Chapter Summary: Flames in the Forest | Class 7 English Alive PDF Download

Introduction

The story revolves around a young boy named Romi, who encounters a severe forest fire while riding his bicycle through the woods. His friend Prem warns him of the danger, but Romi decides to brave the fire to deliver medicine to his ailing father. Along the way, he witnesses various wild animals fleeing the blaze and meets another boy, Teju, who joins him on his journey.

Detailed Summary

As Romi was preparing to leave on his bicycle, he and his friend Prem noticed smoke rising from a forest nearby. Despite Prem's concerns and suggestion to stay at his place, Romi needed to get home to his sick father. He set off on his bicycle through the forest, which was ablaze, with animals rushing to escape the fire.

During his ride, Romi encountered a variety of animals, including hares, monkeys, pheasants, and a large number of birds, all fleeing the catastrophic fire. The situation was dire, and the fire was rapidly spreading, exacerbated by the dry conditions and strong winds. Amid the chaos, Romi met Teju, a younger boy who was trying to get home with two clattering milk cans. Romi urged Teju to use the noise from the cans to alert the animals of their approach.

As they navigated through the burning forest, they encountered more wildlife, an elephant, and faced various dangers, including a falling burning branch. Despite the perilous conditions, Romi's determination didn't waver. He was focused on crossing a river which would lead them to safety away from the fire. After a tense journey, they managed to escape the burning forest by riding the bicycle through the river, although they encountered difficulties with the depth and flow of the water.

Theme and Message

The story highlights themes of bravery, resilience, and the bond formed through shared adversity. Romi's courage and quick thinking in a life-threatening situation show his determination to fulfill his responsibilities towards his father. The narrative also brings attention to the impact of forest fires on wildlife and the environment, emphasizing the urgency of both prevention and effective response measures.

Difficult Words and Meanings

Cinders: Ashes from burnt wood.

Clattering: A continuous rattling sound made by hard objects striking each other.

Billowed: Spread out or swollen with air.

Scorched: Burned on the surface.

Soggy: Heavily soaked with water; saturated.

Exodus: A mass departure of people, especially emigrants.

Trumpeted: Produced a loud and clear sound, similar to a trumpet, used by elephants to communicate.

Heave: Lift or haul with great effort.

Swift: Moving very fast.