Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory
Class 8 · English
3 ideas in Class 8 English, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Plot and the Twist Ending
Part of: Story Comprehension
Bepin Choudhury is a wealthy man who buys thrillers every Monday. A stranger named Parimal Ghose insists Bepin visited Ranchi in 1958 — but Bepin is certain he never went. Friends confirm the Ranchi trip; a knee scar adds doubt. Bepin goes to Ranchi, faints near Hudroo Falls, and despairs. Then a letter arrives from his old friend Chunilal, revealing he invented the whole Ranchi story as revenge for Bepin's refusal to help him find a job. It was a hoax.
Why it matters. Stories with twist endings reward careful reading — details that seem minor early on become crucial later.
Try it in two minutes
- Ask your child: why did Bepin go to Ranchi if he was sure he had never been there?
- Ask: who had actually planned the whole deception and why?
- Ask: what clue in the story hints that Chunilal was involved?
Try at home. Ask your child to reread the opening pages after learning the twist and identify any clues that pointed to Chunilal.
Character and Theme
Part of: Story Comprehension
Bepin is wealthy and successful but cold and self-absorbed. He has few friends, dislikes idle chat, and refuses to help Chunilal despite knowing his old school friend is struggling. Chunilal's revenge is crafty but also sad — he has to use imagination instead of money to settle the score. The story asks: what are our duties towards old friends? Is Chunilal's revenge justified? The twist makes readers reconsider whether Bepin deserved his ordeal.
Why it matters. Literature explores moral questions through story — here, the question is whether wealth brings any obligation to help those less fortunate.
Try it in two minutes
- Ask: what kind of person is Bepin — give three adjectives supported by evidence.
- Ask: was Chunilal's revenge fair? Why or why not?
- Discuss: could Bepin have avoided the whole ordeal? How?
Try at home. Ask your child to write Chunilal's letter in full, keeping his voice and motive clear.
Vocabulary in Context
Part of: Language Study
The story is rich in precise vocabulary: 'idle chat' (pointless talk), 'meek' (quiet and submissive), 'intimate' (very personal), 'bracing' (refreshing and stimulating), 'sleuthing' (investigating), 'conscientious' (careful and responsible), 'tranquilliser' (medicine that calms nerves), 'retribution' (punishment in return for wrongdoing). Learning these words from their story context helps them stick in memory.
Why it matters. A rich vocabulary improves both reading comprehension and the ability to express ideas precisely in writing.
Try it in two minutes
- Cover the glossary and ask your child to guess 'meek' from the context of Ghose's appearance.
- Ask: what is the difference between 'revenge' and 'retribution'?
- Use 'conscientious' and 'idle' in a pair of contrasting sentences.
Try at home. Ask your child to write one sentence each for 'meek', 'bracing', 'conscientious' and 'sleuthing'.
What your child will practise
- Character and Theme: Desert Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Character and Theme: Ocean Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Character and Theme: Time Travel Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Plot and the Twist Ending: Explorer'S Map Quest (Match It Up)
- Vocabulary in Context: Candy Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Quiz: Character and Theme (8 questions)
- Quiz: Plot and the Twist Ending (8 questions)
- Quiz: Vocabulary in Context (8 questions)