The Wise Parrot Summary | English Class 5

Summary Note

Chapter overview

Summary

Study Note

The Wise Parrot overview

The story titled The Wise Parrot is a beautiful and thought-provoking tale about the true meaning of freedom and the power of intelligence. It begins in a quiet village where a wealthy merchant lives with his pet parrot. Although the merchant loves the bird dearly and keeps it in a luxurious cage made of gold, the parrot is not truly happy. It is a bright and talkative bird that entertains its master with songs and stories, yet deep down, it misses the open sky and the green trees of the forest. This sets the stage for a conflict between the merchant's possessive love and the bird's natural desire for liberty. The plot moves forward when the merchant decides to go on a business trip to a far-off land. In his desire to please his pet, he asks if the parrot wants anything from his travels. The parrot immediately asks for its freedom, but the merchant, being selfish in his affection, refuses to let it go. Instead, the parrot asks the merchant to carry a simple message of greetings to its friends and relatives in the jungle. During his journey, the merchant encounters a group of parrots in a forest and delivers the message. To his shock, upon hearing about the caged bird, one of the wild parrots falls to the ground as if dead. The merchant is deeply saddened and distressed by this sudden event, thinking he caused the bird's death.

Upon returning home, the merchant tells his pet about the strange and tragic incident in the forest. As soon as the merchant finishes the story, his own parrot mimics the action and falls to the floor of its cage. Thinking his beloved pet has also died from shock, the merchant gently removes the bird from the cage and places it on the windowsill. This is the moment of the bird's clever escape. As soon as it is outside, the parrot stirs, stretches its wings, and flies away. It reveals that the wild parrot in the forest was actually giving it a secret signal on how to escape. By pretending to be dead, the parrot forced the merchant to release it from the cage. The story teaches us that freedom is more valuable than any material luxury, like a golden cage. It also highlights that wisdom and cleverness can solve problems where physical strength cannot. The parrot's intelligence allowed it to regain its natural life, proving that the mind is a powerful tool for achieving one's heart's desire.

ByteNotes

Keywords

Important chapter terms

Keywords

Study Note

The Wise Parrot keywords

Important Terms

Merchant

A person who buys and sells goods for profit.

Example: The rich merchant traveled across many countries to sell his fine silk.

Entertained

Provided amusement or enjoyment to someone.

Example: The clown entertained the children with funny tricks and jokes.

Longed

Had a strong desire or wish for something.

Example: The lonely boy longed for a friend to play with in the park.

Tender

Easy to cut or chew; soft and delicate.

Example: The parrot enjoyed eating the tender fruits provided by the merchant.

Sighed

Let out a long, deep breath expressing sadness or relief.

Example: She sighed with disappointment when she realized the shop was closed.

Distressed

Feeling great pain, anxiety, or sorrow.

Example: The merchant was distressed when he saw the bird fall from the tree.

Conveyed

Passed on a message or information to someone.

Example: The teacher conveyed the important news about the holiday to the students.

Perch

A horizontal bar or branch where a bird sits.

Example: The parrot sat on its wooden perch and looked out of the window.

Windowsill

A narrow shelf at the bottom of a window.

Example: The cat sat on the windowsill and watched the birds in the garden.

Stirred

Moved slightly or began to be active.

Example: The sleeping baby stirred when the door opened quietly.

Greetings

Polite expressions of goodwill or welcome.

Example: The parrot sent its warm greetings to its friends in the jungle.