Princess September | Class 8 English Notes

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The first section of the chapter 'Princess September' introduces the royal family of Siam, focusing on the King and Queen who have many daughters. To simplify the confusion caused by remembering so many names, the King decides to name his daughters after the months of the year, culminating with the youngest daughter named September. This naming convention reflects a unique cultural and narrative choice that sets the stage for the story.

The King has an unusual habit: instead of receiving gifts on his birthday, he gives gifts to others. On one such birthday, he gives each of his daughters a green parrot in a golden cage. The princesses take pride in their parrots and dedicate time daily to teach them to speak. The parrots learn to say phrases like 'God save the king' and 'Pretty Polly' in seven different Oriental languages, showcasing their intelligence and the princesses' dedication.

However, the story takes a poignant turn when Princess September finds her parrot dead in its golden cage. Her deep sorrow contrasts with the Queen's dismissive attitude, highlighting the differing emotional responses within the royal household. The Maids of Honour, unsure how to comfort the princess, put her to bed early so they can attend a party, leaving September alone in her grief.

In her solitude, a little bird enters her room and sings a beautiful song about the lake in the King's garden, willow trees, and goldfish. This song lifts September's spirits, and she quickly forgets her hunger and sadness. The bird offers to stay with her in place of the dead parrot, admitting it may not be as pretty but has a better voice. September joyfully accepts, and the bird sings her to sleep.

The next morning, the bird remains with her, eating from her hand and bathing in her saucer. The Maids of Honour are surprised by the bird's beautiful singing, and September proudly shows the bird to her eight sisters, each of whom hears a different song. The King and Queen are also impressed, with the King appreciating the bird's superior singing compared to the parrots. The Queen questions the parrots' repetitive phrases, and the King humorously compares them to his Councillors who say the same thing in many ways without meaning.

The princesses, feeling vexed, plan to buy September a new parrot, but she refuses, valuing her unique singing bird over a conventional pet. Her sisters advise her to keep the bird in a cage for safety, but September prefers to let it fly freely. This section ends with the sisters' ominous warning about safety and control, leaving September uneasy about the future.

This section sets up the central conflict between freedom and safety, individuality and conformity, and introduces key characters and themes such as love, loss, and the value of freedom.

📊 Diagram: But one day when Princess September went to say good morning to her parrot she found it lying dead at the bottom of its golden cage. She burst into a flood of tears, and nothing that her Maids of Honour could say comforted her.

🧪 Activity: Comprehension check questions on the characters, setting, and events in this section.

🔗 Connection: Leads to the next section where Princess September's relationship with the little bird deepens and the conflict about freedom versus safety begins.