CBSE Class 10 English The Thiefs Story Worksheet

 

 

Ruskin Bond is a famous Indian writer. ‘The Thief’s Story’ is one of his well-known stories. In this story, the writer shows how the reformation of a criminal is best achieved through love and understanding rather than punishment.

Hari Singh was a young boy of fifteen. But he was a thief and a cheat. At a wrestling match, he came across Anil. He won Anil’s confidence and came to his house as a servant.

Anil was a writer and did not earn much. So, Hari Singh agreed to work for him only for food. Hari Singh did not know how to cook. The first meal which he cooked for Anil was so bad that Anil threw it to the dogs. But Hari’s appealing smile made Anil give up his decision to turn him out.

Hari Singh did odd jobs for Anil. In the morning he made tea and then brought the day’s supplies from the market. Often he made a profit of a rupee a day out of these purchases.

Anil had no regular income. He earned something by writing articles and stories for magazines. But one day Anil came home with a bundle of notes. He told Hari that he had earned six hundred rupees by selling one of his books. Hari’s mouth watered at the sight of money. He decided to steal that money. Anil kept the bundle under his mattress and went to sleep.

Now Hari Singh went into the room and silently took the money under the mattress. He went to the railway station to catch the train to Lucknow. But he missed the train and walked in the bazaars. Soon it started raining and Hari was drenched completely.

Then Hari Singh remembered Anil. He imagined how sad Anil would be on finding the money stolen. Hari remembered that Anil used to teach him. He thought that without the education he would remain a thief. But education might make him a great person. So, he decided to return and replace the money. He reached home and silently put the money back under the mattress.

The next morning, Anil gave Hari a 50 rupee note. The note was still wet. Hari thought that his crime had been discovered. But Anil told him that he had earned something. Now he would pay Hari Singh regularly.

 

EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS.

1. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind. Anil made Money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote for magazines— a queer way to make a living!

Question. What does Hari mean by little money?
Answer. Little money refers to the money he saved from the things he purchased as Anil never asked him to give the accounts

Question. What was Anil’s profession?
Answer. He was freelancer

Question. If borrow: lend, then pick the ODD pair from the options below:
a) give: take
b) lose: find
c) hop: skip
d) buy: sell
Answer. C

Question. The reference for making a little money ‘this way ‘refers to a way that is viewed by most
a) sensible
b) inappropriate
c) charitable
d) aggressive
Answer. C

Question. Based on your understanding of Anil in the extract, choose the option that synchronises with his thinking.
a) So, what if I don’t have much money? Giving it to the person is important as they could do with a helping hand
b) I better learn how to protect my money. I think I’m being looted.
c) I earn money with such tremendous effort. Where does it all go?
d) When I become rich, I can begin to help friends then. Right now, I will spend only on myself.
Answer. A

 

2. Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25—a tall, Lean fellow–and he looked easy-going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I hadn’t had much luck of late and thought I might be able to get into the Youngman’s confidence. ‘You look a bit of a wrestler yourself, “I said. A little flattery helps in making friends.

Question. What was Hari’s first impression on Anil?
Answer. He was an easy going man?

Question. Who was that young man referred to in the above extract?
Answer. Young man was none other than Anil

Question. ‘I might be able to get into the Youngman’s confidence.’ Choose the option that DOES NOT display what the statement means.
a) He wanted to win his trust.
b) He wanted him to share his thoughts without caution.
c) He wanted him to feel comfortable revealing him.
d) He wanted to be able to spend quality time with him.
Answer. D

Question. Anil looked easy-going, kind and simple to the narrator. Which of the given characteristics would NOT fit in with this description?
a) compassionate
b) elegant
c) uncomplicated
d) carefree
Answer. B

Question. Based on the line, “A little flattery helps in making friends.” choose the option that displays the quote closest in meaning.
a) Imitation is the best form of flattery; people generally understand that my comedy is not intended to hurt anybody.
b) I know imitation is the highest form of flattery, but stealing one's identity is totally different.
c) Nothing is so great an example of bad manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you please none; if you flatter only one or two, you offend the rest.
d) One may define flattery as a base companionship which is most advantageous to the flatterer.
Answer. D

 

3. Well, it‘s time I did some real work, I told myself; I‘m out of practice. And if I don‘t take the money, he‘ll only waste it on his friends. After all, he doesn‘t even pay me.

Question. What real ‘work’ is the speaker referring to?
Answer. Hari’s real work was stealing things.

Question. Why does the speaker say, I‘m out of practice?
Answer. He has not cheated anyone recently.

Question. Given below are famous quotes. Which one of these would you like to offer as advice to the young boy at this point in the story?
a) Money is the key that opens all locks.
b) It‘s better to ask than to steal.
c) Karma is watching you.
d) Stealing a drum is easy but finding a place to beat it is not.
Answer. B

Question. How does the speaker try to justify his plan to steal from Anil? Pick the statements that are true.
a) He had not done any real work recently.
b) He was out of practice and wanted to resume his trade.
c) Anil did not pay him for his work.
d) Anil would only squander away the money on his friends.
a) Only A
b) Only A and B
c) Only A and C
d) Only C and D.
Answer. D

Question. Pick the option that most nearly corresponds with ‘out of practice’.
a) Stagnating
b) Thriving
c) Roaring
d) Bustling
Answer. A

 

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS 

Question. Why did Hari Singh approach Anil?
Answer. Hari Singh was a thief who had not much luck in his work recently. So, he approached Anil with the intention of robbing him, as he seemed to be an easygoing and simple man. According to Hari, winning Anil‘s confidence was an easy task.

Question. Anil walked away. I followed casually‘. Why do you think the narrator followed Anil?
Answer. The narrator‘s purpose of robbing Anil had not yet been served. He followed Anil to gain his trust and look for an opportunity that may help him give shape to his plans.

Question. Was Hari Singh successful in robbing Anil? Was Anil the only one who was robbed or did Hari also rob himself of something?
Answer. Yes, Hari Singh was successful in robbing Anil. But Anil was not the only one who was robbed at that time. Hari had robbed himself as well. He had lost the chance of receiving education and being literate. He had robbed Anil monetarily but he had robbed himself of the chance for a better and brighter future, which was much more valuable.

Question. What did Anil and Hari agree upon to be the mode of payment?
Answer. When Anil stated his inability to pay Hari, Anil questioned Hari if he could feed Hari. Hari realised that he had misjudged his target and moulded the situation for his benefit. Anil then agreed to feed him if he knew how to cook.

Question. Why did Hari Singh not make many friends?
Answer. Hari Singh did not have friends as he believed that friends were more trouble than help. Moreover, he did not want to make anyone curious.

Question. Why did Hari Singh decide to come back to Anil?
Answer. Hari Singh decided to come back to Anil because he felt that when Anil would come to know about the theft, he would feel sad, not for the loss of money but for the loss of trust. He did not want to lose his trust. 7. Why did Hari Singh choose Anil to be his next victim? Answer. Hari Singh was an experienced thief. He found Anil, a wrestler an easy-going, kind and simple man, the correct person for his purpose. He found him an easy target to win confidence. 8. Why did Had Singh not go to his friend’s house or a hotel just after he missed the train? Answer. Hari Singh did not have any friends and he did not want to make anyone curious about staying at one of the small hotels near the station. 9. Why was the thief able to steal from Anil easily? Answer. Anil was a person who trusted Hari Singh easily. Also, he seemed to be a slightly careless person. Thus, his gullibility and trusting nature made it easy for Hari to rob him. 10. How did Hari Singh know that Anil had forgiven him? Answer. It seems Anil knew about theft but neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything. He gave him fifty rupees and told him that now he would be paid regularly. He informed him that he would teach him to write sentences. It shows that Anil had forgiven him.

 

Long Answer Questions 

Question. Money can‘t make a man as much as education can. Elucidate the statement.
Answer. The statement stands true in almost all the aspects of life. Money may buy us all the luxuries and fulfill our needs but it cannot buy us knowledge, civilized thinking, skills and abilities to achieve our dreams. Education lays the platform for all to act upon our goals according to our abilities. Education enables us to keep up with the fast moving world. It opens the door to opportunities we do not know even exist. Money, on the other hand, can assist us to a certain level. It can buy us a plan but education gives us the knowledge of its execution. Just as in the story ‘A Thief s Story‘, Hari Singh prioritized the chance of being literate over a few hundred rupees; we must understand that education can help us to achieve whatever we desire.

Question. Hari Singh didn‘t board the express and returned to Anil. Why did he return? On what values does this incident put light on?
Answer. Hari Singh was a thief and he had stolen Anil‘s money. After the theft, he realised that he had robbed not only Anil but also himself of the chance of being literate and having a bright future. His conscience pricked him to think what all he could have got had he not done this. It was difficult for him to rob Anil but it was tougher for him not to back. He realised that he could not make tea, buy daily supplies and learn how to read and write then. His inner self did not agree to bypass this and forced him to return. Hari‘s return to Anil shows that despite indulging in criminal acts, he still had a practical and positive attitude towards life. It is the awakening of Hari‘s conscience and Anil‘s love and care that reformed Hari‘s character. It teaches us that love alone can change a person. Anil‘s understanding nature and care changed Hari‘s thinking to mend his ways for good.

Question. The chapter shows Hari Singh’s journey from a thief to an honest man who value friendship and other human values. Do you think it was Anil’s selfless friendship that he Hari to redeem himself? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer. The chapter reveals Hari Singh’s transformation from a thief into an honest person. It was Anil’s selfless friendship that helped Hari to redeem himself. Gradually Hari Singh began to understand human values such as friendship and trust. When he robbed Anil, he felt guilty of having violated the trust that Anil had reposed in him. He could not board the train and missed his chance to get away. Moreover, he valued Anil’s feeling towards him as he knew that after discovering the theft, Anil would not be sad for the loss of money, but for loss of trust.

 

 

1. “I could come and go as I pleased. He was the most trusting person I had ever met”.

a) Other than the freedom of moment what else does the speaker feel happy about?

b) What does the speaker mean by ‘most trusting person’?

c) Who is the speaker speaking about?

d) What character traits of the master does this line reveal?

 

2. He took me to his room over the Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony. But the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and told me to off. But I just hung around, smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn’t help laughing.

 

a) What does ‘I’ refer to?

b) Where did Anil take him?

c) How did Anil react when Hari cooked a bad meal?

d) How did Hari respond to his reaction?

 

3. Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself, and I’m out of practice. And if I don’t take the money,he’ll only waste it on his friends. After all, he doesn’t even pay me.

 

a)What did he tell himself?

b) Why did Hari decide to steal?

c) Does Anil pay Hari a regular salary?

d) What justification does Hari Singh give for stealing Anil’s money?

 

 

1. Who is ‘I’ in this story? Why did he change his name every month?

2. Why did Hari Singh feel bad after stealing the money?

3. What made him come back to Anil?

4. What made him think that he could live like an oil-rich Arab for some time?

5. Why did Hari Singh choose Anil to be his next victim?

 

 

1. Anil plays a major role in the transformation of Hari Singh. Comment on the statement by highlighting the values possessed by Anil which touched Hari’s heart and made him return to his honest ways of earning his livelihood.

2. Who was Anil? How did he treat Hari Singh and how did it influence Hari’s life?