specialist physician is consulted. He prescribes effective medicine but, more importantly, advises that the mother must sit in the sun daily (from 8 to 9 AM) and breathe fresh air. He stresses that sunshine and fresh air are more important than medicine for her condition.
• Resistance and Acceptance: Some neighbours and relatives offer superstitious or outdated advice against exposing the sick woman to the sun. However, Saeeda's mother, weary of her confinement, decides to follow the doctor's advice.
• The Gloomy Weather: Unfortunately, the sky remains overcast for several days, preventing the mother from getting the much-needed sunshine. She becomes dejected.
• Saeeda's Plea: Seeing her mother's despair, Saeeda takes matters into her own hands. She goes to a sunny spot in the courtyard where the last remnants of sunlight are visible and speaks directly to the sun rays. She pleads with them to come back the next day, armed with warmth and brightness, for her mother's sake.
• The Pact: The sun rays hear her earnest plea. The 'chief' ray assures Saeeda they will come the next morning. This is the 'pact' or agreement.
• The Journey of the Sun Rays: The next morning, the sun prepares to go down to Earth. However, the thick, naughty clouds block the path. The sun rays, remembering their promise to Saeeda, are determined. They pierce through the clouds forcefully, scattering them.
• Sunshine and Recovery: The sun rays reach Saeeda's courtyard just as her mother is about to be taken back inside due to the perceived cloudy weather. The courtyard is flooded with warm sunshine. The mother basks in the sun, feels the warmth on her face, breathes the fresh air, and begins to recover steadily, following the doctor's advice completely.

4. Key Themes:

• Love and Determination: Saeeda's deep love for her mother motivates her extraordinary act of speaking to the sun rays. Her determination ensures she finds a way to help.
• Hope and Healing Power of Nature: Sunshine and fresh air are depicted as essential healing agents, more crucial than just medicine in this case. The story emphasizes nature's restorative powers.
• Importance of Expert Advice vs. Superstition: The story contrasts the sound, scientific advice of the specialist doctor with the ineffective or harmful traditional/superstitious beliefs held by others. It champions following expert guidance.
• Innocence and Faith: Saeeda's innocent belief that she can communicate with and make a pact with the sun rays is central to the story. Her unwavering faith makes the seemingly impossible happen (within the story's narrative).
• Overcoming Obstacles: The sun rays fighting their way through the clouds symbolizes the struggle against difficulties (illness, despair, bad weather, bad advice) to achieve a positive outcome.

5. Key Vocabulary for Exams:

• Ailing: In poor health.
• Physician: A doctor.
• Prescribed: Advised and authorized the use of (a medicine or treatment).
• Forbidden: Not allowed; banned.
• Chronic: (Of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
• Dingy: Gloomy and drab.
• Dejected: Sad and depressed; dispirited.
• Pact: A formal agreement between individuals or parties.
• Remnant: A small remaining quantity of something.
• Earnest: Resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction.
• Departed: Left; went away.
• Reluctant: Unwilling and hesitant.
• Embarrassed: Feeling awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.
• Muck: Dirt, rubbish, or waste matter.
• Multitude: A large number of people or things.
• Bewildered: Confused and perplexed.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. What was Saeeda's mother primarily suffering from?
   a) A broken leg
   b) A chronic cough, cold, fever, and body aches
   c) Poor eyesight
   d) A stomach infection

2. What crucial advice did the specialist doctor give, besides medicine?
   a) To drink only boiled water
   b) To avoid all fruits
   c) To sit in the sun and get fresh air daily
   d) To stay completely indoors

3. Why was Saeeda's mother initially denied sunshine and fresh air?
   a) Because the doctor forbade it
   b) Because of previous, incorrect advice
   c) Because she disliked the sun
   d) Because their house had no windows

4. What prevented Saeeda's mother from getting sunshine immediately after the doctor's advice?
   a) Her refusal to go out
   b) Saeeda forgot to take her out
   c) The sky remained cloudy for days
   d) The doctor changed his mind

5. What action did Saeeda take when the sun didn't appear?
   a) She complained to the doctor
   b) She spoke to the last departing sun rays, asking them to return
   c) She tried to light a big fire for warmth
   d) She gave her mother extra blankets

6. The agreement Saeeda made with the sun rays is referred to as a:
   a) Promise
   b) Contract
   c) Pact
   d) Wish

7. Who tried to block the sun rays on their way to Saeeda's house?
   a) The moon
   b) The naughty clouds
   c) The birds
   d) The wind

8. How did the sun rays reach Saeeda's courtyard despite the obstacle?
   a) They waited for the obstacle to move
   b) They went around the obstacle
   c) They asked Saeeda for help
   d) They pierced through the obstacle forcefully

9. What does the word 'ailing' mean in the context of the story?
   a) Happy
   b) Travelling
   c) Sick or unwell
   d) Sleeping

10. What is the central theme highlighted by Saeeda's actions and the story's outcome?
    a) The importance of wealth
    b) The power of a child's love, hope, and faith
    c) The dangers of playing outside
    d) The superiority of old customs over science

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. b
2. c
3. b
4. c
5. b
6. c
7. b
8. d
9. c
10. b

Make sure you understand the sequence of events, the role of each character, and the underlying messages of the story. This chapter beautifully blends emotion with a message about health and hope. Study well!