character sketch of chapter 8 class 9 moment book the house is not a home
Answers
Answer:
The narrator (Zan): The narrator is a schoolboy who moves from Junior school to High School. Initially, he finds some problems in adjusting to life in the new school. Unfortunately, his house gets burned down in a fire and he is in deep trouble. But his schoolmates help him out by providing everything to him. A neighbour also greatly increases his joy by helping him to find his lost cat. So the narrator manages to become happy again after facing a lot of troubles. The affection he got from many people touched him. He was able to get rid of his insecurity and open up to others. A new chapter opened in his life.
Main Characters of the Story
Zan Gaudioso
Zan is a teenager who is struggling with the changes in his life. He feels awkward, strange, isolated and embarrassed like any other teenager. Little matters gain massive proportion for him. However, he is very alert as he notices the fire as soon as it begins and he rushes out to call the firefighters.
He is also very attached to his mother. He tries to follow her when she goes back into the burning house to recover his father’s photos and letters. He knows that his action is illogical but he loves her too much to worry even about his own safety. He runs over and hugs her when the fireman rescues her. The thought of losing her blurs the times when he hated her or argued with her. He obeys her even when he finds it difficult. He goes to school the next day after the fire Just because his mother asks him to. He feels weird in Sunday church clothes and borrowed tennis shoes but does not throw any tantrums for not going to school.
Zan’s insecurities and embarrassment are also like those of any teenager who is conscious about appearance. However, he is a sensitive boy who keeps hoping to find his cat even in the rubble of his house.
Zan is a little reluctant in taking the initiative but is otherwise a friendly boy. He welcomes the hand of friendship extended to him and happily accepts new friends He has values of gratitude and thankfulness for the little gifts bestowed upon by God. Overall, Zan is like an adorable teenager who needs a little love and concern to get back his smile.
Zan’s Mother
Zan’s mother is a brave woman who faces life with grit. Her husband died when her only son was very young, still, she took upon herself the responsibility to raise him singlehandedly. She heroically retrieves the photos and letters of her husband when fire engulfs their house. Her attempt to save the only memories of her late husband arouses admiration from her son as well the readers.
She is a responsible parent who can be firm if need be. She knows that going back to school would normalize things for Zan. Therefore, she compels him to go to school and even Zan does not resist this decision because he knows that she is his well-wisher.
The manner in which she quickly starts the process of resettling by renting an apartment shows that she does not get deterred by challenges. Overall, she is an admirable woman of love, compassion, self-respect and grit.
Explanation:
The author misses his old school and friends
The author says that his first year at school was not pleasant. He felt like a freshman. His school was twice as bigger as his old school. His old friends; had gone to a different high school. So he felt lonely. He missed his old teachers also. He visited them. They advised him to take part in school activities.
House on fire.
One Sunday afternoon the author was sitting at home. He was doing homework. It was cold. Fire went on in the fireplace. He had his cat nearby. His mother stoked the fire. Suddenly, he noticed smoke from the ceiling. It increased. They came in the front yard. But the fire had surrounded the place. It was spreading. His mother ran back into the house. The author ran to the neighbors to call the fire department.
Author and mother caught in the fire saved
The author’s mother then ran out of the house with important documents. She ran back into the house again. She wanted to get the pictures and letters of her husband. He ran after her. But the fireman caught him. The author told him that his mother was inside. The fireman seated him wrapped in a blanket in the car. Soon another fireman brought the author’s mother. He put her in the truck with an oxygen mask over her mouth. She was otherwise all right. She had only inhaled a little more smoke.
Author’s cat seen nowhere
After five hours, the fire was finally put out. The house was completely burned down. It struck the author that he had not seen his cat. He started weeping. He cried also. The firemen did not allow him to go inside the house. They went to the author’s grandparents for the night.
The author gets sad, wants to die
The next day the author went to school. He was in his old dress with no shoes. He had no books or homework. His backpack was also gone. He felt sad. He felt if he would be an outcast all his life. He did not want to grow up. He wanted to die. But he walked to school.
House visited on way to school
The author walked through his house to school. Everything had been destroyed. Only the photo albums, documents etc, were not destroyed. His heart ached for his cat. His mother took him soon from there. They would have to find a place to live. He would have to buy clothes for school also.
The author keeps thinking of the cat
Soon the rubble was being cleared off from the place. The author would go over there. He kept thinking of his cat. He kept thinking how the cat would climb him and fall asleep into his pocket.
The author’s plight known to all, he makes friends
Soon all came to know about the author’s plight. People collected around him to take him to the gymnasium. The author was surprised. Soon he knew it. The table inside had a collection of school things. These were: notebooks, clothes, jeans, tops, sweatsuits. The author grew emotional. He felt great relief as people came to meet him. They were those who had not visited him earlier. He made many friends that day.
Life good again, like the earlier one
A month later, the author was at his house. It was being rebuilt. His two friends from school visited him. The fire was responsible to open up all the wonderful people around him. He realized that his life was getting the same again.
The cat was given to the author by a woman
Soon a woman came to him. She had a cat with her. She asked the author if the cat was his. The author got the cat from her at once. The cat purred happily. The author’s friends were hugging him. As for the cat, it had run away from the fire. That woman got it. She telephoned as the author’s telephone number was written on its collar.
Sweet feelings come again
The author sat with his friends. The cat curled up in his lap. The feelings of loss and the sad event had vanished. He felt gratitude for his life and his new friends. He also felt it for the kindness of a stranger and the purr of his cat