Class 9 English - WEST-BENGAL

Prose: The Bond of Love

The Bond of Love by Kenneth Anderson is a touching prose piece prescribed for Class 9 students under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). It narrates the emotional bond between the author's wife and a sloth bear named Bruno, whom they rescued and later had to send away to a zoo due to his growing size. This chapter emphasizes empathy, animal affection, and the deep emotional connections possible between humans and wildlife. For board exams, questions usually focus on character behavior, the emotional core of the story, and specific plot events.

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Key Concepts

Rescue of Bruno

The author accidentally captures a sloth bear cub in the sugarcane fields of Mysore, which later becomes a beloved household pet named Bruno.

Bruno's Mischievous Nature

Bruno grows up into a playful and affectionate animal who drinks milk from a bottle, eats various foods, and drinks old engine oil out of mischief.

The Separation

As Bruno grows larger and poses a danger to others, especially tenants' children, he is voluntarily sent away to the zoo in Mysore with a heavy heart.

The Reunion

The author's wife misses Bruno terribly and visits him at the zoo after three months, where Bruno immediately recognizes her and demonstrates immense joy.

Reconstruction of the Island

Moved by Bruno's miserable condition and love, the family builds a special island enclosure for him at their home, bringing him back permanently.

Important Formulas

Definition of Sloth Bear: A nocturnal insectivorous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent.
Central Theme: Empathy, unconditional love, and compassion towards animals.
Literary Device: First-person narrative style showing real-life wildlife encounters.

Board Exam Info

In the WBBSE Class 9 English annual examination, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 10 marks. Common question types include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short-answer type questions (SAQs) regarding plot details, and descriptive long-answer questions about the emotional bond between Bruno and the author's wife.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Bruno come to live with the author?

Bruno was rescued by the author and his companions from the sugarcane fields of Mysore after they shot his mother.

Why was Bruno sent away to the zoo?

Bruno grew up to become a large bear and became a potential danger to the children of the author's tenants, prompting his transfer to the Mysore zoo.

How did the author's wife react when she met Bruno at the zoo?

She was deeply moved, wept for hours, and fed him treats while Bruno showed immense happiness and wept like a child upon seeing her.

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