1st PUC English Notes | The Gentlemen of the Jungle

1. The Gentlemen of the Jungle

-Jomo Kenyatta

Glossary:

Torrential : fall in large amounts

Soothing : calm

Repute : having good opinion

Endowed : have particular feature or quality.

Hurricane : violent storm

Confine : restrict

Relevant : connected to the subject

Unbiased : not influenced by others opinion

Tread : to walk

Dispute : quarrel, disagreement

Basked : relaxed

Questions:

1. What favour did the elephant ask the man on a rainy day?

On a rainy day, the elephant went to his friend, the man, who had a little hut at the edge of the forest and pleaded to allow him to put his trunk inside the hut, to save him from the torrential rain.

2. According to the man his hut had room only for him

False

3. How did the elephant sneak into the man’s hut?

The man, out of pity allowed the elephant to put his trunk into his hut. As soon as the elephant put his trunk inside the hut he slowly pushed his head inside and then flung the man out in the rain and laid down comfortably inside.

4. According to the elephant the man can afford to remain in the rain because

The skin of the elephant is delicate.

5. How did the lion decide to solve the problem?

The lion commanded his ministers to appoint a commission of enquiry to solve the problem.

6. What kind of Judgment did the man expect?

The man expected the judgment to be in his favour and believed that the hut would naturally be returned to him.

7. Why was the man unhappy with the members of the Commission of Enquiry?

The man was unhappy with the members of the commission of enquiry because no members from man’s side was included in it.

8. Why was the man told that only jungle animals would be on the jungle commission?

The man was told that only jungle animals would be in the jungle commission because they feel that no man is well educated about the intricacy( Complexity)of the Jungle law.

9. According to the elephant the man had invited him into the hut

To save the hut from the hurricane.

10. In Whose favour was the judgement given?

The Judgement was given in the favour of the elephant.

11. Why did the man accept the suggestion of building a new hut?

The man accepted the suggestion of building a new hut because he had no alternative and feared that his refusal might expose him to danger.

12. How did the man buy peace finally?

The man finally bought peace by setting his big hut, accommodated by all animals, on fire.

Comprehension: II

1. Why was the commission of enquiry appointed by the king of the jungle?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose power mongerness of European power. He uses satirical tone. Once an Elephant who made a friendship with the man requested to permit to put its trunk into man’s hut, to gain protection from the torrential storm. But as it put his trunk, it also put its head and finally flung the man out. This caused dispute between the man and elephant. They began to quarrel with each other, hearing the noise the animals in the nearby forest came to see what was happening. In this turmoil, the lion came roaring and asked how they dare would disturb the peace of the kingdom. The elephant informed him about the dispute. The lion who wanted to maintain tranquility in his kingdom ordered to his ministers to appoint a “commission of enquiry” to look into the matter and report accordingly.

2. Why do you think animals decide not to have anyone from the man’s side on the commission of enquiry?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose power mongerness of European power. As per the lion’s order, elephant appointed a “commission of enquiry”, to look into the matter of dispute between the elephant and the man, regarding the possession of the hut. But the commission consists of Mr. Rhinoceros, Mr. Buffalo and Mr. Alligator as its members. Rt. hon. Fox as its chairman and Mr Leopard as secretary. But there were no

members from the man’s side. Animals assured man to provide impartial law after the investigation. They thought that it was impossible to include a man because no one from man’s side was well educated to understand the intricacy of the jungle law. The animals also believed that they were the members chosen by God; look after the interest of the race, less adequately endowed with the teeth and claws. So he decided not to have any members from the man’side on the commission of enquiry.

3. How did the elephant justify its act of occupying the hut?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose power mongerness of European power. During the proceeding of the Enquiry, Elephant justify its action by saying that infact the man himself had invited it to protect his hut from being blown away from hurricane, as the hurricane had gained access owing to the unoccupied space in the hut. It was necessary to turn the undeveloped place to more economic use by sitting in it. The elephant felt that it was its sacred duty, which any other animal would have carried out, if they were in a similar situation. In this way elephant justified its action.

4. Do you think the verdict by the commission of enquiry was on the expected lines? Why?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose power mongerness of European power. During the trial Mr. Hyena and other elders of the jungle took elephant’s side and the man was not given even a chance to state his case. So as expected the verdict came in favor of the elephant.

5. What fate awaited the man each time he built a new house?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose power mongerness of European power. The commission of enquiry declared its verdict, it ordered the man to vacate his hut and look for another site, to construct a new hut for him. The man feared that his refusal might expose him to the teeth and claws of the members of commission. So he obeyed as they suggested. But no sooner had he built another hut than Mr Rhinoceros charged in with horn and ordered the man to quit. A royal commission was again appointed to look into the matter and same finding was given. This procedure was repeated until Mr Buffalo, Mr Leopard, Mr. Hyena and the rest were all accommodated with new huts.

Comprehension: III

1. Do you agree with the action of the man at the end? Why?

2. An act of kindness is misunderstood as weakness. Discuss this with reference to the story.

3. ‘Peace is costly but is worth the expense’. What is the ironical significance of this statement?

4. Every fable ends with a moral. What moral do you find in this story?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose power mongerness of European power. The gentlemen of the jungle is a fable with a moral. An elephant makes a friendship with man – On this pretext it requests him to permit it to put its trunk inside his hut to secure protection from the torrential rain. The man feels pity when he saw the miserable condition of the elephant. Even though his hut was small he allowed the elephant to put its trunk but as soon as the elephant has put its trunk, it also pushes its head and finally flung the man out. The Man relies on the legal procedure. But the commission of enquiry deliberately gives the verdict in favor of the elephant. It instructs the man to build another hut, but as soon as he built a new hut, the Rhinoceros occupied it. The same procedure repeats until all the members of enquiry commission were accommodated with new huts. The man finally decides that he should adopt some effective methods of protection so, he purposefully construct a new hut bigger than the earlier ones. As expected, the animals claimed their positions and the quarrel reaches its peak over their rights of penetration. When they were embroiled, the man sets fire to the hut. The fable concludes with the saying that ‘Peace is costly but is worth the expense which means one must adopt effective measures in order to root out monsters rule. The animal fails to understand true ability of man. They misjudge his tender inclination as his weakness. But ultimately their over smartness cause them dearly

5. Do you think the story can be read as a political satire on colonialism?

Ans: The author Jomo Kenyatta uses this fable ‘Gentle men of the jungle’ to expose power mongerness of European power. He uses satirical tone. Satire is used in many works of literature to show foolishness or wise in humans or even in organization or government it used sarcasm for example Jonathan swift’s Gulliver’s Travel 1726 especially Book IV the satire on entire human race. In the late nineteenth century the chief European powers divided Africa 10 among themselves. They would do this because European arms were superior and because the African chiefs did not understand the meaning of the treaties they were asked to sign. As a result Africans lost the land they had tradionally lived and cultivated. Their attitude towards European “Expansion” is made clear in this fable which reflects the attitude of the kikuyu people of Kenya towards European laws and commissions. The author Jomo Kenyatta’s expression contempt and dissatisfaction is not direct, it has been expressed indirectly through an extended metaphor known as Allegory. In this fable initially elephant pleaded for permission to put its trunk but when it was permitted it creeped in completely and flung the man out. Such was the request of Europeans when they first came as missionaries and later as traders. The Europeans imposed their system of brat of laws on African Natives they even appointed a governor to rule Africans without consulting them. This filled the air of total dissatisfaction and frustration among the people of Africa. They felt betrayed as we see in the man’s case who fights with the elephant for the lost hut.

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