Two Stories About Flying Class 10 English Chapter Notes

His First Flight vs. Black Aeroplane: A Comparison

Must-Remember Key Points

• {"point":"In 'His First Flight', the young seagull is afraid to fly because he fears the great expanse of the sea beneath him."}
• {"point":"His family taunts him for his cowardice and leaves him alone on the ledge to starve."}
• {"point":"Driven mad by hunger, the sight of his mother with a fish in her beak compels him to dive, inadvertently leading to his first flight."}
• {"point":"The story symbolises how necessity and encouragement can help one overcome deep-seated fears."}
• {"point":"In 'Black Aeroplane', the narrator is flying his old Dakota plane from Paris to London, dreaming of an English breakfast with his family."}
• {"point":"He foolishly decides to fly into a massive storm cloud, risking his life."}
• {"point":"His compass, radio, and other instruments fail, leaving him lost and helpless."}
• {"point":"A mysterious black aeroplane with no lights appears and guides him to a safe landing."}
• {"point":"The story ends on a note of mystery as the air traffic controller confirms no other plane was on the radar."}

Theme Deep Dive: Overcoming Fear and Taking Risks

A central thread connecting both narratives is the confrontation with fear. In 'His First Flight', the fear is primal and instinctual. The young seagull is not just afraid; he is convinced his wings will not support him, a classic example of self-doubt. His fear paralyzes him, making him a prisoner on his ledge. The victory comes not from a logical decision, but from a desperate, instinct-driven action spurred by extreme hunger. His flight is a metaphor for any young person's journey towards independence, where taking the first step is the hardest.

Conversely, in 'Black Aeroplane', the fear is situational and a consequence of a calculated risk gone wrong. The pilot, an experienced adult, makes a conscious, albeit foolish, decision to fly into the storm. His fear is born from the failure of technology and the loss of control. Unlike the seagull who is helped by his family (indirectly), the pilot is helped by a mysterious, possibly supernatural force. His story highlights that sometimes, even for the experienced, survival depends on trusting the unknown and accepting help from inexplicable sources. Both stories conclude that courage is not the absence of fear, but the action taken in spite of it.

Key Terms and Vocabulary

Precipice

A very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one. (Used to describe the seagull's ledge).

Herring

A type of saltwater fish. The young seagull's family was feasting on it.

Devour

To eat food hungrily or quickly.

Cackle

To laugh in a loud, harsh way. (The seagull's family cackled when he started flying).

Dakota

The type of old transport aircraft the narrator was flying in 'Black Aeroplane'.

Storm Clouds

Described as 'black mountains standing in front of me across the sky', symbolizing the massive obstacle.

Compass

An instrument for determining direction, which failed the pilot in the storm.

Runway

A prepared surface on an airfield where aircraft take off and land.

Character Analysis

How to Ace Your Exam Questions

For long-answer questions, focus on drawing parallels and contrasts. A common question asks you to compare the element of fear and help in both stories. Structure your answer by first explaining the nature of fear for the seagull (innate, self-doubt) and the pilot (situational, loss of control). Then, discuss the 'help' received: the seagull's was a psychological push from his mother (tangible), while the pilot's was mysterious and inexplicable (intangible). For 'Black Aeroplane', be prepared to discuss the open-ended conclusion. Argue for different possibilities: was the other pilot a hallucination, a ghost, or the narrator's own subconscious guiding him? There is no single correct answer, so your reasoning is what matters.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? He was afraid because the sea below was vast and he felt certain that his small wings would never support him.
• What risk did the pilot of the Dakota take and why? He took the risk of flying straight into the dark storm clouds because he was impatient to get home to England for a holiday and a good English breakfast.
• How did the seagull's mother motivate him to take his first flight? Knowing he was starving, she flew near his ledge with a piece of fish in her beak, but stopped just out of his reach. Maddened by hunger, he dived for the fish and fell outwards, forcing him to flap his wings.
• What was the mystery in 'Black Aeroplane'? The mystery was the identity of the pilot in the black aeroplane who guided the narrator to safety. The woman in the control tower confirmed that there was no other plane on the radar that night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions