The Ant and the Grasshopper

Summary
The Ant and the Grasshopper" is a story about two brothers (George and Tom)
who have rather different lifestyles. They are the representation of ant and the
grasshopper of La Fontaine’s fable. Tom (the grasshopper) takes life easy while
George (the ant) works hard, takes no joy and in turn gains very little happiness
from life and in the end Tom, with all his faults, is the lucky one; while George
with all his virtues ends dull and upset.

I ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. What lesson does the narrator recall to have learnt from the fable The Ant and
the Grasshopper?
Ans. The fable ‘The Ant and the Grasshopper’ teaches us to make hay while the sun
shines. If you want to succeed tomorrow.You should work hard from today.

2. What did Tom Ramsay do when his money was exhausted?

Ans. He borrowed money from his friends

3. Why was George Ramsay upset?

Ans. George Ramsay was upset because of his brother Tom and his ways of
spending money on luxuries

4. What was Tom’s opinion on spending money?

Ans. According to Tom, money spent on necessities was boring. The money that was
amusing to spend was the money spent on luxuries.

5. Even though Tom was a reckless person , people still liked him.Why?
Ans. People like Tom because he made friends easily. He had high spirits, unfailing
gaiety and incredible charm.

6. What did Tom finally do to earn a livelihood?

Ans. Tom got engaged to a woman old enough to be his mother. She later died and
left him everything she had - half a million pounds, a yacht, a house in London
and a house in the country.

7. Describe George’s appearance when the narrator met him at a restaurant.

Ans. The narrator found George lunching all by himself in the restaurant. Geotge
looked gloomy and stared into space as if the world’s burden lied on his
shoulders.

8. Why was the narrator asked to learn the fable about ‘The Ant and The
Grasshopper’?
Ans. The narrator was asked to learn the fable about ‘The Ant and The Grasshopper’
because it was very useful for the young people. It has good moral in itself. It
teaches us that ‘Hard Work Is Rewarded And Laziness Is Punished’

9. What made George realize that his brother would never settle down?
George gave Tom considerable sums for the amendment which Tom spent to
buy a car and jewellery .Such situations forced George to realize that his
brother would never settle down.

II Read the extracts and answer the questions with reference to context
1. "Why don't you chuck him?" You've done everything in the world for him. You
must know by now that he's quite hopeless.
a. Who said these words and to whom?
Ans. The narrator said to George
b. Who was being discussed here?
Ans. Tom
c. Why was ‘he’hopeless?
Ans. Because Tom was dependent on George and had been a sore trial to him for
twenty years.

2. "It was all very well when Tom was young and good-looking, but he's only a
year younger than I am. In four years he'll be fifty. He won't find life so easy
then.
a. Who said these words and to whom?
Ans. George said to the narrator
b. What kind of life had Tom been leading?
Ans. For twenty years, Tom raced and gambled, philandered with the prettiest girls,
danced, ate in the most expensive restaurants, and dressed beautifully.
c. What did the speaker think life would not be easy for Tom after four years?
Ans. Because in four years, Tom will turn fifty.

3. It’s not fair ,I tell you , it’s not fair.

a. Who said these words and to whom?
Ans. George said to the speaker
b. Why did the speaker say these words?
Ans. Because Tom got engaged to a woman old enough to be his mother. She died
and left him everything she had. Half a million pounds, a yacht, a house in
London and a house in the country.
c. How did the listener react on hearing these words?
Ans. The listener burst into a shout of laughter. He rolled in his chair and nearly fell
on the floor.