The Wish | Exercise With Summary | Grade 11 | English
0Summary: In "The Wish" by Roald Dahl, a young boy named Herbert struggles with a fear of crossing the black patterns on a carpet in his living room. He imagines the patterns as poisonous snakes that will bite and kill him if he touches them. Despite his fear, Herbert is motivated to cross the carpet by the promise of receiving a puppy for his birthday if he succeeds. With determination, he begins his journey, carefully avoiding the black patterns. As he progresses, Herbert's fear intensifies, but he remains focused on his goal. Finally, after a nerve-wracking journey, Herbert successfully crosses the carpet without being bitten by any imaginary snakes. He is overjoyed and eagerly anticipates receiving his puppy the following day.
a) The child scratched off the scab on his knee and placed it under a microscope.
b) The carpet had a mesmerizing effect on the child, making him feel hypnotized and drawn to it.
c) The child was afraid of being bitten by the imaginary poisonous snakes represented by the black patterns on the carpet.
d) The motivation of receiving a puppy for his birthday and the encouragement of his mother motivated the child to start and continue his journey.
e) As the child looked down on the black patterns of the carpet, he saw them as a dangerous snake-infested jungle.
a) The two voices in the story are that of the narrator and the child, Herbert.
b) i. The 'black part' refers to the black patterns on the carpet that the child imagines as poisonous snakes. ii. The speaker is Herbert, the child in the story. iii. The speaker doesn't want to be burnt because he fears that the carpet might be a source of heat that could burn him.
c) The story uses the images and metaphors of a snake-infested jungle to represent the child's fear of the black patterns on the carpet.
d) Herbert, a young boy, fears crossing the black patterns on his living room carpet, imagining them as poisonous snakes. Motivated by the promise of a puppy for his birthday, he cautiously begins his journey, navigating the 'snake-infested jungle.' Despite his intensifying fear, Herbert's determination leads him to successfully cross the carpet, earning him the anticipated reward.
e) The narrator presents a more objective and detached view, while the child's perspective offers a subjective and emotional experience, making it more engaging for the readers.
f) "The Wish" is both a story about self-confidence overcoming fear and greed. Herbert's determination to cross the carpet despite his fear demonstrates self-confidence, while his desire for a puppy could be seen as greed.
a) Wishes can be fulfilled if they are accompanied by determination, effort, and a positive mindset.
b) Some people might have a frightening nature due to past experiences, trauma, or negative beliefs. To overcome this, they could practice mindfulness, seek support from loved ones, engage in activities that bring joy, and consider professional help if needed.
c) (Example of a folktale: "The Magic Pot") In a faraway village, there lived a kind-hearted woman named Lila. One day, she found a magical pot that could cook delicious meals out of nothing. Lila used the pot to feed the hungry villagers, but she became greedy and started cooking more and more, forgetting the true value of sharing. The pot grew uncontrollable, overflowing with food and threatening to destroy the village. Lila realized her mistake and returned to her generous ways, causing the pot to calm down and become a source of joy for the entire community.