After completing this interactive lesson, students will be able to:
Understand the story and its central idea.
Identify the main characters and their traits.
Learn important vocabulary.
Answer comprehension questions.
Practise grammar and language study.
Express personal opinions in English.
1. Story Summary
The story An Astrologer’s Day by R. K. Narayan presents the life of an astrologer who earns his living by predicting people’s futures. He sits under a tamarind tree in a busy marketplace. His appearance, equipment and clever observations attract customers.
One evening, a stranger challenges him. During their conversation, the astrologer recognises him as Guru Nayak, a man whom he had once attacked during a quarrel and believed to be dead.
The astrologer cleverly convinces Guru Nayak that his attacker is dead and advises him never to travel southward again. Later, he returns home relieved because he has finally discovered that he had not committed murder.
Central idea: The story explores fate, guilt, cleverness, human psychology and the unexpected twists of life.
2. Character Explorer
The Astrologer
Observant
Intelligent
Shrewd
Resourceful
Guilt-ridden
Guru Nayak
Determined
Aggressive
Curious
Vengeful
Persistent
3. Vocabulary Booster
Learn these important words with their meanings in Marathi.
Sacred पवित्र
Astonished आश्चर्यचकित
Careworn काळजीग्रस्त
Deserted ओसाड / निर्जन
Enchantment मोहिनी / जादुई प्रभाव
Flanked दोन्ही बाजूंनी असलेला
Flung जोराने फेकले
Gleam किंचित चमक
Grumbled कुरकुर केली
Vaguely अस्पष्टपणे
Vendor विक्रेता
Vermilion शेंदूर / लाल रंगद्रव्य
4. Comprehension Challenge
Choose the correct answer. Each correct answer carries 1 mark.
Select your answers to begin.
5. True or False Challenge
6. Arrange the Events
Put the following events in the correct chronological order by selecting their positions.
7. Grammar and Language Study
Practise important grammar patterns from the lesson.
8. Personal Response and Writing
Q1. Do you believe in astrology? Give reasons for your answer.
I do not completely believe in astrology because the future cannot be predicted with certainty. Hard work, intelligence and proper decisions play an important role in our lives. We should believe in our abilities rather than depend entirely on predictions.
Q2. What qualities should a person possess to become successful in life?
A successful person should be hardworking, honest, confident and determined. Good communication skills, patience and the ability to make wise decisions are also important.
Q3. If you were in the astrologer’s place, how would you react when you recognised Guru Nayak?
I would feel frightened and uncomfortable because I would remember my past mistake. I would try to remain calm and handle the situation wisely. I would also feel relieved after knowing that Guru Nayak was alive.
9. Match the Words with Their Meanings
Select the correct meaning of each word.
10. Your Learning Report
Your quiz and grammar performance will appear here.
0 / 20
Complete the activities to see your progress.
11. Important Board Examination Questions
Describe the astrologer’s appearance and professional equipment.
Why were people attracted to the astrologer?
Explain why insufficient light suited the astrologer’s business.
Describe the encounter between the astrologer and Guru Nayak.
How did the astrologer save himself from Guru Nayak?
Why did the astrologer feel relieved at the end?
Explain the title ‘An Astrologer’s Day’.
Describe the importance of the unexpected ending of the story.
English For Me | Learn English with Understanding and Practice
“An Astrologer’s Day” by R.K. Narayan is a short story that revolves around an astrologer who makes a living by reading people’s futures and pasts. The protagonist sets up his stall by a busy street and attracts clients with his confident demeanor and accurate readings. One evening, a man approaches him, seeking to find the astrologer who predicted his death. The astrologer realizes that the man is actually the person he thought he had killed years ago. This revelation leads to a twist in the story, showcasing themes of fate, redemption, and the complexity of human nature. Ultimately, the story explores the idea of second chances and the power of forgiveness.
Activity Sheet 1 on An Astrologer’s Day
Read the extract from ‘An Astrologer’s Day’ beginning with – ” Punctually at Midday………the end of day’
A1. Complete the web chart.
An Astrologer’s Day
A1. Complete the web chart.
An Astrologer’s Day
A2. People were attracted to the astrologer as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahila stalks. Give reasons.
A2. People flocked to fried groundnut vendor. Give reasons.
A3 Insufficient light suited the astrologer’s business. Explain.
A3. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lightening. Explain
A4. Astrologer’s by the roadside deserves no wages. Give your opinion.
A4. Describe your plan about earning while learning.
A5 Rewrite as instructed.
1. The colour scheme never failed. (Make it affirmative.)
2. The place was lit up by the shop lights. (Identify the voice.)
A6. Vocabulary Match the pair
An Astrologer’s Day
Column A Column B
1. Sacred. A. red pigment
2. Vermillion B. surprised
3. Flanked. C. holy
4. Astonished. D. divided
Activity Sheet No. 2 on An Astrologer’s Day
A1. Put the statements in order as the events occur.
1. A client showed his palm to astrologer with challenge.
2. The astrologer began to bundle up his paraphernalia.
3. The astrologer sensed a man as his client and pressed invitation.
4. The nuts vendor rose to go home.
A2. State whether the following statements are true or false.
1. A client looked careworn.
2. The astrologer was challenged.
3. He charged four pies for a question.
4. A client did not agree to pay the fees.
A3. Guess
The astrologer recognised the client but didn’t show. Support the statements with proof from the extract.
A4. Opinion
Astrology is a truthful occupation. Give your opinion.
1. Read the extract from An Astrologer’s Day and complete the activities given below: (12)
Punctually at midday he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of Palmyra writing. His forehead was resplendent (glorious) with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam (shine) which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt
comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers (moustaches) which streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way :medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. Next to him in vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi Almond,” and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too.
The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. The place was lit up by shop lights. One or two had hissing gaslights, some had naked flares stuck on poles, some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like the astrologer, managed without lights of their own. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next minute. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. Yet he said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork. All the same, it was as much an honest man’s labour as any other, and he deserved the wages he carried home at the end of a day.
A1. State if the given statements are True or False. (2)
i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way.
ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers.
iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations.
iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills.
Ans : i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way. True
ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers. False
iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations. True
iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills. True
A2. Complete the given web. (2)
An Astrologer’s Day
1. Opened his bag and spread out professional equipment
2. Wound a saffron coloured turban around his head
3. Sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree
4. Transacted his business of astrology
(Note : Draw a web chart and write these points in it.)
A3. The astrologer was a shrewd judge of a character. Explain with some details from the extract. (2)
Ans : He was punctual in his work. Though he did not intend to be an astrologer, he used professional equipment for astrology. He dressed as an astrologer and chose appropriate place for the transaction . He accepted that study, practice and shrewd guesswork helped him to please and astonish his customers.
A4. We need to understand even the smallest details of the business in order to succeed. Write your views. (2)
Ans :
A5. Do as directed. (2)
1) It was a remarkable place in many ways.
(Choose correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as an exclamatory sentence)
i. It was a remarkable place in many ways!
ii. How a remarkable place in many ways it was!
iii. What a remarkable place in many ways it was!
iv. What remarkable in many ways the place it was!
2) He spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
(Choose correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as a compound sentence)
i. He spread out his professional equipment but it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
ii. He spread out his professional equipment and it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
iii. He spread out his professional equipment that it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
iv. He spread out his professional equipment and it had consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
A6. Find the synonyms for the following words from the passage. (2)
a. Confusing b. hanging around c. difficult to understand d. magical effect 2
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