The Eyes Have It Flashcards
Summary of The Eyes Have It ?
“The Eyes Have It” by Ruskin Bond is about a blind narrator who shares a train compartment with a girl.
He hides his blindness and imagines her appearance based on her voice and actions. They engage in a brief, pleasant conversation before she leaves.
Only later does the narrator learn from another passenger that the girl, too, was blind.
- What instructions did the girl’s parents give her and why?
They instructed her where to keep her things,avoid speaking with strangers and not to lean out of windows to be careful while traveling because she was blind and needed assistance during the journey.
- How did the narrator learn that his companion wore slippers?
The narrator learned she wore slippers by listening to the sound they made as she moved.
- ‘Yes, October is the best time.’ Describe Mussoorie in the month of October.
Mussoorie in October is described as hills covered with wild dahlias,the sun is delicious and at night you can sit in front of a log fire and drink coffee.
- How did the narrator feel as the train approached the Saharanpur Station?
The narrator felt nervous and hesitant as the train approached Saharanpur because he was unsure if the girl would notice his blindness.
- Give instances to show that the narrator was a sharp observer.
Despite being blind, the narrator keenly observed the sound of the girl’s slippers, her voice, and her aunts voice (high pitch). These show that the narrator was a sharp observer.
A2. Answer these questions with reference to the context:
Then I made a mistake.
Who made a mistake?
What was the mistake?
Why did the narrator call it a mistake?
• Who made a mistake?
The narrator made the mistake.
• What was the mistake?
He asked the girl to describe the scenery outside.
• Why did the narrator call it a mistake?
He called it a mistake because it could give away that he was blind, something he had been trying to hide.
b. She was an interesting girl… Can you tell me—did she keep her hair long or short?
Who did the speaker ask this question to?
Why did the speaker ask this question to?
• What happened immediately after this? How is that the most important part of the story?
• Who did the speaker ask this question to?
The speaker asked this question to the new passenger who entered the compartment.
• Why did the speaker ask this question?
He asked this out of curiosity about the girl he had imagined throughout the journey.
• What happened immediately after this? How is that the most important part of the story?
The new passenger informed the narrator that the girl was also blind. This revelation is the story’s twist and highlights the irony of the situation.
A3. Think and answer.
Well, it often happens that people with good eyesight fail to see what is right in front of them. Do you agree with the above statement? Give reasons for your answer.
Yes, people with good eyesight can miss things because they might be distracted or not paying attention. It shows that seeing well is about awareness too.
If you weren’t told about the impaired vision of the narrator and the girl, would you have been able to figure out the disorder they had? How?
Yes, I might have noticed their unsure behavior or questions about their surroundings, which could suggest a visual impairment.
