Introduction
The author of Odd One In is Tithi Tavora. She is a writer and illustrator of children’s books. She has written several stories for young readers. Odd One In is a story about two girls, Rima and Malti, who are classmates in a school. Rima is a stylish and proud girl who speaks English very well, while Malti is a simple and smart girl who comes from another state and has poor English skills. Rima and her friends mock and bully Malti for her appearance and accent, but Malti proves to be talented and intelligent in various fields, such as singing, mathematics, and sports. Rima becomes jealous of Malti and tries to humiliate her, but ends up losing her own friends. The story shows how prejudice and jealousy can affect one’s behaviour and relationships.
The genre of Odd One In is realistic fiction. Realistic fiction is a genre of literature that depicts fictional characters and events that are plausible and could happen in real life². Realistic fiction often deals with themes such as friendship, family, school, identity, and social issues. Some examples of realistic fiction books are:
– Wonder by R.J. Palacio
– The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
– Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Odd One In is a realistic fiction story because it portrays the realistic experiences of two girls, Rima and Malti, who are classmates in a school. The story shows how they face challenges such as bullying, prejudice, jealousy, and competition. The story also reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of India, as Rima and Malti come from different states and speak different languages. The story is relatable and relevant to many young readers who may have similar situations in their own lives.
Summary of Odd One In
The story begins with Rima’s nonchalant response to her parents’ inquiry about her first day of school, revealing her disdain for a new girl, Malti, who comes from another state. Rima, along with her friends, decides to make things difficult for Malti due to her apparent lack of proficiency in English and different appearance.
Despite the mockery, Malti surprises everyone by excelling in academics and participating in the Inter-House singing competition. The tables turn when Malti’s melodious voice earns her the first prize, showcasing her hidden talents. As the term progresses, it becomes evident that Malti is not only bright but also excels in sports and mathematics, gaining respect and friendships from others in the class.
However, Rima and her clique remain obstinately prejudiced against Malti, persistently mocking her, particularly for her English. When Malti, on the verge of tears, seeks help to improve her English, Rima callously rejects her, reinforcing the theme of prejudice and disdain for those perceived as different.
– Rima: a stylish and proud girl who speaks English very well, but is rude and jealous of Malti.
– Malti: a simple and smart girl who comes from another state and has poor English skills, but is talented and intelligent in various fields.
– Mr. and Mrs. Sen: Rima’s parents who are worried about her attitude and behaviour.
– Shahnaz and Clare: Rima’s friends who join her in mocking and bullying Malti.
Theme
The theme of Odd One In Class 7th is prejudice and jealousy. The story shows how Rima is prejudiced against Malti because of her appearance and accent, and how she becomes jealous of her talents and achievements. The story also shows how Rima’s behaviour affects her relationships with her friends and parents, and how Malti handles the bullying with dignity and grace. The story teaches us to respect and appreciate diversity, and to avoid judging others by their looks or language.
Title
The title of the story, Odd One In, is suggestive and intriguing. It implies that there is someone who does not fit in with the rest of the class, and makes the reader curious to find out who that person is and why they are different. The title also hints at the theme of the story, which is prejudice and jealousy. The title reflects how Rima and her friends view Malti as the odd one in their class, because of her appearance and accent. They judge her based on superficial criteria, and fail to appreciate her talents and intelligence. The title also shows how Malti feels isolated and lonely in her new school, and how she struggles to cope with the bullying and mockery. The title challenges the reader to think about who is really the odd one in the class, and what makes someone odd or normal. The title also invites the reader to relate to the story, and to question their own prejudices and attitudes towards others.
Questions and Answers
1. Why did Rima find Malti “funny” on the first day of school?
Answer: Rima found Malti “funny” on the first day because Malti couldn’t speak much English and had come from another state, leading Rima to mock her appearance and accent.
2. How did Rima and her friends mock Malti?
Answer: Rima and her friends mocked Malti by imitating her accent, making fun of her oily hair, and criticizing her clothing, particularly the length of her skirt.
3. What surprising talent did Malti showcase in the Inter-House singing competition?
Answer: In the Inter-House singing competition, Malti surprised everyone with her melodious and well-trained voice, winning the first prize in the Hindi song category.
4. Why did Rima feel no joy even though she came first in her category?
Answer: Despite coming first in her category in the singing competition, Rima felt no joy because Malti’s exceptional performance overshadowed her accomplishment, highlighting the shallowness of Rima’s judgment.
5. Describe the transformation in the perception of Malti among her classmates.
Answer: As the term progressed, many classmates recognized Malti’s intelligence, talents in sports and mathematics, and sought her help. Teachers appreciated her respectful and intelligent demeanor, while girls in the class started befriending her. However, Rima and her clique stubbornly maintained their dislike for Malti.
Textual Questions and Answers:
- Discuss the meaning in the context of the story.
- “Settling in”: Adapting to a new environment or situation.
- “Sniffed”: Indicated a disdainful or contemptuous reaction.
- “Insufferable”: Described Rima’s behavior as unbearable or intolerable.
- Discuss:
- How did Rima decide whether or not Malti was smart? What is your opinion?
- Rima judged Malti’s intelligence based on superficial factors like appearance, English proficiency, and origin. In my opinion, Rima’s assessment is biased and unfair, overlooking Malti’s true abilities.
- Do Rima and her parents share the same attitude? How do we know that?
- Rima and her parents do not share the same attitude. Rima displays prejudice, while her parents express concern for Malti’s well-being.
- Guess what Malti was about to say when Teacher entered.
- Given Malti’s offended look, she was likely about to respond to comments about her appearance or English skills when Teacher entered.
- Discuss the difference in the meaning of the following words:
- “Smart”: Intelligence or quick mental capabilities.
- “Confident”: Belief in one’s abilities or self-assuredness.
- “Snob”: A person who looks down on others perceived as inferior.
- Guess the meaning of:
- “Forte”: One’s strong point or talent.
- “Belied”: Contradicted or misrepresented the truth.
- “Befriended”: Formed a friendship with someone.
- Think and answer: Why did Rima feel no joy even though she came first in her category?
- Despite coming first, Rima felt no joy because Malti’s exceptional performance in the singing competition overshadowed her accomplishment.
- Name the friends in Rima’s clique.
- The friends in Rima’s clique include Shahnaz and Clare.
