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Sparrows-Key Questions & Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
1.“There goes the hard-hearted devil”– Whom does the word “hard-hearted devil” refer to?-i)Ram Charan ii)Radha iii)Rahim Khan iv)Kallu
2. Rahim Khan’s parents did not want Radha to marry Rahim Khan because –i)she belonged to the lower section of society ii)She was a Kafir iii)she was younger than Rahim Khan iv)she did not show respect to her elders
3. The mango grove fringed in which extremity of the village?-(i) Northern (ii) Eastern(iii) South-Western (iv) Western
4. Rahim Khan ill-treated his wife for–i)thirty years ii)fifty years iii)ten years iv)fifteen years
5. Nanha was –i)the officious zaildar ii)the fat sweet seller iii)the wrestler iv)a middle-aged, pot-bellied banya
6. Rahim Khan beat poor Ramoo’s child because —(i) for bathing (ii) for gossiping (iii) for throwing a pebble at his oxen (iv) for nearly killing the mare
7. Radha was —(i) daughter of Ram Charan (ii) wife of Ram Charan (iii) sister of Ram Charan (iv) friend of Ram Charan
8. Rahim named the sparrows —(i) Nuru and Bundu (ii) Noori and Boondi (iii) Nuri and Bundi (iv) Naari and Baandi
9. The most recognized fictional work of K. A. Abbas is —(i) Peace and Violence (ii) Pride and Prejudice (iii) Jasmine (iv) Inquilab
10. The old woman said to Rahim Khan that –i)Rahim Khan’s wife had gone to her brother’s home at Nurpur ii)Rahim Khan’s sons left their home iii)The sparrows did not come out from their nest iv)Radha had married to Ram Lal
11. The name of the officious zaildar in the story ‘Sparrows’ is —(i) Ramnath (ii) Ram Lal (iii) Rai Charan (iv) Ram Charan
12. Rahim lying in the brooding silence of the room, broken only by the _____ of four sparrows. (i) twittering (ii) flapping (iii) fluttering (iv) chirping
13. Rahim Khan wanted to join in–i)a touring circus ii)farming iii)Indian navy iv)wrestling
14.” a sheep awaits the butcher”. It highlights –i)a patriarchal society ii)a civilized society iii) a corrupted society iv) an Indian society
15. Rahim Khan’s eldest son was)Bundu ii)Nuru iii)Bondu iv)Chiddo
16. Nathoo and Chiddoo were –i)Rahim Khan’s son ii)Rahim Khan’s bullock iii)sparrows iv)guards
17. In the story ‘Sparrows’, One monsoon evening the sky is overcast with- a)darkness ii)sunrays iii)sparrows iv)threatening clouds
18. Who did Radha marry? -i)Nanha ii)Ram Lal iii)Rahim Khan iv)Charan
19. In ‘Sparrows’ the word ‘mites’ refers to –i)Mop ii)children iii)lie iv)baby sparrows
20. K A. Abbas received the Urdu Academy Delhi Special Award in-i)1961 ii)1984 iii)1945 iv)1905
21. Who had killed Rahim Khan’s ambitions?-i)Rahim Khan’s parents had killed Rahim Khan’s ambitions. ii) Rahim Khan’s parents had killed Rahim Khan’s ambitions. Iii)Ram Charan had killed Rahim Khan’s ambitions. iv)Nanha had killed Rahim Khan’s ambitions.
22. Who called Rahim Khan “the hard-hearted devil”?-i)Kallu called Rahim Khan “the hard-hearted devil”. ii)Nanha called Rahim Khan “the hard-hearted devil”. iii)The old woman called Rahim Khan “the hard-hearted devil”. iv)Ram Lal called Rahim Khan “the hard-hearted devil”.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. When did Rahim return from the field?
Ans: Rahim returned from the field when the sun was setting behind.
2. How did Rahim Khan detest himself for thirty years in ‘Sparrows’?
Ans: Rahim Khan ill-treated his wife, his children, and his bullocks, quarrelled with everyone in the village, and made himself the most hated person in the community for thirty years.
3. What athletic skills did Rahim Khan possess in his youth?
Ans: The athletic skills that Rahim Khan possessed in his youth were wrestling, kabaddi, and diving from the canal bridge.
4. Whom did Rahim Khan marry?
Ans: Rahim Khan married the girl whom his parents selected for him.
5. Why did Rahim Khan’s sons leave him?
Ans: Rahim Khan’s sons left him because of a more than usual severe beating.
6. Why did Rahim Khan ill-treated his wife?
Ans: Rahim Khan ill-treated his wife to express his anger against his family, society, and life.
7. What details did Ramnath share about Rahim Khan’s recent cruelties?
Ans: Ramnath said that Rahim Khan nearly killed Ramnath’s mare for straying into Rahim Khan’s field.
8. What did the villagers do after repeatedly knocking on the door in ‘Sparrows’?
Ans: After repeatedly knocking on the door the villagers broke their way and they found the large and gaunt frame lying in the brooding silence in ‘Sparrows’.
9. Who was Radha?
Ans: Radha was the daughter of Ram Charan, the village banya.
10. Who had an obsequious voice? What bad news did she have for Rahim Khan?
Ans: The old woman had an obsequious voice.
She had bad news for Rahim Khan that his wife had only gone to her brother’s home at Nurpur and would be back in a few days.
11. “the tradition of centuries of serfdom ran in his blood.”–What does the word ‘serfdom’ refer to?
Ans: The word ‘serfdom’ refers to the condition of a tenant farmer who is bound to a hereditary plot of land and the will of a landlord.
12. What is Rahim Khan’s profession?
Ans: Rahim Khan was a farmer.
13. What was Rahim Khan’s ambition in his youth?
Ans: Rahim Khan wanted to join the touring circus, and desired to marry Radha.
14. Who was Ram Charan?
Ans: Ram Charan was a banya and Radha’s father.
15. Whom did Rahim Khan love?
Ans: Rahim Khan loved Radha, a Hindu girl.
16. Who were Nathoo and Chiddoo?
Ans: Rahim Khan had two bullocks which were Nathoo and Chiddoo.
17.“O Bundu, O Nuru, who will feed you”–Who were Bundu and Nuru? What did the speaker mean to say?
Ans: “O Bundu, O Nuru, who will feed you”- Bundu and Nuru were two sons of Rahim Khan who had left him.
The speaker was worried about two sparrows whom he named after his sons. He thought about who would feed them after his death.
18. What were the two wishes of Rahim Khan when he was a youth?
Ans: He has two ambitions in his youth. His first ambition is to marry his beloved Radha, a Hindu girl. His second ambition is to join a touring circus.
19. Whom did Rahim Khan hold responsible for the frustration of his life? What do ‘Cobwebs’ symbolize?
Ans: Rahim Khan held his family and society responsible for the frustration of his life.
‘Cobwebs’ symbolize all the bitter memories Rahim Khan had of his past that veiled his heart and the hatred that blinded him to recognize true love and happiness in small things in life.
20. What did the old woman say to Rahim Khan?
Ans: The old woman told him that his wife had gone to her brother at Nurpur.
21. How did Rahim avenge himself?
Ans: Rahim Khan then decided to avenge his defeat at the hands of his parents, his family, and society. Having decided to take revenge, his first and immediate target was his wife. He not only ill-treated his wife, and his two sons but also his two bullocks for nearly thirty years. He fought with everyone in the village.
22. What lessons did Rahim Khan learn from the sparrows? What is the theme and message of the story “The Sparrows”?
Ans: Rahim Khan observes the family of sparrows and learns the true meaning of family. How the sparrows take care of their young ones teaches Rahim Khan the essence of being a parent and husband.
The theme of the story “The Sparrows” is cruelty, fear, resentment, tradition, connection, redemption, and change. The message of the story “The Sparrows” is Only true love can elicit a true relationship.
23. Why did Rahim Khan’s wife leave him? How did Rahim Khan feel after his wife left?
Ans: Rahim Khan’s wife left him as he always ill-treated her.
Due to Rahim Khan’s wife, he became angrier than earlier and felt unhappy as well as sad.
24.”He was strongly amused by the little bird’s heroic efforts to save his home and children”-What efforts of the little bird seemed to be heroic?
Ans: When Rahim Khan stretched his hand to get hold of the two little sparrows, he found the mother sparrow attacking him with all courage and might. This effort of Mother Sparrow seemed to be a heroic defence for her children and family.
25. Who was referred to as “a necessary piece of furniture”?
Ans: Rahim Khan’s wife was referred to as “a necessary piece of furniture”.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. How did sparrows change Rahim Khan’s heart?
Ans: While cleaning Rahim Khan saw a nest of sparrows and the mother sparrow trying to protect baby sparrows from him. When he tried to peek in, mother sparrow attacked him. Then Rahim Khan observed the family of sparrows and how the sparrows take care of their young ones. He was amused by the heroic efforts of the sparrows which were so caring and affectionate towards their young ones and tried their heart and soul to save them. He realized the true meaning of family, the essence of being a parent and husband, and learned to love others. From the next day onwards, Rahim Khan transformed from a cruel man to a kind-hearted man.
2.”Seething with inward wrath he entered the dark hut and sat down on the charpoy”–What does ‘the dark hut’ represent?
Ans: In the story “Sparrows” ‘the dark hut’ represents Rahim Khan himself. It shows how he has been excluded and alienated from society and how people avoid him at all costs. It points to how he has been deserted by his wife and two sons and there is almost nothing but darkness inside. All the pain he inflicted upon his family in that very hut, is the same he suffers within. He finally dies inside the very same hut, consumed by all the bitterness and darkness with a sliver of virtue.
3. Bring out the various symbolisms used in the story ‘Sparrows’.
Ans: In the story ‘Sparrows’ the very beginning forecasts the upcoming doom. The ‘sunset’ symbolizes grim and death, and the ‘plough’ symbolizes the burden of his unfulfilled dreams and hatred of people that he carried all through his life. ‘Circus’ symbolizes happiness and life. Again, “haughty and unfriendly air” was flowing, symbolizing the unfriendly nature of the village peasants who never tried to sympathize with Rahim Khan for his broken heart, but
criticized his rude behaviour and character. Here ‘hut’ is symbolical of Rahim Khan’s alienation from society and also his loneliness as we see that villagers gathered in chaupal to gossip and smoke but Rahim Khan did not join them. ‘Cobwebs’ symbolize all the bitter memories Rahim Khan had of his past that veiled his heart and the hatred that blinded him to recognize true love and happiness in small things in life. Sparrows symbolize a sense of community, love, and happiness.
4. Describe the views of the neighbours about Rahim Khan when he returned from the fields.
Ans: When Rahim Khan returned from the fields and approached the chaupal, the hilarious tones of gossip turned into cautious whispers. After Rahim Khan vanished around the corner, the heavy tread of his footsteps was not heard. At that moment, Kallu passed the communal hookah to another and considered Rahim Khan as ‘the heart-hearted devil’. Then the fat sweet-seller further added that his temperament was getting worse and worse every day, so he had beaten poor Ramoo’s child for throwing a pebble at his oxen the previous day. Then, the old grey-haired Patel regarded him to be the cruellest man who had compassion neither for a child nor for a helpless animal. He also said that it did not make him surprised that his sons had run away from his home.
5.”O Bundu, O Nuru, who will feed you”– Who were Bundu and Nuru? After whom did Rahim Khan name the sparrows? What is suggested through this line?
Ans: Bundu and Nuru were the names of his two sons who had left him long ago.
Rahim Khan named the sparrows after his sons.
This line suggests that Rahim Khan’s cruelty is not his instinct. It is a result of his frustration about love and career. Again, it suggests a great change in his heart from cruelty to tenderness, from indifference to sympathy.
6. How did Rahim Khan sacrifice his life for the sparrows?
Ans: One day when the sky was overcast, Rahim Khan returned home early. It started raining. The sparrows crowded up within their feathers to protect one another. Rahim Khan on inspection realized that the nest was getting drenched in the rain.
Disregarding the rain, he set about repairing the part of the hut that was leaking. As he finished, he sneezed. He had a high fever the next day. When Rahim Khan’s concerned neighbours didn’t see him for several days, they visited him through a crack in the door of Rahim Khan’s hut. At that time Rahim Khan was talking to the sparrows wondering how they would live without him. The neighbours thought that Rahim Khan had gone mad, so they sent for his wife. When the wife and children reached Rahim Khan’s hut, the neighbours broke open the door, but found Rahim Khan dead and the four sparrows fluttering in the hut. In this way, Rahim Khan sacrificed his life to protect the sparrows.
7. Justify the appropriateness of the title of the story, ’Sparrows’.
Ans: Khawaja Ahmad Abbas’s story “Sparrows” revolves around Rahim Khan and his interaction with sparrows. Rahim Khan finds himself getting ill-treatment at the hands of his parents, family, and society and develops an unnatural habit of being cruel, indifferent, and unsympathetic. But one day he was amused by the heroic efforts of the sparrows that tried their heart and soul to save their young ones. He realized the essence of being a parent and husband and learned the true meaning of family. The sparrows infused love and compassion in the heart of Rahim Khan, who transformed himself from a cruel man to a kind-hearted man and sacrificed his life to protect the sparrows.
This brings out the significance of the title Sparrows. Here sparrows provide and bring out the most significant change in Rahim Khan’s life and character. So, the title is appropriate.
8. What lessons did Rahim Khan learn from the sparrows? What is the theme of the story “The Sparrows”?
Ans: Rahim Khan observes the family of sparrows and learns the true meaning of family. How the sparrows take care of their young ones teaches Rahim Khan the essence of being a parent and husband.
The theme of the story “The Sparrows” is cruelty, fear, resentment, tradition, connection, redemption, and change.
9. Narrate the incident that transformed Rahim Khan from a cheerful and kind young man into a beast that he had become.
Ans: When Rahim Khan was young, he had two ambitions in life. His first ambition was to join a touring circus and his second ambition was to marry a Hindu girl named Radha, but both of his ambitions were not fulfilled as his parents killed both of his ambitions. His dream of traveling with the Circus was shut down by his parents as they felt it was “too lowly” and “immoral” for a “respectable peasant”. This along with his desire to marry a girl of his choice, Radha, was quashed as she was a Hindu. After that, he married a girl whom his parents had chosen for him. He became cruel to everyone and turned into a hard-hearted man and beast.
Exercise
A. Answer any two of the following questions in a complete sentence:
1. How old was Rahim Khan? What did Nanha say about Rahim Khan?
2. Who was Ramnath?
3. What is the message conveyed in the short story ‘Sparrows’?
4. How were the ambitions of Rahim Khan killed by his parents?
5. What lessons did Rahim Khan get from the sparrows?
6. Why did Kallu beat Ramoo’s child?
7. After whom did Rahim name the sparrows? Name the sparrows.
8. How did Rahim return from the field?
9. In which extremity of the village did the mango grove fringe?
10. What did Rahim Khan’s father suggest to Ram Charan?
B. Answer any two of the following questions in 100 words :
(a)What did the villagers do after repeatedly knocking on the door in Sparrows? Do you sympathize or empathize with Rahim? Answer about the story.
b)How did Rahim Khan’s romance with Radha come to an end?
c)How did the sparrows become the only friend of Rahim Khan?
d)Bring out the various symbolisms used in the story ‘Sparrows’.
e)Sketch the character of Rahim Khan in the short story ‘Sparrows’.
f) Comment on the meaningful ending of the story.
g)Give a pen picture of the people’s conversation about Rahim Khan. What details did Ramnath share about Rahim’s recent cruelties?
h)How were the ambitions of Rahim Khan killed by his parents?
i)Describe the feelings and thoughts of Rahim Khan when his wife left him.
j)Narrate the events that led Rahim Khan to be a cruel man.
k) Justify the title of the short story ‘Sparrows’.
l) What did neighbours in the village discuss about Rahim Khan when he returned from the field?
m)How did Rahim Khan get drenched? What was his only worry during the last moments of his life?
n)What information did Rahim Khan get after returning to his hut? What was Rahim Khan’s reaction after getting that information?
C. (i) Split the following sentence as per the instruction :
a) When he awoke it was already late forenoon and he started the day by cursing his wife, for she used to wake early every morning. (Split into simple sentences)
b)Leaning the plow up against the low wall of the house, he proceeded to the oxen to a pair of big wooden stakes embedded in the ground just in front of the doorway. (Split into two sentences)
c)They found the large frame of Rahim lying in the brooding silence of the room, broken only by the fluttering of four sparrows. (Split into Simple Sentences)
d) His neighbours were still frightened of him and regarded his recent peaceful behaviour with suspicion. (Split into Simple Sentences)
e)The two little ones had now grown into fine young birds, and he called them Nuru and Bundu after his lost sons whom he had not seen for several years. (Split into Simple sentences)
f)For thirty years his wife had submitted to his persecution with the slave-like docility that is the badge of her tribe. (Split into Simple Sentences)
g)These four sparrows were his only friends. (Split into simple sentences)
h)When he awoke it was already late forenoon and he started the day by cursing his wife, for she used to wake early every morning. (Split into simple sentences)
(ii) Combine each of the following sentences as per the instructions :
a) The sun was setting behind the mango grove. Rahim Khan returned from the fields. (Combine into complex)
b)Seething with inward wrath he entered the hut. Then he sat down on the charpoy (Join into a compound sentence)
c) Rahim Khan was also married. He had no choice in the matter. (Join into a complex sentence)
d)He found a group of children playing on the road. They ran away as they saw him. (Join into a compound sentence)
e) The next day he resumed his daily work. Still, no one talked to him in the village. (Combine into complex)
f)The villagers did not see him going to the fields for several days. They grew anxious. (Join into a compound sentence)
(iii) Change the mode of narration :
a) Nanha said, “He is getting worse and worse every day. Only yesterday he beat poor Ramoo’s child for throwing a pebble at his oxen.” (Change the narration)
b)Rahim Khan said to the boys, “Why are you running away? I am not going to beat you.” (Change the narration)
(c) The woman hastily explained with an apologetic look, “She has only gone to her brother’s home at Nurpur and will be back in a few days.”
d) Rahim Khan said, “O Bundu, O Nuru, who will feed you when I am gone?” (Change into direct speech)
e) “Poor fellow,” they said, “he has gone mad. We will send for his wife to look after him.” (Change into direct speech)
f)He questioned if her son had been arrested again for revenue arrears or if her daughter-in-law had delivered another baby. (Change into direct speech)
D. Correct the error and rewrite the following:
(a) precisely feel, not precisely of affection.
b) The peasants shook their heads sympathetic.
c) The next morning he awoke to a high fever.
d)Circus work was too lowly and immoral for an respectable peasant.
e)Then he sat down for a smoke, with his beloved hookah beside him.
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