Class 10 : English – Lesson 7. Madam Rides the Bus

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY

💠 Explanation

🌟 Introduction to the Lesson
Madam Rides the Bus by Vallikannan is a touching story about an eight-year-old girl named Valli who is curious about the world outside her home. Her deep desire to explore leads her to secretly ride a bus to town, giving her valuable life lessons about curiosity, courage, and reality.

📚 About the Author
Vallikannan (1911–1996) was a Tamil writer, critic, and journalist. He wrote extensively in Tamil literature and is known for his simple, realistic style that often highlights the lives and emotions of ordinary people.

💡 Setting / Context
The story is set in a small South Indian village and a nearby town. The bus journey, though short, symbolizes Valli’s first step into the wider world and her exploration of life beyond her limited surroundings.

🎭 Key Sections / Episodes
Valli’s Curiosity: Valli, an eight-year-old girl, loves to stand at her house’s front door, watching life go by and dreaming of traveling.
The Bus Ride Plan: Fascinated by the bus that passes her street, she carefully saves money and plans her first-ever ride.
The Bus Journey: She boards the bus confidently, interacts with passengers, and enjoys the changing scenery.
The Calf Incident: On the return journey, Valli sees a dead calf on the road. The sight shocks her, making her realize the harsh reality of life.
Return Home: Valli returns quietly, more mature and thoughtful, with a new understanding of life.

🖋️ Tone, Style, and Devices
The tone is light, humorous, and reflective. Vallikannan uses realism (childlike curiosity), imagery (scenery during the ride), and contrast (joy of travel vs. sadness of death) to deepen the story’s impact.

🕊️ Themes and Takeaways
Childhood Curiosity: Children have a natural desire to explore and understand the world.
Independence and Courage: Valli’s determination shows the strength of a child’s will.
Life’s Realities: Joy and excitement often come with unexpected lessons and harsh truths.
Growth and Maturity: Even a small experience can bring deep understanding and emotional growth.

💠 Summary
Madam Rides the Bus narrates the story of Valli, an eight-year-old girl with a strong desire to explore the world. Fascinated by a bus that passed her village daily, she carefully saves money and secretly takes her first bus ride to town. Valli enjoys the journey, marvels at the scenery, and feels proud of her independence. However, on her way back, she sees a dead calf on the road, which shocks and saddens her. The incident teaches her that life is not only about fun and excitement but also about facing harsh realities. The story beautifully captures the innocence of childhood alongside the beginnings of maturity.
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PASSAGE

PASSAGE
“Valli would stand in the front doorway of her house and watch what was happening in the street outside. For her, standing there was as enjoyable as playing games with other children. She loved watching the bus that passed by her street every hour. The sight of the bus filled her with an overwhelming desire to ride it at least once.”

💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
Why did Valli enjoy standing in the doorway?
Answer: Valli enjoyed standing in the doorway because she could watch the lively street scene and, most importantly, the bus passing by, which fascinated her more than playing with friends.

💠 (Multiple Choice)
What gave Valli the overwhelming desire to ride the bus?
A. Watching people play in the street
B. Seeing the shops nearby
C. Watching the bus pass by her street
D. Listening to street vendors
Answer: C. Watching the bus pass by her street

💠 (Fill in the blank)
Valli found standing in the front doorway as enjoyable as playing __ with other children.
Answer: games

💠 (Fill in the blank)
The bus passed Valli’s street every __.
Answer: hour

💠 (Assertion and Reason)
Assertion (A): Valli wanted to ride the bus because she was bored standing at the doorway.
Reason (R): Watching the bus every hour filled her with curiosity and desire to experience the ride herself.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
Answer: C. A is false, but R is true.

💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
What does this passage reveal about Valli’s nature?
Answer: The passage shows Valli’s keen sense of observation, curiosity about the world, and strong desire to explore new experiences, especially her fascination with the bus.

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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

🔴 Q1. Who is the author of Madam Rides the Bus?
🔵 Answer: Vallikannan.

🔴 Q2. How old was Valli, the main character?
🔵 Answer: Valli was eight years old.

🔴 Q3. What fascinated Valli the most while watching the street?
🔵 Answer: The bus that passed by her street every hour.

🔴 Q4. Why did Valli save money and how?
🔵 Answer: She wanted to ride the bus, so she saved money carefully by resisting temptations like toys, balloons, and sweets.

🔴 Q5. What was the fare for the bus ride?
🔵 Answer: The bus fare was thirty paise one way.

🔴 Q6. How did Valli manage to ride the bus?
🔵 Answer: She secretly boarded the bus during the afternoon when her mother was asleep, paying the fare from her saved money.

🔴 Q7. How did Valli behave inside the bus?
🔵 Answer: She acted confidently and maturely, refusing offers of help and insisting she could manage herself.

🔴 Q8. What incident disturbed Valli during her return journey?
🔵 Answer: She saw a young calf lying dead on the road, which deeply saddened and shocked her.

🔴 Q9. What does the dead calf symbolize in the story?
🔵 Answer: It symbolizes the harsh realities of life and death, contrasting with Valli’s earlier excitement and innocence.

🔴 Q10. How did Valli’s bus ride change her perspective on life?
🔵 Answer: She realized that life has both joy and sorrow, teaching her maturity beyond her years.

🔴 Q11. Why is the story titled Madam Rides the Bus?
🔵 Answer: Because Valli, though just a little girl, behaved like a self-assured “madam” during her bus ride, showing confidence and independence.

🔴 Q12. Describe Valli’s character traits.
🔵 Answer: Valli was curious, determined, observant, courageous, and independent. She planned her journey carefully and faced challenges with confidence, showing early signs of maturity.

🔴 Q13. What message does the story convey?
🔵 Answer: The story highlights childhood curiosity, independence, and the transition from innocence to maturity, showing that even small experiences can teach important life lessons.

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