NCERT Chapter Summary: Dad and the Cat and the Tree

One morning, a cat got stuck in the tree. The narrator’s dad decided that he will easily be able to take care of it. Narrator’s father decided to climb the tree. His wife warned him that he might fall, but ignoring her warnings he climbed the ladder, slipped and fell.

Having fallen once, he thought of trying again, another way. Yet again ignoring his wife warnings, he swung himself up on a branch. The branch broke and again he fell.

Not giving up still, the father climbed up the garden wall. Luckily this time he did not fall. However, the moment he sprang unto the tree the cat jumped to the ground, safe and sound. Poor father, on the other hand, got stuck in the tree.

Stanza 1

This morning a cat got; Stuck in our tree.

Dad said, “Right, just; leave it to ma.”

Explanation: The narrator discusses that one morning a cat got stuck in the tree. His father told him that he will manage to drive away the cat.

Stanza 2

The tree was wobbly, The tree was tall.

Mum said, “For goodness’ Sake don’t fall!”

Explanation: Since the tree was unstable, the narrator’s mother was full of doubts as to how easy would it be for her husband to climb the tree. Therefore she warned him that he might fall.

Stanza 3

“Fall?” scoffed Dad, “A climber like me?

Child’s play, this is! You wait and see.”

Explanation: Listening to his wife’s warnings, the narrator’s father was quite surprised. He dismissed away these warnings by saying that he was a good climber and climbing the tree was as easy as a child’s play.

Stanza 4

He got out the ladder; From the garden shed.

It slipped. He landed; In the flower bed.

Explanation: The narrator’s father brings out a ladder from the garden shed. But, it slipped and father fell on the ground.

Stanza 5

“Never mind,” said Dad, Brushing the dirt

Off his hair and his face

And his trousers and his shirt,

Explanation: The narrator’s father brushes off the dirt from his hair and clothes, cleans his face and begins to think about another plan to drive away the cat.

Stanza 6

“We’ll try Plan B. Stand; Out of the way!”

Mum said, “Don’t fall; Again, O.K.?

Explanation: The narrator’s father decides to try Plan B His wife, however, again warns him, that he might fall again.

Stanza 7

“Fall again? Said Dad.; “Funny joke!”

Then he swung himself up; On a branch. It broke.

Explanation: The narrator father muses away his wife’s warning. Still laughing, he swung himself on a branch, but the branch broke and he again fell on the ground.

Stanza 8

Dad landed wallop’ Back on the deck.

Mum said, “Stop it, You’ll break your neck!”

Explanation: The narrator’s father again fell on the ground. The narrator’s mother begged him to stop as he might break his neck from falling again and again.

Stanza 9

“Rubbish!” said Dad. “Now we’ll try Plan C.

Easy as winking; to a climber like me!”

Explanation: The narrator’s father, then, decided to try Plan C. He was still confident that being a great climber he would succeed.

Stanza 10

Then he climbed up high; on the garden wall.

Guess what? He didn’t fall!

Explanation: The narrator’s father climbed up the high garden wall and this time he did not fall.

Stanza 11

He gave a great leap; and he landed flat

In the crook of the tree-trunk- Right on the cat!

Explanation: The father, with a great leap, finally landed on the tree top, right on the cat.

Stanza 12

The cat gave a yell; and sprang to the ground,

Pleased as Punch to be; Safe and sound.

Explanation: The moment the father landed on the cat, the cat screamed with fear and sprang to the ground. Landing smoothly on the ground, it seemed content with itself.

Stanza 13

So it’s smiling and smirking,

Sung as can be; But poor old Dad’s

Still; Stuck; Up; The: Tree!

Explanation: The narrator describes that having safely landed on the ground, the cat was smiling arrogantly, while his father got stuck on the tree.

Class 07 English