Today, in this blog post ‘The Adventures of Toto Summary Class 9 English’, we’ll read short & detailed summary of the chapter The Adventures of Toto by Ruskin Bond from Class 9th NCERT English Moments(supplementary) Chapter 2 that will help you to understand this chapter better so that you can score best in your exam.
The Adventures of Toto About the Chapter
“The Adventures of Toto” is a humorous short story written by Ruskin Bond. It tells the story of a mischievous little monkey named Toto, who is bought by the narrator’s grandfather for his private zoo. The chapter beautifully captures Toto’s playful yet troublesome nature and the chaos he causes in the household. Through various funny incidents, the story highlights the difficulties of keeping a wild animal as a pet.
The Adventures of Toto About the Author
Ruskin Bond is one of India’s most beloved authors, known for his simple yet heartwarming storytelling. Born in 1934 in Kasauli, India, Bond has written numerous short stories, novels, and essays, especially for children. His works often draw from his experiences of life in the hills of India and reflect his love for nature, animals, and simple human emotions. Some of his famous works include The Room on the Roof, The Blue Umbrella, and Time Stops at Shamli.
Short Summary of The Adventures of Toto
The story begins when the narrator’s grandfather buys a baby monkey, Toto, from a tonga-driver for five rupees. Toto looks cute but is extremely mischievous. At first, Grandfather hides him from Grandmother, but Toto quickly creates chaos by tearing wallpaper and clothes. Later, he is kept with other animals but disturbs them too. When Grandfather takes him on a train journey, Toto causes trouble again and is charged as a “dog” by the ticket collector.
At home, Toto continues to create trouble; he bites the donkey Nana, takes baths like humans, and almost boils himself alive in a kettle. One day, he ruins a family meal by throwing plates and running away with a dish of pulao. In the end, Grandfather realizes Toto is too mischievous and expensive to keep, so he sells him back to the tonga-driver for three rupees.
The Adventures of Toto Summary (Detailed)
The story begins when the narrator’s grandfather comes across a little red monkey tied to a feeding trough by a tonga-driver. The monkey looks miserable and out of place there, so Grandfather, being a great lover of animals, decides to buy him for five rupees and adds him to his private zoo, which already has several pets like a tortoise, rabbits, a squirrel, and a pet goat.
Toto’s Description and First Mischief:
Toto is described as a pretty and intelligent monkey with bright mischievous eyes, white teeth that often show in a mischievous grin, and a long tail which he uses almost like a third hand. However, his looks are deceiving; he is extremely naughty and destructive.
Since Grandmother usually complains whenever a new pet arrives, Grandfather and the narrator decide to keep Toto a secret at first. They hide him in a closet in the narrator’s room, tying him securely to a peg. But when they return a few hours later, Toto has already torn off the wallpaper, broken the peg, and shredded the narrator’s school blazer. Grandfather, however, is amused instead of angry, admiring Toto’s cleverness.
Toto’s Journey to Saharanpur:
Because Toto’s presence is hard to hide, Grandfather puts him in a cage in the servants’ quarters. But Toto does not let any of the other animals sleep at night, so Grandfather decides to take him along to Saharanpur the next day, where he is going to collect his pension.
Toto is kept in a black canvas bag for the train journey. He struggles and makes the bag jump and roll on the platform, attracting onlookers’ attention. When the ticket collector sees Toto’s face peeping out, he insists that Toto is a dog and charges three rupees for his ticket. Grandfather argues that Toto is a monkey, not a dog, but the ticket collector refuses to change his decision. To get back at him, Grandfather jokingly asks how much he should pay for his tortoise, and the ticket collector replies, “No charge. It is not a dog.”
Life in the Stable:
After some time, Grandmother accepts Toto, and he is given a place in the stable with the family donkey, Nana. But Toto troubles Nana too; he bites her ears, and the two never become friends. Toto continues his mischievous behaviour, always breaking, tearing, or destroying something.
Toto’s Bathing Adventure:
Toto is also very clever and observant. He watches the narrator take baths and learns to do the same. He checks the temperature of the water before getting in and enjoys bathing with soap like a human. But one day, he almost boils himself alive. He climbs into a kettle of warm water placed on the stove, thinking it is a bath, and doesn’t realize when the water starts boiling. Grandmother rescues him just in time.
Toto’s Last Adventure:
Toto’s mischievousness reaches a peak during lunchtime one day. When the family comes to eat, they find Toto sitting on the dining table, stuffing himself with pulao. When Grandmother screams, Toto throws a plate at her. He also throws a glass of water at one of the narrator’s aunts. Finally, he runs out with the dish of pulao and eats it all while sitting in a jackfruit tree. After finishing, he angrily throws the dish down, breaking it into pieces just to annoy Grandmother.
The Ending:
After many such incidents, Grandfather realizes that Toto’s mischief is endless and too costly. He destroys clothes, curtains, dishes, and walls. The family cannot afford such damage. So, regretfully, Grandfather sells Toto back to the same tonga-driver, this time for three rupees, making a loss of two rupees.
The story ends humorously, showing how Toto was not the kind of pet one could keep for long, no matter how adorable or intelligent he seemed.
View: all Chapter Summary of Class 9th English
The Adventures of Toto Theme
The main theme of the story is the playful nature and unpredictability of animals, especially wild ones. It shows that although animals may seem adorable, they can be difficult to handle in a human environment. The story also reflects humour, love for animals, and human-animal relationships—a common feature in Ruskin Bond’s writing.
The Adventures of Toto Moral of the Story
The story teaches us that:
- Wild animals, no matter how cute or friendly they seem, are not meant to be kept as pets.
- Every creature belongs in its natural habitat.
- It also shows the importance of patience, understanding, and responsibility while dealing with animals.
Essence of the Story
Through this story, Ruskin Bond presents the lively and chaotic adventures of a monkey in a human household. The humour, warmth, and gentle tone make it a delightful read. The story reflects Bond’s love for animals and his ability to find joy and laughter in everyday experiences.
Read Also: The Adventures of Toto Class 9 NCERT Questions Answer