1. Why did the farmer bring a baby mongoose into the
house?
2. Why didn't the farmer's wife want to leave the baby alone
with the mongoose?
3. What was the farmer's comment on his wife's fears?
4. Why did the farmer's wife strike the mongoose with her
basket?
5. Did she repent her hasty action? How does she show
her repentance?
Answers
Answer: 1 ans: The farmer brought a baby mongoose into the house because he wanted his son to have a companion when he grew up, and he felt that the mongoose will be this companion.
2 ans: The farmer’s wife didn’t want to leave the baby alone with the mongoose because the mongoose was a full grown animal and she was afraid that it would hurt the baby.
3 ans: The farmer’s comment on his wife’s fears was that she needn’t be afraid. He said that the mongoose was a friendly animal; it was as sweet as the baby and they were the best of friends.
4 ans: When the farmer’s wife came back from shopping she saw that the mongoose’s face and paws were smeared with blood. Blind with rage, she struck the mongoose with a heavy basket full of groceries.
5 ans: Yes, she did repent her hasty action. Her repentance can be seen by the fact that she went running out to look if the mongoose was alive, and then cried and touched the dead mongoose saying − “…what have I done?”