🌟 The Adventures of Toto – Ruskin Bond

📝 Summary

The story revolves around a mischievous little monkey named Toto, bought by the narrator’s grandfather from a tonga-driver for five rupees. Toto was clever, full of energy, and created chaos everywhere he went. His tricks and mischief made him both amusing and troublesome. The story highlights the innocence of animals, their natural instincts, and the humour in their behaviour. Despite Toto’s charm, he was too mischievous to be kept as a pet, teaching us that wild animals cannot be tamed easily.

📖 Detailed Explanation (Point-Wise)

1. Buying Toto – Grandfather saw a monkey tied with a tonga-driver and felt pity for him. He bought Toto for ₹5.
2. Toto’s Appearance – He had bright eyes, pearly white teeth, quick fingers, and a long tail, which served as a third hand.
3. First Mischief – Grandfather hid Toto in the author’s closet. Within a short time, he tore clothes, wallpaper, and a pillow.
4. Bathing Habit – Toto loved bathing like humans. He tested water temperature with his hand and used soap like people.
5. Trouble in Kettle – Once, he nearly boiled himself alive while trying to bathe in a kettle of hot water.
6. Train Journey Incident – Grandfather had to pay extra fare to keep Toto hidden in a bag because the monkey kept moving inside.
7. At Home – Toto troubled other animals, pulled their tails, and spoiled everything around.
8. The End – Finally, Grandfather realised Toto was too mischievous and sold him back to the same tonga-driver for the same price.

✨ Word Meanings

• Mischievous – Naughty, playful in a troublesome way
• Tonga-driver – Person who drives a horse-cart
• Pearl-white teeth – Shining, clean teeth
• Disturbed – Interrupted, troubled
• Cunning – Clever in a tricky way
• Shrieked – Screamed loudly

🎭 Character Sketches

🐒 Toto

• A small monkey, intelligent and energetic.
• Mischievous, destroyed clothes, and played tricks.
• Tried to copy human behaviour, like bathing with soap.
• Symbol of wild, untamed nature.

👴 Grandfather

• Kind-hearted and compassionate.
• Loved animals and often brought them home.
• Patient, but eventually realised wild animals like Toto could not be tamed.

🎯 Theme of the Story

• Love for Animals – Grandfather’s compassion for living beings.
• Humour – The mischievous acts of Toto create comic situations.
• Wild vs. Domestic – Wild animals, no matter how charming, cannot adapt to domestic life.

🌈 Message

The story teaches us to love animals but also warns us that wild creatures are not meant to be pets. Their instincts remain untamed, and keeping them at home often creates trouble.

❓ Question & Answers

Q1. Why did Grandfather buy Toto?

Grandfather bought Toto out of pity as the monkey was kept in poor conditions by the tonga-driver. He loved animals and wanted to give Toto a better life.

Q2. Describe Toto’s appearance.

Toto had bright sparkling eyes, pearl-white teeth, and quick fingers. His tail was long and used like a third hand. His face reflected mischief and intelligence.

Q3. How did Toto behave in the closet?

In the closet, Toto tore the author’s clothes, pulled off wallpaper, and shredded the pillow into cotton pieces. This showed his restless and destructive nature.

Q4. Why was Toto’s tail considered a gift?

Toto’s tail worked like a third hand. He could hang from it, pick up objects, and use it for balancing himself. It made him more mischievous and active.

Q5. Describe Toto’s bathing habits.

Toto tested the water before stepping in. He used soap like humans and bathed happily. But once, he tried bathing in a kettle of hot water and almost boiled himself.

Q6. What happened during the train journey?

Grandfather carried Toto in a bag. Toto kept moving inside, attracting attention. The ticket collector forced Grandfather to pay extra fare as if Toto were a passenger.

Q7. Why did Grandfather finally return Toto?

Grandfather returned Toto to the tonga-driver because he created too much mischief, damaged household items, troubled other pets, and was impossible to keep at home.

Q8. What message does the story give?

The story conveys that though animals are lovable, wild creatures cannot be domesticated. Their instincts often create trouble, and it is better to let them live freely in their natural habitat.

📌 Extract-Based Questions

Extract 1:

Toto’s bright eyes sparkled with mischief at the tonga-driver, and his pearly white teeth frequently broke into a grin that frightened elderly Anglo-Indian ladies.

Q1. Who is being described here?
Toto the monkey is being described.

Q2. What did his bright eyes show?
They showed intelligence, energy, and mischievous behaviour.

Q3. How did his grin affect people?
It frightened people because it looked mischievous and scary at times.

Extract 2:

He would cunningly test the water with his hand before stepping into the bath, just as I have seen human beings do.

Q1. Who is ‘he’ here?
‘He’ refers to Toto the monkey.

Q2. What habit of humans did Toto copy?
He copied the habit of testing water temperature before bathing.

Q3. What does this show about Toto?
It shows Toto was intelligent, observant, and imitated human behaviour.

Extract 3:

Finally, he was sold back to the tonga-driver for the same amount – five rupees.

Q1. Who was sold here?
Toto the monkey was sold.

Q2. Why was he sold?
He was too mischievous, destructive, and could not be tamed.

Q3. What does this ending reflect?
It reflects that wild animals cannot adapt to domestic life.