Answering NCERT Reading with Insight
1. You will probably agree that this story does not have breathless adventure and exciting action. Then what in your opinion makes it interesting?
Vivid descriptions of perceptions of a child, peculiar characters and a quiet setting with a rich background makes the story interesting. But the reader is hooked on by the intense devotion Aram has for learning to ride horses, for which he is willing to overcome injuries and defy the virtues passed on to him by his family. Even when the horse does not accept him as a rider, he pushes on determined to have a way with him.
Emotions have the power to breathe life into simpler settings and form a bond with the main character. Aram’s excitement and eagerness, and the way he tries to mold reality to fulfill his dreams makes him adorable. The fickle arrow of conscience often points him in the right direction, such as the time when John Byro comes to his house but he runs to Mourad to persuade him to keep the horse, hoping to prolong his time with the horse.
The story highlights the pure love we have as children for objects that may not seem important to adults. It deals with the choices one faces when fulfilling dreams in a poignant way for Aram knows that eventually he will have to let the horse go and free his conscience.
2. Did the boys return the horse because they were conscience stricken or because they were afraid?
The boys returned the horse when John Byro praised the virtues of their family. He dismissed his instinct about the horse and believed in their honesty. In a way, he was able to place a mirror in front of them, reminding them of who they really were and their rich heritage. He aroused their conscience which pushed them to commit to the virtue.
They could not have been afraid, for the farmer had believed Mourad and was very cordial towards them. We could go as far as to say that the farmer had freed them of the fear of being caught, for they had faced the owner and the verdict was passed in their favour.
3. “One day back there in the good old days when I was nine and the world was full of every imaginable kind of magnificence, and life was still a delightful and mysterious dream….”
The story begins in a mood of nostalgia. Can you narrate some incident from your childhood that might make an interesting story?
Back when I was nine, my father who I believed to be capable of magic, used to cast a spell on me which would make me invisible. I used to prance around the horse gayly, thinking as if I was bestowed with some secret power. My parents would pretend as if they could only hear my voice, and my brother used to grumpily play along, which would erupt laughter from me.
Only when I would jump in front of the TV would the power be taken away and I was made to sit aside quietly. Until next time……