TEACHER’S SUPPORT DOCUMENT

Subject: English Literature Topic: Iswaran the Storyteller Grade: IX

Attachments
Practice Sheet 1 Practice Sheet Answer Scheme 1
Class Test Class Test Answer Scheme
PPT Video

Additional References
Book: -
1. Moments NCERT Textbook

Web link: -
1. https://edumantra.net/class-ix-extra-qu/ch-3-iswaran-the-storyteller-extra-questions-
and-notes/
2. http://www.learncbse.in/ncert-solutions-for-class-9-english-moments-iswaran-the-
storyteller/

Summary
This is an interesting story about lswaran, who worked as a house help to Mahendra, a junior
supervisor. lswaran was devoted to his master. He was an expert cook and a master
storyteller. He narrated even the smallest incidents by weaving suspense around it. One day,
he told his master a story about a mad elephant who he had managed to control when it
entered his school grounds. On another day, he told Mahendra that the ghost of a woman
appeared around the house on the full moon night. One night, Mahendra woke up on
hearing some sound. He looked out of the window. He saw a dark cloudy figure. He began
to sweat with fear. The next morning, he hurried to his office and handed in his papers for
transfer from that place.
Character Sketch
Iswaran
Iswaran was Mahendra’s cook and was an asset to him. He was dedicated to his master and
followed him uncomplainingly to all his postings. He would cook for him, wash his clothes,
and also chat with him at night. He had the ability to improvise cooking material even at the

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remotest place and cook delicious dishes in a very brief time. Iswaran was fond of reading
popular Tamil thrillers. Their imaginative descriptions and narrating styles would fascinate
him. He became a master storyteller by adopting the art of storytelling from these novels. He
would always add suspense and surprise even to the smallest incident and could make up
innumerable stories on different subjects. While describing, he would get so involved that he
would jump about on the foor. He would narrate the story in installments and would
deliberately leave it unfinished midway. On returning, he would not pick it up right away till
Mahendra reminded him to. In this manner he would involve his listener too. Every day,
Iswaran would recount a new story filled with adventure, horror and suspense. Mahendra
loved his stories and listened with rapt attention even if they were unbelievable. Iswaran thus
entertained Mahendra just as TV does. Iswaran enjoyed his job and would not sit idle when
Mahendra was at work. He would use that time to tidy up the shed and wash clothes. He was
also religious because he would mutter a prayer throughout his bath ritual. This character
displays a shade of comedy as well when he teasingly asks Mahendra about his reaction at
having seen the female ghost.

Mahendra
Mahendra used to work as a junior supervisor in a firm which offered, on hire, supervisors at
construction sites. His work involved moving from one site to another. He was unmarried
and a simple man. He was quite accommodating and adjusted well to odd conditions that he
faced at different places. He was a disciplined man and would get up early in the morning.
He would leave for work after breakfast and carry lunch with him. Mahendra was very fond of
his cook Iswaran whom he considered to be an asset. He relished the food cooked by him
and enjoyed listening to his stories. He was a good listener and never interrupted Iswaran
even when he exaggerated. He was very patient and would wait for Iswaran to return and
complete the unfinished story. He was also curious as he would insist on knowing all the
details. Mahendra was a rational man and did not believe in ghosts or spirits but could not
help getting influenced by what Iswaran told him about the female ghost. He tried to ignore
the strange sounds at night but got scared when he saw the apparition. This character
appeals to the reader for his qualities as a devoted worker, a kind-hearted master and a
trusting man.
Vocabulary
Word Meanings
• quarry - mine
• anecdotes - narratives

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• varied - wide ranging

• desolate - wild, deserted, barren
• flourishes - additions
• hauled - pull or drag with effort or force
• emulation - imitation
• credible - convincing
• garish - harsh, violent
• reverie - lost in one’s thoughts
• vicinity - area surrounding a particular place

Comprehension Questions
(a)What impact did Iswaran’s story of a female ghost have on Mahendra?
Mahendra rebuked Iswaran for believing in ghosts. But despite his brave talk, after
hearing the story, he went to bed every night with certain unease. Every night he
peered into the darkness outside through the window next to his bed, trying to make
sure that there was no movement of dark shapes in the vicinity.

(b)Why did Mahendra become fond of Iswaran ? Why was Iswaran called Mahendra’s asset?
Or
How did Iswaran show his usefulness to the narrator?
Mahendra became fond of Iswaran because he was a very resourceful person and took
very good care of him.He followed him uncomplainingly wherever he was posted. He
was a trained cook and could also arrange for things at a desolate place. In addition to
this he was a good story teller and kept him entertained.

(c) Why did Mahendra decide to leave the haunted place?

He was afraid of the haunted place after hearing and watching a ghastly experience at
night. Therefore, he wanted to leave the place.

(d)What sets Iswaran apart from other domestic helps?

Iswaran was a class in himself. He was highly resourceful and a big help to Mahendra.
He cooked and cleaned for him. He had an amazing capacity to produce vegetables
and cookng ingredients seemingly out of nowhere, in the middle of a desolate
landscape with no shops visible for miles around. He would miraculously conjure up
the most delicious dishes made with fresh vegetables within an hour of arriving at the

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new place.

(e) How did Iswaran tackle the elephant?

The elephant had caused much terror when it entered the school complex. Children
and teachers ran here and there to save their lives. Iswaran dared to confront the
elephant it and hit it on the third toe with a rod. Thus, the mad elephant was
controlled.

(f) What did Mahendra decide after he had seen the ghost?
Mahendra was convinced that there were ghosts around his house. He was scared and
did not want to live there any longer and so, he resigned his job.

(h) Who was Iswaran? What all did he do for his master?
Iswaran was Mahendra’s cook; he was an asset to him. He cooked for him, washed his
clothes and chatted away with his master at night. He often narrated stories which
were very convincing.

(i)Does the elephant story seem plausible?

One day an elephant went mad, stamping on bushes, breaking fences, smashing fruit
stalls, mud pots and clothes. He even entered a school ground breaking through the
brick wall. Iswaran who was in the junior class, whacked its third toe nail with a rod
and it collapsed. No, the story does not appear to be plausible.

(j) What destruction did the elephant cause in the town?

The elephant caused a lot of destruction in the town. He broke branches, fences and
smashed stalls. He entered a school playground and broke a brick wall, pulled out a
football goal post, tore down volleyball net and flattened a water drum.

(l)Do you think the ghost Mahendra saw on the night of the full moon was a real ghost?
No, I think the ghost Mahendra saw was a creation of a weak mind. Iswaran had made
Mahendra’s mind a little weak by telling him the ghost story. When Mahendra rebuked
him for believing in ghosts, he felt offended. To prove that he was right he himself
posed as a ghost. So, that is why Mahendra thought that he had seen a ghost at that
full moon night.

(m) Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of imagination. What happens to him on full

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moon night?
Mahendra never believed in ghosts and spirits but one night he had woken up from his
sleep by a low moan near the window. He could not resist his curiosity and tried to
look out. To his horror, he saw a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. Mahendra was
in cold sweat from top to bottom and fell back on the pillow panting.

(n)Why did Iswaran seek permission to cook a special dinner?

Iswaran sought Mahendra’s permission to cook a special dinner because it was an
auspicious day and according to tradition, delicacies had to be prepared to feed the
spirits of ancestors. Actually, he was laying the background for a ghost story.

Long answer type questions:

1. Describe lswaran’s encounter with the elephant.
One day, lswaran told Mahendra the story of a mad elephant. One day a tusker
escaped from the timber yard. It roamed here and there and destroyed the things in its
path. Then the tusker reached the town. People ran here and there in terror. Later the
elephant entered a school ground where the children were playing. All the boys ran
into the classrooms and shut the doors. The elephant pulled out the football goalpost,
tore the volleyball net, kicked and flattened the water drum. Everyone watched
helplessly.
lswaran said that he was studying in the junior class at time. He grabbed the stick of a
teacher and came to the elephant. He struck the elephant’s toenail. It shivered and fell
down. A veterinary doctor was called. After two days, the elephant’s mahout came and
took it away. Iswaran told Mahendra that he made the elephant unconscious using the
Japanese art of karate or ju-jitsu.

2. What human values form the essence of Iswaran’s character?

Iswaran was a multitalented person whose character teaches us the values of
dedication, cheerfulness and creativity. He carried out his duties as a cook by
preparing the most delicious dishes like a magician. He was dedicated to Mahendra
and served him uncomplainingly regardless of the situation or the place. He enjoyed
his job and would not sit idle when Mahendra was at work. In Mahendra’s absence, he
would nish o cleaning and washing tasks. Iswaran was a curious learner. He developed
the art of storytelling by reading Tamil thrillers. He could narrate a story everyday by
mixing suspense, adventure and horror to the episodes. He was a good and loyal
companion to Mahendra and entertained him more than a TV. He was large-hearted
and did not sulk even after getting a scolding from Mahendra. His innumerable

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positive values make him memorable.

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow in one or two lines.
1. He was a bachelor. His needs were simple and he was able to adjust himself to all kinds of
odd conditions, whether it was an ill-equipped circuit house or a makeshift canvas tent in the
middle of a quarry.
(a) Who is ‘he’ in the above extract?
‘He’ here is Mahendra, a junior supervisor in a firm that offered on hire supervisors at
construction sites.

(b) List two characteristics of this person.

He was a bachelor and had simple needs. He adjusted himself to all kinds of unusual
situations at his different work sites.

(c) Which type of places did he have to live in?

He had to live in ill-equipped circuit houses or makeshift canvas tents.

(d)Why did he have to live like this?

He had to live like this because his work involved supervision of different types of
construction sites at remote places.

2. He would miraculously conjure up the most delicious dishes made with fresh vegetables
within an hour of arriving at the zinc-sheet shelter at the new workplace.
(a) Who is ‘he’ in the above lines? Why is he being appreciated?
‘He’ in the above lines is Iswaran, Mahendra’s servant. He is being appreciated
because he could quickly cook delicious dishes from fresh vegetables even in a remote
workplace.

(b)What was the zinc-sheet shelter?

The zinc-sheet shelter was the temporary home at the new construction site where
Iswaran stayed with his master, Mahendra.

(c) Was the cook resourceful?

The cook, Iswaran, was resourceful since he could arrange fresh vegetables even in
unfamiliar workplaces.

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(d) What is the meaning of ‘conjure up’ in these lines?

It means - to make something good, especially food, quickly and in a skilful way.

3. It is an ugly creature with matted hair and a shrivelled face, like a skeleton holding a foetus
in its arms.
(a) What is ‘it’ here and who is describing ‘it’?
‘It’ here is the female ghost who is being described by Iswaran, the cook.

(b) Why was ‘it’ ugly?

‘It’ was ugly because it had matted hair and shrivelled face like a typical ghost.

(c) Who had seen ‘it’, when and where?

It was claimed to have been seen by Iswaran at midnight during the full moon in the
factory area supervised by Mahendra.

(d) What effect does this description of the ugly creature have on Mahendra?
This description made Mahendra shiver with horror although he put up a brave show
by dismissing Iswaran’s belief in ghosts or spirits as a figment of his imagination.

4. At first he put it down to a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound was too guttural
for a cat. He resisted the curiosity to look out lest he should behold a sight which would stop
his heart.
(a) Who is ‘he’ in these lines? What is ‘it’ that he put down?
‘He’ in these lines is Mahendra, the junior supervisor. ‘It’ is the strange low moan
sound he heard at night near his bedroom window.

(b) How did he conclude that the sound was not of a cat?
The sound was too guttural and this made Mahendra conclude that it was not of a cat.

(c) What desire did he resist?

He resisted the desire to look out through the window at the moonlit night.

(d)Why did he resist his desire?

He resisted his desire because he was afraid that he might see a horrifying sight of
some ghost.

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Answers to Text book questions

1. In what way is Ishwaran an asset to Mahendra?
Iswaran was a skilled cook .He worked for Mahendra; he cooked for him, washed his
clothes and chatted away with his master at night. Mahendra always kept him
wherever he was posted. The cook was also quite attached to Mahendra and followed
him uncomplainingly anywhere that Mahendra was posted.That is why he was an asset
to Mahendra.

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want
to create in his listeners?
Iswaran describes the uprooted tree by first adding suspense and then a surprise
ending to the account. He arched his eye brows suitably and hands were held out in
dramatic gesture while recounting that he was alone on a deserted road when he saw
something that looked like an enormous bushy beast. Later, on a closer look, he saw
that it was a fallen tree with dry branches spread out. He adopts this style of
description because he wants to catch the attention of the listener. He employs
suspense and adds details so that the story captivates his audience. His style of
narrating stories was influenced by Tamil thrillers that were quite long. He knew from
his experience of reading that elaborate descriptions made the story enjoyable and
interesting. He wanted to give the same experience to his listener.

3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
Iswaran had a great narrative skill .Once he narrated the story of a tusker who had
escaped from the jungle .The tusker destroyed everything that came in his way. At last
it reached Iswaran's school and broke the brick wall, pulled out the football goal post,
tore down the volley ball net. Everyone was helplessly watching the whole drama.
Sudden Iswaran grabbed a cane from the hands of a teacher and faced the dangerous
tusker. He whacked the third toe nail of tusker with the cane. The elephant was
stunned; it shivered from head to foot and collapsed.
No, the tale does not appear to be plausible since it is not possible that a whack by a
boy with a cane would cause a dangerous elephant to collapse.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of
T.V. in Mahendra's living quarters?
The author says so because Iswaran was a fascinating storyteller. Every day he
recounted some story packed with adventure, horror and suspense whether the story
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was credible or not Mahendra enjoyed listening to it because of the inimitable way in
which it was told. Iswaran’s descriptions were greatly influenced by the books of Tamil
authors that he read.

5. Mahendra calls ghost or sprits a figment of the imagination. What happen to him on a full
moon night?
Mahendra was a man with scientific approach. One day when Iswaran told him that the
entire factory area that they were occupying was once a burial ground. Mahendra
chided Iswaran and told him not to believe in ghost or spirits because these are
nothing but a figment of the imagination. On one full moon night he heard a low
moan close to his window. At first he thought it was a cat prowling around for mice
but the sound became loud and harsh. He looked through the window and found a
dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. That sight sent a chill down Mahendra’s spine. He
resolved to leave the haunted place the next day.

6. Can you think the other end of the story?

Personal response
Suggested answer
The other ending of the story could be that Mahendra could have found the right
reason of his ghastly experience. He would not have left the place instead faced the
bull by its horns. Mahendra could have caught Iswaran red handed while playing a
trick on him.

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