Class 4 English Summary Chapter 5 The Old Stag

What the Story is About?

Explanation of the Story

In a lush forest, there lived an old stag who was known for his kindness. Every day, he greeted the animals and birds warmly. Though the forest provided plenty of food, the stag preferred staying on a small hillock covered with soft, green grass. He enjoyed resting there and would meet his friends every day.

One day, the old stag fell ill and could not go down the hillock to greet his friends. He struggled to reach the hillock but knew that fresh, tender grass and proper rest would help him recover. He ate the grass and decided to rest, but he was too weak to meet his friends.

When his friends, including a deer, elephant, and giraffe, learned that the stag was unwell, they came to visit him. The stag told them that he was too weak to come down. The deer wished him a speedy recovery, and the elephant and giraffe admired the tender grass. Word spread quickly about how delicious and tender the grass was.

Soon, every animal that visited the stag ate the grass. They were so tempted by the fresh, juicy leaves that they feasted on them. But as the days passed, the grass began to disappear, and the stag became weaker. His friends soon realized that their greed had caused them to forget about the stag's needs. They felt guilty and ashamed.

Realizing that there was not enough grass left for the stag to recover, the animals decided to stop eating the grass. They went elsewhere to find food and some even brought fresh leaves for the stag. After some time, it rained, and the grass grew back. The old stag now had enough food to recover, and slowly, he regained his strength.

The animals learned an important lesson: Nature provides enough for everyone, but it must be used wisely. Greed can harm others and ourselves, and it is important to share resources fairly and responsibly.

Main Characters of the Story

• Old Stag: A kind stag who lives on a hillock and enjoys the fresh grass. He becomes ill and learns the importance of wise resource use.
• Deer: One of the stag’s friends who visits him and wishes him a speedy recovery.
• Elephant: A friend who enjoys the grass but doesn’t realize the harm being done.
• Giraffe: Another friend who eats the grass and helps spread word about it.
• Other Animals: Various animals who visit the stag, later realizing their mistake.

Moral of the Story

Difficult Words

• Lush : Refers to an area that is green, dense, and filled with plants, similar to a thick forest.
• Stag : A term used to describe a male deer.
• Hillock : Indicates a small hill.
• Tender : Describes something that is soft and delicate, like young grass.
• Recovery : The process of getting better after being unwell.
• Greed : The desire for more than what is necessary.
• Resources : Refers to items provided by nature, such as food or water.