Golu Grows a Nose Summary Class 7 English An Alien Hand

Introduction

"Golu Grows a Nose" is a simplified and abridged version of a story by Rudyard Kipling, known for his imaginative and captivating tales. The story takes us back to a time when elephants had no trunks, only small, bulgy noses. It follows the adventures of a curious baby elephant named Golu, who embarks on a journey to find out what a crocodile eats for dinner. His quest leads to an unexpected and transformative encounter with a crocodile that changes his life forever.

Summary 

Long, long ago, elephants did not have trunks. They only had small, bulgy noses, about the size of a boot, which they could wiggle but couldn't use to pick up things. There was a baby elephant named Golu who also had a small nose. Golu was very curious and loved asking questions. He asked his tall aunt, the ostrich, why she didn't fly like other birds, and his tall uncle, the giraffe, why his skin was spotty. He also asked his huge uncle, the hippopotamus, why his eyes were always red, and his hairy uncle, the baboon, why melons tasted like melons. None of them had answers to his questions and thought he was naughty for asking such difficult questions.

One day, Golu met a mynah bird and asked her what the crocodile had for dinner. The mynah told him to go to the great, grassy Limpopo river to find out. Golu decided to go and took a hundred sugar canes, fifty dozen bananas, and twenty-five melons with him. He told his family goodbye and set off on his journey.

On his way, Golu met a python and asked if he had seen a crocodile and what it looked like. The python didn't say anything, so Golu helped him coil back around a tree branch and continued on his way.

After a few days, Golu reached the Limpopo river and saw what he thought was a log of wood on the bank. It was actually the crocodile, who winked at him. Golu asked the crocodile if he had ever seen another crocodile. The crocodile said he was the crocodile and shed tears to prove it. Golu asked him what he had for dinner, and the crocodile invited him to come closer to find out.

When Golu came closer, the crocodile grabbed his nose and said he would have a baby elephant for dinner. Golu screamed for help, and the python, who had been quietly following him, told him to pull as hard as he could. The crocodile pulled too, and Golu's nose started stretching. The python coiled around Golu's stomach to help him pull harder. Finally, Golu's nose, now five feet long, was free, but it hurt a lot.

Golu wrapped his long nose in a banana leaf and put it in the river to cool. After two days, his nose cooled but did not shrink. A fly stung Golu on the shoulder, and he used his long nose to hit the fly dead. The python pointed out that Golu couldn't have done that with a small nose. Golu then used his nose to pluck grass, dust it, and eat it. He also used it to scoop up mud and slap it on his head to cool off.

The python highlighted the advantages of having a long nose, and Golu thanked him. Golu decided to go back to his family, happy with his new and useful trunk.

Theme

The primary theme of "Golu Grows a Nose" is curiosity and its consequences. Golu's endless questions and his desire to explore the unknown drive the story forward. This curiosity leads him to a dangerous yet transformative experience that significantly benefits him. Another important theme is growth and change. Golu's journey symbolizes personal growth, as he transitions from having a small, ineffective nose to a long, useful trunk. The story also highlights the idea of adaptation and how new challenges can lead to beneficial changes, demonstrating that sometimes difficult experiences can result in unexpected advantages.

Difficult Words and Their Meanings

• Bulgy - Swollen or sticking out.
• Wiggle - Move or cause to move up and down or from side to side with small rapid movements.
• Mynah - A type of bird known for its ability to mimic sounds.
• Grassy - Covered with grass.
• Limpopo - A river in Africa.
• Snout - The projecting nose and mouth of an animal, especially a mammal.
• Haunches - The buttocks and thighs considered together, in a human or animal.
• Coiled - Arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings.
• Advantage - A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.
• Plucked - Take hold of something and quickly remove it from its place.
• Gratefully - With appreciation for something done or received.
• Abridged - Shortened, usually in reference to a written or spoken work.