Chapter 3: The Shepherd’s Treasure
Introduction to the Story
Overview
“The Shepherd’s Treasure” is a story from the book “A Pact with the Sun,” which is part of the Class 6 Supplementary Reader in English. This story revolves around a wise and humble shepherd whose virtues lead him to be recognized and rewarded by the king. It highlights themes of humility, wisdom, and justice.
Importance of the Story
The story emphasizes the values of humility, wisdom, and fairness. It teaches that true wealth lies in one’s character and actions, not in material possessions.
Summary of the Story
The Plot
The story follows a poor shepherd who is known for his wisdom and kindness. His reputation reaches the king, who decides to test him. The shepherd’s honesty and wisdom lead to him being appointed as a governor and later rewarded by the king.
Characters
– The Shepherd: A poor but wise and humble man.
– The King: The ruler who recognizes and rewards the shepherd’s virtues.
– The Governors: Other governors who are jealous of the shepherd.
Key Events
1. Introduction of the Shepherd: The shepherd is introduced as a wise and kind man.
2. The King’s Test: The king hears about the shepherd and decides to test his wisdom.
3. Appointment as Governor: Impressed by the shepherd’s wisdom, the king appoints him as a governor.
4. The Jealousy of Other Governors: Other governors become jealous and accuse the shepherd of hoarding treasure.
5. The Shepherd’s Treasure: The shepherd reveals his “treasure” to the king, which is a simple iron chest containing only a blanket.
6. The King’s Realization: The king realizes that the shepherd’s true treasure is his humility and wisdom.
Moral of the Story
The Value of Humility and Wisdom
The story teaches that true wealth lies in one’s character, humility, and wisdom. It also emphasizes that honesty and integrity are more valuable than material wealth.
Vocabulary and Expressions
Key Vocabulary
– Shepherd: A person who tends and rears sheep.
– Humility: The quality of being humble.
– Wisdom: The ability to make sound decisions based on knowledge and experience.
– Governor: A person appointed to govern a province or territory.
– Jealousy: The feeling of envy towards someone else’s achievements or possessions.
Important Expressions
– “Actions speak louder than words”: What someone actually does means more than what they say they will do.
– “True wealth is in character”: Real value is found in one’s character and virtues, not in material possessions.
Activities and Exercises
Comprehension Questions
– What qualities made the shepherd well-known in the region?
– Why did the king decide to test the shepherd?
– How did the shepherd prove his honesty to the king?
– What was the content of the shepherd’s treasure chest?
Vocabulary Practice
– Define the word “shepherd” and use it in a sentence.
– What does “humility” mean?
– Find synonyms for the word “wisdom.”
Discussion Topics
– Discuss how humility and wisdom are portrayed in the story.
– Can you think of a real-life example where someone’s character was more important than their wealth.
Summary
Key Points
– “The Shepherd’s Treasure” teaches about the importance of humility, wisdom, and honesty.
– The story uses the shepherd’s rise to governorship to illustrate these virtues.
– True wealth is in one’s character and virtues, not material possessions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common Questions About “The Shepherd’s Treasure”.
– The main character is a wise and humble shepherd.
– The king decided to test the shepherd because he heard about his wisdom and wanted to see if it was true.
– The shepherd was appointed as a governor by the king.
– The other governors were jealous of the shepherd because of his wisdom and the favor he received from the king.
– The jealous governors accused the shepherd of hoarding treasure.
– Inside the shepherd’s treasure chest was only a simple blanket.
– The shepherd’s treasure symbolizes his humility and wisdom.
– The king realized that the shepherd’s true treasure was his humility and wisdom.
– The story teaches that true wealth lies in one’s character and virtues, not in material possessions.
– The shepherd proved his honesty by showing that his only treasure was a blanket, symbolizing his simple and humble life.
– The shepherd was known for his wisdom, humility, and kindness.
– The king recognized the shepherd’s virtues through his actions and honesty during the test.
– The shepherd’s blanket is significant because it symbolizes his humble and content nature.
– The story conveys that jealousy can lead to false accusations and that integrity will ultimately prevail.
– The king plays the role of someone who tests and ultimately rewards true virtues.
– The story illustrates humility through the shepherd’s simple life and his lack of material wealth.
– The king learns that true wealth is in character and wisdom, not in material possessions.
– The shepherd’s wisdom leads him to be recognized and rewarded by the king.
– The other governors act out of jealousy and deceit, while the shepherd acts with honesty and humility.
– The story suggests that simplicity and contentment are valuable and admirable traits.
– The shepherd handles the accusations with honesty and openness, revealing the truth.
– The blanket represents the shepherd’s only material possession, highlighting his simple lifestyle.
– The king tests the shepherd to verify the stories of his wisdom and integrity.
– The broader message is that true wealth is found in one’s character and virtues, not in material possessions.
– The story ends with the king acknowledging the shepherd’s true treasure of humility and wisdom, rewarding him for his virtues.
The Shepherd’s Treasure MCQs
1. What was the shepherd known for?
2. Why did the king decide to meet the shepherd?
3. What did the shepherd always carry with him?
4. How did the other governors feel about the shepherd?
5. What did the jealous governors accuse the shepherd of?
6. What was inside the shepherd’s iron chest?
7. What did the king realize after seeing the contents of the chest?
8. Why did the shepherd keep the blanket with him?
9. How did the story of the shepherd reach the king?
10. What did the king do after learning the truth about the shepherd?
Access concise short notes for Chapter 3: Taro’s Reward and The Quarrel from the Class 6 English NCERT book ‘Honeysuckle,’ tailored for CBSE students. Click here to read more.
