2.3 The Chair - Class 6 - Poorvi (New)

BhashaLab
2 hours ago
4 min read

Author: Adapted Folk Tale

Textbook: Poorvi – Grade 6

Genre: Prose / Short Story

Summary

“The Chair” is a story about Mario, a boy who boasted of having many friends. He believed that his schoolmates were all his true friends. To teach him a lesson, Mario’s grandfather gave him a magical invisible chair and asked him to use it to test his friends. At school, Mario tried to sit on the invisible chair but kept falling while his classmates laughed. Only three friends – Guneet, Asma, and Deepa – quietly supported him, holding him up so he would not fall.

Mario realized that while many children called themselves his friends, only a few truly cared for him. His grandfather’s idea helped him understand that true friends stand by us in difficult times, while false friends only enjoy our failures. Later, Mario and his three friends celebrated the discovery with his grandfather over fruit chaat. They decided to keep using the “magic chair test” to know who their real friends were. The story teaches us that friendship is not about numbers but about loyalty, care, and genuine support.

Character Sketch

Mario: Proud and boastful in the beginning, but later humble and wiser after learning the value of true friendship.
Grandfather: Wise, thoughtful, and clever. Uses the invisible chair as a tool to teach Mario about real friends.
True Friends (Guneet, Asma, Deepa): Loyal, supportive, and caring. They help Mario in his time of need.
Other Classmates: Superficial friends who laugh at Mario’s struggles, showing they are not true companions.

Themes

Theme	Description
True Friendship	Real friends support and care for us in times of difficulty.
Wisdom of Elders	The grandfather’s clever test guides Mario to a valuable lesson.
Boasting vs Reality	Mario’s pride in having many friends is proven false.
Loyalty and Care	Friendship is defined by action, not words.

Literary Devices

Device	Example	Explanation
Symbolism	The invisible chair	Represents the test of true friendship.
Contrast	Many friends laughing vs. few helping	Highlights the difference between true and false friends.
Dialogue	“Wait, wait, just a slight technical problem.”	Brings humor and shows Mario’s determination.
Imagery	“He sat hanging in mid-air.”	Creates a vivid mental picture of the magical scene.
Irony	Mario boasted of many friends but had only three true ones.	Shows the gap between belief and reality.

Title Justification

The title “The Chair” is justified as the invisible chair is central to the story. It serves as the tool that reveals the difference between Mario’s true friends and false ones. Without the chair, Mario would not have discovered who genuinely cared for him. Thus, the chair symbolizes the truth about friendship and gives the story its meaningful title.

One-Mark Questions

Why did Mario’s grandfather give him the chair? Answer: Mario’s grandfather gave him the invisible chair to test who his real friends were. It was meant to teach him that true friends support us in times of need.
What happened when Mario first sat on the chair? Answer: Mario could not sit properly and fell to the ground. His classmates laughed at him instead of helping.
Who helped Mario sit on the chair successfully? Answer: Guneet, Asma, and Deepa held Mario up so that he would not fall. Their action proved they were his true friends.
What did Mario win after discovering his real friends? Answer: Mario won the bet with his grandfather. They celebrated with his true friends by enjoying fruit chaat together.
What important lesson did Mario learn in the story? Answer: Mario learned that real friendship is not about having many friends but about having loyal and caring ones.

Three-Mark Questions

What was the bet between Mario and his grandfather? Answer: Mario’s grandfather bet him a fruit chaat that he did not have as many true friends as he believed. To prove this, he gave Mario a magical invisible chair. Through the chair test, Mario realized his grandfather was right and won the bet only by identifying his genuine friends.
How did Mario’s classmates react to his attempts with the chair? Answer: Most of Mario’s classmates laughed at him when he fell while trying to sit on the invisible chair. They mocked his failure instead of helping. This reaction showed they were not true friends.
How did Mario finally discover his real friends? Answer: Mario discovered his real friends when three of his classmates – Guneet, Asma, and Deepa – supported him while others only mocked him. They held him up when he tried to sit on the chair, proving their care and loyalty.
How did Mario feel after finding his true friends? Answer: Mario felt happy and thankful after realizing he had three loyal friends. He understood the real meaning of friendship and no longer boasted about having many friends.
What message does the story give about friendship? Answer: The story conveys that friendship is measured by loyalty, support, and care, not by numbers. Real friends stand by us in difficult times, while false friends abandon us.

Value-Based Question

What does ‘friends for life’ mean to you? Explain with reference to the story. Answer: ‘Friends for life’ means companions who remain loyal and supportive through all situations. In the story, Guneet, Asma, and Deepa helped Mario when others laughed at him. Their actions proved they were true friends who could be trusted forever. The phrase teaches that real friendship is lasting and built on trust and care.

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