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    2.1. WIT AND HUMOUR - Animals, Birds, And Dr. Dolittle - Class 7 - Poorvi

    Updated: Jun 23

    Chapter Title: Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle

    Author: Hugh Lofting

    Textbook: Poorvi (CBSE Class VIII)

    Genre: Fiction / Humorous Narrative


    📝 Summary


    "Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle" is an engaging story about John Dolittle, a kind doctor who discovers that he has a special ability to talk to animals. With help from his intelligent parrot, Polynesia, he learns the language of birds and eventually understands many other animals too. Tired of dealing with ungrateful human patients, Dolittle follows Polynesia’s advice and becomes an animal doctor. As word spreads, animals begin to come from near and far for treatment, trusting him because he can understand their pain and talk to them directly. From treating a plough horse with green spectacles to welcoming mice through a tiny tunnel, Dr. Dolittle earns love and respect from the animal world. The story celebrates compassion, communication beyond words, and the importance of listening. It inspires us to value all living beings and respect their unique ways of expressing themselves.


    👤 Character Sketch:

    Dr. Dolittle

    Dr. Dolittle is a wise, gentle, and kind-hearted doctor with an extraordinary ability to understand animals. He is curious, open-minded, and willing to learn new things, such as bird language from his parrot Polynesia. He is deeply compassionate and treats animals with great care and respect. His dedication and patience make him an excellent doctor—not just for humans, but more so for animals. His humility and willingness to listen to others make him both lovable and admirable.


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Communication beyond words

    The story shows that animals communicate through gestures, sounds, and actions.

    Compassion and empathy

    Dr. Dolittle’s kindness and ability to understand animals teaches empathy.

    Respect for all living beings

    The narrative highlights that animals deserve care, respect, and attention.

    Power of learning and curiosity

    Dr. Dolittle learns new languages and becomes successful through constant learning.

    Listening to different viewpoints

    The story promotes listening to others, even animals or those often ignored.

    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example

    Dialogue

    “Good Gracious!” cried the Doctor.

    Humour

    A horse asking for green spectacles!

    Personification

    Animals are given human traits like speech and emotions.

    Compound Words

    Cat’s-food-Man, bird language, flowerpots

    Imagery

    Descriptions of animals, spectacles, and animal-filled gardens

    📖 Title Justification


    The title "Animals, Birds, and Dr. Dolittle" aptly captures the essence of the story, which centers around the deep bond and understanding between Dr. Dolittle and the animal world. It emphasizes how his life changes when he begins to treat animals and birds by learning their language. The title sets the tone for a heartwarming tale that moves beyond traditional human-animal relationships and into the realm of mutual respect and communication.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions

    1. Who suggested that Dr. Dolittle should treat animals?

      → The Cat’s-food-Man suggested it.


    2. What was Polynesia’s special ability?

      → Polynesia could speak both human and bird languages.


    3. What did the plough horse actually need?

      → The plough horse needed green spectacles.


    4. What did the Doctor install for different animals at his house?

      → He installed separate doors and tunnels for different animals.


    5. Why did animals from foreign lands learn about Dr. Dolittle?

      → Birds spread the news during their winter migrations.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions

    1. How did Dr. Dolittle learn the language of animals?

      → Polynesia, the parrot, taught him bird language first. Dr. Dolittle then noted the sounds and expressions carefully and eventually understood other animals too.


    2. How did the Doctor ensure that all animals got individual attention?

      → He built special entrances for different animals—like doors for horses and cows, and a tunnel for mice—so he could treat them in an organized way.


    3. How did Dr. Dolittle become famous among animals?→ As he could understand their pain and communicate with them, animals trusted him. Word spread, and animals from far-off lands came to him, making him world-famous.


    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q: What lesson can we learn from Dr. Dolittle’s decision to treat animals with compassion and respect?

    A: Dr. Dolittle’s story teaches us that every living being deserves love, care, and attention. His ability to understand animals reminds us to be more observant, kind, and empathetic, especially toward those who cannot express themselves in words. We learn that by listening patiently and treating others with respect, we can build better relationships and make the world more inclusive.


    End


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