Think and Reflect

Class 6 English · Chapter 8: What a Bird Thought · NCERT Poorvi section pp. 87–89

Learn

Main idea of each stanza: 1. The bird lived happily in a small world. 2. The bird lived in a cosy nest with its mother. 3. The bird steps out into the world. 4. The bird flies away as an adult. (It is NOT unhappy with its nest, and it does not really become blind!)

"I have been very blind" doesn't mean the bird couldn't see. It means it hadn't understood how big the world was, because from inside the nest it could not see the leaves outside. The bird changed its home two times (egg → nest → leaves), and its ideas changed each time.

What quality does the bird show at the end? It is grown up, fit for adult work, and humble and wise enough to admit it doesn't know everything. Who might its "neighbours" be? Other birds and creatures of the trees, who also see only part of the world.

A lesson for us: like the bird, we often think the world is just what we can see: our home, school or town. As we grow, travel, read and meet people, our world grows too, and we realise how much more there is to learn.

Explore: true or false?

1. Sort each statement.

Remember

• Each stanza is a new stage of growing up; "blind" means not yet understanding.
• The bird ends grown up, humble and wise: there is always more to learn.

Quick check

What does "I have been very blind" mean?

1. I didn't understand how big the world was
2. I could not see at all
3. My eyes were hurt
4. It was always dark

Think about it

How has your idea of "the world" grown since you were very small?

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.