Class 10 English Notes Maharashtra Board – Chapter 1.2: The Thief’s Story

Welcome to your all-in-one study guide for Chapter 1.2 – The Thief’s Story from the Class 10 Maharashtra Board English Textbook. Here you'll find a detailed summary, new word meanings, grammar, figures of speech, textbook solutions, past board exam questions, and extra practice questions with answers—all optimized for blog SEO.

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📘 Chapter Title and Brief Introduction

Chapter 1.2 – The Thief’s Story is written by Ruskin Bond, one of India’s best-known authors. It tells a heartwarming story about a teenage thief who changes his ways because of a kind-hearted man named Anil. The story focuses on trust, transformation, and human goodness.

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✍️ Author Information

Ruskin Bond is a celebrated Indian author of British descent. Born in 1934, he has written numerous short stories, novels, and children’s books. His writing is simple yet powerful, often revolving around themes of nature, childhood, and human emotions.

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📜 Summary of the Chapter

The story is narrated by a young thief who changes his name frequently to escape the police. He meets a simple and honest man named Anil and tricks him into giving him shelter and food. Anil is a writer and earns a small income. Over time, the thief grows fond of Anil and learns to read and write from him.

One day, the thief decides to steal Anil’s money but feels guilty after doing so. He realizes Anil’s trust and kindness mean more to him than money. In a moment of self-reflection, he returns the money and decides to live an honest life. The story ends on a hopeful note, showing how trust and kindness can change a person.

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📚 New Words and Meanings

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🎨 Figures of Speech with Examples

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📝 Grammar and Language Study

Grammar Concepts from the Chapter:

• Tenses: The story uses simple past and past perfect tenses.

• Direct and Indirect Speech: Conversations and thoughts are shown directly.

• Pronouns: First-person narration using "I" and "me".

Example Sentences:

• Direct: “You can cook?”

• Indirect: He asked if I could cook.

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📖 Important Exam Questions with Answers

🔹 Short Answer Questions

1. Why did the thief choose Anil as his target?
   Because Anil looked simple, kind, and easy to fool.

2. What made the thief return the stolen money?
   He felt guilty and valued Anil’s trust and kindness more than the money.

3. How did Anil react when he found the money in place?
   He didn’t say anything, but he knew and continued trusting the boy.

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🔹 Long Answer Questions

1. Describe the character transformation of the thief.
   At the beginning, the boy is selfish and greedy. But Anil’s kindness, trust, and efforts to teach him literacy make him reflect on his actions. When he gets the chance to steal, he chooses honesty instead. This change proves that even a criminal can reform with love and trust.

2. What moral values does the story teach us?
   The story teaches the values of trust, kindness, honesty, and second chances. It shows that compassion can transform even a thief.

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🌈 Central Idea / Moral Message (150+ Words)

The central idea of The Thief’s Story is about inner transformation through trust and kindness. The story shows how a young thief, who has lived a life of deception and theft, undergoes a positive change after meeting Anil—a kind, trusting, and honest man. Instead of punishing the boy, Anil teaches him to read and write, giving him a new path in life.

When the thief steals Anil’s money, he realizes that Anil’s friendship and trust are worth more than the cash. This self-realization leads him to return the stolen money and choose the path of honesty. The story beautifully conveys that trust and compassion can reform even the most misguided individuals. It highlights that change is possible when someone believes in you and offers support rather than judgment.

This message is especially relevant to students, reminding them that character is more important than cleverness, and honesty leads to real success.

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📋 Previously Asked Board Questions (Last 5 Years)

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📝 Practice Questions with Answers (Maximum Coverage)

Short Questions:

1. What is the thief’s real name?
   → It is never revealed; he keeps changing it.

2. How did Anil help the thief?
   → He taught him to read and write and gave him shelter.

3. What lesson did the thief learn from Anil?
   → That trust, kindness, and honesty are more valuable than money.

4. What does the thief mean by "my heart sank"?
   → He felt sad or disappointed—possibly with himself.

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Long Questions:

1. Explain the role of trust in the story.
   → Trust is the turning point in the story. Anil trusts the thief completely and doesn’t even accuse him of stealing. This silent understanding makes the thief feel guilty and transforms him. Trust here becomes more powerful than punishment.

2. Why do you think Anil didn’t say anything after the money was returned?
   → Anil wanted to give the thief another chance. He understood the boy's internal struggle and chose silence to allow him space to change voluntarily.