Class 9 English - HARYANA
Supplementary: The Lost Child
Supplementary: The Lost Child by Mulk Raj Anand is a poignant tale included in the Class 9 Haryana (BSEH) English curriculum. It tells the story of a small boy who visits a spring fair with his parents. Fascinated by the toys, balloons, sweets, and snake charmer, he gets distracted and ultimately gets lost in the crowd. Overcome with panic, he rejects all the worldly attractions he previously desired when a kind man tries to comfort him, realizing that his parents are more important than anything else. This chapter teaches students about unconditional parental love and emotional security.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Innocence of Childhood
The child is easily fascinated by simple pleasures at the fair like toys, balloons, and sweetmeats, highlighting the pure and naive nature of children.
Material Desires vs. Emotional Security
While the child craves various objects throughout the fair, the moment he is lost, all material things lose their value, proving that emotional attachment to parents surpasses material wealth.
Role of the Kind Man
The unidentified man represents empathy and humanity, trying every possible way to soothe the crying child by offering him the things he wanted earlier.
Theme of Alienation and Fear
The sudden realization of being separated from parents creates absolute panic, depicting how vulnerable children are without their guardians.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Haryana (BSEH) Class 9 English examinations, chapters from the supplementary reader carry around 5 to 8 marks. Common question types include short answer questions testing plot comprehension, extract-based questions, and long-answer questions focusing on the psychological shift and central theme of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the child lose interest in the things he wanted earlier?
Once he is lost and separated from his parents, his sense of security is gone. Panic overtakes him, and material things no longer matter without his parents.
What is the central message of The Lost Child?
The story conveys that parental love and presence are far more valuable and essential to a child than toys, sweets, or any other material possessions.
Who wrote The Lost Child and what style of writing is it?
It is written by Mulk Raj Anand, a renowned Indian English writer, and is written in a sensitive and descriptive narrative style.
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