Travelling with Grandfather's Zoo Summary Class 6 English Skylark

Key Points of the Story

• The family, including Grandfather, Grandmother, the narrator, a parrot named Popeye, a tiger named Timothy, and a squirrel named Chips, travel from Dehra to Lucknow by train.
• Grandmother insisted on taking her parrot, while Grandfather and the narrator brought along their pets.
• Timothy the tiger behaved impeccably during the journey, having a berth to himself.
• Chips, the squirrel, made friends on the train and indulged in roasted peanuts.
• Unexpectedly, Grandfather's pet python sneaked into the tiffin basket and devoured their food.
• The python caused chaos on the train, leading to a humorous situation with Aunt Mabel fainting upon seeing it in the tiffin basket.

Detailed Summary

The story begins with the family boarding the Lucknow Express. They are moving from Dehra to Lucknow for a few months. Grandmother's pet parrot, Popeye, loudly announces their departure. Grandmother insisted on bringing her parrot, so Grandfather and the narrator insisted on bringing their pets too: a teenaged tiger named Timothy (Grandfather’s) and a small squirrel named Chips (the narrator’s). However, they decided it was best to leave the python behind.

In those days, Indian trains were not crowded, allowing passengers to travel with various animals. Grandfather opted for first-class travel, securing a four-berth compartment where Timothy had a berth all to himself. Timothy behaved perfectly throughout the journey, impressing even the guard with his impeccable manners.

Despite Timothy’s good behavior, the journey was eventful. Popeye, the parrot, objected to vendors and passengers poking their hands through the windows, resulting in nipped fingers and a tweaked ticket inspector’s ear. Once the train started moving, Chips, the squirrel, ventured out of the compartment, exploring the train and making friends with passengers who had bought roasted peanuts. He returned after an hour with a full belly.

Grandmother, tired from the day, decided to sleep without eating. She left Grandfather and the narrator to their own devices with a tiffin basket full of food. When the narrator opened the basket, they were surprised to find the python inside, having eaten all their dinner. The python had sneaked into the basket in the garden and now lay content after its feast.

Grandfather quickly shut the basket and pushed it under the berth to avoid alarming Grandmother. The narrator, still hungry, received a peanut from Chips, though it wasn’t enough to satisfy him.

Late at night, there was a commotion in the train. The python had escaped from the basket, causing panic among the passengers. Grandfather, in his pajamas, reassured everyone and retrieved the python from the washroom, where it had gone for a drink of water. He brought it back to their compartment, much to Grandmother’s dismay. She accused him of deliberately bringing the snake, though he tried to explain the situation.

The next morning, the train arrived in Lucknow, where Aunt Mabel, who was terrified of snakes, awaited them. She picked up the tiffin basket, unaware of its recent occupant, and they all boarded a large Chevrolet taxi. On the way to their new house, the family kept a close eye on the basket, ensuring it stayed securely shut.

At their new home, Aunt Mabel opened the basket, hoping for food, only to find the python inside. She fainted from shock. Grandfather quickly took the python and draped it over a guava tree branch in the garden. When Aunt Mabel regained consciousness, she insisted there was a snake in the basket. They showed her the empty basket, and she was left confused. Grandfather blamed her vision on the heat, and soon everyone, including Aunt Mabel, was laughing, with Popeye cackling loudly. The story ends on a humorous note with the family laughing together.

Theme/Message

Theme

The theme of the story revolves around the unpredictability of life and the humorous mishaps that can occur during travel and family adventures.

Message

Through the comical events on the train journey, the story conveys the importance of adaptability and quick thinking in the face of unexpected situations. It also highlights the significance of family unity and how laughter can help overcome challenges.

Difficult Words

1. Parrot: A colorful bird with a strong curved beak, often capable of mimicking human speech.
2. Python: A large non-venomous snake found in Africa, Asia, and Australia, known for its ability to constrict its prey.
3. Compartment: A separate section or part of a larger space, especially in a vehicle or a building.
4. Lulled: Calmed or soothed someone to sleep or into a state of calmness.
5. Forays: Sudden attacks or raids into enemy territory; here, it refers to Chips' short adventures outside the compartment.
6. Hysterical: Feeling or showing extreme and uncontrolled emotion, often leading to irrational behavior.
7. Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new conditions or situations.
8. Convey: To communicate or make something known.
9. Unity: The state of being united or joined as a whole.
10. Devoured: To eat hungrily or quickly; consume with great appetite.
11. Unpredictability: The quality of being unable to be foreseen or predicted.
12. Chaos: Complete disorder and confusion.
13. Comical: Amusing in a way that provokes laughter.
14. Conveyed: Made an idea, feeling, or information known or understandable to someone.
15. Significance: The importance or meaning of something.