The Thief’s Story – SUMMARY AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR BOARD EXAMINATION CBSE CLASS 10 ENGLISH

The Thief’s Story – SUMMARY AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR BOARD EXAMINATION CBSE CLASS 10 ENGLISH 

Summary

"The Thief's Story" by Ruskin Bond is a moving tale about transformation and trust. The narrator is a 15-year-old thief who calls himself Hari Singh. He meets Anil, a struggling 25-year-old writer, at a wrestling match. Hari’s intention is to rob Anil, so he sweet-talks his way into working for him. Anil is kind and trusting; he teaches Hari how to cook and, more importantly, how to read, write, and add numbers.

One night, Hari steals a bundle of notes Anil had earned from selling a book. He reaches the railway station but his conscience stops him from boarding the train. He realizes that while stealing from a greedy man is easy, stealing from a trusting man like Anil is heartbreaking. Moreover, he values the education Anil is giving him more than a few hundred rupees. Hari returns the money and slips it back under the mattress. The next morning, Anil gives him a fifty-rupee note, still damp from the rain. Though Anil knows about the theft, he says nothing, choosing to forgive Hari and continue his education.

A. Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Who is the narrator of the story and what was his real profession?

ANS: The narrator is a 15-year-old boy who introduces himself as Hari Singh. His real profession is thievery, and he frequently changes his name to stay ahead of the police and his former employers.

Q2. What kind of person was Anil?

ANS: Anil was a 25-year-old, tall, lean, and easy-going man. He was kind, simple, and incredibly trusting, which made him an "unpromising" target for a seasoned thief like Hari.

Q3. Why did Hari Singh want to work for Anil?

ANS: Hari Singh wanted to work for Anil primarily to gain his trust so that he could eventually rob him. He used his "appealing smile" to convince Anil to hire him as a cook.

Q4. What did Anil teach Hari Singh?

ANS: Anil taught Hari how to cook (after the first meal was a disaster), how to write his name, and promised to teach him how to write whole sentences and add numbers.

Q5. How did Anil make a living?

ANS: Anil made money by "fits and starts." He would borrow one week and lend the next. He wrote for magazines—a "queer way to make a living"—and would celebrate whenever he received a cheque.

Q6. Why was it difficult for Hari to rob Anil?

ANS: Hari found it difficult because Anil was so trusting. Hari felt that it’s easy to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed, but robbing a careless, trusting man like Anil takes the pleasure out of the work.

Q7. What happened at the railway station?

ANS: Hari reached the station just as the Lucknow Express was moving. He could have easily jumped into a carriage, but he hesitated. His conscience and the thought of losing the chance to be educated stopped him.

Q8. Why did Hari decide to go back to Anil?

ANS: He realized that for a few hundred rupees, he was throwing away the chance to become a "really big man, a clever and respected man." He knew that only education could bring him more than those few notes.

Q9. How did Anil react the next morning?

ANS: Anil acted normally. He gave Hari a fifty-rupee note and said he would now pay him regularly. He didn't mention the theft, even though the note was still damp from the previous night's rain.

Q10. What does the "damp note" signify?

ANS: The damp note signifies that Anil knew Hari had stolen the money and returned it. By not confronting Hari, Anil showed that he had forgiven him and was giving him a second chance at life.

B. Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Discuss the character transformation of Hari Singh.

ANS: At the start, Hari Singh is a cynical thief who views people only as targets. However, Anil’s kindness and trust act as a catalyst for change. When Hari steals the money, he experiences a conflict between his "thief's instincts" and his "human conscience." He realizes that the literacy Anil offers is more valuable than stolen money. By returning the notes, Hari chooses a path of honesty and self-respect, proving that love and education can reform even a seasoned criminal.

Q2. "Trust is a double-edged sword." Explain with reference to Anil and Hari Singh.

ANS: Anil’s complete trust in Hari was what made the robbery possible, but it was also that same trust that made Hari return. Initially, Hari saw Anil’s trust as a weakness to be exploited. However, as he spent time with Anil, that trust became a burden on his conscience. He couldn't bear the thought of the "sadness" on Anil's face—not for the loss of money, but for the loss of trust. Ultimately, Anil’s trust was the weapon that defeated the thief inside Hari.

Q3. How does the story highlight the importance of education?

ANS: Education is presented as a tool for social and moral elevation. Hari Singh knows how to steal, but he recognizes that he is limited. He understands that being able to write whole sentences would make him a "respected man." It is the desire to learn that ultimately outweighs the greed for money. The story suggests that while money can provide temporary comfort, education provides permanent dignity and the ability to earn an honest living.

Q4. Describe the night of the robbery from Hari’s perspective.

ANS: The night was filled with tension and self-reflection. After stealing the six hundred rupees, Hari felt a rush of excitement, imagining himself living like an "oil-rich Arab" for a week. However, the rainy night and the empty railway station brought a sense of loneliness. He sat on a bench in the "Maidan," soaked and shivering, realizing he had no friends because he believed friends were more trouble than help. This isolation made him realize that Anil was the only person he truly knew, leading to his decision to return.

Q5. Why did Anil ignore Hari’s crime? Was it a wise decision?

ANS: Anil ignored the crime because he realized that Hari had already punished himself by returning. He chose "reform through silence" over "punishment through law." By not handing Hari over to the police, Anil preserved the boy’s dignity and ensured he wouldn't return to a life of crime out of spite. It was a wise decision because it solidified Hari’s transformation and saved a young soul from the criminal justice system.

C. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1. What was the age of the thief, Hari Singh?

A) 10 B) 15 C) 20 D) 25

ANS: B) 15

Q2. What was Anil doing when Hari first met him?

A) Writing a book B) Cooking C) Watching a wrestling match D) Sleeping

ANS: C) Watching a wrestling match

Q3. How much money did Hari steal?

A) 500 rupees B) 600 rupees C) 1000 rupees D) 50 rupees

ANS: B) 600 rupees

Q4. Which train was Hari planning to catch?

A) Rajdhani Express B) Lucknow Express C) Shatabdi Express D) Howrah Mail

ANS: B) Lucknow Express

Q5. Where did Anil keep the money?

A) In a cupboard B) In a safe C) Under the mattress D) In his pocket

ANS: C) Under the mattress

Q6. What was the "most appealing" thing about Hari Singh according to him?

A) His voice B) His cooking C) His smile D) His walk

ANS: C) His smile

Q7. How did Hari make a profit while working for Anil?

A) By stealing from the salary B) By cheating in the daily shopping C) By selling Anil's books D) By gambling

ANS: B) By cheating in the daily shopping (about a rupee a day)

Q8. Why did Hari not have any friends?

A) He was shy B) He believed friends were more trouble than help C) He moved too often D) He didn't like people

ANS: B) He believed friends were more trouble than help

Q9. What was the weather like on the night of the theft?

A) Hot and humid B) Cold and rainy C) Snowy D) Windy

ANS: B) Cold and rainy

Q10. What did Anil say when he gave Hari the fifty-rupee note?

A) "I know what you did" B) "I will pay you regularly now" C) "Go away" D) "You are a good cook"

ANS: B) "I will pay you regularly now"

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