Class-9

Story Writing

A story writing is an art that requires a lot of communication skills. First of all it
requires the art of narrating things in an interesting way. You will be given either the
introductory lines or some hints given in the input or both. You have to develop the
story basing it on the information given in the input or the introductory lines. You
have to develop it on the same theme as intended by the introductory lines or by the
input. You can’t go against the stated theme.

SALIENT FEATURES OF A GOOD STORY

1. Basically, developing and writing a good story needs the art of narration. You
have to narrate the incidents in a sequential order leading to the final
conclusion.
2. Students should follow the basic theme as expounded by the input or by the
introductory lines. They are not supposed to invent new and different themes.
3. Within the given limits, students are left with enough space where they can
give expression to their creative talents.
4. The beginning and the concluding lines must support the main part or the
events described in the story.

Question 1:
Aradhna started writing a story of ‘Two Boys in a Jungle’. Due to the pressure of
heavy engagements, you gave up, after writing a line or so. Taking help from the
input given below and basing on the introduction Aradhna made, develop a
complete story.
Veeru and Karim were young Keralites. Next week their school was going to organise
a camp near a forest in Ponmuddy …

Outline: Went out to explore forest…. lost the way…….. away from the camp…….. cries of
animals…… heard “thump-thump” sound……. a large elephant……. trumpted angrily ……. came
towards them……… a balloon……. started blowing…….. big balloon……. hit hard with hand……
“bang-bang”…….. loud noise……. elephant turned away……. saved.
Answer:

Two Boys in a Jungle

Veeru and Karim were young Keralites. The next week their school was going to
organise a camp near a forest in Ponmuddy. The following week they joined the
camp. One day they went out together. They thought of going inside the forest to
explore it. Soon they lost their way. The sun had set. They were walking along the
Periyar river. They heard a loud noise. They stood still and listened to it. They heard
the sound of an animal coming towards them. It was the sound of a big elephant. He
was just fifty metres away from them. The elephant smelled them too. He saw them
standing quietly behind an oak tree. He raised his long trunk up in the air and
trumpted loudly. The boys didn’t move. Veeru was a little frightened, but Karim was
not. Slowly the elephant started coming nearer and nearer. Now he was only ten
metres away. “Let’s do something,” said Karim. “Do it, before he attacks us,” said
Veeru.
Karim pulled out a balloon from his pocket. He put it in his mouth and started
blowing into the balloon. At last, it was blown to the size of a small bag. Karim hit the
full blown balloon hard with his hand. “Bang-Bang!” The elephant stopped and
trumpeted angrily. He was confused.The elephant turned away and disappeared into
the forest. The boys ran and ran till they reached safe at the camp.

Question 2:
Sneha wanted to write a story but could not go beyond a line or two. Taking help
from ,the information given below along with the lines Sneha wrote a complete
story.
Mr. Aggarwal was a very wealthy businessman. One day he was alone sitting at his
dining table when…
Outline: Thief entered…….. Mr. Aggarwal thanked……… to give company……. birthday
……. gave him good food and drinks…….. gave a purse full of silver coins………… years
passed by……. fortunes changed…….. business was ruined……… Mr. Aggarwal became
poor……. 50th birthday……….. alone……. no food………. no drinks…….. bell rang …….. a
man emerged…….. recognised…….. the old thief…….. came with fruits, sweets and
drinks and a bag full of money.
Answer:

The Return Gift

Mr. Aggarwal was a very wealthy businessman. One day he was alone sitting at his
dining table. It was his birthday. He heard the footsteps of a man behind the
curtains. He knew there was a thief there. “Come on! Thank you for coming to my
house on my birthday. I’m alone, give me your company.” The thief was starving. He
had good food and drinks. Mr. Aggarwal gave him a big purse. It had silver coins.
Years rolled by. His fortunes changed. Mr. Aggarwal ,was a very poor man now. His
business was ruined.
Today was his 50th birthday. But he had become a pauper now. He was alone
reflecting over his good old days. It was 9 pm. The bell rang. “Who can be at such a
time to visit a poor man?” thought Aggarwal. He saw a man in a new suit with a
lovely bouquet of red roses. He had many packets of gifts, fruits, sweets and a few
bottles. He tried to recognise the man. “I’m your old thief,” replied the man. With the
money you gave me I did some business. I earned a lot of money within these years.
Now I am a rich businessman. “Let’s celebrate your birthday,” he said. “It is for you, a
little return-gift.” He gave a bag to Mr. Aggarwal. Mr. Aggarwal opened the bag. It
was full of new currency notes.

Question 3:
Mahesh wrote only a few lines and couldn’t complete the story he wanted to write.
Taking help from the given input, and basing it on the beginning Mahesh made,
write a complete story.
A woodcutter was chopping down trees on the bank of a river. His hands were so
much wet with his sweat that he lost his grip………..
Outline: Axe fell down into river…….. couldn’t swim….. unhappy at his misfortune and
wept…… God of Forests appeared……….. promised to get back his axe……. dived………
came out with an axe of gold… “not mine”……… dived again……… came out with silver
axe …….. “not mine” said woodcutter…… dived again……… came out with woodcutter’s
axe…….. “this is my axe”……. truly honest…….. rewarded all three axes to the
woodcutter.
Answer:

Honesty Pays in the Long Run

A woodcutter was chopping down trees on the bank of a river. His hands were so
much wet with his sweat that he lost his grip over the axe. It slipped away from his
hands and fell down ; into the river. The poor man couldn’t even swim. He thought
that his axe was lost forever. He was very sad at his misfortune and started sobbing
and weeping. Suddenly there was a flash of light. The god of the Forests appeared
before him. The woodcutter explained what had happened. The god consoled him,
“Don’t you worry. I’ll get back your axe for you.” Having said these words, he dived
into the river. After a few moments he came out with an axe. It was made of gold. “Is
this yours?” he asked. The woodcutter only said “No!” A few seconds later he came
out of the river with another axe. It was made of silver. “No, no, sir, this is not mine,”
said the woodcutter. He dived again and came out with the third axe. The woodcutter
cried loudly looking at the axe “Yes, yes, it’s mine—the woodcutter’s axe with an iron
blade.” The god of Forests was impressed with the woodcutter’s honesty. “Keep all
three of these axes as a present from me.” The god uttered these words and
disappeared.

Question 4:
Mohan wrote just a few lines but couldn’t develop the story he wanted to write.
Taking help from the input given below and the introductory lines written by Mohan,
complete the story.
The celebrated archer Guru Dronacharya taught the royal princes the finer points of
archery. One day he wanted to test…
Outline: Selected a tree in forest……. placed a wooden bird on a bare branch……. were
to hit the bird in the eye…… Yudhisthir stepped forward…….. “Can you see me?” asked
Dronacharya. ‘Yes’ replied Yudhisthir…… asked him to put down the bow……….. each
prince replied the same……. asked to retire from the competition…… finally came
Aijuna ……. “Aijuna, do you see me?” asked Dronacharya. “I see only my target,” said
Aijuna Aijuna hit the bird’s eye.
Answer:

Arjuna: The Most Accomplished Marksman

The celebrated archer Guru Dronacharya taught the royal princes the finer points of
archery. One day he wanted to test the archery skill of his pupils. They came to a
forest. The Guru chose a tree standing in the open. He placed a wooden bird on a
bare branch of that tree. The princes were asked to stand 200 yards away and aim at
their target one by one. They were to hit the eye of the bird. Yudhisthir was asked to
start the competition. He took his bow and looked at his target. “Can you see me?”
asked Dronacharya. “Yes sir!” replied Yudhisthir. “Put down your bow,” asked the
Guru. The disappointed prince retired from the contest. The same thing happened
with all other princes. The same question was asked and all of them gave the same
reply. Hence, all of them were asked to retire from the competition.
Finally, it was Arjuna’s turn. “Arjuna do you see me?” asked the Guru. “I see nothing
but only my target, the eye of the bird,” replied Aijuna. “Good, Aijuna, shoot now,”
asked Dronacharya. Aijuna released the arrow aiming at his target. The arrow hit the
eye of the wooden bird. And finally, Aijuna was adjudged as the most accomplished
marksman.

Question 5:
Renuka started writing a short story. However, due to an unavoidable reason, she
had to give it up after writing a few lines. Taking help from the input given below
and using the beginning Renuka made, write a complete story.
Raghu and Raj were two friends and neighbours. Raghu had a servant named Ramu.
The name of Raj’s servant was Shammu …
Outline: Both servants foolish……. two friends debated…….. who is more foolish?…….
Ramu or Shammu?…… decided to give a test………. Raghu told Ramu “Run back to my
house to find out if I am there or not”…. Ramu rushed home……. Raj told Shammu…….
Go to your room and find out if you are there or not.” Ramu and Shammu returned
…….. Ramu complained…….. wasted time……… master could have phoned to find
himself….. Shammu reported…….. he was not in the room……. nothing to choose
between them.
Answer:

Who is a Lesser Fool?

Raghu and Raj were two friends and neighbours. Raghu had a servant named Ramu.
The name of Raj’s servant was Shammu. Both the servants were big fools. The two
friends debated for hours whose servant was a greater fool. At last, they decided to
give them a test to find out who was more foolish.
Next morning all the four gathered at Raj’s house. Raghu told his servant, “Run back
to my house and find out if I am there or not.” Without wasting even for a second,
Ramu rushed home. Then Raj called his servant Shammu and said, “Hurry up! Go to
your room and find out if you are there or not.” Without even thinking for a moment,
Shammu ran to his room. After some time they returned. Both of them were annoyed
with their masters. Ramu complained, “Why did you waste your time? You could have
phoned to find out whether you were there or not.” Shammu expressed his
displeasure in these words: “Why didn’t you tell me before? I would not have come
out of my room.” He reported that he was not found in the room. Raghu and Raj
heaved a sigh. There was really nothing to choose between the two fools. Only God
could decide who was the lesser fool?