How the Dog Found Himself a New Master - Class 6 English NCERT

Understanding the Dog's Quest

"How the Dog Found Himself a New Master" is a delightful folk tale that tells us a fictional story about how dogs became domesticated and started living with humans. The story begins with a dog who is tired of living alone in the forest. He finds his own company boring and is constantly afraid of stronger animals. He decides that the best way to live is to serve someone who is the "strongest of all" so that he will always be safe and never have to fear anyone. His journey to find this ultimate master takes him through a series of encounters with powerful creatures like the Wolf, the Bear, and the Lion. Each time, he serves a master until he discovers an even stronger one, which leads him to switch his loyalty. This quest finally leads him to choose man, whom he has served faithfully ever since, making him the loyal companion we know today. The story highlights themes of security, loyalty, and the evolution of a unique bond between humans and dogs.

The Dog's Search for the Strongest Master

1. Unsatisfied Solitude — The dog was his own master but was tired of being alone and constantly afraid of stronger creatures in the forest. He decided to find a master who was the strongest of all.
2. Serving the Wolf — His first choice was a big, strong Wolf. The dog agreed to be the Wolf's servant. He was happy for some time, thinking he had found the strongest master.
3. Switching to the Bear — One day, the Wolf was scared by a Bear. Realizing the Bear was stronger than the Wolf, the dog left the Wolf and decided to serve the Bear instead. He believed the Bear was the strongest.
4. Loyalty to the Lion — While serving the Bear, the dog noticed the Bear running away from a Lion, fearing it. The dog understood that the Lion was the mightiest beast in the jungle. He left the Bear and became the Lion's servant, feeling truly safe with the king of the forest.
5. Finding Man — The dog served the Lion loyally for a long time. However, one day, he saw the Lion become afraid and run away when he smelled a man. The Lion admitted that man was stronger. This made the dog realize that man was indeed the strongest of all.
6. Serving Man Forever — From that day onwards, the dog left the Lion and chose to serve man. He has been man's most loyal and faithful servant ever since, always staying by his side and never again looking for another master.

Key Themes and Moral Lessons

• Quest for Security: The central motivation of the dog is to find safety and protection from stronger animals.
• Loyalty and Companionship: The story beautifully illustrates how the dog, once he finds his ideal master, displays unwavering loyalty, leading to the special bond we share with dogs today.
• Intelligence and Adaptability: The dog is smart enough to observe and identify who is truly the strongest, adapting his choices to ensure his well-being.
• Man's Dominance: The tale subtly highlights man's superior intelligence and power, which even the fiercest animals like the lion acknowledge.
• Making Choices: The dog's journey is about making choices and learning from experiences to find what truly fulfills his need for security and companionship.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why was the dog initially unhappy and what did he decide to do?
  A: Step 1: The dog was unhappy because he was his own master and had to constantly search for food and was always afraid of animals stronger than himself.
  Step 2: He decided that he would find a master who was the strongest of all, so he would no longer have to live in fear.
  Final answer: The dog was unhappy living alone and being afraid of stronger animals, so he decided to find the strongest master to serve.

• Q: Why did the dog leave the Wolf to serve the Bear?
  A: Step 1: The dog was serving the Wolf, believing it was the strongest.
  Step 2: One day, they encountered a Bear, and the Wolf quickly hid in the bushes, fearing the Bear.
  Step 3: This made the dog realize that the Bear was stronger than the Wolf. So, he decided to leave the Wolf and serve the Bear instead.
  Final answer: The dog left the Wolf because he saw the Wolf was afraid of the Bear, which meant the Bear was stronger.

• Q: What made the dog choose the Lion as his master?
  A: Step 1: The dog was serving the Bear, thinking it was the strongest creature.
  Step 2: He then observed the Bear running away in fear from a Lion, acknowledging the Lion's superior strength.
  Step 3: Realizing that the Lion was the king of the forest and the strongest beast, the dog decided to leave the Bear and serve the Lion.
  Final answer: The dog chose the Lion as his master because he saw that even the strong Bear was afraid of the Lion, indicating the Lion's immense power.

• Q: Why did the dog finally choose man as his permanent master?
  A: Step 1: The dog had been serving the Lion, whom he believed was the strongest, for a long time.
  Step 2: One day, the Lion suddenly ran away and hid, stating that he was afraid of man.
  Step 3: The dog concluded that if the mighty Lion was afraid of man, then man must be the strongest of all creatures. He then decided to serve man.
  Final answer: The dog finally chose man as his permanent master because he witnessed the powerful Lion being afraid of man, proving that man was the strongest.

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