Question

Who does 'I' refer to in the story, 'The Thief's Story'?

• A. Hari Singh
• B. Anil
• C. The writer of the story
• D. The previous employer of the thief

Hint:

In a first-person narrative, the character 'I' is the protagonist telling the story. Distinguish between the real-life author and the fictional narrator.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks to identify the narrator, represented by the pronoun 'I', in Ruskin Bond's "The Thief's Story".
Step 2: Recalling the Story Details
"The Thief's Story" is narrated from the perspective of a young thief. The narrator introduces himself with a new name, Hari Singh, when he meets Anil. The entire story is about his experience living with Anil and his internal conflict about whether to rob him.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation
(A) Hari Singh is the name the thief gives himself and is the narrator of the story.
(B) Anil is the man whom the narrator attempts to rob. He is referred to as 'he' by the narrator.
(C) While Ruskin Bond is the writer, the narrator 'I' is a fictional character within the story.
(D) No previous employer is the narrator.
Step 4: Final Answer
The pronoun 'I' in "The Thief's Story" refers to the narrator and protagonist, the thief Hari Singh.