Chapter 4.6 - Papa Panov’s Special Christmas
In Between the Lesson
Q1. In the little village, what shows that it is Christmas time?
Ans: The children were excited, and there were sounds of chatter and laughter in the houses. The sounds of happiness, the bright lights, and the smell of Christmas cooking showed that it was Christmas time in the little village.
Think and answer :
Q2. Did Papa Panov have a shop away from his home?
Ans: No, his shop and home were the same.
Q3. Did he live alone? Why?
Ans: Yes, he lived alone, because his wife and children were dead.
Q4. What do the ‘laughter wrinkles’ tell us?
Ans: The ‘laughter wrinkles’ tell us that Papa Panov was a happy and jolly person who laughed or smiled a lot.
Q5. What tells us that Papa Panov is a kind person?
Ans: After reading the Christmas story, Papa Panov thought that if Mary, Joseph, and Mary’s little baby had come to his house, he would have given them his bed and covered the baby with his quilt to keep it warm. This concern, even for the people in a story, tells us that he is a kind person.
When he saw the sweeper looking miserable and dirty on the cold Christmas morning, he felt sorry for him. He invited him into his house for hot coffee. This also shows his kindness.
Q6. Why is the small box dusty?
Ans: The small box contained a perfect pair of tiny leather shoes, probably kept as mementos, for they were the best shoes that Papa Panov had made. The box had been kept high up on a shelf, and he had probably forgotten about it. Therefore, it was dusty.
Q7. What thoughts did Papa Panov have before he fell asleep?
Ans: Papa Panov first thought that he had no gift to give baby Jesus. Then he thought that he could give baby Jesus the tiny leather shoes as a gift. They were the best shoes he had ever made.
Q8. Were they related to his dream?
Ans: Yes, they were related to his dream.
Q9. Did Papa Panov believe in his dream?
Ans: Yes, Papa Panov believed in his dream.
Q10. In what forms did Papa Panov imagine Jesus to visit him?
Ans: He wondered if Jesus would be a little baby, a grown man – a carpenter – or a great king when he came to visit him.
Q11. Have you ever noticed how some people have to work even on festivals? Who are they?
Ans: Some people who have to work even on festivals are sweepers, doctors, policemen, bus drivers and conductors, taxi drivers, shopkeepers selling essential products like milk and medicines, etc.
Q12. Why did Papa Panov give hot coffee to the sweeper?
Ans: The sweeper was looking miserable and dirty, for he had to work in the cold. misty morning, and that too on Christmas Day. Papa Panov felt sorry for him, so he gave him some hot coffee to keep out the cold.
Q13. Why did he tell the sweeper about his dream?
Ans: Papa Panov kept looking out of the window, for he did not want to miss his special visitor. The sweeper noticed this and asked if he was expecting someone. Therefore, Papa Panov told him about his dream.
Q14. Why did the sweeper smile?
Ans: The sweeper smiled because he was grateful to Papa Panov for giving him a bit of Christmas cheer, which he had never expected to have.
Q15. What does the way the girl walked suggest?
Ans: The way the girl walked suggests that she was extremely tired and very sad.
Q16. Guess the meaning of the following.
(i) “You both need a warm by the fire and a rest”.
Ans: You both need to sit near the fire and get warm and take some rest.
(ii) The young mother let him shepherd her indoors.
Ans: The young mother allowed him to guide her into the house.
Q17. Why did Papa Panov give the shoes to the baby though he had been keeping them for Jesus?
Ans: Papa Panov was a kind-hearted man. He saw that the baby’s feet were very cold, and she had no shoes. Her mother could not afford to buy her any. Therefore, he decided to give the shoes to the baby, even though he had been keeping them for Jesus.
Q18. How does the author show that Papa Panov was disappointed? What actions of Papa Panov suggest it?
Ans: After waiting for Jesus the whole day, Papa Panov finally walked back into his room and put up the shutters. Then he sat down wearily in his armchair. These actions suggest that he was disappointed.
Q19. How does the author describe Papa Panov’s happiness?
Ans: The author says that a great peace and happiness seemed to fill the room, overflowing Papa Panov’s heart. He wanted to burst out singing, laughing, and dancing with joy. These words describe his happiness.
POINTERS
1. Write the homophones (words which sound the same) of the following words in the story.
(1) no
Ans: know
(2) dear
Ans: deer
(3) here
Ans: hear
(4) went
Ans: vent
(5) pair
Ans: pear
(6) knew
Ans: new
(7) through
Ans: threw
(8) soul
Ans: sole
(9) whole
Ans: hole
2. Correct the following sentences and rewrite them.
(1) The best shoes that Papa Panov had made were a pair of lady’s shoes.
Ans: The best shoes that Papa Panov had made were a pair of baby’s shoes.
(2) Papa Panov gave hot soup to the sweeper, milk to the young mother and coffee to the beggars.
Ans: Papa Panov gave hot coffee to the sweeper, milk to the baby, and hot soup to the beggars.
(3) By afternoon, Papa Panov had stopped looking out for Jesus.
Ans: Papa Panov stopped looking for Jesus after dusk fell.
(4) Papa Panov saw the sweeper, the young mother and the beggars he had helped only once in the morning.
Ans: Papa Panov saw the sweeper, the young mother and her baby, and the beggars he had helped once again at night.
(5) Jesus had actually visited Papa Panov only once on Christmas Eve.
Ans: Jesus had visited Papa Panov many times on Christmas Day.
3. Write a character sketch of Papa Panov in your own words.
Ans: Papa Panov was an old village shoemaker. He lived alone after the deaths of his wife and children. He was a cheerful person who got a bit emotional at times. He was kind-hearted and generous, and he was willing to give people things that belonged to him. He was a little religious and simple enough to believe in his dream. He felt compassion for others when he saw them in difficulties and helped them out. When he realised the truth of his dream and the message he had received through it, he was very happy and content.
4. Write your own interpretation of the story.
Ans: The author wishes to tell us that instead of waiting to serve God, we should serve our fellow human beings, especially those who are in distress. He wishes to tell us that when we show compassion and help those who are in distress, we are actually serving God.
5. Do you know of similar stories in your mother tongue or in other languages? Narrate it in short.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
6. Gather more information about cold winters in Russia.
Ans: Winter in Russia is one of the worst in the world. The temperature gets very low and stays that way for days together. There are days of continuous snowfall, and the going gets tougher. But yet there are endless festival times that occur during the winter in Russia.
Temperatures fall below –10°C and remain so for most of the time. In some of the countries, it even falls below –50°C, like in Siberia. All in all, the winters in Russia are full of severe frosts, deep snow covers, and endless festival times.
7. Which season would you say is the hardest in your locality? What help would the poor and homeless people need in that season?
Ans: The hardest season in my area is summer. The poor and homeless would need a roof over their heads, clean drinking water, and some headwear to protect themselves from the blazing sun. They would also need fresh fruits, vegetables, and medicines to help them remain healthy.