Unit-04: Butterflies

Unit-04: Butterflies
1	Discuss the theme of the story in your own words:
Ans:	The theme of the story is the loss of innocence and the harsh realities of life. The write appreciates the beauty of butterflies but sees how cruelly they are treated at the orphanage. This experience makes him realize the cruelty in the world and changes his perceptive on beauty of life. It highlights how harsh experiences can badly affect innocent moments. The story also shows the emotional impact of these experience on the water.
2.	At what age did the writer go to an orphanage?
Ans:	The writer went to the orphanage when he was six or seven. He mentions that this was a few weeks or may be a month before he felt like the orphanage turned him into an old man. This indicates that he was very young when he arrived at the orphanage. The exact age is not specified, but it is around that time. This period in his life had a significant impact on him.
3.	How did the orphanage turn him into an old man?
Ans:	The orphanage turned him into an old man by exposing him to cruelty and harshness. The routine and strict discipline at the orphanage made him feel like a little soldier. Witnessing the house master’s cruel treatment of butterflies shattered his innocence. The emotional and physical punishment he experienced made him mentally and emotionally an old person. He lost his sense of wonder and became more aware of the harsh realities of life.
4.	Why was the house parent chasing the beautiful butterflies?
Ans:	The house parent was chasing the beautiful butterflies to catch them. He caught them one by one and pinned them to a cardboard sheet. This was done by sticking straight pins through their heads and wings. The house parent seemed to have no regard for the beauty or life of the butterflies. His actions appeared cruel and unnecessary.
5.	Describe his feelings on catching butterflies.
Ans:	The writer felt that it was very cruel to kill something so beautiful. He had always enjoyed watching butterflies up close and letting them land on him. Seeing the house master pin the butterflies made him sad and angry. He couldn’t understand why someone would harm such delicate creatures. The experience deeply disturbed him and affected his view of beauty and life.
6.	What happened when the house parent went to attend the call?
Ans:	When the house parent went to attend the call, the writer tried to free a pinned butterfly. He touched the butterfly, causing one of the pins to fall out. The butterfly started flying around but was still pinned by one wing. The writer tried to help it, but its wing broke off, and it fell to the ground. The house parent returned, blamed the writer, and hit him with the cardboard sheet.
7.	Why was the writer putting butterfly pieces back together?
Ans:	The writer was putting the butterfly pieces back together to bury them whole. He felt it was too hard to leave them in pieces and wanted to give them a proper burial. He prayed for them and placed them in a shoebox. This act shows his respect for the butterflies and his sadness over their cruel treatment. He wanted to honor their beauty even in their death.
8.	Why does the writer emphasize the time when beauty meant something special to them?
Ans:	The writer describes his childhood perception of beauty to show the stark contrast between his innocent appreciation for the natural world and the harsh realities he later faced at the orphanage. This period represents a time of purity and wonder before he was exposed to the cruelty and indifference of the adult world. By recalling this innocence, the writer highlights how his understanding of beauty was profoundly shaped by his early experiences, making the loss of it all the more poignant as he recounts the transformation forced upon him by life in the orphanage.
9.	How does the writer’s view of beauty change throughout the story?
Ans:	Initially, the writer sees beauty in the form of monarch butterflies and appreciates their presence as a source of joy and fascination. However, witnessing the house mater’s brutal treatment of these creatures shatters the writer’s innocent perception. This traumatic experience shifts their view of beauty from a source of delight to one fraught with sorrow and injustice. The writer’s understanding of beauty becomes entangled with themes of vulnerability, empathy and the harsh realities of life in the orphanage where such qualities are disregarded and destroyed.
10.	What is the significance of the butterflies in the story?
Ans:	In the story, the butterflies serve as symbols of innocence, beauty and freedom. Their presence shows the difference between the natural world’s grace and the cruelty of the orphanage. By focusing on the butterflies’ fate at the hands of the house master, the story presents themes of vulnerability and the destruction of innocence The writers attempt to save and later mourn the butterflies shows his deep emotional connection to these symbols of freedom and beauty in a harsh and indifferent environment.
11.	How does the incident with the butterfly affect the writer emotionally?
Ans:	The incident deeply affects the writer. It evokes profound emotions of sorrow, helplessness and disillusionment. Witnessing the brutal treatment of the butterflies by the house master confronts the writer with the harsh realities of life’s cruelty and the abuse of power. The writer’s attempt to repair the butterfly’s broken wing symbolizes his desperate desire to restore innocence and beauty in a world that seems intent on destruction. This experience marks a pivotal moment in the writer’s emotional development, shaping his understanding of compassion and resilience in adversity.
12.	Why does the writer try to repair the butterfly’s wing?
Ans:	The writer’s attempt to repair the butterfly’s wing reflects his inner compassion and desire to mitigate the suffering caused by the house master’s cruelty. Despite knowing that he could not repair the broken wings of the butterflies, the writer acts out of empathy. This act symbolizes his defiance against the prevailing cruelty of his environment and his commitment to preserving beauty and dignity in the face of harsh conditions. The failure of his efforts serves as a reminder of the harsh realities his confront daily, reinforcing the writer’s resilience and moral integrity.
	Provide an objective summary of the story ‘Butterflies’
	Summary The story ‘Butterflies’ is about the writer’s childhood experience at an orphanage. As a young boy, he cherished the beauty of monarch butterflies. One morning, he witnessed the house master cruelty catching and pinning the butterflies. Disturbed by this, he tried to save one but failed and was unjustly punished. The experience left a lasting impact on him, leading him to shoo away butterflies in the future to protect them from the orphanage’s cruelty. The story highlights the harsh realities of the orphanage and the writer’s sensitivity to beauty and suffering.
	Describe the character sketch of the writer in the story ‘Butterflies’
	Character Sketch of the writer in the story ‘Butterflies’ The writer of ‘Butterflies’ is a sensitive person who values beauty and innocence. As a child, he found joy in observing butterflies and was horrified by their cruel treatment at the orphanage. Despite the strict and harsh environment, he maintained a gentle nature, as seen in his efforts to save a pinned butterfly. The unjust punishment he received for this act reveals his vulnerability and the emotional toll the orphanage took on him. Over time, he became more protective and wary, shooing away butterflies to spare them from suffering. This change shows his empathy and the profound impact of his experiences on his outlook on life.