Summary of “The Photograph” (Class 8 English Lesson)
The story revolves around a young boy and his grandmother, offering a glimpse into the past through an old photograph. One summer afternoon, the boy finds a faded photograph of a young girl while rummaging through a box of old books and family belongings. He shows it to his grandmother, who reveals that the photograph was taken sixty years ago at her husband’s house. The girl in the photograph, with her lively smile and carefree posture, contrasts sharply with the boy’s elderly grandmother, who now knits a scarf under a mango tree. Despite the boy’s curiosity, his grandmother shares little about the girl, hinting at mischief in her youth. The mystery deepens with a pair of hands visible in the photograph, which the grandmother cannot identify, leaving both the boy and herself pondering over their origin. The story beautifully juxtaposes youth and old age, evoking nostalgia, mystery, and the passage of time. It highlights the importance of cherishing memories and the curiosity of childhood.
20 Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers
- Where was the grandmother sitting in the story?
a) In the living room
b) Under a mango tree
c) On the veranda
d) In the attic
Answer: b) Under a mango tree - What was the grandmother doing when the boy approached her?
a) Reading a book
b) Knitting a scarf
c) Sewing curtains
d) Watering plants
Answer: b) Knitting a scarf - What did the boy find in the box?
a) A diary
b) A photograph
c) A pair of glasses
d) A letter
Answer: b) A photograph - What did the boy first notice in the photograph?
a) A girl standing against a wall
b) A sunflower garden
c) A house in the background
d) A butterfly
Answer: a) A girl standing against a wall - How old was the photograph?
a) 40 years
b) 50 years
c) 60 years
d) 70 years
Answer: c) 60 years - What was the girl in the photograph wearing?
a) A short skirt
b) A long dress and bangles
c) A school uniform
d) A plain sari
Answer: b) A long dress and bangles - What did the boy think about knitting?
a) It was fun
b) It was disgraceful for a boy
c) It was an easy task
d) It was a skill everyone should learn
Answer: b) It was disgraceful for a boy - What settled on the grandmother’s knitting needle?
a) A bee
b) A dragonfly
c) A butterfly
d) A sunflower petal
Answer: c) A butterfly - What did the grandmother say about the hands in the photograph?
a) They were her brother’s hands
b) She did not remember whose they were
c) They were the gardener’s hands
d) They were her husband’s hands
Answer: b) She did not remember whose they were - What emotion did the grandmother display while looking at the photograph?
a) Amusement
b) Nostalgia
c) Anger
d) Fear
Answer: b) Nostalgia - Why did the boy admire the girl in the photograph?
a) Because of her smile and carefree pose
b) Because she was knitting
c) Because she was reading a book
d) Because she looked like his mother
Answer: a) Because of her smile and carefree pose - What season is described in the story?
a) Winter
b) Summer
c) Spring
d) Autumn
Answer: b) Summer - What were the flowers mentioned in the garden?
a) Roses
b) Sunflowers
c) Lilies
d) Daisies
Answer: b) Sunflowers - What did the boy do after finding the photograph?
a) Kept it to himself
b) Showed it to his grandmother
c) Threw it away
d) Placed it back in the box
Answer: b) Showed it to his grandmother - What was the grandmother’s reaction to the photograph?
a) She laughed out loud
b) She shook her head thoughtfully
c) She cried
d) She ignored it
Answer: b) She shook her head thoughtfully - What does the photograph symbolize in the story?
a) Mystery and mischief
b) The passage of time
c) Lost opportunities
d) A hidden treasure
Answer: b) The passage of time - What is the tone of the story?
a) Nostalgic
b) Humorous
c) Suspenseful
d) Critical
Answer: a) Nostalgic - Why did the grandmother refuse to share much about the photograph?
a) She had forgotten the details
b) She wanted to keep it a mystery
c) She was angry with the boy
d) She was distracted by her knitting
Answer: b) She wanted to keep it a mystery - What was the boy doing before he found the photograph?
a) Playing cricket
b) Eating lunch
c) Knitting with his grandmother
d) Climbing a tree
Answer: a) Playing cricket - How does the story end?
a) The grandmother reveals the identity of the hands
b) The boy puts the photograph back in the box
c) The grandmother continues knitting, lost in thought
d) The boy tears the photograph
Answer: c) The grandmother continues knitting, lost in thought
A. Tick (V) the correct answer and cross (x) the wrong one:
1. The grandmother set on the flower bed.
2. The boy was ten years old..
3. The grandmother was not very old.
4. She had grey hair.
5. The boy was interested to see a book with colourful pictures of birds and butterflies.
6. The small photograph was in the box.
7. The photograph was taken about 40 years ago.
8. She used to go swimming in a muddy pool.
9. A lemon-coloured butterfly settled on the nose of the grandmother.
10. There was the similarity between the photograph and the grandmother.
Ans. 1. X, 2.√, 3.X, 4.√, 5. √, 6. X, 7. X, 8. √.9. X, 10.X.
B. Answer the following questions :
1. What was the boy doing after taking his meal?
Ans. After taking his meal the boy was rummaging in a box of old books and family heirlooms that had just that day been brought out of the attic by his mother
2. How was the photograph ?
Ans. It was a faded picture, a little yellow foggy.
3. Who was in the photograph ?
Ans. There was a girl in the picture.
4. How can you say that the photograph was colourful ?
Ans. We can say that the photograph was colourful because it was little yellow foggy.