Back to: MBOSE English Class 9

Question : The elder brother was not good at academics. How does the narrator convey this?
Answer: To convey that the elder brother was not good at academics, the narrator says that he studied every time and everything that was in his course and even then, he had to stay in the same class for 2-3 years. Moreover, he was not in a hurry to go through the class, he wanted to lay a strong foundation.

Question : What was the difference in the routines of the two brothers?
Answer: The elder brother always studied and didn’t play whereas the younger brother played for the whole day but he also studied for a few moments. This was the difference in the routines of the two brothers.

Question : But the moment I returned to the room, I would freeze in my tracks to see my brother’s red face.Whose thoughts are expressed through the above line?
Answer: The younger brother’s thoughts are expressed through the above line.

Question What do the words ‘brother’s red face’ mean?
Answer: The words ‘brother’s red face’ mean that the person was filled with anger.

Question : What was the impact of the elder brother’s lectures on the narrator?
Answer: When the narrator was scolded by the elder brother, he felt demoralized and worthless for some time.

Question : How did the elder brother’s sermons change when he failed for the first time?
Answer: When the elder brother failed for the first time, he stopped to call the narrator worthless and started sermonizing him not to be proudy on his success.

Question : What was the elder brother’s reaction to failing for the second time?
Answer: When the elder brother failed for the second time, he broke down and stopped admonishing the narrator as he had passed with the first position in the class.

Question : Do you think that the elder brother had to suppress his desires to be a role model to his younger brother? Why do you think so?
Answer: Yes, I think he had to suppress his desires because he wanted to be a role model for his younger brother. He wanted to make an example which is why he never went out to play or shows and fairs. He kept studying hard to inspire his brother.

Question : Bring out the humour in the story – both in words as well as in situations.
Answer: The story is humorous. It starts with the irony in the opening lines of the story where the elder brother who is studious has to repeat in his classes. The author brings in humour through language as well as situation. Other situations were like the narrator ‘s timetable; the elder brother’s ranting against the system; the fact that the elder brother fails in spite of his efforts and the younger one stands first in spite of his carelessness are also examples of humorous situations.

Question : Bring out the irony in the story.
Answer: The fact that the elder brother works very hard and yet he fails in his exams and that the younger one stands first in spite of his ignorance is the main irony in the story. Though the title is ‘My Elder Brother’, but at the end of the story, they run after the kite almost as equals.

Question : Whom do you like more – the narrator or his brother? Give reasons.
Answer: I like the elder brother because of his dedication and hard work and sacrifice in nature. In spite of his repeated failures, he does not give up. He inspires his younger brother the value of study and commitment.

Question : Then he ran at top speed towards the hostel and I ran behind him. What does the last line reflect about the interpersonal relationship between the siblings?
Answer : In the last line, the narrator runs after his elder brother. Until that point in the story, their relationship is formal but when they both run after the kite, they are almost just friends as equals. The formal relationship changes to a playful friendship.

Question: ‘My eyes were turned upwards and riveted on the air traveller that was reeling gently towards its downfall’. What does the word riveted mean?
Answer : The word riveted means ‘fixed’