The Adventures of Toto
SUMMARY
In the story ‘The Adventures of Toto’, Toto is a monkey. The story is written by Ruskin Bond.
He has described how his grandfather was fond of animals and one day he bought a monkey from a Tonga-driver for a sum of five rupees. The grandfather saw Toto tied up to a feeding-trough and he looked very ill and ugly. As the grandfather had his own private zoo he decided to keep the little monkey in it. Toto was kept in a little closet which opened into the narrator’s room. Toto’s presence was kept top secret as grandmother abhorred animals. Gradually grandmother accepted Toto in the house. Toto used his tail as a third hand. He used it to hang from a branch and for scooping up any delicacy that might be out of reach of his hands. Once,when grandfather was going out of station, he decided to take Toto along with him. A big black canvas kit bag was used for Toto so that he could not escape from it but the ticket collector saw him and grandfather had to pay the fare for Toto too. When Toto was left in the stable to stay along with Nana, the family donkey, he fastened the donkey’s
ear with his sharp little teeth. Once Toto nearly boiled himself alive by jumping into the large kitchen kettle that had been left on the fire to boil for tea. It was grandmother who came to his rescue and saved him. As days passed by, Toto’s pernicious activities did not lessen. He became more mischievous. He damaged everything on which he laid his hands. He scared the visitors by tearing holes in their dresses. One day he crossed the limits by picking up a dish of pullao and running on a branch to eat it. When scolded he threw the plate and broke it. Soon grandfather realized that Toto was not the type of pet to be kept in the house. He found the Tonga-driver, and sold Toto back to him for rupees three only and heaved a sigh of relief.
Comprehension Questions
The author’s grandfather was an animal lover and took pity on Toto as it was kept tied to a feeding trough by a tonga driver and he looked very ill and ugly. Toto looked out of place so grandfather decided to buy Toto and bring it to his private zoo.
2. In what sense was Toto ‘a pretty monkey’?
Toto’s bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eye brows. His pearly white teeth often displayed a smile that had the innocence of a child. His hands looked dried up yet his fingers were quick and wicked and his tail added to his good looks. He had a tinge of naughtiness and mischievousness.
3. Why did grandfather hide Toto when he brought him home?
Grandmother was not very fond of animals. Whenever he used to bring a new animal or bird, she used to make a lot of fuss as she abhorred animals. To avoid this, grandfather hid Toto for sometime.
4. Where was Toto kept immediately after grandfather got him?
Immediately after grandfather got him, Toto was kept in a little closet opening into the author’s bedroom wall, tied securely to a peg fastened into the wall.
5. What did the grandfather and author see after they came back to release Toto?
When grandfather and author came back to release Toto, they found that the walls, which had been covered with some ornamental paper now stood out as naked brick and plaster. The peg in the wall had been wrenched from its socket and the author’s school blazer was in shreds.
6. Which other animals were kept in a big cage in the servants’ quarters?
The other animals which were kept in a big cage in the servants’ quarters were; a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel and a goat.
7. Why did grandfather decide to take Toto along with him to Saharanpur?
Grandfather decided to take Toto along with him to Saharanpur as Toto was a real menace to his other pets. Toto didn’t allow any of his companions to sleep at night.
8. How did Toto prove to be a big problem for grandfather at Saharanpur station?
Grandfather went to Saharanpur to collect his pension. While grandfather was producing his ticket, Toto suddenly poked his head out of the canvas bag. He gave the ticket collector a wide grin. The ticket collector with his great presence of mind insisted that Toto was a dog. So grandfather had to
pay for him too. In this way Toto proved to be a big problem for grandfather.
9. Who was Nana? How did Toto tease Nana?
Nana was the family donkey. Toto was kept in the stable with Nana, where Toto irritated Nana as he had fastened on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth. Nana was in great pain. As Toto teased Nana, even Nana was annoyed with him.
10. Why Toto and Nana could not become friends?
Toto was very naughty and wicked and could not stay still for a long time. Nana was a well behaved and docile animal. When they were together Toto had fastened onto the long ears of Nana with his sharp little teeth. Nana got annoyed with Toto. Thus, Nana and Toto could not become friends.
11. How did Toto’s love for taking bath almost led to his being half – boiled?
Toto loved taking bath in hot water during cold winter evenings. Once when a kettle was kept on fire, with water to boil for tea, Toto sat in it. When the water began to boil, Toto raised himself a little but found it cold outside. So he sat down again. He kept hopping up and down for some time, until grandmother arrived and hauled him, half boiled out of the kettle.
Textual Questions
Toto was in the custody of a tonga- driver. When grandfather saw the monkey he was filled with sympathy for the monkey and thought that his private zoo would be a better place for Toto. So he purchased Toto from the tonga-driver for the sum of five rupees.
2. "Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?
The definition of beauty can vary according to the subject. For an animal its shining fur or long horns or mane can add to its appearance. In case of Toto, his bright mischievous eyes along with pearly white teeth and tail enhanced his appearance. Generally, monkeys are naughty, so the naughty
glint in Toto’s eyes clearly told about his nature. Teeth are used by animals to show ferocity and Toto’s teeth did frighten others.
3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the
ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
Toto was a real menace for every living soul in the household. Other animals in grandfather’s zoo were fed up of Toto’s mischief. So, grandfather decided to provide some relief to other animals in the zoo and thought of taking Toto to Saharanpur. While grandfather was producing his ticket, Toto suddenly poked his head out of the canvas bag. He gave the ticket collector a wide grin. The ticket collector was following his rulebooks. As there seems to be no rule for fixing a monkey’s fare so he equated Toto with a dog. Ticket collector’s ingenuity tried to categorize all pets of a certain size as dogs.
4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto
almost boil himself alive?
Toto took bath in a large bowl of warm water given by grandmother. He used to cunningly put his hand in the water to check the temperature and gradually step in it, by putting first one foot then the other and once comfortable he would apply soap and rub himself all over. As monkeys are good at aping others, so Toto had learnt proper steps of bathing while watching the narrator doing same. Toto was fond of bathing with warm water, so once having tested the warmth of water in the kettle Toto sat in the kettle. He popped up and down in the kettle again and again as he was feeling hot because the water had started boiling. When grandmother arrived she hauled him half boiled out of the kettle.
5. Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?
Although Toto was pretty and clever, he was very mischievous. He damaged everything on which he laid his hands . He scared the visitors by tearing holes in their dresses. Moreover, he didn’t get along well with other animals in the house too. One day Toto crossed the limits by picking up a dish of pullao and running on a branch to eat it. When scolded he threw the plate and broke it. For a family of a middle class status buying dishes every day would be a costly affair or for that matter it can be an unnecessary harassment for people from any economic background. That’s when grandfather decided to sell Toto back to the tonga-driver as he couldn’t bear the losses that were incurred because of Toto’s mischief. Hence the author says that “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”.
WORKSHEET
(a) Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver for the sum of five rupees. The tonga-driver used to keep the little red monkey tied to a feeding-trough, and the monkey looked so out of place there that Grandfather decided he would add the little fellow to his private zoo.
i. From whom did grandfather buy Toto?
Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver.
ii. How did the tonga-driver keep the little monkey?
The tonga-driver kept the little red monkey tied to a feeding-trough and he looked very ill and ugly.
iii. Why did grandfather decide to buy Toto?
Grandfather was an animal lover and took pity on Toto as he was kept tied to a feeding trough. Toto looked out of place, so grandfather decided to bring him to his private zoo.
iv. Find the synonym for the word ‘trench’.
trough
(b) Grandmother always fussed when Grandfather brought home some new bird or animal. So it was decided that Toto’s presence should be kept a secret from her until she was in a particularly good mood. Grandfather and I put him away in a little closet opening into my bedroom wall, where he was tied securely — or so we thought — to a peg fastened into the wall.
i. When would grandmother make a fuss?
Grandmother would always make a fuss whenever grandfather brought home some new bird or animal.
ii. Where was Toto kept immediately after grandfather got him?
Toto was kept in a closet, tied securely to a peg immediately after grandfather got him.
iii. Why was Toto’s presence kept as a secret?
Toto’s presence was kept as a secret because grandmother abhorred animals.
iv. Give synonym for the word ‘securely’
firmly
c) Toto was now transferred to a big cage in the servants’ quarters where a number of Grandfather’s pets lived very sociably together — a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel and, for a while, my pet goat. But the monkey wouldn’t allow any of his companions to sleep at night; so Grandfather, who had to leave Dehra Dun next day to collect his pension in Saharanpur, decided to take him along.
i. Where was Toto transferred?
Toto was transferred to a big cage in the servants’ quarters.
ii. Which other animals lived in the cage?
The other animals that lived in the cage were - a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel and, for a while, the narrator’s pet goat.
iii. Why did grandfather decide to take Toto along with him to Saharanpur?
Grandfather decided to take Toto along with him to Saharanpur as Toto didn’t allow any of the other pets that lived in the servant’s quarter to sleep at night.
iv. Find antonym for the word ‘deny ’.
allow
d) A big black canvas kit-bag was provided for Toto. This, with some straw at the bottom, became his new abode. When the bag was closed, there was no escape. Toto could not get his hands through the opening, and the canvas was too strong for him to bite his way through. His efforts to get out only had the effect of making the bag roll about on the floor or occasionally jump into the air — an exhibition that attracted a curious crowd of onlookers on the Dehra Dun railway platform.
i. What was Toto’s new abode?
A big black canvas bag was Toto’s new abode.
ii. Why couldn’t Toto escape from the bag?
Toto couldn’t get his hands through the opening, and the canvas was too strong for him to bite his way through, so he couldn’t escape from the bag.
iii. What was the effect of Toto’s effort in getting out?
Toto’s efforts to get out only had the effect of making the bag roll about on the floor or occasionally jump into the air. It attracted a curious crowd of onlookers on the Dehra Dun railway platform.
iv. Find antonym of the word ‘weak’.
strong
e) The poor man was taken aback; but, with great presence of mind and much to
Grandfather’s annoyance, he said, “Sir, you have a dog with you. You’ll have to
pay for it accordingly.” In vain did Grandfather take Toto out of the bag; in vain
did he try to prove that a monkey did not qualify as a dog, or even as a
quadruped. Toto was classified a dog by the ticket-collector; and three rupees
was the sum handed over as his fare.
i. What happened when grandfather was producing his ticket at the railway turnstile?
When grandfather was producing his ticket at the railway turnstile, Toto suddenly poked his head out of the bag and gave the ticket collector a wide grin. The ticket collector was shocked to see the
monkey in the bag.
ii. Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
There seemed no rule for fixing a monkey’s fare so the ticket collector equated Toto with a dog. Ticket collector’s ingenuity tried to categorize all pets of a certain size as dogs.
iii. How much fare was collected from grandfather for Toto?
Grandfather had to pay a sum of three rupees as Toto’s fare.
iv. Find the antonym for the word ‘absence’
presence
f) Grandfather gave Nana a slap across her haunches, and she jerked back, dragging Toto with her. He had fastened on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth. Toto and Nana never became friends.
i. Why did grandfather visit the stable?
Grandfather visited the stable to see whether Toto was comfortable there.
ii. Who was Nana?
Nana was the family donkey.
iii. Why could Toto and Nana not become friends?
Once Toto was kept in the stable with Nana. Toto irritated Nana as he fastened on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth. Nana was in great pain. She got annoyed with Toto. Thus, Nana and Toto
could not become friends.
iii. Find the antonym of the word ‘enemy’.
friend
g) When the water became cold, he would get out and run as quickly as he could to the kitchen-fire in order to dry himself. If anyone laughed at him during this performance, Toto’s feelings would be hurt and he would refuse to go on with his bath. One day Toto nearly succeeded in boiling himself alive.
i. What was a treat for Toto during the cold winter evenings?
A great treat for Toto during cold winter evenings was the large bowl of warm water given for his bath by grandmother.
ii. How would Toto test the temperature of water?
Toto would cunningly test the temperature with his hand, and then gradually step into the bath, first one foot then the other until he was into the water up to his neck.
iii. What would Toto do when the water became cold?
When the water became cold, Toto would get out and run as quickly as he could to the kitchen-fire in order to dry himself.
iv. Find the antonym for the word ‘dead’.
alive
h) My grandmother screamed — and Toto threw a plate at her. One of my aunts
rushed forward — and received a glass of water in the face. When Grandfather
arrived, Toto picked up the dish of pullao and made his exit through a window.
We found him in the branches of the jackfruit tree, the dish still in his arms. He
remained there all afternoon, eating slowly through the rice, determined on
finishing every grain.
i. Why did grandmother scream?
Grandmother screamed as she saw Toto stuffing himself with pullao rice.
ii. Explain: ‘ determined on finishing every grain’
In the above extract it means taking a firm decision of eating the entire pullao.
iii. What did Toto do with the dish, once he had finished eating?
Toto threw the dish down from the jackfruit tree and chattered with delight when it broke into a hundred pieces.
iv. Give antonym of the word ‘exit’
entrance
Q2. Answer the following in 30- 40 words.
1. “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense was Toto pretty?
The definition of beauty can vary according to the subject. For an animal the shining fur or long horns or mane add to the good looks. In case of Toto, its bright mischievous eyes along with pearly white teeth and tail enhanced its good looks. Monkeys are generally naughty, so the naughty glint in Toto’s eyes were clearly telling about its nature. Teeth are used by animals to show ferocity and Toto’s teeth did frighten others.
2. Give a character sketch of Toto.
Toto was a clever monkey and this was understood from the means he devised to escape from the closet that grandfather put him in. He seemed friendly initially; however, his naughty behaviour was evident soon. He also seemed to be a very sensitive creature. He was very mischievous as well as adventurous.
3. Describe the incident at Dehradun railway station from the story-‘The
Adventures of Toto’.
Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur to collect his pension. So, he decided to put Toto in a big black canvas bag and take him along for the train journey. When they reached the platform, Toto started jumping and everyone was surprised to see a bag jumping and moving about. When the ticket collector came, Toto poked his head out of the bag. The ticket collector was taken aback. The ticket collector wanted grandfather to buy a ticket so with great presence of mind he classified Toto as a dog. Grandfather tried explaining ticket collector but it went in vain. Finally after much argument grandfather had to buy ticket and three rupees was the sum handed over as his fare.
4. Grandfather was a great lover of animals. Cite examples from the text to justify.
Narrator’s grandfather had a great liking for animals. He frequently bought many varieties of animals to keep them in his zoo. He had tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel, a goat but no monkey. With the coming of Toto his mini zoo was transformed into a real zoo. Due to this, he even faced the wrath of his wife at times but when he brought Toto he was very happy with his cleverness.
Q3. Answer the following in 100- 150 words.
1. “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long.” Do you agree? Explain
giving examples from the text.
Yes, Toto was not good enough to be kept at home. He was up to some kind of mischief all the time. He scratched the plaster of the wall, tore the wall papers of the rooms, and also shredded the author’s school blazer. He troubled other fellow animals. He scared the ticket collector by poking his head out of a strong canvas at Dehradun railway station. He made holes in dresses and curtains. He even managed to get himself into trouble by nearly boiling himself in a kettle. He broke dishes in the
houses. He threw plates at grandmother and a glass of water at one of the author’s aunt’s face. The author’s grandparents could not afford the frequent loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpaper.
Thus, it was not easy for them to keep Toto at home. Hence the author says that, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long.”
2. Write your views in the form of short paragraph on the topic: ‘Should animals be
kept as a pets”
Humans and some animals can have a special relationship. Keeping a pet adds to the quality of life for both the owner and the animal. The animal receives shelter, is well fed and looked after. It is likely to live much longer than similar wild animals, and will have better health. However animals don’t really belong in a human home. We can’t properly meet their needs in terms of exercise, diet and environment, so it is cruel to keep them as pets. For example, dogs are animals that need
companionship, but they are often kept singly and left during the day. Birds flock together and need to fly free – so it is incorrect to imprison them in a cage. It is true that the animals that we have as pets were wild at some point of time. However, we must remember that these animals have been domesticated after having been bred in captivity for generations. They have lost their wild instincts and have adapted to live with human beings. We must consider our decision of adopting wild animals as pets carefully, as there is a great price attached, not only for the animals, but also to our lives and the environment.
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