Summary: Talkative Barber | English Marigold Class 5 PDF Download

Key Points of the Story

• The story takes place in the city of Cashgar, where a barber known for his endless talking lives.
• The Sultan calls for the barber to shave his head, but the barber starts talking non-stop instead of doing his job.
• The Sultan becomes very angry and tells the barber to stop talking and start shaving.
• The barber insists that he is quiet compared to his six brothers, who are all great talkers and have various physical defects.
• The Sultan, frustrated, decides to pay the barber three pieces of gold and send him away without being shaved.
• The barber refuses to leave and continues to talk, asking the Sultan about his important business that makes him hurry.
• Finally, the Sultan reveals that he is hosting a feast for friends, which is why he needs to leave quickly.
• The barber then remembers he invited friends over too, which delays the shaving further.
• In desperation, the Sultan promises the barber all the food prepared for his feast if he finishes shaving him quickly.
• After checking the food and asking for more desserts, the barber takes a long time to shave the Sultan, leading to more frustration.

Detailed Summary

In a city called Cashgar, there was a barber who loved to talk a lot. One day, the Sultan, who was the king, called for the barber to shave his head. But instead of doing his job, the barber started talking and talking without stopping. This made the Sultan very angry. He shouted, “When are you going to stop talking and start shaving me?”

The barber replied, “You hurt my feelings by calling me a chatterer! Everyone says I am very quiet. My six brothers are the real chatterers. Their names are funny: Bacbone, Bakbarea, Bakbac, Alcouz, Alnaschee, and Schacabac. Each of my brothers has something different about them. One is humpbacked, another is toothless, one is half-blind, one is completely blind, one is deaf, and the last one has trouble speaking. But I am the youngest, and I am very quiet.”

The Sultan, frustrated, yelled, “Give him three pieces of gold and send him away! I will not get shaved today.” The barber, however, was determined to finish his work. He said, “My Master, I did not come here by myself. You asked me to come, so I will not leave until I have shaved you.” Then, the barber started to shave the Sultan but kept talking instead of working.

The Sultan, in a hurry, said, “Stop talking and just shave me! I have something important to do at noon.” But the barber was not finished. He even went to check the time, leaving the Sultan half-shaved. The Sultan lost his patience and shouted, “I am very tired of this!”

Finally, the Sultan told the barber that he was hosting a feast for his friends at noon. As soon as the barber heard about the feast, he remembered that he had invited his own friends over and had not prepared anything for them. The Sultan, wanting to get rid of the barber, offered him all the food that was prepared for his feast. The barber then asked to see the food so he could check if it was enough for his friends.

The Sultan was desperate and agreed to bring the food to the barber. After looking at the food, the barber asked for dessert, and the Sultan, still half-shaved, ordered that too. The barber took his time examining each dish. The Sultan was very impatient and stamped his feet, but the barber did not rush. Eventually, he picked up the razor again but soon stopped to compliment the Sultan on his generosity.

This story shows us how sometimes talking too much can get in the way of doing important things, and how patience is tested when someone does not follow through with their promises.

Theme/ Message

• The main theme of the story is about communication and the impact of excessive talking. The barber's inability to stop talking creates a humorous yet frustrating scenario for the Sultan.
• Another important theme is the idea of patience. The Sultan is tested repeatedly and his patience wears thin as the barber continues to delay the shaving.
• The story also highlights the concept of cleverness. The barber cleverly uses his chatter to manipulate the situation to his advantage, even when he is in a position of service.
• The message of the story is that sometimes people can be so talkative that they lose sight of their responsibilities. The barber's chatter prevents him from completing his task effectively.
• It also teaches that patience is a virtue. The Sultan's struggle with his impatience demonstrates how important it is to remain calm, even when faced with frustrating situations.
• Additionally, it suggests that cleverness can sometimes be mistaken for wisdom. The barber, while clever in his manipulation, fails to recognize when to be serious and when to focus on his work.
• In conclusion, this story offers a delightful exploration of communication and the humorous challenges that arise when one person cannot stop talking. Through the barber's endless chatter, we learn about the importance of being aware of our responsibilities and the value of patience in our daily lives.

Difficult Words

• Chatterer: A person who talks a lot, often without stopping.
• Defect: A fault or imperfection in something.
• Opinion: What someone thinks or feels about something.
• Exhausted: Very tired or fed up with something.
• Dessert: A sweet dish served after the main meal.
• Examine: To look at something very carefully to understand it better.
• Generous: Willing to give more of something, like money or food, than is usual or expected.
• Frustrated: Feeling annoyed or upset because of being unable to do something.
• Desperation: A state of having lost all hope and being willing to do anything to change a situation.
• Patience: The ability to wait calmly without getting angry.