Notes For All Chapters – Balbharati English Class 7
The King’s Choice
Introduction
- “The King’s Choice” is a folk tale about a lion, the king of the forest, and his journey with his courtiers: a fox, a leopard, and a vulture.
- The story teaches important lessons about leadership, loyalty, and kindness through the lion’s decisions and experiences.
Summary
- The lion, a fierce and strong king, rules the forest and receives gifts from all animals. Wanting more, he forms a court by appointing a fox as his adviser, a leopard as his bodyguard, and a vulture as his messenger. They promise loyalty, and he promises them food and protection.
- One day, the vulture suggests the lion try camel meat, describing it as tasty. Curious, the lion agrees to hunt a camel in the desert. However, the hot desert sand burns his paws, and he cannot go on.
- The fox cleverly brings a camel to carry the lion back to the forest. The courtiers expect the lion to eat the camel, but he protects it instead, thanking it for saving his life.
- Later, when the lion is hungry and unable to hunt, the courtiers offer themselves as food to trick the camel into doing the same. The lion accepts their offers in order, scaring them away. He then befriends the camel, learning that kindness is better than power.
Characters
The Lion (King)
- A big, strong, and fierce ruler of the forest.
- Greedy at first, wanting more power and a court.
- Becomes wiser and kinder by the end, valuing loyalty and friendship.
The Fox (Adviser)
- Wise and clever, known for his smart ideas.
- Loyal to the lion but sneaky; tricks the camel and later the other courtiers.
- Runs away when his plan fails.
The Leopard (Bodyguard)
- Watchful and fast, protects the lion.
- Follows the king’s orders but is selfish and runs away in fear.
The Vulture (Messenger)
- A bird that flies high and delivers messages.
- Suggests the camel hunt but wants to eat the lion if he dies.
- Flies away when the lion turns on him.
The Camel
- A big, fat animal from the desert, used to carrying goods.
- Kind and loyal, agrees to help the lion and join his court.
- Becomes the lion’s true friend in the end.
Key Events
Forming the Court
- The lion decides a king needs a court and chooses the fox, leopard, and vulture for their skills. They obey him and help him hunt.
The Camel Hunt
- The vulture tells the lion about camel meat, and they travel to the desert. The heat burns the lion’s paws, and he wants to return home.
The Fox’s Plan
- The fox finds a camel, lies about its master’s death, and convinces it to come. The camel carries the lion and courtiers back to the forest.
The Lion’s Decision
- The courtiers expect the lion to eat the camel, but he protects it, grateful for its help. This shocks the fox, leopard, and vulture.
The Courtiers’ Trick
- When the lion is hungry, the courtiers offer themselves as food to trick the camel into doing the same. The lion accepts all offers, scaring them away.
The Ending
- The lion laughs as the courtiers flee and makes the camel his friend, realizing kindness matters more than power.
Themes
Leadership
- The lion starts as a greedy king but learns to be a fair leader by valuing the camel’s help.
Loyalty
- The courtiers are loyal only for food, while the camel shows true loyalty by saving the lion.
Kindness
- The lion’s choice to protect the camel instead of eating it shows that kindness is more important than selfishness.
Greed and Consequences
- The courtiers’ greed leads them to lose their place in the court, while the lion overcomes his greed to become wiser.
Moral of the Story
- The main lesson is: “To be king is good, but to be kind is better.”
- Power and strength are important, but kindness and loyalty make a true leader. The lion learns this by choosing friendship with the camel over eating him.
Vocabulary (Meanings)
- Court: A group of advisers or helpers for a king.
- Adviser: Someone who gives advice or suggestions.
- Bodyguard: A protector who keeps someone safe.
- Messenger: A person or animal that delivers messages.
- Loyalty: Being faithful and true to someone.
- Oath: A serious promise.
- Feast: A big meal.
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