Review for his first flight
Answers
‘His First Flight’ by Liam O’ Flaherty is a story about overcoming fear in life. We know that every journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. But that single step is the most difficult to make. We need to conquer our fear to succeed in life.
This story is about a little seagull making its first flight. The young seagull looked down desperately at the vast expanse of sea that stretched down beneath the ledge. He was hungry. His parents had flown away along with his brothers and his little sister, leaving him alone on the rock without food. They all could fly but, he could not. He had tried several times to run forward to the brink of the ledge and flap his wings but he became afraid. He was certain that his wings would not support him. His parents had tried countless times to make him fly. But for the life of him he would not make an attempt.
He felt that he was going to starve to death on his ledge. Even his mother was not looking at him. She was tearing a piece of fish with her beak. The sight of food maddened him. He cried at her but she just screamed back mockingly.
Suddenly, he felt the joy, seeing his mother approaching him with food. But she halted, keeping the fish just out of his reach. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. But his mother flew upward and he started falling. A monstrous terror seized him, but the next moment he realized that he was flying. He was born to fly and he had made his first flight.
Answer:
Explanation:
Self-confidence and courage are the lanterns leading to discoveries. Liam O’Flaherty’s ‘His First Flight' is an account of a young seagull's discovery of his wing's potential. Through this story the author unleashes the importance of self-reliance in life. This story stands among the widely accepted short stories dealing with self-confidence.
The story begins with the young seagull's thoughts of despair. He is confused with the problems destiny had brought in front of him. Underestimating himself, he stood alone on the ledge, watching his family fly and savour their food. The seagull, tired and hungry, watched his parents and siblings with hope. He was happy when his mother came close to him. Undreamed of her prank, he dived at the fish .He was startled to find himself flying! The story concludes with the seagull’s joyful realization of his powerful wings.
The plot deals with the fears of a bird taking its first flight. Through the seagull, the writer reflects a person's worries and desires in life.' It is evident that everyone wants to fly to their heart's content in life...but only a few who realise the potential of their wings can do it'.
The characters in the story represent different shades of human life. The protagonist- the young seagull is dependent and lacks confidence, willpower and courage. But the realization of his powers transforms him into a different individual. He has a supportive family. Every action they do is for his well-being. Finally, the seagull's mother, through her quick-witted plan, made him fly. The family stands as a supportive pillar in the young seagull's life.
Every seagull's life depends on the sea. The story revolves around marine life and the culture of seagulls. The language used in the story is simple and readers can interpret the meanings very quickly. The real suspense of the story is hidden and is revealed through the mother bird's plan .The ultimate discovery of the young seagull's wings is the climax.
The theme of the story is self-reliance and family life. Success and failure are part and parcel of life. The story invokes the realization that neither failure nor success is sustainable. The imagery used in the story are mostly visual and organic.
His first flight is a wonderful story of a seagull's discovery of his wing's virtue. Through the story, the author highlights the need to muster up courage in order to spread one's wings and soar into the sky. This story still remains as a shining jewel in the casket of modern literature.
HOPE IT HELPS YOU!