DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL-BOPAL, AHMEDABAD

CLASS: X SUBJECT- ENGLISH

STUDY MATERIAL

Mijbil the Otter- Gavin Maxwell

Theme: The chapter is based on the theme that keeping a pet is a serious responsibility,
especially if the pet is an unusual animal like an Otter. The author introduces the reader to
the habitat of this quaint animal, its characteristics love for water, its playful nature, and its
love for toys. He also informs that otters are intelligent enough to invent games of their own
and are affectionate.

Message

The chapter gives the readers the message that animals respond to love and tender care
shown by them by human beings. The author wins over the confidence of Mijbil, his pet
otter, by looking after him in an affectionate and loving way. He also ensures otter’s safety
and provides him a suitable environment. The otter responds to the kindness of his master by
surrendering himself fully. Gradually, a strong bond of trust and love built between the
animals and owner that brings immense mutual joy.

Q1. Based on the extracts given below, answer the questions that follows:

1.When I casually mentioned this to a friend, he as casually replied that I had better get on
in the Tigris marshes, for there they were as common as mosquitoes, and were often tamed
by the Arabs. We were going to Basra to the Consulate-General to collect and answer our
mail from Europe. At the ConsulateGeneral we found that my friend’s mail had arrived but
that mine had not.

(a) What was ‘they’?

(b) Where were they going to get the otter?
(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘domesticated’.
(d) What did the author find at the Consulate-General?

Answer: (a) ‘They’ refers to the otter.

(b) They were going to get the otter from Tigris marshes.
(c) ‘Tamed’ from the extract means ‘domesticated’.
(d) At the Consulate-General, the author found that his mail had not arrived while his friend’s
mail had arrived

2. Very soon Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I called his name. He
spent most of his time in play. He spent hours shuffling a rubber ball round the room like a
four-footed soccer player using all four feet to dribble the ball, and he could also throw it,
with a powerful flick of the neck, to a surprising height and distance.
 (a) What was the favourite timepass of Mijbil?
(b) What did the otter do when the narrator called his name?
(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘strike’.
(d) What has been referred as a four-footed soccer player?

Answer:
(a) The favourite timepass of Mijbil was to shuffle the rubber ball using all his four legs.
(b) The otter used to follow the narrator when he called his name.
(c) ‘dribble’ from the extract means ‘strike’.
(d) The otter has been referred as a four-footed player of soccer.
Q2. Answer the following in about 30 to 40 words each.

1.How was Mij to be transported to England?

The British Airline to England would not fly animals. So, Maxwell booked a flight to Paris
on another airline and from there to London. The airline insisted that Mij should be packed
into a box not more than eighteen inches square. Thus, Mij was transported to England in
that box, which was kept on the floor at his feet.

2.What happened when the box was opened?

When the box was opened, Mij went out of the box. He disappeared at a high speed down
the aircraft. There were cries all around. A woman stood up on her seat crying, “A rat! A
rat!”

3. What, according to the writer, is the ‘ real play’ of the otter?

The real play of an otter is lying on his back and juggling with small objects between his
paws. Mijbil would roll two or more marbles up and down on his wide, fat belly. He never
dropped one to the floor.

4.Why was the narrator not able to communicate when there was a delay in the arrival of the
mail?

The narrator was not able to contact because the telephone lines had to be booked twenty-
four hours in advance. On the first day, the line was out of order; on the second day, the
exchange was closed for a religious reason; and on the third day, there was a breakdown.

5.What was the first characteristic of the otter discovered by the narrator?

The first thing that the narrator observed about the otter was that he liked to play with water.
When he was taken to the bathroom, for half an hour he went wild in the water with joy. He
was plunging, jumping and rolling in the water.
Q3. Answer the following in about 150 words.

1.In the name of rules and regulations, basic values are ignored but people like the airhostess
in ‘Mijbil the Otter’ are a ray of hope. What virtues do we find in the airhostess?

The airhostess was somewhat friendly, and she allowed the narrator to place the otter on his
lap. She could relate and empathise with the situation faced by the narrator. This shows that
apart from being professional, she was a caring lady. She not only wanted to do her job but
was also responsible as she helped the narrator in finding the otter back. She did all that she
could do for Maxwell and the otter. She was hard working and was ready to help as she did
not say ‘no’ to help the narrator.

2.The narrator called the airhostess the queen of her kind. This shows how caring and
supportive she was. Do you find such people these days? Are people having a change in their
values?

In today’s world, it is getting difficult to find people who show their care and support.
Rather than helping others, they start giving excuses and quote rules and regulations. Earlier,
people used to think about the situation faced by others and helped them in all possible ways.

This is changing because of the change in the values of the people. People give first priority
to their own safety and security. They care for themselves first and then think about others.

3.Why do you think the otter was not friendly at first with the narrator? Can you relate this to
the human nature as well?

At first, the otter was not very friendly with the narrator as he had seen him for the first time.
He was brought to new place and new surroundings. He neither knew the narrator nor the
place which made him stay away from the narrator. But, as soon as he started becoming
comfortable with the surroundings, he became friendly and came close to the narrator.

This is very similar to the human nature. Even, the human beings first take time to
understand others and then only become friendly with them. Unless they are comfortable in
being with somebody, they try to stay away from that person

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