General Information
Class 10 English His First Flight by Liam O’Flaherty : “His First Flight” is a short story by Liam O’Flaherty, featured in the Class 10 NCERT English textbook First Flight. Published in the early 20th century, it narrates the journey of a young seagull overcoming fear to take his first flight. Set on a cliff by the sea, the story explores themes of courage, independence, and familial encouragement. O’Flaherty, an Irish writer known for his vivid portrayals of nature and human emotions, uses the seagull’s experience to reflect universal struggles with fear and growth. The story is a valuable lesson for Class 10 students, emphasizing perseverance and self-discovery.
Detailed Analysis
Author
Liam O’Flaherty (1896–1984), an Irish novelist and short-story writer, is celebrated for his naturalistic style and focus on human and animal struggles. His works, including The Informer and Famine, often depict raw emotions and the interplay between instinct and environment, making “His First Flight” a quintessential example of his craft.
Setting
The story is set on a rocky cliff ledge by the sea, where a young seagull and his family reside. The vast sea and sky symbolize opportunity and freedom, while the cliff represents the safety and confinement of the seagull’s fears. The natural, rugged setting underscores the instinctual challenges faced by the protagonist.
Structure
The prose is a concise narrative, written in the third person, focusing on the young seagull’s emotional and physical journey. It follows a linear progression, from the seagull’s fear and hesitation to his eventual triumph. The story uses vivid descriptions and dialogue to build tension and highlight the role of family in overcoming obstacles.
Summary
The story centers on a young seagull afraid to take his first flight, despite his siblings having already flown. Alone on a cliff ledge, he is hungry and desperate, as his parents refuse to feed him until he flies. His mother taunts him with a piece of fish, prompting him to dive off the cliff in hunger. Initially terrified, he instinctively flaps his wings and discovers he can fly. His fear turns to joy as he soars over the sea, joined by his family, who celebrate his success. The story concludes with the seagull’s newfound confidence, having overcome fear through necessity and instinct.
Themes
- Courage and Overcoming Fear: The seagull’s journey from fear to flight symbolizes the courage needed to face challenges.
- Independence and Growth: The story highlights the transition from dependence to self-reliance, a universal aspect of maturation.
- Familial Support and Tough Love: The parents’ refusal to feed the seagull reflects tough love, pushing him toward independence.
- Nature and Instinct: The seagull’s eventual flight underscores the power of natural instincts in overcoming obstacles.
Literary Devices
- Imagery: Vivid descriptions like “the great expanse of sea” and “green flooring beneath his feet” create a dynamic natural setting.
- Symbolism: The cliff symbolizes safety and fear; the sea and sky represent freedom and opportunity.
- Personification: The seagull’s fear is described as a force that “seized” him, giving it human-like power.
- Contrast: The seagull’s initial fear contrasts with his eventual joy, highlighting his transformation.
- Foreshadowing: The siblings’ successful flights foreshadow the young seagull’s potential to fly.
- Simile: The seagull’s fall is likened to a “frightened bird,” emphasizing his panic.
Moral
The story teaches that fear is a natural barrier to growth, but courage, often sparked by necessity or encouragement, can lead to self-discovery and independence. It emphasizes the importance of taking risks to unlock one’s potential.
Significance
“His First Flight” is an engaging text for Class 10 students, offering a relatable narrative about overcoming fear and embracing independence. Its vivid imagery, universal themes, and concise storytelling make it an effective study of O’Flaherty’s style and the broader human experience, encouraging reflection on personal growth and resilience.
Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Who is the author of “His First Flight”?
a) Ruskin Bond
b) Liam O’Flaherty
c) R.K. Narayan
d) James Joyce
Answer: b) Liam O’Flaherty - What is the main character in the story?
a) A young eagle
b) A young seagull
c) A young parrot
d) A young hawk
Answer: b) A young seagull - Where is the young seagull at the start of the story?
a) On a beach
b) On a cliff ledge
c) In a nest in a tree
d) On a ship
Answer: b) On a cliff ledge - Why is the young seagull afraid to fly?
a) He is injured
b) He fears falling into the sea
c) His wings are too weak
d) He is too young
Answer: b) He fears falling into the sea - What motivates the seagull to dive off the cliff?
a) His father’s encouragement
b) Hunger and his mother’s taunting with fish
c) His siblings’ teasing
d) A sudden storm
Answer: b) Hunger and his mother’s taunting with fish - What does the seagull discover after diving off the cliff?
a) He cannot fly
b) He can fly instinctively
c) He needs his parents’ help
d) He is too weak to fly
Answer: b) He can fly instinctively - What symbolizes freedom in the story?
a) The cliff
b) The sea and sky
c) The nest
d) The fish
Answer: b) The sea and sky - How do the seagull’s parents encourage him to fly?
a) By teaching him directly
b) By refusing to feed him until he flies
c) By flying with him
d) By pushing him off the cliff
Answer: b) By refusing to feed him until he flies - What emotion does the seagull feel after flying?
a) Fear
b) Anger
c) Joy
d) Sadness
Answer: c) Joy - What is the main theme of “His First Flight”?
a) The beauty of nature
b) Overcoming fear and gaining independence
c) The importance of family harmony
d) The struggle for survival
Answer: b) Overcoming fear and gaining independence
Fill in the Blanks
- “His First Flight” is written by ______.
Answer: Liam O’Flaherty - The young seagull is afraid to take his first ______.
Answer: flight - The story is set on a ______ ledge by the sea.
Answer: cliff - The seagull’s ______ taunts him with a piece of fish.
Answer: mother - The seagull dives off the cliff due to ______.
Answer: hunger - The ______ and sky symbolize freedom in the story.
Answer: sea - The seagull’s siblings had already learned to ______.
Answer: fly - The seagull feels ______ after successfully flying.
Answer: joy - The parents use ______ love to encourage the seagull.
Answer: tough - The story highlights the power of ______ instincts.
Answer: natural
Short Answer Type Questions
- What is the setting of “His First Flight”?
Answer: The story is set on a rocky cliff ledge by the sea, where the young seagull and his family live, with the vast sea and sky symbolizing freedom. - Why is the young seagull afraid to fly?
Answer: The young seagull is afraid to fly because he fears falling into the vast sea below, lacking confidence in his wings. - How do the seagull’s parents encourage him to fly?
Answer: The parents encourage him by refusing to feed him and taunting him with food, forcing him to overcome his fear and dive for it. - What motivates the seagull to dive off the cliff?
Answer: Hunger and his mother’s taunting with a piece of fish motivate the seagull to dive off the cliff in a desperate attempt to eat. - What happens when the seagull dives off the cliff?
Answer: When the seagull dives, he initially panics but instinctively flaps his wings, discovering he can fly, and soars over the sea. - What does the sea symbolize in the story?
Answer: The sea symbolizes freedom and opportunity, representing the vast possibilities the seagull can access once he overcomes his fear. - How does the seagull feel after flying for the first time?
Answer: The seagull feels joy and exhilaration after flying, his fear replaced by confidence as he soars with his family. - What role does the mother seagull play in the story?
Answer: The mother seagull plays a crucial role by using tough love, taunting her son with food to push him to overcome his fear and fly. - What is meant by “tough love” in the context of the story?
Answer: “Tough love” refers to the parents’ strategy of withholding food and using taunts to force the seagull to face his fear and learn to fly. - What lesson does the story teach about fear and growth?
Answer: The story teaches that fear is a barrier to growth, but courage, often sparked by necessity or encouragement, leads to self-discovery and independence.
Long Answer Type Questions
- Discuss the theme of overcoming fear in “His First Flight” and how it is portrayed through the young seagull’s journey.
Answer: The theme of overcoming fear is central to “His First Flight,” portrayed through the young seagull’s transformation from paralysis to triumph. Initially, the seagull is terrified of flying, fearing a fall into the sea, despite his siblings’ success. His hunger and isolation on the cliff ledge amplify his fear, but his parents’ tough love—refusing food and taunting him with fish—forces him to act. When he dives in desperation, his instinctive wing-flapping reveals his ability to fly, replacing fear with joy. The vivid imagery of the cliff (safety) and sea (freedom) underscores this journey. O’Flaherty uses the seagull’s experience to illustrate that courage, often triggered by necessity, is essential for overcoming fear and achieving growth. - How does Liam O’Flaherty use symbolism in “His First Flight” to convey the story’s message?
Answer: Liam O’Flaherty employs symbolism in “His First Flight” to convey the message of courage and independence. The cliff ledge symbolizes safety and the comfort zone where the seagull clings to his fear. The vast sea and sky symbolize freedom, opportunity, and the unknown, representing the challenges one must face to grow. The piece of fish held by the mother symbolizes the rewards of taking risks, motivating the seagull to dive. The act of flying itself symbolizes self-discovery and the transition to independence. These symbols collectively highlight the necessity of leaving one’s comfort zone to unlock potential, reinforcing the story’s universal message about overcoming fear. - Analyze the role of familial support in “His First Flight” and its impact on the young seagull’s development.
Answer: Familial support, depicted as tough love, plays a pivotal role in “His First Flight,” driving the young seagull’s development. The seagull’s parents, aware of his fear of flying, withhold food and taunt him with a piece of fish to force him to act. This deliberate strategy, though seemingly harsh, is rooted in their understanding of his potential. The mother’s taunting is the catalyst for his desperate dive, which unlocks his ability to fly. After his success, the family’s celebration—flying alongside him—reinforces their support. O’Flaherty portrays this tough love as essential for growth, showing that familial encouragement, even if stern, can push individuals to overcome fear and achieve independence. - Explain how “His First Flight” reflects the interplay between nature and instinct in the young seagull’s journey.
Answer: “His First Flight” reflects the interplay between nature and instinct through the young seagull’s journey from fear to flight. The natural setting of the cliff and sea presents both a challenge and an opportunity, with the vast expanse triggering fear but also holding the promise of freedom. The seagull’s hunger, a natural drive, compels him to dive when taunted with food. His instinctive wing-flapping during the fall reveals his innate ability to fly, a natural trait he was unaware of due to fear. O’Flaherty uses vivid imagery to show that nature’s challenges, combined with instinct, guide the seagull to self-discovery, illustrating that inherent abilities can overcome obstacles when spurred by necessity. - How does “His First Flight” serve as a metaphor for human growth and the challenges of adolescence?
Answer: “His First Flight” serves as a metaphor for human growth, particularly the challenges of adolescence, through the young seagull’s journey. His fear of flying mirrors the anxieties adolescents face when confronting new responsibilities or stepping into adulthood. The cliff represents the safety of childhood, while the sea and sky symbolize the daunting yet liberating world of independence. The parents’ tough love parallels the role of guardians who push adolescents to take risks. The seagull’s eventual flight, driven by hunger and instinct, reflects how necessity and inner strength enable young people to overcome fear. O’Flaherty’s narrative underscores that growth requires courage and support, making the story a universal allegory for the transition to maturity.