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I. Chapter Summary:

The Lost Child by Mulk Raj Anand is a poignant short story about a child who gets separated from his parents during a fair. The narrative explores the child’s innocent desires, his longing for love and protection, and the deep emotional shift that occurs when he loses his parents. Initially tempted by the vibrant sights and sounds of the fair, the child’s priorities change dramatically once he is lost, highlighting themes of parental love, child psychology, and human emotions.

II. Key Concepts Covered:

Concept	Explanation
Innocence of Childhood	The child’s desire for trivial things like sweets and toys illustrates the pure innocence of children.
Parental Love & Security	The child’s priorities shift from material wants to emotional need once he is separated from his parents.
Symbolism of the Fair	The fair represents life’s distractions and temptations.
Emotional Shift	A deep emotional transformation occurs in the child from joyful excitement to panic and fear.
Human Values	The story emphasizes care, empathy, and the selfless nature of parental love.

III. Important Questions:

(A) Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark):

1. Who is the author of The Lost Child?
   a) Ruskin Bond
   b) Rabindranath Tagore
   c) Mulk Raj Anand ✅
   d) R.K. Narayan
2. What did the child want first at the fair?
   a) A toy ✅
   b) Balloons
   c) Sweets
   d) Flowers
3. What was the child’s reaction after getting lost?
   a) Excited
   b) Curious
   c) Cried and called out for his parents ✅
   d) Continued playing
4. What did the stranger offer the child?
   a) Toffee
   b) Toys
   c) Balloons
   d) All of the above ✅

(B) Short Answer Questions (2/3 Marks):

1. Why did the child lag behind his parents at the fair?
2. How does the mood of the story change after the child gets separated from his parents?
3. What was the child’s reaction when he was offered sweets, balloons, and toys by the stranger?
   – PYQ 2020
4. Why did the child not want any of the things after getting lost?

(C) Long Answer Questions (5 Marks):

1. Describe the emotional journey of the child in The Lost Child.
2. “Nothing attracts the child once he loses his parents.” Justify this statement with reference to the story.
3. How does Mulk Raj Anand show the contrast between a child’s innocent demands and the importance of parental presence?
4. Discuss how the story reflects human values and emotions. Support your answer with examples from the story.
   – PYQ 2022

(D) HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills):

1. If you were the child in the story, how would you react in such a situation? What would be your first step?
2. The story emphasizes that emotional needs outweigh materialistic desires. Discuss this in today’s context.

IV. Key Concepts/Definitions:

Term	Definition
Fair	A gathering with entertainment, games, shops, and attractions.
Emotional Shift	A sudden change in emotions, often triggered by events.
Innocence	Lack of worldly experience, shown by the child’s naive desires.
Parental Bond	Emotional connection between a child and their parents, highlighted by the child’s longing.
Empathy	Understanding and sharing the feelings of another, shown by the stranger’s kindness.

V. Deleted Portions (CBSE 2025–2026):

No portions have been deleted from this chapter as per the rationalized NCERT textbooks.

VI. Chapter-Wise Marks Bifurcation (Estimated – CBSE 2025–2026):

Unit/Chapter	Estimated Marks	Type of Questions Typically Asked
Chapter 1: The Lost Child	5–7 marks	1 LAQ or 2 SAQs + 1 MCQ or extract-based

VII. Previous Year Questions (PYQs):

Year	Marks	Question
2020	3	What was the child’s reaction when offered different items by the stranger?
2022	5	“Nothing attracts the child once he loses his parents.” Justify this with reference to the story.

VIII. Real-World Application Examples to Connect with Topics:

Real-Life Scenario	Connection to the Story
Child safety campaigns	Emphasizes the importance of holding hands and staying close to parents in public places.
Emotional psychology	The story can be used in discussions about how children deal with fear, loss, and emotions.
Parenting workshops	Highlights how children perceive safety and attachment.

IX. Student Tips & Strategies for Success:

 Time Management:

• Read one story per week with focused revision.
• Allocate 15 minutes for review + 30 minutes for writing practice.

 Exam Preparation:

• Focus on character emotions and themes.
• Use mind maps to understand plot changes.
• Practice past questions from Moments & Beehive.

 Stress Management:

• Avoid rote learning; understand the emotional arc of the story.
• Practice storytelling or group discussion to retain key ideas.

X. Career Guidance & Exploration:

For Classes 9–10:

Stream	Career Paths
Science	Doctor, Engineer, Scientist
Commerce	CA, Banker, Entrepreneur
Humanities	Lawyer, Psychologist, Journalist

• Entrance Exams: NTSE, SOF Olympiads, ASSET, and other foundation-level tests.

XI. Important Notes:

•  Refer to the official CBSE site regularly for updates and sample papers.
•  Practice regularly, revise weekly, and focus on themes and morals.
•  Express emotions and character perspectives clearly in answers.
•  Don’t ignore extract-based questions – practice with sample papers.