Class 9 English - ICSE
Prose: The Boy who Broke the Bank
The Boy who Broke the Bank by Ruskin Bond is a humorous and engaging short story set in a small fictional town named Pipalnagar. The narrative revolves around Nathu, a sweeper boy working at the Pipalnagar Bank, who complains to a bystander about not receiving his salary for months. This casual remark is misinterpreted and exaggerated as it passes from one person to another, ultimately causing a comical panic that leads to a run on the bank and its eventual collapse. For ICSE board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, understanding irony and satire, and analyzing character motivations.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Power of Rumors and Gossip
The story highlights how minor, innocent remarks are exaggerated and distorted when passed through a chain of people, showing the destructive nature of idle gossip.
Irony and Satire
Ruskin Bond uses gentle satire to mock human psychology, showing how easily panic spreads in a small community over completely baseless fears.
Characterization of Nathu
Nathu is portrayed as a simple, hardworking sweeper boy whose only concern is getting his delayed wages, completely unaware of the chaos his complaint triggers.
Characterization of Sitaram
Sitaram, the washerman's son, acts as the primary catalyst who inadvertently starts the chain of miscommunication by passing Nathu's words to the barber.
Theme of Panic and Mob Mentality
The chapter demonstrates how people blindly believe rumors without verification, leading to irrational behavior like the depositors rushing to withdraw their money.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Class 9 ICSE English Literature paper, this chapter typically carries around 5 to 10 marks. Questions usually include reference to context (RTC) extracts testing specific dialogue meanings, short answer questions on plot progression and character traits, and longer paragraph-based questions analyzing the theme of rumor-mongering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually caused the bank to collapse?
The bank did not collapse due to a lack of funds or bankruptcy, but rather due to a panic caused by a false rumor that the bank had gone bankrupt, leading all customers to withdraw their money simultaneously.
Did Nathu intentionally start the rumor about the bank?
No, Nathu was simply venting his frustration to Sitaram about not receiving his salary for two months and had no idea his complaint would be blown out of proportion.
What is the moral of the story 'The Boy who Broke the Bank'?
The story teaches us not to believe or spread rumors without verifying facts, as unverified gossip can cause widespread panic and unnecessary harm.
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