wonder book 5

Approved by the Curriculum Development Centre, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur

5

Editors Course Director Contributors
Yuba Raj Subedi Uday Sharma Anisha Bhattarai
Ishwori Pande
Deependra Rijal Author Sama Kharel
Santosh Bhattarai Sheela Gurung

Published by:
Oasis Publication Pvt. Ltd.
Anamnagar, Kathmandu
Tel.: 01-4224004, Fax: 01-4227718

Edition:
First - 2071
Second -20176 (Revised Edition)

Copyright:
Publisher

Layout and Design:
Focus Computer
Anamnagar, Kathmandu

Illustration:
Kaji Rana Magar

Printed in Nepal

Foreword

Why is literature important? Why should educators, parents and community
members help students develop love and passion for reading?

Giving children access to all genres of literature is extremely important for a number
of reasons. It not only helps in developing cognitive skills but also exposes children
to the wisdom of the ages. It gives students appreciation about their own cultural
heritage as well as those of others.

It fosters emotional intelligence and creativity. It nurtures growth and development of
the student’s personality and social skills. It makes the students think about, analyse,
appreciate, learn from and respond to various underlying themes and messages of
literature.

Wonder is a truly wonderful literature course, with texts gleaned from a variety of
genres and supplemented with engaging activities. As the students begin reading the
texts, they can no more afford to remain passive readers. They are constantly questioned
and asked to respond. Quality literature does not tell the reader everything he or
she needs to know. Rather, it allows for some difference in opinion. One reader may
take something completely different away from a piece of literature than the next
reader, based on the two personal viewpoints and experiences. Students learn to
evaluate and analyse literature, and in the process, they develop as independent
thinkers who can form and express opinions with clarity.

Through this series, we have attempted to foster the culture of reading. Well-read
children of today will certainly go on to build a more cohesive society tomorrow.

We would be delighted to receive your feedback. We pledge to assist all those involved
in the teaching and learning of this series. Do use the resource materials that are
provided free and also feel free to contact us.

Contents

Fairy Tales 5
1. Rapunzel 6
2. Princess Rose and the Golden Bird 11
3. The Adventures of Aladdin 16
4. Bambi 26
Fantasy 36
5. A Witch in a Bottle 37
Fables and Folk Tales 41
6. The Lion's Wedding 42
7. The Monkey and the Crocodile 47
8. Davy Saves the World 52
9. Stone Soup 59
Myths and Legends 67
10. The Devil's Favorite Game 68
11. Samundra Manthan 74
Short Stories 82
12. The Musical Donkey 83
13. A Good Night's Work 87
14. Mitilda 93
Mystery 100
15. The Peanut Butter Thief 100
Non-Fiction 109
16. Kids Collect! 110
17. A Trip to Mahendra Cave 119
18. Looking at the Moon 124
19. Stonehenge: a Riddle 129
Biography 134
20. Malala 135
Poetry 139
21. Be Glad, Your Nose is Your Face 140
22. Father William 144
23. Stupid Technology 149
24. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening 153
25. Underground 157
Play 162
26. Mr. Gautam 163
Nepal Special 172
27. Jhamak Kumari Ghimire 173
28. Mahabir Pun 177
29. The Hunter and the Tiger 182
30. The Hill of the flaming lotus- Swayambhunath Stupa 187
31. Teej 193
Feature 198
32. Exploring our World 199

Fairy Tales

•• Rapunzel
•• Princess Rose and the Golden Bird
•• The Adventures of Aladdin
•• Bambi

A fairy tale, or wonder tale, is a kind of folk tale or fable.
In these stories we meet witches and queens, giants and elves, princes,
dragons, talking animals, ogres, princesses, and sometimes even
fairies.

Magical things happen to characters in fairy tales. A boy
may become a bird. A princess may sleep for a hundred years. Mirrors
talk, pumpkins become carriages, and a genie lives in a lamp.

Many fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time”. They
usually end with “They lived happily ever after.”

What fairy tales have you already read?

A course in English literature Book - 5 5

1 Rapunzel

Before you proceed

a. Have you ever read a story?

b. What happens if you have no hair on your head?

New words
appropriate – suitable or right
miraculously – in an unusual and mysterious way
curse – to say magic words which bring bad luck
weep banished – sent someone away
wandered – moved about without a destination or purpose
regained - got something again

Rapunzel

Long, long ago in a house lived a childless couple. They prayed to
God every day to bless them with a child. One day they found that
God had answered their prayer. They were at last going to have a
baby!

6 A course in English literature Book -5

Their days passed in happiness but the wife fell ill. She would
eat nothing and the husband was worried that she would waste
away. “There is a herb called Rapunzel in the garden next door. I
will feel better if I can eat that,” she said.This garden was owned by
a wicked witch who would let no one enter. But the husband loved
his wife very much and so he decided to go into the garden at a
time when the witch was away. One day, finding an appropriate
time he went into the garden. He had managed to pluck the herb
but as he was about to leave, the wicked witch came back.

“You thief! How dare you enter my garden?” she screamed.
She threatened to put a curse on him. He fell at her feet and
begged, “Please don’t curse me. If my wife doesn’t eat this herb,
she will die. She is going to have a baby and is very ill.”

The witch stopped to think awhile. “I will let you go on one condition.
You will give me the baby after it’s born.” The poor man had no other
way out but to agree.

What did the wicked witch ask for?

He took the herb to his wife and miraculously she soon recovered
and gave birth to a beautiful girl. But as per the agreement the witch
came to take the baby away. She took Rapunzel-for that’s whatshe
named her-far away and locked her in a high tower. The tower
had no doors or stairs. There was only a window on top.

The only person whom Rapunzel ever saw was the wicked
witch. Rapunzel grew up to become beautiful with pretty eyes,a
beautiful voice, and her golden hair grew very, very long. All day
long, when Rapunzel was alone,she would sing and weep.

Every day,the wicked witch came to the tower with food.She stood
at the bottom of the tower and shouted. “Rapunzel! Rapunzel!
Let your hair down!” Rapunzel would drop her long, braided
hair through the window. The witch used the hair as a rope to
climb into the tower.

A course in English literature Book - 5 7

One day, a handsome prince was passing by the tower where
Rapunzel was locked. He heard her melodious voice and fell in love
with her. Unknown to all, he came to the tower every day to hear
her sing. One day, the prince saw the witch climbing up the tower
using Rapunzel’s hair.

The next day, the prince too called out to Rapunzel. “Let down your
hair,” he said. The prince climbed to the top of the tower. After that,
the prince came to meet Rapunzel every night.

Alas! The witch soon discovered the
prince with Rapunzel. She pushed
him from the tower onto a thorny
bush, making him blind. She banished
Rapunzel into a desert far away.

Many years passed. The blind prince
wandered alone and finally reached
the same desert. One day, he heard a
familiar voice singing. Following the
sound, he found her. They hugged each
other in joy. Tears of happiness rolled
down Rapuzel’s cheek. As the tears fell
on the prince’s eyes, he regained his
vision.

The prince took Rapunzel to his kingdom and they lived happily
ever after.

Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human
body next to bone marrow.

8 A course in English literature Book -5

Vocabulary

1. Find as many words as you can from the word grid.

RTPR AYE R P
TNHE R B E Z X
HGCU R S E Y I
I TW I C K E D K
E I0 I L LBNK
F K T 0W E R N Z
S I NG IT I0N

2. Use at least four words from the word grid above to make
sentences of your own.

....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................

A course in English literature Book - 5 9

Comprehension Activities

1. Write T for True and F for false statements.

a. The garden was owned by a wicked witch who would let no
one enter.

b. The only person whom Rapunzel ever saw was her father.
c. Rapunzel grew up to become beautiful with pretty eyes,a

beautiful voice, and her golden hair grew very, very long.
d. The blind prince wandered alone and finally reached the

same desert.
e. As tears fell on the prince’s eyes,he didn’t regain his

vision.

2. Choose the correct answers.

a. Long ago in a house lived a (childless/ hungry) couple.
b. The sick woman gave birth to a (charming/ugly) girl.
c. The tower had (many/no) doors or stairs.
d. The prince fell in love with her (voice/hair).
e. The prince and Rapunzel lived (happily/sadly) ever after.

3. Answer the following questions.

a. What did the wife want to eat?
b. On which condition did the witch let the husband go?
c. Describe how Rapunzel looked.
d. Did the prince regain his vision? How?

Think, Pair and Share

If you were locked in your room for a few hours, would you be crying
all the time? What would you do? How would you pass the time?

Think of different things you would do to avoid being bored and discuss
with others and share your ideas in the class.

10 A course in English literature Book -5

Princess Rose and 2
the Golden Bird

Before you proceed

Do you believe in the fairy tale in which everything changes by the

blessing or the curse?

New words
enchanting - attractive
nightmares - bad dream
sprinkled - bathed
revealed - displayed, exposed
instantly - right now, immediately
delighted - became happy

Princess Rose and the Golden Bird

Many many years ago,there lived a beautiful princess in a kingdom. She
had long red hair and loved roses so much that everyone called her Princess
Rose. Every evening She went to the balcony and clapped her hands. A
golden bird came and delighted her.

When the bird started to sing an enchanting tune she also joined and
everyone in the kingdom fell asleep with sweet dreams. The years passed
in the same way.

One day a wicked witch learned about Princess Rose and decided to curse
her. Instantly her hair turned as black as tar.

A course in English literature Book - 5 11

This evening when she went to the balcony and clapped her hands. The
golden bird appeared, her hair glowed black instead of red. They sang
song together but that day everyone in the kingdom had bad dreams and
nightmares.

The following day the princess asked the bird, “Tell me golden bird, how
I can make my people’s dreams so sweet.”

“Black hair in rose water,” the bird chirped in reply.

She filled up a basin with water and sprinkled rose petals on its surface.
She dipped her hair into the rose water and instantly turned red again.

That evening Princess sang her song and everyone in the kingdom fell
asleep and had sweet dreams.

The witch became so angry that her curse had been broken. Then the
Princess’s hair again turned into black. This time the witch picked up all
the roses in the entire kingdom.

Do you think they could break her curse after then?

Once again the saddened princess asked the bird, “Tell me golden bird,how
I can make my people’s dreams so sweet.”

“Black hair in rose water,” the bird chirped in reply.

“But where should I find a rose?”

Eating before bed can cause nightmares. That extra
food means that our body is going to boost its
metabolism and temperature which leads to more
brain activity during sleep. The study also revealed
just going to bed on a full stomach, whatever we ate,
can cause nightmare-inducing brain waves.

12 A course in English literature Book -5

“Black hair in rose water,” the bird chirped and flew away.
The princess did not know what to do so she started weeping. At the
meantime a young and handsome prince came and took out a little box
and a single red hair. When he placed it in princess’s tear, it turned into a
red rose.
The prince took it and handed to her. Again she put it in the basin and
dipped her hair in the water. The curse was broken. Everyone got amazed
and asked the prince, “Where did you find that red hair?”
The prince shared his childhood memories in which both of them kept
one each other‘s single strand of hair as a sign of loyalty. Both of them
revealed the truth to confirm the people.
Everyone delighted with the news. They got married on that same day
Eventually many roses could be seen in the garden all over the kingdom.
Each evening Princesa Rose sang her loving song so that all people fell
asleep and had sweet dreams till morning.

Vocabulary

1. Make sentences by using the following words.
balcony
kingdom
reply
handed
delighted

A course in English literature Book - 5 13

Comprehension Activities

1. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the passage.

wicked, rose, memories, enchanting, black,


a. The princess and the bird sang ………… tune.
b. The witch was ………. actually.
c. The hair turned ……. when the wish had been broken.
d. The prince shared childhood …….. with the people.
e. The princess could see a garden full of … in the kingdom.

2. State whether the following statements are True of False.

a. The golden bird helped the princess all the time.
b. The song of the princess made the people in the kingdom

sleep nicely.
c. The curse of the witch did not affect the princes.
d. The witch took out all the roses from the kingdom.
e. The story has sad ending.

3. Answer the following questions.

a. What did princess Rose do at the balcony every evening?
b. When did people start having sweet dreams?
c. What happened when the witch cursed her?
d. Why did the people in the kingdom have bad dreams?
e. Where did the young prince find a single strand of the princess?

14 A course in English literature Book -5

Literary Terms

Most of the stories have either happy ending or sad ending. This sort of
elements can be found in the stories or in the dramas. In the story, if the
problem of main characters is solved, or ends with happy moment or re-
union in relation can be observed, this is called comic element and if the
story ends with loss of life of main character, problems and sadness, then
the element of the story is known as tragic story.

Think, Pair and Share

If the young prince had not kept strand of hair with him, what would have
happened at last. Imagine the different endings of the story and share it
with your friends.

Project Activity

Find a story with happy ending and one more story with sad ending in
your book. Then write what is sad and happy about the characters, in the
stories.

A course in English literature Book - 5 15

3 The Adventures
of Aladdin

Before you proceed

If you were given Rs.100,000 to spend in a day, what would you
do? How would you spend it? Discuss and tell your answer to the
class.

let's meet the characters from the story.

Aladdin Aladdin's mother Princess Jasmine Magician King

New words

Learn some new words and their antonyms.

words antonyms words antonyms
dead - alive down - up
poor - rich vanished - appeared
happy - sad beautiful - ugly
opened - closed

16 A course in English literature Book -5

The Adventures of Aladdin

Aladdin was a young boy who lived with his mother in a place called
Arabia. One day, a magician visited Aladdin's house. He smiled at
Aladdin's mother and said, "I am your husband's brother. I can help you.
Look! Here is some money."

"Oh, Aladdin!" cried his mother. "This is your uncle. Run and get
some food!"

"Your son must work. He can work for me," said the magician. Aladdin's
mother was happy to hear this.

But Aladdin wasn't happy because he didn't like to work.

The magician took Aladdin to the hills. He did some magic and the ground
opened up.

"Open that door," he said to Aladdin. "There's a cave of gold down there,"
said the magician. "Go through that cave, but don't take any gold. Then
there's a garden. Go through the garden to a small cave. There's an old
lamp there. Get it for me!"

"Are you afraid?
Here! Put this ring
on your finger. It
can help you. Now,
go!"

Aladdin went down
and got the lamp.

He didn't take any
gold. But he took
some strange fruit
from the garden.

A course in English literature Book - 5 17

"Uncle, can you help me?" he called.

"Where's the lamp?" said the magician angrily.

"Give me the lamp. The lamp!"

Now suddenly Aladdin was afraid of his uncle. "Stay down there, then!"
cried the magician. Bang! And he closed the door of the cave.

What did the magician do ? Do you think he will help Aladdin?

The magician left Aladdin alone in the cave.

It was dark. Aladdin cried and rubbed his hands. By accident, he rubbed
the ring and suddenly a big red genie appeared.

"I am the genie of the ring," he said.
"What do you want?" "I want to go
home," Aladdin cried.

And suddenly he was at home in
bed. His mother came in and saw
the lamp.

"Oh! I can sell this to buy food," she
thought. "But I must clean it first."

Aladdin's mother rubbed the
lamp. And a very big orange genie
appeared.

"I am the genie of the lamp," he said. "What do you want?"
How many genies appeared in total

and from where?

"Oh!" cried Aladdin. "Get us something to eat!"

18 A course in English literature Book -5

The genie vanished and came back with silver trays of wonderful food.

"That bad man was not your uncle," said Aladdin's mother. "Put that old
lamp away. We can sell these trays."

Aladdin took the silver trays to the market. Then he remembered the fruit.

He ran and got it. He went to sell it to a man.

"Mmm ... these are jewels! And they're very big and very expensive;' said
the shopkeeper.

Suddenly everybody was quiet. Princess Jasmine walked past.

"Oh! She is beautiful!" cried Aladdin.

He ran home to tell his mother.

"Mother, I want to marry Princess Jasmine," said Aladdin.

"I must marry her or die! Oh! Please, Mother, go and ask the king! Take
him all these expensive jewels."
So Aladdin's mother went to the palace and waited. At last the king saw
her.
"Oh please, sir," she said. "My son wants to marry your daughter. Look,
sir! He gives you all these big jewels, sir."
"Very nice," said the king. "But I must think about it. Come back in three
months."

What would happen after three months?

Aladdin's mother came back three months later and the king thought, "Not
that poor woman again!"

And he said, "Tell your son this. I want forty more trays of jewels. And
I want a gold palace for my daughter, next to my palace. Then he can
marry her."

A course in English literature Book - 5 19

"I'm sorry, Aladdin;' said his mother. And she told him about the jewels
and the gold palace.

But Aladdin smiled. He took out the magic lamp and rubbed it. "Forty
trays of jewels, please," Aladdin told the genie. "And a gold palace in
the king's garden, next to his palace.

"I want new
clothes, a white
horse, and a
hundred men
to go with me.
They must all
carry bags of
money."

"Yes! You can
have it," said the
genie.

And so Aladdin went to the palace on a beautiful white horse. His men
gave money to the poor people in the streets.

"Oh! Who is this prince?" everybody asked. "Where's the new palace?"said
the king.

"Look out of the window," Aladdin said.

And there was a big gold palace in the garden. What could the king say?

"All right, you can marry my daughter!"

And so Aladdin married Princess Jasmine. They were very happy. And
every day Aladdin's men gave food and money to all the poor people in
the streets.

But far away the bad magician saw something in the stars. "Aladdin is
alive and he has the lamp! I must get it. I must have that lamp. I must!"

20 A course in English literature Book -5

So he dressed as a poor
man and went to Arabia
again. There he asked, "Do
you know somebody called
Aladdin?"

"Oh yes!" everybody said.
"He married Princess
Jasmine. He lives in that big
gold palace. He comes out
every day on his horse."

The magician went to the
market to buy some new lamps. Then he walked up and down near the
palace and called out, "New lamps for old! New lamps for old!"

He didn't want any money so people laughed at him. But some of them ran
to give him their old lamps and get nice new, clean lamps.

Princess Jasmine saw all this from a window in the palace.

Aladdin has a dirty old lamp," she laughed.

"Quick! Take it out to that strange man and get Aladdin a nice new, clean
lamp."

So her maid ran out with the old magic lamp.

The magician knew it well. He gave the girl a new lamp. Then he took
the old lamp and ran away with it.

He rubbed it and the genie appeared.

"Take Aladdin's palace away," the magician cried. "And everything in it!"

Then Aladdin's palace vanished. "Where's my daughter?" cried the king.
"You must die for this, Aladdin!"

The king's men tied Aladdin's hands with a rope. By accident the rope

A course in English literature Book - 5 21

rubbed the ring on Aladdin's
finger. And the big red genie
appeared.

"Quick!" Aladdin cried. "Take
me to Princess Jasmine!"
"Oh, Aladdin," cried Princess
Jasmine. "My husband!" She
told him everything.

"And now the magician wants
me to marry him," she said.

"Where is the lamp?" asked Aladdin.

"He carries it with him under his coat."

"Listen!" Aladdin said. "Be nice to him. Smile! Give him a drink tonight."

"Come! Drink with me!" Princess Jasmine said to the magician.
"Ladies, sing, please!"

The princess and the magician sat and listened.

Then Princess Jasmine smiled. She gave the magician a drink. Aladdin
quietly put something into that drink. The magician drank it and went to
sleep.

"Tie him up and take him out of the palace!" Aladdin told his men. Then
he rubbed the magic lamp and the genie appeared.

"Quick! Take this palace and everything in it back to Arabia," Aladdin
cried.

"Yes, sir!" said the genie.

And so the king got his daughter back and Aladdin got his lovely wife.

And they never saw the bad magician again.

22 A course in English literature Book -5

Vocabulary

1. Solve this crossword by writing the antonyms of the words
given below:

13

2a e

4p

across 5r h down
2. dead 1. happy
4. down u 3. ugly
5. poor 6c
6. open e

2. Use each of following words to make sentence of your own
close ................................................................................................
ugly ................................................................................................
princess ................................................................................................
palace ................................................................................................
tonight ................................................................................................

A course in English literature Book - 5 23

Comprehension Activities

1. Complete the following sentences using the words below.

orange genie Aladdin’s the magician

New lamps for old red genie

a. By accident he rubbed the ring and suddenly a big
…………………………………… appeared.

b. Aladdin’s mother rubbed the lamp. And a very big
…………………………………… appeared.

c. The magician walked up and down near the palace and called
out ‘……………………………………!’

d. The king’s men tied …………………………………… hands
with rope.

e. princess Jasmine smiled and gave .................................. a
drink.

2. Who said the following lines, to whom and when?

a. “I am the genie of the ring.”
b. “I am the genie of the lamp.”
c. “Oh! She is beautiful.”
d. “My son wants to marry your daughter. Look, sir! He gives

you all these big jewels, sir.”
e. “But I must think about it. Come back in three months.”
f. “Come! Drink with me.”
g. “Take Aladdin’s palace away.”

3. Answer the following questions.

a. Who offered work to Aladdin?

24 A course in English literature Book -5

b. What was Aladdin’s first wish?
c. Where did Aladdin first meet Princess Jasmine?
d. After how many months did the king ask Aladdin’s mother to

come back?
e. What did the king ask Aladdin’s mother for?
f. How did the magician take Aladdin’s magic lamp?
g. What did Aladdin ask Princess Jasmine to do to the

magician?
h. Do you think Aladdin was clever? Why?

Literary Terms

A protagonist is the main character in a story. A protagonist has at least
some good qualities. In most stories, we also find someone who challenges
the protagonist. He or she is called an antagonist. An antagonist represents
evil or something bad. Now read ‘The adventures of Aladdin’ and answer
the following questions.

a. Who is the protagonist in the story?
b. Who is the antagonist in the story?

Creative Writing

Write a short note on Aladdin.

Think, Pair and Share

Do you like the ending of the story? Why/Why not? Share your answer in
the class.

Project Activity

How many characters are there in this story? Make groups, choose a role
and act this story in your classroom. One of the students can be the narrator.
Have a competition in your class and see which group does it best.

A course in English literature Book - 5 25

4 Bambi

Before you proceed

a. How many animals can you see in the picture?
b. Who is the king of the forest?

New words an area of trees and bushes growing together
thicket - came near something
pushed gently
approached - ran with small quick steps
a deep narrow valley, especially among the mountains
nudged - sat on something
a field with grass
scampered - to search and discover
walked in an energetic way
glen -

perched -

meadow -

explore -

pranced -

Bambi

It was spring season. Everyone was excited. “It has happened!” “Have you
heard?” “Over in the thicket!” “Come and see!”

A magpie flew by old Owl, who was taking his daily nap. “Wake up,
Friend Owl! The young prince is born! Come on! You’d better hurry!”

Owl usually preferred to spend his days sleeping.

26 A course in English literature Book -5

But when he heard the news, he woke right up and flew to the thicket.
After all, today was special. A young prince was born today!

What made the Owl make up?

The animals quietly approached the thicket. They saw a newborn baby
deer sleeping by his proud mother. She gently nudged the tiny fawn and
whispered, “Wake up. You have visitors.”

The fawn slowly opened his new eyes. His new legs were shaky when
he tried to stand up. He looked around curiously at the creatures that had
come to admire him.

A friendly baby rabbit named Thumper hopped over to the mother deer,
“What’re you going
to call him?”

“I think I’ll name
him Bambi.”

“Bambi? Yep, I
guess that’ll do.”
Then Thumper
and the other
visitors hopped and
scampered away.
The young prince
went back to his
nap.

By the time Summer came, Prince Bambi was strong enough to explore
the forest with his mother.

“Come along, Bambi,” she said one morning. “It’s time you saw other
parts of the forest.” The little fawn followed his mother out of the glen.

Hello, young prince!” The chorus of voices came from above.

A course in English literature Book - 5 27

Bambi looked up to see a possum family, hanging by their tails, as possums
do. He was puzzled. Who were these upside-down folk? Bambi turned his
head this way and that, trying to get a proper look at them.

Another voice came from nearby. “Hi, Bambi!” It was Thumper, who was
eating clover with his family. “Let’s go have some fun,” suggested the
little rabbit. That seemed like a fine idea, so Bambi followed Thumper.

The two friends came upon some birds perched on a low branch. Bambi
stared at them closely. “Those are birds,” explained Thumper, “Say bird.”

Bambi took a deep breath, “Bird!”

Thumper hopped up and down excitedly. “He talked! He talked! The
young prince can talk!”

Then a butterfly landed on Bambi’s tail. “Bird!” he said, feeling very proud
of himself.

Just then, out from the flowers popped a black and white face with two
bright eyes. “Pretty flower!” said Bambi.

No one had ever called a skunk that before. Thumper rocked with laughter.
The bashful little skunk just
smiled. “Oh, that’s all right, he
can call me flower if he wants
to. I don’t mind.”

Late that Summer, Bambi’s
mother took him to the
meadow. She moved carefully
and sniffed the wind. “You
must be very careful on the
meadow, Bambi. Out there we
are unprotected. There are no
trees to hide us.”

When his mother was sure it

28 A course in English literature Book -5

was safe, she let Bambi go towards the grassy meadow. He was surprised
to see a little girl fawn about his own age. Her name was Faline, and she
and Bambi soon became great friends.
One day in early Fall, as Bambi and his friends were playing on the
meadow, a mighty deer rushed out from the trees. It was the Forest King.
He signalled everyone to leave the meadow. In the distance, Bambi could
hear the loud, frightening noise of guns.
Immediately Bambi and his mother raced for the safety of the thicket.
Bambi was frightened.
When it became quiet again, he lifted his head. “I don’t understand,
Mother. Why did we run?”

Who came in the forest?

Bambi’s mother was still alertly watching the path from the meadow. Then
she turned to her son. “MAN … was in the forest.”
One cold morning Bambi awoke to a startling sight. “Mother! What’s all
this white stuff?”
“Why, it’s snow. Winter has come to the forest.”
Bambi stepped out of the thicket carefully and was surprised when his feet
sank deep into the soft, white snow.

A course in English literature Book - 5 29

The fawn was delighted. The snow became a game. He pranced all about
in the chilly air, leaving hoof-prints in the snow.

From a nearby pond Thumper called to him. “Hey, Bambi! Come on over
here. It’s all right. See? The water’s stiff!”

Bambi trotted confidently out onto the frozen pond. But as soon as his tiny
hooves touched the ice, his hind legs slipped and down he crashed.

Thumper laughed and laughed. “You have to watch both ends at the same
time!” Bambi blinked his large eyes, got up carefully, and slid across the
ice to Thumper. “Some fun, huh, Bambi?” They had a wonderful time.

The winter months passed slowly. Food became scarce and Bambi’s
mother had to strip bark from the trees to eat.

At last the snow melted and Spring came. Owl awoke from his nap. “My!
If it isn’t the young prince. How fine you look! And you’ve grown a pair
of antlers.”

Owl wasn’t the only one who admired Bambi’s new antlers. His childhood
friend Faline also thought they were fine. She had grown up, too. She
was now a graceful and lovely doe. She walked up to Bambi and touched
noses. Bambi fell in love with Faline.

What happened when the man entered the forest?

Months passed. Again came a time when MAN entered the forest.

He brought his guns and fire.

Bambi sensed that something was wrong. He left Faline and went to the
edge of a tall cliff. Looking down, he saw a campfire. As he watched, a
spark from that fire started to burn some bush. The fire spread quickly.

Bambi hurried to warn Faline and the other animals. They all raced out of
the forest. Down from the trees ran the squirrels, from under the ground
scurried the ground hogs, away from their nests flew.

30 A course in English literature Book -5

But Spring came again to the forest,
and green grass and flowers covered
the scars left by the fire.
Once again the air was alive with
excitement. This time it was Friend
Owl who spread the great news.
“Come quickly, everybody. To the
thicket!” And all the forest creatures
rushed to see what had happened.
There was Faline. She was resting
quietly with two new fawns. Owl’s great yellow eyes widened in surprise.
“Look”! Twins! And a healthier pair I’ve never seen. King Bambi must be
mighty proud!”
Rabbits and squirrels, raccoons and birds looked on in awe.

One of the fawns stood up on his wobbly little legs. He tottered over to a
clear space in the screen of trees and peered through the bush toward the
edge of a great cliff. His father Bambi was standing there. Bambi was now

A course in English literature Book - 5 31

the King of the Forest. Someday, this young prince would grow up and
become King, just like his father.

VoVcoacbaublaurlyary

1. Match the following words with their meanings. Write the
letters in the boxes.

a. thicket a field with grass

b. nudge to push gently
c. approach to sit on something

d. scamper run with small quick steps

e. glen to come near something
f. perch
an area of trees and bushes
g. meadow growing together

a deep narrow valley, usually
among the mountains

2. Use each of the following words in a sentence of your own.

friendly slowly proud winter summer

Comprehension Activities

1. Write T for true and F for false statements.

a. Bambi was a tiger.
b. Bambi was born as the prince of the forest.
c. Bambi fell in love with Faline.
d. Bambi and his son informed everyone about the fire in the

forest.
e. Bambi became the king of the forest.

32 A course in English literature Book -5

2. Who said these and to whom?

a. “Wake up, Friend Owl!”
..............................................................................................

b. “Let’s go have some fun.”
..............................................................................................

c. “You must be very careful on the meadow.”
..............................................................................................

d. “Winter is sure long, isn’t it, Mother?”
..............................................................................................

e. “Come quickly, everybody. To the thicket!”
..............................................................................................
3. Answer the following questions.

a. What did the fawn do when he first woke up from his sleep?
b. What was the name of the young prince?
c. Why did they have to be careful in the meadow?
d. What happened in winter?
e. What did the man bring with him?
f. Do you find it surprising that a deer is the king of forest?

Suppose there is a lion in the forest. Would the lion accept
the deer as the king?

4. The sentences are not in correct order. Put the sentences in order by
numbering them from 1 to 5.

The fawn slowly opened his new eyes.
The winter months passed slowly.
Once again the air was alive with excitement.
A young prince was born today!
Bambi hurried to warn Faline and the other animals.

A course in English literature Book - 5 33

Write Long Answer

a. Why did the deer become the king of the forest?
b. Write a short note on Bambi.

Creative Writing

How was the firing in the jungle? Write in a paragraph.

Think, Pair and Share

Who becomes the king? What does the king do? Tell your ideas in the
class.

Project Activity

Trace over the dots and complete the picture. Also colour the picture.

34 A course in English literature Book -5

A course in English literature Book - 5 35

Fantasy

●● A Witch in a Bottle

Fantasy is a story where magical things happen. It may
have strange characters and fantastic places. In a fantasy world,
anything is possible because it does not follow the natural laws.
Alice in Wonderland is an example of fantasy. So are the
Harry Potter books.

A Witch in a Bottle 5

Before you proceed
a. Have you visited any monastery?

b. Have you seen monks there?

c. What do they do there?

New words - monastery
- seal
priory - unseen
cork - poisonous or magical properties
invisible - bring back
potions - place under the ground.
retrieve
buried

A Witch in a Bottle

At the Priory of St. Peter in Dunstable, on a cold winter's morning, a local
woman called Sally was condemned of witchcraft by the monks. She was
slowly burned down. Her cat and broomstick were burning down.

But Sally did not choose to go quietly as some did. She died loudly,
screaming and cursing to her last breath. She threatened a terrible revenge
on the monks who had condemned her.

The monks quickly found out that Sally was far more trouble dead than
when she had been alive! Mysterious things began to happen. Invisible
hands boxed the monk's ears; the church altar candles lighted and stroke

A course in English literature Book - 5 37

Witchcraft is believed to be the practice of magic ,
especially black magic in which there is the use of
spells. Witches are known today as followers of
Wicca, a pagan nature religion with roots in pre-
Christian western Europe. Wicca is now undergoing
a revival, especially in the United States and Great
Britain

with an evil green glow.

What would happen to the monk due to fear?

When Sally's ghostly fingers touched the prayer books, the covers were
burnt. The monks could not pray in peace or sleep at night. It was driving
them mad!

A pilgrim was finally called to remove Sally's ghost, in a special church
service but the troublesome witch would still not go quietly.

When the pilgrim began to work, he was struck round the head with a
powerful force that threw him to the ground. As the pilgrim struggled to
his feet, a group of pilgrims froze in fear as the witch's threatful laughter
rang from the above.

But the pilgrim himself was clever and skillful and he finally tricked the
witch by putting a witch's attraction in a bottle. It was a secret mixture,
known only to a few people, of herbs and potions.

The object soon attracted the attention of the witch and when Sally's
curious ghost went to investigate, the pilgrim pushed the cork into the
bottle tight! He gave a warning that the bottle must never be broken or the
witch would escape and take terrible revenge on everyone.

Do you think the bottle would ever be broken?

The bottle was buried in a secret place in the priory grounds, just to make

38 A course in English literature Book - 4

sure any friends of the witch could not retrieve it. However, as nobody
knew where it was buried, it was said there were no more burials in the
priory churchyard, just in case the buried bottle was accidentally broken,
releasing the ghost of the wicked witch of Dunstable.

VoVcoacbaublaurlyary

1. Find the words from the story that have the following meaning.

a. rescue c. to conduct an inquiry

b. take action against d. difficult to understand

2. Re-arrange the jumbled letters to make correct words.
a. grimpil
b. urchch
c. lebott
d. etcrsc
e. snkmo

Comprehension Activities

1. Write T for true and F for False statements. 39

a. Sally was real witchcraft.
b. She threatened a terrible revenge on the monks.
c. The plan of locking Witch into a bottle failed.
d. The bottle was buried near the monastery.
e. The witch gave a lot of trouble to the monks.

2. Answer the following questions.

a. Who condemned Sally? What was she condemned as?
b. Why did Sally threaten the monk?
c. What happened when the pilgrim began to work?
d. How did the pilgrim keep the witch into the bottle?
e. Where was the bottle buried?

A course in English literature Book - 5

Write Long Answer

a. How was the witch trapped?
b. Why was the bottle buried so secretly?

Literary Terms

Fantasy is a type of story which tells us about the world which normally
cannot be found in real life. Fantasy often involves magic and imagination.
Often the story involves gods and goddesses or talking animals who might
wear clothes and live in the houses like humans.
Fantasy is something that cannot happen in the real world.

Think, Pair and Share

If you were the story writer of a witch in a bottle, would you end the
story in the same way? How would the witch take revenge after releasing
from the bottle? Collect the ideas from your friends and draw a conclusion
before presenting in the class.

Project Activity

Go into the google search for ‘A Ship in a Bottle’. Read the text and you
can watch video in You Tube. Present the main theme of it in the class.

40 A course in English literature Book - 4

Fables and Folk Tales

●● The Lion's Wedding
●● The Monkey and the Crocodile
●● Davy Saves the World
●● Stone Soup

A fable is a short story that teaches a lesson. Often a fable ends
with a moral. The moral is a sentence that explains the lesson. Many
fables are about animals. The animals act as though they are people.
The animals speak to one another and Sometimes to people.
A folktale is a made-up story that took place long ago. People
have told folk tales many times over many years. Parents tell them to
their children. One day they will tell the stories to their children. Like
all stories, folk tales have characters, settings, and plots. Characters
are the people, animals, or things that the story has. The setting is the
time and place in which the story happens. The plot is what happens.

The Lion's

6 Wedding

Before you proceed
a. Have you ever attended anyone’s wedding? How did

you find it?

b. Was it fun? Which of these animals have you seen?

New words

priest - a person who performs puja in a temple
entertain - to keep a group of people interested

The Lion’s Wedding

Once upon a time, there lived a lion in a great big jungle. He was
young and strong. One day, he saw a beautiful lioness walking by.
He fell in love with her and wanted to get married. After talking to
a priest, he selected the wedding date. The lion wanted to invite all
the animals of the jungle. “Maybe this way they will understand
that I am not bad,” he thought.
So, he went through the forest to invite the animals. First he met
an elephant. “You must come to my wedding, dear elephant,” said
the lion. “You can blow the trumpet.”

42 A course in English literature Book -5

“Y... Ye... yes, sir! D....D....definitely!” said the elephant. Then the
lion met a monkey. He said
to the monkey, “You are a good
dancer, dear friend!
You must come to my
wedding to entertain the
guests!” The mon-
key nodded and
went away.

After walking for a while, the lion met a bear. “Please collect some
fresh honey for the wedding, dear bear!” said the lion. “Sure...”
said the bear. He did not look at the lion.
In this way, the lion invited the crow, the cat, the elephant, the

fox, the jackal, the monkey,
the bear, the camel and the
giraffe. But no one came to
the wedding. The lion was
very sad.

After some days, all
the animals were
sitting together and
discussing.
The bear asked
the elephant,
“Why didn’t you
go to the lion’s
wedding?”

A course in English literature Book - 5 43

“I am strong, but I, am afraid of the lion,” the elephant replied.
Then he asked the bear, “Why didn’t you go there, my friend?”
“I could not collect enough honey! The lion would have been upset.
He might have killed me,” said the bear.
The monkey said, “I was so afraid of the lion that I would not have
been able to dance.”
“That is true, my friends!” said the wise crow. “We cannot share
our happiness with someone we are afraid of!” Thus, because of
their fear, no one went to the lion’s wedding.

Vocabulary

1. Make a sentence using each of the following words.

jungle : .....................................................................................
dancer : .....................................................................................
guests : .....................................................................................
afraid : .....................................................................................
wise : .....................................................................................

44 A course in English literature Book -5

Comprehension Activities

1 Fill in the blanks with the words given below.

discussing strong young honey

a. The lion was ........................... and ........................................
b. After some days, all the animals were sitting together and ......

.............................................
c. The bear could not collect enough ..........................................

2 Answer the following questions.

a. What did the lion see?
b. Who was a good dancer?
c. Why didn’t anyone go to the lion’s wedding?
d. If you were in the lion’s place, what would you do?

3 Make a list of animals who were invited to the lion’s wedding.

4 Write down the abilities of each character given below.

a. elephant
b. monkey
c. bear

Literary Terms

A theme of a story means a message in the story. Themes may
also refer to the lessons to be learnt from the story. Sometimes, a
story can have more than one message. What is a theme of ‘Lion’s
wedding’? Can you connect the theme of the story with your
classroom environment?

Sometimes, writers give human qualities to non-humans. This is called

A course in English literature Book - 5 45

personification. Especially in fables and folktales, most characters
are personified. That means the non-human characters are treated
as humans. Are the characters in ‘Lion’s wedding’ personified? What
personal qualities are given to Lion?

Identify the personification in the following sentences. Look at this
example first.

I was very ashamed of myself. I felt even the desks and benches were
laughing at me.

The desks and benches are personified. They are shown as capable
of laughing, which is a human quality.

a. The flowers smiled at us.
b. The sky was crying. The tear of heaven was falling.
c. The wind swiftly came and told me to move into the room.
d. The happy kites flew high in the sky.

Creative Writing

Can you talk to your teacher confidently? Do you have fear of him/her?
Why? Why not? Write in a paragraph.

Think, Pair and Share

Do you share your problems with father or mother in the family? And
why?

Project Activity

Make a beautiful invitation card for your birthday and show it to your
teacher.

46 A course in English literature Book -5

The Monkey and 7
the Crocodile

Before you proceed
a. How many friends do you have?
b. Are they similar in age, sex, family background,

interest?
c. What characters of your friends do you prefer?

New words

generous - very kind

pretended - imitated, to hold before.

aghast - terrified, fear and surprise

dilemma - a situation in which a choice must be
made between two alternatives.

scampered - ran quickly

The Monkey and the Crocodile

Once upon a time, a clever monkey lived in a tree that bore juicy,
red rose apples. He was very happy. One fine day, a crocodile swam
up to that tree and told the monkey that he had traveled a long
distance and was in search of food as he was very hungry. The kind
monkey offered him a few rose apples. The crocodile enjoyed them

A course in English literature Book - 5 47

very much and asked the monkey whether he could come again for
some more fruit. The generous monkey happily agreed.

The crocodile returned the next day. And the next. And the next one
after that. Soon the two became very good friends. They discussed
their lives, their friends and family, like all friends do. The crocodile
told the monkey that he had a wife and that they lived on the other
side of the river. So the kind monkey offered him some extra rose
apples to take home to his wife. The crocodile’s wife loved the rose
apples and made her husband promise to get her some every day.

Meanwhile, the friendship between the monkey and the crocodile
deepened as they spent more and more time together. The
crocodile’s wife started getting jealous. She wanted to put an end
to this friendship. So she pretended that she could not believe that
her husband could be friends with a monkey. Her husband tried
to convince her that he and the monkey shared a true friendship.
The crocodile’s wife thought to herself that if the monkey lived on
a diet of rose monkeys, his flesh would be very sweet. So she asked
the crocodile to invite the monkey to their house.

Could the crocodile fulfil the desire of his wife?

48 A course in English literature Book -5

The crocodile was not happy about this. He tried to make the excuse
that it would be difficult to get the monkey across the river. But his
wife was determined to eat the monkey’s flesh. So she thought of a
plan. One day, she pretended to be very ill and told the crocodile that
the doctor said that she would only recover if she ate a monkey’s
heart. If her husband wanted to save her life, he must bring her his
friend’s heart.

The crocodile was aghast. He was in a dilemma. On the one hand,
he loved his friend. On the other, he could not possibly let his wife
die. The crocodile’s wife threatened him saying that if he did not
get her the monkey’s heart, she would surely die.

So the crocodile went to the rose apple tree and invited the monkey
to come home to meet his wife. He told the monkey that he could
ride across the river on the crocodile’s back. The monkey happily
agreed. As they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile began
to sink. The frightened monkey asked him why he was doing that.
The crocodile explained that he would have to kill the monkey
to save his wife’s life. The clever monkey told him that he would
gladly give up his heart to save the life of the crocodile’s wife, but
he had left his heart behind in the rose apple tree. He asked the
crocodile to make haste and turn back so that the monkey could get
his heart from the apple tree.

Did the monkey really leave his heart in the rose apple tree?

The silly crocodile quickly swam back to the rose apple tree. The
monkey scampered up the tree to safety. He told the crocodile to
tell his wicked wife that she had married the biggest fool in the
world.

A course in English literature Book - 5 49

Although crocodiles have 24 ultra-sharp teeth,
they never chew their food. They can live long
time without food. They eat only 50 full meals
in a year and take fast rest of the time.

VoVcoacbaublaurlyary

1. Match the following words with their opposite meanings.

silly slowly

gladly greedy

friends wise

generous enemies

quickly sadly

Comprehension Activities

1. fill in the blanks with appropriate words

a. The crocodile had travelled long distance in search of ………
b. The monkey was … so he gave apples to his friends everyday.
c. The wife of crocodile wanted to end their …………..
d. He must bring monkey’s ……… to save his wife.
e. The crocodile was so ………. in comparison with monkey.

2. Answer the following questions.

a. Why was the monkey very happy?
b. How did he help the crocodile?
c. Why did the monkey offer crocodile some extra apples?

50 A course in English literature Book -5