Chapter 7: Jalebis

English - It So Happened • Class 8

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Chapter Analysis

Beginner10 pages • English

Quick Summary

Jalebis is a poignant story about a young boy who succumbs to the temptation of spending his school fees money on jalebis. The story, penned with humor, explores the themes of temptation, regret, and the lessons learned from mistakes. Set against the backdrop of a young boy's innocently mischievous world, it illustrates his remorse and the desperate prayers he offers in hope of divine intervention, ultimately leading to a moral realization.

Key Topics

  • Temptation and Consequences
  • Moral Lessons
  • Responsibility
  • Faith and Prayer
  • Childhood Innocence
  • Regret and Realization

Learning Objectives

  • To understand the concept of temptation and its consequences.
  • To identify the moral lessons conveyed through the story.
  • To analyze how setting influences narrative.
  • To evaluate character development and growth.
  • To appreciate narrative style and its impact on theme delivery.
  • To relate the story's themes to real-life situations.

Questions in Chapter

Why didn’t he eat all the jalebis he had bought?

Page 4

What did he do with the remaining jalebis?

Page 4

The fear was killing me. What was the fear?

Page 4

Children’s stomachs are like digestion machines. What do you understand by that? Do you agree?

Page 4

How did he plan to pay the fees the next day?

Page 4

When it is time to pay the fees, what does he do? How is he disobeying the elders by doing so?

Page 4

What was the consequence of buying jalebis with the fees money?

Page 8

His prayer to God is like a lawyer’s defence of a bad case. Does he argue his case well? What are the points he makes?

Page 8

He offers to play a game with Allah Miyan. What is the game?

Page 8

Did he get four rupees by playing the game? What did he get to see under the rock?

Page 8

If God had granted his wish that day, what harm would it have caused him in later life?

Page 8

Additional Practice Questions

What lessons can be learned from the boy's experience in 'Jalebis'?

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Answer: The boy's experience teaches about the consequences of giving into temptation and the importance of responsibility. It highlights the realization that decisions can have lasting impacts and encourages honesty and foresight in handling one's duties.

Discuss how the author uses humor to convey a moral lesson in 'Jalebis'.

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Answer: The author uses humor through the boy’s imaginative dialogue with the coins and his exaggerated fears about the jalebis. This humor helps in presenting a serious moral lesson in a light-hearted manner, making it relatable and engaging to young readers.

What role does faith play in the narrative of 'Jalebis'?

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Answer: Faith in 'Jalebis' is depicted through the boy's prayers to God for help after he spends his fees money. It showcases a child's innocent belief in divine intervention and teaches about reliance on faith while dealing with crisis.

How does the story of 'Jalebis' illustrate the theme of responsibility?

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Answer: The story illustrates responsibility by showing the consequences the boy faces for misusing his fee money. It emphasizes the maturity needed to prioritize obligations over instant gratification.

Analyze the character development of the boy in the story 'Jalebis'.

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Answer: Throughout 'Jalebis', the boy's character develops from being impulsive and naive to reflective and regretful. Initially swayed by temptation, his experiences lead him to understand the importance of forethought and self-restraint.

What is the significance of the setting in 'Jalebis'?

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Answer: The setting, a small town environment where sweets are readily available, provides a realistic backdrop that supports the boy's temptation and later plight, enhancing the relatability of his moral and ethical struggles.

How does the boy's perception of jalebis change throughout the story?

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Answer: Initially, jalebis symbolize pure temptation and desire for the boy, but as the story progresses, they become symbols of regret, illustrating the conflict between indulgence and duty.

If the boy had not yielded to the temptation, how do you think the story would have been different?

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Answer: Had the boy resisted temptation, the story might not include the lesson of remorse and the consequences of poor choices. It would likely depict a straightforward storyline emphasizing self-control.

Discuss the narrative style of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi in 'Jalebis'.

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Answer: Qasmi uses a simple, yet engaging narrative style in 'Jalebis', appealing to children while weaving in rich metaphors and dialogues that make moral lessons accessible and impactful.

What could be some modern equivalents of the temptation faced by the boy in 'Jalebis'?

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Answer: Modern equivalents could include the temptation to spend money intended for tuition on gadgets or entertainment, reflecting contemporary issues of prioritizing wants over responsibilities.