English Literature- Std.

9
Prose
Journey by Night
-Norah Burke
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Ref. I. He ran for these things. They used fuel recklessly to get the water hot soon. They
laid steaming cloths on the childs belly. But after a bit, Sher Singhs mother said, He must
be carried into hospital at Kalaghat.
1. Whom does he refer to? What things did he run for?
Ans: He refers to the protagonist of the story, twelve year old Sher Singh, who was a child of
the jungle. He ran for the sticks in order to be able to start the fire, the dung, the water and even
tore up the rag.
2. Who is the child referred to in the extract? What ailment was he suffering from? What
was the mothers reaction to the illness? Why?
Ans: The child referred to in the extract is Sher Singhs younger brother Kunwar, who lay in a
hut with a pain in his stomach that was getting worse. The mother did not react to the illness. She
did not smile nor weep. This is because the mother had lived through the misery of seeing her
children gradually move towards death. She had lost other children to cholera, influenza and
jungle accidents.
3. Where was Kalaghat? How did Sher Singh hope to reach there?
Ans: Kalaghat was at least fifty miles away from the village. Sher Singh hoped to reach there by
getting through the jungle and crossing two rivers. He then hoped to get a lift in a bullock cart or
perhaps even a broken-down truck for the last part of the journey.
4. How did Sher Singh react when his mother mentioned the word hospital? Why?
Ans: When Sher Singhs mother mentioned the word hospital, something took him by the
throat. The reality of the situation struck him. He was certain that his brother was dying as, for
the jungle people, the hospital was the place for the doomed.
5. What did the boy suggest he would do? How did his mother respond to his suggestion?
What does this tell us about her?
Ans: The boy said that he would run for his father, but his mother told him that it would be too
late, as she knew that it would be days before Sher Singh found him. This tells us that she was
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practical enough to judge that it would result in a delay which would only make matters worse. It
was her wise decision taken in the absence of her husband which saves the life of her son.
Ref. II. But whenever there was an expedition into the jungle in search of big game, either
to shoot or photograph them, they sent for this man, Bahadur the Brave.
1. Who was Bahadur the Brave? Why was he given this title?
Ans: Sher Singhs father was known far and wide as Sher Singh Bahadur- the Brave, a famous
shikari, with the title Bahadur added to his name like a medal because of all he had done and his
varied deeds of courage.
2. Where did Bahadur live? What was his usual occupation? What else did he do?
Ans: Sher Singh Bahadur lived in Laldwani village. His usual occupation involved grazing his
animals and cultivating his bit of land. However, his simple life was occasionally marked by
adventure. Whenever there was an expedition into the jungle in search of big game, either to
shoot or photograph them, he was sent for as he was very well acquainted with the forests at the
foot of the hills.
3. Why did members of expeditions want Bahadur the Brave to join them?
Ans: Bahadur the Brave had a thorough knowledge of the jungle around the village. He was
familiar with the sounds of animals and birds and really proved an asset on hunting or shooting
missions. He could find tigers where there were no tigers at all. He could look at the grass and
tell everything that had happened there. He could listen to chital calling and say a panther has
just killed one of them, and they can still see him with his kill. This was why the members of
expeditions wanted him to join them.
4. How did Bahadur get the scars on his body?
Ans: Bahadur once saved one of his comrades from a tiger, by pulling him away from the
animal. In doing so, the tiger had attacked him, the claws opening his flesh to the bone, leaving
behind a scar that ran down his skull and back and shoulder. On another occasion, a snake had
bitten him on his leg and he cut and burned out the wound. He had two fingers missing and his
face marked. Once he had walked five miles through the jungle with his puggree (turban) bound
round his stomach to stop the entrails from falling. The many scars on his body prove his
courage and indomitable spirit.
5. Where was Bahadur away at the moment? What do his actions tell us about him and his
attitude towards his family?
Ans: Sher Bahadur was away in the jungle with a photographic expedition, with the men of the
Laldwani village too, as beaters. Despite being scarred several times he willingly took up
another expedition. This tells us that Bahadur was not dutiful as the head of the household. Most
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of the time he was away on hunting or shooting expeditions when his presence at home was
more important. He was not available when his children needed him. He was negligent towards
the needs of his family.

Ref. III. Sher Singh, the son of his father, looked at his younger brother, and he saw death
in his eyes. There are no men in the village, he said. I will take him. His mother must
stay behind to mind the cattle and work the land without which they would all starve; and
he and she both understood this without saying so.
1. How did Sher Singhs mother know about carrying loads? What did she do to make it
easier for Sher Singh to carry his brother?
Ans: Sher Singhs mother was a hill woman. She knew about carrying loads. Her own home was
away in the high mountains above the foot-hills around Laldwani and she knew how to sling a
load from a band round the forehead down the back, so that the shoulders and the strong muscles
of a thick neck could take fabulous weights up the hill and down the dale all day without
complaint. This is exactly how she made a sling for Sher Singh to carry his brother in, so that it
would be easier for him. She took one of her two saris and she made a sling for Sher Singh to put
around his forehead and down his back.
2. What was the mother feeling when Sher Singh got ready to carry his brother? What did
she say to Sher Singh? What was the boys response?
Ans: The mother was in a state of despair when Sher Singh got ready to carry his brother. She
was apprehensive about his ability to take Kunwar to the hospital all alone. She said to Sher
Singh, He is too big for you. You will never get there. Sher Singh said nothing. He did not
respond. He did not let his mothers apprehensions get the better of him. He was determined to
save his brother under any circumstances.
3. What do you think about the financial condition of Sher Singhs family from the above
extract? Give other examples from the story to support your answer.
Ans: Sher Singhs family lived in extreme poverty. Their only source of income was rearing
cattle and tilling the land, without which they would all starve. This is why the mother had to
stay behind, while Sher Singh took Kunwar to the hospital. The fact that they lived in a mud and
grass hut also proves that they lived a poor life. The sick child Kunwar lay upon a low string
charpoy and the family lacked the facilities to get him well soon.
4. What does Sher Singhs decision to take his brother alone to the hospital tell us about the
boy?
Ans: Despite his mothers belief that he and his sick brother would not get to the hospital in
time, Sher Singh silently set out to save his brother Kunwar who was suffering from a severe
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stomach ache and a raging fever. This decision tell us that Sher Singh was a responsible young
boy. His willingness to help and his concern for his brother speak of his love for Kunwar. Sher
Singh had already lost other siblings and he naturally did not want to lose Kunwar too. His love
for Kunwar was selfless. He did not once think of the risk involved in walking through the jungle
alone and that too in the night. He was courageous and had an iron will, determined to save his
brother against all odds.
Ref. IV. But this beautiful creature of mettalic scales, with poison in its teeth, wanted only
to get away, as the boy himself did. It subsided and slid off into the matted grass.
Sher Singh drew a breath. The snake-feeling left his legs and he was able to walk on.
1. What is this beautiful creature of metallic scales? What was the creature doing on the
jungle path? What did it do when Sher Singh stepped close to it?
Ans: This beautiful creature of metallic scales is the cobra snake. The creature was sunning itself
on the jungle path. As soon as Sher Singh stepped close to it, it swayed, watching him, its tongue
playing in and out like a leech. This creature only wanted to get away, as the boy himself did. He
therefore subsided and slid into the matted grass without harming the boy.
2. What was Sher Singhs reaction when his eyes fell on the creature? What did he do next?
Ans: As soon as Sher Singhs eyes fell on the creature he stood frozen. He then very slowly
backed away and the snake slid off into the matted grass. Sher Singh drew a breath. The snakefeeling left his legs and he was able to walk on.

3. Where was Sher Singh heading towards? What plan had he in mind to reach the place?
Ans: Sher Singh was heading towards the hospital at Kalaghat. Sher Singh hoped that if he could
get through the jungle and cross the two rivers that lay between him and his goal, he might get a
lift in a bullock cart or perhaps even a broken-down truck for the last part of his journey.
4. What were the challenges in the jungle presented to the boy? Why did the beasts of prey
pose more danger to the humans now than before?
Ans: The primeval jungle, in which the struggle of vegetation and of life continued, presented a
number of challenges to the boy. Luxuriant bamboos sprang fast from its nodules; impenetrable
thorn thickets fought for air and undergrowth and scrub and grass. This made it difficult for the
boy to pass through. Also, there were a number of animals that lived in this jungle. Monkeys,
raucous peacocks, tiger, panther, bear and elephant. The beasts of prey posed more danger to
humans and to domestic animals now than before because the deer were now so poached and
decimated.

5. What made the boy quicken his steps on the journey?

Ans: As the night fell, and the moon rose, Sher Singh could see bear tracks in the dust- the
square front paw and the long back one, with the shaggy claws- which made him glance round
uncomfortably. He was immediately reminded of the time when he had seen a man who had
been mauled by a bear, all the face torn away. The thought of something as gruesome as that
happening to him and his brother made him quicken his step.
6. When and where did Sher Singh decide to rest? Why?
Ans: On a cliff above a river-bed, Sher Singh knew that he could go no further without rest.
Sweat was running on his shaking flesh. He then got his burden against a tree and gently laid
down Kunwar, pushing the band off his forehead and over his straining hair. He lay against this
tree with his eye shut, recovering.

Ref. V. It was then they heard the jostle and squeal of elephants.
There is seldom need for elephants to travel silently in the jungle, and this herd was
coming up the nullah perhaps to new feeding grounds.
Sher Singh was glad he was outside the ravine and above them.
1. Where was Sher Singh and Kunwar when they heard the jostle and squeal of elephants?
What happened just before they heard the squeal of elephants?
Ans: Sher Singh and Kunwar were outside the ravine, lying on the cliff above a river bed when
they heard the jostle and squeal of elephants. Just before they heard the jostle and squeal of
elephants, Sher Singh had put down his brother against a tree as he was dead tired and could go
no further. He lay against this tree with his eye shut, recovering.
2. Who was the leader of the herd of elephants? Why was he more aggressive now than he
would have been at any other time?
Ans: The leader of the herd of elephants was a great old Tusker with the dark oily flow of musth
discharge on his cheeks, in which condition he might chase and kill men, where normally he
would not bother. This is why he was more aggressive now than he would have been at any other
time.
3. Why was Sher Singh chilled with fright a little later? Why couldnt he escape the
situation?
Ans: The tusker was playing his trunk to and fro to learn whatever the breeze could tell him and
suddenly his trunk came round towards the boys. This was why Sher Singh chilled with fright.
He could not escape the situation because with Kunwar to carry, he could neither climb nor run.
If he shouted, it could not but bring the catastrophe upon them.

4. What was Sher Singhs next step immediately afterwards? Why?

Ans: Immediately after the tusker and the rest of the herd has disappeared up the river bed
without harming neither Sher Singh nor his brother, he breathed a prayer of thanks and made
ready to move at once. Though initially he could not rise with the weight of his brother, as soon
as he heard an elephant trumpet, he was on his feet loaded. He did not want to risk being harmed
by the herd and wanted to reach the hospital without any delay.

VI. Thank goodness there was a bridge at the second river, he thought, seeing it already as
his spirit strove faster than his body. That bridge, made of what lay to hand, was a kutcha
impermanent thing, but it was at least a bridge.
1. What had Sher Singh anticipated before he stepped into the first river? What difficulties
did he face in crossing it?
Ans: Sher Singh had often been to the first river by daylight and so he knew that at that time of
the year, before the snow-water came flooding down like boiling green milk, he could easily ford
it. When Sher Singh stepped into the river, he realized that it was colder than usual, there was an
icy edge to it and in the middle it was deeper than it had been, too. The slime on the stones
slowed down his pace as he had to feel for foot-hold and be sure not to fall. The water was
almost waist deep.

2. Describe the bridge at the second river. How was it made?

Ans: The bridge at the second river was a kutcha impermanent thing, made of what lay to hand,
but it was at least a bridge. Rings of bamboo poles had been driven into the stony river-bed and
tied round and filled with stones to make the piers of the bridge. Then more bamboos were laid
from pillar and across, and laced with thick grass, and surfaced with river gravel.
3. How were Sher Singhs hopes shattered when he reached the second river? What had
happened to the bridge? What state was the river in?
Ans: When Sher Singh reached the second river his hopes were shattered as from bank to bank,
the river was foamed. The bridge was not to be seen, though he looked for it. Only a fierce crest
of water showed where it lay, submerged. A drowned goat and branches were caught against the
bridge. Underneath boulders moved. He could hear the river grinding its teeth. A tree kept
crashing against the drowned bridge which eventually moved like a monster, heeled over and
broke, throwing up its bamboo ribs like a fan. The river was thus in a horrible state.

4. How did the breaking of the bridge make matters worse for the boy?
Ans: The breaking of the bridge made the boy wonder how he would get himself and his sick
brother across safely. There was no change that he would be able to swim across, even if he were
alone.

5. How did Sher Singh cross the second river? In what way did he make sure that his
brother was not harmed?
Ans: Sher Singh had a good presence of mind and was also quite resourceful.The boy decided to
find his way among the wreck of the bridge. He set his brother down and gave him some river
water to drink. He then plaited some grass into a rope,despite the fact that the sharp blades of the
grass cut his fingers. He tied this rope round his brother and himself so that they would keep
together. He then entered the water just above the bridge. He moved forward despite all
obstacles, including the split ends of bamboo, feeling in the darkness for things to hold onto.
Though it was so cold that Sher Singh could hardly keep his hold or get his breath in the spray,
he made sure to keep his brothers head above the water.The flood water deafened him, the
timber banged and bruised him, but the boy went on. He was deaf-blinded-frozen-drowned yet
finally they crossed the river, and soon reached a better road.

VII. They were at the hospital.

Sher Singh always felt shy in a house. He did not go in. But he had no money, so when
morning came he went down to the rail yards to get work loading coal.

1. How did Sher Singh reach the hospital after crossing the river?
Ans: After crossing the river Sher Singh stumbled on and kept walking. His knees bent and
trembled. He then began to crawl. Soon he came across a better road where there were signs of
civilization. People helped him into a bullock cart and then he managed to board a truck which
dropped him at the hospital.

2. What work did Sher Singh do at the rail yards? How much did he earn? What did he do
with the money?
Ans: At the rail yards Sher Singh loaded coal. After working the whole day, he earned a few
pence with which he bought some coarse atta (flour), mustard oil and chillies. With these limited
ingredients, he would cook a meal between three stones.

3. Where did Sher Singh put up in the hospital? What feelings overcame him?
Ans: Sher Singh found a place in the hospital compound where other relatives were camping. He
was overcome with a feeling of anxiety that he was previously unable to feel because he had
been labouring with all his strength.

4. How did the doctor address Sher Singh? Why? What reply did he give to the doctor?
Ans: The doctor addressed Sher Singh as Sher Singh Bahadur. The boy, with a feeling of
embarrassment and with tears rolling down his face , said that his father was not there but that he
was Sher Singh.
5. What news did the doctor give to the boy?
Ans: The doctor applauded Sher Singhs bravery and informed him that his brother would live,
and that he could see him..
6. What is the theme of the story Journey by Night?
Ans: Journey by Night is a story depicting the extraordinary power of human will. If we have
the determination to do something, we can always find a way to do it. This story also deals with
the theme of fraternal love and care. Sher Singh has a deep-rooted love for his brother. His
willingness to help shows his concern for Kunwar. We learn from this story that life is a
struggle, where we face new challenegs everyday. We must surmount these challenges and rise
against all odds, just like Sher Singh did, in order to lead a truly frutful life.

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