Class 9 English Notes Chapter 2 (The Adventures of Toto) – Moments Supplimentary Reader Book

Alright students, let's focus on Chapter 2 from your 'Moments' book, "The Adventures of Toto" by Ruskin Bond. This is a humorous story, but it contains details and character points that are important for your exams. Pay close attention.

Detailed Notes: The Adventures of Toto

1. Introduction

• Author: Ruskin Bond
• Genre: Humorous short story, anecdote.
• Central Character: Toto, a baby monkey.
• Premise: The story revolves around the narrator's Grandfather buying a mischievous monkey, Toto, and the chaos that ensues as the family tries (and fails) to keep him as a pet.

2. Characters

• Toto: A baby monkey, initially owned by a tonga-driver. Described as having bright, mischievous eyes, pearly white teeth often displayed in a grin that frightened people, quick fingers, and a long tail that served as a 'third hand'. He is extremely naughty, destructive, and ultimately untamable as a domestic pet.
• Grandfather: The narrator's grandfather. He has a private zoo and is very fond of animals. He buys Toto on an impulse because he feels the monkey looks out of place. He is initially patient with Toto but eventually realizes the monkey is too much trouble and expense.
• Grandmother: The narrator's grandmother. She generally disapproves of Grandfather bringing new pets home. Toto's presence is initially kept secret from her. She is less tolerant of the animals' mischief.
• Narrator: Ruskin Bond as a young boy. He observes and recounts the adventures of Toto.
• Tonga-driver: The original owner of Toto, from whom Grandfather buys the monkey for five rupees. He later buys Toto back from Grandfather for three rupees.
• Nana: The family donkey. Toto constantly teases and annoys Nana when they are briefly housed together in the stable.
• Other Pets: Grandfather's private zoo included a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel. Toto did not allow any of these animals to sleep peacefully.

3. Plot Summary & Key Incidents

• Acquisition of Toto: Grandfather sees Toto tied to a feeding-trough with a tonga-driver. He looks unhappy, so Grandfather buys him for five rupees, adding him to his private zoo.
• Initial Secrecy: Toto's arrival is kept secret from Grandmother. He is initially kept in a little closet opening into the narrator's bedroom wall, tied securely to a peg.
• First Signs of Mischief: Toto escapes the closet by tearing off the ornamental wallpaper, pulling the peg from its socket, and shredding the narrator's school blazer.
• Transfer to the Servants' Quarters: Toto is moved to a big cage in the servants' quarters where other pets reside. He proves to be a nuisance, not letting other animals sleep.
• The Saharanpur Trip: Grandfather has to go to Saharanpur to collect his pension. He decides to take Toto along secretly as he is too mischievous to be left behind.
  • The Canvas Bag: Toto is put into a strong canvas kit-bag with straw at the bottom. The bag is zipped up, leaving no escape.
  • At the Dehra Dun Platform: Toto jumps inside the bag, attracting attention.
  • At the Saharanpur Station: As Grandfather produces his ticket, Toto pokes his head out of the bag and grins at the ticket-collector.
  • The Ticket-Collector's Reaction: The annoyed ticket-collector classifies Toto as a dog (as there was no rule for monkeys) and charges Grandfather three rupees as fare. Grandfather tries to argue, even showing his pet tortoise, but fails.
• Acceptance by Grandmother: Toto is finally accepted by Grandmother and given a comfortable home in the stable with Nana, the donkey.
• Trouble in the Stable: Toto and Nana never become friends. Toto often fastens onto Nana's long ears with his sharp teeth.
• The Bath Incident: Toto enjoys warm baths in winter, just like the narrator. He tests the water temperature with his hand, then steps in gradually. One day, he gets into a large kitchen kettle left on the fire with water for tea. As the water heats up, he keeps popping up and down until Grandmother rescues him, half-boiled.
• The Pulao Incident: During lunchtime one day, Toto finds a large dish of pulao on the dining table. He starts stuffing himself with rice. When Grandmother screams and an aunt rushes forward, Toto throws a plate and a glass of water at them. He then escapes through the window with the pulao dish, climbs a jackfruit tree, eats all the rice, and finally throws the dish down, breaking it into pieces, just to spite Grandmother.
• The Final Decision: The family, especially Grandfather, realizes they cannot afford Toto's frequent losses (dishes, clothes, curtains, wallpaper). Toto is clearly not the sort of pet they could keep for long.
• Toto's Departure: Grandfather finds the original tonga-driver and sells Toto back to him for only three rupees, thus incurring a loss but gaining peace.

4. Themes

• Mischief and Humour: The story is filled with humorous incidents arising from Toto's mischievous nature.
• Human-Animal Interaction: Explores the relationship between humans and animals, particularly the challenges of keeping wild or untamed animals as pets.
• Love for Animals: Grandfather's affection for animals is evident, though tested by Toto.
• Observation: The narrator keenly observes the monkey's behaviour and the family's reactions.
• Consequences of Actions: Toto's destructive behaviour ultimately leads to his being sold back.

5. Key Takeaways for Exams

• Remember the specific price Grandfather paid (5 rupees) and received (3 rupees).
• Know the sequence of where Toto was kept (closet -> cage -> stable).
• Recall the details of the Saharanpur journey (canvas bag, ticket-collector incident, fare charged).
• Be familiar with Toto's specific acts of mischief (wallpaper, blazer, tormenting pets, bath incident, pulao incident).
• Understand the reason why Toto was eventually sold back (too destructive, family couldn't afford the damages).
• Note Toto's physical description and how he used his tail.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. From whom did Grandfather buy Toto?
   a) A circus owner
   b) A zoo keeper
   c) A tonga-driver
   d) A pet shop owner

2. How much did Grandfather pay for Toto initially?
   a) Three rupees
   b) Five rupees
   c) Ten rupees
   d) One rupee

3. Why was Toto's presence initially kept a secret from Grandmother?
   a) Because Toto was sick
   b) Because Grandfather wanted to surprise her
   c) Because Grandmother generally disliked new pets
   d) Because Toto was dangerous

4. Where was Toto taken secretly by Grandfather on a trip?
   a) Mussoorie
   b) Dehra Dun
   c) Saharanpur
   d) Delhi

5. What did the ticket-collector at Saharanpur classify Toto as?
   a) A cat
   b) A monkey
   c) A baby
   d) A dog

6. Which animal did Toto particularly annoy in the stable?
   a) The tortoise
   b) Nana, the donkey
   c) The tame squirrel
   d) A pair of rabbits

7. What incident nearly led to Toto being half-boiled?
   a) Falling into a hot spring
   b) Sitting too close to a fireplace
   c) Getting into a kettle of water on the fire
   d) Grandmother giving him a very hot bath

8. What dish did Toto steal and eat up a tree?
   a) Vegetable curry
   b) Pulao
   c) Kheer
   d) Roti

9. What did Toto do with the dish after finishing the food?
   a) He hid it carefully.
   b) He gave it back to Grandmother.
   c) He threw it down from the tree, breaking it.
   d) He left it on the tree branch.

10. Why did Grandfather finally sell Toto back to the tonga-driver?
    a) Grandmother insisted on it.
    b) Toto became very ill.
    c) The family could not afford the frequent damage Toto caused.
    d) Toto ran away frequently.

Answer Key:

1. c) A tonga-driver
2. b) Five rupees
3. c) Because Grandmother generally disliked new pets
4. c) Saharanpur
5. d) A dog
6. b) Nana, the donkey
7. c) Getting into a kettle of water on the fire
8. b) Pulao
9. c) He threw it down from the tree, breaking it.
10. c) The family could not afford the frequent damage Toto caused.

Study these notes carefully, focusing on the specific details and character traits. Understanding the sequence of events and the reasons behind actions is crucial. Good luck with your preparation!