CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 5 Princess September NCERT Solutions

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

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 8 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 8 English, Chapter 5, titled "Princess September". The chapter explores the story of a lonely princess and her relationship with a songbird. The solutions cover comprehension questions from pages 38, 43, and exercises from page 44, delving into themes such as the nature of freedom, the importance of music, the beauty of nature, and the contrast between genuine affection and jealousy. Students will find clear explanations for character reactions, plot developments, and the underlying messages of the story. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the narrative, prepare for exams, and enhance their understanding of English literature by offering step-by-step answers and insightful discussions on the story's core ideas.

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Board	CBSE
Class	Class 8
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Chapter 5 Princess September

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5, 'Princess September', offers a detailed breakdown of the story. It covers comprehension checks focusing on the princess's initial sadness, her encounter with a songbird, the developing friendship, and the eventual understanding of freedom. The solutions analyze the characters' motivations, particularly the sisters' jealousy and the king's peculiar habit, and highlight the story's central themes: the value of freedom over possession, the power of music, and the appreciation of nature. This chapter's solutions guide students through textual analysis and critical thinking.

Learning outcomes

Understand the narrative and characters in 'Princess September'.
Analyze the themes of freedom, music, and nature in the story.
Interpret character motivations, including jealousy and genuine affection.
Explain the significance of the king's peculiar habit.
Evaluate the contrast between captivity and freedom for the bird.
Develop critical thinking skills by discussing the story's central ideas.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Princess September's story
Royal family and habits
Loss and grief
Friendship with animals
The songbird's music
Captivity vs. Freedom
Jealousy and its consequences
The value of nature
Character analysis
Thematic interpretation

Important topics

The value of freedom
The songbird's music and its significance
Princess September's emotional journey
The sisters' jealousy
The contrast between captivity and freedom

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Questions and Solutions

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 1

How many daughters did the royal couple have?

Solution: The royal couple, the King and Queen of Siam, had nine daughters in total.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 2

Why were they named after the months of the year?

Solution: The princesses were named after the months of the year because the Queen found it difficult to remember all their names easily. This naming convention helped her keep track of them.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 3

The King had a peculiar habit. What was it? Why is it called peculiar?

Solution: The King of Siam had a peculiar habit of giving gifts on his birthday, rather than receiving them. This is considered peculiar because, traditionally, people receive gifts on their birthdays, while the King reversed this custom.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 4 (i)

What was Princess September's reaction to the loss of her parrot?

Solution: Princess September was deeply affected by the loss of her parrot. She took it to heart and wept continuously. Her distress was so significant that she was sent to sleep without supper.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 4 (ii)

What was her Mother's reaction to it?

Solution: The Queen Mother's reaction was unsympathetic. She dismissed Princess September's weeping as 'nonsense' and instructed the maids to put the child to sleep without supper, showing a lack of emotional support.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 4 (iii)

What do the reactions indicate about the nature and temperament of each?

Solution: Princess September's reaction shows she is simple-hearted, sensitive, and deeply feels emotions like grief. In contrast, the Queen Mother appears to be unfeeling and practical, lacking empathy and not being moved by her daughter's sorrow.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 5

What pulled the Princess out of her gloom?

Solution: Princess September was pulled out of her gloom by the arrival of a little songbird in her room. The bird's enchanting presence and songs captivated her, making her forget her sadness over the lost parrot.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 6

How did the Maids of Honour come to know that the Princess and the bird had become intimate friends?

Solution: The Maids of Honour realized the Princess and the bird had become close friends when they brought the Princess's breakfast. They observed the songbird eating rice directly from the Princess's hand and singing sweetly. Seeing the Princess so happy and the bird so comfortable with her convinced them of their intimacy.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 7

The new bird was full of new songs but the old parrots always repeated themselves. What did they say?

Solution: The old parrots, unlike the new songbird, could only repeat phrases they had been taught. They were limited to saying "God save the King" and "Pretty Polly."

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 8

What is the king's opinion about his Councillors? Why did he form that opinion?

Solution: The King held a low opinion of his Councillors. He believed they were like parrots because they tended to repeat the same things, even if they phrased them differently, indicating a lack of original thought or independent judgment.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 9 (i)

The eight Princesses made an offer to Princess September. What was it?

Solution: The eight elder Princesses offered Princess September their pocket money. They proposed to use this money to buy her another parrot, hoping to replace the one she had lost.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 9 (ii)

Why, in your view, did they do it?

Solution: In my view, the eight Princesses offered their pocket money out of jealousy. They were envious of the special friendship that had developed between Princess September and the little songbird, and perhaps wanted to regain the King's attention for their sister.

Comprehension Check (Page 38) - Question 10

What did the sisters advise the Princess to do about her bird?

Solution: The sisters advised Princess September to put the little songbird into a cage. Their intention was to ensure the bird wouldn't fly away, but this advice stemmed from their jealousy and lack of understanding of the bird's need for freedom.

Comprehension Check (Page 43) - Question 1

In the following sentence elaborate the parts given in bold. Under the circumstances it was a very unfortunate remark for the bird to make.

Solution: The sentence refers to a remark made by one of the sisters about the bird. The 'circumstances' were that Princess September was worried because the songbird had not returned as expected, possibly due to attending a party. The remark, likely critical or dismissive of the bird, added to the Princess's anxiety and worry during this uncertain time.

Comprehension Check (Page 43) - Question 2 (i)

What did Princess September do to ensure the safety of her pet?

Solution: To ensure the safety of her pet songbird, Princess September put it into a cage. She was worried about it flying away or getting into trouble, especially after her experience with the lost parrot.

Comprehension Check (Page 43) - Question 2 (ii)

How did the bird react to it?

Solution: The bird reacted very negatively to being put in a cage. It disliked its imprisonment intensely and stopped singing altogether, indicating its unhappiness and distress.

Comprehension Check (Page 43) - Question 3

Why did the bird refuse to be taken out in her cage?

Solution: The bird refused to be taken out in its cage because it would not be truly happy or feel normal. Seeing the rice-fields and the lake through the cage bars made them look dull and different, highlighting that freedom is essential for its well-being and enjoyment of its surroundings.

Comprehension Check (Page 43) - Question 4 (i)

What persuaded Princess September to give the bird his freedom again?

Solution: Princess September was persuaded to give the bird its freedom again because she realized that the bird might die in captivity. Seeing its unhappiness and understanding its need for liberty, she chose its life and well-being over possessing it.

Comprehension Check (Page 43) - Question 4 (ii)

How did the bird react to it?

Solution: Upon being given freedom, the bird reacted with joy and relief. It spread its wings and flew away, but importantly, it continued to visit the Princess, singing beautifully and enjoying its liberty while maintaining its friendship with her.

Comprehension Check (Page 43) - Question 5

Princess September kept her window open day and night.

Solution: Keeping the window open day and night had dual benefits. For the bird, it provided a constant means to fly in and out freely, allowing it to visit the Princess whenever it wished. For the Princess herself, it allowed fresh air and natural light into her room, contributing to her well-being and making her feel more vibrant and beautiful.

Comprehension Check (Page 43) - Question 6

The eight sisters kept their windows shut. How did it affect them?

Solution: The eight sisters, who kept their windows shut day and night, were negatively affected. This lack of fresh air and natural light caused them to become extremely ugly and disagreeable in appearance. Consequently, they were married off to the King's councillors.

Exercise (Page 44) - Question 1

Are the sisters unkind and cruel? Find evidence in the text to support your idea.

Solution: Yes, the eight sisters of Princess September can be considered unkind and cruel. Evidence for this includes their jealousy towards the songbird's friendship with their sister and their advice to cage the bird. This suggestion was not out of genuine concern for the bird's safety but rather a manifestation of their envy, and caging the bird could have led to its distress or even death.

Exercise (Page 44) - Question 2

Which, to you, is the most important idea in this story, and why? (i) importance of music (ii) value of freedom (iii) beauty of nature

Solution: The most important idea in this story is the value of freedom. While music and the beauty of nature are present and contribute to the story's charm, the central conflict and resolution revolve around the bird's need for liberty. The story effectively contrasts the unhappiness caused by captivity with the joy and well-being that freedom brings, showing that true friendship and happiness cannot exist without it.

Common mistakes

Confusing the king's peculiar habit with a negative trait.
Underestimating the sisters' jealousy as a primary motive.
Focusing solely on the plot without understanding the underlying themes.
Misinterpreting the bird's reaction to captivity.

Revision tips

Reread the story focusing on Princess September's emotional journey.
Identify specific instances that highlight the theme of freedom.
Compare and contrast the behavior of the eight sisters with Princess September.
Discuss the significance of the songbird's music and its effect.
Pay attention to the king's unique birthday tradition and its implications.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the King of Siam's peculiar habit mentioned in the story?

Q2. Why were the princesses named after the months of the year?

Q3. What was Princess September's initial reaction to losing her parrot?

Q4. What did the songbird do that surprised the Maids of Honour?

Q5. Why did the eight sisters advise Princess September to cage the bird?

Q6. What was the most important idea in the story, according to the provided answer?

Frequently asked questions

What is Chapter 5 of CBSE Class 8 English NCERT about?

Chapter 5, 'Princess September', is a story about a lonely princess who finds companionship with a songbird, exploring themes of freedom, music, and the negative impact of jealousy.

What are the main themes covered in the NCERT Solutions for Princess September?

The solutions cover themes such as the importance of freedom, the beauty of music, the appreciation of nature, and the contrast between genuine affection and jealousy.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students prepare for exams?

These solutions provide clear, step-by-step answers to comprehension questions and exercises, helping students understand the story's plot, characters, and themes, which is crucial for exam preparation.

What is the significance of the king's peculiar habit in the story?

The king's habit of giving gifts on his birthday, instead of receiving them, highlights a generous and unconventional nature, contrasting with the more typical expectations of royalty.

Why is the theme of freedom considered important in this chapter?

The story illustrates that true happiness and well-being, especially for living creatures like the songbird, come from freedom, not from possession or captivity.

How do the solutions explain the sisters' actions towards Princess September?

The solutions explain that the sisters' advice to cage the bird stemmed from jealousy of the Princess's bond with the songbird, revealing their unkind and cruel nature.

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

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