I Want Something in a Cage NCERT Extra Question answer for Class 7 English An Alien Hand Chapter 6 

Short answer type question 

1. Who is the author of "I Want Something in a Cage"?

Julius Lester

2.What is the narrator's request to his mother?

He wants something in a cage.

3.Why does the narrator want something in a cage?

He wants to understand why people like to keep things in cages.

4.What does the narrator initially put in the cage?

A grasshopper.

5.Who helps the narrator catch the grasshopper?

His mother.

6. Why does the narrator release the grasshopper?

He feels sorry for the grasshopper.

7. What does the narrator catch next for the cage?

A toad.

8. Why does the toad end up being released?

The toad looks sad in the cage.

9. Who gives the narrator a baby alligator?

His father.

10. What does the narrator observe about the alligator in the cage?

It looks lonely.

11. Why does the narrator's father say the alligator is crying?

It's not happy in the cage.

12. What does the narrator realize about the animals in cages?

They want to be free.

13. Who suggests putting a plant in the cage?

The narrator's mother.

14. Why does the plant stay in the cage?

It grows better in the cage.

15. What does the narrator learn about freedom?

Some things need freedom to grow.

16. Who is the narrator's friend in the story?

Buddy Williams.

17. What does Buddy suggest putting in the cage?

A cloud.

18. Why does the narrator think putting a cloud in a cage is a bad idea?

It will make the cloud unhappy.

19. What does the narrator eventually put in the cage?

His feelings.

20. Why does the narrator put his feelings in the cage?

He wants to understand them better.

21. Who does the narrator talk to about his feelings in the cage?

Buddy Williams.

22. What does the narrator realize about his feelings in the cage?

They are hard to understand.

23. Why does the narrator eventually set his feelings free?

He wants them to grow and be happy.

24. What does the narrator learn about freedom from his experiences?

Freedom is important for growth and happiness.

25. How does the story "I Want Something in a Cage" end?

The narrator releases his feelings, understanding the importance of freedom and happiness.

26. Why does the narrator want something in a cage?

The narrator desires insight into the allure of keeping things in captivity, seeking to unravel the emotions and experiences associated with confinement.

27. What does the narrator initially put in the cage?

The first occupant is a grasshopper, captured with the assistance of the narrator's mother during a moment of curiosity about caged existence.

28. Who helps the narrator catch the grasshopper?

The narrator's mother actively contributes to the grasshopper's capture, fostering a shared curiosity about the nature of confinement.

29. Why does the narrator release the grasshopper?

Empathy drives the narrator to release the grasshopper, recognizing the insect's right to freedom and happiness.

30. Who gives the narrator a baby alligator?

The narrator's father gifts a baby alligator, introducing a new element to the exploration of caged entities.

31. What does the narrator observe about the alligator in the cage?

The alligator's demeanor exhibits loneliness, prompting the narrator to reflect on the emotional toll of captivity.

32. Why does the plant stay in the cage?

Unlike the living creatures, the plant thrives within the cage, highlighting the nuanced relationship between different entities and confinement.

33. Who suggests putting a cloud in the cage?

Buddy Williams, the narrator's friend, proposes the whimsical idea of containing a cloud, adding a touch of imagination to the exploration of the concept of cages.

34. What does Buddy suggest putting in the cage?

Buddy humorously suggests placing a cloud within the cage, playfully stretching the boundaries of the narrator's experiment.

35. What does the narrator eventually put in the cage?

The narrator places his own feelings in the cage, delving into the intricacies of emotions and their interaction with the concept of confinement.

36. Who does the narrator talk to about his feelings in the cage?

The narrator shares his emotional journey with Buddy Williams, fostering a dialogue about the complexity of human emotions.

37. Why does the narrator put his feelings in the cage?

The narrator places his feelings in the cage as an experiment to gain a deeper understanding of his own emotional landscape and the impact of confinement on subjective experiences.

38. What does the narrator learn about freedom?

Through the narrative, the narrator grasps the vital lesson that certain entities, including emotions, require freedom for genuine growth and fulfillment.

39. What does the narrator realize about the animals in cages?

The narrator recognizes the universal desire for freedom among caged animals, shedding light on the intrinsic need for autonomy in all living beings.

40. What does the narrator learn about his feelings in the cage?

The narrator discovers the complexity of understanding and managing his own feelings, acknowledging the challenges that emotions present in the confined space of introspection.

41. Why does the narrator release his feelings from the cage?

Driven by a desire for personal growth and emotional well-being, the narrator liberates his feelings, understanding that emotions, like living beings, thrive when granted the freedom to unfold.

42. What does the narrator eventually release from the cage?

The narrator releases not just his feelings but also a profound realization about the symbiotic relationship between freedom and personal growth.

43. Who is the narrator's friend in the story?

Buddy Williams serves as the narrator's companion and confidant, contributing humor and camaraderie to the exploration of the concept of cages.

44. Why does the narrator think putting a cloud in a cage is a bad idea?

Recognizing the intangible and ever-changing nature of clouds, the narrator understands that confining a cloud would likely lead to its unhappiness.

45. How does the story "I Want Something in a Cage" end?

The story concludes with the narrator releasing his feelings, symbolizing personal growth and understanding while emphasizing the importance of freedom for emotional well-being.

Long answer type question 

1. Question: How does the narrator's perspective on keeping things in a cage evolve throughout the story, and what insights does he gain from his various attempts?

Answer: The narrator's perspective undergoes a significant transformation as he moves from a simple curiosity about caged entities to a profound understanding of the emotional toll that confinement takes on living beings. Initially, he captures a grasshopper, a toad, and even a baby alligator, but releases them upon realizing their discomfort. This evolution in perspective culminates when he places his own feelings in the cage, symbolizing a deep exploration of human emotions and the need for freedom for genuine growth.

2. Question: Describe the significance of the plant in the cage. What does it represent, and how does it contribute to the broader themes of the story?

Answer: The plant in the cage serves as a unique element in the narrative, thriving within the confines of captivity. This contrasts with the living creatures that struggle in cages. The plant symbolizes the complexity of the relationship between freedom and growth, suggesting that certain entities may flourish in constrained environments. This adds depth to the exploration of the story's themes, highlighting the nuanced interplay between different forms of life and their responses to confinement.

3. Question: Discuss the role of the narrator's friend, Buddy Williams, in the story. How does he contribute to the narrator's understanding of the concept of cages, and what does his character bring to the narrative?

Answer: Buddy Williams serves as a crucial figure in the story, injecting humor and imaginative ideas into the narrator's exploration of cages. His suggestion to put a cloud in the cage introduces a whimsical element, encouraging the narrator to think beyond the conventional. Buddy's character adds a layer of camaraderie and companionship, facilitating a dialogue about the complexities of the theme. Through their interactions, the narrator gains insights into the broader implications of the concept of cages.

4. Question: Explore the emotional journey of the narrator as he places his feelings in the cage. How does this experiment impact him, and what realizations does he come to about the nature of emotions and freedom?

Answer: Placing his feelings in the cage becomes a profound experiment for the narrator, leading him on an introspective journey. He realizes the complexity of understanding and managing emotions. The emotional cage represents a metaphor for self-discovery, and as he shares this experience with Buddy, he gains insights into the intricate nature of human emotions. Eventually releasing his feelings symbolizes personal growth, highlighting the interconnectedness of emotional well-being and the freedom to experience and express feelings.

5. Question: In the context of the story, what broader philosophical or societal messages can be inferred from the narrator's experiences with cages?

Answer: The story transcends its literal exploration of cages and animals, delving into broader philosophical and societal themes. It becomes a metaphor for the human condition, suggesting that true growth and fulfillment require freedom. The narrator's evolving understanding of cages mirrors humanity's ongoing quest for autonomy, self-discovery, and the recognition that certain entities, whether living beings or emotions, flourish best when unconfined. The story prompts reflection on the balance between constraints and freedom in various aspects of life.

6. Who was Mr Purcell?

Ans: – Mr Purcell was a small, fussy man with red cheeks and light, melon stomach. Large glasses magnified his eyes so as to give him the appearance of a wise and genial owl. He owned a pet shop. He sold cats and dogs and also monkeys. He dealt in fish food and bird seed, prescribed remedies for ailing canaries, and gilded cages. He considered himself something of a professional man.

7. What did Mr Purcell do everything in his shop?

Ans: – Every morning, when the routine of opening his shop was completed, it was the proprietors custom to perch on a high stool, behind the country and unfold his morning paper and digest the days new. As he read he would smirk, frown, reflectively purse his lips and knowing life his eyebrows, nod in grave agreement. Also he reads everything, even advice to the lovelorn and the detailed columns of advertisement.

8. What happened when the strange man entered his shop?

Ans: – Whenever any customer enter, there was a bell over the door that jingled. Whoever, for the first time Mr Purcell did not hear the ring of the bell when the strange customers entered, standing just inside the door, as if he had materialised out of thin air.

9.  Who said “That noise” and to whom? Why?

Ans: – It was said by the customer to Mr Purcell because when he was about to leave Mr Purcell shop with the two snowy birds. He heard to the constant chittering, the rushing scurry of his shop. Then the man asked Mr Purcell don’t he get this noise or isn’t it drives him crazy. But Mr Purcell didn’t mind the crazy noise, rather he would have heard the monotonous licking of a familiar clock.

10.  What did the man do after leaving his shop?

Ans: – The man swing around and stalked abruptly from the store. He was holding the cage shoulder high and was string at his purchase. Then he opened the cage, and reached his hand inside and drew out of the doves. He tasted is into the air. Later he drew out the second and tossed it after the first. The doves rose like windblown balls of fluffy and were lost in the smoky grey of the wintry city.