write a concise summary for" elephants raid the kitchen"
clear and to the point.
Answers
Summary
This extract features Tuskless, an elephant and her companions entering the camp-kitchen after they got tempted by the smell of bananas and other fruits. They raided the kitchen in such a way that it was about to blow off (explode!)
Bit/Bits (Contributor – Nehalika, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Delhi)
Day Before the Raid
Masaku the cook and camp-worker was on a five day leave.
Phyllis, the narrator’s camp-mate, returns from a trip to Nairobi with a huge load of groceries. Meat, fresh-fruits and vegetables.
The Morning of the Raid
Film-makers Warren and Genny Garst arrive the camp. They too bring another load of food.
Stored the food in the car, in the kitchen and in the fridges.
The Raid
That evening. The narrator, Phyllis and the film-makers go for a dinner. The camp is totally unattended.
Left alone, Tuskless, Teddy, Tonie and Tilly feed on grass.
Tuskless smells food and turns to kitchen.
Tuskless rumbles loudly and calls her friends to follow her.
The elephants appraoch the kitchen.
Tuskless wraps her trunk around the sisal pole that supports the kitchen.
Tuskless gets the pole wrenched.
Tuskless makes a sizeable hole in the wall of the kitchen and reaches her trunk out to feel for bananas.
Tuskless feels impatient. Starts pushing the wall.
The other elephanats join her.
The building collapses sidways.
Tuskless enters. Others follow.
They start eating bananas, mangoes, pineapples, papaya and oranges.
They start feeding on carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, egg-plants, lettuces, cabbages, cauliflower, etc.
Start lifting the tin trunks and turning them upside down until they disgorged their contents.
Tuskless is not satisfied. She smells the bread and cookies and crackers in a wooden cupboard. Knocks its down. Smashes it open. Eats all up.
Crush the cooler and the smaller fridge.
The elephants pull the bigger fridge until it gets disconnected from its gas cylinder.
Noxious propane gas starts leaking from the cylinder.
Start tackling the other cupboards with jams and spices.
The author enters the scene in her Land Rower car.
The elephants grab a last trunkful and start backing away.
Tuskless stays back for a while because she is reluctant to leave the feast/food.
The author enters the kitchen. Tuskless is finally forced to leave the kitchen.
Grabbing a box of spaghetti (like noodles) and a paper bag full of half-pound garlic, she goes out to join the other elephants.
After the Raid
Tuskless doesn’t stop raiding camps even after this incident.
She still raids as many as three or four camps a day.
These days she inspects the narrator’s camp to make another attempt but is chased away by Masaku.
She is nonchanlant/unmoved when Masaku comes out.
Raids will go on.
The Raid – Through the eyes of the Elephants
When did Tuskless’ love for bananas begin? (2 marks)
Hints – First tasting bananas at the lodge feeding place – man with wheel barrow – one day – over-ripe, almost fermented bananas – one full stalk (cluster)
Under what circumstances did the elephants enter the kitchen? (2 marks)
Hints – Delicate kitchen – no one on guard – Masaku, the cook on leave – the narrator herself away – smell of fruits – Tuskless’ leadership.
Were Tania, Teddy, Tonie and Tilly as curious as Tuskless in the matter of raiding the kitchen? Bring out evidences to support your answer. (2 marks)
Assess the extent of damage and disaster brought about by the elephant raid of the kitchen. (4 marks)
“Most of the fruits and vegetables were stored in tin trunks but this posed no problem for an elephant.” What does ‘this posed no problem for an elephant’ mean? How did the elephants manage the tinned fruits and vegetables? (2 marks)
What did Tuskless do when the fresh produce was all eaten up? (2 marks)
What did Tuskless do with bread, cookies and crackers that she discovered in a wooden cupboard? (1 mark)
What happened to the bigger fridge during the elephant raid? (2 marks)
“Each elephant grabbed a last trunk full and started backing or turning away, reluctantly abandoning the banquet.”
What made the elephants turn away from the site of the kitchen? (1 mark)
Why were the elephants reluctant in turning away? (1 mark)
Meaning
Surreptitiously – Secretly/sneakily
Flimsy – Fragile
After the Raid – Through the narrator’s Eyes
What precautions had the narrator and the other campers taken to check the elephants from raiding the kitchen? (4 marks)
What carelessness led to the raiding of the kitchen? (2 marks)
What did the narrator do first as soon as she got into the kitchen? (2 marks)
Do you think that Tuskless and the others were intelligent in their raiding the kitchen? Support your answer. (4 marks)
‘By the latter half of 1978, Tuskless had become very very bad about raiding camps.’ Explain.
Answer:
This extract features Tuskless, an elephant and her companions entering the camp-kitchen after they got tempted by the smell of bananas and other fruits. They raided the kitchen in such a way that it was about to blow off (explode!)
That evening. The narrator, Phyllis and the film-makers go for a dinner. The camp is totally unattended.
Left alone, Tuskless, Teddy, Tonie and Tilly feed on grass.
Tuskless smells food and turns to kitchen.
Tuskless rumbles loudly and calls her friends to follow her.
The elephants appraoch the kitchen.
Tuskless wraps her trunk around the sisal pole that supports the kitchen.
Tuskless gets the pole wrenched.
Tuskless makes a sizeable hole in the wall of the kitchen and reaches her trunk out to feel for bananas.
Tuskless feels impatient. Starts pushing the wall.
The other elephanats join her.
The building collapses sidways.
Tuskless enters. Others follow.
They start eating bananas, mangoes, pineapples, papaya and oranges.
They start feeding on carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, egg-plants, lettuces, cabbages, cauliflower, etc.
Start lifting the tin trunks and turning them upside down until they disgorged their contents.
Tuskless is not satisfied. She smells the bread and cookies and crackers in a wooden cupboard. Knocks its down. Smashes it open. Eats all up.
Crush the cooler and the smaller fridge.
The elephants pull the bigger fridge until it gets disconnected from its gas cylinder.
Noxious propane gas starts leaking from the cylinder.
Start tackling the other cupboards with jams and spices.
The author enters the scene in her Land Rower car.
The elephants grab a last trunkful and start backing away.
Tuskless stays back for a while because she is reluctant to leave the feast/food.
The author enters the kitchen. Tuskless is finally forced to leave the kitchen.
Grabbing a box of spaghetti (like noodles) and a paper bag full of half-pound garlic, she goes out to join the other elephants.