Class 9 English - MP
Supplementary: In the Kingdom of Fools
In the Kingdom of Fools is an interesting folk tale adapted from Kannada folklore, included in the MPBSE Class 9 English supplementary reader (Moments). The story revolves around a foolish king and his equally foolish minister who decided to change night into day and day into night, punishing the innocent instead of the guilty. This chapter matters greatly for board exams as it tests reading comprehension, narrative analysis, and moral reasoning. Questions often focus on the absurd rules of the kingdom, the wise guru's clever decision to save his disciple, and the ultimate downfall of the foolish rulers.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Absurd Governance
The foolish king and minister order everyone to sleep during the day and work at night, making both humans and cattle follow this unnatural routine.
Cheap and Uniform Pricing
In this kingdom, everything costs a single duddu (a small coin), whether it is a measure of rice or a bunch of bananas.
The Chain of Blame
A comical trial takes place where the merchant, bricklayer, dancing girl, and goldsmith successively pass the blame for a wall collapsing onto each other.
The Guru's Wisdom
The guru realizes it is a kingdom of fools and advises his disciple to leave immediately, knowing that staying there poses a danger to their lives.
Poetic Justice
The king and his minister foolishly decide to execute themselves on the stake, believing the first one to die will be reborn as a mighty king, thus ending their own tyranny.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Madhya Pradesh Board (MPBSE) Class 9 English examinations, this chapter typically carries around 3 to 5 marks. Questions commonly include short answer questions about why the guru and disciple were arrested, long-answer questions analyzing the character traits of the foolish king, and extracts for reading comprehension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the guru and disciple find the kingdom strange?
They found it strange because everyone, including animals, was asleep during the day, and everything in the market cost just one duddu.
Why did the disciple refuse to leave the kingdom?
The disciple refused to leave because everything was extremely cheap, and he wanted to stay back and enjoy cheap, good food.
How did the guru save his disciple's life?
The guru tricked the foolish king by saying that the stake was the stake of the god of justice and whoever died on it first would be reborn as the king of that country in the next birth. The king fell into the trap and executed himself and his minister.
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