Question

The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-old’s point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?

Answer 1

The author has described the things that Valli saw from an eight-year-old’s point of view. She was fascinated by a bus. Watching the bus filled with a new set of people each time was a source of unending joy for her. Her strongest desire was to ride the bus. She saved money by cutting on peppermints, toys, and balloons, and even resisting the temptation to ride the merry-go-round at the fair. When the author describes the bus, the points he stresses on are the color and look of the bus. It was a ‘new bus’, painted a ‘gleaming white’. The overhead bars ‘shone like silver’. The seats were ‘soft and luxurious’. The descriptions that the author gives when Valli looked outside are also typical for an eight-year-old. The ‘blue, blue sky’ and the ‘acres and acres of green fields − green, green, green’ show the enthusiasm of a kid on looking at different colors. Valli clapped her hands in glee on watching a cow run right in front of the bus. She found it so funny that tears came into her eyes. On the other hand, she felt sad on her way back when she saw the same cow lying dead. It had been a ‘lovable, beautiful creature’ and later it ‘looked so horrible’. The memory of the dead cow haunted her so much that she refused to look outside the window. All the above statements or reactions can be considered as an eight year old's point of view.

Answer 2

Yes, for example, when the author mentions her fascination with the bus, watching it fill with a new set of people each time brought her endless joy. The author emphasizes the bus's color and appearance, describing it as silver because children are attracted to bright colors. The seats are described as soft and luxurious. The way the author describes Valli looking outside the bus also reflects typical behavior for an eight-year-old. The blue sky and vast green fields convey a child's enthusiasm. Valli was captivated by a cow running in front of the bus but was deeply upset by the sight of a dead cow, refusing to look out the window on her return journey. This accurately portrays the behavior of an eight-year-old child.