1.6 Writing and Speaking

Writing

1. A diary entry (the queen)

Imagine you are Queen Thirumalambal on the night the king stopped speaking to you. Write a diary entry (80–100 words) describing how you feel and what you plan to do. Begin like this:

Dear Diary, the palace has never felt so silent…

Format tip A diary entry has the day/date at the top, uses the first person (“I”), and shares feelings, not just events. Keep the tone personal and honest.

2. A dialogue

Write the short conversation that might have taken place when the queen first asked Tenali Rama for help. Use quotation marks correctly and a few reporting verbs (said, replied, begged, promised). Aim for 6–8 lines.

3. A paragraph

In about 100 words, answer: “Tenali Rama solved the problem without anger or argument.” Do you agree that this is the best way to handle a quarrel? Give reasons and an example from your own life.

4. Story writing

Write your own short story (120–150 words) in which a clever person solves a problem using wit instead of force. Give it a title, and make sure it has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Speaking

Role-play

In groups of three, act out the court scene: one of you is the king, one is Tenali Rama, and one is a courtier. Try to show the change in the king’s mood — from stern and proud to thoughtful and apologetic.

Discuss

Talk about these in class:

  1. “Humour can succeed where anger fails.” Do you agree? Share an example.
  2. Is it harder to accept a mistake or to point out someone else’s? Why?

Speaking tip When you role-play, don’t just read the words — change your tone and expression. A proud king sounds different from a humbled one. Pauses and a smile can do as much as the words themselves.