GSEB Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller Solutions

Iswaran The Storyteller Class 9 Questions And Answers GSEB

Think About It

Question 1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
Answer: Iswaran was a helpful household helper for Mahendra. Besides cooking and handling house tasks, he was an excellent storyteller for his boss. He was skilled at finding things, as he could get vegetables from unexpected places and never grumbled while going with his boss.
In simple words: Iswaran was a great help to Mahendra because he cooked, cleaned, and kept him entertained with stories, always finding what was needed.

Exam Tip: When describing a character's role, mention all their positive contributions to show their importance.

Question 2. Haw, does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
Answer: Iswaran describes the uprooted tree on the highway with eyebrows properly raised and gesturing with his hands expressively. He would start by explaining that the path was empty and he felt quite solitary. He then saw something that looked like a huge hairy creature spread across the road. He initially wanted to turn back, but as he approached, he noticed it was a toppled tree, with its withered branches spread wide. The impact he seeks to achieve is tension and an unexpected finish to each little event he recounts to his audience.
In simple words: Iswaran described the fallen tree dramatically, saying he saw a monster, but it was just a tree. He wanted to build suspense and surprise his listeners.

Exam Tip: Note how Iswaran uses vivid descriptions and dramatic gestures to engage his audience and make his stories more impactful.

Question 3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
Answer: He began the tale of the elephant by providing an introduction, where he described elephants as 'enormous well-fed creatures.' He said that after breaking free from the wood yard, the elephant began wandering around, trampled shrubs and ripped up wild plants. It then reached the main street of the town and destroyed all the stands selling produce, pottery, and garments. It then went into a school playground where the children were playing. It removed the football goal-post, ripped down the volleyball net, crushed the water drum and pulled up the bushes. All the teachers and students were so scared they ascended to the roof of the school building. As Iswaran recounted, he was then in the junior grade. He snatched a stick from a teacher's grasp and dashed outside. The elephant kept making noises and pounding its feet. It appeared terrifying. However, he approached it gradually. As the elephant prepared to charge at him, he stepped ahead and struck its third toenail. It seemed shocked and then fell. This tale does not seem credible.
In simple words: Iswaran told a story about an escaped elephant destroying things and how he bravely knocked it unconscious by hitting its toenail. The story does not sound believable at all.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the exaggerated details and the heroic actions of Iswaran in his stories, which are key indicators of his storytelling style.

Question 4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than makeup for the absence of a TV in Mahendra's living quarters?
Answer: The writer states this because Iswaran offered excellent companionship to Mahendra. He would talk with Mahendra at night when he came back from his job. Iswaran would additionally amuse Mahendra with tales. Therefore, having Iswaran nearby, Mahendra did not feel lonely and did not need a television for amusement.
In simple words: The author says Iswaran made up for no TV because he provided Mahendra with constant company and entertainment through his stories and chats.

Exam Tip: Focus on the personal connection and oral storytelling as forms of entertainment, highlighting their significance in the absence of modern media.

Question 5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
Answer: Mahendra considers ghosts or spirits products of fantasy since Iswaran told him that their home was on a graveyard and continued telling him tales of different spirits he had met. During a particular full-moon evening, Mahendra was roused from his slumber by a soft groan near his window. At first, he believed it was a cat hunting for rodents. But the noise was too profound and throaty for a cat. He avoided glancing outside as he wished not to see anything that could halt his pulse. But the weeping grew stronger and more obvious. He no longer could fight the urge. Slipping down to the window's edge, he peered at the bright moonlit scene outdoors. Nearby, a dark hazy shape was holding something. He started sweating profusely and dropped back onto the cushion, breathless.
In simple words: Mahendra thought ghosts were imaginary, but one full-moon night, he heard moaning, saw a dark shape holding a bundle outside his window, got scared, and fell back on his pillow, sweating.

Exam Tip: Describe Mahendra's rational initial thoughts contrasted with his eventual fear, showing the conflict between logic and supernatural belief.

Question 6. Can you think of some other ending for the story?
Answer: The story might have concluded with a happier outcome. Rather than quitting his work, Mahendra could have appeared as a truly brave individual, disproving the idea of ghosts. A different conclusion could have both Mahendra and Iswaran departing the site together, thus maintaining their friendship, as shown previously in the tale. Iswaran was described as a very adaptable companion for Mahendra.
In simple words: The story could end more happily, with Mahendra being brave and proving ghosts aren't real, or with Mahendra and Iswaran leaving together, keeping their friendship.

Exam Tip: When proposing alternative endings, consider how they could change the characters' development or preserve existing relationships highlighted in the story.

Iswaran The Storyteller Summary In English

Iswaran The Storyteller Summary:

Iswaran's story was told to Ganesh by Mahendra who worked as a junior supervisor at different construction sites. As Mahendra was unmarried, he was able to live in the temporary shelters provided by the construction company. Iswaran accompanied Mahendra wherever he went. He was an advantage to him as he provided him company, cooked food for him and even washed his clothes.

Mahendra says that Iswaran would gather all the things required to prepare a meal within no time. Every morning Mahendra would get ready, eat his breakfast, take his lunch along and go for his work. In the meantime, Iswaran would clean the living place, wash the clothes, take a bath, eat his lunch, read his favourite Tamil storybook and take a nap. In the evening, Iswaran would entertain Mahendra with his stories.

He had the art of storytelling as he would use his body gestures, facial expressions and voice modulation in order to bring his characters to life. Even though the stories seemed untrue, Iswaran narrated them in such a unique way that Mahendra listened to him with curiosity. Iswaran would start a story with an introduction, he would lay the background of the character, followed by the story.

He described a simple incident in such detail, along with actions that it would create suspense in the listener's mind. Once he told Mahendra the story of an elephant that had escaped from the jungle and entered the town. The beast reached Iswaran's school. As it destroyed the school property, all the students locked themselves up in the classroom. At that time, Iswaran was studying in one of the junior classes.

He was watching the incident from the rooftop. He took a stick from the teacher and came downstairs, in the ground. He walked towards the elephant as it threatened to attack him. Iswaran was not scared of it. He gathered all his strength and hit the elephant on its toenail quickly. This attack stunned the elephant, it fainted and fell on the ground. He did not complete the story and said that he was getting late for the dinner.

He went to get the dinner but Mahendra was curious to know what happened next. As Iswaran did not continue with the story, Mahendra had to remind him that the ending was pending. Then Iswaran said that a veterinary doctor was called. He brought the elephant back to consciousness and after two days a mahout was called who took the elephant back to the jungle. Mahendra asked Iswaran that how did he manage to overpower the huge beast.

Iswaran replied that he used the technique of a Japanese martial art which was either Karate or Jujitsu. He had read about it somewhere, that the martial art was able to make a person unconscious by paralyzing the nervous system. Every day Iswaran would narrate one or the other story which was entertaining for him and fulfilled the absence of a television in his living quarter. One morning Iswaran asked permission to cook a special dinner as it was the day when they cooked meal for the dead elders of the family.

That evening Mahendra enjoyed a tasty meal and complimented Iswaran on his cooking skills. As Mahendra was relaxing after the meal, to his dislike, Iswaran started narrating a story related to ghosts and supernatural powers. He said that the factory area where they lived was earlier a burial ground. On the very first day, he had seen a human skull lying around. He added that he was not afraid of ghosts and saw many bones and skulls.

On a full moon night, he saw an ugly ghost of a woman who had a shrunken face, matted hair and held an unborn baby in its arms. Mahendra was uneasy and scolded Iswaran for talking nonsense. He said that ghosts did not exist and ordered him to get himself examined as he thought that he had gone mad. Since that day, Mahendra felt uneasy and would peep out of the window in order to check the presence of any ghost around.

One night, Mahendra woke up from his sleep as he heard someone crying. At first, he thought that it was a cat looking for mice. As the sound became more harsh and deep, Mahendra could not ignore it and gave into the desire of peeping out of the window. As he looked out, he saw the white moonlight and a dark shadow holding a bundle in its arms. As he saw the ghost he started sweating, breathing heavily and fell back on the bed. After some time, Mahindra thought that probably his subconscious mind was playing a trick on him and actually there was no ghost.

He got ready the next morning and had forgotten the incident of the previous night. Iswaran greeted him and gave him his lunch bag. He said that a few days ago Mahendra had scolded him for discussing the ghost but last night he saw it himself. Iswaran had heard Mahendra crying at night. It was confirmed that Mahendra had seen the ghost the previous night and it was not a trick played by his mind. Once again, Mahendra was frightened, he left in a hurry and resigned from the job. He could not live at a haunted place for a single day.