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The Princess Who Wanted the Moon: BSEM Class 9 English notes
Get summary, workbook solutions, questions, answers, notes, pdf, and extras to the story “The Princess Who Wanted the Moon” by James Thurber, which is a part of Class 9 English syllabus for students studying under Manipur Board (BSEM).
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
The story is about a 10-year old princess named Lenore who becomes ill after eating too many raspberry tarts. The Royal Doctor examines her and is worried about her condition. He informs the King, who is Lenore’s father, about it. The King asks Lenore if there is anything she wants that will make her feel better. Lenore says she wants the moon. If she can have the moon, she will recover.
The King first asks the Lord High Chamberlain to get the moon for Lenore, but he says it is impossible since the moon is very far away and huge in size. Next, the King commands the Royal Wizard to get the moon. The wizard also says no one can get the moon, as it is even farther than what the chamberlain said and is made of green cheese and very large. The King then tells the Royal Mathematician to find a way to get the moon. He gives accurate details about the distance and size of the moon, but concludes that getting the real moon is impossible.
Finally, the King asks the Court Jester for help. Through simple logic, the jester finds out exactly what Lenore thinks the moon is like – its size, distance, and material. He then asks the Royal Goldsmith to make a tiny golden moon that matches Lenore’s description and gets it for her. Lenore is very happy with it. However, the King knows Lenore will see the real moon that night and become ill again, realising the moon she has is fake. So he desperately asks his wise men to hide the moon somehow, but all their ideas have flaws.
When the real moon rises, the worried King again summons the jester. The jester simply goes and asks Lenore how there can be a moon in the sky when she already has it around her neck. Lenore explains it like the cycle of nature – when she loses a tooth, a new one grows; when flowers are plucked, new ones bloom. The jester realises the childlike innocence in her logic. As Lenore falls asleep, he silently walks out after winking at the moon, which seems to wink back at him.
Textual notes
Comprehension
(A) From your understanding of the story answer the following questions
a. To the Lord High Chamberlain the moon was
Answer: II. 35,000 miles away.
b. According to the Royal Wizard the moon was made of
Answer: IV. Green cheese.
c. The Princess said that the moon was
Answer: IV. As high as the tree outside her window.
(B) Based on your reading of text complete the following statements
I. Princess Lenore fell ill because
Answer: She ate too many raspberry tarts.
II. The Lord High Chamberlain seemed twice as wise as he really was because
Answer: He wore thick glasses that made his eyes seem twice as large.
III. The cloak of invisibility the King wore did not work because
Answer: It did not stop him from bumping into things.
IV. The King told the Court Jester that every time he asked anybody for the moon
Answer: It got larger and farther away.
V. The Princess told the Court Jester that the moon was a little smaller than
Answer: Her thumb-nail.
VI. The King was so angry that he waved his arms around and said that black curtains
Answer: Would keep out the air and make the Princess ill again.
VII. The Court Jester said that Princess Lenore was wiser than
Answer: The wise men.
(C) Answer the following questions in a sentence each
I. What will make the Princess well again?
Answer: Getting the moon.
II. According to the Lord High Chamberlain, what was the moon made of?
Answer: Copper.
III. What was the moon made of according to the Royal Mathematician?
Answer: Asbestos.
IV. What was the moon made of according to the Princess?
Answer: Gold.
V. What was Lord High Chamberlain’s suggestion to keep the Princess from seeing the moon?
Answer: Stretching black velvet curtains on poles to cover all the palace gardens like a circus tent.
(D) Answer the following questions briefly
I. Why did the Lord High Chamberlain say that getting the moon was out of the question?
Answer: He claimed it was 35,000 miles away, larger than the Princess Lenore’s room, and made of copper, making it impossible to get.
II. What was the moon like according to the Royal Wizard?
Answer: The Royal Wizard described the moon as 1,500,000 miles away, twice as big as the palace, and made of green cheese.
III. “Nobody can get the moon.” Why did the Royal Mathematician say so?
Answer: The Royal Mathematician stated the moon was 3,000,000 miles away, round and flat like a coin, made of asbestos, and half the size of the kingdom, deeming it unattainable.
IV. Why did the King send for the Court Jester?
Answer: The King sought the Court Jester’s help after the wise men failed to devise a way to bring the moon to Princess Lenore to cure her illness.
V. What was the King’s problem even after the Princess got the moon?
Answer: The King worried that if the Princess saw the real moon in the sky, she would realize the one she had was not the actual moon.
VI. What was the Princess’s explanation about the presence of the moon?
Answer: The Princess explained that just like new teeth grow to replace lost ones and new flowers bloom to replace those cut, a new moon appears when one is taken.
(E) Answer the following questions in about 80 words
I. Are wise men always capable of solving difficult problems? Justify your answer with examples from the story.
Answer: Wise men are not always capable of solving difficult problems. In the story, the Lord High Chamberlain, the Royal Wizard, and the Royal Mathematician, despite their wisdom, failed to solve Princess Lenore’s request for the moon. Each provided a complex and impractical solution, showing their limitations in creative thinking. The Court Jester, although not traditionally wise, used a simple, imaginative approach to fulfill the Princess’s wish, indicating that wisdom does not always equate to problem-solving ability.
II. Write how the Court Jester solved both the King’s problems.
Answer: The Court Jester solved the King’s problems with creativity and understanding of human psychology. For the first problem, he listened to Princess Lenore’s perception of the moon and had a replica made to match her description, thus making her believe she had the moon. For the second problem, he cleverly used Princess Lenore’s own logic, stating that just as new teeth and flowers replace the old, a new moon would replace the one she had, resolving the King’s fear about the real moon in the sky.
Think and write
The Lord High Chamberlain gave the King a list of the things he did for the King. Some of them are possible, and some are impossible. Now make two lists—one of the possible things and the other of the impossible things—in the following columns.
Answer:
Lord High Chamberlain
| Possible things | Impossible things |
| 1. ivory | 1. black orchids |
| 2. apes | 2. pink elephants |
| 3. peacocks | 3. blue poodles |
| 4. rubies | 4. hummingbirds’ tongues |
Discuss
(A) Discuss why the wise men failed to solve the Princess’s problems. In the list below some probable causes for their failure is given. Select the right reasons for their failure and write them down.
Answer: The wise men failed because:-
- They knew it was not possible.
- They looked at the Princess’ problem from an adult’s point of view.
- They did not look at the problems from a child’s point of view.
(B) Which of the following, do you think, may be the central idea of the story?
I. When a difficult problem comes, it is best to be realistic and practical.
II. However difficult a problem may be, we should not outright say, “It is not possible.”. There may be a simple solution to it.
Answer: The central idea of the story seems to focus on the importance of not dismissing difficult problems as impossible and instead considering that there may be simple solutions. This aligns more closely with option II. The narrative encourages a mindset of looking for solutions, even in challenging situations, rather than immediately deeming them impractical or impossible.
Vocabulary
(I) Combine the words on the left column with another on the right and make new words. One has been done for you.
Answer: The new words formed by combining the given words are as follows:
- radio + station = radio station
- news + paper = newspaper
- court + jester = court jester
- book + worm = bookworm
- fore + head = forehead
- country + men = countrymen
- air + music = airmusic
- inter + net = internet
- flower + bag = flowerbag
- pop + net = popnet
Writing Practice
The 4th birthday party of your little brother will be held on 15th of April,20……. Now complete the half- finished draft of the formal invitation on behalf of your parents. The name of your parents are Mr. And Mrs. Jonson Gange of Paradise Village:
Answer:
Mr. and Mrs. Jonson Gangte
Of Paradise Village, House No 8
Have the pleasure of inviting you to the 4th birthday party of their son ABC on Saturday, the 15th of April, 2025 at 5 pm at their residence.
Please grace the occasion with your presence.
To
John Sen
123 Main Street
Anytown, Assam
Extra MCQs
1. Who is the author of “The Princess Who Wanted the Moon”?
A. James Joyce B. James Thurber C. William Shakespeare D. J.K. Rowling
Answer: B. James Thurber
2. What was the Princess Lenore’s illness attributed to?
A. Eating too many raspberry tarts B. A magical curse C. A common cold D. A mysterious fever
Answer: A. Eating too many raspberry tarts
3. Who did the King first ask to get the moon for Princess Lenore?
A. The Royal Wizard B. The Court Jester C. The Lord High Chamberlain D. The Royal Mathematician
Answer: C. The Lord High Chamberlain
4. What did the Royal Wizard suggest as a solution to hiding the moon?
A. Stretching black velvet curtains B. Using magic to make it disappear C. Creating a fake moon D. Letting off fireworks in the garden
Answer: D. Letting off fireworks in the garden
5. According to the story, what did the Royal Mathematician say the moon was made of?
A. Green cheese B. Asbestos C. Gold D. Silver
Answer: B. Asbestos
6. How does the Princess Lenore describe the size of the moon?
A. As big as her bedroom B. A little smaller than her thumb-nail C. Half the size of the kingdom D. As big as the palace
Answer: B. A little smaller than her thumb-nail
7. What was the solution to getting the moon for Princess Lenore?
A. A magical spell B. A golden chain with a tiny moon C. A journey to the moon D. A powerful telescope
Answer: B. A golden chain with a tiny moon
8. What did the Royal Doctor do when he visited Princess Lenore?
A. Gave her a potion B. Took her temperature and pulse C. Read her a story D. Played music for her
Answer: B. Took her temperature and pulse
9. Who suggested that the moon’s size and distance depend on a person’s perception?
A. The Royal Wizard B. The King C. The Court Jester D. The Princess
Answer: C. The Court Jester
10. What did the Royal Goldsmith create for Princess Lenore?
A. A crown B. A scepter C. A golden moon D. A magical mirror
Answer: C. A golden moon
11. What was the reaction of the royal mathematician to the king’s request for the moon?
A. He immediately agreed B. He offered a mathematical formula C. He said it was impossible D. He suggested asking the wizard
Answer: C. He said it was impossible
12. What did the princess do when she received the moon?
A. She became well again B. She refused it C. She asked for the stars D. She gave it to the Court Jester
Answer: A. She became well again
13. What was the king’s fear after the princess received the moon?
A. That she would ask for more B. That the real moon would still be in the sky C. That the moon would lose its magic D. That the wizard would be angry
Answer: B. That the real moon would still be in the sky
14. How did the Court Jester prove to be wise?
A. By using magic B. By understanding the Princess’s perspective C. By consulting the Royal Wizard D. By creating a real moon
Answer: B. By understanding the Princess’s perspective
Extra Questions and Answers
1. What was the Princess Lenore’s illness caused by?
Answer: Princess Lenore became ill after eating too many raspberry tarts, as indicated in the story’s early part.
2. What did the Princess Lenore request to get well?
Answer: Princess Lenore requested the moon, believing that having it would make her well again.
3. How did the Court Jester decide to find out the size of the moon?
Answer: The Court Jester thought to ask Princess Lenore about her perception of the moon’s size and distance.
4. What was the size of the moon according to Princess Lenore?
Answer: Princess Lenore believed the moon was just a little smaller than her thumbnail when held up against it.
5. What material did Princess Lenore think the moon was made of?
Answer: Princess Lenore thought that the moon was made of gold.
6. How did the Court Jester fulfill the Princess’s wish for the moon?
Answer: The Court Jester had a tiny round golden moon made by the Royal Goldsmith to match Princess Lenore’s description.
7. What was the King’s concern after the Princess received the moon?
Answer: The King worried that if Princess Lenore saw the real moon in the sky, she would realize her moon was not real.
8. How did the princess explain the presence of both her moon and the one in the sky?
Answer: Princess Lenore explained it by likening it to natural replacements – like new teeth growing in place of lost ones.
9. What does the story suggest about the perspectives of children and adults?
Answer: The story suggests that children’s perspectives can be imaginative and simple, often leading to solutions that adults might overlook due to their complexity.
10. How did the King respond when Princess Lenore expressed her desire for the moon?
Answer: The King assured Princess Lenore that he would get her anything her heart desired, and he was surprised when she asked for the moon. He immediately took action by consulting with his court officials, demonstrating his willingness to fulfil her wish despite the apparent impossibility of the task.
11. What were the different beliefs of the King’s advisors about the moon’s characteristics?
Answer: The King’s advisors, each with their own perspective, had varying beliefs about the moon’s characteristics. The Lord High Chamberlain, the Royal Wizard, and the Royal Mathematician each had a different view on the moon’s distance, size, and composition, reflecting their individual expertise and the story’s theme of subjective perception.
12. How did the Court Jester propose to obtain the moon for Princess Lenore?
Answer: The Court Jester, displaying ingenuity, decided to ask Princess Lenore about her perception of the moon’s size and distance. He cleverly used her answers to create a solution that was both simple and satisfying to her, showcasing a unique approach to solving problems.
13. What was the Royal Goldsmith’s reaction to the Court Jester’s request?
Answer: When the Court Jester requested the Royal Goldsmith to make a small golden moon, the Goldsmith was puzzled. He was aware of the moon’s conventional perception as a large, distant celestial body and was thus surprised at the request for a small, tangible version.
14. How did Princess Lenore react to receiving the moon, and what was its impact on her health?
Answer: Princess Lenore was overjoyed and delighted upon receiving the moon crafted by the Royal Goldsmith. This joy and satisfaction had a positive impact on her health, leading to her rapid recovery. This outcome highlights the power of belief and happiness to influence well-being.
15. How did the court jester’s approach differ from the other advisors?
Answer: The Court Jester represents an unconventional source of wisdom in the narrative. Unlike the other advisors, who rely heavily on their specific areas of expertise, the Jester employs empathy, creativity, and a willingness to think outside the norm. His approach, grounded in understanding the princess’s perspective, contrasts sharply with the more rigid and traditional methods of the other advisors, emphasising the value of empathy and innovative thinking in problem-solving.
16. Explore the theme of innocence and wisdom in the story, particularly in the characters of Princess Lenore and the Court Jester.
Answer: The story juxtaposes innocence and wisdom through Princess Lenore and the Court Jester. Lenore embodies innocence; her simple yet profound request for the moon demonstrates a pure, unbound imagination. The Jester, blending this innocence with his own wisdom, understands and values her perspective, showcasing that true wisdom often lies in appreciating and embracing the simplicity and clarity that innocence can offer.
