Notes Class 7 Chapter 3.3 English Balbharati Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – Balbharati English Class 7

A Crow in the House

1. Detailed Summary

The story begins with the narrator, a young boy, finding a helpless baby crow that had fallen from its nest onto a road. The crow was in a pitiful state-weak, with its beak open and head drooping-facing danger from passing carts, tongas (horse-drawn carriages), or stray cats. The narrator rescues it and brings it home, where he and his grandfather nurse it back to health. They feed it bread and milk by gently opening its beak with a pencil and even give it small doses of Grandmother’s homemade plum wine. Against their initial expectations, the crow survives and grows stronger.

The crow is offered freedom but chooses to stay with the family, earning the name Caesar despite uncertainty about its gender. Caesar quickly adapts to life indoors, becoming a bold and mischievous member of the household. He disrupts mealtimes by demanding his share of food, explores everything, and creates chaos-emptying matchboxes, tearing newspapers, overturning vases, and teasing the family’s dogs. Grandmother and Aunt Mabel find him irritating, but the narrator and Grandfather are more tolerant. Attempts to cage Caesar fail due to his loud protests, so he is allowed to roam freely.

Caesar develops unique habits: he learns to say “Hello, hello” and “Kiss, kiss” in a cracked voice, greets the narrator at the door, and collects odd items like toothbrushes, clothes pegs, and false teeth from neighbors. His antics amuse the family but annoy others, leading to complaints and rising toothbrush sales in the area. He also pesters Harold the Hornbill, a caged pet, and steals sweets from children outside the local shop.

The crow’s troublesome behavior reaches a tragic end when he is caught stealing beans from a neighbor’s garden. The neighbor throws a stick, breaking Caesar’s leg. The narrator and Grandfather try to mend it with a bandage, but the injury doesn’t heal. Caesar grows weak, stops talking, and refuses food, surviving briefly on sips of wine. One morning, the narrator finds him dead on the sofa. Heartbroken, he buries Caesar in the garden with his treasured collection of stolen items, reflecting on how the crow’s bold nature led to his untimely death.

2. Key Events in Detail

Rescue from the Road:

• The narrator spots a young crow fluttering helplessly on the road, at risk of being crushed or eaten.
• He picks it up and takes it home, noticing its weak condition-beak gaping, head drooping.

Nursing the Crow:

• Grandfather and the narrator use a pencil to gently open the crow’s beak and feed it bread mixed with milk.
• They add Grandmother’s plum wine to its diet, which helps it recover surprisingly fast.

Caesar’s Integration into the Family:

• Offered freedom, the crow refuses to leave and stays in the house.
• Named Caesar, he starts joining the family at meals, demanding meat, soup, and vegetables in a small bowl.

Mischievous Behavior:

• Caesar hops around, scattering matchbox contents, ripping newspapers, and knocking over vases.
• He tugs at the dogs’ tails and pecks at Harold the Hornbill’s feet, causing squabbles.
• He steals from neighbors-pens, combs, keys, shuttlecocks, toothbrushes, and clothes pegs-piling them in the narrator’s room.

Learning to Talk:

• Caesar picks up phrases like “Hello, hello” and “Kiss, kiss,” taught by the narrator.
• He bangs on the window or greets the narrator at the door, showing intelligence and affection.

Aunt Mabel’s Visit:

• Caesar lands on Aunt Mabel’s arm, says “Kiss, kiss,” and then knocks off her spectacles while pecking at them, upsetting her.

The Final Mischief:

• Caesar steals beans from a neighbor’s garden and is hit with a stick, breaking his leg.
• The narrator and Grandfather bandage the leg, but Caesar weakens and eventually dies.

Caesar’s Death and Burial:

• Found dead on the sofa with stiff legs, Caesar is buried in a shallow garden grave with his stolen treasures.

3. Detailed Character Analysis

The Narrator (Young Boy):

• A compassionate and patient boy who rescues Caesar and grows attached to him.
• Enjoys teaching Caesar to talk and tolerates his mischief, showing a deep bond.
• Feels sadness and responsibility when Caesar dies, burying him respectfully.

Grandfather:

• A kind, knowledgeable man who helps save Caesar and supports keeping him.
• Suggests Caesar is a jungle crow (raven), hinting at his unique traits.
• Patient with Caesar’s antics, unlike Grandmother.

Grandmother:

• Practical and strict, she sees Caesar as a pest ruining the house.
• Complains about his mess (e.g., marigolds on the carpet) and tries to cage him, but relents for peace.
• Her blood pressure rises due to Caesar’s stealing, showing her frustration.

Aunt Mabel:

• A visitor who is initially charmed by Caesar’s “Kiss, kiss” but angered when he damages her spectacles.
• Represents how outsiders react to Caesar’s unpredictable nature.

Caesar (The Crow):

• A clever, bold, and naughty crow who becomes the story’s star.
• Shows human-like traits: talks, demands food, and collects items.
• Snobbish and independent, he avoids other crows and prefers human company.
• His mischief leads to both humor and tragedy.

Harold the Hornbill:

• A caged pet bird who gets irritated by Caesar’s teasing.
• Adds humor through his clashes with Caesar.

Neighbors:

• Unnamed but affected by Caesar’s thefts (e.g., toothbrushes, clothes pegs).
• One neighbor’s anger causes Caesar’s injury, showing the consequences of his actions.

Dogs:

• Minor characters teased by Caesar, adding to the household chaos.

4. Themes in Detail

Kindness and Compassion:

• The narrator and Grandfather’s efforts to save Caesar reflect care for helpless creatures.
• Their patience with his mischief shows unconditional love.

Freedom vs. Domesticity:

• Caesar rejects the wild for human life, suggesting animals can choose where they belong.
• His refusal to join other crows highlights a preference for the family’s company.

Mischief and Its Consequences:

• Caesar’s playful chaos entertains but leads to his injury and death, teaching that actions have results.
• His stealing annoys others, showing the limits of tolerance.

Human-Animal Relationships:

• The bond between the narrator and Caesar (teaching him to talk, burying him) shows deep affection.
• Contrasts with Grandmother’s view of him as a pest, reflecting varied perspectives.

Loss and Acceptance:

• Caesar’s death brings sorrow, but the narrator accepts it by giving him a proper burial.

5. Setting

• Time: Not specified, but likely mid-20th century (tongas suggest an older era).
• Place: A house in a small town or village with a garden, banyan tree, and nearby neighbors.
  • The bania’s shop and bazar indicate a community setting.
• Atmosphere: Warm and lively with Caesar’s antics, but turns somber at his death.

6. Tone and Style

• Tone: Humorous and affectionate at first, shifting to sad and reflective at the end.
• Style: Simple, descriptive, and engaging, with vivid imagery (e.g., Caesar fluttering, tearing papers).
• Ruskin Bond uses a conversational style, making it relatable for young readers.

7. Vocabulary with Detailed Meanings and Usage

Fluttering: Moving wings rapidly in a weak or shaky way.

• Sentence: The crow was fluttering helplessly on the road.

Gaping: Wide open, often from weakness or surprise.

• Sentence: Its beak was gaping as it struggled to breathe.

Prizing: Forcing something open carefully.

• Sentence: They prized its beak open with a pencil to feed it.

Recovery: The process of getting better after illness or injury.

• Sentence: Caesar’s recovery amazed the family.

Restless: Unable to stay still, always moving.

• Sentence: Caesar was restless, hopping around the table.

Contemptuous: Feeling or showing scorn or disrespect.

• Sentence: Caesar seemed contemptuous of ordinary crows.

Snobbish: Acting superior or too good for others.

• Sentence: He became snobbish after living with humans.

Fidgeting: Moving nervously or impatiently.

• Sentence: Caesar was fidgeting while exploring the room.

Disaster: A sudden, harmful event.

• Sentence: His gardening led to the disaster of a broken leg.

Anti-social: Behavior that disrupts or harms society.

• Sentence: Caesar’s anti-social habits caused trouble.

8. Moral of the Story

• Kindness to animals is rewarding but can come with challenges.
• Mischievous behavior might be fun but can lead to danger or loss.
• Every action has a consequence, good or bad.