Two Stories about Flying
Chapter Sketch
The Chapter Two Stories About Flying’ is a combination of two inspiring stories ‘His First Flight’ and The Black Aeroplane’.
About the Characters
Story 1-His First Flight
Family of Seagulls→ 6 members in the family of seagulls.
Young Seagull →One who is unable to fly due to fear.
Story II-The Black Aeroplane
The Narrator A pilot who was flying his Dakota aeroplane over France back to England lost his way due to storm.
The Unknown Friend →A pilot who was flying the black aeroplane helped the narrator to find the way in the storm.
The Woman →The working woman in the control centre whom the narrator asked about the unknown friend of the black aeroplane.
STORY I His First Flight
Liam O’ Flaherty:
This story is about a family of seagulls. There was a young child in the family who was unable to fly even after several tries. The story highlights the importance of family and friends in one’s life. It also gives the message that one needs to believe in self to overcome all the hurdles of own life.
The Seagull Family:
The seagull family consists of six seagulls-mother, father, three sons and one daughter. All of them except the youngest son are expert in flying high. His parents have tried several times to teach him how to fly but he is scared to do that and does not want to try anymore. He relies on the food that his parents bring back from their flights.
Young Seagull’s Fear of Flying
The youngest son is afraid of flying as he thinks that if he flies, his wings would not support him and he would fall down in the sea below and drown. Even his parents have rebuked him. They even threatened him if he doesn’t fly, he would die of hunger but he does not try.
Parents Leave Young Seagull Alone After so many failed attempts his parents leave him alone on the rock without food. They even taunt him for his cowardice. The young seagull looks at his brothers and sister enjoying swimming, diving in the sea water for fish to feed themselves, but no one comes near him to offer food.
Hunger and Heat Increase:
As the time passes, the young seagull could not tolerate the hunger and the heat. He moves closer to the edge and pretends to fall asleep but nobody takes notice of him. His brothers and sister have already had hearty breakfast and father seems busy preening the feathers on his back. The mother looks at him and tries to tempt him with pieces of fish. Her begging and crying does not effect him.
Young Seagull Dives for Food:
The young seagull was very hungry. He was surprised enough at his mothers’ ignorance of his pitiful condition. Thus, he dives for food. He begins to fall down with a scream as soon as he dives.
Flight Begins:
The young seagull begins to fall in the sea. He is afraid of drawing, so he tries to spread his wings outwards and begins flying. He feels a little dizzy but all his fear vanished. He soars slowly, downwards and upwards. He could finally fly on his own.
Joy of Flight and Reunion of Family:
The seagull becomes so happy and soars higher calling ‘ga, ga, gab It was really a joyous moment for the whole family his brothers and sister alongwith his parents come near to encourage and cheer him. The young seagull successfully made his first flight.
Chapter Highlights
- Seagull family of 6 members.
- The young seagull afraid of flying.
- Family has concern of his food and fear of flying.
- Cajoling and provoking him by family.
- Family leaves him alone at the rock.
- He cries because of heat and hunger.
- No one looks at him except the mother.
- Temptation by mother for a piece of fish.
- He pretends to sleep but nobody comes to him,
- Everybody taunts him for his cowardice.
- The young seagull dives to catch a fish to feed himself.
- He tries to spread his wings outwards.
- He begins to fly slowly downwards and upwards.
- He is now no longer afraid of flying and falling down in the sea. He soars with a joyous scream.
- Seagull family comes near to him and encourages him.
- He has made his first flight successfully.
WORD MEANINGS
ledge →a narrow horizontal shelf
brink →edge
attempted →tried
flap →to move wings up and down
muster up →gather
plunge →dive
shrilly →sharply
upbraiding →rebuking
starve →die of hunger
skim →moving lightly over an area, surface
dive →plunge
herring →a kind of fish
devour →eat at a great speed
cackle →cackling sound
taunting →jeering
cowardice →lack of courage
blazing →shining with great heat, burning
dozing →feeling sleepy
preening →smoothing feathers with beak
scrapped →rubbed
maddened →was made mad
whet →sharpening
derisively →mockingly
plaintively →sorrowfully
leaned out →knelt
tapping →beating lightly
halted →stopped
monstrous →very fearful
seized →caught
headlong →head downwards
soaring →flying upwards
dizzy →confused, spinning
swooped →pounced
curveting →moving with an action resembling a horse’s leap
banking →flying with one wing higher than the other
commended →praised
ridges →wavy edges
cawed →made a cawing sound
beckoning →signalling
STORY II The Black Aeroplane Frederick Forsyth
In the story the narrator was flying to England with his family to enjoy his holiday. He
wanted to reach England in time so that he could enjoy a good English breakfast with his
family.
The Trip to England
The author was flying his aeroplane at night over France to England. He was eager to
meet his family. He was dreaming of his holiday. The stars were shining in the clear sky.
Even the city-Paris could be seen down below. He called Paris control to get instructed
about the way. He was instructed to turn 12 degrees West.
Fear of Storm
Everything was going well before he saw the storm clouds and Paris was about 150
kilometres behind him. It was natural for the author to panic. He knew that it was not
possible to fly up and over those storm clouds. He was confused for a rtioment.
A Risky but Brave Decision of the Author
As everything was fearful at the moment, the author decided to risk and flew into the
storm, but everything went berserk. The compass as well as other instruments stopped
working. He was unable to see outside the plane as the plane was jumping and twisting
in the air. He tried to contact Paris Control but couldn’t. He was lost in the storm.
A Black Aeroplane Appeared
Suddenly, the author saw another black aeroplane in the storm by his side without lights
on its wings. It seemed strange to him but he was glad to see another person in the
storm.
The pilot of another plane waved at him and signalled to follow so he did that because
he did not have other option except it.
A Safe Landing
The author flew for half an hour which was quiet strange to him as he had fuel only for
five or ten minutes. He felt tearful but suddenly he saw two bright lines infront of him. It
was a runway. He was able to land safely which gave him a sigh of relief. It was just like a miracle for him.
The Greatest Surprise
The author came out from his plane to thank the pilot of the black aeroplane but he was
shocked to see no one there. He went to Control Tower and asked the woman about the
place and the black aeroplane. Hearing his words the woman laughed and said that
there was no other aeroplane except his. It was a big surprise to the author. He was
dumb founded as he had no explanation for the miracle.
Chapter Highlights
- The clear sky with shining stars
- The author was about to meet his family at breakfast
- At 1:30 in the morning, author flew in his Dakota aeroplane and he was instructed
to turn 12 degrees West by Paris Control. - He was around 150 kilometre away from Paris.
- The cloud storms approached him.
- He decided to enter the storm.
- A risky decision of the author due to his willingness to see his family.
- He lost the way in the storm.
- All the instruments stopped working.
- A black aeroplane appeared by the author side in the storm.
- He was instructed to follow the black plane.
- Without much fuel he flew for half an hour.
- He landed safely on the runway.
- He went out from his aeroplane to thank the pilot of the black aeroplane.
- Got surprised not to find anyone there in the aeroplane.
- The author asked the woman of Control Tower about the black aeroplane.
- She laughed and replied in negative about such a plane.
- A miracle with no explanation for the author which saved his life.
WORD MEANINGS
countryside →rural side
immediately →at once
twisted →moved sideways
strange →unusual or surprising
obedient →one who is ready to follow order or request
frightened →afraid
landed →came down