The Bond of Love (Q&A)
Thinking About the Text
Q1. “I got him for her by accident.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Who do “him” and “her” refer to?
(iii) What is the incident referred to here?
Answer:
(i) The narrator, Kenneth Anderson, says this.
(ii) “Him” refers to the baby sloth bear, and “her” refers to the narrator’s wife.
(iii) The incident refers to when the narrator rescued a baby bear whose mother had been shot during a wild encounter, and he brought it home for his wife.
Q2. “He stood on his head in delight.”
(i) Who does “he” refer to?
(ii) Why was he delighted?
Answer:
(i) “He” refers to Bruno (the sloth bear).
(ii) He was delighted to see the narrator’s wife after a long separation when she visited him at the Mysore zoo.
Q3. “We all missed him greatly: but in a sense we were relieved.”
(i) Who does “we all” stand for?
(ii) Who did they miss?
(iii) Why did they nevertheless feel relieved?
Answer:
(i) “We all” refers to the narrator and his family.
(ii) They missed Bruno, the sloth bear.
(iii) They felt relieved because Bruno had become too big and dangerous to be kept at home safely.
Thinking About Language
Q1. Find the meaning of the italicised words in the following sentences:
I got him for her by accident. → by chance, not planned
He stood on his head in delight. → with great joy
We were relieved to see him out of danger. → felt comforted and free from worry
The children were amused by the monkey’s tricks. → entertained, made to laugh
We were impressed by the cleverness of the dog. → admired
Extra Questions (for exams)
Short Answer Questions
Q1. Why was Bruno named “Baba”?
Answer:
Bruno grew close to the narrator’s wife, who called him “Baba,” meaning “a small boy.” The name showed her affection for him.
Q2. Why did Bruno have to be sent to the zoo?
Answer:
Bruno had grown very large and playful, but his size and strength made him dangerous to keep at home. So, for safety, he was sent to the Mysore zoo.
Q3. How did the narrator’s wife feel after sending Bruno to the zoo?
Answer:
She was heartbroken and could not bear the separation. She missed Bruno badly and constantly thought about him.
Long Answer Question
Q. Describe the bond of love between Bruno and the narrator’s wife.
Answer:
The narrator’s wife treated Bruno like her own child. She fed him milk, rice, and chapatis, and even taught him many tricks. Bruno was deeply attached to her and would show joy whenever he saw her. When he was sent to the zoo, she suffered greatly and visited him. Seeing their strong bond, the zoo authorities finally allowed Bruno to return home. Their relationship truly reflected a strong and pure bond of love.