Class 9 English - WEST-BENGAL
Supplementary: In the Kingdom of Fools
In the Kingdom of Fools is an interesting folk tale from Kannada included in the WBBSE Class 9 English supplementary curriculum. The story revolves around a foolish king and his idiot minister who turn night into day and day into night, ordering everyone to sleep during the day and work at night. The narrative takes a humorous turn when a wise guru and his disciple arrive in the kingdom. Through witty situations, the chapter teaches an important moral lesson about how foolish people and their unpredictable, illogical decisions can ultimately lead to their own destruction, and why wisdom is essential.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Upside-Down Kingdom
A kingdom ruled by a foolish king and a silly minister who reversed day and night, making it a crime to work during the day.
Cheap and Deadly Temptation
Everything in the kingdom cost the same single duddu (a copper coin), which tempted the foolish disciple to stay behind despite his guru's warning.
The Chain of Blame
A comical trial where the king tries to execute the thief, then the wall-builder, the dancing girl, the goldsmith, and finally the merchant's dead father in a ridiculous search for justice.
The Guru's Wisdom
The wise guru returns just in time and uses a clever trick of reverse psychology to save his foolish disciple from being executed.
The Foolish Execution
The king and minister foolishly decide to execute themselves, believing that dying first will make them monarchs in their next rebirth, thus freeing the kingdom.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) Class 9 English exams, this chapter typically carries about 5 to 8 marks. Questions usually include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short answer type questions (SAQs) focusing on the chain of blame, and descriptive questions about the guru's clever trick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the guru and disciple decide to leave the kingdom initially?
The guru realized it was a kingdom of fools and it was unsafe to stay there, as foolish people can be unpredictable and dangerous.
Why did the disciple stay back in the kingdom?
The disciple stayed back because everything in the kingdom cost just one duddu, making food extremely cheap and abundant, which tempted his greed.
How did the guru save his disciple's life?
The guru tricked the king by saying that the stake was holy and whoever died on it first would be reborn as the king of that country in the next life, making the foolish king execute himself and his minister.
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