Chapter 4.6

Maharashtra Board Textbook Solutions for Standard Six

Chapter 4.8

Chapter 4.7 - The Sword in the Stone

Meanings:

  • ancient – very old
  • traitors – disloyal people
  • pillaging – plundering/looting
  • insecure – lack of confidence
  • assembled –  gathered
  • attempted – tried
  • foster child – a child raised by someone who is not its natural or adoptive parent
  • signified – shown by a sign
  • valiant – courageous and brave
  • excelled – to do extremely well
  • fencing – a sport wherein two people fight using swords
  • archery – a sport which uses bow to propel arrows
  • implied – meant indirectly
  • integrity – strong moral principles
  • intended – planned to
  • grip – something that grasps and holds 
  • hesitation – delay due to uncertainty
  • overwhelmed – to affect one’s emotion in a powerful manner
  • bewitching – delightful
  • entrusted – handed over
  • solemn – serious behaviour or attitude
  • forthwith – immediately
  • Archbishop – a bishop or priest of the highest rank
  • assembly – a group of people gathered at a place
  • anvil – a heavy block

Pointers

1. Read the passage. Underline the new words. Guess their meaning from the context. Verify it from a good dictionary.

Ans: Refer to the words and their meaning given at the beginning of the chapter.

2. Put the following events in chronological order.

(a) The sword in the stone appeared in the churchyard.
(b) Lord Uther died.
(c) Lord Uther drove the barbarians away.
(d) The Lords and knights began to fight for the kingdom.
(e) Sir Kay left his sword behind at home.
(f) Merlin announced that Arthur was the son of Lord Uther.
(g) Arthur brought the sword from the churchyard.
(h) Ancient Britain was invaded by wild barbarians.
(i) Many knights tried to pull the sword out of the stone.
(j) Arthur grew up in Sir Ector’s house.
(k) Merlin entrusted a baby to Sir Ector.

Ans:
(a) Ancient Britain was invaded by wild Barbarians.
(b) Lord Uther drove the Barbarians away.
(c) Merlin entrusted a baby to Sir Ector.
(d) Lord Arthur grew up in Sir Ector’s house.
(e) Lord Uther died.
(f) The Lords and Knights began to fight for the kingdom.
(g) The sword in the stone appeared in the churchyard.
(h) Many knights tried to pull the sword out of the stone.
(i) Sir Kay left his sword behind at home.
(j) Arthur brought the sword from the churchyard.
(k) Merlin announced that Arthur was the son of Lord Uther.

3. What do the following events/actions tell us about the characters? Discuss.

(a) The Archbishop announced that everyone was free to try his hand at the sword and called all the Lords to a Tournament.

Ans: The Archbishop is a bishop or priest of the highest rank. By giving a chance to all the lords to try their hand at the sword, he showed that he was fair and impartial. Through this act, he proved that he believed in giving everyone an equal chance. He acted responsibly in finding the rightful King of Britain.

(b) Arthur agreed to bring Sir Kay a sword at once.
Ans: Arthur wanted his brother to win the tournament. He was dutiful and wanted to do all he could to help him achieve success at the tournament. He was excited about the prospects of this brother’s victory.

(c) Sir Ector asked Sir Kay to show him whether he could draw the sword out of the stone.
Ans: Sir Ector was a man of integrity and honesty. He believed in always being truthful. These were the very lessons he had taught his sons too. Sir Ector insisted that Sir Kay show him whether he could draw the sword of the stone to ascertain whether his son’s claim was true.

(d) Sir Ector kneeled before Arthur.
Ans: Sir Ector did a splendid job of bringing up Arthur. But on realizing that he was the son of the good Lord Uther Pendragon he bowed down to authority with the devotion as Arthur was the King of Britain. This shows that he respected the king of the land though he had brought him up as his own son.

4. Write five words each –

(a) with the suffix
– less
Ans:
speechless
thankless
helpless
aimless
careless

– ly
Ans:
angrily
neatly
urgently
gently
silently

– ness
Ans:
lawlessness
anxiousness
brightness
carelessnes
farsightedness

(b) with the prefix
un –
Ans:
unsafe
uncomfortable
unaware
unknown
uncommon

in –
Ans:
insecure
insignificant
infamous
incomplete
inactive.

5. Visit a library : Read the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Ans: Students must do this on their own.