Class 8 English Notes Chapter 5 (Princess September) – It so Happend Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 5, 'Princess September', from your 'It So Happened' book. This story, adapted from the work of W. Somerset Maugham, carries important themes often relevant for examinations. Pay close attention to the details, characters, and underlying messages.

Chapter 5: Princess September - Detailed Notes

1. Introduction:

• The story is set in Siam (modern-day Thailand).
• It revolves around the King of Siam's nine daughters, particularly the youngest, Princess September.
• It contrasts superficiality and possessiveness with genuine affection and the value of freedom.

2. Characters:

• The King of Siam: A somewhat whimsical ruler. He gifts his daughters parrots initially. His key characteristic is his habit of giving gifts rather than receiving them on his birthday.
• The Queen: Mentioned briefly; agrees with the King.
• The Eight Elder Princesses: They are portrayed as jealous, conventional, and ultimately unhappy. They value material possessions (golden cages) and conformity (teaching parrots set phrases). They act maliciously towards September. Named after the months preceding September (January to August).
• Princess September: The protagonist. She is initially sad and lonely after her parrot dies but shows sensitivity and kindness. She values the bird's song and companionship over possessing it. She learns the importance of freedom and is rewarded for her understanding and kindness.
• The Little Bird: Represents freedom, nature, genuine beauty, and true art (its song is natural and beautiful, unlike the parrots' repetitive phrases). It forms a loving bond with September but cannot survive captivity.
• The Parrots: Symbolize artificiality, repetition, and confinement. They can only say "God save the king" and "Pretty Polly."

3. Plot Summary:

• The Gift of Parrots: The King gives each of his nine daughters a green parrot in a golden cage on his birthday. The princesses teach their parrots to say "God save the king" and some also "Pretty Polly" in seven Oriental languages.
• September's Loss: Princess September's parrot dies. She is inconsolable.
• Arrival of the Songbird: While September is crying, a little bird flies into her room. It sings a beautiful, natural song that comforts her.
• A New Companion: September decides to keep the little bird. Unlike her sisters' parrots, she lets the bird fly in and out of her room freely. The bird sings lovely songs for her, bringing her great joy.
• The Sisters' Jealousy: The eight elder princesses become jealous of September's unique and talented bird. They notice she keeps it free.
• Malicious Advice: They advise September that her bird might fly away and never return. They suggest it's safer to put him in the golden cage she still has. They prey on her fear of losing the bird.
• September's Dilemma and Mistake: Worried by her sisters' words, September decides to cage the bird "for his own good" when he returns from visiting his father-in-law.
• The Bird's Reaction: The bird is shocked and unhappy in the cage. It refuses to eat or sing. It explains to September that it cannot sing unless it is free, and if it cannot sing, it will die. It needs to fly among the trees, see the rice fields, and experience nature.
• Realization and Release: September realizes that her desire to keep the bird safe was actually selfish possessiveness. Understanding that she truly loves the bird and wants it to be happy (and alive), she sets it free. She chooses the bird's happiness and freedom over her own desire to possess it.
• The Reward of Freedom: The bird promises to return because it loves September. It keeps its promise, visiting her often and singing beautiful songs. September keeps her window open day and night for the bird.
• Contrasting Fates: Because September keeps her window open, she grows extremely beautiful, benefiting from the fresh air and connection to nature (symbolized by the bird). Her sisters, who keep their windows shut tightly (advised by the King for safety after September left hers open), grow extremely ugly and disagreeable.
• Marriage and Conclusion: Princess September marries the King of Cambodia and is carried away on a white elephant. Her eight sisters are married off to the King's councillors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat as compensation. Their parrots have died, and they never learned any new phrases.

4. Key Themes:

• Freedom vs. Captivity: This is the central theme. The bird physically needs freedom to live and sing. True happiness and beauty (like September's) are associated with freedom and openness, while captivity leads to misery, ugliness, and death (symbolically for the sisters, literally for the bird if caged).
• Love and Possession: The story contrasts true love with possessiveness. September's initial act of caging the bird stems from fear and a desire to possess, but she learns that true love means wanting the best for the loved one, even if it means letting go. The sisters represent possessiveness without real affection.
• Jealousy and Malice: The sisters' actions are driven purely by jealousy of September's happiness and unique companion. Their advice is intended to harm September and her bird.
• Nature vs. Artificiality: The natural song and freedom of the little bird are contrasted with the repetitive, learned phrases and caged existence of the parrots. Nature is shown as beautiful, life-giving, and authentic.
• Inner vs. Outer Beauty: September's kindness, understanding, and connection to nature make her beautiful. The sisters' jealousy, malice, and closed-off existence make them ugly. Beauty comes from within and how one interacts with the world.
• Consequences of Choices: September's choice to free the bird leads to her lasting happiness and beauty. The sisters' choices, driven by jealousy and conformity, lead to their ugliness and less desirable marriages.

5. Symbolism:

• Little Bird: Freedom, nature, true beauty, happiness, natural talent.
• Golden Cage: Materialism, captivity, restriction, possessiveness, false sense of security.
• Parrots: Conformity, artificiality, lack of originality, superficiality.
• Open Window: Freedom, openness to nature and life, trust, leading to beauty.
• Shut Windows: Fear, confinement, isolation, leading to ugliness and ill-temper.

Understanding these points will help you analyze the story and answer questions effectively. Remember how the characters' actions reflect the themes and how symbols reinforce the central message about freedom.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. What gift did the King of Siam give to his daughters initially?
   a) A singing bird
   b) A golden cage
   c) A green parrot in a golden cage
   d) A Siamese cat

2. Why was Princess September sad at the beginning of the story?
   a) Her sisters were mean to her.
   b) Her parrot had died.
   c) The King scolded her.
   d) She didn't like her golden cage.

3. What was special about the little bird that came to Princess September's room?
   a) It could speak seven languages.
   b) It sang beautiful, natural songs.
   c) It was bright blue in colour.
   d) It brought her a gift.

4. Why did the eight elder princesses advise September to put the bird in a cage?
   a) They were concerned for the bird's safety.
   b) They thought the cage was beautiful.
   c) They were jealous and wanted the bird to be unhappy or leave.
   d) The King ordered them to give this advice.

5. What reason did the little bird give for not being able to sing in the cage?
   a) It missed its family.
   b) It didn't like the golden bars.
   c) It needed to see the trees, the lake, and the green rice fields to be inspired.
   d) Princess September had forbidden it to sing.

6. What does the golden cage primarily symbolize in the story?
   a) Wealth and royalty
   b) Safety and security
   c) Captivity and possessiveness
   d) A beautiful gift

7. Princess September chose to prioritize the bird's ______ over her own desire to keep it.
   a) beauty
   b) safety
   c) freedom and happiness
   d) singing ability

8. What happened to Princess September as a result of keeping her window open?
   a) She caught a cold.
   b) She became extremely beautiful.
   c) Her room became dirty.
   d) Other birds flew into her room.

9. What happened to the eight elder princesses who kept their windows shut?
   a) They became very wise.
   b) Their parrots learned new phrases.
   c) They stayed safe from harm.
   d) They grew extremely ugly and disagreeable.

10. What is the central message conveyed through the story of Princess September?
    a) Parrots make better pets than songbirds.
    b) True love requires respecting the freedom of the loved one.
    c) Sisters should always listen to each other's advice.
    d) Keeping windows shut is important for health and beauty.

Answer Key:

1. c) A green parrot in a golden cage
2. b) Her parrot had died.
3. b) It sang beautiful, natural songs.
4. c) They were jealous and wanted the bird to be unhappy or leave.
5. c) It needed to see the trees, the lake, and the green rice fields to be inspired.
6. c) Captivity and possessiveness
7. c) freedom and happiness
8. b) She became extremely beautiful.
9. d) They grew extremely ugly and disagreeable.
10. b) True love requires respecting the freedom of the loved one.

Study these notes carefully. Good luck with your preparation!