Middle East International Schools

Academic Year 2023-2024

Student's Name: ………………… Literature Date: ……/……/2024

Grade: 8 ( ) Like the Sun Online Resource

About the author:

R. K. Narayan 1906–2001 Love of English Born in southern India, R. K. Narayan (nä-räQyän) is

widely considered one of his country’s greatest authors. As a young man, Narayan tried his hand at
several professions, including teaching. When he decided to become a fiction writer in the 1930s, he
chose to write in English, which was unusual for Indian writers at the time.

Vocabulary

consolation: (n) comfort, solace, condolence

inclination: (n) liking, preference, leaning, desire
nuisance: (n) annoyance, irritation
antics: (n) odd or amusing behavior, playful act,
sullen: (adj) morose, dark gloomy, bad-tempered

TEXT Analysis: moral dilemma

The conflict in many short stories and longer works of fiction revolves around a character’s moral
dilemma. A character facing a moral dilemma must choose between two or more morally
questionable options; for example,
someone might have to choose between betraying a friend’s trust or breaking a school rule.

Reading Skill: Prediction

While reading a story, have you ever predicted that it would have a happy ending or that a
character would get into trouble? When you make predictions, you guess what will happen in a
story by using text clues and your own knowledge and experience. Even if your guesses turn out to
be wrong, the process of making predictions can help you pay attention to important details. As
you read “Like the Sun,” make predictions about the consequences of the main character’s
decision to tell the full truth.
 Like the Sun
R. K. Narayan ( 1906 – 2001 )

Truth, Sekhar reflected, is like the sun. I suppose no human being can ever look it straight
in the face without blinking or being dazed. This day he set apart as unique day – at least
one day in a year we must give and take absolute truth whatever may happen. Otherwise
life is not worth living. The day ahead seemed to him full of possibilities. He told no one of
his experiment. It was a quiet resolve, a secret pact between him and eternity.

The very first test came while his wife served him his morning meal. He showed hesitation
over a tit-bit, which she had thought was her culinary masterpiece. She asked, “Why, isn’t it
good?” At other times, he would have said, considering her feelings in the matter, “I feel
full-up, that’s all.” But today he said, “It isn’t good. I’m unable to swallow it.” He saw her
Sekhar believes that telling the truth
wince and said to himself, “Can’t be helped. Truth is like the sun.” A
is the moral choice. Do you think his
wife would agree? Why or why not?

His next trial was in the common room when one of his colleagues came up and said, “Did
you hear the death of so and so? Don’t you think it a pity?” “No, “Sekhar answered. “He
was such a fine man…” the other began. But Sekhar cut him short with: “Far from it. He
always struck me as a mean and selfish brute.”
During the last period when he was teaching geography class, Sekhar received a note from
the headmaster: “Please see me before you go home.” Sekhar said to himself: it must be
about these horrible test papers. A hundred papers in the boys’ scrawls; he had shirked this
work for weeks , feeling all the time as if a sward were hanging over his head.
The bell rang and the boys burst out of the class. He stepped into the headmaster’s room
with a very polite “Good evening, sir.”
The headmaster looked up at him in a very friendly manner and asked, “Are you free this
evening?”
Sekhar replied, '' Just some outing which I have promised the children at home__''
''Well, you can take them out another day. Come home with me now.''
''Oh… yes ,sir, certainly….'' And then he added timidly, “Anything special, sir?”
“Yes,” replied the headmaster, smiling to himself… “You didn’t know my weakness for
music?”
“Oh, yes, sir…”
“I’ve been learning and practicing secretly, and now I want you to hear me this evening. I
have engaged a drummer and violinist to accompany me—this is the first time I'm doing it
full-dress, and I want your opinion. I know it will be valuable.”
Sekhar’s taste in music was well known. He was one of the most dreaded music critics in
the town. But he never anticipated his musical inclinations would lead him to this trail…
“Rather a surprise for you, isn’t it?” asked the headmaster. “I’ve spent a fortune on it
behind doors…” They started for the headmaster’s house. “God hasn’t given me a child, but
at least let him not deny me of the consolation of music,” the headmaster said, pathetically,
as they walked. He incessantly chattered about music; how he began one day out of sheer
boredom; how his teacher at first laughed at him and then gave him hope; how his
ambition in life was to forget himself in music. B What conflict might arise between Sekhar
and the headmaster? How do you think
Sekhar will react to this conflict?

At home the headmaster set Sekhar on a red silk carpet, set before him several dishes of
delicacies, and fussed over him as if he were a son-in-law of the house. He even said, “Well,
you must listen with a free mind. Don’t worry about these test papers.” He added
humorously, “I will give you a week’s time.”
“Make it ten days, sir,” Sekhar pleaded.
“All right, granted,” the headmaster said generously. Sekhar felt really relieved now___ he
would attack him at the rate of ten a day and get rid of the nuisance.
A drummer and a violinist, already seated on Rangoon mat, were waiting for the
headmaster. He sat down between them like a professional at a concert, cleared his throat,
and now began to sing a full song composed by Thyagaraja and followed by two more. All
the time the headmaster was singing, Sehar went on commenting within himself, “He
croaks like a dozen frogs. He is bellowing like a buffalo. Now he sounds like loose window
shutters in a storm.” C What will happen if Sekhar expresses his
opinion of the headmaster’s singing?

The incense sticks burnt low. Sekhar’s head throbbed with the medley of sounds that had
assailed his eardrums for a couple of hours now. He felt half stupefied. The headmaster had
gone nearly hoarse, when he paused to ask, “Shall I go on?” Sekhar replied, “Please don’t,
sir; I think this will do. . . .” The headmaster looked stunned. His face was beaded with
perspiration. Sekhar felt the greatest pity for him. But he felt he could not help it. No judge
delivering a sentence felt more pained and helpless. Sekhar noticed that the headmaster’s
wife peeped in from the kitchen, with eager curiosity. The drummer and the violinist put
away their burdens with an air of relief. The headmaster removed his spectacles, mopped
his brow, and asked, “Now, come out with your opinion.” D What dilemma does Sekhar face in this
moment? What are the possible consequences
“Can’t I give it tomorrow, sir?” Sekhar asked tentatively. of each choice he could make?

“No. I want it immediately—your frank opinion. Was it good?” “No, sir . . .” Sekhar replied.
“Oh! . . . Is there any use continuing my lessons?” “Absolutely none, sir . . .” Sekhar said
with his voice trembling. He felt very unhappy that he could not speak more soothingly.
Truth, he reflected, required as much strength to give as to receive. All the way home he
felt worried. He felt that his official life was not going to be smooth sailing hereafter. There
were questions of increment and confirmation6 and so on, all depending upon the
headmaster’s goodwill. All kinds of worries seemed to be in store for him. . . . Did not
Harischandra7 lose his throne, wife, child, because he would speak nothing less than the
absolute Truth whatever happened? E An allusion is a reference to a famous person, place, or event from history,
literature, or mythology. Narayan makes an allusion to Harischandra, a
legendary Hindu king. How does this allusion help you understand the
narrator’s culture, view of himself, and his truth telling?

At home his wife served him with a sullen face. He knew she was still angry with him for his
remark of the morning. Two casualties for today, Sekhar said to himself. If I practice it for a
week, I don’t think I shall have a single friend left. He received a call from the headmaster in
his classroom next day. He went up apprehensively. “Your suggestion was useful. I have
paid off the music master. No one would tell me the truth about my music all these days.
Why such antics at my age! Thank you. By the way, what about those test papers?” “You
gave me ten days, sir, for correcting them.” “Oh, I’ve reconsidered it. I must positively have
them here tomorrow. . . .” A hundred papers in a day! That meant all night’s sitting up!
“Give me a couple of days, sir . . .” “No. I must have them tomorrow morning. And
How has Sekhar’s truthfulness affected his
remember, every paper must be thoroughly scrutinized.” F relationship with the headmaster?

“Yes, sir,” Sekhar said, feeling that sitting up all night with a hundred test papers was a small
price to pay for the luxury of practicing truth.

Comprehension

1. What does Sekhar decide to do for one day?

2. How is Sekhar tested during the day?

3. What negative consequences result from Sekhar’s decision?

Text Analysis

4. Which of Sekhar’s character traits most directly influence the story’s plot? Explain

your answer.

5. Make Inferences Reread lines 98–108. Do you think the headmaster is sincere when he

thanks Sekhar for his honesty? Why or why not?

6. Predict Look back at the predictions you recorded as you read. How close were the

predictions to what actually happened? Cite specific evidence that influenced your

predictions.

7. Evaluate How successful was Sekhar’s experiment in telling the absolute truth?