Chapter 1.6 - The Peacock and the Crane
The peacock boasted of having the most gorgeous tail, which shines in all colours of the rainbow, but that too has its own limitations.
The crane possessed colourless and dull feathers, but he was not affected by the peacock’s display of its colourful tail. He was fully aware of his inner potential and what he was capable of. Unlike the peacock, he could fly high above, among the clouds and stars, and witness the beauty of the earth in all its splendour.
Aware of his blessings, he could happily take the peacock’s criticism in stride.
Let us remember to develop our self-esteem and self-confidence by understanding that it is not how we look but what we are capable of that makes all the difference.
conceited : very proud, vain, arrogant
gorgeous : beautiful, magnificent, stunning
scoffed at : laughed at (the crane) rudely and scornfully
fine feathers don’t make fine birds : The saying ‘Fine feathers make fine birds!’ is used in a negative sense, to indicate that looks or flashy clothes may not be very important after all.
POINTERS
1. Read the following sentences carefully and choose the correct meaning.
(a) The Peacock had a gorgeous tail like no other bird.
(i) No other bird had a tail.
(ii) The Peacock’s tail was more beautiful than any other birds.
(iii) All birds had gorgeous tails.
Ans: Option (ii) – The Peacock’s tail was more beautiful than any other bird’s.
(b) Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.
(i) You cannot use feathers to make birds.
(ii) You can judge something by its outward beauty.
(iii) Something that looks beautiful may not really be useful.
Ans: Option (iii) – Something that looks beautiful may not really be useful.
2. Read the story aloud (or present it) in groups of three – the narrator, the peacock and the crane.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
3. Imagine you are the Crane. What actions and words of the Peacock would you not like? Write about it in short.
Ans: If I were the Crane, I would not like the arrogance of the Peacock. I would not like the way he scoffed at my feathers, calling them pale and colourless, while spreading and showing off his own tail. I also would not like the way he boasted about his own feathers, saying that they shone in the colours of the rainbow, and that he was dressed like a king.
4. Discuss what a friendly and good-natured peacock would say to a crane. Write his speech. (5-8 lines.)
Ans: Hello Crane! How are you? What a lucky bird you are! You can fly high in the sky among the clouds and stars. You can see the beauty of the earth in all its glory from above. As for me, even though my feathers are so beautiful and shine in all the colours of the rainbow, I cannot fly high. I have to live down here just like any other cock. Well, all of us have something beautiful or useful in us. We should be happy and grateful for this. Bye, Crane. Explore the world!
5. Find one more example which shows that a beautiful appearance is not enough.
Ans: We as individuals may have extremely beautiful appearance. But if we don’t have a heart to reach out and make a difference in the lives of others, how can we call ourselves beautiful? Inner beauty too is important.
6. List 5 adjectives and 5 nouns from the story.
Ans:
Adjectives – conceited, gorgeous, colourless, dull, own
Nouns – peacock, tail, bird, crane, day
7. Find five adjectives that end with (a) ‘-ful’ and (b) ‘-less’.
Then write the antonym of each.
Ans:
Adjectives with ‘ful’
(i) careful
Antonym – careless
(ii) beautiful
Antonym – ugly
(iii) cheerful
Antonym – grumpy
(iv) faithful
Antonym – unfaithful
(v) harmful
Antonym – harmless
Adjectives with ‘less’
(i) thoughtless
Antonym – thoughtful
(ii) colourless
Antonym – colourful
(iii) merciless
Antonym – merciful
(iv) useless
Antonym – useful
(v) hopeless
Antonym – hopeful
8. Start a collection of proverbs. A proverb is a short, well-known sentence or phrase that gives advice or tells you what is generally true. For example, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’ means ‘If one does something in time or immediately, it saves a lot of work later’. A proverb is also known as a saying. Here are some proverbs for your collection.
- Appearances can be deceptive.
- Do not judge by appearance; a rich heart may be under a poor coat.
- All that glitters is not gold.
- You can’t tell a book by its cover.
- Clothes do not make the man.
9. Visit a library : This story is a fable. Find two more fables. Share them with your friends.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.