Explore the themes of kindness, rebellion, and individuality with our detailed Class 7 English notes on ‘A Gift of Chappals’ and ‘The Rebel’ from ‘Honeycomb’!

Chapter 2: A Gift of Chappals … The Rebel

A Gift of Chappals

Overview of the Story

“A Gift of Chappals” is a touching story that highlights the innocence and compassion of children. The narrative revolves around a group of children who decide to help a beggar by giving him a pair of chappals (slippers), showing their kindness and empathy.

Main Characters

Key Characters

  • Ravi: A compassionate and imaginative boy who comes up with the idea of giving the beggar chappals.
  • Mridu: A kind-hearted girl who supports Ravi’s idea and helps in carrying it out.
  • Meena: Another child who is part of the group and supports the act of kindness.

Plot Summary

The Beggar

  • Encounter with the Beggar: The children encounter a poor beggar who is in desperate need of footwear.
  • Decision to Help: Moved by the beggar’s plight, Ravi suggests giving him a pair of chappals.

The Gift

  • Finding the Chappals: The children find a pair of old chappals belonging to Ravi’s house and decide to give them to the beggar.
  • Beggar’s Gratitude: The beggar is overwhelmed with gratitude and blesses the children for their kindness.

Consequences

  • Reaction of Elders: Ravi’s family members initially scold the children for giving away the chappals, but they eventually understand the children’s good intentions.
  • Moral Lesson: The story concludes with a moral lesson on empathy, kindness, and the importance of helping those in need.

The Rebel

Overview of the Poem

“The Rebel” is a thought-provoking poem by D.J. Enright that explores the nature of rebellion and individuality. It describes the behavior of a rebel who always does the opposite of what everyone else is doing, highlighting the importance of being true to oneself.

Description of the Rebel

Characteristics of the Rebel

  • Non-conformist: The rebel is someone who does not conform to societal norms and always chooses to do things differently.
  • Contrarian: The rebel takes pride in being different and often acts in opposition to the crowd.

Themes of the Poem

Key Themes

  • Individuality: Emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and not blindly following the crowd.
  • Non-conformity: Highlights the value of questioning norms and thinking independently.

Imagery and Language

Use of Imagery

  • Visual Imagery: The poem uses visual imagery to create a vivid picture of the rebel’s actions and appearance.
  • Contrasts: The poet uses contrasts to highlight the rebel’s behavior compared to the rest of society.

Moral and Message

Key Takeaways

  • Value of Individuality: Encourages readers to appreciate their uniqueness and be confident in their individuality.
  • Understanding Differences: Promotes understanding and acceptance of people who choose to be different.

Conclusion

Summary of the Chapter

“A Gift of Chappals” teaches valuable lessons about kindness, empathy, and the importance of helping those in need.

“The Rebel” is a powerful poem that celebrates individuality and the courage to be different.

Additional Information

Key Terms and Concepts

  • Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
  • Non-conformity: The refusal to conform to established customs, attitudes, or ideas.

Important Examples and Cases

  • The Beggar’s Gratitude: Demonstrates the impact of a simple act of kindness.
  • Rebel’s Actions: Illustrates the importance of questioning norms and embracing one’s unique identity.

Notable Observations

  • Philosophical Depth: Both the story and the poem offer deep philosophical insights despite their simple narratives.
  • Poetic Devices: “The Rebel” effectively uses poetic devices to convey its message.
1.  Who wrote the story “A Gift of Chappals”?

“A Gift of Chappals” is written by Vasantha Surya.

2.  What is the main theme of “A Gift of Chappals”?

The main theme is kindness and empathy.

3.  Who are the main characters in “A Gift of Chappals”?

The main characters are Ravi, Mridu, and Meena.

4.  How do the children encounter the beggar in the story?

The children encounter the beggar when he comes to their house asking for help.

5.  What prompts the children to help the beggar?

They are moved by the beggar’s plight and his need for footwear.

6.  What do the children decide to give the beggar?

The children decide to give the beggar a pair of old chappals.

7.  Whose chappals do the children give to the beggar?

They give the beggar old chappals belonging to Ravi’s house.

8.  How does the beggar react to the children’s gift?

The beggar is overwhelmed with gratitude and blesses the children.

9.  What is the initial reaction of the elders when they find out about the chappals?

The elders initially scold the children for giving away the chappals.

10.  How do the elders’ attitudes change towards the children’s act?

They eventually understand the children’s good intentions and appreciate their kindness.

11.  What is the moral lesson of “A Gift of Chappals”?

The moral lesson is the importance of empathy and helping those in need.

12.  Who wrote the poem “The Rebel”?

“The Rebel” is written by D.J. Enright.

13.  What does the poem “The Rebel” describe?

The poem describes the behavior of a rebel who always does the opposite of what everyone else is doing.

14.  How is the rebel characterized in the poem?

The rebel is characterized as a non-conformist who takes pride in being different.

15.  What is the main theme of “The Rebel”?

The main theme is individuality and non-conformity.

16.  What literary device is commonly used in “The Rebel”?

The poem uses contrasts to highlight the rebel’s behavior.

17.  How does the poem use imagery?

The poem uses visual imagery to create a vivid picture of the rebel’s actions and appearance.

18.  What does the poem encourage readers to do?

The poem encourages readers to appreciate their uniqueness and be confident in their individuality.

19.  What lesson does the story “A Gift of Chappals” teach about helping others?

The story teaches that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

20.  Why is the rebel considered a non-conformist?

The rebel is considered a non-conformist because he always chooses to do things differently from the crowd.

21.  What does the squirrel’s tail look like in “The Squirrel”?

The squirrel’s tail looks like a question mark.

22.  How do the children find the chappals to give to the beggar?

The children find the chappals by searching through old items in Ravi’s house.

23.  What does the rebel do when everyone has short hair?

The rebel lets his hair grow long.

24.  What does the rebel do when everyone has long hair?

The rebel cuts his hair short.

25.  How does the poem “The Rebel” highlight the value of questioning norms?

The poem highlights the value of questioning norms by showing the rebel’s contrary behavior as a form of individual expression.

MCQs

Chapter 2: A Gift of Chappals …The Rebel MCQs

1. Who wrote the story “A Gift of Chappals”?

2. What is the main theme of “A Gift of Chappals”?

3. Who are the main characters in “A Gift of Chappals”?

4. Who suggested giving the chappals to the beggar?

5. How does the beggar react to the children’s gift of chappals?

MCQs

6. What is the initial reaction of the elders when they find out about the chappals?

7. What is the moral lesson of “A Gift of Chappals”?

8. Who wrote the poem “The Rebel”?

9. How is the rebel characterized in the poem “The Rebel”?

10. What does the poem “The Rebel” encourage readers to do?

MCQs

11. What does the rebel do when everyone has long hair?

12. What literary device is commonly used in “The Rebel”?

Access detailed short notes for every chapter of the Class 7 Science NCERT book ‘Science,’ specifically designed for CBSE students. Click here to view the complete collection.