About the Author
Liam O'Flaherty was an Irish novelist and short-story writer who lived from 1896 to 1984. His works are famous for their psychological insight into life's problems and ways of overcoming them. Through his stories, he explored themes of independence, self-confidence, and human nature. His First Flight is one of his most popular stories that teaches important life lessons through the experiences of a young seagull.
Summary HIS FIRST FLIGHT
A young seagull was afraid to take his first flight while his brothers and sister had already learned to fly. Despite being physically capable, fear held him back. His family tried various methods to motivate him - calling, scolding, and even threatening to let him starve. After twenty-four hours alone on the ledge without food, the hungry bird saw his mother with a piece of fish. When she flew close but didn't come near enough, his desperate hunger made him dive for the food. In that moment, he discovered he could fly. His wings spread automatically, and he soared through the air. His family celebrated his success, and he realized flying was natural all along. The story shows that sometimes we need a push to overcome our fears and discover our true abilities.
Summary in Malayalam
ഒരു ചെറിയ കടൽക്കാക്ക തന്റെ ആദ്യ പറക്കലിനെ ഭയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു, അതേസമയം സഹോദരങ്ങൾ പറക്കാൻ പഠിച്ചിരുന്നു. ശാരീരികമായി പ്രാപ്തനായിരുന്നെങ്കിലും ഭയം അവനെ തടഞ്ഞു. കുടുംബം അവനെ പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കാൻ പല മാർഗങ്ങളും പരീക്ഷിച്ചു - വിളിക്കുക, ശാസിക്കുക, പട്ടിണി കിടക്കാൻ അനുവദിക്കുമെന്ന് ഭീഷണിപ്പെടുത്തുക. ഇരുപത്തിനാല് മണിക്കൂർ ഭക്ഷണമില്ലാതെ ഏകനായിരുന്നപ്പോൾ, വിശന്ന പക്ഷി അമ്മയെ മീനുമായി കണ്ടു. അവൾ അടുത്തെത്തിയെങ്കിലും വേണ്ടത്ര അടുത്തുവരാതിരുന്നപ്പോൾ, തീവ്രമായ വിശപ്പ് അവനെ ഭക്ഷണത്തിനായി കുതിക്കാൻ പ്രേരിപ്പിച്ചു. ആ നിമിഷത്തിൽ തനിക്ക് പറക്കാൻ കഴിയുമെന്ന് അവൻ കണ്ടെത്തി. ചിറകുകൾ സ്വയമേവ വിടർന്നു, അവൻ ആകാശത്തിലൂടെ പറന്നു. കുടുംബം അവന്റെ വിജയം ആഘോഷിച്ചു, പറക്കൽ എല്ലായ്പ്പോഴും സ്വാഭാവികമായിരുന്നുവെന്ന് അവൻ മനസ്സിലാക്കി. ഭയങ്ങളെ മറികടക്കാനും യഥാർത്ഥ കഴിവുകൾ കണ്ടെത്താനും ചിലപ്പോൾ ഒരു പ്രേരണ ആവശ്യമാണെന്ന് കഥ കാണിക്കുന്നു.
Theme of the Story
The main theme is overcoming fear and discovering one's true potential. The story teaches us about:
Independence and self-confidence
The importance of taking risks to grow
How parents sometimes use tough love to help their children
The natural abilities we all possess but fear prevents us from using
Answers to Questions
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
The young seagull was afraid because the sea stretched miles below him, and he feared his wings wouldn't support him. The great height and vast expanse of water terrified him, making him think he would fall.
What did the parents do to motivate the young bird when it failed to muster up enough courage to fly?
The parents tried several approaches. They called to him shrilly, scolded him, and threatened to let him starve on the ledge unless he flew away. They also demonstrated flying skills with his siblings to show him it was possible.
How did the parents support and encourage the young seagull's brothers and sister?
The parents flew with the siblings, teaching them the art of flight. They showed them how to skim the waves and dive for fish. They circled around when one brother caught his first herring, raising a proud cackle to celebrate the achievement.
Cite an instance which shows the pathetic condition of the young bird.
The young bird had not eaten since the previous night. He searched every inch of the ledge for food, even gnawing at dried pieces of eggshell. It was so desperate that eating the eggshell felt "like eating a part of himself." This shows his miserable, hungry condition.
How did the bird try to reach its parents without having to fly?
The bird tried to find alternative ways to reach his parents. He walked back and forth on the ledge, trying to find some way to reach them without flying. He wondered if he could move northwards along the cliff face, but there was no ledge to walk on.
Why could the seagull not succeed in its attempt?
The ledge ended in a sheer fall on both sides with the sea beneath. Between him and his parents was a deep, wide crack. There was no pathway along the cliff face, and he couldn't walk on air like a fly. The precipice was too steep and tall.
Do you think that the young seagull's parents were cruel?
No, the parents were not cruel. They used tough love to help their child overcome fear. They knew he was capable of flying but needed motivation. Their approach, though it seemed harsh, was meant to help him discover his abilities and become independent.
Can you justify the attitude of the parents?
Yes, their attitude can be justified. Parents sometimes need to push their children out of their comfort zones for their own good. The young seagull would never have learned to fly if they had continued to bring him food. Their method worked - he successfully flew and joined his family.
Your parents sometimes behave in the same manner. Does it mean that they do not love you?
No, it means they love us very much. Parents know that we need to learn important life skills to survive independently. Sometimes they must be firm or even seem harsh to help us overcome our fears and become self-reliant. This is an expression of deep love and concern for our future.
What prompted the young seagull to fly finally?
Intense hunger prompted him to fly. After seeing his mother with a piece of fish that she held just out of reach, he became maddened by hunger and dived for the food without thinking. His desperate need for food overcame his fear of flying.
Why was the young bird terrified? How did it overcome its fear?
The bird was terrified when he fell outwards and downwards into space after diving for the fish. His heart stood still with monstrous terror. He overcame this fear when he felt his wings spread outwards automatically and the wind rushing against his feathers. He realized he was soaring, not falling.
How did the family support the seagull?
Once he started flying, his mother swooped past him, his father flew over him screaming, and his brothers and sister flew around him, soaring and diving. They all demonstrated and encouraged him. Finally, they landed on the sea, beckoning and calling to him, and celebrated his success by offering him scraps of dog-fish.
Why couldn't the young seagull stand on the green sea?
The "green sea" was actually water, not solid ground. When he dropped his legs to stand on it, they sank into the water. He was exhausted, tired, and weak with hunger, so he couldn't rise again and floated on the water instead.
Do you think that the bird's parents loved him? Why?
Yes, the parents loved him deeply. They spent time teaching his siblings while keeping an eye on him. The mother cleverly used food to motivate him when other methods failed. After his first flight, the entire family surrounded him, screaming and praising him, and offering him food. Their celebration showed their love and pride in his achievement.
What is the real crisis faced by the young bird?
The real crisis was not physical inability but psychological fear. The young seagull was physically capable of flying - his wings were even longer than his younger sister's. The crisis was his lack of self-confidence and his fear of the unknown. He needed to overcome his mental barrier and trust his natural abilities.
Impression of the parents' reaction
The parents' reaction shows wisdom and understanding of child development. They recognized that sometimes children need to be pushed gently (or firmly) to discover their capabilities. Their approach was strategic - first encouragement, then demonstration, then withdrawal of support, and finally using a clever trick with food. They balanced being supportive with allowing their child to face necessary challenges.