Chapter 3: Two Stories about Flying

Table of Contents

• I. His First Flight (Liam O’Flaherty)
  • The Young Seagull’s Fear
  • Family’s Encouragement
  • The First Flight
  • Overcoming Fear
• II. Black Aeroplane (Frederick Forsyth)
  • The Pilot’s Journey
  • Caught in the Storm
  • The Mysterious Black Aeroplane
  • A Miraculous Rescue
• Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals (Carolyn Wells)
  • Humorous Descriptions of Wild Animals
  • Identifying Animals by Traits
• Poem: The Ball Poem (John Berryman)
  • Loss and Grief
  • Understanding Responsibility
  • The Nature of Possessions

I. His First Flight (Liam O’Flaherty)

Key Concepts

• Theme: Overcoming fear, the role of family, and the instinct for survival.
• Literary Devices: Symbolism (flight as freedom), imagery (stormy weather, family encouragement), and conflict (internal vs. external).
• Moral: Courage is born from trust in others and self-belief.

Important Elements

• The Young Seagull’s Fear: The seagull’s fear of flying is symbolic of the fear of taking risks in life.
• Family’s Encouragement: The parents’ persistent encouragement represents support from loved ones.
• The First Flight: The successful flight is a metaphor for achieving goals through perseverance.
• Overcoming Fear: The seagull’s triumph highlights the importance of facing fears to grow.

Potential Questions

1. MCQ: What does the seagull’s fear symbolize?

   • (A) Fear of the dark
   • (B) Fear of failure
   • (C) Fear of the unknown
   • (D) Fear of the family
     Answer: (C) Fear of the unknown.

2. Short Answer: How does the family’s encouragement help the seagull overcome its fear?

   • Answer: The family’s persistent encouragement provides emotional support, reminding the seagull that flight is instinctual.

3. Long Answer: Analyze the significance of the seagull’s first flight.

   • Answer: The first flight symbolizes breaking free from self-imposed limits. It represents the triumph of courage over fear and the importance of trusting one’s instincts.

Common Errors and Misconceptions

• Misconception: The seagull’s fear is purely physical.
  • Correction: The fear is symbolic, representing the universal struggle to take risks.
• Error: Ignoring the role of family support in the seagull’s success.
  • Correction: Family encouragement is critical to the seagull’s growth.

Exam Tips

• Focus on the symbolism of flight in the story.
• Highlight the contrast between fear and courage.
• Use direct quotes from the text to support analysis.

II. Black Aeroplane (Frederick Forsyth)

Key Concepts

• Theme: Trust in technology, the power of the human spirit, and the supernatural.
• Literary Devices: Suspense, symbolism (black aeroplane as a metaphor for fear), and ambiguity (open-ended resolution).
• Moral: Trust in technology and human ingenuity can overcome even the most daunting challenges.

Important Elements

• The Pilot’s Journey: The pilot’s determination to reach his destination despite the storm.
• Caught in the Storm: The storm symbolizes the pilot’s internal struggle with fear and doubt.
• The Mysterious Black Aeroplane: Represents the pilot’s subconscious fears or a supernatural force.
• A Miraculous Rescue: The rescue highlights the power of hope and teamwork.

Potential Questions

1. MCQ: What does the black aeroplane symbolize?

   • (A) A rival pilot
   • (B) The pilot’s fear of failure
   • (C) A supernatural entity
   • (D) A malfunctioning aircraft
     Answer: (B) The pilot’s fear of failure.

2. Short Answer: How does the pilot’s experience in the storm reflect his inner conflict?

   • Answer: The storm mirrors the pilot’s fear of failure. His struggle to navigate the storm parallels his battle with self-doubt.

3. Long Answer: Discuss the significance of the black aeroplane’s disappearance.

   • Answer: The black aeroplane’s disappearance symbolizes the pilot’s triumph over fear. It leaves the story open to interpretation, emphasizing the power of the human spirit.

Common Errors and Misconceptions

• Misconception: The black aeroplane is a literal aircraft.
  • Correction: It is a symbolic representation of the pilot’s fears.
• Error: Overlooking the ambiguity in the story’s resolution.
  • Correction: The open ending invites readers to reflect on the theme of overcoming fear.

Exam Tips

• Focus on the symbolism of the black aeroplane.
• Highlight the contrast between the pilot’s fear and his eventual courage.
• Use direct quotes to analyze the storm’s role in the narrative.

Poem: How to Tell Wild Animals (Carolyn Wells)

Key Concepts

• Theme: Humor, the absurdity of identifying animals, and human arrogance.
• Literary Devices: Hyperbole, satire, and irony.
• Moral: Exaggeration and humor can reveal the flaws in human assumptions.

Important Elements

• Humorous Descriptions: The poem humorously exaggerates how humans misidentify animals (e.g., mistaking a bear for a bear).
• Identifying Animals by Traits: The poem mocks the idea that humans can easily recognize animals, highlighting their ignorance.

Potential Questions

1. MCQ: What is the tone of the poem?

   • (A) Sarcastic
   • (B) Serious
   • (C) Reflective
   • (D) Melancholic
     Answer: (A) Sarcastic.

2. Short Answer: Why does the poet use hyperbole in describing animals?

   • Answer: The poet uses hyperbole to mock the human tendency to overcomplicate the natural world.

3. Long Answer: Analyze the poem’s use of humor to critique human arrogance.

   • Answer: The poem’s humor arises from exaggerating human mistakes in identifying animals, critiquing our arrogance in assuming we understand nature.

Common Errors and Misconceptions

• Misconception: The poem is purely humorous without deeper meaning.
  • Correction: The humor serves to critique human overconfidence and ignorance.
• Error: Missing the irony in the poem’s descriptions.
  • Correction: The irony lies in the absurdity of the situations, which underscores the poem’s message.

Exam Tips

• Focus on the use of hyperbole and satire.
• Highlight the contrast between human assumptions and reality.
• Use direct quotes to illustrate the poem’s humor.

Poem: The Ball Poem (John Berryman)

Key Concepts

• Theme: Loss, grief, and the nature of possessions.
• Literary Devices: Symbolism (the ball as a symbol of innocence), imagery, and emotional depth.
• Moral: Possessions are temporary, and true value lies in relationships and experiences.

Important Elements

• Loss and Grief: The boy’s grief over losing his ball reflects the pain of losing something meaningful.
• Understanding Responsibility: The poem explores the boy’s realization that the ball is not his to keep.
• The Nature of Possessions: The ball symbolizes the fleeting nature of material things.

Potential Questions

1. MCQ: What does the ball symbolize in the poem?

   • (A) Wealth
   • (B) Innocence
   • (C) Power
   • (D) Success
     Answer: (B) Innocence.

2. Short Answer: How does the poem convey the boy’s emotional journey?

   • Answer: The poem conveys the boy’s emotional journey from joy to grief, highlighting the fragility of possessions.

3. Long Answer: Discuss the poem’s message about the value of possessions.

   • Answer: The poem suggests that possessions are temporary, and their loss teaches us to cherish relationships and experiences over material things.

Common Errors and Misconceptions

• Misconception: The poem is solely about material loss.
  • Correction: It also explores emotional and existential loss.
• Error: Overlooking the boy’s growth in the poem.
  • Correction: The boy’s realization about responsibility is central to the poem’s message.

Exam Tips

• Focus on the symbolism of the ball.
• Highlight the emotional depth and philosophical themes.
• Use direct quotes to support analysis of the boy’s growth.

Quick Revision Facts

1. His First Flight: Flight symbolizes freedom and courage.
2. Black Aeroplane: The black aeroplane represents fear and the subconscious.
3. How to Tell Wild Animals: Humor critiques human arrogance.
4. The Ball Poem: The ball symbolizes innocence and the fleeting nature of possessions.

Note: Always use direct quotes from the text and focus on symbolism and themes for exam success.