3.3 Stone Soup - Class 6 - Kumarbharati

Author: (Adapted Folktale – Anonymous)

Genre: Play / Folktale Drama

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Class 6

Board: Maharashtra State Board

English Summary

The play Stone Soup is based on a popular folktale about sharing and cooperation. It is set in a small village where four neighbours—Motiram, Sonabai, Hirabai, and Rupabai—are selfish and unwilling to help a hungry traveller. Each one avoids giving him food by making excuses: Motiram says there is no food, Sonabai pretends to be deaf, Hirabai speaks gibberish, and Rupabai says her larder is empty. Cleverly, the traveller tells Rupabai that he has a magic stone that can make soup with just water. Curious, she agrees to provide a pot of water. Slowly, the traveller suggests adding potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, beans, and spices. The neighbours, excited to see the magic soup, each contribute something. Finally, everyone enjoys a delicious vegetable soup together. In the end, the traveller reveals that the stone is ordinary and the real secret of the soup is sharing.

Theme / Central Idea

The play conveys the importance of generosity, cooperation, and sharing. It teaches that selfishness leads to nothing, while working together brings happiness and satisfaction.

Character Sketches

Traveller

• Clever, polite, and optimistic.

• Uses intelligence to overcome villagers’ selfishness.

• Teaches the value of sharing through his trick.

Motiram

• Selfish and rude.

• Refuses food to the traveller by saying dinner is over.

• Later contributes vegetables to the soup.

Sonabai

• Pretends to be deaf to avoid giving food.

• Later brings tomatoes when she sees others sharing.

Hirabai

• Talks gibberish to escape responsibility.

• Eventually provides carrots for the soup.

Rupabai

• Initially refuses, saying her larder is empty.

• Later allows the traveller to cook and provides water, salt, and bowls.

• Shows kindness in the end.

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions (5)

1. Infinitive / Gerund

   Sentence: “The traveller wanted to make soup.”

   Answer: The infinitive is to make. It shows purpose.

   
   

2. Passive Voice

   Change the voice: The traveller cooked the soup.

   Answer: The soup was cooked by the traveller.

   
   

3. Modal Auxiliary

   Use ‘could’ in a sentence based on the play.

   Answer: The traveller could trick the villagers into sharing food.

   
   

4. Tense Change

   Change into past tense: The neighbours share the vegetables.

   Answer: The neighbours shared the vegetables.

   
   

5. Wh-question framing

   Make a Wh-question for the underlined part: The traveller dropped a stone into the pot.

   Answer: What did the traveller drop into the pot?

   
   

Personal Response Questions (5)

1. Question: Do you think the traveller really had a magic stone? Why?

   Answer: The traveller did not really have a magic stone. It was only a trick to make the selfish villagers share their food. The real magic was cooperation.

   
   

2. Question: What do you learn from the story Stone Soup?

   Answer: The story teaches me the value of sharing and cooperation. It shows that selfishness benefits no one, but working together makes life joyful.

   
   

3. Question: Would you help a hungry traveller if one came to your house? Why?Answer: A hungry traveller would be helped by me because kindness is a basic human duty. Offering food and shelter to those in need gives satisfaction and joy.

   
   

4. Question: How did the villagers change by the end of the play?

   Answer: The villagers changed from being selfish and rude to cooperative and generous. They realised that helping others brings happiness.

   
   

5. Question: Why is generosity important in society?

   Answer: Generosity is important in society because it builds trust, unity, and happiness. When people share and support each other, the whole community becomes stronger.

   
   

True or False (5)

1. Motiram happily invited the traveller for dinner. → False (He refused rudely.)

2. Sonabai pretended to be hard of hearing. → True

3. The traveller claimed that a stone could make soup. → True

4. The villagers contributed vegetables one by one. → True

5. The stone actually melted and made the soup. → False (The stone was ordinary; the real trick was sharing.)

   
   

Probable Board / Exam Questions (5)

1. Question: How did the traveller manage to get food from the selfish villagers?Answer: The traveller cleverly tricked the villagers by saying he had a magic stone that could make soup. Curious and excited, the villagers gradually added their vegetables. In the end, everyone enjoyed the soup.

   
   

2. Question: How did each villager refuse the traveller at first?

   Answer: Motiram said there was no food left, Sonabai pretended to be deaf, Hirabai spoke gibberish, and Rupabai said her larder was empty. Each tried to avoid helping the traveller.

3. Question: What lesson does the play Stone Soup teach us?

   Answer: The play teaches us the importance of sharing, cooperation, and kindness. It shows that selfishness only isolates people, while generosity brings joy.

   
   

4. Question: What was the reaction of the villagers when they tasted the soup?

   Answer: The villagers were surprised at the delicious taste of the soup. They could not believe it was made with a stone and realised the value of contributing together.

   
   

5. Question: Why is the play called Stone Soup?

   Answer: The play is called Stone Soup because the traveller pretended to make soup with a stone. In reality, the soup was made from vegetables shared by the villagers, symbolising the magic of cooperation.

   
   

Appreciation / Reflection Paragraph

The play Stone Soup is a delightful folktale that teaches the value of generosity and teamwork. At first, the villagers are shown as selfish and unwilling to help a hungry man. However, the clever trick of the traveller changes their behaviour. The gradual contribution of vegetables and the joy of eating together highlight how cooperation can turn scarcity into abundance. The humour, dialogue, and dramatic setting make the play engaging. It is memorable because it carries a timeless moral: sharing is the real magic that strengthens communities. The play inspires us to be kind and generous in everyday life.

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