CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 9: The Great Stone Face - I NCERT Solutions

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CBSE Class 8 English Honeydew chapter 'The Great Stone Face - I' unfolds the captivating tale of Ernest, a young boy deeply inspired by a remarkable rock formation that mirrors a human face. The story revolves around a local prophecy foretelling the arrival of a person whose likeness would match the Great Stone Face. Students will explore Ernest's steadfast belief in this prophecy and his encounters with various characters, including the wealthy merchant Gathergold, who is initially thought to be the prophesied individual. The NCERT Solutions for this chapter offer comprehensive explanations of the plot, character analyses, and thematic explorations. They provide clear answers to all comprehension questions, text-based inquiries, and language exercises, ensuring students develop a thorough understanding of the narrative. This resource is designed to enhance learning and prepare students effectively for their examinations by offering insightful interpretations of the story's core messages.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 8
SubjectHoneydew
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter9. The Great Stone Face - I

Chapter summary

Chapter 9, 'The Great Stone Face - I', of the CBSE Class 8 Honeydew textbook focuses on the legend of a mountain's rock formation that looks like a human face and a prophecy about a native child who would resemble it. The NCERT Solutions cover comprehension checks, text-based questions about Ernest's beliefs, the character of Gathergold, and the unfolding of the prophecy. It also includes language exercises related to word formation, reinforcing understanding of the story's elements and vocabulary.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the story of Ernest and the Great Stone Face.
  • Identify and explain the prophecy associated with the Stone Face.
  • Analyze the character of Gathergold and his role in the story.
  • Differentiate between true and false statements based on the text.
  • Answer comprehension and text-based questions accurately.
  • Practice word formation exercises related to adjectives and nouns.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • The Great Stone Face legend
  • Prophecy of a great person
  • Ernest's character and beliefs
  • Gathergold's character and wealth
  • Interpreting likeness
  • Faith and hope
  • Adjective and noun formation
  • Comprehension skills
  • Vocabulary building

Important topics

  • The Great Stone Face legend and prophecy
  • Ernest's unwavering faith
  • Character analysis of Gathergold
  • Understanding the concept of likeness
  • Vocabulary: Adjective to Noun conversion

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Questions and Solutions

Comprehension Check

1. Write 'True' or 'False' against each of the following statements:
  1. The Great Stone Face stood near where Ernest and his mother lived.
  2. One would clearly distinguish the features of the Stone Face only from a distance.
  3. Ernest loved his mother and helped her in her work.
  4. Though not very rich, Gathergold was a skilful merchant.
  5. Gathergold died in poverty and neglect.
  6. The Great Stone Face seemed to suggest that Ernest should not fear the general.
Solution:
  1. False. The Great Stone Face was located miles away from Ernest's home.
  2. True. The features of the Stone Face were only visible and distinguishable when viewed from a proper distance.
  3. True. Ernest was a dutiful son who cared for his mother and assisted her with her chores.
  4. False. Gathergold was described as a very rich and skilful merchant, not someone who was not very rich.
  5. True. The story implies that Gathergold died in poverty and was neglected, despite his earlier wealth.
  6. False. The Great Stone Face seemed to encourage Ernest not to lose heart, but to believe that the man resembling it would eventually appear.

Working With The Text

1. Answer the following questions.
  1. What was the Great Stone Face?
  2. What did young Ernest wish when he gazed at it?
Solution:
  1. The Great Stone Face was a remarkable natural formation on the steep side of a mountain. It was composed of large rocks that had assembled in such a way that, when observed from a suitable distance, they perfectly resembled the features of a human face.
  2. When young Ernest looked at the Great Stone Face, he wished it could speak. He felt that because the face looked so kind, its voice must be very pleasant. He also expressed a desire that if he ever met a person with a face just like the Stone Face, he would love that person dearly.
2. What was the story attributed to the Stone Face?
Solution:

The story associated with the Stone Face was a prophecy. It was believed that in the future, a child would be born in the vicinity of the valley. This child was destined to become the most distinguished and noble person of his time. Furthermore, it was said that when this person reached adulthood, his face would bear an exact resemblance to the Great Stone Face itself.

3. What gave the people of the valley the idea that the prophecy was about to come true for the first time?
Solution:

The people of the valley began to believe that the prophecy was finally coming true because of a widespread rumour. This rumour suggested that the prophesied great man, who was supposed to look like the Great Stone Face, had finally appeared. Years earlier, a young man named Gathergold had left the valley to become a shopkeeper in a distant seaport. He was exceptionally shrewd in business and amassed immense wealth. Upon becoming very rich, he decided to return to his native valley to spend his final days there. The community interpreted his return and his success as the fulfillment of the prophecy.

4. (i) Did Ernest see in Gathergold the likeness of the Stone Face? (ii) Who did he confide in and how was he proved right?
Solution:
  1. No, Ernest did not perceive any resemblance between Gathergold and the Great Stone Face.
  2. Ernest confided in the Great Stone Face itself. While everyone else believed Gathergold matched the Stone Face, Ernest turned away from the merchant's shrewd and wrinkled expression. He looked towards the valley where the Great Stone Face seemed to offer reassurance, saying, "He will come! Fear not, Ernest; the man will come!" Ernest was proven right after Gathergold's death. Gathergold's immense wealth had vanished before he died, and it became generally agreed that there was no likeness between him and the majestic face on the mountain, validating Ernest's intuition.

Working With Language

1. Look at the following words. like - likeness Punctual - punctuality The words on the left are adjectives and those on the right are their noun forms. Write the noun forms of the following words by adding -ness or -ity to them appropriately. Check the spelling of the new words.
  1. lofty
  2. able
  3. enormous
  4. pleasant
Solution:

Here are the noun forms of the given adjectives:

  1. lofty - loftiness
  2. able - ability
  3. enormous - enormity
  4. pleasant - pleasantness

Note: The original text provided a list that was not fully sequential and contained some formatting inconsistencies. The corrected list above provides the noun forms for the adjectives presented.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the location of the Great Stone Face relative to Ernest's home.
  • Misinterpreting Gathergold's character and wealth.
  • Incorrectly identifying the features of the Stone Face.
  • Failing to recall the details of the prophecy.

Revision tips

  • Read the story carefully to understand Ernest's character and his connection to the Stone Face.
  • Pay close attention to the prophecy and how people interpreted it.
  • Review the 'Comprehension Check' questions to ensure factual recall.
  • Practice the 'Working With Language' exercises to improve vocabulary and grammar.
  • Discuss the story with classmates to clarify doubts and share interpretations.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Where was the Great Stone Face located in relation to Ernest's home?

Q2. What was the prophecy associated with the Great Stone Face?

Q3. Who was initially believed to be the man resembling the Great Stone Face?

Q4. How did Ernest feel about Gathergold resembling the Stone Face?

Q5. What did the Great Stone Face seem to tell Ernest after Gathergold's death?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of 'The Great Stone Face - I'?

The main theme revolves around faith, hope, and the anticipation of a virtuous leader, as symbolized by the Great Stone Face and the prophecy associated with it.

Who is Ernest in the story?

Ernest is a young boy who lives in the valley and deeply admires the Great Stone Face. He holds onto the belief that a man resembling the Stone Face will appear.

What was the significance of Gathergold in the story?

Gathergold was a wealthy merchant who returned to the valley. Initially, people believed he was the man prophesied to resemble the Great Stone Face, but Ernest disagreed, and later events proved him right.

How do the NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, step-by-step answers to all questions in the chapter, helping students understand the story, characters, and language exercises, which aids in exam preparation.

What kind of language exercises are included in this chapter?

The chapter includes exercises on word formation, specifically converting adjectives into their noun forms by adding suffixes like '-ness' or '-ity'.

Important links

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