Summary of The Kings Choice
“The King’s Choice” is a story about a lion who ruled the jungle and sought new delicacies. The lion appointed a clever fox, an alert leopard, and a vulture as his advisors and took an oath of allegiance. When the vulture suggested camel meat, the lion, intrigued, decided to explore the desert.
On the journey, the lion’s paws got burnt, and he couldn’t proceed. The clever fox saved the day by convincing a camel to join the lion’s court. Returning to the forest, the courtiers wanted to feast on the camel, but the lion, grateful for the camel’s help, promised protection.
As the lion couldn’t hunt due to his burnt paws, the courtiers planned to offer the camel as food. However, the clever fox’s quick thinking turned the tables. The vulture, fox, and leopard offered themselves as food, but when the lion accepted in the order they presented, they fled.
The lion appreciated the camel’s loyalty and kindness, realizing that being a kind king was more important than merely being a ruler.
Moral / Theme
The moral of The King’s Choice is that a king should be just and kind to his subjects, and not be influenced by the selfish motives of his courtiers. His justice will instill faith towards him in his subjects and his kindness will help him win their hearts. A king should not demand respect instead it should be earned with his qualities and virtues.
Questions and Answers
1. Why must a king have a court?
A1: A king needs a court to have advisors, a bodyguard, and a messenger who can help him make decisions, protect him, and communicate with others in the kingdom.
2. What qualities are necessary in the following? Why?
- King: Leadership and fairness are essential because the king needs to make wise and just decisions for the kingdom.
- Adviser: Cleverness and wisdom are crucial as the adviser guides the king with smart advice.
- Bodyguard: Alertness and strength are necessary to protect the king from any danger.
- Messenger: The ability to fly and carry messages swiftly is important for effective communication.
6. What advice did the fox and the leopard give? Was it based on good and sound thinking?
A6: The fox and the leopard advised following the vulture to the desert. While it seemed reasonable, it turned out to be challenging due to the hot sand.
7. Do you think the vulture was enjoying the search?
A7: It’s not clear if the vulture was enjoying the search, but he played a role in leading the lion to the desert.
8. Do you think the king’s decision to go back was right?
A8: Yes, the king’s decision to go back was right because the hot sand was harming his paws, and it wasn’t safe to continue.
9. Can you guess the plan that the fox had thought of?
A9: The fox’s plan was to convince the camel that the lion had become the new ruler, saving both the lion and themselves.
10. Why does the fox address the camel as ‘friend camel’?
A10: The fox addresses the camel as ‘friend’ to create a bond and gain the camel’s trust, convincing it to join the lion’s court.
11. What qualities of the courtiers emerge in this part of the story?
A11: The courtiers showed cunning and a willingness to deceive to ensure their survival and benefit.
12. The fox, the leopard, and the vulture have the same thought about the camel. Why is it so?
A12: They all wanted to secure their safety and benefit from the camel, leading to a shared interest in convincing the camel to join the lion’s court.
13. Did you expect the lion to be kind to the camel? Do you think his decision was right?
A13: The lion’s unexpected kindness was surprising. His decision to spare the camel’s life showed compassion, and it was the right choice.
14. Why did the courtiers have to obey the king?
A14: The courtiers had to obey the king because they pledged an oath of loyalty to him, promising to serve and protect him.
15. Were the courtiers being loyal to their king? Discuss.
A15: Initially, the courtiers appeared loyal, but their true loyalty was tested when they planned to betray the king for their own survival.
16. What qualities of the camel are seen in his speech?
A16: The camel shows humility and gratitude in its speech, offering its life in return for the lion’s protection.
17. Why did the lion laugh to see the courtiers go?
A17: The lion laughed because he saw through the courtiers’ deceitful plans, realizing their true intentions.
18. Is ‘friend’ a position at a court? How is it different?
A18: ‘Friend’ is not a formal position at a court. It signifies a relationship based on trust and companionship, different from official roles like adviser or bodyguard.
Extra Solved Questions
Q1: What were the roles of the fox, leopard, and vulture in the lion’s court?
A: The fox was the advisor, the leopard served as a bodyguard, and the vulture acted as a messenger for the lion.
Q2: Why did the lion decide to go to the desert, and who suggested the idea?
A: The lion wanted to try camel meat, and the vulture suggested the idea after claiming to have seen a desert during his flights.
Q3: How did the clever fox save the lion and the other advisors in the desert?
A: The clever fox fabricated a story, telling the camel that the lion had killed its owner, making the lion the new ruler and inviting the camel to join the court.
Q4: What challenges did the lion face in the desert, and how did it affect the journey?
A: The hot sand in the desert burned the lion’s paws, preventing him from continuing the journey and leading to uncertainty among the advisors.
Q5: When they returned to the forest, why did the courtiers look at the camel with a hungry smile?
A: The courtiers were hungry and contemplated feasting on the camel as a source of food.
Q6: How did the lion express gratitude to the camel, and why did the courtiers oppose it?
A: The lion spared the camel, thanking it for saving his life. The courtiers opposed it as they desired the camel for food.
Q7: What plan did the courtiers hatch to avoid being eaten, and how did the lion respond?
A: The courtiers offered themselves as food to the lion. When they suggested eating the camel, the lion intervened, appreciating the camel’s loyalty.
Q8: In the end, what lesson did the lion learn from the events that transpired?
A: The lion realized that while being a king is good, being kind is even better.
Textual Questions
- Write a character sketch of each of the animals. Write about their actions and thoughts and the qualities that emerge through them. You may present the sketch in the form of a graphic.
- Using your imagination, write more sentences in the same pattern:
(a) But the more the lion had, the more he wanted.
(b) Whenever he took a walk, they followed him.
(c) To be king is good. But to be kind is better.
- Turn the story into a play as a group activity and present the scenes in the classroom.
- This story takes an unexpected turn when the lion decides to spare the camel’s life. Choose any fable, story that you like and rewrite it giving it an unexpected turn.
- Talk about the good qualities of any one person you do not like. (You need not name the person.)
Answers:
1. Character Sketch:
- Lion:
- Actions: Ruled the jungle, desired more gifts, went on a desert journey.
- Thoughts: Wanted to be satisfied, craved new experiences.
- Qualities: Powerful, curious, appreciative (towards the end).
- Fox:
- Actions: Chosen as an advisor, devised a plan to save the group.
- Thoughts: Clever, strategic, quick-witted.
- Qualities: Resourceful, cunning, loyal.
- Leopard:
- Actions: Appointed as the bodyguard, faced uncertainty in the desert.
- Thoughts: Alert, cautious, feared danger.
- Qualities: Vigilant, protective, anxious.
- Vulture:
- Actions: Became the messenger, suggested the desert journey.
- Thoughts: Opportunistic, observant, flighty.
- Qualities: Resourceful, keen, strategic.
- Camel:
- Actions: Became involved due to the fox’s plan, offered loyalty to the lion.
- Thoughts: Surprised, grateful, cooperative.
- Qualities: Obedient, adaptable, trusting.
2. Imaginative Sentences:
- (a) The lion’s appetite grew with every gift he received; the more he had, the more he craved.
- (b) Wherever the lion strolled, a parade of animals trailed behind him, eager to witness his majesty.
- (c) Being a king has its perks, but the lion discovered that being kind surpasses all royal glory.
3. Play Scenario:
- Scene 1: Jungle court with lion and advisors.
- Scene 2: Vulture suggests the desert journey.
- Scene 3: Desert journey, lion’s burnt paws, dilemma.
- Scene 4: Fox’s plan, meeting the camel.
- Scene 5: Return to the forest, conflict among courtiers.
- Scene 6: Lion’s decision to spare the camel, gratitude.
4. Rewriting a Fable:
- In a classic fable where a greedy dog loses his bone to its reflection in the water, let’s turn the tale unexpectedly. The dog, upon seeing its reflection, realizes the importance of sharing and decides to give its bone to another hungry creature nearby, learning a lesson in generosity.
5. Talking About Good Qualities:
- While I may not always agree with this person, I appreciate their dedication and hard work. Their commitment to their goals is admirable, and it shows in their consistent efforts.
