2. The Adventures of Toto - Class 9 - Moments

Author: Ruskin Bond

Textbook: Moments (Class IX)

Genre: Humorous Narrative / Animal Adventure

📝 Summary

“The Adventures of Toto” is a humorous story written by Ruskin Bond, highlighting the mischief and charm of a monkey named Toto. The narrator’s Grandfather buys Toto from a tonga-driver for five rupees to add him to his collection of animals. Toto has bright, sparkling eyes, sharp teeth, and a long tail that acts like a third hand. Despite his adorable looks, Toto proves to be quite a troublemaker.

He destroys Grandmother’s wallpaper, tears clothes, and disturbs other animals in the stable. He once jumped into a kettle of boiling water and also escaped with a dish of pullao, which he ate on a tree and smashed the plate. When Grandfather tried to take Toto on a train journey, the monkey was discovered by the ticket collector, who charged a fare for him.

Eventually, realizing that Toto was too mischievous and expensive to keep, Grandfather sold him back to the tonga-driver for three rupees. The story reflects the unpredictability of wild animals and suggests that some creatures are not meant to be kept as pets.

👤 Character Sketch: Toto the Monkey

Toto is a small monkey with bright, mischievous eyes, white teeth, and quick fingers. His tail functions like a third hand, which he uses to hang from branches or lift items. He is extremely intelligent but also highly destructive. Toto enjoys creating chaos — he tears clothes, disturbs other animals, and smashes dishes. He even attempts to boil himself alive by sitting in a kettle of hot water. Though clever and amusing, Toto’s wild nature makes him unsuitable for a domestic environment.

📚 Themes

✨ Literary Devices

📖 Title Justification

The title “The Adventures of Toto” is perfectly suited to the story as it captures the series of funny and chaotic incidents caused by the monkey, Toto. From being bought at a market to his acts of destruction at home and even his journey on a train, each episode is an adventure. The title reflects the monkey’s unpredictable nature and adds a light, humorous tone to the tale.

✅ One-Mark Questions (Exam-Ready Answers)

Q1. Who bought Toto and for how much?

👉 Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver for five rupees.

Q2. Why was Toto kept a secret from Grandmother?

👉 Grandfather knew Grandmother would not approve of another pet, especially a mischievous monkey.

Q3. How did Toto nearly boil himself alive?

👉 Toto jumped into a kettle of warm water for a bath and stayed inside as it heated, until someone noticed and rescued him.

Q4. What did Toto do with the pullao dish?

👉 Toto grabbed the dish of pullao, escaped through the window, ate it on a tree, and then broke the dish by throwing it down.

Q5. Why was Toto sold back to the tonga-driver?

👉 Toto was too destructive and expensive to keep, so Grandfather returned him to the tonga-driver for three rupees.

✅ Three-Mark Questions (Detailed Exam Answers)

Q1. How is Toto’s appearance described in the story?

👉 Toto is described as a pretty monkey with bright eyes full of mischief. His teeth are pearly white, and his smile often frightens old ladies. He has quick fingers and a long tail, which acts like a third hand and helps him climb and hold objects.

Q2. Describe the incident at the railway station involving Toto.

👉 When Grandfather tried to carry Toto in a canvas bag on a train, the monkey poked his head out and frightened the ticket collector. Despite Grandfather’s argument that Toto was not a dog, the collector charged him a fare of three rupees for carrying a “dog.”

Q3. What qualities of Toto made him unsuitable as a pet?

👉 Toto was extremely intelligent and agile but also wild and destructive. He tore clothes, frightened other animals, broke dishes, and caused damage wherever he went. Though charming, his behavior was unmanageable in a household setting.

🧠 Value-Based Question

Q. What does “The Adventures of Toto” teach us about keeping wild animals as pets?

👉 The story teaches that wild animals, no matter how cute or clever, are best left in their natural environment. While they may seem amusing, their behavior is often unpredictable and can cause harm or inconvenience. The story promotes respect for animals and highlights the responsibilities involved in pet ownership.

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