The Wish - By Roald Dahl

 

The Wish : By Roald Dahl

[Summary and Important Questions and Answers]

(The Writer)

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1. This story is taken from the short story collection:  Someone Like You

 2. Main Character : A Young Boy

 3. Setting : A House in England

 4. Main Theme : Fear is the ultimate obstacle. As we read the story, the boy's feelings of fear become an obstacle for him.

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Short Summary : 

This is the story of a boy who looks at a very big carpet with large black, red, and yellow patches of colour.

In his imagination he took the red patches to be red hot lumps of coal, which might burn him, the black patches to be poisonous snakes , which might bite him. The only safe colour was yellow one.

He decided to walk across the carpet only stepping on the yellow patches. He set this as a challenge for himself. He fixed a reward for himself too. If he could walk across it without getting burned or bitten, he would get a puppy as a birthday gift the next day.

The journey began The first part of it was easy. But the more he walked , it became more and more difficult for him. He had to take longer strides.

Then there came a turning point where he had to choose either a right or a left turn. Although the left turn was more difficult, he chose it because there were less blacks (snakes). He was very afraid of snakes. Then he took a long step and almost stepped on a black and the snakes stirred. but luckily he was saved just by a centimeter.

He continued his journey Now he was in the middle of his journey. and so there was no chance of returning back.

His next step was quite far. He tried his best, but could not step over and land on a safe patch. 

He wobbled and tried to keep his balance by waving his arms. but he couldn't save himself and fell down on a big black patch with a very loud cry.

Just then his mother arrived there looking for him.

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Detailed Summary :

1. Scab on the Knee: The story starts with a very insignificant event. The boy (the only one character of the story) picked up a scab (a dry rough crust or layer over a cut) from his knee and threw it away which finally landed on a big carpet. 

(Scab on his knees)

2. The Carpet : It was a very large colourful carpet on the floor (between him up to the front door of his house), much bigger than a tennis lawn. it attracted him more today than other days. It was a multi coloured patterned carpet. There were red, black and yellow colours on it.

3. Boy's Imagination and Self Challenge : In his imagination, he thought the carpet's red patches to be hot burning lumps of coal --- if he stepped on them, he would be burnt, the black patches to be poisonous snakes --- and if he stepped on them, they would bite him. In his imagination, only the yellow patches were safe for him.

He set a challenge for himself to reach to the door stepping on the yellow patches only, avoiding red and black patches. He also imagined that he would get a puppy as a reward for himself for his birthday the next day. 

4. He Starts Walking : Now he was ready to take this 'carpet challenge'. He set out (started the journey) on his careful walk. 

The first part of his journey was easy going. Slowly as he moved on and on, the journey didn't remain as easy as in the beginning. With every step he advanced, he was more and more careful. 

Sometimes he had to take long strides. After every step he used to stop and decide where exactly he should put his foot next time.

5. A Crucial Turn : At one point he had a choice of ways. he could either take left or right. He chose the left. Although it was more dangerous than the right one, there were not so much blacks in that direction. Blacks had made him nervous. He had nearly come half way by now, and there was no returning back. 

6. The Awful Step : In one step he placed his foot upon a little piece of yellow, and the point of his foot came within a centimeter of a black. Although he had not touched it,  the snake raised its head and gazed at his foot. This almost took his breath. He almost froze with terror. 

[The Snake Raised its Head]

7. The Climax : The next step was longer one. He had to cross the widest part. At first he thought to jump over it, but it was not possible . He tried to take a very long step, but the legs were too wide apart. He tried to get back again, but this too was impossible. 

He wobbled from side to side to keep his balance. But in spite of his effort, he fell down with his hand in the middle of the black part, and screaming loudly. 

But by that time his mother came there.

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Questions -- Answers

Before Reading :

Question a. What frightens you ?

Answer : There are several things that frighten me. One of them is of course spiders. Although there is no particular reason behind it, but I think, from childhood I have seen my mom being afraid of them. And I also adopted this very unconsciously.

Question b. What do you do about frightening things: face them or avoid them ?

Answer : Most of the time I avoid things that frighten me. I feel that safe. Only when there is no other way, I face them.

Question c. Do you have any frightening event in your childhood? Share it with the class.

Answer : It was a cold winter night and I was sleeping with my elder brother. Suddenly there was thundering sound. I got up and found that my brother was not there. I was afraid of being alone in such a night. I thought he might gone to the wash room, which was downstairs. I, too, felt the need and thought of going down. 

But suddenly as I stepped on the first stair, I slipped and and rolled down like a football. I had a deep pain.

The repeated lightening and thunderstorm frightened me much. I wanted to return back to my room. 

But accidently the electricity went off. My heart was beating faster and faster. Suddenly I noticed a  moving figure slowly coming towards me. 

Out of fear I gave a loud cry with eyes closed. I was just about to get unconscious when my mom came near me with a candle and asked me why I was shouting. Oh! what a fearful experience it was .....

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Understanding the text 

Answer the following questions:

Question a. What did the child do to the scab on his knee?

Answer : First, he examined the scab closely and caressed it lightly. Finally he scraped it off, and put it on his thigh and flipped it with a finger. which landed on the carpet.  

Question b. What kind of effect did the carpet have on the child ?

Answer : It was a very big carpet. He pondered over it . As he gazed upon the carpet, its colours seemed to brighten and sprang out at him.

Question c. What was he afraid of while walking across the carpet?

Answer : He was afraid of the black patches of the carpet more. In his imagination he took them to be black poisonous snakes, who might bit him.

Question d. What motivated and encouraged the child to start and continue on his journey ?

Answer : He was motivated and encouraged by the thought that on his success he would be given a puppy as a birthday gift the next day.

Question e. What did the child see as he looked down on the black patterns of the carpet ?

Answer : He saw deep curling river of black. This was in fact big black snakes curling in the black patches.

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Reference to the context

Question a. The writer creates two voices in the story. Who are they?

Answer : The writer has created two voices in this story. One of them is the narrator's voice and the other is the voice of the main character --- the boy.

Question b. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

".... the black parts are snakes, poisonous snakes, adders mostly, and cobras, thick like tree-trunks and round in the middle, if I touch one of them I'll be bitten and I'll die before tea time. And if I get across safely, without being burnt and without being bitten, I'll be given a puppy for my birthday tomorrow." 

1. What does 'the black part mean' ?

Answer : The black part means the black patches of the multi-coloured carpet.

2. Who is the speaker ?

Answer: The main character of the story, the boy, is the speaker.

3. Why doesn't the speaker want to be burnt?

Answer : He doesn't want to be burnt because he would get a puppy as a birthday gift the next day if he could cross the carpet without being burnt.

Question c. Which images and and metaphors are used in the story ?

Answer : The first metaphor is the  child's journey along the carpet itself. It shows how he (and other children) has to face many challenges and obstacles as he matures. The carpet is the metaphor for the challenges he faces on his journey.

The first important image is of course  the scab. This is his primary challenge, which he completes successfully. This success makes him ready for next challenges.

Other important images are red and black spots on the carpet. They stand for burning coal and poisonous snakes respectively. The black snakes also stand for evils, lies and temptations. 

Such images indicate that journey of life is full of challenges.

Question d. Summarize the "The Wish" in about 200 words.

Answer : The story is focused on the little boy and his adventurous journey form the place where he was sitting to the front door. 

It opens with the small boy sitting on the stairs and picking a scab off his knee. Then he noticed the large carpet on the floor. It was full of red, black, and yellow patches of colour.

In his wild imagination he took the red and black patches to be burning lumps of coal and poisonous snakes respectively. The only safe colour was yellow, which he could touch or stand on. 

He set a challenge for himself to walk through the carpet stepping on yellow patches only. He also set a reward for himself. 

His journey started with careful steps. The first part of the journey was easy. Gradually it became difficult and more difficult. He had to take long strides and at some place, wobbling to make his balance.

At one place, he had to take a turn. He took the left turn because there were less black spots that side in comparison to the right one. Now he was at the half-way point, and there was no returning back now. At one step he very nearly stepped on  a black part, but luck saved him. 

At another long step, there was a big width of black colour Although he tried his best to take the step successfully, he lost his balance. He fell to the right side and his hand touched the black part. He gave a loud cry of fear. 

By then his mother appeared outside, searching him.

Question e. The story shows the events through the eyes of the narrator and the child. Comparing the two styles, who presents more interesting or effective view for the readers? Why?

Answer : When we compare the two styles, the child is presenting a more interesting view of the whole event. It comes as a first hand experience of the event (journey), which is both vivid and full of suspense. So we have the feeling that we are with the boy in his journey.

Question f. Is "The Wish" a story about self-confidence overcoming fear or about greed? Give your arguments.

Answer : I think the story is more about self confidence overcoming fear rather than about greed. 

Of course, in the beginning he takes up the journey by being motivated by a greed (the puppy), but as his journey proceeds, the greed is totally replaced by the desire to face and overcome new challenges at every step. 

Furthermore, as the reward was set by himself, so he knew well he wasn't going to get any reward.

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Question a. Do you think our wish can be fulfilled ? Why? or why not?

Answer : There is a saying " To be human is to wish." Wishes are something that we all have and we all make. That's very natural. 

Some wishes are small and practical, such as the wish of a student to secure good marks in exam, or getting a god job. A common wish is to become famous. 

On the other hand, some wishes are either very big, or fantastical, such as winning a lottery or perhaps buying a piece of land on the moon. 

Now, whether wishes can be fulfilled. 

Well, of course all the wishes of a man can never be fulfilled. But if the wishes are practical and real, they have more chances to come true. 

Only wishing for something is not enough. If you wish for something, stay focused on and do continuous efforts on it. Lack of and effort is the main reason of many wishes not coming true. In that case, wishes remain only an idle thought. 

Some people take help of superstitions like making wishes on shooting stars etc. But all such things are worthless things.

Sometimes, in spite of every genuine effort, some wishes never come true. Some very big dreams, such as being prime minister of country, have less chances of coming true. Finally, fantastical wishes can never be fulfilled.

Question b. Why do you think some people might have a frightening nature? What would you suggest to them to overcome it?

Answer : Fear is one of the most basic human emotions. It is related with our nervous system and works like an instinct. Everybody has this instinct. 

But there are some people who are more of a frightening nature. There are several reasons behind it. 

Some people are of chicken hearted and cowered. They get frightened easily.

Some people may be more sensitive to fears because of personality traits they are born with. Sometimes it is also because of certain genes with which such people are born.

Some bitter childhood fears and experiences also make people have a frightening nature. 

This is not a sign of any weakness or immaturity. We can learn to overcome it by gradually facing their fears. Although it is not easy, but a willingness will help in this. Some such people might also have to take help of some therapist. 

Question c. Write a folktale that you have heard or read.

Answer : 

Neel Kamal and Laal Kamal

(Blue Lotus and Red Lotus)

[A Bengali Folktale]

Once there was a king. He had two queens. One of them was a demon, living as a human being. But the king didn't know that one of his queens was a demon.

Both queens gave birth to a son each. The name of human queen's son was Kusum (meaning : flower), and the name of the demon queen's son was Ajit (Meaning :who can not be conquered). They loved each other very much. Ajit was always at Kusum's side. 

But the demon queen (Rakshashi Rani) did not love Kusum. Rather, whenever she used to see him, she desired to eat him. But she couldn't become successful because Ajit was always with Kusum.

One night she took both of them to the land of demons. That night she ate Kusum when they were sleeping. Later when Ajit woke up, he became angry and raised his sword at his mother. She became very angry, and ate him also.

But it was a surprise that  she vomited a golden egg after eating Kusum, and an iron egg after eating Ajit. Then she buried the eggs at a farm. 

The next day a farmer discovered the eggs and got  them hatched. From the two eggs came out Laal Kamal (Kusum) and Neel Kamal (Ajit). They were in kingly dresses with swords in their hands. 

[Neel Kamal and Laal Kamal]

By that time demons were destroying the whole kingdom.

These two little heroes set out to to save their kingdom by defeating and destroying the demons. 

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