Princess September Summary & Solution - CBSE Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 5 

Summary 

"Princess September" is a charming story written by W. Somerset Maugham. It follows the life of Princess September, the youngest of twelve princesses. Each princess is named after the month they were born in.

Princess September is the darling of her family and lives a sheltered life in a beautiful palace. She is adored by her eleven older sisters and her parents. However, as the youngest, she feels a bit left out and wants to prove that she can be as mature and responsible as her sisters.

One day, when the king and queen go on a trip, Princess September decides to explore the world beyond the palace walls. She encounters various characters and experiences the outside world for the first time. Along the way, she meets a handsome young man named the Marigold Boy, who tends to the royal gardens.

As Princess September spends time outside the palace, she discovers the simple joys of life, such as playing with children, admiring the beauty of nature, and interacting with ordinary people. She learns valuable lessons about kindness, humility, and the importance of experiencing life beyond the confines of royalty.

Despite enjoying her adventures, Princess September realizes that her responsibilities lie within the palace. She returns home, where her worried family welcomes her back with open arms.

In the end, Princess September has grown wiser and more appreciative of her privileged life. She cherishes the memories of her adventures but embraces her role as a princess with a newfound understanding and maturity.

The story emphasizes the universal theme of curiosity and the desire to explore the world outside one's comfort zone. It also highlights the value of both the simplicity of everyday life and the importance of one's duties and responsibilities.

NCERT solutions for class 8 English It So Happened Princess September

Comprehension Check On Page 38

1. How many daughters did the royal couple have?

2. Why were they named after the months of the year?

3. The King had a peculiar habit. What was it? Why is it called peculiar?

4. (i) What was Princess September’s reaction to the loss of her parrot?

(ii) What was her mother’s reaction to it?

(iii) What do the reactions indicate about the nature and temperament of each?

5. What pulled the Princess out of her gloom?

6. How did the Maids of Honour come to know that the Princess and the

bird had become intimate friends?

7. The new bird was full of new songs but the old parrots always repeated

themselves. What did they say?

8. What is the King’s opinion about his Councillors? Why did he form that

opinion?

9. (i) The eight Princesses made an offer to Princess September. What

was it?

(ii) Why, in your view, did they do it?

10. What did the sisters advise the Princess to do about her bird?

Answers:

1. The royal couple had twelve daughters in total.
2. They were named after the months of the year as each daughter was born in a different month, and this became a unique way to distinguish them.
3. The King had a peculiar habit of spying on his daughters through a keyhole. It's called peculiar because it's unusual and somewhat intrusive for a father to spy on his children in such a manner.
4. (i) Princess September was devastated by the loss of her parrot and felt immense grief.
5. (ii) Her mother was sympathetic but not overly emotional, suggesting a more composed and restrained nature.
6. (iii) Their reactions indicate that Princess September is sensitive and emotional, while her mother remains composed and practical in dealing with emotions.
7. The arrival of a new parrot, which sang beautiful songs, helped lift Princess September's spirits and pulled her out of her gloom.
8. The Maids of Honour noticed that the Princess and the bird had become intimate friends because the bird perched on her shoulder, allowing her to caress it and even share her food with it.
9. The old parrots always repeated themselves, while the new bird was full of new songs, symbolizing the repetitive nature of old ideas versus the freshness and originality of new ones.
10. The King had a low opinion of his Councillors, believing they were not particularly helpful or wise. This opinion was formed because the Councillors often agreed with everything he said, never challenging his ideas or offering constructive advice.
11. (i) The eight Princesses offered to lend Princess September their parrots to alleviate her sadness after the loss of her beloved bird.
12. (ii) They likely did it out of sisterly concern and empathy for Princess September's sorrow, wanting to comfort her during her difficult time.
13. The sisters advised Princess September to set the new parrot free and allow it to return to the forest.

Comprehension Check On Page 43 

1. In the following sentence elaborate the parts given in bold. Under the

circumstances it was a very unfortunate remark for the bird to make.

2. (i) What did Princess September do to ensure the safety of her pet?

(ii) How did the bird react to it?

3. Why did the bird refuse to be taken out in her cage?

4. (i) What persuaded Princess September to give the bird his freedom again?

(ii) How did the bird react to it?

5. Princess September kept her window open day and night.

(i) How did it help the bird?

(ii) How did it help the Princess herself?

6. The eight sisters kept their windows shut. How did it affect them?

Answer:

1. In the sentence "Under the circumstances it was a very unfortunate remark for the bird to make," the phrase "under the circumstances" refers to the particular situation or conditions at that time. The remark made by the bird was unfortunate considering the context or situation, suggesting that given the circumstances, the bird's comment was particularly ill-timed or inappropriate.

2. (i) To ensure the safety of her pet, Princess September put the bird in a cage.

(ii) The bird reacted by refusing to be taken out in the cage, indicating a desire for freedom and discomfort with confinement.

3. The bird refused to be taken out in her cage because it desired freedom. It didn't want to be confined or restricted within the boundaries of the cage.

(4. i) Princess September was persuaded to give the bird his freedom again because she realized that the bird was unhappy and longed to be free.

(ii) The bird reacted joyfully to gaining its freedom again, showing happiness and contentment with being able to fly freely.

5. (i) Keeping her window open day and night helped the bird because it allowed the bird to come and go freely, giving it the liberty to fly in and out of the palace whenever it wished.

(ii) Keeping her window open also helped Princess September by allowing her to maintain a connection with nature, providing fresh air, and fostering a sense of freedom despite her confined royal life.

6. Keeping their windows shut affected the eight sisters by isolating them from the outside world. They were disconnected from nature, fresh air, and the freedom that an open window could provide. This isolation might have made them feel more confined and restricted compared to Princess September, who had the freedom of an open window.