Important Questions for Class 9 English (Moments)

Chapter 3 – Iswaran The Storyteller

1. Who was Mahendra, and what was his job?

Answer: Mahendra was a junior supervisor working for a firm that provided supervisors
at various construction sites like factories, bridges, and dams. His job was to oversee the
work at these sites.

2. How did Iswaran serve Mahendra?

Answer: Iswaran was Mahendra’s cook who took care of cooking, cleaning, washing, and
entertained Mahendra with his storytelling.

3. What was Iswaran’s special talent?

Answer: Iswaran had a talent for storytelling, making even ordinary incidents sound
thrilling and full of suspense.

4. What did Iswaran claim to have done to a mad elephant?

Answer: Iswaran claimed to have subdued a mad elephant by hitting its toenail using a
special technique he had learned from a Japanese martial art like karate or ju-jitsu.

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5. What did Mahendra see outside his window one night?

Answer: Mahendra saw a dark, ghostly figure clutching a bundle outside his window one
night, which terrified him.

6. How did Iswaran describe the mad elephant incident to Mahendra?

Answer: Iswaran described the mad elephant’s rampage through the town in great detail,
making the scene dramatic by explaining how the elephant broke fences, smashed stalls,
and terrorised the school. He then claimed that he, as a boy, grabbed a cane, confronted
the elephant, and subdued it by hitting its toenail with all his might. Iswaran’s storytelling
made the event sound exciting and heroic.

7. Why did Mahendra enjoy Iswaran’s stories despite their exaggerations?

Answer: Mahendra enjoyed Iswaran’s stories because of the way Iswaran told them. His
storytelling was full of suspense, drama, and vivid descriptions, which made even the
simplest incidents seem extraordinary. Mahendra found the stories entertaining and never
questioned their truthfulness.

8. What did Iswaran tell Mahendra about the factory area where they were staying?

Answer: Iswaran told Mahendra that the factory area where they were staying was once
a burial ground. He claimed to have seen human skulls lying around and even described
seeing a horrifying ghost of a woman with a shrivelled face and a foetus in her arms,
especially during full moons.

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9. How did Mahendra react when Iswaran told him about the ghost?

Answer: Mahendra dismissed Iswaran’s story about the ghost as nonsense. He sharply
told Iswaran that there were no such things as ghosts or spirits and suggested that Iswaran
get his digestive system or head checked. Despite this, Mahendra began feeling uneasy at
night after hearing the ghost story.

10. What did Mahendra do after seeing the ghostly figure outside his window?

Answer: After seeing the ghostly figure outside his window, Mahendra was terrified and
broke out in a cold sweat. The next morning, when Iswaran mentioned the ghost again,
Mahendra became so frightened that he decided to leave the place immediately and handed
in his resignation at work.

11. Describe Iswaran’s storytelling style and how it made his stories engaging for
Mahendra.

Answer: Iswaran had a unique and engaging storytelling style that made even ordinary
events sound dramatic and full of suspense. He would add detailed descriptions and use
gestures, such as arching his eyebrows and spreading his hands dramatically, to draw
attention to key moments in his stories. For example, when describing the uprooted tree,
Iswaran made it sound like a giant beast lying across the road. His ability to build suspense,
add surprise twists, and create vivid imagery kept Mahendra engaged and entertained.
Iswaran’s stories were often exaggerated or fantastical, but Mahendra enjoyed them for
their entertainment value and never questioned their truthfulness. Iswaran’s lively
narration provided Mahendra with a source of amusement and distraction, especially since
Mahendra lived in isolated and often desolate places due to his work.

12. What role did Iswaran play in Mahendra’s life, and how did his stories affect
Mahendra?

Answer: Iswaran played a significant role in Mahendra’s life, not only as his cook but
also as a companion and entertainer. He took care of all household duties like cooking,

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cleaning, and washing, making Mahendra’s life comfortable. Beyond that, Iswaran’s
stories provided Mahendra with amusement and entertainment, helping him pass the time
in the lonely, isolated places where he worked. However, Iswaran’s stories also had a
psychological impact on Mahendra, especially when Iswaran told him about ghosts and
spirits. Although Mahendra dismissed the ghost stories as nonsense, they planted seeds of
fear in his mind, causing him to feel uneasy at night. The stories eventually led Mahendra
to experience a terrifying moment when he thought he saw a ghostly figure outside his
window, which pushed him to leave the place in fear.

13. How did Iswaran’s description of the ghost affect Mahendra’s behaviour
afterwards?

Answer: Iswaran’s description of the ghost, which he claimed to have seen in the area,
left Mahendra feeling uneasy, despite his initial dismissiveness. Even though Mahendra
tried to rationalise that ghosts were just a figment of Iswaran’s imagination, he couldn’t
help but feel a sense of fear at night. After hearing Iswaran’s ghost story, Mahendra
developed a habit of looking out his window at night to check for any dark shapes or
movements. He became especially uncomfortable on full-moon nights, avoiding looking
outside altogether. The fear built up in Mahendra’s subconscious until one night, he
thought he saw the ghostly figure that Iswaran had described, which terrified him and
eventually led him to leave the place.

14. How does the story highlight the power of suggestion and imagination in creating
fear?

Answer: The story highlights the power of suggestion and imagination in creating fear by
showing how Iswaran’s vivid storytelling affects Mahendra. Initially, Mahendra is
sceptical about ghosts and dismisses Iswaran’s stories as nonsense. However, after hearing
the detailed and eerie descriptions of ghosts, Mahendra’s mind begins to play tricks on
him. Despite his rational mind telling him that ghosts don’t exist, the power of suggestion
plants a seed of fear in Mahendra’s imagination. This fear builds up over time, leading
Mahendra to imagine seeing a ghostly figure outside his window one night. The story

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shows how strong the influence of imagination and suggestion can be in creating fear,
even in those who don’t believe in the supernatural.

15. Why did Mahendra decide to leave the place after seeing the ghostly figure?

Answer: Mahendra decided to leave the place after seeing the ghostly figure because the
experience shook him to his core. Although he had previously dismissed Iswaran’s stories
about ghosts as foolish, the sight of the dark figure clutching a bundle outside his window
terrified him. He initially tried to rationalise the experience as a trick played by his mind,
but when Iswaran mentioned the ghost again the next morning, Mahendra’s fear
intensified. Unable to cope with the possibility of the place being haunted, Mahendra
handed in his resignation and decided to leave immediately. His decision to leave reflects
how deeply the experience affected him, despite his earlier scepticism.

16. Do you think Iswaran deliberately influenced Mahendra’s imagination with his
stories? Why or why not?

Answer: It is possible that Iswaran unintentionally influenced Mahendra’s imagination

with his stories. Iswaran had a talent for storytelling and loved to add drama and suspense
to his tales, which made them more captivating. He might not have deliberately tried to
scare Mahendra but, rather, was sharing stories that fascinated him. However, Iswaran’s
vivid descriptions of ghosts and supernatural occurrences planted seeds of doubt and fear
in Mahendra’s mind, leading to his eventual psychological unease. Iswaran likely enjoyed
entertaining Mahendra with his stories but did not foresee the long-term effects they would
have on Mahendra’s mental state.

17. What does the story suggest about the relationship between reality and
imagination?

Answer: The story suggests that the line between reality and imagination can blur,
especially when influenced by strong suggestions or vivid storytelling. In Mahendra’s
case, his rational mind rejected the idea of ghosts, but Iswaran’s vivid descriptions of

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supernatural events began to affect his subconscious. Mahendra’s imagination, fed by
Iswaran’s stories, eventually caused him to perceive something that may not have been
real — the ghostly figure outside his window. This shows how powerful the human
imagination can be in shaping perceptions of reality, especially when fear and suggestion
are involved.

18. How does Mahendra’s reaction to the ghost differ from his initial attitude towards
Iswaran’s stories?

Answer: Mahendra’s initial attitude towards Iswaran’s stories was one of amusement and
scepticism. He enjoyed listening to Iswaran’s tales but didn’t take them seriously,
especially the ghost stories, which he dismissed as pure imagination. However, after
seeing what he believed to be a ghostly figure outside his window, Mahendra’s reaction
changed dramatically. His scepticism gave way to fear, and he became convinced that the
place was haunted. The shift in his reaction highlights how fear can overcome logic,
especially when the imagination is strongly influenced by vivid stories.

19. How does the story use suspense and foreshadowing to build tension?

Answer: The story builds suspense and tension through Iswaran’s storytelling and the
gradual change in Mahendra’s behaviour. Iswaran’s stories about the burial ground and
the ghost foreshadow the later events, subtly preparing the reader for something eerie to
happen. Mahendra’s growing unease, his habit of looking out of the window at night, and
his avoidance of full-moon nights all contribute to the rising tension. The suspense peaks
when Mahendra hears the wailing sound and sees the dark figure outside his window,
leaving both him and the reader in a state of fear. The gradual build-up of these elements
effectively creates a sense of unease and suspense.

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20. What lesson can be drawn from Mahendra’s experience in the story?

Answer: One lesson that can be drawn from Mahendra’s experience is that the power of
suggestion and imagination can influence a person’s perceptions and emotions, even when
they don’t believe in something. Mahendra dismissed Iswaran’s ghost stories as nonsense,
yet his subconscious mind was affected by them, leading him to experience fear and
hallucinate the presence of a ghost. The story shows how fear can take hold of even the
most logical minds when the imagination is triggered, suggesting that our thoughts and
beliefs can significantly shape our reality.

21. How did Iswaran handle being left alone while Mahendra was at work?

Answer: Iswaran would tidy up the living quarters, wash clothes, have a bath, and then
read popular Tamil thrillers. After that, he would take a nap. He seemed to enjoy his own
company and was content with his daily routine, which included cooking and preparing
meals for Mahendra.

22. Why did Iswaran enjoy reading Tamil thrillers?

Answer: Iswaran enjoyed reading Tamil thrillers because they were full of imaginative
descriptions, suspense, and exciting narratives. These books influenced his own
storytelling style, and he often tried to incorporate similar elements of suspense and
surprise into the stories he told Mahendra.

23. Why did Mahendra admire the moonlit landscape before hearing Iswaran’s ghost
story?

Answer: Before hearing Iswaran’s ghost story, Mahendra admired the moonlit landscape
because it appeared serene and beautiful. The peacefulness of the scene, with its white
glow and distant lights, gave him a sense of tranquillity. However, after Iswaran’s story,
Mahendra became uneasy and stopped enjoying the view, fearing the presence of ghosts.

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24. What impact did Iswaran’s storytelling have on Mahendra’s peace of mind?

Answer: Iswaran’s storytelling, particularly his tales of ghosts and supernatural

occurrences, disrupted Mahendra’s peace of mind. Although Mahendra initially dismissed
the stories, they triggered fear and anxiety in his subconscious. Over time, Mahendra
became increasingly uneasy, especially at night, and this fear culminated in his experience
of seeing a ghostly figure, leading him to leave the place.

25. Why did Mahendra decide to resign after his encounter with the ghost?

Answer: Mahendra decided to resign and leave the place after his encounter with the ghost
because the fear of the supernatural overwhelmed him. Despite his initial scepticism, the
sight of the dark figure clutching a bundle terrified him, and he could no longer stay in the
area. His fear was so intense that he handed in his papers and planned to leave
immediately, unable to cope with the thought of living in a supposedly haunted place.

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