1.2. Androcles and the Lion - My English Book - Std 8 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board

Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय

मराठी टीप: हा पाठ शालेय परीक्षेत येतो. हे पाठ्यपुस्तक इयत्ता ८ वी साठी आहे — MSBSHSE च्या मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार तयार केलेले.

About the Author / लेखक परिचय

This chapter is a classic folk tale from ancient times. It tells the famous story of a slave named Androcles and a wild lion. The story teaches us a beautiful lesson about kindness, gratitude, and true friendship, showing that even wild animals remember good deeds.  

मराठी टीप: ही एक प्राचीन आणि प्रसिद्ध कथा आहे. यातून आपण शिकतो की प्राणीदेखील त्यांच्यावर केलेल्या प्रेमाची आणि दयेची परतफेड करतात.

Summary / सारांश

Long ago, a kind slave named Androcles escaped from his cruel master and hid in a forest. There, he found a lion in great pain and bravely removed a big thorn from its wounded paw. He lived with the lion until it healed. Later, both were captured by soldiers, and Androcles was thrown into an arena with a hungry, ferocious lion as a punishment. However, the lion recognized Androcles as his friend and rubbed its nose against him instead of attacking. The emperor saw this beautiful friendship and set both of them free.  

मराठी सारांश: अँड्रोक्लेस नावाचा एक गुलाम आपल्या क्रूर मालकापासून पळून जंगलात लपतो. तिथे तो एका सिंहाच्या पायातील काटा काढून त्याची मदत करतो. नंतर सैनिक दोघांनाही पकडतात आणि अँड्रोक्लेसला शिक्षा म्हणून भुकेल्या सिंहापुढे सोडले जाते. पण सिंह त्याला ओळखतो आणि न मारता प्रेम दाखवतो. हे पाहून सम्राट दोघांनाही मुक्त करतो.

Characters / पात्रे

Androcles: He was a kind, gentle, and courteous man who lived as a slave. He was incredibly brave because he summoned up the courage to help a wild, injured lion in the forest. He showed selflessness by asking the emperor to free the lion instead of asking for a reward for himself.  

मराठी टीप: अँड्रोक्लेस अतिशय दयाळू, विनम्र आणि धाडसी होता. त्याने स्वतःच्या जीवाची पर्वा न करता सिंहाची मदत केली.

The Lion: A wild beast of the forest who was in great pain due to a thorn in its paw. It understood Androcles's good intentions and did not attack him. It proved to be a loyal friend by remembering Androcles in the arena and refusing to harm him, even when it was kept hungry.  

मराठी टीप: हा सिंह अत्यंत कृतज्ञ होता. अँड्रोक्लेसने केलेली मदत तो विसरला नाही आणि भुकेला असूनही त्याने मित्राला इजा केली नाही.

Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये

Theme Table / विषय सारणी

Values / मूल्ये

• Compassion (करुणा): Androcles shows compassion by feeling the lion's pain and deciding to help it instead of running away.  

• Courage (धाडस): Androcles shows courage when he touches the swollen paw of a wild beast.  

Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश

The main message of this story is that kindness is never wasted. If we show love and compassion to others, even wild animals will respond with gratitude and friendship.  

मराठी टीप: आपण इतरांना केलेली मदत कधीही वाया जात नाही. प्राण्यांवरही प्रेम केल्यास ते कृतज्ञ राहतात.

Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह

Practice Questions / सराव प्रश्न

The questions for Types 1 to 6 are based on this extract from the chapter: "Androcles paused. Then he moved very cautiously towards the lion... the lion seemed to understand his good intention."

TYPE 1 — True/False (1M each)

1. State True or False: 'Androcles ran away quickly when he saw the lion's paw.'

   Answer: False

   
   

2. State True or False: 'A big thorn had pierced one of the lion's toes.'

   Answer: True  

   
   

3. State True or False: 'Androcles was not afraid of the lion at all.'

   Answer: False

   
   

4. State True or False: 'The lion lowered its head and began to lick its paw.' Answer: True  

   
   

5. State True or False: 'The lion understood that Androcles wanted to help.' Answer: True  

मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील/कवितेतील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.

TYPE 2 — Choose the Correct Alternative (1M each)

1. How did Androcles move towards the lion? (A) angrily (B) very cautiously (C) quickly (D) happily

   Answer: (B)  

   
   

2. What was the cause of the lion's distress? (A) It was hungry (B) A thorn had pierced its toe (C) It was lost (D) It was trapped

   Answer: (B)  

   
   

3. What did the lion do when Androcles drew near? (A) It roared loudly (B) It attacked him (C) It lowered its head and licked its paw (D) It ran away

   Answer: (C)  

   
   

4. What was the condition of the lion's paw? (A) wounded, sore and swollen (B) clean and healthy (C) bleeding heavily (D) broken

   Answer: (A)  

   
   

5. Androcles stretched his hand slowly because he was afraid the lion would... (A) fall asleep (B) run away (C) attack him (D) cry loudly

   Answer: (C)  

मराठी टीप: चुकीचे पर्याय ओळखून बरोबर उत्तरापर्यंत पोहोचा.

TYPE 3 — Answer in One Word/Phrase (1M each)

1. Who moved very cautiously towards the lion? Answer: Androcles  

2. What did the lion lick when Androcles drew near? Answer: Its paw  

3. What had pierced one of the lion's toes? Answer: A big thorn  

4. What did the lion seem to understand? Answer: His good intention  

मराठी टीप: उत्तर एका शब्दात किंवा वाक्यांशात द्या.

TYPE 4 — Complete the Sentences (1M each)

1. Complete the sentence: 'The lion moaned and ______.' Answer: whimpered  

2. Complete the sentence: 'On a closer look, Androcles noticed that a big ______ had pierced one of the lion's toes.' Answer: thorn  

3. Complete the sentence: 'Androcles stretched his hand slowly towards the ______ paw.' Answer: injured  

4. Complete the sentence: 'So this is the cause of the lion's ______, thought Androcles.' Answer: distress  

मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील अचूक शब्द शोधून वाक्य पूर्ण करा.

TYPE 5 — Answer in 2-3 Sentences (2M each)

1. Why did the lion moan and whimper?

   Answer: The lion moaned and whimpered because it was in great pain. Its paw was wounded, sore, and swollen.

   मराठी टीप: सिंहाच्या पायाला सूज आली होती आणि त्याला खूप वेदना होत होत्या हे सांगा.  

   
   

2. What did Androcles notice when he looked closely at the paw?

   Answer: When Androcles looked closely, he noticed that a big thorn had pierced one of the lion's toes. He understood that this was the cause of its distress.

   मराठी टीप: जवळून पाहिल्यावर अँड्रोक्लेसला सिंहाच्या पायात एक मोठा काटा रुतलेला दिसला.

     

3. Why was Androcles afraid to touch the lion?

   Answer: Androcles was afraid because the lion was a wild beast. He thought the lion might attack him if he touched its swollen paw.

   मराठी टीप: सिंह हा जंगली प्राणी असल्यामुळे तो आपल्यावर हल्ला करेल अशी अँड्रोक्लेसला भीती होती.  

   
   

4. How did the lion show that it needed help?

   Answer: The lion did not move, growl, or roar. Instead, it looked at Androcles piteously and licked its wounded paw to show its pain.

   मराठी टीप: सिंहाने डरकाळी फोडली नाही, तर दयनीय नजरेने पाहत आपला पाय चाटायला सुरुवात केली.  

   
   

5. What did Androcles do to approach the lion?

   Answer: Androcles did not run away. Instead, he paused and moved very cautiously towards the lion, step by step.

   मराठी टीप: अँड्रोक्लेस पळून न जाता अत्यंत सावधगिरीने, हळूहळू सिंहाजवळ गेला.  

   
   

TYPE 6 — Answer in 4-5 Sentences (3M each)

1. Describe the condition of the lion when Androcles found it.

   Answer: When Androcles found the lion, it was not behaving like a fierce wild animal. It was in a lot of trouble and looked piteously at him. It was moaning and whimpering in pain. Its paw was badly wounded, sore, and swollen because a huge thorn had pierced its toe.

   मराठी टीप: १) सिंह खूप त्रासात होता. २) तो करुणास्पदरित्या पाहत होता. ३) त्याचा पाय सुजलेला आणि जखमी होता कारण त्यात काटा रुतला होता.  

   
   

2. How do we know from this extract that Androcles was a brave man?

   Answer: We know Androcles was brave because he did not run away when he saw a wild beast. Even though he was afraid the lion might attack him, he did not panic. He summoned up all his courage and slowly stretched his hand towards the lion. He chose to help a dangerous animal in pain, which requires great bravery.

   मराठी टीप: १) तो सिंहाला पाहून पळाला नाही. २) त्याने धाडस एकवटून सिंहाच्या सुजलेल्या पायाकडे हात नेला. ३) भयानक प्राण्याला मदत करण्यासाठी खूप धैर्य लागते.  

   
   

3. What does this event show us about the understanding between humans and animals?

   Answer: This event shows that animals can understand human emotions and intentions. Even though the lion was a wild animal in pain, it did not attack Androcles. It seemed to understand that Androcles had a good intention and only wanted to help. It proves that compassion creates a strong bond between humans and beasts. मराठी टीप: १) प्राण्यांना मानवी भावना समजतात. २) सिंहाने हल्ला न करता अँड्रोक्लेसचा चांगला हेतू समजून घेतला. ३) दयाळूपणामुळे प्राणी आणि माणसात चांगला बंध निर्माण होतो.  

   
   

TYPE 7 — Word Meanings / Vocabulary in Context (1M each)

(Questions are based on the whole chapter)

1. The word 'coward' means...

   Answer: one who gets easily afraid

   मराठी अर्थ: भित्रा

   मराठी टीप: जो संकटाला घाबरतो.  

   
   

2. The word 'arena' means...

   Answer: a ground surrounded by seats on all sides for sports and events

   मराठी अर्थ: रिंगण किंवा मैदान

   मराठी टीप: जिथे सिंहाला आणि अँड्रोक्लेसला एकत्र सोडण्यात आले.  

   
   

3. The phrase 'bound by law' means...

   Answer: strictly forced to follow the laws

   मराठी अर्थ: कायद्याने बांधील

   मराठी टीप: नियमांचे पालन करण्याची सक्ती असणे.  

   
   

4. The word 'ferocious' means...

   Answer: wild and dangerous, fierce

   मराठी अर्थ: भयंकर किंवा हिंस्त्र

   मराठी टीप: सिंहाच्या रागीट आणि भुकेल्या अवस्थेचे वर्णन करणारा शब्द.  

   
   

5. The word 'clutches' means...

   Answer: tight hold

   मराठी अर्थ: घट्ट पकड

   मराठी टीप: क्रूर मालकाच्या तावडीतून (clutches) अँड्रोक्लेस पळाला.  

   
   

TYPE 8 — Personal Response (2M each)

(Questions are based on the whole chapter)

1. Do you agree with Androcles's decision to help the wild lion? Why or why not? Answer: Yes, I completely agree with his decision. Helping someone in pain is always a good thing to do. His courage and kindness saved the lion's life, and in return, the grateful lion saved his life later.

   मराठी टीप: होय, मदत करणे नेहमीच योग्य असते. (कोणतेही योग्य वैयक्तिक मत तुम्ही लिहू शकता).  

   
   

2. What would you have done in Androcles's situation when the lion was released into the arena?

   Answer: If I were in his place, I would have been absolutely terrified and dismayed. I would have probably closed my eyes in fear and prayed, hoping that a miracle would happen to save me from the hungry lion.

   मराठी टीप: तुम्ही त्या भयानक प्रसंगात कसे वागला असता याची कल्पना करून साधे उत्तर लिहा. (उदा. मी खूप घाबरलो असतो.)  

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