Summary of Harold our hornbill
The story “Harold and the Hornbill” is written by Ruskin Bond. He tells the tale of a young hornbill named Harold who was born in a tree hollow to his careful mother and easygoing father. The story, Harold our Hornbill follows Harold’s early life as he grows up in the confined nursery of the tree. Eventually, an unexpected encounter with a civet cat forces Harold to fall out of his nest and into the hands of humans, specifically the author’s grandfather. Harold’s life takes a turn as he is cared for by the author’s family, and they provide him with food and shelter.
Harold is portrayed as an amiable and friendly hornbill who develops a special bond with the author’s family. He is seen as an endearing character despite his less-than-beautiful appearance. Harold also displays a sense of vanity as he uses a gland to apply a yellow fluid on his feathers, akin to makeup. He enjoys various types of food, plays catch with rice balls, and even learns to catch a tennis ball thrown from a distance.
The story, Harold our Hornbill highlights Harold’s love for rain, his excited behavior during storms, and the joy he brings to the author’s family as they share in his delight. The tale of Harold our Hornbill concludes with a heartfelt note, expressing the author’s fond memories of Harold and the hope that he is enjoying a blissful existence in a hornbill’s version of heaven.
In summary, “Harold and the Hornbill” is a heartwarming story about the unique bond between a hornbill and a human family, filled with moments of affection, playfulness, and the beauty of the natural world.
Theme of Harold our hornbill
The theme of the story “Harold and the Hornbill” is the special bond between humans and animals. It shows how unexpected events can lead to unlikely friendships. Harold, the hornbill, goes from being a wild bird to a beloved member of the author’s family. This highlights the idea that compassion and care can bridge the gap between different species.
The story also touches on the theme of appreciating the simple joys of life. Harold finds happiness in rain, food, and play, and the author’s family shares in that joy. This theme reminds us to find pleasure in the little things and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Additionally, the story underscores the idea that even those who might not fit traditional standards of beauty or appearance can be incredibly endearing. Harold may not be a Hollywood beauty, but his friendly personality and quirks make him a cherished part of the family.
Overall, the story celebrates love, friendship, and finding happiness in unexpected places, even in the company of a hornbill.
Message from Harold our hornbill
The message of “Harold and the Hornbill” is about kindness, friendship, and finding joy in unexpected places. It teaches us that by showing compassion and care, we can form strong bonds with others, even if they are very different from us, like a wild bird becoming a part of a human family. The story also reminds us to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, like the beauty of nature and the happiness that can come from rain, food, and play. Finally, it conveys the idea that it’s not just a person’s appearance that matters, but their character and personality that can make them truly lovable and special.
COMPREHENSION (Harold our hornbill)
A. Tick the most appropriate options.
1. Harold’s nest was inside
a. the earth. b. a wall.
c. a tree. d. a stick.
2. When the author says that “In his naked boyhood Harold was no beauty”, he means
a. Harold was never beautiful. c. Harold was always naked.
b. as a baby Harold was not beautiful. d. Harold’s boy was not beautiful.
3. ‘As he grew bigger, the room became more cramped’: Who does ‘he’ refer to?
a. Harold’s father c. Harold
b. the author d. author’s grandfather
4. One day Harold was attacked by
a. his father. c. his mother.
b. the narrator. d. a civet cat.
5. The narrator and his grandfather took over the duties of a parent because
a. Harold’s parents had died. b. Harold’s parents had left.
c. Harold had fallen out of his nest and had been rescued by them.
d. Harold’s parents were not feeding him enough in the nest.
6. The enclosure in the verandah was not required after a while because
a. Harold made no effort to go away. c. Harold hated it.
b. Harold’s parents took him away. d. Harold had flown away.
7. Tick the words that describe Harold.
a. friendly
b. alarming
c. yellow
d. loud
e. nervous
f. good natured
g. stingy
h. hungry
Answer
1. c. a tree.
2. b. as a baby Harold was not beautiful.
3. c. Harold
4. d. a civet cat.
5. c. Harold had fallen out of his nest and had been rescued by them.
6. a. Harold made no effort to go away.
7. a. friendly
c. yellow
d. loud
f. good natured
h. hungry
B. Answer these questions.(Harold our hornbill)
1. ‘One afternoon he was awakened from his siesta by a loud thumping on the wall, a sound quite different from that made by his parents.
a. Who was awakened?
c. Describe the one who awakened him.
b. Who had disturbed him?
2. ‘He was willing even to share his food with us.’
a. Who was willing to share his food and with whom?
b. What food did the narrator share with him?
3. Which habit of Harold irritated Aunt Ruby?
4. How did Harold improve his appearance periodically?
Answer
1. a. Harold was awakened.
c. The one who awakened him was a civet cat, described as “something large and yellow and furry.”
b. The disturbance was caused by the civet cat.
2. a. Harold was willing to share his food with the narrator and the narrator’s grandfather.
b. The narrator and the grandfather shared various foods with Harold, including bananas, dates, and balls of boiled rice.
3. The habit of Harold that irritated Aunt Ruby was his chuckling and laughter before rain, as she often got caught in the rain.
4. Harold improved his appearance by using a gland near the roots of his tail feathers that produced a yellow fluid. He would dip into this gland and rub the color over his feathers and the back of his neck, which made him look better.
C. Think and write.(Harold our hornbill)
1. Do you think Harold’s physical appearance was important to the narrator and his family?
2. Many years later what does the narrator wish for Harold and why?
Answer
1. No, Harold’s physical appearance wasn’t important to the narrator and his family. They loved him for his friendly personality and the joy he brought into their lives.
2. Many years later, the narrator wishes for Harold to have plenty of summer showers and tennis balls in his version of heaven. This is because the narrator still misses Harold’s presence and wants him to be happy and content in the afterlife, just as he was during his time with the family.