Class 7 English Notes Chapter 9 (A Tiger in the House) – An allienhand Hand Supplymentry Reader Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 9, 'A Tiger in the House' from your 'An Alien Hand' supplementary reader. This story by Ruskin Bond is quite interesting and often touches upon themes relevant for broader comprehension, which can be useful for your exams. Pay close attention to the details.

Chapter 9: A Tiger in the House - Detailed Notes

Author: Ruskin Bond

Setting: Dehra Dun (Grandfather's home) and Lucknow (the Zoo)

Characters:

1. Timothy: The tiger cub, later a full-grown tiger. Found by Grandfather, raised as a pet, initially playful and friendly, but later shows signs of his wild nature.
2. Grandfather: The central human character. An animal lover, knowledgeable about the jungle. He finds Timothy, raises him, and later takes him to the zoo. He is trusting and perhaps a bit naive about the unchanging nature of wild animals.
3. Grandmother: Tolerant of Grandfather's pets but wary of Timothy as he grows. Her reactions often signal the growing danger.
4. The Narrator (Ruskin Bond as a child): Grandfather's grandson, who observes Timothy's growth and Grandfather's interactions.
5. Mahmoud: The cook in the household. Initially terrified of Timothy, he later becomes one of his 'favourites' to stalk.
6. Toto: A mischievous monkey, already a pet in the house. He initially provokes Timothy but later becomes wary.
7. The Puppy: A small mongrel puppy found on the road by Grandfather. Timothy's other companion; Timothy is initially gentle but later becomes rougher.
8. The Zoo Superintendent: The official to whom Grandfather hands over Timothy.
9. The Keeper: The zoo employee who reveals the truth about the tiger Grandfather interacts with during his later visit.

Summary:

1. Discovery: Grandfather discovers a small, abandoned tiger cub near the roots of a banyan tree during a hunting expedition in the Terai jungle near Dehra. He names him Timothy.
2. Upbringing: Timothy is brought home and raised initially on milk fed from a bottle by Mahmoud, the cook. Later, his diet progresses to raw mutton and cod liver oil, followed by pigeons and rabbits.
3. Companions: Timothy has two companions: Toto, the monkey, who would pull the young cub's tail, and a small mongrel puppy. Initially, Timothy allowed the puppy to crawl on his back.
4. Life in the House: Timothy enjoys life in the house. He sleeps in the narrator's room, plays, and has the run of the house. His favourite amusement is stalking anyone who plays with him. He develops a particular liking for stalking the narrator and Mahmoud.
5. Growing Danger: As Timothy grows (around six months old), he becomes less friendly and more dangerous. He starts stalking the cat and Mahmoud with 'villainous intent'. His wild instincts become more prominent. He becomes harder to control on walks.
6. The Decision: Grandmother declares that Timothy should be transferred to a zoo. Seeing the change in Timothy and recognizing the danger, Grandfather agrees. He reserves a first-class compartment on the train to Lucknow, where there is a well-run zoo.
7. Journey to the Zoo: Grandfather takes Timothy to Lucknow by train. The journey is uneventful as Timothy behaves well in the compartment. He hands Timothy over to the zoo authorities, who are happy to receive a well-fed and fairly civilized tiger.
8. Six Months Later: Grandfather visits his relatives in Lucknow and decides to visit Timothy at the zoo.
9. The Zoo Visit: Grandfather goes straight to the cage where Timothy was kept. He finds a tiger there, puts his arm through the bars, strokes its head, tickles its ears, and smacks its mouth when it growls. The tiger licks his hands. Another leopard in the next cage snarls, frightening the tiger. Grandfather shoos the leopard away.
10. The Revelation: A keeper observes Grandfather's interaction. Grandfather complains about the leopard frightening his tiger and asks why Timothy hasn't been moved. The keeper, looking surprised, informs Grandfather that his Timothy had died two months earlier from pneumonia.
11. The Climax: The keeper reveals that the tiger Grandfather has been petting is a different, very dangerous tiger trapped in the hills only the previous month. Grandfather is stunned. He slowly withdraws his hand, says "Good-bye, Timothy" (to the memory of his tiger), and walks briskly out of the zoo.

Key Themes:

• Human-Animal Relationship: Explores the bond that can form between humans and wild animals, but also its limitations.
• Wild Nature vs. Nurture: Despite being raised in a domestic environment, Timothy's wild instincts eventually surface. The story suggests that inherent nature is powerful.
• Captivity: Raises questions about keeping wild animals as pets and their eventual confinement in zoos.
• Change and Growth: Timothy's physical and behavioural changes drive the plot. Grandfather's perception also changes dramatically at the end.
• Love and Loss: Grandfather's affection for Timothy is evident, and the ending carries a sense of loss and shock.

Important Vocabulary/Phrases:

• Intricate: Complex, detailed (referring to the roots).
• Stalking: Following stealthily.
• Villainous intent: With evil or harmful purpose.
• Disconcerting: Causing unease or worry.
• Smacking: Hitting lightly, often playfully or as a mild rebuke.
• Pneumonia: Lung inflammation caused by infection.
• Civilized: Well-behaved, tame (used ironically for a tiger).
• Fawning: Displaying exaggerated affection (used for the tiger licking hands).

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. Where did Grandfather find the tiger cub?
   a) In a cave near Dehra
   b) Near the roots of a banyan tree in the Terai jungle
   c) Abandoned on the road to Lucknow
   d) Given to him by a hunter

2. Who was initially responsible for feeding Timothy milk from a bottle?
   a) Grandmother
   b) The narrator
   c) Mahmoud, the cook
   d) Grandfather

3. Which two animals were Timothy's main companions in the house?
   a) A cat and a parrot
   b) Toto the monkey and a puppy
   c) Another tiger cub and a dog
   d) A rabbit and a pigeon

4. What was Timothy's favourite amusement as he grew?
   a) Sleeping on Grandfather's bed
   b) Chasing butterflies in the garden
   c) Stalking people who played with him
   d) Chewing on furniture

5. What change in Timothy's behaviour made Grandfather decide to take him to the zoo?
   a) He refused to eat his food.
   b) He became lazy and slept all day.
   c) He started stalking Mahmoud and the cat with 'villainous intent'.
   d) He became afraid of Toto the monkey.

6. To which city did Grandfather take Timothy to be placed in a zoo?
   a) Delhi
   b) Dehra Dun
   c) Kanpur
   d) Lucknow

7. How long after leaving Timothy at the zoo did Grandfather visit him?
   a) One month later
   b) Six months later
   c) One year later
   d) Two years later

8. When Grandfather visited the zoo, what did he do when the tiger growled?
   a) He quickly pulled his hand back.
   b) He smacked the tiger across the mouth.
   c) He offered the tiger some food.
   d) He called the keeper for help.

9. What did the keeper reveal to Grandfather about the tiger he was petting?
   a) It was Timothy, but he was sick.
   b) It was a different, dangerous tiger.
   c) Timothy had escaped from the zoo.
   d) The tiger was friendly to everyone.

10. According to the keeper, what had happened to the real Timothy?
    a) He had been transferred to another zoo.
    b) He had attacked a keeper and was isolated.
    c) He had died of pneumonia two months earlier.
    d) He had been released back into the wild.

Answer Key for MCQs:

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

Make sure you understand the sequence of events, the characters' roles, and the final twist in the story. This chapter highlights the unpredictable nature of wild animals, even those raised with care. Study these notes well!