Class 9th Eng.(Beehive) Ch-9 The Bond Of Love, Summary Questions and answers Theme Message Characters

Ch-9

The Bond Of Love by Kenneth Anderson 

     

Detailed Summary 

It is a story about the affection and love between human beings and animals conveys that animals also reciprocate the good behaviour shown to them by humans.

Catching the Baby Bear

Once the narrator was passing through sugarcane fields near Mysore. People were driving away the wild pigs from the fields by shooting them. Suddenly, a black sloth bear came out. It was panting in the hot sun. One of the author's friends shot the bear and it fell down dead. Then they saw a baby bear that had been riding on its mother's back. The mother being killed, the little one started running round its mother. The narrator ran to catch it but it ran into the sugarcane field. Ultimately, the narrator and his companions caught it and put it into a gunny-bag.

Bruno-A Family Member

The narrator came back to Bangalore at his home. He presented the cub to his wife. She was delighted to have this male cub and put a ribbon around its neck. She named it Bruno. Bruno soon began drinking milk from a bottle. He would eat and drink whatever was brought in the house. The narrator had two Alsatian dogs whom Bruno liked very much. He was also friendly with the children of the narrator's tenants. The little bear remained mostly unchained. He spent all his time in playing, running into the kitchen as and when he liked sleeping in the beds of the family.

Baba, Barium Carbonate and Engine Oil

One day an unfortunate incident occurred. The narrator had put some barium carbonate in his library to kill the rats. Bruno swallowed some of it. He got paralysis. The narrator went

to the vet. The doctor gave Bruno an antidote. Soon Bruno was up on his legs and had a hearty meal.

Another time, he drank up one gallon of engine oil. But luckily it didn't affect him. In some months, Bruno grew big in size and height. But he remained as sweet, mischievous

and playful as before, He was friendly with everyone, especially the narrator's wife who in turn loved him a lot. She changed her name from Bruno to baba' meaning a small boy. He loved to entertain people around him. If anyone asked him to wrestle, he would wrestle with anyone who came forward. If asked to hold a gun, he would pick up a stick and point it at person. If anybody asked him where he would take up a stump of wood and cradle it affectionately.

Baba Sent to a Zoo

Because of the tenants' children, Bruno had to be kept in chain most of the time. Everyone said that Baba should be sent to the zoo at Mysore as it could be dangerous to keep him at home. Reluctantly, the narrator's wife had to agree. The zoo authorities sent a cage and Baba was packed off in a lorry. Everyone missed Baba greatly. But the narrator's wife was the most upset. For the first few days, the she kept crying all the time. She did not eat anything for a long time. She wrote a lot of letters to the zoo to know how Baba was. A few friends who were going to Mysore were pleaded visit the zoo and see how Baba was. They reported that Baba was well but looked sad and weak. After about three months, one day, the narrator's wife became adamant to see Baba. So, the narrator took her by car

Baba Back to Home

Everyone had expected that the bear would not recognise her. But contrary to everyone's expectations, the bear at once recognised her. He howled with pleasure. The narrator's wife ran up to him and patted him through the bars. The bear stood on his head in delight. She spent three hours with Baba and started weeping bitterly when it was time to leave. She asked the curator if she could have the bear back. The curator told her that only the superintendent at Bangalore could give such a permission. Now the narrator and his wife went to Bangalore and got the permission from the superintendent. Thus, Baba was once again brought to the narrator's house.

Baba's Island

An island was constructed for Baba in the narrator's compound. It was twenty feet long and fifteen feet wide, and was surrounded by a six-foot dry pit dug around it which was six feet wide and seven feet deep. The island had a wooden box for Baba to sleep at night. The box had straws placed inside to keep him warm. His playthings were also kept there for him. Baba was delighted to be on the island. The narrator's wife spent many hours playing with him.

To reach the island, the narrator tied a rope to a hanging branch of a nearby mango tree with a loop at the end. His wife used to put her one foot in the loop and kick off with the other. The bear had as much sense of affection, memory and individual characteristics as humans.

Q1. How did the narrator get Bruno?

Ans. Once the narrator was passing through sugarcane fields near Mysore. Wild pigs were being driven from the fields by shooting them. Suddenly, a black bear came out. One of the narrator's friends shot at the bear and it fell down. There was a baby bear who had been riding on its mother's back. The mother being killed, the little one became miserable and ran into the sugarcane field. Ultimately, the narrator and his companions caught it and put it into a gunny-bag.

Q2. How did Bruno get paralysed?

Ans. One day an unfortunate incident occurred. The narrator had put some barium carbonate in his library to kill rats. Bruno swallowed some of it. He got paralysis and became weak. He started breathing heavily, vomited and was unable to move. The narrator at once went to the vet. The doctor gave Bruno an antidote. After thirty minutes, Bruno was up on his legs.

Q3. What treatment was given to Bruno when he ate poison?

Ans. Once, Bruno swallowed barium carbonate. The narrator took him to the vet. He was given three injections to make the poison ineffective. After the first injection, his condition did not improve. After the second, he could move his arms and legs a little. Thirty minutes later, he got up and had a great feast.

Q4. How much time did the bear take to start drinking and eating everything?

Ans. Bruno took to drinking milk from a bottle soon after he was rescued. Within very few days, he started eating and drinking everything else. He ate porridge made from any ingredients, vegetables, fruit, nuts, meat, curry and rice, bread, eggs, chocolates,

sweets, pudding, ice-cream, etc. As for the drinks, he could drink almost any liquid.

Q5. What name did the narrator's wife give to the baby-bear? Why was his name changed?

Ans. The narrator's wife after getting to know that the cub was a 'boy', named it Bruno. With time, the bond between the narrator's wife and the bear became stronger. She loved him just like her son and started calling him Baba, which means a 'small boy in Hindustani.

Q6. Why did Bruno drink the engine oil? What was the result?

Ans. Once the narrator had drained engine oil from the sump of the Studebaker and kept it as a weapon against the inroads of termites. Bruno, who used to drink any liquid, drank about one gallon of this oil too. However, it did not have any effect on him.

Q7. What happened to Bruno when he was sent to the zoo?

Ans. When Bruno was sent to the zoo, he became very weak and sad. He fretted and refused food. He missed the narrator's family very much.

Q8. How did the narrator's wife feel after the bear was sent to the zoo?

Ans. Everyone missed Baba greatly after he was sent off to the zoo. But the narrator's wife was the most upset. She was inconsolable. She wept and fretted. She did not eat anything for a few days. She wrote a lot of letters to the zoo curator to know how Baba was.

Q9. Why did the narrator take his wife to the Mysore zoo after a span of three months?

Ans. The narrator's wife was missing baba badly. She wanted to go to the zoo to see him. The narrator had managed to prevent her from going to the Mysore zoo for three months. But one day, she became adamant to see Baba. She threatened that if on one would take her by car, she would go herself by bus or train. So, the narrator had to take her to Mysore zoo by car.

10. How did Baba behave when he saw the narrator's wife in the zoo?

Ans. Baba was extremely happy to see the narrator's wife. He recognised her from a distance and jumped and howled with delight. When she reached near his cage, he stood on his head.

Q11. Describe the scene at the time of the closing of the zoo when Bruno and the narrator's wife had to separate again.

Ans. As the closing time at the zoo drew near, the narrator's wife cried bitterly at the thought of going away from Baba. Baba too howled loudly. This touching scene made the curator and the keepers of the zoo sad.

Q12. Discuss the appropriateness of the title "The Bond of Love".

Ans. The title of the story "The Bond of Love" is quite appropriate as the story focuses on the relationship of love and affection between human beings and animals. The bond of love can be formed not only between human beings but also across species. It can be formed between human beings and animals. In the story there is a strong bond of love between a bear and the narrator's wife. So, the title is apt.

Q13. What is the theme on which the story is based?

Ans. The theme of the story is that even wild animals can feel the emotions of love and affection. Love is reciprocal. Even animals can respond affectionately to the love and care shown to them by human beings. In fact, the emotional bond that animals form with humans is so strong that they do not forget them even after separating from them for a long period of time.

14. What message does the writer want to convey to his readers?

Ans. The story conveys the message that we should be kind towards animals as they also have a right to live a dignified and free life. Human beings have a special responsibility towards animals and birds. Animals also experience the emotions of love, joy and pain just like human beings.

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