5.1 Feathered Friend - Class 8 - Poorvi (New)

Author: Arthur C. Clarke

Textbook: Poorvi

Genre: Science Fiction / Short Story

Summary

Feathered Friend is a humorous yet thought-provoking science fiction story by Arthur C. Clarke. It narrates the experience of astronauts living aboard a space station, where Sven Olsen secretly smuggles a canary named Claribel. The narrator first discovers Claribel when he hears her melodious whistle in zero gravity. Despite initial worries, the little bird quickly adapts to space, becoming a beloved companion for the crew. However, one day Claribel faints, alarming the spacemen. They revive her with oxygen but she collapses again. The narrator suddenly recalls how miners once used canaries to detect poisonous gases underground. He realises that Claribel’s fainting signals a problem with the air supply. Indeed, the air purifier had frozen during an eclipse, and the alarms had failed. Claribel thus saves the lives of the entire crew. The story highlights the unpredictability of technology and how a small bird, considered insignificant, proves more reliable than expensive machines. It blends humour, science, and wisdom to underline the value of nature.

Character Sketch

• Sven Olsen

  • Wiry, strong, and one of the best construction workers in the space station.

  • Smuggles Claribel out of curiosity and companionship.

  • Loving and protective towards the canary.

  • Represents human emotional need for connection, even in space.

• Claribel (the canary)

  • Small, yellow, melodious bird smuggled into space.

  • Easily adapts to weightlessness, performing loops and movements.

  • Saves the crew by fainting first, signalling danger in the air system.

  • Symbol of nature’s simplicity and reliability over technology.

• The Narrator

  • Crew member and observer of events.

  • Initially surprised at Claribel’s presence but grows fond of her.

  • Remembers the historical use of canaries in mines, solving the mystery.

  • Represents logic, reasoning, and insight.

• Jim (the duty engineer)

  • In charge of technical systems in the space station.

  • Overconfident in machines, dismisses the warning at first.

  • Learns humility when Claribel proves more effective than alarms.

Themes

Literary Devices

Title Justification

The title Feathered Friend is appropriate because the story revolves around Claribel, a little canary whose presence in the space station proves invaluable. Though initially smuggled for companionship, she becomes a true friend by saving the lives of the astronauts. The word “feathered” highlights her bird identity, while “friend” emphasises her importance as a companion and saviour. Thus, the title captures both the literal and symbolic significance of the story.

One-Mark Questions

1. Who was Sven Olsen and why was he important in the space station? Answer: Sven Olsen was a wiry, skilled construction worker in the space station who excelled in handling girders in zero gravity, making him valuable to the crew.

2. How did the narrator first discover Claribel’s presence? Answer: The narrator first discovered Claribel when he heard a melodious whistle near his ear and saw the small canary floating gracefully in zero gravity.

3. Why was Claribel suitable as a pet in the space station? Answer: Claribel was suitable because she weighed almost nothing, required little food, and quickly adapted to weightlessness without fear.

4. What happened to Claribel that alarmed the crew? Answer: Claribel fainted suddenly, collapsing in Sven’s hand, which alarmed the crew and made them realise something was wrong with the air.

5. How did Claribel save the lives of the astronauts? Answer: Claribel saved lives by fainting due to lack of oxygen, which alerted the crew to a malfunction in the air purifier that machines had failed to detect.

Three-Mark Questions

1. Why did Sven smuggle Claribel into the space station? Answer: Sven smuggled Claribel partly out of curiosity and partly for companionship. He wanted to see how a bird would adapt to zero gravity. Claribel’s small size and minimal needs made her a practical choice. His action reflected human emotional needs even in highly technical environments.

2. How did Claribel adapt to life in space? Answer: Claribel adapted easily to zero gravity, folding her wings and floating effortlessly. She even performed loops and unusual movements, something no earthbound canary could do. Her cheerful whistles made her a favourite among the crew, showing her resilience and charm.

3. What role did the narrator play in solving the crisis? Answer: The narrator realised that Claribel’s fainting was due to a problem in the air supply. He recalled how miners used canaries to detect poisonous gases. By connecting this fact, he identified that the air purifier had failed, thus helping the crew avoid disaster.

4. How does the story highlight the limitations of technology? Answer: The story highlights that despite advanced alarms and expensive machinery, the air purifier’s failure went undetected. It was Claribel, a small bird, who revealed the danger. This irony stresses that nature can sometimes succeed where technology fails.

5. How does Arthur C. Clarke use humour in the story? Answer: Clarke uses humour in describing Claribel’s antics, like her loops in zero gravity, and in the irony of a canary being more useful than half a million dollars’ worth of machinery. The casual, light tone of the narrator also adds to the humorous style of the story.

Value-Based Question

Q. What moral lesson does the story Feathered Friend teach students? Answer: The story teaches students that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant beings can play a crucial role in life. It reminds them that technology, though powerful, is not infallible. Nature has its own wisdom and should be respected. The story also underlines the importance of companionship, humility, and being alert to signs from the environment.

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