📘 Class 10 English Chapter 9 – Madam Rides the Bus Notes
Book: First Flight
Author: Vallikkannan
Chapter: 9
Board: CBSE Class 10 (2025)
✍️ Introduction
“Madam Rides the Bus” is a touching and simple story written by Vallikkannan. It revolves around a young girl named Valli who is curious about the world beyond her village. Through her first solo bus ride, the story explores themes like innocence, courage, curiosity, and the bitter-sweet realities of life.
📖 Summary of the Chapter
Valli is an eight-year-old girl who is full of curiosity and excitement. She often stands by the roadside and watches the bus pass by. Fascinated by it, she gathers information from others about the journey—the fare, the duration, and what the town looks like.
She secretly saves money for the bus ride by not buying toys, sweets, or riding the merry-go-round at the village fair. One day, when her mother is taking a nap, Valli boards the bus alone. She is thrilled and behaves like a mature passenger. She observes everything—the seats, the bus conductor, the passengers, and the landscape outside the window.
However, her joy turns to sorrow when she sees a young cow lying dead by the roadside—the same cow she had seen earlier playfully crossing the road. This incident deeply impacts her and marks the beginning of her understanding of life and death.
When she returns home, no one notices her brief absence. The story ends with Valli gaining a deeper insight into the outside world through a short but life-changing journey.
🧠 Theme and Message
- Curiosity and Growth: Valli’s bus journey symbolizes her desire to explore and understand the world.
- Innocence to Maturity: The incident with the dead cow highlights the transition from innocence to emotional maturity.
- Childhood Exploration: Children are keen observers and can learn deep life lessons through simple experiences.
👧 Character Sketch – Valli
Valli is an 8-year-old girl, curious, intelligent, and independent. She plans everything carefully and shows maturity beyond her age. Although she is playful and excited about her bus ride, she is also sensitive and emotionally affected by the sight of the dead cow. Her journey reflects her mental and emotional growth.
📚 Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Thrilled | Extremely excited |
| Wistfully | With longing or sadness |
| Commanding | Impressive or powerful |
| Curious | Eager to learn or know something |
| Drifted | Moved slowly without control |
❓ Important Questions and Answers
- Q1. What inspired Valli to take the bus ride?
Ans: Watching the bus pass by daily and listening to others talk about it created a strong desire in Valli to experience the ride herself. - Q2. How did Valli prepare for her first bus journey?
Ans: She saved money secretly and gathered all the necessary information like the bus fare, distance, and travel time. - Q3. What incident changed Valli’s cheerful mood during the trip?
Ans: Seeing the dead cow on the road saddened her. It made her realize the harsh reality of death and changed her cheerful mood. - Q4. What lesson does the story “Madam Rides the Bus” teach us?
Ans: It teaches that even a small journey can give deep life lessons. It also shows the innocence of childhood and the reality of life and death.
📥 Download PDF Notes
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📌 Tags: Class 10 English Notes, Madam Rides the Bus Summary, Vallikkannan, First Flight Chapter 9, CBSE 2025, ToppersNoteHub
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