Handout- His First Flight

1. What had the young seagull watched his parents doing the day before?
The day before the young seagull had watched his parents flying about with his
brothers and sister, perfecting in the art of flying and teaching them how to skim
the waves and how to dive for fish.

2. The sight of the food maddened him. What does this suggest? What
compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
The young seagull was very hungry. This was this hunger that ultimately
compelled him to fly. Its hunger intensified when it saw his mother tearing at a
piece of fish that lay at her feet. It cried to her, begging her to give him some
food. When his mother came towards him with food in its beak it screamed with
joy and anticipation. However, she stopped midway. The seagull wondered why
his mother did not come nearer Not able to resist or control hunger any longer, it
dived at the food in its mother’s beak. At that moment his hunger overpowered
his fear of the great expanse of the sea beneath the cliff. Finally, this plunge was
followed by the natural reaction of its body ie to fly.

3. What was the young seagull’s experience during his first flight?
Falling from the ledge, the young seagull was terrified, but soon he started
soaring, and then flying. He forgot that he did not know to fly. His fear soon
turned into confidence and then into amusement. As he was landing he was
afraid again, but soon became at ease. It was a memorable first fight for him.

4. What role was played by the family of the seagull to train him in the art of flying ?
To train the young seagull in the art of flying, the entire family helped out. His sister and brothers
encouraged him to muster up courage and try to fly. The parents called out in a shrill voice, along
with cajoling and scolding him in turn. Then they threatened to let him starve. When all this proved
unsuccessful, his mother tempted him by flying close to his ledge with a piece of fish in its mouth.
Maddened by hunger, he dived forward to get that piece and fell into space. To save himself he
spread his wings and found that he was able to fly. Thus, the entire family helped him in learning
the art of flying.

5. All parental acts are for the betterment of the children. Justify this statement by taking points
from the lesson, ‘The First Flight”.

The young seagull’s family tried every possible method to encourage him to fly. They cajoled him
and even scolded him but to no avail. Finally, they decided to leave him hungry on the ledge for
some time. Finally, his mother took a bold but seemingly cruel step. She flew close to the ledge with
a scrap of fish in her beak. That made the young seagull fall from the ledge while trying to get the
fish. In fright, he opened his wings and then found that he was able to fly. Thus, the purpose was
served.
 6. When did the seagull get over his fear of flying over the sea?
The seagull was afraid of flying over the sea because he thought that he would
drown. His family decided to teach him a lesson. They left him unattended. The
mother tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet now and then in his front. Since
the seagull was hungry too much, he was . compelled to attempt his first flight in
order to get food. He was successful. This is when he got over his fear flying over
the sea.

7. Describe the first flight of the young seagull.

The young seagull dived at the fish due to hunger and fell
outwards and downwards into space. He thought of getting drowned but his
wings spread outwards automatically. He moved downwards and outwards and
landed safely on the sea and floated on it without any fear.

8. What was the young seagull’s experience during his first flight?

Falling from the ledge, the seagull was terrified, but soon he started soaring and
then flying. He forgot that he didn’t always know how to fly. His fear soon turned
into confidence, and then into amusement. As he was landing, he was again
afraid, but soon became at ease. It was a memorable first flight.

9. Why could the young seagull not fly with his brothers and sisters?

The young seagull felt certain that his wings were too weak to support him. He
had no courage to flap his wings. Even when each one of his brothers and sisters
whose wings was much shorter than his, ran to the brink of the ledge, flapped
their wings and flew away, he failed to muster up the courage to take that
plunge.

10. When did the seagull’s flight begin? And where did it end?

The young seagull’s flight started when he dove trying to snatch the
piece of fish from his mother’s beak. He fell down but instinctively his
wings spread out, he flapped them and started flying. His flight ended
after half an hour when he landed on the green sea with his family.

11. Describe the methods used by the seagull family to help the young seagull
overcome his fear and fly.
 This story is about a young seagull. The time had come when he should
fly like his parents and brothers and sister. But he was afraid to fly. His
parents tried their best to teach him how to fly. But he refused to fly.
They left him alone on his ledge. They threatened him that he would
starve. Even then he was too afraid to fly. His brothers and sister made
fun of him. They laughed at his cowardice.

At last, his mother thought of a plan. She took a piece of fish in her beak
and flew towards him. She came near him but did not land on the ledge.
The young seagull was very hungry. He came to the brink of the ledge.
In order to get food, he dived at the fish. But he fell from the rock. He
became terrified. But it was only for a moment. The next moment, he
flapped his wings and started flying. In this way, his mother was able to
make him fly.