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

Solution:

1. False. The Great Stone Face was a distant mountain feature, not located immediately near Ernest's home.
2. True. The unique features of the Stone Face were only discernible from afar; up close, it appeared as a jumble of rocks.
3. True. Ernest was portrayed as a dutiful and loving son who assisted his mother with her chores.
4. False. The story implies Gathergold was a very rich and successful merchant, not just skilful. His wealth was a key aspect of his return.
5. True. Gathergold's life ended in poverty and without proper care, contradicting the image of a noble hero.
6. False. The Great Stone Face, in this context, did not offer specific advice about fearing a general; Ernest's own feelings and comparisons were key.

Solution: The Great Stone Face was a remarkable natural formation on the side of a mountain. It consisted of a unique arrangement of huge rocks that, when viewed from a specific distance, perfectly resembled a human face. The people of the valley believed that this kind-looking Stone Face watched over them and contributed to the fertility of their land.

Solution: When young Ernest gazed at the Great Stone Face, he was filled with a deep longing. He wished that the Stone Face could speak, as its appearance suggested a kind and benevolent nature. Ernest hoped that the person who bore such a face would one day appear, and he felt he would love that person dearly.

Solution: The story attributed to the Great Stone Face was a prophecy. It foretold that in the future, a child would be born in the vicinity of the valley. This child was destined to become the greatest and noblest person of his time, and his mature face would bear an exact resemblance to the Great Stone Face.

Solution: The people of the valley were led to believe the prophecy might be coming true for the first time due to a widespread rumor. The rumor suggested that the prophesied great man, who would resemble the Great Stone Face, had finally appeared. This belief was fueled by the return of a former valley resident named Gathergold, who had become a rich merchant and was said to possess a living likeness of the Great Stone Face.

Solution: No, Ernest did not see the likeness of the Great Stone Face in Gathergold. Despite the general belief in the valley, Ernest's intuition told him that Gathergold was not the person he had been waiting for.

Solution: Ernest confided his doubts and feelings in his own heart, trusting his inner conviction that Gathergold was not the prophesied hero. He was proven right when Gathergold eventually died. After his death, it became evident that he had lived and died as a poor man, and people then agreed that he did not truly bear the likeness of the noble Great Stone Face.

Solution: People began to believe that General Blood-and-Thunder might be the fulfillment of the prophecy because he had risen to a position of prominence, starting as a soldier and achieving success in defense. When he expressed a desire to return to his native valley, residents and his childhood friends suggested that he bore a likeness to the Great Stone Face, sparking renewed hope that the prophecy was coming true.

Solution: When Ernest compared General Blood-and-Thunder's face with the Great Stone Face, he concluded that the General did not possess the true likeness. Despite the General's fame and the opinions of others, Ernest perceived a lack of the profound kindness and nobility that the Stone Face seemed to embody. His inner conviction remained that this man was not the hero he was waiting for.