EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY

“The Lost Child” by Mulk Raj Anand is a moving short story that highlights a child’s innocence and how a moment of crisis can transform desires and priorities. It captures a child’s journey from excitement to fear, from longing for material things to yearning for the comfort and safety of his parents.

The story is set during a spring fair in the countryside, where people are joyfully heading toward a village fair, dressed in bright clothes and enjoying the festive atmosphere. Among them is a little boy with his parents. The boy is fascinated by everything around him — from the toys displayed in shops to the colorful balloons, sweets, garlands, and various games. He sees everything with wide-eyed wonder and expresses his desires to have what he sees.

At every step, the boy is attracted to something new. He asks his parents for different things — a toy at a shop, sweets like burfi, colorful balloons, and garlands of gulmohur. However, his parents gently refuse each time, using distraction or a soft “look child, what is there ahead” to move him along. Despite this, the boy remains cheerful and continues enjoying the vibrant scenes of the fair.

Suddenly, amidst the crowd and the attractions, the boy realizes he has been separated from his parents. At first, he looks around calmly, but soon panic sets in. He begins to cry, calling for his mother and father. The fair, once full of joy, now seems frightening. He runs in all directions but finds no sign of his parents.

A kind, unknown man notices the boy crying and asks him what’s wrong. The boy explains that he’s lost and wants his parents. The man tries to comfort him and offers him the very things he had earlier wanted — toys, balloons, sweets, and garlands — but the boy is no longer interested in any of them. All he wants is his parents.
This shift in the boy’s desires is the emotional heart of the story. It shows how the love and security of parents are far more valuable to a child than any material possession. The story subtly critiques how adults often ignore children’s emotional needs, and how a child’s world revolves around their parents more than anything else.

The narrative is simple but deeply emotional. Through the lost child’s experience, the author highlights the fragile yet deep bond between a child and their parents. It also shows how the same colorful, joyous environment can turn into a nightmare for a child when they feel alone and vulnerable.

✅ Conclusion
“The Lost Child” is not just a story about a child losing his way in a fair — it’s a symbolic exploration of childhood, love, and emotional dependence. It teaches that while children may be drawn to toys and treats, nothing matters more to them than the comfort, presence, and protection of their parents. The story is a powerful reminder of what truly brings happiness to a child’s heart.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASSAGE

📜Passage from “The Lost Child”
The child turned around to look at his parents. They were not there. He began to cry. He ran here and there, shouting, “Mother! Father!” His yellow turban came untied and his clothes became muddy as he struggled through the crowd. A kind man in the crowd lifted him in his arms and tried to soothe him with sweets, balloons, and flowers, but the child sobbed only for his parents.

Questions and Answers

✅ Q1. Fill in the blank (1 mark)
The boy’s yellow turban came __ as he ran through the crowd. (Choose a phrasal verb meaning “got loose”)
Answer: untied

✅ Q2. Multiple Choice Question (1 mark)
Choose the correct synonym of the word “soothe” used in the passage:
A) disturb
B) comfort
C) ignore
D) excite
Answer: comfort

✅ Q3. Answer in 15 words (1 mark)
Why did the child reject all the sweets and toys offered by the kind stranger?
Answer:
Because he was frightened and all he wanted was to find his missing parents.

✅ Q4. Answer in 40 words (2 marks)
What does the child’s reaction after getting lost reveal about his priorities?
Answer:
The child’s reaction shows that, above material desires like toys and sweets, his emotional security lies with his parents. When separated, he no longer craves fun or possessions—he only longs for the love, safety, and presence of his mother and father.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
✅ Q1. What attracted the child at the fair, and how did his parents respond to his demands? (3 marks – 60 words)
Answer:
The child was attracted by toys, sweets, balloons, garlands, and a roundabout. He expressed his desires to have them, but his parents refused gently. They distracted him by pointing out other things or asking him to move along. Though denied repeatedly, the child remained joyful and continued enjoying the sights and sounds of the fair.

✅ Q2. Describe how the child got separated from his parents. (3 marks – 60 words)
Answer:
At the fair, the child got fascinated by a roundabout and stopped to watch. While doing so, he didn’t realize his parents had walked ahead. When he turned around to ask for a ride, they were gone. He searched for them frantically in the crowd, calling out for them in panic and fear.

✅ Q3. What role does the kind stranger play in the story? (3 marks – 60 words)
Answer:
The kind stranger notices the child crying and alone in the crowd. He picks him up, comforts him, and tries to cheer him by offering sweets, balloons, and rides. However, the child rejects everything. The stranger’s role highlights adult compassion and serves as a contrast to the child’s earlier material desires.

✅ Q4. How does the child’s attitude change after he is lost? (3 marks – 60 words)
Answer:
Earlier, the child was excited by the fair’s attractions and kept asking for toys, sweets, and rides. But once he gets separated from his parents, his desires vanish. Nothing interests him anymore. He cries only for his mother and father, showing that emotional security mattered far more to him than any material pleasure.

✅ Q5. What message does the story “The Lost Child” convey about the relationship between children and their parents? (6 marks – 120 words)
Answer:
“The Lost Child” conveys that for children, their emotional bond with parents is far more important than material possessions. While the child in the story is initially distracted by the colorful attractions of the fair, everything loses value once he realizes his parents are missing. He no longer wants sweets, toys, or balloons—he only wants the love and protection of his mother and father. The story highlights that children feel safe, loved, and complete only when they are with their parents. It reminds us that though children might appear drawn to worldly pleasures, deep down they prioritize emotional connections. This story teaches adults to value and nurture these bonds instead of assuming children care only for material things.

✅ Q6. Imagine you are the lost child. Write a diary entry describing your feelings after being reunited with your parents. (6 marks – 120 words)
Answer:
Diary Entry –
Today was the most frightening day of my life. One moment I was watching the roundabout, and the next, my parents were gone. I cried, screamed, and ran through the crowd calling “Mother! Father!” but no one answered. Everything around me became scary. I no longer cared for sweets or toys—I only wanted to feel their arms around me again. A kind man helped me, but I didn’t feel safe until I finally saw my parents. They hugged me tightly, and I cried with relief. I’ve realized that nothing in the world matters more than my parents. Their love is my greatest treasure, and I never want to lose sight of them again.