UNIT-III LS:2. A HERO -R.K. NARAYAN

A HERO. R.K. NARAYAN

Swami is a young child living in Malgudi with his parents and grandmother

Swami portrays the growing up pangs of a boy who despises school, as he makes excuses and roams around Malgudi with his friends. Swami’s father works in a government office and his mother is a housewife. At home, Swami shares his adventures with his aged granny, who lovingly addresses him as “Chamy.” Swami also has two close friends: Mani and Rajam

Once while reading the newspaper, his father reads an article about the bravery shown by an 8-year old boy and feels that Swami should do something similar

Swami has the habit of sleeping with his grandmother after listening to a story told by her. This irritates Swami’s father. Swami’s father then challenges, or rather forces, him to sleep in his office.

When Swami tells his friends of the ordeal, his friends warn him about a ghost living near the office.

Swami ask his friends for advice on how to escape from his father’s challenge. They tell him to go to bed before his father comes home from work.

However, his father does not let him sleep at home, wakes him and takes him there

Swami tries to negotiate with his father to let him sleep in the house in a separate room. But his father refuses. However, he lets Swami sleep with the door and windows open

When Swami sleeps in his father’s office he has nightmares about the ghost and wakes up with a start. At the same time, Swami spots an intruder breaking into the office. Mistaking him for the ghost, Swami grabs the intruder’s leg and yells for help.

The family members catch the thief and hand him over to the police.

The police appreciate him and want him to join the police force but Swami wants to work as an Engine driver or Bus conductor.