The eyes have it by “Ruskin Bond is a short story” about two passengers, viz, the narrator and the girl “travelling in a train” to Dehradun and both of them are blind. Both the narrator and the girl are blind and they try hiding their blindness from the other throughout their journey. Both of them succeed in hiding their blindness until the girl left and another passenger came into the compartment. This is when the narrator realizes that the girl is blind too. Thus, this depicts an irony in the story and justifies the title.
Answer these questions.
1. What advice did the girl’s parents give her, and why?
Ans. The girl was given instructions by her parents on how to avoid speaking to strangers, when not to lean out of windows, and where to put her stuff. They were undoubtedly concerned because the girl had sight issues.
2. How did the narrator discover his slippers-wearing companion?
Ans. Through the sound that her slippers made by back slapping on the heels, he discovered that his companion, that girl, was wearing slippers.
3. “October is the best month,” Give a description of Mussoorie in October.
Ans. October brings lovely sunshine, cold nights, and hills covered in wild dahlias. One may take a seat before a log fire at night and sip some brandy.
4. What emotions did the narrator have as the train drew near Saharanpur Station?
Ans. The girl getting off at the station made the narrator sad. In fact, he had been willing to spend practically any amount of time there in her company. He didn’t want to forget the adventure for the rest of his life because it was such a memorable moment.
5. At which railway station did the girl board?
Ans. The girl boarded the train in Rohana.
6. Why did the girl think the storyteller was fortunate?
Ans. The girl thought the narrator was fortunate since she was travelling to Mussoorie, which she adored, especially in October.
7. What made the narrator fear the girl could find him romantically foolish?
Ans. She remained mute while the narrator described the beauty of Mussoorie’s hills, leaving him to wonder if she thought he was a romantic fool.
8. What impression did the narrator have of the couple as his parents?
Ans. They were really concerned about her comforts, which made the narrator think that way.
9. Who visited the girl?
Ans. The girl’s parents were most likely the couple who arrived to say goodbye to her.
10. Why couldn’t the narrator describe the girl’s appearance in any detail?
Ans. Being absolutely blind prevented the narrator from knowing anything about the girl.
11. How did the blind narrator learn that the girl was wearing slippers?
Ans. Because the girl’s slippers scraped against her heels, the blind narrator could tell that she was wearing them.
12. When the narrator first met the girl, what did he find appealing about her?
Ans. When the narrator first met the girl, he enjoyed the sound of her voice as well as the sound of her slippers.
13. Whose voice did the girl hear and startle?
Ans. The girl was shocked by the narrator’s voice.
14. Why was the girl shocked by the narrator’s voice?
Ans. The narrator’s voice surprised the girl because she did not perceive him or her to be sitting in a dark area.
15. Why did the narrator assume that the girl was frightened by his voice?
Ans. The girl made a brief exclamation before responding to the narrator’s question, which led the narrator to believe that his voice must have shocked her.
16. What comment did the narrator make regarding those with good vision? Or What are others with good vision unable to see?
Ans. Bonds notes that persons with good vision frequently miss what is directly in front of them because they have too much information to process.
17. What do those who cannot see or only view a small portion of the world perceive?
Ans. The answer is that those who are blind or have limited vision must rely only on their remaining senses to take in the requirements.
18. Why did the narrator do everything in his power to keep the girl hidden?
Ans. The narrator was trying to keep the girl from noticing that he was blind.
19. In the tale “The Eyes Have It,” where did the girl get off?
Ans. In the short novella “The Eyes Have It,” the girl was leaving at Saharanpur.
20. At the destination, who would welcome the girl?
Ans. At the location, she would be met by the girl’s aunt.
21. Which aunts does the narrator believe are the most interesting? Or. Who does the narrator of “The Eyes Have It” identify as fearsome beings?
Ans. The narrator believes aunts are typically fearsome beings.
22. In which direction was the storyteller travelling?
Ans. The narrator was travelling to Dehra and thereafter Mussoorie.
23. Why did the narrator consider it possible that she may view him as a romantic fool?
Ans. She remained mute while the narrator described the beauty of Mussoorie’s hills, leaving him to wonder if she believed he was a romantic fool.
24. “Then I realised my error.” – What was the speaker’s error?
Ans. The speaker erred when he questioned the girl about the weather outside.
25. Why did the narrator turn toward the window?
Ans. The narrator pretended to be studying the landscape while facing the window.
26. Why did the narrator pretend to be looking at the scenery outside?
Ans. The narrator pretended to be looking at the landscape outside in order to hide his blindness.
27. What was it that the narrator heard while on the train?
Ans. The narrator could hear the wheels squealing and the engine running.
28. What was it that the narrator thought he saw?
Ans. In his imagination, the narrator saw the telegraph posts flashing by.
29. “I responded fairly confidently” – What was the narrator’s confident response?
Ans. The narrator replied with great assurance that he had not seen any creatures.
30. Why did the narrator respond with such assurance?
Ans. Because he was aware that there were barely any animals left in the forest close to Dehra, the narrator replied with confidence.