HSC English First Paper | The Parrot’s Tale | English for Today for HSC

HSC English - First Paper

Unit One: Education and Life | Lesson 1 | The Parrot's Tale

Once upon a time there lived a bird. It was unlettered. It sang but couldn’t recite a word of scripture. It hopped and it flew but lacked all sense of manners.

অনেক আগে কোন এক দেশে একটি পাখি বাস করত। পাখিটি নিরক্ষর ছিল। গান গাইত কিন্তু ধর্মগ্রন্থের একটি শব্দও আবৃত্তি করতে পারত না। লাফিয়ে লাফিয়ে উড়ে যেত, কিন্তু আদবের অভাব ছিল।

The King said, “Such a bird is of no use. Yet it devours fruit from the forests bringing down the profits of fruiterers in the royal market.” He summoned the Minister and commanded, Educate the bird!”

রাজা বললেন, “এরকম পাখির কোনও লাভ নেই। তবুও এটি বনের ফল খেয়ে ফেলে, যার ফলে রাজকীয় বাজারে ফলবিক্রেতাদের লাভ কমে যায়।” তিনি মন্ত্রীকে ডেকে আদেশ দিলেন, “পাখিটিকে শিক্ষিত করো!”

Word	Meaning	Synonym	Word	Meaning	Synonym
unlettered	অশিক্ষিত	illiterate	scripture	ধর্মগ্রন্থ	precept
lacked	অভাব	want	devours	গ্রাস করে	consume
royal	রাজকীয়	monarchal	summoned	তলব	invited
commanded	নির্দেশিত	ordered	fruiterers	ফলবিক্রেতা	Fruit-seller

The task of educating the bird fell on the King’s nephews, his sisters’ sons. The learned men of the court deliberated long.

পাখিটিকে শিক্ষিত করার দায়িত্ব পড়ে রাজার ভাগ্নে, তাঁর বোনের ছেলেদের উপর। রাজসভার পণ্ডিত ব্যক্তিরা দীর্ঘক্ষণ আলোচনা করলেন।

They pondered the reasons behind the ignorance of the creature in question. The conclusion: the bird’s nest made of straw and twigs could not hold much knowledge.

তারা প্রশ্নবিদ্ধ প্রাণীটির অজ্ঞতার কারণগুলি নিয়ে চিন্তা করলেন। উপসংহার: খড় এবং ডাল দিয়ে তৈরি পাখির বাসা খুব বেশি জ্ঞান ধারণ করতে পারে না।

Therefore, the first thing needed was a proper cage. The royal scholars received handsome fees and happily went home.

অতএব, প্রথম জিনিসটি ছিল একটি উপযুক্ত খাঁচা। রাজকীয় পণ্ডিতরা মোটা অঙ্কের পারিশ্রমিক পেয়ে খুশি মনে বাড়ি ফিরে গেলেন।

Word	Meaning	Synonym	Word	Meaning	Synonym
nephews	ভাতিজা	agnate	deliberated	ইচ্ছাকৃত	considered
pondered	চিন্তা করা	consider	ignorance	অজ্ঞতা	ignorance
straw	খড়	thatch	twigs	ডালপালা	branch
scholars	পণ্ডিত	egghead	goldsmith	স্বর্ণকার	hammersmith

A goldsmith set to work on a gilded cage. It turned out to be of such exquisite workmanship that people from far and near crowded round for a look. Some said, “This is education par excellence.” Others said, “Even if it learns nothing, it has got the cage. What a lucky bird.” The goldsmith was delighted to get a bagful of money as reward and went home at once.

একজন স্বর্ণকার একটি সোনালী খাঁচা তৈরির কাজ শুরু করলেন। এটি এতই সূক্ষ্ম কারিগরী ছিল যে, দূর-দূরান্ত থেকে মানুষ এটি দেখার জন্য ভিড় জমাচ্ছিল। কেউ কেউ বলল, “এটি শিক্ষার সেরা দিক।” অন্যরা বলল, “যদিও এটি কিছুই না শেখে, তবুও এটি খাঁচাটি পেয়েছে। কী ভাগ্যবান পাখি!” স্বর্ণকার পুরস্কার হিসেবে এক থলি ভর্তি টাকা পেয়ে খুশি হয়ে তৎক্ষণাৎ বাড়ি চলে গেল।

A teacher came to give lessons to the bird. He took a pinch of snuff and declared, “This isn’t a matter of just a few texts.”

One Of the royal nephews sent for scribes. They made multiple copies of various texts until there was a veritable mountain. “Bravo!” exclaimed those who saw it, “There is no room for any more knowledge,” The scribes loaded their wages onto bullocks and merrily headed home. They would never again want for anything.

একজন শিক্ষক পাখিটিকে শিক্ষা দিতে এলেন। তিনি এক চিমটি নস্যি নিলেন এবং ঘোষণা করলেন, “এটা কেবল কয়েকটি লেখার বিষয় নয়।”

রাজকীয় ভাগ্নেদের একজন লেখকদের ডেকে পাঠালেন। তারা বিভিন্ন লেখার একাধিক কপি তৈরি করলেন যতক্ষণ না একটি সত্যিকারের পাহাড় তৈরি হয়। “সাবাশ!” যারা এটি দেখেছিল তারা চিৎকার করে বলল, “আর কোন জ্ঞানের জায়গা নেই।” লেখকরা তাদের বেতন ষাঁড়ের উপর চাপিয়ে আনন্দের সাথে বাড়ি চলে গেল। তারা আর কখনও কিছু চাইবে না।

The nephews were constantly busy looking after the expensive cage. Repairs were always under way. Anyone who saw the endless dusting, wiping and polishing had to agree that there was “marked improvement”,

A large maintenance crew was needed, and more personnel to supervise them. They all got handsome monthly salaries, which they saved in their wooden chests. Even their cousins came to live with them in cushioned comfort.

ভাগ্নেরা সবসময় দামি খাঁচাটির দেখাশোনায় ব্যস্ত থাকত। মেরামতের কাজ সবসময় চলত। যারাই অবিরাম ধুলোবালি, মোছা এবং পালিশ করতে দেখেছেন, তাদের একমত হতে হয়েছে যে “উল্লেখযোগ্য উন্নতি” ঘটেছে।
একটি বিশাল রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ কর্মীর প্রয়োজন ছিল, এবং তাদের তত্ত্বাবধানের জন্য আরও কর্মীর প্রয়োজন ছিল। তারা সকলেই মাসিক ভালো বেতন পেতেন, যা তারা তাদের কাঠের বাক্সে জমাতেন। এমনকি তাদের চাচাতো ভাইবোনেরাও তাদের সাথে আরামে গদিতে থাকতেন।

Word	Meaning	Synonym	Word	Meaning	Synonym
gilded	সোনালি	golden	exquisite	লক্ষণীয়	delicate
crowded	জনাকীর্ণ	populous	excellence	শ্রেষ্ঠত্ব	nobility
pinch	চিমটি	tweak	snuff	নস্য	smother
scribes	লেখক	penman	veritable	সত্য	authentic
bullocks	বলদ	ox	headed	নেতৃত্বে	to lead
constantly	ক্রমাগত	incessantly	expensive	ব্যয়বহুল	dear
dusting	ঝাড়া	brushing	improvement	উন্নতি	development
maintenance	রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ	patronage	personnel	কর্মিবৃন্দ	army
supervise	তদারকি	oversee	cushioned	গদি	cocoon

The world is short of many things but not detractors. They said, “The cage looks better no doubt, but has anyone taken notice of the bird?” This was reported to the King. He said to a nephew, ‘What’s this I hear?” ‘Your Majesty,” replied the nephew, “If you wish to hear the truth, summon the goldsmiths, the scholars, the scribes, the maintenance crew and their supervisors. Those who haven’t got a share of the royal bounty are resorting to slander. Everything became clear to the King and he rewarded his nephew with a gold chain.

পৃথিবীতে অনেক কিছুর অভাব আছে কিন্তু নিন্দুকদের তো অভাব নেই। তারা বলল, “খাঁচাটা দেখতে নিঃসন্দেহে ভালো, কিন্তু কেউ কি পাখিটির দিকে নজর দিয়েছে?” রাজার কাছে এই খবর পৌঁছে গেল। তিনি তার ভাগ্নেকে বললেন, ‘এটা আমি কী শুনছি?’ ‘মহারাজ,’ ভাগ্নে উত্তর দিল, “আপনি যদি সত্য শুনতে চান, তাহলে স্বর্ণকার, পণ্ডিত, লেখক, রক্ষণাবেক্ষণকারী দল এবং তাদের তত্ত্বাবধায়কদের ডেকে পাঠান। যারা রাজকীয় দান থেকে অংশ পায়নি তারা অপবাদ দিচ্ছে। রাজার কাছে সবকিছু স্পষ্ট হয়ে গেল এবং তিনি তার ভাগ্নেকে একটি সোনার হার দিয়ে পুরস্কৃত করলেন।

The King wished to see for himself at what an awesome pace the bird’s schooling was going on. One day he turned up at the schoolroom with his friends, counselors and courtiers. At once the musicians at the gate snuck up on their many wind and percussion instruments. The teachers shook their sacred tufts of hair as they loudly chanted mantras, and all the workmen, labourers, goldsmiths, scribes and their numerous cousins raised slogans in praise of the King,

Word	Meaning	Synonym	Word	Meaning	Synonym
detractors	নিন্দাকারী	disparager	summon	তলব	provoke
bounty	অনুগ্রহ	charity	slander	অপবাদ	backbiter
awesome	দুর্দান্ত	terrific, horrific	courtiers	রাজসভাসদ্	henchman
snuck	চুপিসারে	creep, slink	percussion	সঙ্ঘাত	friction, collision
tufts	গুচ্ছ	cluster	numerous	অসংখ্য	plentiful

রাজা নিজেই দেখতে চেয়েছিলেন পাখিদের শিক্ষাদান কত ভয়াবহ গতিতে চলছে। একদিন তিনি তার বন্ধুবান্ধব, পরামর্শদাতা এবং সভাসদদের সাথে স্কুল কক্ষে এসে হাজির হলেন। সাথে সাথে গেটে থাকা সঙ্গীতশিল্পীরা তাদের অসংখ্য বাদ্যযন্ত্র এবং বাদ্যযন্ত্রের উপর আচ্ছন্ন হয়ে পড়লেন। শিক্ষকরা তাদের পবিত্র চুলের টুকরো নাড়িয়ে জোরে জোরে মন্ত্র উচ্চারণ করলেন, এবং সমস্ত শ্রমিক, শ্রমিক, স্বর্ণকার, লেখক এবং তাদের অসংখ্য আত্মীয়স্বজন রাজার প্রশংসায় স্লোগান দিলেন।

A nephew commented your majesty can see how things are going on. “Astonishing!” replied the King, “the din isn’t negligible.” “Not only the noise,” said the nephew. The meaning behind it isn’t negligible either.

The King was pleased and walked out of the gate to mount his elephant when one of the fault-finders, who had been lurking behind the bushes, shouted, ‘”Have you seen the bird, Your Majesty?”

The King was startled. He said, “There! I’d forgotten about it. We haven’t seen the bird.” He went back and said to the teacher, “we must see the manner in which you conduct the lessons.”

Word	Meaning	Synonym	Word	Meaning	Synonym
Astonishing	আশ্চর্যজনক	marvelous	Din	উচ্চ শব্দ	uproar
negligible	নগণ্য	trivial	fault-finders	ছিদ্রান্বেষী	cynic
lurking	লুকানো	loiter	behind the bushes	ঝোপ	0
startled	চমকে	flashed	conduct	আচরণ	behavior

এক ভাগ্নে মন্তব্য করলেন, মহারাজ, সবকিছু কেমন চলছে তা দেখতে পাচ্ছেন। “অবাক হও!” রাজা উত্তর দিলেন, “হট্টগোলটা তুচ্ছ নয়।” “শুধুমাত্র শব্দ নয়,” ভাগ্নে বললেন। এর পেছনের অর্থও তুচ্ছ নয়।

রাজা খুশি হয়ে হাতিতে চড়তে দরজা থেকে বেরিয়ে গেলেন, এমন সময় ঝোপের আড়ালে লুকিয়ে থাকা দোষ খুঁজে বের করার জন্য একজন লোক চিৎকার করে বলল, “মহারাজ, আপনি কি পাখিটি দেখেছেন?” রাজা চমকে উঠলেন। বললেন, “ওহ! আমি তো ভুলেই গিয়েছিলাম। আমরা পাখিটা দেখিনি।” তিনি ফিরে গিয়ে শিক্ষককে বললেন, “আপনি যেভাবে পাঠদান করেন তা আমাদের দেখতে হবে।”

A demonstration followed. It pleased the King no end. The manner was so advanced that the bird was hardly visible. It seemed not at all necessary to see the bird.

এরপর একটা দর্শণীর আয়োজন করা হল। রাজা এতে সীমাহীন খুশি হলেন। প্রদর্শণীর আয়োজন এতো জাঁকজমক পূর্ণ ছিল যে পাখিটি খুব একটা দেখা যাচ্ছিল না। সবাই পাখিটি দেখার কোনও প্রয়োজন ছিল না বলে মনে হল।

The King was satisfied that there was no flaw in the arrangements. Inside the cage there was neither any grain nor a drop of water. Only reams of texts were being torn and lite pieces of paper thrust into the bird’s mouth with the point of a quill.

রাজা সন্তুষ্ট হলেন এইটা দেখে যে পাখিটির শিক্ষাব্যবস্থায় কোনও ত্রুটি ছিল না। খাঁচার ভেতরে কোনও শস্যদানা বা এক ফোঁটা জলও ছিল না। কেবল লেখার টুকরোগুলো ছিঁড়ে ফেলা হচ্ছিল এবং ছোট্ট কাগজের টুকরোগুলো পাখির মুখে ঢুকিয়ে দেওয়া হচ্ছিল একটা পালকের কলম দিয়ে

Not only had the singing stopped, there wasn’t even scope for screeching. It was thrilling to watch.

This time, as the King mounted the elephant, he ordered the officer entrusted with twisting the ears of mischief-makers to deal with the fault-finder.

শুধু গানই থেমে ছিল না, চিৎকার করারও সুযোগ ছিল না। এটা দেখতে লোমহর্ষক ছিল।

এবার, রাজা হাতিতে চড়ার সময়, তিনি দুষ্টুদের কান মুচড়ানোর দায়িত্বে নিযুক্ত অফিসারকে ছিদ্রান্বেষী দের সাথে মোকাবিলা করার নির্দেশ দিলেন।

Word	Meaning	Synonym	Word	Meaning	Synonym
demonstration	প্রদর্শন	accomplishment	necessary	প্রয়োজনীয়	essential
arrangements	ব্যবস্থা	preparation	thrust	ঠেলা	push
quill	পালকের কলম	pike	screeching	চিৎকার	scream
thrilling	রোমাঞ্চকর	gruesome	entrusted	অর্পিত	bestowed
twisting	মোচড়ানো	crack	mischief-makers	কুকর্মকারী	criminal

Predictably, the bird weakened with every passing day, and lay half-dead. The tutors considered it a good sign. Still, out of innate bad habit it would look out at the morning light and flutter its wings in a reprehensible manner.

অনুমান করা যায়, পাখিটি দিন দিন দুর্বল হয়ে পড়েছিল এবং অর্ধমৃত অবস্থায় পড়ে ছিল। টিউটররা এটিকে একটি ভালো লক্ষণ বলে মনে করেছিলেন। তবুও, সহজাত বদঅভ্যাস থেকে সে সকালের আলোর দিকে তাকিয়ে অত্যন্ত খারাপ ভাবে ডানা নাড়ত।

In fact, on some days it would try to cut the wires of the cage with its feeble beak.

“What impudence!” the Inspector of Police commented.

Then the blacksmith arrived with his furnace, bellows and hammer and anvil.

আসলে, মাঝে মাঝে, এটি তার দুর্বল ঠোঁট দিয়ে খাঁচার তারগুলি কেটে ফেলার চেষ্টা করতো।

“কি বেহায়াপনা!” পুলিশ ইন্সপেক্টর মন্তব্য করলেন।

তারপর কামার তার চুল্লি, হাপর, হাতুড়ি ও নেহাই (যে লৌহখণ্ডের ওপর রেখে কামার কিছু পেটায়) নিয়ে এলো।

What thunderous hammering began then. A chain was fastened on the bird’s foot and its wings were trimmed.

কী প্রচণ্ড ভাবে হাতুড়ি দিয়ে পেতানো শুরু হল তখন। পাখিটির পায়ে একটি শিকল বেঁধে দেওয়া হয়েছিল এবং তার ডানা ছাঁটা হয়েছিল।

Word	Meaning	Synonym	Word	Meaning	Synonym
Predictably	প্রত্যাশিতভাবে	unsurprisingly	lay	শুইয়ে রাখা	hold
half-dead	অর্ধমৃত	almost dead	considered	বিবেচনা করা	deliberated
innate	সহজাত	inherent	flutter	ঝাপটানি	unrest
reprehensible	নিন্দনীয়	blameworthy	feeble	দুর্বল	faint
impudence	ঔদ্ধত্য	arrogance	furnace	হাপর	blower
bellows	হাপর	furnace	anvil	নেহাই	forge
thunderous	বজ্রধ্বনিপূর্ণ	sounding	hammering	আঘাত করা	strike
fastened	আবদ্ধ	affixed	trimmed	ছাঁটা	cropped

The King’s brothers-in-law looked greatly annoyed as they shook their heads and said, “It’s not just that the birds in this kingdom are stupid, they are also ungrateful.

রাজার শ্যালকরা খুব বিরক্ত দেখাচ্ছিল, মাথা নাড়তে নাড়তে বলল, “এই রাজ্যের পাখিরা কেবল বোকা নয়, তারা অকৃতজ্ঞও।”

“Then the teachers, armed with quill in one hand and lance in the other, gave a memorable demonstration of teaching.

“তারপর শিক্ষকরা, এক হাতে কলম এবং অন্য হাতে বর্শা নিয়ে, শিক্ষাদানের একটি স্মরণীয় প্রদর্শনী প্রদর্শন করেন।

The blacksmith’s trade flourished to such an extent that gold ornaments bedecked his wife’s body and the Police Inspector’s alertness earned him a medal.

কামারের ব্যবসা এতটাই সমৃদ্ধ হয়েছিল যে তার স্ত্রীর শরীর সোনার অলঙ্কারে সজ্জিত হয়েছিল এবং পুলিশ ইন্সপেক্টরের সতর্কতা তাকে একটি পদক এনে দিয়েছিল।

The bird died. When it died was not known. Thanks to the godforsaken detractors the rumour went round, “The bird is dead.”

পাখিটি মারা গেল। কখন মারা গেল তা জানা গেল না। ঈশ্বর ত্যাগী নিন্দুকদের কারণে গুজব ছড়িয়ে পড়ল, “পাখিটি মারা গেছে।”

The King called his nephew and said.” What is this I hear? “Your Majesty, the nephew replied, “the bird’s education has been completed.”

রাজা তার ভাগ্নেকে ডেকে বললেন, “এটা কী শুনছি?” “মহারাজ, ভাগ্নে উত্তর দিল, “পাখিটির শিক্ষা সম্পন্ন হয়েছে।”

The King asked, “Does it hop?””God forbid,” said the nephew.”Does it still fly?”

রাজা জিজ্ঞাসা করলেন, “এটা কি লাফিয়ে লাফিয়ে উড়ে?” “ঈশ্বর না করুন,” ভাগ্নে বলল। রাজা জিজ্ঞাসা করলেন, “এটা কি এখনও উড়ে?”

“No.” ভাগ্নে বলল- না

“Does it still Sing?”

“No.” ” ভাগ্নে বলল- না

“Does it screech if it isn’t fed? রাজা জিজ্ঞাসা করলেন, “খাওয়ানো না হলে কি চিৎকার করে?

“No.” ” ভাগ্নে বলল- না

“Bring it to me so that I can see it,” said the King. The bird came. Along with it came the Inspector, a guard, a cavalry officer.

“এটা আমার কাছে এনে দাও যাতে আমি এটা দেখতে পারি,” রাজা বললেন। পাখিটি এল। তার সাথে ইন্সপেক্টর, একজন প্রহরী, একজন অশ্বারোহী অফিসারও এল।

The King pressed the bird; it made no sound, not even a squeak. Only its stomach let out the rustling noise of dry pieces of paper.

রাজা পাখিটিকে চাপ দিলেন; পাখিটি কোন শব্দ করল না, এমনকি একটা চিৎকারও করল না। কেবল তার পেট থেকে শুকনো কাগজের টুকরোর খসখস শব্দ বের হল।

Outside, the green shoots of early spring sighed in the southerly breeze, filling the sky above the budding forest trees with wistful melancholy.

বাইরে, বসন্তের শুরুর সবুজ ডালপালা দক্ষিণা বাতাসে দীর্ঘশ্বাস ফেলছিল, উদীয়মান বনের গাছের উপরে আকাশকে বিষণ্ণ বিষণ্ণতায় ভরে দিচ্ছিল।

Word	Meaning	Synonym	Word	Meaning	Synonym
annoyed	বিরক্ত	vexed	ungrateful	অকৃতজ্ঞ	ingrate
memorable	স্মরণীয়	notable	demonstration	প্রদর্শন	accomplishment
flourished	সমৃদ্ধ	emerged	bedecked	শোভিত করা	decorated
godforsaken	অতীব জঘন্য	দেবতা-পরিত্যক্ত	detractors	নিন্দাকারী	সমালোচক
rumour	গুজব	gossip	hop	লাফানো	এক পায়ে লাফানো
screech	চিৎকার করা	তীক্ষ্ণ চিৎকার করা	cavalry	অশ্বারোহী	troop horse
squeak	চিঁ চিঁ শব্দ করা	yelp	stomach	পাকস্থলী	belly
wistful	বিষণ্ণ	worried	melancholy	হতাশ	gloomy

Questions and Answers: From Text

D. Read the following words/phrases taken from the story and write their contextual meanings in your own language in the blank spaces.

Word	Meaning	Word	Meaning
scriptures	ধর্মগ্রন্থ	educate the bird	পাখিকে শিক্ষিত করা
pinch of snuff	এক চিমটি নস্যি	veritable mountain	প্রকৃত পর্বত
maintenance crew	রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ দল	sacred tufts of hair	পবিত্র চুলের গুচ্ছ
hardly visible	খুব কমই দৃশ্যমান	mischief-maker	কুকর্মকারী
dusting, wiping and polishing	ঝাড়া, মোছা,মার্জন	marked improvement	উল্লেখযোগ্য উন্নতি
cushioned comfort	অতিরিক্ত আরাম	What is that I hear?	এটা কী শুনছি আমি?
furnaces bellows and hammer and anvil	হাপর, ভস্ত্রা, হাতুড়ি, নেহাই	hop	একপায়ে লাফান
green shoots of early spring	নববসন্তের দক্ষিণ হাওয়া	wistful melancholy	চরম / ভীষণ / বিষণ্ণতা

E. The following columns have some characters from the story. How would you like to portray them? Use the words in the box. You can also use your own words.

The King	Nephews	Teachers	Fault finders	Commoners (সাধারণ মানুষ)
likes flattery (চাটুকারিতা পছন্দ করে )	ambitious (উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষী)	clever (চতুর)	courageous (সাহসী)	over enthusiastic (অতি উৎসাহী)
unrealistic (অবাস্তব )	hypocritical (কপট)	theorist (তাত্ত্বিক)	honest (সৎ)	go with the flow (প্রবাহের সাথে চলা )
believes in hype (প্রচার বিশ্বাস করে)	dreamer (স্বপ্নদ্রষ্টা)		Brave (সাহসী)
stupid (বোকা)

F. Read the texts below defining three types of literary work and decide what type of work "The Parrot's Tale" is. words.

Satire: a genre of literature (and sometimes graphic and performing arts) in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, corporations, government, or society itself into improvement.

ব্যঙ্গ: সাহিত্যের একটি ধারা (এবং কখনও কখনও গ্রাফিক এবং পরিবেশন শিল্প) যেখানে পাপ, মূর্খতা, গালিগালাজ এবং ত্রুটিগুলিকে উপহাসের জন্য উপস্থাপন করা হয়, আদর্শভাবে ব্যক্তি, কর্পোরেশন, সরকার বা সমাজকে উন্নতির জন্য লজ্জা দেওয়ার উদ্দেশ্যে।

Read More: Satire is the use of different elements such as irony, sarcasm, humor and ridicule to criticize or mock the foolish behavior of others. Although the use of satire is often entertaining, it is also often used to bring attention to a particular subject and promote change.

Tragedy: a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character.

ট্র্যাজেডি: একটি নাটক যা মর্মান্তিক ঘটনা এবং একটি দুঃখজনক সমাপ্তি নিয়ে আলোচনা করে, বিশেষ করে মূল চরিত্রের পতন সম্পর্কিত।

Comedy: a kind of literary work that is amusing and satirical or humorous in tone. Generally it has a happy ending.

কমেডি: এক ধরণের সাহিত্যকর্ম যা মজাদার, ব্যঙ্গাত্মক বা হাস্যরসাত্মক। সাধারণত এর সমাপ্তি সুখকর হয়।

Comedy: a kind of literary work that is amusing and satirical or humorous in tone. Generally it has a happy ending.

G. Read the questions below and write short answers

Why did the King comment — “Such a bird is of no use?”

Answer: The King comment like this because, The Parrot devours fruit from the forests bringing down the profits of fruiterers in the royal market.”

2. What, according to the scholars, was the reason of the bird’s ignorance and what measures were taken to educate it?

Answer: According to the scholars, due to its poor, inadequate nest, which couldn’t contain knowledge and this was the reason of the bird’s ignorance .

To educate it, the scholars designed a suitable, large cage, and the bird was then bombarded with books and scriptures, stuffed into its body by the goldsmiths, a process that ultimately led to its tragic death.

3. How did people react to see the bird caged?

Answer: people reacted to the exquisitely crafted cage for the parrot with amazement and admiration, with some praising it as a “great endeavor for education” and others expressing envy for the bird’s “lucky” fate, leading to widespread interest and crowds gathering to see the beautiful cage.

4. Who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the parrot training?

Answer: the ultimate beneficiaries of the parrot’s “education” were the king’s corrupt Nephew officials, scholars, and workers who profited financially from the futile project while the parrot and true learning were neglected and eventually destroyed.

5. Who were the King’s real friends? How were they rewarded?

Answer: the king’s “friends” were the courtiers, nephews, and various craftsmen who were handsomely rewarded with money, titles, and possessions for carrying out the task of “educating” the parrot, even as the parrot was effectively killed by the process.

6. How does the story reflect on the theme of education?

Answer: criticizes a materialistic and control-based approach to education, showing how a system that focuses on tools and appearances over genuine understanding can destroy a being’s spirit. The story highlights that the King’s flawed education strategy, driven by his wealth and superficial desire for a “cultured” bird, resulted in the parrot’s intellectual death, demonstrating that forced or inappropriate methods lead to a lack of true learning and a loss of freedom.

7. Do you like the story? Why / Why not?

Answer: I like the story very much. “The Parrot’s Tale” is generally well-regarded as a satirical story by Rabindranath Tagore that criticizes flawed educational systems, highlighting how forced, unnatural learning methods can fail or even harm, as seen when the king’s well-intentioned yet misguided efforts to “educate” a parrot lead to its death. Readers often appreciate its allegorical nature, which prompts reflection on the importance of a natural environment and genuine needs for successful learning to occur.

MCQ Questions and Answers: From Text

1. Who was given the task of educating the bird?

2. What was the bird’s nest made of?

3. Who made the cage for the bird?

4. What did the bird’s cage symbolize?

5. How did the scribes contribute to the bird’s education?

6. What did the King think about the bird’s education after observing it?

a) It was progressing well
b) There were flaws in the arrangements
c) It was the best education ever
d) It was not progressing at all
Answer: b) )There were flaws in the arrangements

7. What did the King do when he found the bird weakened and barely alive?

a) Gave the bird food and water
b) Ordered the bird to be released
c) Ordered the bird's wings to be trimmed
d) Ignored the bird's condition
Answer: c) Ordered the bird's wings to be trimmed

8. What was the bird unable to do by the end of its education?

9. What was the public reaction after the bird died?

10. What noise did the bird make when it was presented to the King?

11. Why did the King order to educate the bird?

a) The bird was intelligent.
b) The bird lacked manners and was unlettered
c) The bird could fly too high.
d) The bird had excellent manners.
Answer: b) The bird lacked manners and was unlettered.

12. Who was given the responsibility of educating the bird?

13. What did the royal scholars conclude about the bird?

a) The bird was too wise.
b) The bird’s nest could not hold much knowledge.
c) The bird was too young to be educated.
d) The bird needed more food.
Answer: b) The bird’s nest could not hold much knowledge.

14. What was the first step taken to educate the bird?

15. What was the bird’s cage made of?

16. ‘Unlettered’ means:

17. ‘Devours’ means:

18. ‘Exquisite’ means:

19. ‘Veritable’ means:

20. ‘Handsome’ in the context of “handsome fees” means:

21. The bird in the story was described as —

22. What did the bird do instead of reading scriptures?

23. What sense did the bird lack?

24. Who declared that such birds were of no use?

25. What did the King complain the birds ate?

26. What suffered a deficit due to the bird?

27. Who did the King command to educate the bird?

28. Who was given the responsibility of educating the bird?

29. What did the scholars discuss about the bird?

30. Why did the scholars conclude the bird was foolish?

31. What did they decide to build for the bird?

32. Who was called to build the cage?

33. What was the cage like?

34. What did people rush to see?

35. What did some people say the cage represented?

36. Who received a bagful of rewards?

37. Who came to teach the bird?

38. What did the pundit say after taking snuff?

39. Who copied from books and made a mound?

40. What did people say when they saw the mound of copies?

41. Who got cartfuls of rewards?

42. Who supervised the cage maintenance?

43. What did the nephew supervise most?

44. What became frequent in the cage?

45. What did people admit about the cage maintenance?

46. Who were employed to maintain the cage?

47. Who supervised the workers?

48. What did the workers receive every month?

49. Who lived in luxury from the rewards?

50. What did the fault-finders complain about?

51. Whose ears did the King listen to about fault-finders?

52. What did the nephew call the fault-finders?

53. What gift did the King give the nephew?

54. What did the King want to see himself?

55. Who came with the King to the education center?

56. What instruments played when the King arrived?

57. What did the pundits chant?

58. Who greeted the King with uproar?

59. What did the King say about the sound?

60. What did the nephew say besides sound?

61. Who shouted from the bush?

62. What did the fault-finder ask the King?

63. What had the King forgotten to see?

64. What did the pundit do with the bird?

65. What was stuffed into the bird’s mouth?

66. What was missing in the cage?

67. What could the bird not do with its mouth full?

68. What punishment did the fault-finder receive?

69. How did the bird become half-dead?

70. What habit of the bird annoyed the administrators?

71. Who was summoned with hammer and chisels?

72. What was manufactured by the blacksmith?

73. What did they cut off the bird?

74. What did the King’s relatives call the birds?

75. Who came with pen in one hand and spear in another?

76. What did the pundits claim this was?

77. Who became well-to-do after cutting wings?

78. What did the blacksmith’s wife get?

79. What did the administrator gain?

80. What happened to the bird eventually?

81. Who spread the news of the bird’s death?

82. What did the nephew call the bird’s death?

83. What did the King ask if the bird still did?

84. What did the nephew say the bird no longer did?

85. What did the King demand to see?

86. Who accompanied the bird when brought in?

87. What sound came from the bird’s stomach?

88. What season was described outside?

89. What did the south wind and woods herald?

90. What filled the sky with sighs?

91. The story mainly satirises —

92. The cage symbolises —

93. The scholars were more interested in —

94. What was considered as improvement?

95. Who gained most wealth in the story?

96. The nephew cared for —

97. The King rewarded people based on —

98. The bird’s mouth was filled with —

99. Which expert punished fault-finders?

100. The scribes became rich because of —

101. The scribes became rich because of —

102. The story ends with the bird ‘s —

103. The nephew claimed death meant —

104. What was the main food given to the bird?

105. What important necessity was absent in the cage?

106. What action symbolises suppression of creativity?

107. Who represented critics of false education?

108. What natural image contrasts the bird’s death?

109. The King preferred —

110. What did supervisors collect every month?

111. The story highlights —

112. The bird symbolises —

113. Who said “Bravo! Learning is going to overflow”?

114. Who became rich for generations?

115. What did the King feel when he touched the bird?

116. What filled the sky at the end?

117. The moral of the story is —

WH questions based on the Parrot's Tale (with answers):

1.Who was the bird described as in the story?

Answer: The bird was described as utterly foolish. It sang songs but had no sense of etiquette.

2. What did the bird do instead of reading scriptures?

Answer: The bird sang songs, flew, and jumped instead of reading scriptures. It ignored learning completely.

3. Why did the King say the bird was of no use?

Answer: The King said the bird was of no use because it only ate fruits and did not contribute to the kingdom. He noted the royal fruit-market ran a deficit.

4. Who did the King command to educate the bird?

Answer: The King commanded his minister to educate the bird. The minister was responsible for carrying out the King’s order.

5. Who was given the responsibility of educating the bird?

Answer: The King’s nephew was given the responsibility of educating the bird. He was in charge of supervising all efforts.

6. What did the scholars discuss about the bird?

Answer: The scholars discussed why the bird was foolish. They tried to find the reason for its ignorance.

7. Why did the scholars conclude the bird was foolish?

Answer: The scholars concluded that the bird’s tiny nest could not hold much learning. Therefore, they considered the bird naturally limited.

8. What did the scholars decide to build for the bird first?

Answer: The scholars decided to build a good cage for the bird first. They thought this would allow proper education.

9. Who started building the cage for the bird?

Answer: The goldsmith started building the cage. He constructed it with great skill and beauty.

10. How did people react to the cage?

Answer: People rushed to see the cage in amazement. They admired its exquisite design.

11. What did some people say about the cage and education?

Answer: Some people said the cage represented education. Others said the bird was lucky to have such a cage regardless of learning.

12. Who received a bagful of rewards for making the cage?

Answer: The goldsmith received a bagful of rewards for building the cage. He left for home cheerfully.

13. Who came to teach the bird after the cage was ready?

Answer: The pundit came to teach the bird after the cage was ready. He was responsible for its formal education.

14. What did the pundit say about a few books?

Answer: The pundit said a few books would not be enough for the bird. He insisted on providing large amounts of learning material.

15. Who copied books to make a large mound for the bird?

Answer: The scribes copied books repeatedly to create an enormous mound for the bird. They ensured a huge volume of pages for study.

16. How did people react when they saw the mound of books?

Answer: People reacted by praising the effort, saying “Bravo! Learning is going to overflow.” They admired the scholars’ hard work.

17. Who got rewards for copying books?

Answer: The scribes got cartfuls of rewards for their work. They became wealthy and never faced poverty again.

18. What was the nephew busy with regarding the cage?

Answer: The nephew was busy overseeing the cage and its maintenance. He supervised repairs, cleaning, and polishing.

19. Why were repairs of the cage frequent?

Answer: Repairs were frequent because the cage required constant upkeep. Regular maintenance was needed to keep it in perfect condition.

20. Who were employed to maintain and supervise the cage?

Answer: Many laborers were employed to maintain the cage, and supervisors were employed to oversee them. They all received coins for their work.

21. What did the supervisors receive for their work?

Answer: Supervisors received a handful of coins every month. They filled their chests with wealth from their salary.

22. What did the fault-finders complain about?

Answer: Fault-finders complained that the bird was neglected. They argued the cage was improved, but no attention was given to the bird.

23. How did the nephew respond to the fault-finders’ complaints?

Answer: The nephew said the fault-finders were talking nonsense. He explained that those people could not manage practical work themselves.

24. What reward did the King give the nephew?

Answer: The King gave the nephew a gold necklace as a reward. This honored his management of the bird’s education.

25. Why did the King want to see the education himself?

Answer: The King wanted to see for himself how fast education was proceeding. He wished to observe the progress personally.

26. Who accompanied the King to the education center?

Answer: The King was accompanied by his friends, companions, and courtiers. They all went together to the education center.

27. What instruments played when the King arrived?

Answer: Bells, drums, harps, flutes, and other instruments played as the King arrived. A grand musical welcome was arranged.

28. What did the pundits do when the King came?

Answer: The pundits chanted hymns at the top of their voices. They performed loudly to show devotion and learning.

29. How did the repairmen and laborers greet the King?

Answer: Repairmen, laborers, goldsmith, scribes, and supervisors greeted the King with uproar. They all participated in the grand display.

30. What did the King say about the sound at the center?

Answer: The King said the sound was amazing. He acknowledged the impressive noise but did not notice the bird.

31. How did the nephew respond to the King’s comment on the sound?

Answer: The nephew explained that the display involved not just sound but also a non-trivial amount of money. He highlighted the financial aspect.

32. Who shouted from the bush asking about the bird?

Answer: A fault-finder shouted from the bush, asking if the King had looked at the bird. He reminded the King of the bird’s neglect.

33. What did the King realize when the fault-finder spoke?

Answer: The King realized he had forgotten to see the bird. He understood the focus had been on appearances, not the bird itself.

34. How was the bird being “educated” inside the cage?

Answer: The bird’s education involved stuffing torn pages from books into its mouth. It received no food or water and could not sing or cry.

35. What was missing in the cage for the bird’s survival?

Answer: Corn and water were missing in the cage. Only heaps of pages from books were provided for “education.”

36. Who was punished for criticizing the education system?

Answer: The ear-pulling expert punished the fault-finder. This was done to stop criticism of the elaborate display.

37. How did the bird become half-dead as days passed?

Answer: The bird became half-dead as a result of overfeeding with book pages. Its natural behavior was suppressed.

38. What behavior of the bird annoyed the administrators?

Answer: The bird flapping its wings in the morning annoyed the administrators. They viewed its attempts at freedom as audacious.

39. Who cut off the bird’s wings?

Answer: The blacksmith cut off the bird’s wings. He ensured the bird could no longer attempt to fly.

40. What did the pundits do after the wings were cut?

Answer: The pundits used pen and spear to complete the bird’s “education.” They claimed this finalized its learning process.

41. How did the blacksmith and his family benefit?

Answer: The blacksmith became well-to-do from his work. His family also benefited with gold and wealth.

42. Who received a title from the King?

Answer: The administrator received a title from the King. His alertness and participation were rewarded.

43. When did the bird die?

Answer: The bird died eventually, though no one knew exactly when. Its death marked the completion of the education process.

44. Who spread the news of the bird’s death?

Answer: The infamous fault-finder spread the news that the bird had died. This confirmed the end of the bird’s life.

45. How did the nephew describe the bird’s death?

Answer: The nephew told the King that the bird’s education was now complete. He implied death equaled the “completion” of learning.

46. Did the bird still jump or fly after the education?

Answer: The bird no longer jumped or flew after its education. It had become completely powerless.

47. What did the King want to see when the bird was brought in?

Answer: The King wanted to see the bird when it was brought in. He wished to observe the result of the education process.

48. What sound came from the bird’s stomach?

Answer: Only the sound of pages ruffling in the bird’s stomach was heard. The bird itself made no noise.

49. What season and natural setting were described outside at the end?

Answer: Outside, it was spring with gentle south wind and blossoming woods. Young green leaves filled the sky with a heavy sigh.

50. What is the implied lesson or moral of the story?

Answer: The implied moral of the story is that false education, focused on appearances and oppression, destroys natural life and learning. Real education nourishes growth, freedom, and knowledge.

Write a summary following the The Parrot’s Tale story.

“The Parrot’s Tale” by Rabindranath Tagore is a satirical story about a king who orders the education of a bird. The king’s ministers and officials focus on superficial tasks, such as building an elaborate golden cage and producing endless texts, rather than actually educating the bird. Despite appearances, the bird receives no real nourishment or meaningful education. Over time, the bird weakens and eventually dies, though the officials claim its “education” is complete. The story critiques how formal education, when focused on outward show and neglecting real learning, fails to nurture growth or understanding.