“Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?
Toto was a pretty and mischievous monkey. He had bright shining eyes with mischief beneath the eyebrows and his teeth were pearly white. But his hands looked dried-up as if they had been in the sun for several years. Yet his fingers were very quick and wicked. He uses his tail as a third hand. He could use it to hang from a branch and was completely capable of latching onto any delicacy that might be out of reach of his hands.
How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?
Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?
How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?
Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?
What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?
What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
Bill Bryson says, “I am, in short, easily confused.” What examples has he given to justify this?
Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstance or by choice?
In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?
What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?
Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape punishment?
Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?
Can you think of some other ending for the story?
Is Lushkoff a willing worker? Why, then, does he agree to chop wood for Sergei?
What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?