Class 9 English - CBSE
Supplementary: Iswaran the Storyteller
Supplementary: Iswaran the Storyteller by R.K. Narayan is a delightful and humorous tale about a master storyteller named Iswaran and his gullible master, Mahendra. The chapter explores the art of storytelling, showing how Iswaran weaves suspense, horror, and imagination into everyday occurrences, making even mundane descriptions sound like thrilling adventures. For CBSE Class 9 board and school exams, this chapter matters because questions frequently test a student's understanding of character traits, Iswaran's unique narrative style, and the ironic twist at the end involving the alleged ghost.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Art of Exaggeration
Iswaran has a unique habit of adding dramatic flair and incredible details to even the simplest incidents to make them sound thrilling.
Influence of Tamil Thrillers
Iswaran's storytelling style is heavily inspired by popular Tamil thriller novels, which is why his tales are packed with suspense and surprise elements.
Gullibility of Mahendra
Mahendra is an easygoing junior supervisor who listens to Iswaran's wild stories with rapt attention, eventually falling prey to his own imagination regarding a ghost.
The Climax and Irony
The story ends on a humorous note when Mahendra, terrified by Iswaran's ghost tale, decides to resign, completely unaware that it was just another of Iswaran's made-up fictions.
Foley and Sound Effects
Iswaran uses body language, dramatic pauses, and vocal effects to bring his stories to life, capturing the absolute attention of his listener.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In CBSE Class 9 English exams, this chapter typically carries about 3 to 5 marks. Questions are usually in the form of short answer questions testing character sketches of Iswaran or Mahendra, and long answer questions based on the theme of storytelling and how Iswaran managed to convince Mahendra about the ghost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Mahendra decide to leave his job?
Mahendra decided to leave because he was terrified after believing that a female ghost holding a foetus appeared outside his window, a vision planted in his mind by Iswaran's scary tale.
How did Iswaran make his stories believable?
Iswaran used dramatic gestures, descriptive language, references to popular Tamil thrillers, and a lot of eye-catching details to make his unbelievable stories sound completely true.
What was Iswaran's role in Mahendra's household?
Iswaran was Mahendra's cook, but he also doubled as a loyal companion who washed clothes, chatted, and entertained Mahendra every night with his fascinating stories.
Learn Supplementary: Iswaran the Storyteller with Your AI Tutor
10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.
Lecture
Key Points
Interactive
Quiz
Flashcards