CBSE Class 12 English Chapter 5: Should Wizard Hit Mommy? NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 12 PDF

This section provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English, Chapter 5, 'Should Wizard Hit Mommy?'. The chapter delves into a bedtime story told by Jack to his daughter Jo, exploring themes of parental authority, childhood innocence, and differing perspectives on life. The solutions analyze Jo's reaction to the story's ending, where Roger Skunk's mother insists he revert to his natural foul smell, contrasting with Jo's desire for a happy, rose-scented ending. Key questions address the moral issues raised, Jo's perspective, and Jack's insistence on the mother's role. These solutions offer a clear understanding of the narrative's complexities and help students prepare for their exams by clarifying the story's underlying messages and character motivations.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 12
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	5. Should Wizard Hit Mommy

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for 'Should Wizard Hit Mommy?' (Chapter 5) for Class 12 English. This chapter focuses on a story within a story, examining the conflict between a father's narrative choices and his daughter's innocent interpretation. The solutions break down the plot, character motivations (Jo, Jack, Roger Skunk, the Wizard, Roger's Mother), and the central moral dilemma regarding parental guidance versus a child's desires. It highlights the contrasting worldviews of adults and children, making it a rich text for analysis.

Learning outcomes

Understand the narrative structure of a story within a story.
Analyze the character motivations of Jack, Jo, and Roger Skunk's mother.
Identify and discuss the moral and ethical dilemmas presented in the story.
Compare and contrast the adult and child perspectives on life and parenting.
Interpret the symbolism of the wizard and the different smells.
Explain the significance of the story's ending and Jo's reaction to it.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Storytelling and narrative structure
Character analysis (Jo, Jack, Roger Skunk, Wizard, Mother)
Moral dilemmas and ethical considerations
Parental authority vs. child's autonomy
Childhood innocence and perspective
Symbolism (smell, wizard, mother's actions)
Adult vs. child worldviews
Interpretation of literary texts

Important topics

The central moral issue: parental guidance vs. child's desires
Jo's reaction and its significance
Jack's perspective and his underlying motivations
The contrasting worldviews of adults and children
The role and symbolism of the wizard and the mother

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Questions and Solutions

READ AND FIND OUT

Q1. Who is Jo? How does she respond to her father's story-telling?

Who is Jo? How does she respond to her father's story-telling?

Solution: Jo, whose full name is Joanne, is the four-year-old daughter of Jack and Clare. She actively participates in her father's bedtime stories, which have followed a consistent pattern for two years. The stories always feature a protagonist named Roger (like Roger Fish or Roger Skunk), a wise old owl, and a wizard. Jo is familiar with these elements and takes a keen interest, often anticipating plot points. She engages with the story by asking questions and expressing her opinions, particularly about the ending, showing her active involvement and emotional connection to the narrative.

Q2. What possible plot line could the story continue with?

What possible plot line could the story continue with?

Solution: The story Jack is telling involves Roger Skunk, who emits a foul smell that alienates other animals. The wizard, at Roger's request, changes his smell to that of roses, making him popular. However, when Roger returns home, his mother is furious about the new smell, considering it unnatural. She takes Roger back to the wizard, intending to force him to restore the original skunk smell. This sets up a conflict where the mother's desire for naturalness clashes with Roger's and his friends' preference for the pleasant scent.

Q3. What do you think was Jo's problem?

What do you think was Jo's problem?

Solution: Jo's problem stems from her inability to accept the ending Jack provides for the story. Accustomed to happy endings where the wizard solves problems favorably, she is disturbed by the mother's harsh reaction and her insistence on restoring the foul smell. Jo cannot reconcile the mother hitting the wizard and undoing the positive change. She believes the wizard should have punished the unreasonable mother and allowed Roger Skunk to retain the pleasant rose scent, reflecting a child's idealistic view of justice and happiness, which contrasts sharply with the story's more realistic, adult-driven conclusion.

READING WITH INSIGHT

Q1. What is the moral issue that the story raises?

What is the moral issue that the story raises?

Solution: The story raises a significant moral issue concerning the conflict between parental authority and a child's desires. It questions whether parents should always impose their decisions and perspectives on their children, or if children should be allowed to pursue their own happiness and preferences. Jack, representing the adult viewpoint, defends the mother's decision to restore Roger Skunk's natural, foul smell, believing parents know best. Conversely, Jo, embodying the child's perspective, argues that the mother was wrong and that Roger should have been allowed to keep the pleasant rose scent, highlighting the differing values and worldviews between generations.

Q2. How does Jo want the story to end and why?

How does Jo want the story to end and why?

Solution: Jo wants the story to end with the wizard hitting Roger Skunk's mother on the head and leaving Roger smelling of roses. She desires this ending because she believes the mother was unreasonable and harsh in forcing the wizard to revert Roger's smell to the original foul odor. Jo feels that the mother's actions denied Roger the pleasure of being accepted and liked by his friends due to his pleasant scent. She wants a resolution where the 'stupid mommy' is punished and Roger can continue enjoying the positive social interactions brought about by the rose smell, reflecting her belief in fairness and happiness.

Q3. Why does Jack insist that it was the wizard that was hit and not the mother?

Why does Jack insist that it was the wizard that was hit and not the mother?

Solution: Jack insists that the wizard hit the mother because he is trying to uphold the principle of parental authority and the natural order. As a father, he believes parents are responsible for guiding their children and making decisions they deem best, even if the child initially disagrees. He defends Roger Skunk's mother's actions, arguing that she knew what was right for her child and that a skunk should smell like a skunk. By having the wizard hit the mother, Jack reinforces the idea that parental decisions, even if seemingly harsh, should be respected and that children should ultimately conform to natural norms and familial bonds, as Roger loved his mother more than his friends.

Common mistakes

Confusing the narrator's (Jack's) views with the author's intent.
Overlooking the subtext of Jack's own childhood experiences influencing the story.
Failing to recognize the differing moral frameworks of Jo and Jack.
Interpreting the story solely at face value without considering the underlying themes.

Revision tips

Focus on the contrasting viewpoints of Jo and Jack to understand the core conflict.
Identify the key moments where Jo's reaction deviates from the expected narrative.
Analyze the role of the wizard and the significance of the 'smell' as a symbol.
Consider the implications of parental authority versus a child's autonomy.
Practice explaining the moral issue raised in the story in your own words.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Who is the main protagonist in the stories Jack tells?

Q2. What is Jo's primary concern about the story's ending?

Q3. What does Jack believe about Roger Skunk's mother's actions?

Q4. What does Jo suggest should happen to Roger Skunk's mother?

Q5. The story primarily explores the conflict between:

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of the chapter 'Should Wizard Hit Mommy?'

The main theme revolves around the conflict between parental authority and a child's perspective, exploring whether parents always know what's best for their children and the clash between adult realism and childhood innocence.

Who are the main characters in the story Jack tells?

The main characters in Jack's story are Roger Skunk, a skunk with a foul smell, the wise old owl, the wizard, and Roger Skunk's mother.

Why does Jo disagree with the ending of the story?

Jo disagrees because she feels Roger Skunk's mother was wrong to force the wizard to remove the pleasant rose smell, which made Roger happy and accepted by his friends. She believes the mother should not have hit the wizard and should have let Roger keep the new smell.

What does Jack represent in the story?

Jack represents the adult perspective, emphasizing parental authority, tradition, and the idea that parents know what is best for their children, even if it means enforcing natural, albeit unpleasant, characteristics.

How do these NCERT Solutions help with exam preparation?

These solutions provide clear explanations of the plot, character motivations, and thematic elements, helping students understand the nuances of the story and prepare for analytical questions in their English exams.

What is the significance of the wizard in the story?

The wizard symbolizes magic, problem-solving, and the ability to change things. However, his role is also debated, as Jo wants him to assert authority against the mother, while Jack uses him to restore the natural order.

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