1) Where do we find the seagull at the outset of the story? What
happened to his brothers and sister?
happened to his brothers and sister?
= We find the young seagull sitting
alone on the ledge afraid to fly.
alone on the ledge afraid to fly.
His brothers and sisters had already
flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them.
flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them.
2) Why didn’t the seagull go with his brothers and sister? How
did he make timid attempt?
did he make timid attempt?
= The seagull being young had the
aversion of flying the heights. Therefore, he didn’t go with his brothers and
sister.
aversion of flying the heights. Therefore, he didn’t go with his brothers and
sister.
THE young seagull was alone on his
ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before.
He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run
forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings, he became
afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long
way down — miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him;
so, he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where
he slept at night. Thus, his attempt was timid but futile initially.
ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before.
He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run
forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings, he became
afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long
way down — miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him;
so, he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where
he slept at night. Thus, his attempt was timid but futile initially.
3) How did his brothers and sister fly away inspite of being
small and having small wings?
small and having small wings?
= The young seagull had his brothers
and sister who could fly without any fear. each of his brothers and his little
sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped
their wings, and flew away, whereas he failed to muster up courage to take that
plunge which appeared to him so desperate.
and sister who could fly without any fear. each of his brothers and his little
sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped
their wings, and flew away, whereas he failed to muster up courage to take that
plunge which appeared to him so desperate.
4) What did the father and mother do while the seagull was alone
in the ledge?
in the ledge?
= The father and mother had come
around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on
his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he could not move. He
was not only afraid of leaving his ledge but also had dilemma whether his wings
could support him. Hence, he stayed inside.
around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on
his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he could not move. He
was not only afraid of leaving his ledge but also had dilemma whether his wings
could support him. Hence, he stayed inside.
5) What happened 24 hours ago?
= The young seagull tried a timid
attempt in flying twenty-four hours ago. His two brothers and his sister had
already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow
when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted
to flap his wings, he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down
beneath, and it was such a long way down — miles down. He felt certain that his
wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the
little hole under the ledge where he slept at night. Even when each of his
brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran
to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up
courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and
mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to
let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he
could not move.
attempt in flying twenty-four hours ago. His two brothers and his sister had
already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow
when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted
to flap his wings, he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down
beneath, and it was such a long way down — miles down. He felt certain that his
wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the
little hole under the ledge where he slept at night. Even when each of his
brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran
to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up
courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and
mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to
let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he
could not move.
6) What did his older brother do? How did his parents praise
him? How did the whole family in the morning taunt him?
him? How did the whole family in the morning taunt him?
= The young seagull being afraid, saw
from distance how his older brother caught his first herring and devoured it,
standing on a rock.
from distance how his older brother caught his first herring and devoured it,
standing on a rock.
The day before, all day long, the
young seagull had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and
sister, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the
waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch
his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled
around raising a proud cackle.
young seagull had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and
sister, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the
waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch
his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled
around raising a proud cackle.
In the morning, his whole family had
walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him
with his cowardice.
walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him
with his cowardice.
7) How did the sun and the heat increase his trouble?
= The sun and the heat stood as a
major trouble for him. The sun was then ascending the sky, blazing on his ledge
that faced the south. He felt the heat because he had not eaten since the
previous nightfall.
major trouble for him. The sun was then ascending the sky, blazing on his ledge
that faced the south. He felt the heat because he had not eaten since the
previous nightfall.
8) Stepping at the break of the edge, standing on one leg, what
did the seagulls want to convey? Did it work?
did the seagulls want to convey? Did it work?
= The young seagull stepped slowly
out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg
hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the other and pretended to be
falling asleep. He did this because he wanted his brother, father and sister to
pay a heed to him. But, on the contrary, nobody noticed him except for his
mother.
out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg
hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the other and pretended to be
falling asleep. He did this because he wanted his brother, father and sister to
pay a heed to him. But, on the contrary, nobody noticed him except for his
mother.
Sadly, it didn’t work. Only his
mother noticed. The young seagull tried to make his family members pay attention
to him. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one
leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the
other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they took no notice of him. He
saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their
heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the feathers on his white
back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high
hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward.
mother noticed. The young seagull tried to make his family members pay attention
to him. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one
leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the
other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they took no notice of him. He
saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their
heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the feathers on his white
back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high
hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward.
9) Standing at the brink of the ledge pretending to sleep, what
did he find his family members doing?
did he find his family members doing?
= The young seagull tried to make his
family members pay attention to him. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the
ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he
closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they
took no notice of him. He saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the
plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening
the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was
standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward.
family members pay attention to him. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the
ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he
closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they
took no notice of him. He saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the
plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening
the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was
standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward.
10) How did he feel when his mother tore fish? How did he ask
for food then?
for food then?
= The young seagull saw his mother
looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her
white breast thrust forward. She tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet
and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food
maddened him. He loved to tear food that way, scraping his beak now and again
to whet it.
looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her
white breast thrust forward. She tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet
and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food
maddened him. He loved to tear food that way, scraping his beak now and again
to whet it.
11) How did his mother at first create hope and then shocked
him?
him?
= The young seagull was maddened at
the sight of the food. He begged his mother to bring him some food. His mother
screamed back at him derisively. But he continued calling plaintively and after
a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of
the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly, tapping
the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But
when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece
of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in
surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger,
he dived at the fish.
the sight of the food. He begged his mother to bring him some food. His mother
screamed back at him derisively. But he continued calling plaintively and after
a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of
the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly, tapping
the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But
when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece
of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in
surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger,
he dived at the fish.
12) How did the seagull fall down from the ledge?
= After getting taunted by his family,
the young seagull stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and stood on
one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the
other, and pretended to be falling asleep in order to get his family’s
attention. But nobody pays any attention except his mother. At the sight of the
food, he maddened himself and begged his mother to bring him some food. His
mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it.
He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to
her as she flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her
wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his
beak. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer,
and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell
outwards and downwards into space.
the young seagull stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and stood on
one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the
other, and pretended to be falling asleep in order to get his family’s
attention. But nobody pays any attention except his mother. At the sight of the
food, he maddened himself and begged his mother to bring him some food. His
mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it.
He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to
her as she flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her
wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his
beak. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer,
and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell
outwards and downwards into space.
13) What happened to the seagull as he continued to fall down?
= With a loud scream, the seagull
continued to fall outwards and downwards into the space. A monstrous terror
seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted
a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed
against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings. He
could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling
headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer
afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards.
He saw his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered
her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his
two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring
and diving.
continued to fall outwards and downwards into the space. A monstrous terror
seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted
a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed
against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings. He
could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling
headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer
afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards.
He saw his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered
her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his
two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring
and diving.
14) How did the seagull learn to fly? How did his family praise
him?
him?
= The young seagull was very hungry.
It was his hunger tat compelled him to fly. At the sight of the food, he
maddened himself and begged his mother to bring him some food. His mother had
picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned
out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she
flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings
motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He
waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then,
maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards
and downwards into space. A monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood
still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a minute. The next moment he
felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers,
then under his stomach, and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his
wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring
gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit
dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards.
It was his hunger tat compelled him to fly. At the sight of the food, he
maddened himself and begged his mother to bring him some food. His mother had
picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned
out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she
flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings
motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He
waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then,
maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards
and downwards into space. A monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood
still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a minute. The next moment he
felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers,
then under his stomach, and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his
wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring
gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit
dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards.
As a token of appreciation and
appraisal from his family members, he saw his mother swooped past him, her
wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father
flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around
him curveting and banking and soaring and diving.
appraisal from his family members, he saw his mother swooped past him, her
wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father
flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around
him curveting and banking and soaring and diving.
15) What was shocking to the seagull as he had been in the
water? How was he relieved of the fear of drowning?
water? How was he relieved of the fear of drowning?
= The moment the seagull flapped his
wings and soared upwards, he felt divine to be able to fly. He completely forgot
that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and soar
and curve, shrieking shrilly. He was near the sea, flying straight over it,
facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea beneath him, with
little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak sideways and cawed
amusedly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it.
He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he
was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange
exercise.
wings and soared upwards, he felt divine to be able to fly. He completely forgot
that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and soar
and curve, shrieking shrilly. He was near the sea, flying straight over it,
facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea beneath him, with
little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak sideways and cawed
amusedly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it.
He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he
was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange
exercise.
As he was drowning more into the sea
water, his feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he
sank no farther. He was floating on it, and around him his family was
screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish.
Thus, he had his first flight and had overcome the fear of drowning.
water, his feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he
sank no farther. He was floating on it, and around him his family was
screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish.
Thus, he had his first flight and had overcome the fear of drowning.
16) How did the seagull celebrate with family after his success
in the air and the water?
in the air and the water?
= The young seagull in order to grab
his part of the food from his mother, leaned out eagerly, tapping
the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But
when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece
of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in
surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger,
he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into
space. A monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear
nothing. But it only lasted a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread
outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach,
and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the
air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and
outwards. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped
his wings once and he soared upwards. Thus, As a token of appreciation and
appraisal from his family members, he saw his mother swooped past him, her
wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father
flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around
him curveting and banking and soaring and diving.
his part of the food from his mother, leaned out eagerly, tapping
the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But
when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece
of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in
surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger,
he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into
space. A monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear
nothing. But it only lasted a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread
outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach,
and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the
air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and
outwards. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped
his wings once and he soared upwards. Thus, As a token of appreciation and
appraisal from his family members, he saw his mother swooped past him, her
wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father
flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around
him curveting and banking and soaring and diving.
The seagull near the sea, flying
straight over it, facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea
beneath him, with little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak sideways
and cawed amusedly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank
into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his
wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted
by the strange exercise. As he was drowning more into the sea water, his feet
sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther.
He was floating on it, and around him his family was screaming, praising him
and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish. Thus, he had his first
flight and had overcome the fear of drowning.
straight over it, facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea
beneath him, with little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak sideways
and cawed amusedly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank
into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his
wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted
by the strange exercise. As he was drowning more into the sea water, his feet
sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther.
He was floating on it, and around him his family was screaming, praising him
and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish. Thus, he had his first
flight and had overcome the fear of drowning.
17) What do you learn from the story?
= The story “His First Flight” by “Liam O’ Flaherty” is
about a young seagull who is afraid to fly. On not being able to gather courage
to fly and acting like a coward, the young seagull’s family left him alone. As
a result, he was starving since he could not fly to get his own food. When he
saw his mother coming near him with fish, he got excited and dived straight at
the fish, forgetting for a moment that he was afraid of flying. Thus, he got so
maddened by the sight of food because he was starving, which compelled him to
take his first flight. Hence, we can conclude that we all are afraid at our
first venture. But we are well aware that “Journey to a thousand miles begins
with a single step” and it is very difficult to take that first step. Thus, no
matter how difficult and doubtful the situation stands Infront of us, we should
never give up hope. There is always a first time and no first time is ever
easy.
about a young seagull who is afraid to fly. On not being able to gather courage
to fly and acting like a coward, the young seagull’s family left him alone. As
a result, he was starving since he could not fly to get his own food. When he
saw his mother coming near him with fish, he got excited and dived straight at
the fish, forgetting for a moment that he was afraid of flying. Thus, he got so
maddened by the sight of food because he was starving, which compelled him to
take his first flight. Hence, we can conclude that we all are afraid at our
first venture. But we are well aware that “Journey to a thousand miles begins
with a single step” and it is very difficult to take that first step. Thus, no
matter how difficult and doubtful the situation stands Infront of us, we should
never give up hope. There is always a first time and no first time is ever
easy.