The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 - The English Channel Coursebook - Class 8 - English

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Back Questions - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

‘ “Yes, October is the best time.” ‘

a) Who said this and to whom?
b) Why did the speaker say this?
c) Why is October the best time for 'you'?

a) This statement was made by the narrator to the girl he was conversing with in the train compartment.

b) The speaker said this to establish the fact that he was not blind and eradicate any doubt that the girl might have had regarding his sight. He believed that if he described the picturesque landscape with details that could only be known to one who could see, the girl would never realise the fact that he was, in fact, blind.

c) October is the best time for the narrator, because the incoming winter is still weak, which allows the sun to enhance the beauty of the hills. The dahlias are in full bloom, the tourists have left, and one can even cosy up in front of a log fire, drink brandy and bask in its warmth.

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‘But her next question removed my doubts.’

a) Who does ‘her’ refer to?
b) What ‘doubts’ does the narrator have?
c) What was the ‘question’ and how did it remove his doubts?

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Mark these statements as (T) for true or (F) for false.

  1. There were only three people in the compartment.

  2. The girl was travelling to Mussoorie.

  3. The narrator knew there were many animals in the forest near Dehra.

  4. The girl didn’t like to be told that she had a pretty face.

  5. She liked short train journeys.

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How did the girl’s parents show their concern for her?

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Why was she startled when the narrator spoke?

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What voices did the narrator hear when the train entered the Saharanpur station?

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Why did the narrator remain silent when the next fellow traveller came into the compartment?

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What did the new passenger assume from the narrator’s silence?

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What did the second man notice about the girl?

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Why was the second man puzzled when he was asked if the girl’s hair was long or short?

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What do you think the narrator means by saying ‘Once again I had a game to play’?

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Why do you think the narrator wanted to keep his blindness a secret?

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Do you think the title of the story is appropriate? Why?

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Back Exercises - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

Look up these idiomatic expressions with the word eye in them in your dictionary.

keep up eye on

with one’s eyes opens

see eye to eye

have eyes only for

a sight for sore eyes

open one’s eyes

Make a sentence each using any three expressions.

  1. As a parent, I always keep an eye on my children whenever they are playing in the park.

  2. You should always negotiate with your eyes open to avoid being deceived.

  3. My sister and I never see eye to eye when it comes to politics. They're just too different.

  4. He promised his wife that he would have eyes only for her, no matter what.

  5. After a tiring day, the sight of my comfortable bed is a sight for sore eyes.

  6. Traveling to different countries definitely opens one's eyes to various cultures and traditions.

In the story, the girl’s aunt is described as formidable, meaning that the narrator might either have felt frightened or been very impressed at the mention of the aunt.

Refer to a dictionary or a thesaurus for four synonyms for the word formidable. Do you think they can be used interchangeably? Why? Try using them in sentences of your own.

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Change these into negative sentences without changing their meanings.

  1. Iron is a useful metal.

  2. I am telling you the truth.

  3. The library is closed today.

  4. I am feeling very cold today.

  5. The food at the restaurant was good.

  6. She was annoyed with his behaviour today.

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Transform the following sentences according to the instructions given in brackets.
Remember that the meaning of the sentence should remain the same.
1. Drink your milk. (change to interrogative)
2. Are we on time for the match? (change to affirmative)
3. Didn’t you like my suggestions? (change to assertive)
4. Why don’t you shut the window? (change to imperative)
5. It is so much fun to do it together. (change to exclamatory)
6. We walk along the short lane to school. (change to negative)
7. He is not a smart and intelligent boy. (change to interrogative)
8. How nice of you to have come to the party! (change to assertive)

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You are secretary of the Student Talent Club in your school. You have organized a story writing competition for classes 6 to 8. Write a notice in no more than 60 words giving information about the competition.
Write about the date, time, venue, and cash prizes for winners. Add details of the story categories (adventure, comedy, fairy tale), minimum word limit, and the last day for registration (September 10) for the competition. Don’t forget to add that writing paper will be provided.

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The Eyes Have It - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

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About the Author - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

Ruskin Bond is a renowned Indian author of British descent, born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, in 1934. Known for his heartwarming stories and vivid descriptions of nature and rural life in India, Bond is a prolific writer who has penned over a hundred books spanning across different genres such as fiction, non-fiction, children's literature, and poetry. His writing is characterized by simplicity, relatability, and a sense of nostalgia.

Bond has been honored with numerous awards for his literary contributions, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Shri, and the Padma Bhushan. His stories have been adapted into movies and television series as well. Some of his notable works include "The Blue Umbrella," "A Flight of Pigeons," and "The Room on the Roof," which won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Bond's timeless stories continue to charm readers of all ages, making him one of the most beloved authors in Indian literature.

Summary - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

The eyes have it is a remarkable story because of the twist at the end. The story begins with the author sitting in a compartment of a train, and soon after, a girl joins him. His only intention was to make sure that the occupant of the compartment shouldn’t be able to guess that he was blind. All his attempts were geared towards that end. He talks in general about the hills of Mussoorie and recalls things from his memories. He even replied to her query about animals as he knew well that very few animals were left in the forest of Dehra. He even neutrally complimented her by telling her she had an interesting face. He was thoroughly enjoying her company and was willing to sit for hours with the girl. 

He feels he has successfully pulled off a majestic con by fooling a sighted girl into believing he could see. He feels immensely proud and pats himself on the back for being a god at being blind that even one who can see couldn’t call out his bluff. In the meantime, a passenger walks into his cabin and casually remarks that the previous passenger was blind. This reveal shocks the reader and the author and adds an amazing twist to the simple story.


The author has used auditory imagery to describe the voice of the girl as it seemed to have a sparkle of a mountain stream. The journey soon ended, and she got down. 
 The author got ready to start the same game with the new passenger. This new occupant tells the author on the enquiry about the length of her hair that more than hair, it was the eyes which got his attention. He declared that she was blind. 
 This twist makes the reader realise that it was not the author who was trying to hide his blindness, but it was the girl who had managed to conceal her blindness all the way. 

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Themes - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

  1. Perception and Reality:
    In "The Eyes Have It," the theme of perception versus reality plays a significant role. The protagonist, who is blind, can perceive things through his other senses, such as sound and touch. He tries to hide his blindness from the girl in the compartment, and both of them have an engaging conversation about the outside world. Unbeknownst to him, the girl is also blind. This theme underscores how people can perceive the world differently, even when they share the same experiences.
  2. Human Connection:
    The story highlights the importance of human connection and the power of shared experiences. Despite their blindness, the protagonist ...

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Plot - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

"The Eyes Have It" is a short story that follows a first-person narrative, focusing on the protagonist's experience during a train journey. The plot can be summarized as follows:

  1. Introduction: The protagonist, a blind man, is travelling alone in a train compartment. At Rohana station, a young girl enters the compartment, and her parents see her off.
  2. Initial Interaction: The protagonist.....

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Important Lines - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

  1. "As I was totally blind at the time, my eyes sensitive only to light and darkness, I was unable to tell what the girl looked like."

This line is crucial because it reveals the protagonist's blindness to the reader, setting the stage for the story's central theme of perception.

  1. "Well, it often happens that people with good eyesight fail to see what is right in front of them."

This line emphasizes the story's theme ......

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Vocabulary - The eyes have it (Section C) Unit 6 | The English Channel Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English

  1. Compartment: A separate section or area within a larger enclosed space, often used to describe the seating areas in a train.
    Example: He sat in the train compartment by himself.
  2. Slippers: Lightweight, comfortable shoes typically worn indoors.
    Example: She wore her slippers while walking around the house.
  3. Exclamation: A sudden,...

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