General Information
Class 10 English Black Aeroplane by Frederick Forsyth : “Black Aeroplane” is a short story by Frederick Forsyth, included in the Class 10 NCERT English textbook First Flight. It’s a mystery story about a pilot who gets lost in a storm but is guided to safety by a strange black aeroplane. The story explores themes of mystery, survival, and help from unknown sources. Forsyth, a British author known for thrillers like The Day of the Jackal, keeps readers guessing with this simple yet gripping tale. It’s a great lesson for Class 10 students about courage and trust in tough situations.
Detailed Analysis
Author
Frederick Forsyth (born 1938) is a British writer famous for his exciting thriller novels. He often writes about suspense, danger, and mystery. “Black Aeroplane” is a short, mysterious story that shows his skill in creating tension with a simple plot, perfect for young readers.
Setting
The story happens in the sky over Europe, likely in the 1940s or 1950s, during a stormy night. The pilot flies a Dakota aeroplane from Paris to England. The dark clouds, storm, and vast sky create a scary and mysterious atmosphere, highlighting the pilot’s danger and isolation.
Structure
The story is a short prose narrative told in the first person by the pilot. It follows a straightforward timeline, starting with the pilot’s flight, his trouble in the storm, the appearance of the black aeroplane, and the surprising ending. The simple language and clear events build suspense and keep readers engaged.
Summary
A pilot is flying a Dakota aeroplane from Paris to England, excited to return home for breakfast with his family. The night is clear at first, with stars and a bright moon, but he soon enters a huge storm with dark clouds. His compass and radio stop working, and he’s lost with little fuel. Suddenly, a black aeroplane with no lights appears and guides him by flying ahead. The pilot follows it and safely lands at an airport. When he asks about the other plane, the control room says no other plane was in the sky, leaving the pilot shocked and the story a mystery.
Themes
- Mystery and the Unknown: The black aeroplane’s identity is never explained, creating a sense of wonder and suspense.
- Courage and Survival: The pilot stays calm in a dangerous storm, showing bravery and determination to survive.
- Help from Unexpected Sources: The mysterious plane saves the pilot, suggesting help can come when least expected.
- Trust and Instinct: The pilot trusts the strange plane and his instincts to follow it, leading to his safety.
Literary Devices
- Imagery: Descriptions like “black clouds” and “bright stars” paint a clear picture of the stormy sky and the pilot’s situation.
- Suspense: The unknown black aeroplane and the pilot’s danger keep readers guessing.
- Foreshadowing: The clear night turning stormy hints at trouble ahead.
- Symbolism: The black aeroplane symbolizes hope or a mysterious savior in a hopeless situation.
- Contrast: The calm start of the flight contrasts with the chaotic storm, highlighting the pilot’s challenge.
- First-Person Narrative: The pilot’s point of view makes the story personal and relatable.
Moral
The story teaches that courage and trust can help us face tough situations. It also suggests that help can come from unexpected places, even if we don’t understand it, encouraging us to stay hopeful and open-minded.
Significance
“Black Aeroplane” is an exciting story for Class 10 students because it’s easy to read but full of mystery and lessons. Its simple language, thrilling plot, and open-ended conclusion make it a great way to explore themes like bravery and trust. The story also sparks curiosity about unexplained events, making it memorable and thought-provoking.
Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Who wrote “Black Aeroplane”?
a) Ruskin Bond
b) Frederick Forsyth
c) Liam O’Flaherty
d) Roald Dahl
Answer: b) Frederick Forsyth - What type of plane does the pilot fly?
a) Boeing
b) Dakota
c) Cessna
d) Spitfire
Answer: b) Dakota - Where is the pilot flying from?
a) London
b) Paris
c) Berlin
d) Rome
Answer: b) Paris - What stops working in the storm?
a) The engine
b) The compass and radio
c) The wings
d) The lights
Answer: b) The compass and radio - What color is the mysterious aeroplane?
a) Silver
b) Black
c) White
d) Red
Answer: b) Black - What guides the pilot to safety?
a) A radio signal
b) A black aeroplane
c) A lighthouse
d) His map
Answer: b) A black aeroplane - What does the control room say about the other plane?
a) It landed safely
b) No other plane was in the sky
c) It crashed
d) It was a military plane
Answer: b) No other plane was in the sky - What is the pilot’s main emotion in the storm?
a) Anger
b) Fear
c) Joy
d) Sadness
Answer: b) Fear - What symbolizes hope in the story?
a) The storm
b) The black aeroplane
c) The compass
d) The clouds
Answer: b) The black aeroplane - What is the main theme of “Black Aeroplane”?
a) The beauty of flying
b) Mystery and survival
c) Family love
d) The power of technology
Answer: b) Mystery and survival
Fill in the Blanks
- “Black Aeroplane” is written by ______.
Answer: Frederick Forsyth - The pilot flies a ______ aeroplane.
Answer: Dakota - The pilot is flying from ______ to England.
Answer: Paris - The pilot gets lost in a ______.
Answer: storm - The pilot’s ______ and radio stop working.
Answer: compass - A ______ aeroplane guides the pilot to safety.
Answer: black - The black aeroplane has no ______.
Answer: lights - The pilot lands safely at an ______.
Answer: airport - The control room says no other ______ was in the sky.
Answer: plane - The story is full of ______ and suspense.
Answer: mystery
Short Answer Type Questions
- What is the setting of “Black Aeroplane”?
Answer: The story is set in the sky over Europe, during a stormy night, as the pilot flies a Dakota aeroplane from Paris to England. - Why does the pilot get lost?
Answer: The pilot gets lost because he flies into a storm, and his compass and radio stop working, leaving him with no way to navigate. - What does the pilot see in the storm?
Answer: The pilot sees a black aeroplane with no lights, flying ahead of him, which guides him through the storm. - How does the black aeroplane help the pilot?
Answer: The black aeroplane flies ahead, showing the pilot the way to a safe airport where he can land. - What surprises the pilot at the end?
Answer: The pilot is surprised because the control room says no other plane was in the sky, making the black aeroplane a mystery. - What does the black aeroplane symbolize?
Answer: The black aeroplane symbolizes hope and help from an unknown source, guiding the pilot to safety. - How does the pilot feel in the storm?
Answer: The pilot feels scared and helpless in the storm because he’s lost, with little fuel and no working compass or radio. - Why is the story called “Black Aeroplane”?
Answer: The story is called “Black Aeroplane” because a mysterious black aeroplane appears and saves the pilot, but its identity remains unknown. - What is the pilot’s goal at the start of the story?
Answer: The pilot’s goal is to fly from Paris to England and have breakfast with his family. - What lesson does the story teach?
Answer: The story teaches that courage and trust can help us survive tough situations, and help may come from unexpected places.
Long Answer Type Questions
- Explain the theme of mystery in “Black Aeroplane” and how it makes the story exciting.
Answer: The theme of mystery in “Black Aeroplane” comes from the unknown black aeroplane that saves the pilot. The pilot is lost in a storm, scared and out of fuel, when a strange plane with no lights appears and guides him to safety. At the end, the control room says no other plane was in the sky, leaving readers wondering who or what the black aeroplane was. This mystery keeps the story exciting because it builds suspense and makes us curious. Forsyth’s simple descriptions of the storm and the strange plane add to the tension, making the story a thrilling read about survival and the unknown. - How does Frederick Forsyth create suspense in “Black Aeroplane”?
Answer: Frederick Forsyth creates suspense in “Black Aeroplane” by putting the pilot in danger and keeping the black aeroplane’s identity a secret. The pilot flies into a storm, his compass and radio fail, and he’s low on fuel, making readers worry if he’ll survive. The sudden appearance of a black aeroplane with no lights adds mystery and hope, but also questions about its origin. The vivid descriptions of dark clouds and the pilot’s fear heighten the tension. The shocking ending, where no other plane was reported, leaves readers guessing. This suspense makes the story gripping and keeps us hooked till the end. - Discuss the role of courage in the pilot’s survival in “Black Aeroplane.”
Answer: Courage plays a big role in the pilot’s survival in “Black Aeroplane.” When he enters a storm and loses his compass and radio, he feels scared but stays calm and keeps flying. With little fuel left, he faces the risk of crashing but doesn’t give up. When the black aeroplane appears, he shows courage by trusting it and following it through the storm, even though it’s strange and has no lights. His bravery to keep going and trust his instincts leads him to a safe landing. The story shows that staying strong and brave in tough times can help us overcome danger. - What does the black aeroplane symbolize, and how does it affect the story’s message?
Answer: The black aeroplane symbolizes hope and help from an unknown source. In the story, the pilot is lost and scared in a storm, but the mysterious plane guides him to safety. Since no one knows where it came from, it feels like a miracle or guardian. This symbol makes the story’s message stronger: even in the worst situations, help can come when you least expect it. It teaches us to stay hopeful and trust that solutions might appear, even if they’re mysterious. The black aeroplane’s unknown nature adds wonder, making the story inspiring and memorable. - How does “Black Aeroplane” show the importance of trust and instinct in facing challenges?
Answer: “Black Aeroplane” shows that trust and instinct are key to facing challenges. The pilot is lost in a storm with no compass or radio, feeling hopeless. When a black aeroplane appears, he trusts it, even though it’s strange with no lights. His instinct tells him to follow it, and this decision saves his life as it leads him to a safe airport. The story suggests that in tough times, trusting our gut feelings and unexpected help can make a difference. The pilot’s choice to follow the mysterious plane, despite the mystery, highlights how trust and instinct can guide us through danger.