Story Writing
Question 1. Write a story in about 120 words using the information provided in the outline:
Points: Rich widow – becomes blind – sends for the doctor – promises a handsome prize if cured – no money if not cured – doctor agrees – comes every day – gives medicine – robs widow’s furniture – house empty – widow’s vision restored – does not pay a fee – widow defends herself – says, “Before there was furniture in the house, now I can’t see anything.”
Answer:
A Widow And A Dishonest Doctor
A rich widow who was suffering from bad eyesight, engaged a doctor to cure her and promised to give a handsome reward to the doctor if he could do the same.
The doctor came each day to the house of his patient to treat her very carefully. But the doctor was a dishonest man by his nature.
He was tempted by the costly things in the room of his patient. He stole them every day. After six months the lady was fully cured of her blindness and she regained her normal eyesight.
Then the doctor demanded his reward. But the lady who had been really cured saw that her valuable articles had been stolen.
She understood that it was the act of her dishonest doctor. So. she said. “Doctor, before I was blind I could see that my room was furnished with many valuable articles, but now I can see none of them. This proves that I am still almost blind. So. I can not pay you the promised reward.”
Moral – We should not be dishonest.
Question 2. Develop the following outline into a story. Give a title and a moral.
A farmer – returning from the field – saw a dying snake lying at the roadside – farmer took pity – brought it home – nursed it – ted – the farmer’s son tried to touch it out of love – snake rose to bite – farmer realized his mistake – killed the snake.
Answer:
The Farmer And The Snake
Once a farmer was returning from his field. On his way, he saw a dying snake lying at the roadside. The farmer took pity on it and brought it home.
He nursed and fed it to restore its health. Out of love, the farmer’s son tried to touch it but the snake rose to bite him.
The farmer saw this and realized his mistake. He repented on bringing the snake to his home. He killed the snake.
Moral: Black will take no other hue.
Question 3. King Solomon was famous for his wisdom – the Queen of Sheba wanted to test it – she gave two garlands of flowers: one natural and the other artificial – two garlands looked alike – the king was puzzled – ordered the servants to open the windows- bees flew to the natural one- the queen was very impressed with the king’s wisdom.
Answer:
King Solomon’s Wisdom
King Solomon was very famous for his wisdom. The Queen of Sheba wanted to test it. Once she was invited by the King to his kingdom.
The clever queen brought two garlands of flowers-one real and the other artificial. But they looked alike.
She went to King Solomon’s kingdom and asked him to pick up the garland of real flowers. The king was greatly puzzled.
Then he hit upon an idea. The king asked his men to open the windows. When they were opened, bees flew into the room and sat on the garland of real flowers making the task easy for him.
The Queen was deeply impressed with the King’s wisdom.
Question 4. A woman’s only son is dead-she goes to Lord Buddha-begs him to bring back her son to life-Lord Buddha asks her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where nobody has died-the woman finds no such house-Lord Buddha consoles her.
Answer:
Lord Buddha And A Grief-Stricken Mother
Once a woman’s only son died. She was overwhelmed with grief and cried hard at the untimely death of her beloved son.
The woman had heard about Lord Buddha and went to him to get back the life of her dead son. She prayed to him. “0 Lord, give life to my dead son.”
Buddha took great pity on the unfortunate woman and wanted to console her. He then said to her, “Your son will get back his life if you can bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where nobody has died.”
Then the woman went from door to door in search of the mustard seeds but found no such house anywhere. Then the woman came back to Buddha and told him that she had found no such house.
Buddha now said to her, “So, you see, death is common to all and you should not weep.” The woman found great consolation.
Moral: Death is common to everybody.
Question 5. The king of Scotland was defeated six times – hid in a cave – saw a spider trying to climb up to the roof of the cave – the spider fell six times and then succeeded – the king was encouraged – tried again to defeat his enemies and succeeded.
Answer:
The King And The Spider
Robert Bruce, the king of Scotland, was defeated six times on the battlefield. His enemies occupied his kingdom.
He went away from his kingdom and hide in a cave. There he saw a spider trying hard to climb up the ceiling. Though it fell six times, it did not give up its efforts.
As a result, it ultimately succeeded. At this, the frustrated king was greatly encouraged, and said to himself, “If the spider can succeed to reach the ceiling on the seventh attempt, why not I ?” He then resolved to fight his enemies again to take sweet revenge.
He collected his army and went to the battlefield. He fought with renewed vigor and energy and ultimately succeeded.
Question 6. A crow lives on a tree-a snake lives in a hole at the foot-it eats up the crow’s young ones-the crow steals a necklace of the princess-drops it into the snake’s hole- the king’s men dig the hole and traces the necklace-snake killed.
Answer:
The Crow And The Snake
Once there lived a crow in a tree beside a river. A snake also lived in a hole at the feet of the same tree. The snake gradually ate up all the young ones of the crow. Then the poor bird became very unhappy. She hit upon a plan.
The crow one day stole a necklace of a princess when she was bathing in the river keeping it on the bank. It flew up to the tree and dropped the precious necklace into the hole of the snake in the lower part of the tree.
The princess’s maids noticed this and informed the king’s men. They went up to the tree and found the hole there. Then the king’s men dug the hole and, to their surprise, noticed the necklace under a snake.
Then the king’s men killed the snake with sticks and recovered the valuable necklace.
Moral: Tit for tat.
Question 7. Lord Buddha appointed a day for the collection of alms-devotees brought him gifts-rich men came with their precious gifts- there came an old and poor woman with a pomegranate-it was half-eaten by her-Lord accepted it with both hands coming from his seat.
Answer:
Lord Buddha And The Poor Woman
Lord Buddha appointed a day for the collection of alms from his devotees. They brought him different gifts.
The rich and affluent devotees came with their precious gifts to offer their living god. These devotees thought Lord Buddha would be more pleased with their precious gifts than the ordinary ones given by others.
Then an old and very poor devotee appeared there. She was so poor that she had no capacity to buy for Lord Buddha any gift whatsoever.
But the woman wanted to offer something to the spiritual giant. She had nothing but a pomegranate that she was eating.
The old woman did not hesitate to offer the half-eaten pomegranate to her master. Lord Buddha was pleased with the poor woman’s great sacrifice and true devotion.
She wanted to offer everything she had. The great master, therefore, accepted the offer with both hands coming down from his seat.
Moral: An ordinary devoted offering is more important than a precious one.
Question 8. Write a story on the basis of the following outline and give a title and a moral to it.
Outlines: A carter – driving cartwheels sunk into the mud – whipped the bullocks hard-tailed – prayed to Hercules – Hercules advised the carter to put his effort to wheel – advice carried out – cart moved.
Answer:
Self-help is the Best Help
Once upon a time, there was a cartman. He used to carry goods on his cart from one place to other. Once he was on his way. He was driving his cart.
The weather was very cloudy. The day before it rained. The soil was wet Suddenly his wheels sunk into the mud. He became very upset.
He began to whip the bullocks hard. But there was no result. He failed. He did not pull the wheels but he only whipped the bullocks.
At last, he prayed to Hercules. Hercules appeared before him and advised carter to put his effort into the wheel instead of only beating bullocks.
He obeyed the advice of Hercules. After some time the cart began to move. Thus, the cartman went his way happily.
Moral: Presence of mind is very necessary.
Question 9. War between England and France-an English soldier taken prisoner in France for years-war ends-becomes free-returns to his native land-notices a bird-seller-buys all the birds-opens the cages-sets the bird’s free feelings of imprisonment.
Answer:
The Caged Birds And An English Soldier
Once a prolonged war between England and France broke out In the course of the war an English soldier was taken prisoner in France and was kept in a French prison for years.
After the war had ended the English consumer was released and he returned to his native land. He was living there happily and peacefully.
One day the English soldier noticed a bird seller selling birds. The soldier had now felt the pangs of imprisonment.
He could identify himself with the birds in bondage and felt how much joy of liberty these poor creatures would enjoy if they were made free.
TI in the English soldier bought all the birds from the bird seller and opened the gates of the cages. Now the birds flew away out of extreme joy.
They must have as much joy as the English prisoner had living out of bondage.
Moral: The wearer knows where the shoe pinches.
Question 10. A hare laughed at a tortoise’s slow pace -they contested a race-the hare was overconfident of his victory-slept on the way-the tortoise won the race.
Answer:
The Hare And The Tortoise
One day a hare met a tortoise and laughed at his slow pace. At this, the tortoise was very much offended. He then challenged the hare to run a race.
The latter at once accepted the challenge. The race began one morning. The hare ran very fast and went much ahead of the slow-paced tortoise who was plodding far behind.
The hare was overconfident of his victory. So, he thought of taking a short nap on the way. He laid down and soon fell fast asleep.
In the meantime, the tortoise did not stop at all and came near the goal. Now the hare woke up and ran very fast towards the goal. But the tortoise had already reached the goal.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.
Question 11. Develop (in 100 words) the following outlines into a story. Give a title to the story:
A dog with a piece of meat crosses a bridge and sees his own reflection takes another dog barks at his own reflection and loses the piece of meat.
Answer:
A Foolish Dog
One day a certain dog while going somewhere found on its way a piece of meat. With a view to eating the meat at a suitable place, the dog caught hold of the meat in its mouth and carried it.
On the way, he had to cross a bridge across a river. While crossing the bridge he saw his own reflection in the water and look it for another dog.
As such he barked at the reflection and simultaneously as in luck would habit, the piece of meat fell from his mouth into the water. He just watched helplessly.
Title: The Foolish Dog / A Foolish Act.
Question 12. Develop (in about 100 words) the following outline into a story.
A carter was driving cartwheels sank into the mud — carter whipped the bullocks in vain — prayed to Hercules — Hercules asked the carter to put his shoulders to the wheel — the cart moved.
Answer:
A Carter And Hercules
There was a carter who drove his bullock cart every day to different places. One day while he was driving the cart he came across a muddy area on the way.
He thought he would go across the mud easily but he could not. The wheels of the cart got sunk into the mud. Carter tried a lot. He pushes the wheel, whipped the bullocks, and made other efforts but all in vain.
At last, he prayed to Hercules for help Hercules asked him to put his shoulder on the wheel and push. He did exactly and the cart moved out of the mud.
Question 13. Develop a story (in 120 words) based on the outlines given below.
A farmer had a goose — laid a golden egg every day — farmer sold the egg — wife’s suggestion — farmer got greedy — cut open the belly of the goose to collect all the eggs — lost the goose — Moral.
Answer:
The Farmer And The Magic Goose
There was a farmer in a certain village. He had a goose. The goose was very special as it laid a golden egg every day. The farmer sold this golden egg and earned money to run his family comfortably and he was happy with his wife.
One day evil and foul ideas bred in the mind of his wife. She thought if we cut and open the belly of the goose we can get all the golden eggs at a time instead of taking one a day.
So she suggested the farmer kill the goose and cut and open its belly to get all the eggs. But as ill luck would have it, he lost the goose who died and he did not get a single egg even.
Moral — Quit not the certainty of hope. Or, A variance is the root of all evil.
Question 14. Write a story in about 120 words from the following outline and add a suitable title:
A farmer’s sons quarrel among themselves father is worried and asks them to bring some sticks sons break every single stick but cannot break the sticks when tied in a bundle father explains the reason.
Answer:
The Farmer And His Quarrelling Sons
A farmer had four sons. They were always quarreling among themselves, so he was not happy. When he became old, one day he called his sons and asked them to break a bundle of sticks.
The farmer asked each of his sons to break the bundle. But none could do it, however hard they tried to do it. Then the farmer asked his sons to untie the bundle and break a stick each.
They could break it easily. Then the old man told his sons that as the sticks of the bundle were together, they could not break the bundle.
But it was so easy to break the sticks individually. The sons realized what their father wanted to say.
Moral: United we stand, divided we fall.
Question 15. Develop in 100 words the following outline into a story. Give a suitable title to it.
A fox fell into a well — unable to get out of it — a goat peeped inside — the fox invited the goat to taste its sweet water — the goat jumped — the fox leaped upon its horns — escaped — the goat remained inside.
Answer:
The Clever Fox and the Foolish Goat
One day a thirsty fox was moving about in search of water. Finding a well, not very far off, he at once went there.
He sprang upon it, but, by chance, he fell down into it. The well was not very deep, but its walls were steep and slippery. The fox tried to come out of the well but failed.
After some time a thirsty goat came to the well. Seeing the fox in the well, she said, “Hello, Mr. Fox, what are you doing there?”
“Drinking water, my dear friend,” said the fox.
“Is the water of the well cool and sweet?” said the goat.
“Yes, very sweet, ” said the fox. “Come down and drink water to your heart’s content”.
The goat believed the fox. So he thoughtlessly jumped down. The cunning fox at once got upon his horns and came out of the well. The foolish goat was left behind.
Moral: Look before you leap.
Question 16. Outlines: A poor woodcutter — cutting a big piece of wood near a wide river — axe slipped from his hand — very sad — river goddess appeared — soothed — gave him a gold axe — then a silver axe — the cutter said,
“No, this is not mine” — again — a common iron axe with an old wooden handle — “Yes it’s mine” — goddess pleased — gave him all three — a reward for his truthfulness.
Give the moral of the story.
Answer:
The Honest Woodcutter
Once a poor woodcutter was cutting a big piece of wood near a wide river. By chance, his axe slipped from his hand and it fell into the river.
He was very sad as he would not be able to cut wood anymore to earn his livelihood. He started crying. The river goddess took pity on him.
She appeared before the woodcutter, soothed him, and gave him a gold axe. The wood-cutter said that it was not his. The goddess then brought a silver axe.
The woodcutter told her that it, too, was not his axe. The goddess again dived into the water and brought an ordinary iron axe with an old wooden handle.
The woodcutter was very glad to see his own axe and said that it was his own axe. The goddess was very much pleased with the honesty of the woodcutter. She gave him all three axes as a reward for his truthfulness.
Moral: Honesty is the best policy.
Question 17. Outline: A dying farmer — three lazy sons — thought out a plan —dig up the field to find riches — the old farmer died — dug up the field — no result — later, got a rich crop — understood the full meaning of their father’s advice.
Answer:
A Farmer And His Three Lazy Sons
An old farmer was on his deathbed. He had three sons who were very lazy. They would not work in the field. The farmer was worried that his sons would suffer much after his death. He thought of a plan to force them to work in the field.
He told his sons to dig up the field to find riches that were buried in the ground. So saying the old farmer died. The three sons then began to dig up the field to find out the hidden riches but they could not find any.
Then they sowed seeds in the field which they dug. The land produced rich crops. They understood that the crops were the hidden treasure.