Textbook Solutions: That Little Square Box | Gul Mohar Class 8: Book Solutions, Summaries & Worksheets PDF Download

Before You Read

Q. The narrator is a nervous man travelling from America to England on board the ship Spartan. He sees two men board the ship at the last minute, carrying a little square box about which they are secretive and talk of 'letting off'. What do you think the two men are planning? Write one sentence.
Ans: The two men seem to be planning something dangerous and mysterious with the little square box, which the narrator fears might be an explosive device intended to harm the passengers and the ship.

While Reading

Q1. Read the description of the box. Underline the phrases or sentences that are dramatic.
Ans: The narrator describes the box in a dramatic way by saying it was “a little square box made of dark wood” that looked like “a pistol case,” and that it had “a trigger-like arrangement with a coil of string.” He notices a clicking noise after grains are poured in, which makes the scene more tense. The detail that the men smiled “in a satisfied way” after hearing the noise adds to the drama, suggesting that the box was dangerous and meant for a serious purpose.

Q2. What do you think the box contains?
Ans: From the narrator’s frightened perspective, the box appeared to contain some kind of explosive device or weapon. The whitish grains being poured into it seemed like gunpowder or chemicals for a bomb, and the clicking noise suggested machinery inside. At that point in the story, it looked as if the men had planned a deadly explosion. However, the later twist reveals that the box did not hold explosives but pigeons, which they intended to use in a race. This contrast makes the suspense more gripping and the ending surprising.

Q3. Read para 23. Do the narrator's thoughts tell us about his character? Write two things you can infer about him.
Ans: The narrator’s thoughts show that he is nervous and indecisive. He wants to warn the captain about the two men, but he hesitates out of fear of being questioned or ridiculed. His mind is full of doubts, yet he cannot ignore what he overheard. From this we learn that he is cautious but also timid, unable to take quick decisions in stressful situations. At the same time, his strong sense of imagination makes him jump to conclusions, which creates the tension that drives the story forward.

Q4. The countdown to ten o'clock reminds us of...
Ans: The countdown to ten o’clock reminds us of the tense build-up often seen in dramatic scenes of bombs or explosives being set off. The narrator, hiding in fear, hears the men speaking of “three minutes more,” “a minute and a half more,” and so on. His terror increases with each second, and he even feels his heart throbbing with the passage of time. This slow marking of moments creates suspense for the reader, making us believe a great tragedy is about to occur, only for the final outcome to be unexpectedly harmless.

Understanding the Text

A. Complete these sentences.

1. The narrator thought the dark object looked like a ________________________.
2. The narrator heard a _____________ noise coming from the box.
3. The narrator assumed the _____________ formed the fuse of an explosive device.
4. Later, the narrator hid himself in a __________________.
5. The two men decided to set off the trigger at ________ sharp.
6. One of them was concerned that others would hear the ________________________.
7. The pigeon belonging to _______________ was the one that reached land.
8. The matter was kept a secret because captains have a ______________________________ sporting events aboard their ships. 
Ans: 1. The narrator thought the dark object looked like a pistol case.
2. The narrator heard a clicking noise coming from the box.
3. The narrator assumed the whitish grains formed the fuse of an explosive device.
4. Later, the narrator hid himself in a lifeboat.
5. The two men decided to set off the trigger at ten o’clock sharp.
6. One of them was concerned that others would hear the clicking sound.
7. The pigeon belonging to Flannigan was the one that reached land.
8. The matter was kept a secret because captains have a prejudice against sporting events aboard their ships.

B. Answer these questions.

Q1. Who did the narrator think the two men were? What did he think they were up to?
Ans: The narrator was convinced that the two men were dangerous agents or conspirators planning to blow up the ship. Their secretive behaviour, harsh laughter, and references to “letting it off” made him believe that they were preparing to sacrifice themselves and all the passengers in a huge explosion. He thought the whitish grains were part of a fuse and that the clicking sound came from machinery. His fearful imagination convinced him that the men’s box was a bomb, and he lived in constant terror throughout the voyage.

Q2. What do you think the two men thought of the narrator when he jumped out in front of them? Which lines from the text support your answer?
Ans: When the narrator suddenly leapt out in front of the two men shouting “Stop!”, they were shocked and thought he was mad. The line “He’s mad!” said Flannigan” shows their reaction clearly. They could not understand his panic because they knew the box only contained pigeons. His pale face in the moonlight also startled them, making him look almost ghost-like. Their reaction proves that while the narrator saw them as villains, they saw him as a foolish or hysterical man who had misunderstood the whole situation.

Q3. It was clear to me that ... in one great explosion. (para 21)
a. How do you think the narrator felt when he saw two pigeons flying out of the box?
b. Do you think he might be revisiting his previous observations in a new light? Where do you think he may have gone wrong?
c. If you were in the narrator's place, what would you have done differently? Why?
Ans: (a) When the narrator saw two pigeons fly out of the box, he must have felt foolish, embarrassed, and greatly relieved. All his fears of a bomb turned out to be false.
(b) He began to realise that his imagination and nervousness had led him to misinterpret everything he saw. He went wrong by jumping to conclusions without confirming facts.
(c) If I were in his place, I would have quietly reported my suspicions to the captain rather than panicking openly, since that would have been a calmer and more sensible way to handle the situation.

Q4. ... a whirl of conflicting ideas was battling in my mind. (para 23)
a. What were the different ideas that the narrator could not decide between?
Ans: The narrator was torn between two choices: either reporting the two men immediately to the captain about his suspicions, or waiting and observing their actions to confirm his fears. He feared that if he raised the alarm prematurely and was wrong, he would be ridiculed. On the other hand, if he did nothing, he feared that the explosion might actually happen, causing harm to everyone aboard.

b. What did he finally decide? Why?
Ans: The narrator finally decided to wait and observe the men instead of immediately raising the alarm. This decision stemmed from his nervousness and fear of making a public mistake. He lacked confidence in his own judgment, and his anxiety about being wrong led him to hesitate, resulting in him silently watching the situation unfold. His timidity and indecision ultimately shaped his choice to delay action.

Q5. I could count them by the throbbing of my heart. (para 30)
a. Where was the narrator?
Ans: The narrator was hiding in a lifeboat, suspended over the deck of the ship. He was trying to remain undetected, while fearing the consequences of what he believed would be a deadly explosion.

b. How was he feeling at the moment? Why?
Ans: The narrator was feeling intense fear and anxiety. His heart was racing because he believed that the two men were about to trigger a bomb, and he was certain that death was imminent. His physical symptoms, like the throbbing of his heart, indicate his overwhelming nervousness and the pressure he was feeling as the countdown approached its climax. The anxiety and uncertainty made every passing second feel excruciatingly slow.

Q 6. Death stared me in the face, whether I did or did not give the alarm. (para 33)
a. Why did the narrator think he was about to die?
Ans: The narrator believed he was about to die because he thought the two men had set a bomb under his lifeboat, and the countdown they were following meant the explosion would happen at any moment. He felt trapped in a situation where death seemed inevitable, no matter what action he took.

b. Why did he think there was no chance of living?
Ans: The narrator felt there was no chance of living because, in his mind, both options—either raising the alarm or staying silent—would lead to death. If he warned the passengers and was wrong, he would be ridiculed, and if he stayed silent, the explosion would occur without warning. He felt hopeless and believed that no matter what he did, death was unavoidable.

Appreciating the Text

Q1. "Would you have the blood of two hundred upon your souls?" I cried. "You will be responsible for the deaths of two hundred people," I said. Does the message in this sentence differ from the one highlighted above? As a reader, which sentence do you think has more impact? Why?
​Ans: The two sentences carry the same meaning, but the first one is more dramatic and impactful. The phrase “blood of two hundred upon your souls” is powerful and emotional, making the situation feel urgent and horrifying. The second version is simpler and more factual, but it lacks the weight of emotion. As a reader, the first sentence has greater effect because it reflects the narrator’s panic and desperation, while also capturing the life-and-death seriousness he imagined. Its intensity builds suspense and draws us into his fearful state of mind.

Q2. Do you think the moments of dramatic tension and fear in this story make it more suspenseful or a little humorous? What effect does it have on the ending of the story?
Ans: The story’s tension feels suspenseful while reading, as we believe along with the narrator that something terrible is about to happen. However, when the truth is revealed and the box is shown to contain pigeons instead of explosives, the earlier fear turns humorous. The narrator’s overactive imagination and nervous behaviour make the ending both surprising and comic. This mixture of suspense and humour creates a light-hearted effect, leaving readers amused rather than disturbed. It shows Doyle’s skill in playing with expectations and delivering an entertaining twist.