ᒪEᗩᖇᑎIᑎG ᒍᑌᑎᑕTIOᑎ
CBSE
CLASS 10 ENGLISH
FIRST FLIGHT✈️
CHAPTER 5:THE HUNDRED DRESSES-I
SUMMARY
➤Summary:
Wanda Petronski is a Polish immigrant in a small American town. She is poor and belongs to a different cultural background, which makes her an outsider among her classmates. Wanda wears the same faded blue dress to school every day and claims to have a hundred beautiful dresses at home. However, her classmates, including Peggy, tease and make fun of her, not believing her claim.
Peggy and her friends, Maddie and Peggy's brother, Ralph, find amusement in mocking Wanda's dress and her claim of having a hundred dresses. They regularly tease and make fun of her, asking her to prove her statement. Maddie, although uncomfortable with the teasing, doesn't speak up and joins in to fit in with the popular kids.
Meanwhile, a drawing contest is announced in the school, and all the students are encouraged to participate. Maddie, inspired by Wanda's drawings of beautiful dresses, decides to vote for Wanda's drawings despite Peggy's disapproval. However, Peggy disregards Wanda's artistic talent and claims that her drawings are nothing special.
One day, Wanda suddenly disappears from school without any explanation. The girls soon learn that Wanda's family has moved away from the town, and her departure leaves Maddie with a deep sense of regret and guilt for not standing up for Wanda when she had the chance.
➤Key Points:
1. Wanda Petronski, a Polish immigrant girl, is poor and wears the same faded blue dress to school every day.
2. Wanda claims to have a hundred beautiful dresses at home, but her classmates mock and tease her, not believing her.
3. Peggy, a popular girl in the class, leads the teasing and ridiculing of Wanda.
4. Wanda participates in a drawing contest and submits drawings of beautiful dresses.
5. Maddie is deeply impressed by Wanda's drawings and secretly votes for them, despite Peggy's disapproval.
6. Wanda suddenly disappears from school, and the girls learn that her family has moved away.
7. Maddie feels guilty for not standing up for Wanda and regrets her own participation in the teasing.
👨Character Analysis:
1. Wanda Petronski: She is the main character of the story, a poor Polish immigrant girl who faces discrimination and bullying due to her background. She claims to have a hundred beautiful dresses, which becomes the subject of mockery among her classmates.
2. Peggy: She is one of Wanda's classmates and a popular girl in school. Peggy participates in teasing and mocking Wanda, disregarding her feelings. She represents the ignorance and conformity present among the children.
3. Maddie: She is Peggy's best friend and narrates the story. Maddie is initially passive and goes along with the teasing, but she gradually develops empathy for Wanda. She appreciates Wanda's talent and feels remorseful for not standing up for her.
=❯Important Quotes:
1." She (Wanda) had on the same dress she wore yesterday and the day before that and the day before that— a faded blue dress." - This quote describes Wanda's appearance and the repetition of her dress, highlighting her poverty.
2. "My dress is hanging in the classroom closet. You could take it and look at it if you liked." - Wanda's response to Peggy's disbelief about her hundred dresses, showing her attempt to prove herself.
3. "They (Wanda's drawings) were the drawings of a child, true, but because Wanda Petronski had drawn them, they were interesting." - Maddie's observation about Wanda's drawings, reflecting her appreciation for Wanda's talent.
=❯Themes:
1. Bullying and Discrimination: The story highlights the negative consequences of bullying and discrimination based on one's background and economic status.
2. Empathy and Compassion: The narrative explores the importance of empathy and compassion in understanding and supporting others who may be different from us.
3. Regret and Guilt: Maddie's remorse for not standing up for Wanda reflects the theme of regret and guilt, emphasizing the need for taking action when witnessing injustice.
=❯Word meanings:
1. Immigrant: A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
2. Tease: To make fun of or mock someone in a playful or hurtful manner.
3. Conformity: The act of matching one's beliefs or actions to the norms or expectations of a group.
4. Regret: Feeling sad, remorseful, or guilty about something that has happened.
5. Discrimination: Unfair treatment or prejudice against individuals based on their race, gender, religion, or social background.
=❯FAQ WITH SOLUTIONS
Q1. Why does Wanda wear the same dress every day?
ANSWER: Wanda wears the same dress every day because her family is poor, and they cannot afford to buy her new clothes.
Q2. Why do Peggy and her friends tease Wanda?
ANSWER: Peggy and her friends tease Wanda because she is different from them, both culturally and economically. They find amusement in mocking her and her claim of having a hundred dresses.
Q3. What makes Maddie different from Peggy in their treatment of Wanda?
ANSWER: Maddie, unlike Peggy, feels uncomfortable with the teasing but doesn't speak up initially. However, she eventually develops empathy for Wanda and appreciates her drawings.
Q4. Why does Maddie decide to vote for Wanda's drawings in the contest?
ANSWER: Maddie decides to vote for Wanda's drawings because she recognizes Wanda's talent and wants to acknowledge it, despite Peggy's disapproval.
Q5. What does Wanda's sudden disappearance indicate?
ANSWER: Wanda's sudden disappearance indicates that her family has moved away from the town, possibly due to the discrimination and bullying she faced.
Q6. How does Maddie feel after Wanda's departure?
ANSWER: Maddie feels a deep sense of regret and guilt for not standing up for Wanda when she had the chance. She realizes the impact of her actions and the missed opportunity to be kind.
Q7. What message does the story convey about bullying and discrimination?
ANSWER: The story conveys the negative consequences of bullying and discrimination. It highlights the need for empathy, understanding, and standing up against injustice.
Q8. How does Wanda's claim of having a hundred dresses affect the other students?
ANSWER: Wanda's claim of having a hundred dresses initially creates doubt and mockery among the other students. It becomes a subject of ridicule and further isolates her from her classmates.
Q9. Why does Maddie appreciate Wanda's drawings despite Peggy's disapproval?
ANSWER: Maddie appreciates Wanda's drawings because she recognizes Wanda's artistic talent and appreciates her unique perspective, disregarding Peggy's judgment.
Q10. What does Maddie's reflection on the events reveal about her character?
ANSWER: Maddie's reflection reveals her growth in empathy and regret for not standing up against bullying. It shows her realization that her actions had hurt someone and her desire to change for the better.
⭐These FAQs should help you understand the chapter and its various aspects in more detail.
