NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 3 - Iswaran the Storyteller

Q1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?

Ans: Iswaran was a loyal and obedient man. He worked as Mahendra’s cook. He was kind, hardworking, and took care of everything—like cooking food, washing clothes, and even keeping Mahendra company by talking to him at night. He followed Mahendra’s instructions sincerely, which made him very valuable to Mahendra.

Q2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?

Ans: Iswaran was deeply inspired by Tamil writers. He had a habit of adding suspense to everything he said. He could describe even small events in an interesting and exciting way. For example, when he talked about a tree that had fallen on the highway, he made it sound very dramatic. He said he was alone on a quiet road and saw something that looked like a huge animal lying there. But when he got closer, he realized it was just a fallen tree. His main aim was to make the story exciting and surprising.

Q3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

Ans: Iswaran told the story of the wild elephant in an exaggerated manner. He said the elephant had run away from a timber yard, crushed bushes, tore down creepers, and snapped branches as it pleased. It became wild and entered a school ground, causing panic. Everyone ran away in fear, and no one dared to go near the animal. At that moment, Iswaran said he took a cane from a teacher and bravely approached the elephant. He claimed he tapped its third toenail, and the elephant immediately fell. He said he used a Japanese martial art to do this. However, the story sounds unbelievable, as it’s hard to accept that a child could control a rampaging elephant so easily.

Q4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?

Ans: Iswaran was an expert in telling adventurous and mysterious stories in a dramatic way. It was his daily routine to entertain Mahendra at night. Mahendra could listen to and watch the development of the story. Thus Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV.

Q5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?

Ans: Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination as he did not believe in ghosts. One day Iswaran told him about a female ghost holding a foetus in her arms. On a full-moon night he woke up from his sleep and looked outside the window. To his shock, he saw the same figure and started sweating heavily out of fear.

Q6.  Can you think of some other ending for the story?

Ans: In the story, Mahendra is deeply frightened by the thought of a ghost entering his room the previous night. He decides to leave the haunted place the next day. However, the story could have concluded on a more positive note. Instead of leaving the place, Mahendra could have been shown as a brave individual who disproves the ghost theory. Alternatively, both Mahendra and Iswaran could have left together, strengthening their bond that is highlighted earlier in the narrative. Iswaran is depicted as a reliable companion for Mahendra, and their friendship could have been a focal point in a different ending.