Kingdom of Fools - Class 9

Notes

- The story "Kingdom of Fools" is written by A.K. Ramanujan.

- It is a folk tale that provides a satirical view of foolishness and the consequences it brings.
- The story revolves around a kingdom where both the king and his ministers are foolish.
- The king orders that everyone in the kingdom should sleep during the day and work at night.
- A guru and his disciple enter the kingdom and experience its absurd rules.
- The story highlights themes of wisdom, foolishness, justice, and the unpredictable nature of life.

Theme of the Chapter

The primary theme of the story "Kingdom of Fools" is the absurdity and consequences of foolishness in leadership.
It showcases how irrational decisions by those in power can lead to chaos and absurd situations. The story also
emphasizes the value of wisdom and the importance of thinking critically.

Message of the Chapter

The story conveys the message that wisdom and common sense are essential for leadership. It warns against the
dangers of foolishness and the absurdity that can arise when those in power lack wisdom. It also highlights that
true wisdom lies in understanding and adapting to situations wisely.

Summary

"Kingdom of Fools" by A.K. Ramanujan is a humorous and satirical tale set in a kingdom ruled by a foolish king and
his equally foolish ministers. The king issues a bizarre decree that everyone should work at night and sleep during
the day. When a guru and his disciple arrive in the kingdom, they are bewildered by this odd rule. The story takes a
turn when the disciple is mistaken for a thief and sentenced to death. The wise guru intervenes, using clever tricks
to expose the king's foolishness and save his disciple. The tale ends with the guru and disciple leaving the kingdom,
reflecting on the absurdity of foolish rulers.

Short Answer Type Questions and Answers

Q1. Who is the author of the story 'Kingdom of Fools'?

The author of the story is A.K. Ramanujan.

Q2. What unusual rule did the king of the kingdom impose?
The king imposed a rule that everyone should sleep during the day and work at night.
Q3. Who visited the kingdom and found the rules absurd?

A guru and his disciple visited the kingdom and found the rules absurd.
Q4. How did the guru save his disciple?

The guru saved his disciple by using clever tricks to expose the king's foolishness and convince the king to change
his decision.

Long Answer Type Questions and Answers

Q1. Describe the main events that take place in the 'Kingdom of Fools'.

In the 'Kingdom of Fools', the king and his ministers make everyone work at night and sleep during the day. When
a guru and his disciple arrive, they are surprised by the absurd rule. One day, the disciple is caught by the king's
men and is mistaken for a thief. The guru uses his wisdom to save his disciple by tricking the king and his
ministers. He convinces the king that he should be executed instead of his disciple, as he is more valuable. The
foolish king falls for the trick, and eventually, the guru and his disciple are able to leave the kingdom safely.
Q2. Analyze the character of the king in the story 'Kingdom of Fools'.

The king in 'Kingdom of Fools' is portrayed as foolish and irrational. He makes absurd decisions without
considering the consequences. His rule to make people work at night and sleep during the day is an example of his
lack of wisdom. The king's foolishness is further highlighted when he decides to execute the guru and his disciple
without proper investigation. However, he is easily tricked by the guru, revealing his gullibility. The king’s
character serves as a satire on the dangers of having foolish leaders in power.

Extract Based Questions and Answers

Q1. Read the extract below and answer the questions:
'They went to the king, and complained that they were being wronged by the wise man.'

(a) Who are 'they' in the extract?

Answer:- 'They' refers to the people of the kingdom who were affected by the king’s foolish rules.

(b) What wrong were they complaining about?

Answer:- They were complaining about the injustice and absurdity of the king’s rules and decisions.
Q2. Read the extract below and answer the questions:
'The king was puzzled, but he agreed to do as the guru said.'

(a) Why was the king puzzled?

Answer:-The king was puzzled because the guru requested to be executed instead of his disciple, which was an
unusual request.
(b) What did the guru say to the king?
Answer:- The guru told the king that he should be executed because he was more valuable and his death would
bring greater misfortune to the kingdom, thus tricking the king into saving his disciple.