Class 9 English - MAHARASHTRA
Prose: The Bond of Love
The Bond of Love by Kenneth Anderson is a touching prose piece from the Class 9 Maharashtra (MSBSHSE) English textbook. It narrates the author's affectionate relationship with a pet sloth bear named Bruno, whom he rescued and brought home. Later, Bruno is sent to a zoo for safety reasons, but the deep emotional bond between the bear and the author's wife remains unbreakable, leading to a joyful reunion. This chapter highlights empathy, the capability of animals to feel love and attachment, and the ethics of keeping wild animals as pets, making it a favorite for board exam comprehension and character analysis questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Unusual Pet Adoption
The author rescues an orphaned sloth bear cub by accident in a sugarcane field and gifts it to his wife, who names him Bruno.
Bruno's Playful and Intelligent Nature
Bruno grows into a friendly, mischievous pet who learns various tricks, eats almost anything, and shares a great rapport with the family's two dogs.
The Separation and Zoo Life
As Bruno grows larger, he poses a danger to others, forcing the family to send him away to the Mysore Zoo, where he becomes visibly depressed and weak.
The Power of Emotional Bond
Months later, the author and his wife visit the zoo; Bruno instantly recognizes them through his cage, displaying profound joy and sorrow upon separation again.
Reunion and Special Enclosure
Moved by Bruno's miserable condition, the author successfully petitions the zoo authorities to return Bruno, and a special island enclosure is built for him at their estate.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Maharashtra (MSBSHSE) Class 9 English paper, prose chapters typically contribute to the 10-15 marks range from textual passages. Common question types include factual comprehension, complex factual questions, appreciation of character traits, vocabulary-based questions, and personal response questions related to animal welfare.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Bruno come to live with the author's family?
Bruno was captured by the author and his companions in a sugarcane field when they were shooting wild pigs. The mother bear was shot, and the orphaned baby bear clung to the author, who then gifted it to his wife.
Why was Bruno sent away to the zoo?
As Bruno grew bigger, he became a hazard especially to the tenants' children and other pets, prompting the family to willingly donate him to the Mysore Zoo for safety.
How did Bruno react when he met the author's wife at the zoo?
Bruno immediately recognized her from a distance, stood on his head in delight, and wept bitterly when she petted him through the bars, refusing to eat out of grief until she spent hours with him.
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