Class 9 English - BIHAR
Supplementary: In the Kingdom of Fools
In the Kingdom of Fools is an interesting folk tale from the Kannada collection collected by A.K. Ramanujan. It describes a strange kingdom where the foolish king and his silly minister turned night into day and reversed all logical rules of life. The story follows a wise guru and his foolish disciple who wander into this city, leading to a humorous and unexpected climax where the king and minister themselves have to face execution. For Bihar Board (BSEB) Class 9 students, this chapter is important for testing narrative comprehension, moral lessons, and English literature marks in examinations.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Absurd Laws
The king and minister in the kingdom ordered everyone to work at night and sleep during the day, treating day as night and night as day.
Cheap and Uniform Prices
Everything in the market, whether a measure of rice or a bunch of bananas, cost the same single duddu (a copper coin).
The Foolish Disciple
Attracted by cheap and abundant food, the greedy disciple stayed back in the kingdom despite his guru's warning and got trapped in a legal dispute.
Flawed Justice System
The kingdom's trial of the crime shifts blame illogically from a thief to a merchant, a bricklayer, a dancing girl, and finally the goldsmith.
Wisdom Saves the Day
The clever guru uses his wisdom to trick the foolish king into executing himself and his minister, saving his disciple's life.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Class 9 English exam, this chapter regularly features in supplementary reading assessments. It typically carries around 5 to 8 marks, appearing as multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short-answer questions testing character motives, and long-answer questions based on the moral of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the guru and disciple decide to leave the kingdom?
The guru realized it was a kingdom of fools and it was unsafe to stay there, though the disciple chose to stay because everything was extremely cheap.
How did the guru manage to save his disciple's life?
The guru tricked the foolish king by telling him that the stake was the stake of justice and whoever died first would be reborn as the king in the next life.
What is the main moral of the story?
The story teaches us that foolish people and bad governance are dangerous, and wisdom, presence of mind, and intelligence can save us from trouble.
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