CBSE Class 6 English: Supplementary Chapter 2 - The Friendly Mongoose

Understanding "The Friendly Mongoose"

“The Friendly Mongoose” is a poignant story from your 'A Pact with the Sun' supplementary reader. It tells the story of a farmer, his wife, and their newborn baby. The farmer, wanting a companion for his child, brings home a baby mongoose. Over time, the mongoose grows up to be a loyal and friendly pet, deeply attached to the family, especially the baby. However, the farmer's wife harbors a deep-seated distrust for the mongoose, despite its gentle nature. She fears that an animal, no matter how tamed, might someday harm her child. This fear becomes the central conflict of the story. One day, when the wife leaves the baby alone under the mongoose's care and goes to the market, a dramatic event unfolds. This incident tests the mongoose's loyalty and, tragically, the mother's trust, leading to an outcome filled with regret and sorrow. The story serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of preconceived notions and making hasty judgments without knowing the full truth.

Characters and Moral Lessons

The story features three main characters, each playing a crucial role in conveying its powerful message.

• The Farmer: He represents wisdom and a trusting nature. He brings the mongoose home, believing it will be a good companion for his son, showing his ability to look beyond initial appearances.
• The Farmer's Wife: She is portrayed as loving but impulsive and prone to hasty judgment. Her fear for her child overrides her ability to think clearly, leading her to a tragic mistake. She represents the danger of acting solely based on emotion and suspicion.
• The Mongoose: This character embodies loyalty, bravery, and innocence. Despite being an animal, it acts with unwavering devotion to protect the baby, proving to be a true friend. Its actions highlight that kindness and loyalty can come from unexpected sources.

The central moral lessons of the story are:

1. Do not judge hastily: The most important lesson is to never jump to conclusions or make judgments without fully understanding a situation. The wife's quick assumption led to irreversible sorrow.
2. Trust and Patience: Building trust takes time and patience. The wife's lack of trust in the mongoose, despite its proven friendly nature, ultimately led to its demise.
3. Consequences of Actions: Every action has consequences. The wife's impulsive act resulted in a deep sense of guilt and loss, teaching us to think before we act.

The Story's Progression: Step-by-Step

1. Introduction of the Family and Pet — A farmer, his wife, and their baby live happily. The farmer decides to bring a baby mongoose home as a companion for their child, hoping it will grow up to be a good friend to the baby.
2. Wife's Growing Distrust — As the mongoose grows, it becomes a loyal and friendly pet. However, the farmer's wife starts feeling uneasy and develops a fear that the mongoose, being an animal, might harm her baby one day. Her husband tries to reassure her, but her suspicion lingers.
3. The Mongoose Saves the Baby — One day, the wife leaves the baby sleeping and goes to the market. While she is away, a venomous snake enters the house and approaches the baby's cradle. The brave mongoose fights the snake valiantly and kills it, saving the baby's life.
4. Hasty Judgment and Tragic Act — Upon returning home, the wife sees blood on the mongoose's mouth and paws. Without investigating or considering any other possibility, she immediately assumes the mongoose has harmed her baby. In a fit of rage and sorrow, she hits the mongoose with her basket, killing it instantly.
5. Realisation and Regret — Rushing inside, the wife finds her baby sleeping soundly and spots the dead snake near the cradle. She immediately understands what truly happened – the mongoose had saved her child. Overcome with immense grief and regret for her impulsive act, she weeps over the lifeless body of her loyal pet, but it is too late.

Exam Tips for "The Friendly Mongoose"

When answering questions based on "The Friendly Mongoose," remember to focus on the story's moral implications. Board exams often test your understanding of character motivations and the central message.

1. Read Carefully: Ensure you've read the entire story thoroughly to grasp all details and sequences of events.
2. Character Analysis: Pay attention to the traits of each character. How does the farmer differ from his wife? What qualities does the mongoose display?
3. Identify the Moral: Clearly state the moral lesson of the story in your own words. Questions about "lessons learned" or "what would you have done" are common.
4. Support with Evidence: Always support your answers with examples or events from the story. For instance, if you say the mongoose was loyal, describe how it fought the snake.
5. Complete Sentences: Always answer in complete, clear sentences, explaining your points well. Avoid one-word answers.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What made the farmer decide to bring a mongoose into his home? A: Step 1: The farmer had a baby son and wanted him to have a companion as he grew up. Step 2: He believed that a pet animal would be a good friend to his son. Final answer: The farmer decided to bring a mongoose into his home because he wanted his newborn son to have a companion and thought a pet would be a good friend.
• Q: Why was the farmer's wife initially uneasy about the mongoose, even though it was friendly? A: Step 1: The farmer's wife had a preconceived notion that a mongoose, being an animal, could not be trusted fully. Step 2: She feared that despite its friendly nature, it might harm her baby one day due to its animal instincts. Final answer: The farmer's wife was uneasy because she feared that the mongoose, being an animal, might eventually harm her baby, regardless of its current friendly behavior.
• Q: Describe the incident that led the farmer's wife to kill the mongoose. A: Step 1: The farmer's wife left the baby alone and went to the market. While she was away, the mongoose fought and killed a snake that was threatening the baby. Step 2: Upon returning, she saw blood on the mongoose's mouth and paws. Without checking on the baby or understanding the situation, she immediately assumed the mongoose had attacked her child. Step 3: In a fit of anger and grief, she struck the mongoose with her basket, killing it. Final answer: The wife, seeing blood on the mongoose, mistakenly thought it had harmed her baby and impulsively killed it with her basket, unaware it had just saved her child from a snake.
• Q: What important lesson does the story "The Friendly Mongoose" teach us? A: Step 1: The story teaches us the danger of making hasty judgments and jumping to conclusions without knowing the full truth. Step 2: It emphasizes the importance of trust and patience, and that appearances can be deceiving. Step 3: It also highlights that acting out of anger or fear without proper thought can lead to irreversible and tragic consequences. Final answer: The story teaches us the vital lesson to never make hasty judgments or act on assumptions without verifying the facts, as such actions can lead to deep regret and irreparable harm.

Frequently Asked Questions