NCERT Solution for Class 7 English Honeycomb Book Poem 6 Mystery of the Talking Fan Summary, Explanation, Question Answer

Mystery of the Talking Fan NCERT Class 7 English Honeycomb book Poem 6 Mystery of the Talking Fan Summary and Detailed explanation of the poem along with the meanings of difficult words. Also, the explanation is followed by a Summary of the poem. All the exercises and Questions and Answers given at the back of the lesson have been covered. Take Free Online MCQs Test for Class 7 Click Here

Mystery of the Talking Fan Introduction

The poem is about the electrical noises that make the poet think that he has a talking fan.

Mystery of the Talking Fan Class 7 Video Explanation

Mystery of the Talking Fan Summary

The poem tells us that once upon a time, the poet had a talking fan, which used to give an electrical chatter. The poet couldn’t hear what the talking fan would say, and she wrote that she hoped that the electrical chatter was meaningless in context. This is because one day someone came and oiled the fan so that it couldn’t make its chatter-like noise, and since then there had been no mysterious noises from it, no mystery behind its chatter as it worked as noiseless or as still as stagnant water.

Mystery of the Talking Fan Explanation

Mystery of the Talking FanPoem

Once there was a talking fan —
Electrical his chatter.
I couldn’t quite hear what he said
And I hope it doesn’t matter
Because one day somebody oiled
His little whirling motor
And all the mystery was spoiled —
He ran as still as water. 

Word Meaning
chatter: gossip, informal talk
whirling: characterized by rapid movement round and round.
motor: engine

Explanation of the Poem – Once upon a time, the poet Maude Rubin had an electrical fan. It might have been old, as it wasn’t properly oiled. Due to that, the electrical fan made mysterious electric noises. The poet, who might have been young at that time, thought that the noises meant that the electrical fan was talking, which is why she has referred to it as a ‘talking fan’ in her poem. She writes that the talking fan’s chatter was electrical, which indicates that there was something stuck in the motor which made noises issued from the machine. The poet thought the noises to be mysterious and would try to find out what the fan meant to say. However, she couldn’t do so, which is why she says that she hopes that the noises didn’t matter. She hopes for such a thing because she regrets not being able to solve the mystery of the talking fan. The poet says that one day, someone oiled the fast and circular moving motor so that the machine would work noiselessly. Ever since then, no noise had been produced by the mysterious talking fan, which ended or spoiled its mystery before it was complete. It then worked as noiselessly as stagnant or still water.

Mystery of the Talking Fan Questions Answers

Working with the Poem

Q1. Fans don’t talk, but it is possible to imagine that they do. What is it, then, that sounds like the fan’s chatter? 

Ans. Yes, fans certainly don’t talk nor it is not possible to imagine that they do. The reason why it may sound like the fan is chattering is that the machine is not working smoothly. There must be something in the motor that is hindering the fan to work noiselessly. That is why when someone oiled the machine, the fan started working smoothly and noiselessly. 

Q2. Complete the following sentences.

(i) The chatter is electrical because ___________________________________________________
(ii) It is mysterious because ________________________________________________________________________

Ans. (i) The chatter is electrical because the fan is electrical and runs on electricity, which is why the noises produced by it are electrical.
(ii) It is mysterious because no one can understand what the chatter means.

Q3. What do you think the talking fan was demanding? 

Ans. Since the chatter was made by something stuck in the motor, it is possible that the talking fan was demanding the poet to oil its motor.

Q4. How does an electric fan manage to throw so much air when it is switched on?

Ans. There are two major components of an electrical fan – the blades (which are three in number) and the whirling motor. When we switch it on, the motor starts whirling i.e. moving in a circular motion. When this happens, it forces its blades to whirl. This forceful movement produces a lot of pressure, which ultimately leads to air being generated in a downwards direction.

Q5. Is there a ‘talking fan’ in your house? Create a dialogue between the fan and a mechanic.

Ans. The dialogue between the fan and a mechanic is as follows:-

Fan: Give me oil.
Mechanic: Hmm… What a peculiar and mysterious sound!
Fan: Please give me oil.
Mechanic: You seem to be saying something.
Fan: Please give me oil.
Mechanic: It’s hard to figure out what you are saying. Can you please repeat?
Fan: Please give me oil.
Mechanic: “Please give me oil”? Is that what you are saying? Haha, I must be imagining that.
Fan: You are not.
Mechanic: Wow! You said something different! You are a special fan. I don’t know why your owner wants to repair you. You must be one of a kind. But I suppose it doesn’t matter. There is more important stuff to do than to talk to a fan anyway.
 

 
Also See : 

Honeycomb Book Lessons

Honeycomb Book Poems

An Alien Hand Book Lessons