Class 7 English Notes Chapter 8 (The Bear Story) – An allienhand Hand Supplymentry Reader Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 8, "The Bear Story," from your 'An Alien Hand' supplementary reader. This is a touching story about the bond between humans and animals, but also carries important lessons about observation and understanding. Pay close attention, as these details are crucial for your exam preparation.

Chapter 8: The Bear Story - Detailed Notes

1. Introduction:

• The story revolves around a lady living in an old manor house on the edge of a large forest.
• It narrates her experience of finding, raising, and living with a pet bear.
• It highlights the gentle nature of her domesticated bear and contrasts it with the wild nature of bears in general.
• A key incident involves a misunderstanding, teaching a lesson about jumping to conclusions.

2. The Bear's Arrival and Upbringing:

• Finding the Cub: The lady found the bear cub in the forest. It was small, helpless, and starving, likely left behind by its mother.
• Bringing it Home: She brought the cub to her manor house.
• Feeding: Initially, the cook helped raise it on milk fed from a bottle. As it grew, its diet expanded to include porridge, potatoes, cabbage, and turnips.
• Vegetarian Nature: Importantly, the bear grew up to be a vegetarian. He never tasted meat and showed no inclination towards it, happily eating the same food as the dogs (and apples from the orchard).

3. The Bear's Character and Life at the Manor:

• Growth: The bear grew into a large, strong animal.
• Temperament: Despite his size, he was most amiable, gentle, and friendly. He was harmless to people and other animals.
• Relationships:
  • He was friendly with the three dogs at the manor, often playing games with them.
  • He loved the children and would watch them play, sometimes joining in friendly tumbles.
  • He was generally fond of everyone, including the cattle in the field (though they were initially wary of him).
• Restrictions:
  • He was not allowed to climb the apple trees himself (due to potential damage), but enjoyed the fallen apples.
  • He was punished (by being chained) for touching the beehives once.
  • Crucially for the plot: He was always chained up on Sundays when the lady visited her married sister who lived on the other side of a mountain lake. This was done for safety, as walking through the dense forest alone with him might be risky if he encountered a wild animal or got agitated. The walk took about an hour.

4. The Incident in the Forest:

• The Journey: One Sunday, while the lady was walking through the forest towards her sister's house, she heard the cracking of a tree branch behind her.
• The Encounter: She turned around and saw a bear following her. It looked exactly like her pet bear.
• The Misunderstanding: Believing her bear had broken his chain and followed her against her orders, the lady became very angry. She thought he had disobeyed her.
• The Reaction: She scolded the bear harshly, telling him she would punish him by chaining him for two days. She hit him on the nose with her parasol (umbrella) forcefully enough to break it in two.
• The Bear's Retreat: The bear stopped, looked at her with its small eyes, opened its mouth as if to roar or growl, and then turned around and shuffled back the way it came.

5. The Resolution:

• Return Home: When the lady returned home in the evening, she saw her bear sitting in his usual place outside his kennel, looking very sorry for himself.
• Continued Anger: Still angry from the forest incident, the lady started scolding her bear again, telling him he would be chained for two nights.
• The Cook's Intervention: The old cook, who loved the bear, rushed out and defended him. She told the lady that the bear had been sitting there quietly and sadly ("meek as an angel") all afternoon, refusing to leave his kennel. He had been properly chained the whole time.
• The Realization: The lady finally understood her mistake. The bear she encountered and hit in the forest was a wild bear, not her pet. Her own bear had been obediently waiting at home.
• Remorse: She felt bad for having scolded her loyal pet and rushed to him, petting him affectionately.

6. Key Themes and Messages:

• Human-Animal Bond: The deep affection and understanding possible between humans and animals.
• Misunderstanding: How easily misunderstandings can arise, especially when based on assumptions or appearances.
• Appearance vs. Reality: The wild bear looked like her pet, leading to the mistaken identity.
• Domestication vs. Wild Nature: Her pet bear was gentle and obedient, while the wild bear's reaction (stopping, opening mouth, retreating) hinted at its wild instincts, even though it didn't attack.
• Loyalty and Obedience: The pet bear's loyalty despite the undeserved scolding.

7. Important Points for Exams:

• The bear was found helpless in the forest.
• His diet was strictly vegetarian (milk, porridge, vegetables, fruits).
• He was amiable and friendly with dogs and children.
• He was chained on Sundays because the lady visited her sister across the forest.
• The lady hit the wild bear (mistaking it for her pet) with her parasol.
• The cook clarified the misunderstanding, proving the pet bear's innocence.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Where did the lady find the bear cub?
   A) In her garden
   B) At a market
   C) In the forest
   D) By the lake

2. What was the bear primarily fed when it was very young?
   A) Meat
   B) Milk from a bottle
   C) Porridge
   D) Fish

3. Which food item did the bear NOT eat?
   A) Potatoes
   B) Cabbage
   C) Apples
   D) Meat

4. Why was the bear chained up on Sundays?
   A) Because he misbehaved on Sundays
   B) Because the lady visited her sister
   C) Because the dogs didn't like him on Sundays
   D) Because he tried to climb the apple trees

5. What did the lady see while walking through the forest one Sunday?
   A) Her sister waiting for her
   B) A wild deer
   C) A bear following her
   D) Her lost parasol

6. What object did the lady use to hit the bear she met in the forest?
   A) A stick
   B) Her hand
   C) A stone
   D) Her parasol

7. How did the lady feel when she thought her bear had followed her into the forest?
   A) Happy and surprised
   B) Scared and worried
   C) Angry and disappointed
   D) Curious and amused

8. Who revealed the truth that the lady's bear had been chained up all afternoon?
   A) The lady's sister
   B) One of the dogs
   C) The cook
   D) The bear itself

9. What was the lady's pet bear doing when she returned home that Sunday evening?
   A) Playing with the dogs
   B) Eating apples
   C) Sleeping inside his kennel
   D) Sitting sadly outside his kennel

10. What is a major theme highlighted by the incident in the forest?
    A) The importance of a vegetarian diet
    B) The danger of wild animals
    C) The possibility of misunderstanding based on appearance
    D) The difficulty of training bears

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. C
2. B
3. D
4. B
5. C
6. D
7. C
8. C
9. D
10. C

Study these notes carefully. Understand the sequence of events, the bear's character, and the reason for the lady's mistake. This will help you answer any question related to this chapter effectively. Good luck!