Adolf - D.H. Lawrence | BOSEM Class IX English Literature Reader

 Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM)
English Literature Reader
Class: 9
Chapter: 1

Adolf

David Herbert Lawrence

Summary

The story "Adolf" penned by the renowned English novelist D.H. Lawrence, is a biographical tale that intricately portrays his affection for animals.

One day, the writer's father returned home from the coal mine where he toiled and stumbled upon a tiny, brown rabbit. The rabbit was alive but motionless, lying beside its deceased mother and three lifeless siblings. Moved by compassion, the father brought the rabbit home. Upon his arrival, he presented the rabbit to his children, who were instantly filled with excitement and curiosity. However, the children's mother expressed her disapproval of bringing a wild rabbit into their home. She feared the potential emotional distress the children might experience if the rabbit were to perish, as they had previously endured the sorrow of losing pets. Despite her reservations, the children persisted in their belief that the rabbit could survive.

Gathering around the rabbit, they cradled it in their laps and began caring for it. Initially, the little rabbit displayed no signs of movement, prompting concern among the children. Undeterred, they endeavoured to create a sense of home for the rabbit by placing it near the fireplace, akin to inhabiting a burrow. Over time, their love and affection began to elicit a response from the rabbit. Eventually, the once-wild rabbit became domesticated, thriving under their care and attention.

Solved Textual Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Why was the meeting between the children and their father in the early spring morning not happy?

Ans.: - The early spring morning meeting between the children and their father was not happy. The father, returning home tired and dirty from his night shift at the coal-mine, contrasted with the cheerful disposition of the well-rested children.

2. One sunny morning why did the children feel that their father had something to tell them?

Ans.: - One bright morning, the children sensed that their father had something to share with them. The felt that because the father, after entering the scullery, promptly made his way to the kitchen and joined them at the breakfast table.

3. Why was there some excitement among the children one spring morning?

Ans.: - The children were thrilled one spring morning when their father brought home a small, brown rabbit and placed it among the teacups on the breakfast table.

4. Why was the mother worried that the rabbit was a wild one?

Ans.: - The mother was concerned that the rabbit might be wild, fearing that it wouldn't adapt, sulk, refuse to eat, and ultimately meet the same fate as previous wild animals, leading to distress in the family. She detested the sorrow of losing pets in her household.

5. "He must bring it..." Why did the children cry out their father had to bring the rabbit?

Ans.: - The kids loudly pleaded with their mother, insisting that their father bring the rabbit home. They believed that the rabbit was too small to survive on its own and would perish if left alone.

6. "It won't die father, will it? Why will it? I won't."
Bring out the sentiment expressed by the children in this line.

Ans.: - In this line, the children conveyed their strong wish for the small rabbit to survive, in contrast to their mother's expectation that it would perish like other young wild animals they had brought home.

7. What was the big problem the children faced at mid-day after school?

Ans.: - Before heading to school, the kids wrapped the small rabbit in a piece of flannel, placed it in a dark corner of the cold parlour, and set a saucer of milk in front of it. When they returned at midday, they discovered the rabbit lying still and motionless in the flannel, having not consumed any milk. This posed a significant issue for the children.

8. What changes did the children see in the rabbit at tea-time?

Ans.: - At the time for afternoon tea, the children discovered that the small rabbit had hopped a couple of inches out of its flannel covering and was sitting there exposed once again. It resembled a small, quiet cloud, but then its side twitched slightly, indicating signs of life.

9. Why did the children tell the father to mind how he went in?

Ans.: - The kids cautioned their father to be careful as he walked, expressing their concern that he might accidentally step on the small rabbit with his heavy boots.

II. Answer the following questions in about 80 words each.

1. Bring out the excitement in the house in the morning the father brought a little rabbit.

Ans.: - One bright morning, the father surprised the children by bringing a tiny rabbit to the breakfast table where they were gathered. The children, filled with excitement, immediately surrounded the rabbit and bombarded their father with questions about it. Despite their mother's disapproval of bringing the little rabbit home, the children disagreed and even took the rabbit onto their laps, offering it warm milk. Sadly, the rabbit showed no signs of life, which deeply saddened the children, leading one of them to shed a few tears in secret. As they reluctantly headed off to school, they carefully wrapped the rabbit in a flannel, placing it in a dark room with a saucer of milk. Despite their efforts to care for the rabbit, it continued to sulk and refused to drink or move, causing the children to feel despair. Nevertheless, their determination and affection ultimately led to their success in saving and taming the rabbit.

2. What were the reasons for the children's mother to object to the rabbit being brought?

Ans.: - When the father brought the rabbit home, the children were thrilled and full of joy. However, the mother disapproved of bringing a wild rabbit into their home. Her concern stemmed from the fact that the rabbit might become sullen, refuse to eat, and ultimately perish, leading to emotional distress in the household. The mother had experienced similar situations in the past when the father brought home wild animals that ultimately did not survive, causing great sorrow for the children and turmoil in the household. Due to her aversion to the distress caused by the children's emotional reactions to the loss of a pet, the mother strongly opposed bringing the little rabbit into their home.

3. "Trouble fell on us." What was the trouble? How was it solved?

Ans.: - When the father brought home the little rabbit, the children were filled with excitement and placed it on their laps. However, to their dismay, the rabbit remained completely still, showing no signs of life, not even shaking off the milk on its mouth. This situation caused great distress for the children.

Throughout the entire day, the rabbit remained motionless, only making a few small jumps within the flannel it was wrapped in. Despite their despair, the children refused to give up on the rabbit. As night fell, they wrapped the rabbit in the old flannel, carried it to the scullery, and placed it beneath the fireplace. Additionally, they scattered saucers of milk on the floor, hoping the rabbit would find nourishment if it started moving around.

The following morning, the writer discovered milk drops scattered across the scullery floor and the rabbit hiding behind a pair of boots. This discovery signified that the rabbit was indeed alive, bringing an end to their worries.

4. Write how everything about the rabbit finally end.

Ans.: - Initially, the little rabbit remained completely still and motionless. The children, feeling deeply concerned, did everything they could to prevent the rabbit from perishing. They were even secretly fearful that it might not survive, and tears welled up in their eyes. Nevertheless, their love for the rabbit encouraged them to persist. During the night, they placed the rabbit, wrapped in flannel, beneath the copper fireplace in the scullery to create the illusion of a burrow. Additionally, they set out five or six saucers of milk on the floor to ensure the rabbit would find some food if it moved about during the night. Their strategy proved successful. The following morning, the writer discovered milk drops on the floor, and the rabbit was found sitting behind a pair of boots, alert and twitching its nose. Thus, the unwavering love and affection of the children triumphed, and their rabbit survived.

5. Comment on the attitude of the father and the children towards pets and animals.

Ans.: - The father is a true animal and pet lover, which is why he brought home the tiny brown rabbit after finding it on the field path next to its deceased mother and three siblings. His love for animals was evident as he even poured tea into a saucer for the motionless rabbit. Similarly, the children shared their father's deep affection for animals. They eagerly cradled the rabbit, offered it milk, and despite the painful loss of previously brought animals, they continued to care for and show affection to the rabbit - wrapping it in a flannel, providing milk, and placing it near the copper fireplace. The father and children's actions demonstrated their genuine love and concern for animals and pets.