THE GENTLEMEN OF THE JUNGLE

Comprehension: II
1. Why was the commission of enquiry appointed by the king of the jungle?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya
uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose European power. He uses satirical
tone. Once an Elephant, who made a friendship with the man requested to permit to put
its trunk into man’s hut, to gain protection from the torrential storm. But as it put his
trunk, it also put its head and finally flung the man out. This caused dispute between the
man and elephant.

They began to quarrel with each other, hearing the noise the animals in the nearby
forest came to see what was happening. In this turmoil, the lion came roaring and asked
how they dare would disturb the peace of the kingdom. The elephant informed him
about the dispute. The lion who wanted to maintain tranquility in his kingdom ordered to
his ministers to appoint a “commission of enquiry” to look into the matter and report
accordingly.

2. Why do you think animals decide not to have anyone from the man’s side on
the commission of enquiry?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya
uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose European power. As per the lion’s
order, elephant appointed a “commission of enquiry”, to look into the matter of dispute
between the elephant and the man, regarding the possession of the hut. But the
commission consists of Mr. Rhinoceros, Mr. Buffalo and Mr. Alligator as its members.

Rt. hon. Fox as its chairman and Mr. Leopard as secretary. But there were no members
from the man’s side. Animals assured man to provide impartial law after the
investigation. They thought that it was impossible to include a man because no one
from man’s side was well educated to understand the intricacy of the jungle law. The
animals also believed that they were the members chosen by God; look after the
interest of the race, less adequately endowed with the teeth and claws. So they decided
not to have any members from the man’s side on the commission of enquiry.

3. How did the elephant justify its act of occupying the hut?
Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya
uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose European power. During the
proceeding of the Enquiry, Elephant justify its action by saying that infact the man
himself had invited it to protect his hut from being blown away from hurricane, as the
hurricane had gained access owing to the unoccupied space in the hut. It was
necessary to turn the undeveloped place to more economic use by sitting in it. The
elephant felt that it was its sacred duty, which any other animal would have carried out,
if they were in a similar situation. In this way elephant justified its action.

4. Do you think the verdict by the commission of enquiry was on the expected
lines? Why?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya
uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose European power. During the trial Mr.
Hyena and other elders of the jungle took elephant’s side and the man was not given
even a chance to state his case. So as expected, the verdict came in favor of the
elephant.

5. What fate awaited the man each time he built a new house?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya
uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose European power. The commission of
enquiry declared its verdict, it ordered the man to vacate his hut and look for another
site, to construct a new hut for him. The man feared that his refusal might expose him to
the teeth and claws of the members of commission. So he obeyed as they suggested.
But no sooner had he built another hut than Mr. Rhinoceros charged in with horn and
ordered the man to quit. A royal commission was again appointed to look into the matter
and same finding was given. This procedure was repeated until Mr Buffalo, Mr Leopard,
Mr. Hyena and the rest were all accommodated with new huts.

Comprehension: III
The Gentlemen Of the Jungle Summary
1. Every fable ends with a moral. What moral do you find in this story?

Ans: Author Jomo Kenyatta was an African Political leader, first President of Kenya
uses this fable ‘Gentlemen of the jungle’ to expose European power. The gentlemen of
the jungle is a fable with a moral. An elephant makes a friendship with man – On this
pretext it requests him to permit it to put its trunk inside his hut to secure protection from
the torrential rain. The man feels pity when he saw the miserable condition of the
elephant.

Even though his hut was small he allowed the elephant to put its trunk but as soon as
the elephant has put its trunk, it also pushes its head and finally flung the man out. The
Man relies on the legal procedure. But the commission of enquiry deliberately gives the
verdict in favor of the elephant. It instructs the man to build another hut, but as soon as
he built a new hut, the Rhinoceros occupied it. The same procedure repeats until all the
members of enquiry commission were accommodated with new huts.

The man finally decides that he should adopt some effective methods of protection so,
he purposefully construct a new hut bigger than the earlier ones. As expected, the
animals claimed their positions and the quarrel reaches its peak over their rights of
penetration. When they were embroiled, the man sets fire to the hut. The fable
concludes with the saying that ‘Peace is costly but is worth the expense which means
one must adopt effective measures in order to root out monsters rule. The animal fails
to understand true ability of man. They misjudge his tender inclination as his weakness.
But ultimately their over smartness cause them dearly

2. Do you think the story can be read as a political satire on colonialism?

Ans: The author Jomo Kenyatta uses this fable ‘Gentle men of the jungle’ to expose
European power. He uses satirical tone. Satire is used in many works of literature to
show foolishness or wise in humans or even in organization or government it used
sarcasm for example Jonathan swift’s Gulliver’s Travel 1726 especially Book IV the
satire on entire human race.

In the late nineteenth century the chief European powers divided Africa among
themselves. They would do this because European arms were superior and because
the African chiefs did not understand the meaning of the treaties they were asked to
sign. As a result Africans lost the land they had tradionally lived and cultivated. Their
attitude towards European “Expansion” is made clear in this fable which reflects the
attitude of the kikuyu people of Kenya towards European laws and commissions.

The author Jomo Kenyatta’s expression contempt and dissatisfaction is not direct, it has
been expressed indirectly through an extended metaphor known as Allegory. In this
fable initially elephant pleaded for permission to put its trunk but when it was permitted it
creeped in completely and flung the man out. Such was the request of Europeans when
they first came as missionaries and later as traders. The Europeans imposed their
system of brat of laws on African Natives they even appointed a governor to rule
Africans without consulting them. This filled the air of total dissatisfaction and frustration
among the people of Africa. They felt betrayed as we see in the man’s case who fights
with the elephant for the lost hut.