3.4 How the First Letter was Written - Std 9 - Kumarbharati

Author: Rudyard Kipling (adapted)

Genre: Humorous Short Story

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std X

Board: Maharashtra State Board

English Summary

The story, set in the Neolithic Age, narrates a humorous misunderstanding. Tegumai Bopsulai, his wife Teshumai Tewindrow, and their daughter Taffimai (Taffy) live happily in a cave. One day, while fishing with Taffy, Tegumai breaks his spear. A stranger from another tribe appears, but they cannot communicate through language. Taffy decides to send a message to her mother by drawing pictures on birch-bark, asking the stranger to deliver it. The stranger misunderstands the drawings as a call for help against enemies and rushes to Teshumai. When Teshumai sees the pictures, she thinks Tegumai is in danger and attacks the stranger with the help of other women. The comic series of misunderstandings shows how lack of proper communication can lead to chaos.

Theme / Central Idea

The story highlights the importance of clear communication and how misunderstandings can arise without it. It also uses humour to show human nature, quick judgments, and cultural differences.

Character Sketches

Tegumai Bopsulai

• Calm and patient Neolithic man

• Skilled at fishing and spear-making

• Avoids rushing into action

• Values problem-solving over panic

  
  

Taffimai Metallumai (Taffy)

• Lively, imaginative, and resourceful child

• Loves her parents deeply

• Attempts to solve problems in creative ways

• Naïve about how her actions might be misunderstood

The Stranger-man (Tewara)

• Polite and respectful towards others

• Innocent and easily misunderstands situations

• Quick to jump to wrong conclusions

• Acts hastily to help without confirming facts

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions

1. Identify the infinitive:

    “It will take me half the day to mend this.”

   Answer: to mend

   
   

2. Change to passive voice:

   “Teshumai pulled his hair.”

   Answer: His hair was pulled by Teshumai.

   
   

3. Use a modal to rewrite (possibility): 

   “He will be surprised.”

   Answer: He might be surprised.

   
   

4. Change the tense to past perfect:

    “He ran into the bushes like the wind.”

   Answer: He had run into the bushes like the wind.

   
   

5. Frame a Wh-question:

    “The stranger offered Taffy a big piece of birch-bark.”

   Answer: What did the stranger offer to Taffy?

   
   

Personal Response Questions

1. Do you think Taffy was wrong to send a drawing instead of going herself? Why?Taffy was not wrong in trying to help, as she acted according to her ability and creativity. However, her method lacked clarity, which caused confusion. This shows that even well-meant actions need careful planning to avoid misunderstandings.

   
   

2. What does the story teach you about communication?The story teaches that communication must be clear and accurate to avoid confusion. Visual messages can be misinterpreted if the receiver does not understand the context. Proper exchange of information is essential for problem-solving.

   
   

3. How do you view the Stranger-man’s actions?The Stranger-man acted with good intentions but without confirming the facts. His haste shows the danger of acting on assumptions. Still, his politeness and willingness to help are admirable qualities.

   
   

4. What would you have done if you were in Teshumai’s place?I would have first asked the Stranger-man for an explanation before reacting. Quick assumptions can lead to unnecessary conflict, so it is important to verify information calmly.

   
   

True or False

1. Tegumai broke his spear while catching fish. – True

2. Taffy could write words clearly. – False

3. The Stranger-man belonged to the Tewaras. – True

4. Teshumai immediately understood the drawing correctly. – False

5. The Neolithic women attacked the Stranger-man. – True

   
   

Probable Board Questions

1. Why did Tegumai refuse to let Taffy go home for another spear?

   Tegumai refused because the distance was too far for Taffy’s short legs, and he feared she might fall into the beaver-swamp. He decided to mend the spear instead, showing his protective and practical nature.

   
   

2. Why did Taffy decide to draw a message?

   Taffy wanted to send a message to her mother for another spear. Since she could not write, she used pictures to communicate her request. This creative approach, however, led to a big misunderstanding.

   
   

3. How did the Stranger-man interpret Taffy’s drawing?

   The Stranger-man thought the drawing showed enemies attacking Tegumai. Believing it was a call for help, he rushed to Teshumai without asking for more details.

   
   

4. What made Teshumai and the other women attack the Stranger-man?

   Teshumai misunderstood the drawing as showing her husband in danger. Believing the Stranger-man was responsible, she and the other women attacked him to protect Tegumai.

   
   

5. What is the central message of the story?

   The story shows how easily misunderstandings can arise without clear communication. It highlights the importance of verifying facts before reacting and the humorous side of human nature.

   
   

Appreciation / Reflection Paragraph:

How the First Letter was Written is a humorous tale set in the Neolithic Age that captures the consequences of poor communication. Through Taffy’s creative but unclear drawings and the Stranger-man’s hasty assumptions, the story shows how misunderstandings can escalate quickly. Kipling’s informal, conversational style makes the story lively and engaging. The characters are memorable—Taffy’s resourcefulness, Tegumai’s calmness, Teshumai’s impulsiveness, and the Stranger-man’s politeness bring charm to the narrative. The humour arises from the cultural gap and misinterpretation of the message. This story leaves readers amused but also thoughtful about the value of clarity in communication.

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