Father’s Help by R. K. Narayan – Additional Short Answer Type Questions and Answers (S.A.Q.)

R.K. Narayan’s Father’s Help is a captivating short story that explores the amusing yet relatable struggles of a schoolboy, Swami, as he tries to escape a school day with a fabricated excuse. The story humorously unfolds as his father insists on sending a letter to the headmaster, leading to unexpected outcomes. In the following sections, you will find a dozen of short answer type questions to test your understanding of the story. Additionally, all answers are provided followed by the questions to eliminate any confusion.

Short Answer Type Questions from Father’s Help by R. K. Narayan

1. Q: Why did Swami not want to go to school on Monday?
2. Q: How did Swami’s mother react to his headache?
3. Q: What was Swami’s father’s reaction when Swami said he had a headache?
4. Q: Why was Swami afraid of Samuel?
5. Q: What did Swami’s father decide to do after hearing about Samuel?
6. Q: How did Swami feel after his father wrote the letter?
7. Q: What did Swami decide about delivering the letter?
8. Q: How did Samuel react when Swami came late to class?
9. Q: How did Samuel behave in class that day?
10. Q: Why couldn’t Swami deliver the letter to the headmaster?
11. Q: What did Swami’s father do when he returned home with the letter?
12. Q: How did Swami feel about Samuel by the end of the day?

Answers

1. A: Swami did not want to go to school because he felt it was Monday too soon and pretended to have a headache.
2. A: Swami’s mother generously suggested that he might stay at home.
3. A: Swami’s father dismissed his excuse, asked him to get dressed, and insisted that he go to school.
4. A: Swami claimed that Samuel was a very angry man, especially towards students who came late.
5. A: Swami’s father decided to write a letter to the headmaster complaining about Samuel.
6. A: Swami felt guilty and unsure if his description of Samuel had been accurate.
7. A: He decided to give the letter at the end of the day, hoping Samuel would justify the complaints.
8. A: Samuel simply asked why he came late and was impressed when Swami said his father told him not to miss school.
9. A: Contrary to Swami’s expectations, Samuel was very gentle and understanding.
10. A: The headmaster was on a week’s leave, and his office was locked.
11. A: His father snatched the letter from him, tore it up, and told Swami not to ask for help if Samuel scolded him again.
12. A: Swami felt that Samuel was a good and kind teacher who did not deserve the complaints written in the letter.