Notes Class 8 Chapter 1.2 Balbharati English Maharashtra Board

Dick Whittington and his Cat

Introduction

• The story is based on the legend of Richard Whittington, who was a real historical figure.
• It is a folk tale that highlights the importance of perseverance, destiny, and kindness.
• The main character, Dick Whittington, starts as a poor orphan but rises to great success through hard work and a little bit of luck.
• The story teaches that opportunities can come in unexpected ways.

1. Dick’s Early Life

• Dick Whittington was a poor orphan who lived in a small village in England.
• He often heard travelers talk about London, saying its streets were paved with gold.
• Fascinated by these tales, Dick dreamed of going to London to make a fortune.
• He decided to leave his village and travel to London in search of a better life.

2. Journey to London

• Dick set off on foot towards London.
• On his way, he met a carter (a man with a cart) who offered him a ride.
• When he finally reached London, he was shocked to see that the streets were not paved with gold but were dirty and crowded.
• He had no food, no shelter, and no friends.
• Disappointed and hungry, he roamed the streets looking for work.

3. Finding Work and Facing Hardships

• One day, Dick collapsed near the house of a rich merchant, Mr. Fitzwarren.
• Mr. Fitzwarren saw Dick and took pity on him.
• He gave Dick a job in his kitchen as a servant.
• Dick worked hard, but he faced two major problems:
  1. The cook was cruel and always scolded and beat him.
  2. The attic where he slept was full of rats and mice, which disturbed his sleep.

4. The Cat – A Solution to Dick’s Problem

• To solve the rat problem, Dick decided to buy a cat with the little money he had saved.
• The cat was an excellent mouser and quickly chased away all the rats and mice.
• For the first time, Dick could sleep peacefully.

5. Dick Decides to Leave London

• The cook’s cruel behavior became unbearable.
• One day, Dick could not take it anymore and decided to run away from Mr. Fitzwarren’s house.
• As he walked away, he stopped to rest on a stone.
• While sitting, he heard the church bells ringing.
• The bells seemed to say:”Turn again, Whittington,Thou worthy citizen,Lord Mayor of London.”
• Inspired by these words, Dick changed his mind and returned to Mr. Fitzwarren’s house.

6. The Cat’s Unexpected Success

• Mr. Fitzwarren was a merchant who owned a ship for trading goods.
• He allowed all his servants to send something on the ship for trade.
• Since Dick had nothing to send, he offered his cat.
• The ship sailed to Barbary (North Africa), where the king and queen’s palace was overrun by rats and mice.
• The king and queen were desperate for a solution.
• The ship’s captain introduced Dick’s cat to the royal family.
• The cat quickly got rid of all the rats and mice.
• Impressed, the king offered a large sum of gold and jewels in exchange for the cat.

7. Dick Becomes Rich

• The ship returned to London, and the captain informed Mr. Fitzwarren about the cat’s success.
• Mr. Fitzwarren honestly gave all the money from the sale to Dick.
• Overnight, Dick became wealthy and respected.
• Instead of wasting his fortune, he continued working hard with Mr. Fitzwarren.

8. Dick’s Rise to Success

• Over time, Dick became a successful merchant.
• He later married Mr. Fitzwarren’s daughter, Alice.
• Because of his honesty, hard work, and generosity, he was elected the Lord Mayor of London three times.
• The king knighted him, making him Sir Richard Whittington.
• He used his wealth to help the poor and contributed to society.

Moral and Lessons from the Story

1. Hard work and honesty lead to success.

• Dick worked hard even when he was poor, and it paid off in the end.

2. Destiny favors those who never give up.

• When Dick heard the bells, he didn’t quit-he returned and later became successful.

3. Opportunities can come in unexpected ways.

• A simple cat changed Dick’s fortune, showing that even small things can have a big impact.

4. Kindness and generosity bring respect and happiness.

• Dick used his success to help the poor, and he was loved by the people of London.

Vocabulary and Word Meanings