Class 10 Englsh Chapter - Madam Rides the Bus

 Class 10 English

Class 10 English syllabus. Class 10 English NCERT Book, Class 10 English NCERT Solutions,

First Flight

Chapter 1 - A letter to God

Chapter 2 -  Long Walk to Freedom

Chapter 3 -  Two Stories About Flying 

Chapter 4 -  From the Diary of Anne Frank

Chapter 5 - Glimpses of India

Chapter 6 - Mijbil the Other  

Chapter 7 - Madam Rides the Bus 

Chapter: Madam Rides the Bus

Author: Vallikkannan

Summary:

“Madam Rides the Bus” is a sensitive and humorous story about an eight-year-old girl named Valli, who is curious, bold, and independent. She is fascinated by the bus that passes through her village every day and dreams of taking a ride on it.

Valli saves money by resisting temptations like buying toys or sweets, and carefully plans her bus ride without telling anyone. One day, she boards the bus alone, pretending to be very mature. She observes everything keenly—the seats, the passengers, the scenery outside, and even tries to behave like an adult.

During the journey, she sees a young cow dead on the road—a moment that deeply disturbs her and marks a turning point in her innocent adventure. After reaching the town and refusing to get off, she takes the return journey back home, satisfied with her experience.

The story beautifully captures a child's first step towards independence and the realities of life. Valli's simple desire leads her to a complex experience, showing how curiosity and courage coexist with vulnerability and growth.

The character sketches 

Chapter "Madam Rides the Bus"

By Vallikkannan:

🔹 Valli (Valliammai)

• Age: 8 years old
• Personality: Curious, brave, determined, observant, and intelligent

Character Traits:

1. Curious and Observant: Valli watches the bus and its passengers every day and learns everything about the trip just by observing and listening.
2. Independent and Mature: She plans the bus ride alone, saves money, and behaves with confidence during the trip.
3. Innocent but Growing: Her excitement fades when she sees the dead cow — this marks a moment of realization and emotional growth.
4. Prideful: She refuses help from strangers and wants to be treated like an adult.
5. Symbolism: Valli represents childhood curiosity and the journey from innocence to experience.

🔹 The Bus Conductor

• Personality: Friendly, humorous, kind-hearted

Character Traits:

1. Playful: Calls Valli “Madam” jokingly, but with affection.
2. Caring: Looks out for Valli during the trip, making sure she is safe.
3. Respectful: Though amused by her behavior, he treats her with dignity.

🔹 Valli’s Mother

• Role: Minor character, but important for contrast
• Personality: Ordinary, busy, unaware

Character Traits:

1. Uninvolved: Doesn’t notice Valli’s thoughts or plans.
2. Representative of Adults: She talks about the world being too big to understand, while Valli silently proves otherwise.

🔹 The Cow (Symbolic Element)

• Though not a character in the usual sense, the cow Valli sees — first alive and then dead — plays a symbolic role. It represents the reality of life and death, which Valli confronts during her trip, marking her emotional growth.

Theme analysis 

Chapter “Madam Rides the Bus” 

🌟 Theme Analysis: Madam Rides the Bus

1. Curiosity and the Desire to Explore

• The central theme of the story is childlike curiosity.
• Valli is deeply fascinated by the outside world, especially the bus that travels between her village and the nearby town.
• Her desire to explore and experience the world firsthand drives the entire plot.
• It shows how children are naturally curious and eager to learn beyond their immediate surroundings.

2. Innocence vs. Experience

• The story reflects the transition from innocence to awareness.
• Valli begins her journey with pure excitement and joy.
• However, the sight of the dead cow disturbs her and introduces her to the harsh reality of life and death.
• This moment subtly marks the emotional maturing of Valli — from viewing the world as a playground to realizing its seriousness.

3. Independence and Growing Up

• Valli’s actions — planning the trip, saving money, and riding the bus alone — show her growing sense of independence and maturity.
• She wants to prove she’s not a child and behaves with confidence and self-respect.
• The story portrays a child’s first steps toward individual decision-making and self-reliance.

4. Perspective and Self-awareness

• Valli’s experience makes her see things differently, especially after encountering the reality of death (the dead cow).
• The story highlights how personal experiences change our perspective, even at a young age.
• Valli becomes more aware of the world’s complexity and unpredictability.

5. Humour and Irony

• The story is laced with gentle humour and irony.
• For example, Valli’s serious, adult-like behavior is amusing, especially when she insists on not taking help or being treated like a child.
• There’s also irony in how her mother speaks of how vast the world is and how hard it is to understand it — while her daughter is quietly experiencing and understanding it in her own way.

🎯 Conclusion:

“Madam Rides the Bus” is a simple yet powerful story about a young girl’s first adventure outside her small world. It explores themes of curiosity, independence, growing up, and the confrontation between dreams and reality, all wrapped in a tone that is humorous, emotional, and thought-provoking.

📘 Exercises with Answers

✨ Madam Rides the Bus 

1. Oral Comprehension Check

1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
Standing in the front doorway of her house, watching the street outside.

2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?

Watching the bus that passed through her street was her greatest joy. Her strongest desire was to ride on that bus to the nearby town.

3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she learn these details?

She found that the bus fare was thirty paise one way, and the journey took about 45 minutes. She gathered these details by listening to others and asking a few questions.

4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?

She was planning to save money and take a secret bus ride to the town by herself.

2. Oral Comprehension Check

1. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
Because she behaved in a mature and proud manner, insisting that she wasn’t a child. The conductor humorously addressed her as “madam.”

2. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?

She stood up to look outside properly as her view was blocked. She saw a canal, palm trees, green fields, distant mountains, and grazing animals.

3. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?

She replies proudly that she is not a child — she has paid her fare just like everyone else.

4. Why didn’t Valli want to talk to the elderly woman?

Because the woman was chewing betel nut, her gums were red, and she looked unattractive to Valli.

3. Oral Comprehension Check

1. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
She saved by resisting temptations like peppermints, toys, and merry-go-round rides. It was not easy, but she was determined.

2. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh heartily?

She saw a young cow running in front of the bus with its tail up, running faster and faster, which amused her greatly.

3. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?

Because she didn’t have money for other expenses, and her main purpose was to enjoy the bus ride, not to roam in the town.

4. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does it tell you about her?

She had no extra money for treats, so she refused. This shows she was disciplined, careful, and had self-control.

✦ Thinking about the Text

Q1. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.

Ans: Valli’s deepest desire was to ride the bus to the town. Phrases: “Her strongest desire was to ride on the bus.” and “She would stare wistfully at the people who got on and off the bus.”

Q2. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare?

Ans: She found out that the bus ride took 45 minutes and cost 30 paise one way. She saved the fare by resisting temptations like riding the merry-go-round, buying toys, and snacks. She planned carefully to go when her mother was asleep.

Q3. What kind of a person is Valli? Illustrate your answer from the text.

Ans: Valli is curious, confident, and mature. She was observant (gathered bus details), disciplined (saved money), courageous (travelled alone), and practical (refused to spend on a drink).

Q4. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?

Ans: The conductor called her ‘madam’ playfully because she behaved with unusual seriousness and confidence, like a grown-up.

Q5. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman on the bus?

Ans: Valli disliked her because she chewed betel nut, had betel juice stains, and seemed overly curious about her.

Q6. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?

Ans: She saved money by not spending on toys, balloons, peppermints, and the merry-go-round at the fair. It was not easy, but she was determined.

Q7. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?

Ans: She laughed when she saw a cow running in front of the bus, jumping and keeping ahead of it.

Q8. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the town?

Ans: Because she was alone, feared getting lost, and wanted to safely return home.

Q9. What lesson does the story teach us?

Ans: The story teaches that curiosity, courage, and determination help us learn new things. It also shows that life has both joy (the running cow) and sorrow (the dead cow).

✦ Thinking about Language

1. Find the lines in the text which show that Valli:

(a) was enjoying her ride — “Oh, it was all so wonderful!”
(b) was upset by what she saw — “The memory of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her enthusiasm.”
(c) was a responsible and self-respecting girl — “No, I don’t want anything… I have my ticket.”

✦ Writing

1. Have you ever planned something carefully, like Valli did? What was the result?
(Sample answer)
Yes, once I planned to surprise my parents on their anniversary. I saved money for weeks to buy them a small gift. I made cards by hand and decorated the living room. When they saw it, they were so happy and emotional. Just like Valli, I felt proud of myself because my careful planning had succeeded.

2. If you could take a bus journey anywhere, where would you go and why? Write a paragraph.

(Sample answer)
If I could take a bus journey, I would like to go to Shimla. I have heard about its beautiful mountains, green valleys, and snowfall. A bus ride through winding mountain roads, pine trees, and misty hills would be very exciting. I would love to see the natural beauty and take pictures. It would be both thrilling and refreshing, just like Valli’s adventure.

📝 Worksheet – Madam Rides the Bus

By Vallikkannan

Section A – Summary (for quick recall)

1. Valli, an eight-year-old girl, is curious about the world.
2. She wishes to ride a bus to town all by herself.
3. Saves money for the fare (thirty paise one way).
4. Observes passengers, conductor, and scenery.
5. Learns about joy and sadness (when she sees the dead cow).
6. Returns home with her adventure as a secret.

Section B – Word Meaning

Match the words with their meanings:

1. Fascinated ( ) a) Something not understood

2. Mysterious ( ) b) Very interested / attracted

3. Overcome ( ) c) Strongly affected

4. Haughtily ( ) d) Proudly / arrogantly

Section C – Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)

1. How old was Valli?

2. How much was the bus fare one way?

3. What did Valli see that made her sad on her return journey?

4. Why did Valli keep her trip a secret from her family?

Section D – Short Answer Questions (2 Marks)

1. What kind of a girl was Valli?

2. How did Valli arrange for her bus ride?

3. Why did Valli refuse the conductor’s offer of a cold drink?

4. What did Valli learn from her bus journey?

Section E – Long Answer Questions (6 Marks)

1. Describe Valli’s character sketch with examples from the story.

2. “The bus ride was an educational journey for Valli.” Discuss.

3. How does the author use the theme of childhood curiosity in the story?

Section F – Grammar Practice

Rewrite using mustn’t or needn’t:

1. Don’t make noise. → You _________ make noise.

2. You don’t have to wait here. → You _________ wait here.

3. Don’t touch the electric wire. → You _________ touch the electric wire.

Section G – Creative Writing

1. Imagine you are Valli. Write a diary entry describing your secret bus journey to the town.

2. Suppose you are the conductor. Write a short paragraph about your experience with little Valli.