Class 9 English In The Kingdom Of Fools Worksheet
FAQs on Class 9 English In The Kingdom Of Fools Worksheet
1. What were the two strangest things the guru and his disciple found in the Kingdom of Fools, making it an important setting for the story?
The two most important and strange things the guru and his disciple observed were:
Reversal of Day and Night: The king had ordered all his subjects to sleep during the day and conduct their business only after dark. This unnatural order was a key sign of the kingdom's foolishness.
Uniform Pricing: Everything in the kingdom, from a measure of rice to a bunch of bananas, cost the same single coin, a 'duddu'. This ignored the actual value of goods and was another example of the king's absurd logic.
2. Why did the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? What was the expected consequence of this decision?
The disciple decided to stay because he was tempted by the extremely cheap food. The fact that he could buy anything he wanted for a single 'duddu' made him greedy, and he ignored his guru's warning about the dangers of living among fools. The expected consequence, as warned by the guru, was that this foolish system would eventually put him in grave danger, which it did when he was chosen for execution simply because he had grown fat enough to fit the stake.
3. From an examination perspective, trace the chain of accusations in the king's court to find the 'real' culprit. Why is this sequence considered a mockery of justice?
The chain of accusations is a frequently asked question that highlights the king's foolishness. The sequence was as follows:
1. The rich merchant was initially blamed as the owner of the house.
2. He blamed the bricklayer for building a weak wall.
3. The bricklayer blamed the dancing girl for distracting him with her jingling anklets.
4. The dancing girl blamed the goldsmith for delaying her jewellery, forcing her to walk up and down the street.
5. The goldsmith blamed the rich merchant's father for pressuring him to finish an urgent wedding order.
Since the merchant's father was dead, the king absurdly concluded the merchant must inherit the punishment along with the wealth. This process is a mockery of justice because it is completely illogical, arbitrary, and not based on actual evidence, ultimately punishing an innocent man for a thief's death.
4. What is the central message or moral of the story 'In the Kingdom of Fools'? This is a very important question for Class 9.
The central message of the story is that foolishness and bad governance are dangerous and can lead to disastrous consequences. It teaches that one should stay away from foolish people and not be tempted by seemingly easy opportunities. The story highlights the importance of wisdom, foresight, and critical thinking, as demonstrated by the guru who understands the danger and ultimately saves his disciple.
5. How does the guru's wisdom save his disciple? Analyse the trick he played on the foolish king.
The guru saves his disciple by using his wisdom to outsmart the foolish king. His plan involved:
1. Creating a fake argument: He and his disciple fought over who should be executed first, creating intrigue.
2. Appealing to the king's greed: He told the king a fabricated story that whoever died on the holy stake first would be reborn as the king of that kingdom, and the second would be the minister.
3. Exploiting their foolishness: The guru knew the king's greed for power would make him believe this absurd tale. The king and his minister, wanting to secure their positions in their next life, secretly went to the stake and were executed. This demonstrates that true wisdom lies in understanding the psychology of others, especially fools.
6. As a Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) question, why is the king's justice described as the 'wildest justice'?
The king's justice is described as the 'wildest justice' because it was not based on reason, evidence, or legal principles. Instead, it was arbitrary, unpredictable, and based on the king's whims. The final decision was made not on guilt, but on a physical attribute—the size of a person's neck. Choosing a victim based on who fits the execution stake is a prime example of a justice system that is completely illogical and wild, making it a critical point for analysis in exams.
7. For a 5-mark question, analyse the character of the king in 'In the Kingdom of Fools'. What traits led to his downfall?
The king in 'In the Kingdom of Fools' is a classic example of a foolish ruler whose character flaws lead to his demise. Key traits that are important for a long-answer question include:
- Foolishness: His primary trait is his lack of intelligence, shown by his decision to reverse day and night and set a single price for all goods.
- Arrogance: He is proud of his absurd ideas and wishes to be different from all other kings, refusing any sensible advice.
- Greed: His desire to remain king in his next life shows his immense greed for power, which the guru cleverly exploits.
- Poor Judgement: His entire trial process is a farce, demonstrating his inability to reason or deliver fair justice.
