Father’s Help | R.K. Narayan – Madhyamik English Question and Answer
Father’s Help by R.K. Narayan is an important Prose chapter for WBBSE Class 10 English. The chapter presents Swaminathan, a school-going boy who tries to avoid going to school because he has not completed his homework. His father’s strict response and Swami’s changing feelings about his teacher Samuel create the central situation of the story.
The question-answer section below has been arranged around the textbook-based MCQs, sentence completion and short-answer questions found in the source material. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Father’s Help – Madhyamik English Question and Answer
The following questions and answers focus on the important incidents, characters and situations presented in the chapter. Reading the chapter carefully before practicing these questions will make revision more effective.
Father’s Help – MCQ Questions and Answers
1. When Swami ought to have been in the school prayer hall, where was he?
(A) Bench (B) Table (C) Bed (D) Desk2. With a shudder Swami realized that it was —
(A) Friday (B) Thursday (C) Wednesday (D) Monday3. According to Swami, Samuel was especially angry with boys who were —
(A) Absent (B) Late (C) Inattentive (D) Uncontrolled4. Swami’s mother was —
(A) Generous (B) Careless (C) Accurate (D) Artful5. According to Swami, his headmaster was very —
(A) Merciless (B) Angry (C) Polite (D) Cruel6. Swami’s father had composed —
(A) A long story (B) A long drama (C) A long book (D) A long letterComplete the Following Sentences
1. Mother generously suggested that Swami might ________.
Answer: Mother generously suggested that Swami might stay at home.
2. Samuel is especially angry with boys who ________.
Answer: Samuel is especially angry with boys who come in late.
3. Swami was questioned by his father whether ________.
Answer: Swami was questioned by his father whether he had no school.
4. Swami lay on the ________ in his mother’s room.
Answer: Swami lay on the bench in his mother’s room.
5. At nine o’clock Swaminathan complained of ________.
Answer: At nine o’clock Swaminathan complained of headache.
Short Questions and Answers
1. Why did Swaminathan change his tactics?
Answer: Swaminathan changed his tactics because he knew that his father was a very strict guardian.
2. Who suggested that Swami might stay at home?
Answer: Swami’s mother suggested that he might stay at home.
3. What is the name of Swami’s teacher?
Answer: The name of Swami’s teacher is Samuel.
4. Who is even afraid of Samuel?
Answer: The headmaster is even afraid of Samuel.
Important Questions from the Chapter
1. What was the realisation of Swami while he was lying in bed?
Answer: Swaminathan realized that the weekend was over. It was Monday, not Friday, and he had not completed his homework. As a result, he did not feel like going to school.
2. Did Swami’s mother believe him?
Answer: Swami’s mother was sympathetic and suggested that he could stay at home. She listened to his complaint and showed concern for him.
3. Where did Swami stop on his way to school?
Answer: Swami stopped on the roadside to make up his mind about Samuel and to think about whether the accusations against his teacher were justified.
4. What bothered Swaminathan on his way to school?
Answer: Swaminathan was bothered by his conscience. He was uncertain whether Samuel was really as bad as he had imagined.
5. How did Samuel look?
Answer: Samuel had a dark face, a thin moustache and an unshaven cheek. He wore a yellow-coloured coat.
6. What did Swami’s father propose?
Answer: Swami’s father proposed to send a letter with Swami to the headmaster.
7. What did the letter contain?
Answer: The letter contained several accusations and complaints about Samuel.
8. What did Swami fail to decide about Samuel?
Answer: Swami failed to decide whether Samuel really deserved the allegations made against him in the letter.
9. What made Samuel look impressed?
Answer: Samuel looked impressed when Swami told him that his father had said that he would not miss school.
10. How long was the headmaster on leave?
Answer: The headmaster was on leave for a week.
Father’s Help – Character and Theme Focus
| Character / Element | Important Point |
|---|---|
| Swami | A schoolboy who tries to avoid school but becomes troubled by his conscience. |
| Father | A strict guardian who expects Swami to attend school and takes the complaint seriously. |
| Mother | She is sympathetic and generously suggests that Swami may stay at home. |
| Samuel | Swami’s teacher, whom Swami initially views negatively but later finds more difficult to judge. |
| Conscience | Swami’s inner conflict about whether Samuel truly deserves the accusations. |
What Makes Father’s Help Important?
The story is built around a simple school-day situation, but Swami’s thoughts create an important inner conflict. At first, he wants to avoid school and thinks of Samuel as a strict teacher. Later, when he observes Samuel more carefully, he begins to question whether his own accusations are fair.
His father’s letter creates another turning point. Swami expects the letter to cause serious trouble for Samuel, but the situation does not unfold exactly as he had imagined. This contrast between Swami’s expectations and reality is central to the chapter. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Swami’s journey from avoiding school to questioning his own judgment is one of the most important aspects of Father’s Help. While preparing, focus on his actions, his father’s strict attitude, Samuel’s role and Swami’s conscience.
Father’s Help – Important Points for Revision
- Swami wants to avoid going to school.
- He complains of a headache to support his excuse.
- His mother is sympathetic and suggests that he can remain at home.
- His father insists that he must go to school.
- Swami thinks about Samuel while travelling to school.
- His conscience makes him question his own accusations.
- His father writes a letter containing complaints about Samuel.
- Swami expects Samuel to be punished but finds the situation more complicated.
- The headmaster is away for a week.
How to Prepare Father’s Help for Madhyamik English
For examination preparation, first read the complete prose carefully. Then revise the important events, characters and questions. MCQs should be practiced separately, while short and descriptive answers should be written in complete sentences.
Read the chapter → understand the story → revise the characters → practice MCQs → write short answers → revise important descriptive questions.
Conclusion
Father’s Help is an important Prose chapter for Madhyamik English. The chapter becomes especially interesting through Swami’s attempt to avoid school, his fear of his father, his changing opinion about Samuel and the conflict created by the letter.
For WBBSE Class 10 preparation, students should study the textbook carefully and use these questions and answers for revision and practice. The source material includes MCQs, sentence completion, short questions and longer answer-based questions, so all these formats should be practiced. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
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