2.2 The Chair - Class 6 - Poorvi

Jul 8, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Textbook: Poorvi – Grade 6

Author: Anonymous

Genre: Fiction / Short Moral Story

📝 Summary

The Chair is a short story about a boy named Mario who believed he had many friends. Proud of his popularity, Mario boasted about his friendships. His grandfather challenged him with a magical test—a bet involving an invisible chair that would help Mario discover who his true friends were. Mario accepted the bet and took the chair to school. However, when he tried to sit on it, he fell repeatedly, becoming the subject of laughter. Only three of his classmates—Guneet, Asma, and Deepa—stepped forward to help. With their support, he finally managed to sit "on" the invisible chair, proving the magic. Mario realized that true friends stand by you when you're struggling—not just during good times. The story ends on a warm note, where the grandfather wins the bet and Mario gains a deeper understanding of friendship. They all celebrate with fruit chaat and stories.

👤 Character Sketch

Mario – Mario is a friendly and cheerful boy who initially confuses popularity with genuine friendship. He learns through experience that not everyone who smiles at you is a real friend. He is brave, determined, and willing to learn from his mistakes.

Grandfather – Wise, loving, and thoughtful, he uses creativity and subtle lessons to guide Mario toward understanding what truly matters—real, dependable friendships.

Guneet, Asma, Deepa – They are supportive and loyal friends who care for Mario genuinely and help him in his time of need.

📚 Themes

Theme	Description
True Friendship	The story highlights that true friends support you in difficult times.
Self-Discovery	Mario learns to distinguish between real and fake friends.
Wisdom of Elders	The grandfather’s unique approach shows the importance of experience and guidance.
Humility and Growth	Mario grows from a boastful child into someone who values sincerity.

✨ Literary Devices

Device	Example	Explanation
Metaphor	The “magic chair”	Symbolizes the test of true friendship.
Humor	Mario falling again and again	Lightens the story while teaching a valuable lesson.
Irony	Mario thinks he has many friends but very few help him	Highlights the difference between perception and reality.
Dialogue	Conversations between Mario and his grandfather	Drive the plot and reveal important themes.

📖 Title Justification

The title The Chair is symbolic of the central theme. Although the chair is invisible, it represents the test of genuine friendship. Mario’s attempts to sit on the chair and the reactions of others reveal who his real friends are. The chair is not just a physical object but a metaphor for the trials we face in life that show us who truly cares for us.

✅ One-Mark Questions

What challenge did Mario’s grandfather give him? → Mario's grandfather challenged him to sit on an invisible chair to discover his real friends.
How many true friends did Mario finally discover? → Mario discovered three true friends: Guneet, Asma, and Deepa.
Where did Mario take the invisible chair? → Mario took it to school.
What did Mario and his friends do after the test? → They visited his grandfather and enjoyed stories and fruit chaat.
What happened each time Mario failed to sit on the chair? → Most classmates laughed at him.

✅ Three-Mark Questions

How did Mario finally discover who his real friends were? → Mario discovered his real friends through the invisible chair test given by his grandfather. After repeatedly failing and being laughed at, only Guneet, Asma, and Deepa came forward to hold him up, helping him “sit” on the chair. This act showed that they were his true friends, unlike others who only pretended to be friendly.
What lesson did Mario learn from the magic chair? → Mario learned that true friends are those who help and support you in difficult situations. Popularity doesn’t always mean real friendship. He realized that people who enjoy your failures are not true friends. The experience humbled him and helped him appreciate those who genuinely cared for him.
Describe the role of Mario’s grandfather in the story. → Mario’s grandfather plays the role of a wise mentor. Instead of lecturing Mario, he uses a creative and imaginative method—a magical chair test—to teach him the difference between real and fake friends. His approach was gentle but effective, and it allowed Mario to experience and understand the value of true friendship on his own.

🧠 Value-Based Question

What is the central moral of the story "The Chair"? How can this be applied to your own friendships? → The story teaches that true friendship is proven during tough times. Real friends are those who lift you when you fall, not those who laugh at you. In our own lives, we must learn to value people who care for us sincerely, rather than being misled by popularity or surface-level interactions. This helps us build meaningful and lasting friendships.

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