Class 10 English Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story Notes 2026-27 | Nextoper
These Class 10 English Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story notes cover Ruskin Bond’s whole story. You get the summary, character sketches, themes, word meanings, MCQs and model answers. Everything follows the NCERT text in Footprints Without Feet.
A fifteen-year-old thief meets a kind young writer. He robs him, then walks back in the rain to return the money. The story asks one big question: what makes a person change?
This Class 10 English Chapter 2 guide works in two ways. Short on time? Jump to Quick Revision.
Want depth? Read from the top.
Revising tonight? Go straight to Quick Revision or test yourself with the MCQs.
Table of Contents
- Chapter Overview
- Summary of The Thief’s Story
- One-Night Timeline
- Character Analysis: Hari Singh and Anil
- Themes and Style
- Tricky Lines Explained
- Word Meanings (Glossary)
- NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers
- MCQs with Answers
- Quick Revision
- Six Mistakes Students Make
- Board-Pattern Practice Questions
- Featured Answer: What Is the Story About?
- FAQs
Which Student Are You?
Different readers need different parts of this page. Pick your path.
- Exam tomorrow: Quick Revision, then MCQs, then Practice Questions.
- Building understanding: Summary, Characters, then Themes.
- Teacher or parent: Overview, NCERT Q&A and Sources.
Class 10 English Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story: Chapter Overview
This table gives you the facts an examiner expects you to know. Learn it once and every answer gets easier.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Book and chapter | Footprints Without Feet, Chapter 2 |
| Author | Ruskin Bond |
| Type | Short story in first-person narration |
| Narrator | A teenage thief who calls himself Hari Singh |
| Other main character | Anil, a young writer of about 25 |
| Setting | A north Indian town with a station, bazaar and maidan |
| Season | Early November |
| Time span | About a month, then one long night |
| Central idea | Trust can reform a person |
The story sits in the literature part of your paper. In English Language and Literature, that is Section C (Language through Literature, 40 marks).
In the Communicative course, the literature section carries 26 marks. Check which course your school follows.
The textbook opens the story with a question: does the boy betray Anil’s trust? Keep that question in mind as you read.
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Summary of The Thief’s Story
The story has five clear moves. Learn them in order and the plot stays easy to recall.
1. The meeting at the wrestling match
Hari Singh is fifteen and already an experienced thief. He spots Anil at a wrestling match. Anil is about twenty-five, tall, lean and easy-going.
Hari has had little luck lately. He sees a simple, kind man who may be easy to fool. He starts with flattery and says Anil looks like a wrestler.
Anil says the same about Hari. Hari was thin then, so the reply puts him off for a moment. He then gives a false name, Hari Singh.
He takes a new name every month. That keeps him ahead of the police and old employers.
2. The job and the lessons
Hari follows Anil and asks for work. Anil cannot pay him. He offers food if Hari can cook.
Hari lies and says he can. Anil takes him to a room above the Jumna Sweet Shop. Hari sleeps on the balcony.
The first meal is terrible, and Anil gives it to a stray dog. Hari simply hangs around and smiles. Anil cannot help laughing.
Anil then teaches him to cook. He also teaches him to write his name. He promises sentences and sums soon.
Hari makes the morning tea and buys the day’s supplies. He keeps about a rupee a day as profit. Anil seems to know and does not mind.
3. Anil’s money and Hari’s temptation
Anil earns in fits and starts. He writes for magazines. He borrows one week and lends the next.
One evening he comes home with a bundle of notes. He says he has sold a book to a publisher. At night, Hari sees him tuck the money under the mattress.
Hari has worked there for almost a month. Anil has given him a key to the door. Hari could have robbed him many times.
Anil’s trust makes the theft harder. Hari explains why. A greedy man can afford to lose money.
A careless man may not even notice. That takes the pleasure out of the work.
Hari then talks himself into it. He tells himself he is out of practice.
He says Anil will only waste the money on friends. And Anil does not pay him anyway.
4. The theft and the night of doubt
Hari creeps to the bed in the moonlight. Anil sleeps peacefully, his face clear and unlined. Hari draws out the notes without a sound.
Anil sighs and turns towards him. Hari is startled and crawls out.
On the road he runs, then slows down to count. There are six hundred rupees, all in fifties.
He rushes to the station for the 10.30 Express to Lucknow. The train is moving, but slowly.
He could jump on. He hesitates, for a reason he cannot explain, and the train leaves.
Alone on the platform, Hari has nowhere to go. He has no friends, and he fears the hotels. The only person he knows well is the man he robbed.
He walks through the bazaar and thinks of Anil’s face. He is sure it will show a touch of sadness. The sadness will be for the loss of trust, not the money.
5. The return
Hari sits on a bench in the maidan. Later he shelters under the clock tower, soaked by the rain.
At midnight he feels the notes. They are damp.
He thinks about what he has lost. He can no longer learn to write whole sentences.
Stealing is easy, he sees, but becoming a respected man is harder. He decides to go back, “if only to learn to read and write.”
He returns nervous, because putting money back unseen is harder than stealing it. He slips the notes under the mattress. He feels Anil’s breath on his hand.
Next morning Anil has already made the tea. He holds out a fifty-rupee note.
Hari fears he is caught. Anil only says he made some money and Hari will now be paid regularly.
Hari then sees that the note is still wet from the rain. Anil adds that they will start writing sentences today.
Hari understands that Anil knew. He smiles, and this time the smile comes by itself.
Five R’s to remember the plot
Rob the money. Run to the station. Rain on the maidan. Return the notes. Reform begins with a real smile.
One-Night Timeline
The theft and return happen within a few hours. This table keeps the order straight and shows the clues the author plants.
| Time clue in the text | What happens | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Evening | Anil brings home a bundle of notes | Anil trusts Hari with his secret |
| Night | Hari sees the money under the mattress | Temptation begins |
| Moonlight | Hari lifts the notes silently | He is still a skilled thief |
| “10.30 Express” | Hari reaches the station as the train moves | His plan to escape fails |
| Early November rain | Hari wanders the bazaar and maidan | He is alone and uncomfortable |
| Midnight, clock tower | He feels the damp notes and decides | The turning point |
| Late night | He slips the money back | Return is harder than theft |
| Next morning | Anil gives him a wet fifty-rupee note | Anil knew, and forgave |
Character Analysis: Hari Singh and Anil
The story has two main characters. One is a thief who learns. The other is a poor writer who teaches without lecturing.
Hari Singh, the narrator
Hari is clever, watchful and used to lying. He narrates the story, so we see everything through his eyes. That is why we also see his change from inside.
| Trait | Evidence from the story |
|---|---|
| Experienced | A “fairly successful hand” at only fifteen |
| Dishonest by habit | Lies about his name and about cooking |
| Observant | Studies men’s faces after they lose their goods |
| Ambitious | Wants to be “a clever and respected man” |
| Conscience at work | Hesitates at the station for no clear reason |
| Capable of change | Returns the money and smiles for real |
Hari does not become good in one night. He still thinks about money and status.
But he now sees that respect needs something stealing cannot give. That small shift is where his reform begins.
Anil, the kind employer
Anil is poor, young and trusting. He lives from one cheque to the next. Yet he shares what he has.
| Trait | Evidence from the story |
|---|---|
| Trusting | Gives Hari a key to the door |
| Generous | Offers food and a place to sleep despite having little |
| Patient and humorous | Laughs at the terrible meal and offers to teach cooking |
| Careless with money | Borrows one week and lends the next |
| Perceptive | Knows about the theft and the return |
| Gently firm | Says nothing, but starts writing lessons that day |
Why does it matter that Anil is a struggling writer? He knows what it is to wait for money and to feel unsure. This may explain why he treats a poor boy with understanding, not anger.
Hari’s two views of education
Hari’s attitude to learning shifts during the night. This table is a ready answer to the textbook’s “Think about it” question.
| Before the theft | After the theft | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Writing like an educated man will leave “no limit” to what he can achieve | Whole sentences can bring more than a few hundred rupees | He sees learning as worth more than loot |
| Education is a handy tool | Education leads to being “really big” and respected | He wants respect, not only gain |
| Thief’s mindset: steal and run | Learner’s mindset: go back and study | He chooses the harder, better path |
Themes and Style
The story is short, yet it holds several strong ideas. Each theme below comes with proof from the text.
Trust can change people
Anil never checks on Hari. He gives him a key and leaves money in the room. This trust makes the robbery harder, because Hari cannot treat Anil like an ordinary target.
A second chance works better than punishment
Anil does not call the police or scold Hari. He pays him, keeps the lessons going and shows no sign of anger. Hari is changed by this calm, not by fear.
Education means respect
Hari wants to read and write. It can make him “a clever and respected man”.
Notice that respect, not only money, is his goal. Education here is a way up and out of crime.
Conscience and self-respect
Hari cannot explain why he hesitates at the station. That small pause is the first sign of conscience. By morning, his conscience has grown into action.
Style and literary devices
- First-person narration: We hear Hari’s thoughts, even his excuses. This makes his change believable.
- Irony: A thief learns honesty from the man he robs. He also expects anger and gets kindness.
- Contrast: Hari’s face has scars. Anil’s face is “clear and unlined.”
- Understatement: The author never says Anil forgives. The wet note and the silence say it.
- Symbolism: Rain and the damp notes stand for Hari’s struggle and Anil’s quiet knowledge.
Why the title fits
The story is told by the thief and is about his inner journey. The title points to his point of view. It is his story of how a thief begins to change.
Tricky Lines Explained
Some lines cause trouble in exams. Here is how a teacher would explain them.
“It’s easy to rob a greedy man… difficult to rob a careless man”
Hari means that greedy people guard their money and can afford a loss. A careless person may not even notice.
For a thief, that removes the challenge. The real reason runs deeper: Anil’s trust has started to weigh on Hari.
“He knew. But neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything.”
This is the story’s key moment. Anil’s silence is a choice.
He protects Hari’s dignity and gives him room to change. A loud accusation would have ended the lessons.
The smile that “came by itself”
Watch the phrase “my most appealing smile.” It appears three times. The first two times, Hari uses it as a tool.
Once it helps him ask for a job. Once it stops Anil sending him away.
At the end, the smile comes “by itself, without any effort.” It is now real. That is quiet proof of change.
Did Anil know? The evidence trail
Many students write only “the note was wet.” Strong answers give more.
- The fifty-rupee note is still wet from the night’s rain. It had travelled in Hari’s pyjama string.
- Hari had stolen notes of fifty, and Anil hands him a fifty. This may be a quiet echo, but it is a reading, not a proven fact.
- Anil says “Today we’ll start writing sentences.” He carries on as if nothing has happened.
- The narrator states plainly: “He knew.”
Word Meanings (Glossary)
Knowing these words helps you with extract-based questions. The first five are listed in the NCERT glossary. The rest appear in the text and often confuse students.
| Word | Meaning | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Flattery | Insincere praise | Hari praises Anil’s wrestler look |
| Modestly | Without boasting; humbly | Hari says he wrestles “a bit” |
| Grunting | Making low throat sounds | The wrestlers at the match |
| Appealing | Attractive, pleasing | Hari’s smile |
| Unlined | (Here) showing no worry | Anil’s sleeping face |
| Lean | Thin and fit | Anil’s build |
| Fits and starts | In irregular bursts | Anil’s way of earning |
| Queer | Strange, odd | Hari on writing for magazines |
| Bazaar | Market | Hari wanders through it |
| Maidan | Open public ground | Where Hari sits in the rain |
| Drizzle | Light, fine rain | The first sign of the storm |
| Hesitated | Paused from doubt | At the train |
| Undetected | Not noticed | Returning the money |
NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers
These answers follow the textbook and are written in simple language. Page numbers refer to the NCERT book.
Read and Find Out (Page 8)
1. Who does “I” refer to in this story? “I” refers to the narrator, a fifteen-year-old thief. He calls himself Hari Singh, but that is not his real name.
2. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at? He is a fairly successful hand at stealing. At fifteen he is already experienced and skilled.
3. What does he get from Anil in return for his work? He gets food and a place to sleep on the balcony. Anil also teaches him to cook and to write his name. He promises to teach whole sentences and sums later.
Read and Find Out (Page 10)
4. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft? He thinks Anil’s face will show only a touch of sadness. The sadness will be for the loss of trust, not for the money.
5. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed? He says the greedy man shows fear. The rich man shows anger. The poor man shows acceptance.
6. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed? Yes, he does. The fifty-rupee note is still wet from the rain. The narrator also says plainly, “He knew.”
Think About It (Page 13)
1. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time? What makes him return to Anil? At first Hari sees education as a skill that will remove all limits for him. Later he thinks of it as the road to becoming a respected man. He realises that theft is easy but also risky. Real respect needs learning. He goes back to Anil to learn to read and write. Anil’s trust also weighs on him, and he has already hesitated at the station.
2. Why does Anil not hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers? Anil sees that Hari has returned the money. He believes the boy can change and values trust over punishment. Most employers would probably call the police at once. Anil is different because he answers wrongdoing with patience. He also keeps teaching Hari, which gives the boy a real way out.
Talk About It (Page 13)
1. Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction? No. There are kind people who give others second chances, such as teachers and mentors. There are also children pushed into petty crime by hunger. Such stories are rare, but they are real.
2. Is it significant that Anil is a struggling writer? Yes. Anil’s irregular income explains why he lives day to day. It also helps us see why he understands a poor boy. He knows uncertainty himself.
3. Have you met anyone like Hari Singh? What circumstances can turn a fifteen-year-old into a thief? Hunger, poverty and the absence of family support can push a child toward theft. Lack of schooling and bad company can add to it. Such children often need care, not only punishment.
4. Where is the story set? Which languages are spoken there? The story is set in a north Indian town. The Lucknow Express, the Jumna Sweet Shop and the bazaar point to this region. The characters probably spoke Hindi or a local language. The English text is the author’s narration.
MCQs with Answers
Test yourself. Answer first, then read the explanation.
Q1. How old is the narrator when he meets Anil? (a) 12 (b) 15 (c) 18 (d) 25 Answer: (b) 15. The opening line says he is only fifteen.
Q2. Where does Hari first approach Anil? (a) At a railway station (b) At a sweet shop (c) At a wrestling match (d) At a fair Answer: (c). Anil is watching a wrestling match.
Q3. What happens to the first meal Hari cooks? (a) Anil eats it happily (b) Anil gives it to a stray dog (c) Anil sells it (d) Hari throws it away Answer: (b). The meal is terrible.
Q4. Where does Anil live? (a) In a hostel (b) Above the Jumna Sweet Shop (c) Near the clock tower (d) In a village hut Answer: (b). Hari sleeps on the balcony.
Q5. About how much does Hari make as profit from shopping each day? (a) Half a rupee (b) A rupee (c) Five rupees (d) Fifty rupees Answer: (b). This is Hari’s own small cheat on the supplies.
Q6. How much money does Hari steal? (a) 100 rupees (b) 300 rupees (c) 600 rupees (d) 1,000 rupees Answer: (c). All the notes are in fifties.
Q7. Which train does Hari plan to catch? (a) The Delhi Mail (b) The Lucknow Express (c) The Howrah Express (d) A local train Answer: (b). It is the 10.30 Express to Lucknow.
Q8. Which clue shows that Anil knew about the theft? (a) A police note (b) A missing key (c) The wet fifty-rupee note (d) A letter Answer: (c). The note was still wet from the rain.
Q9. Assertion (A): Hari returns to Anil’s room. Reason (R): He wants to learn to read and write. (a) A and R are true, and R explains A (b) A and R are true, but R does not explain A (c) A is true, R is false (d) A is false, R is true Answer: (a). The text says he goes back “if only to learn to read and write.”
Q10. According to Hari, how does a poor man react to being robbed? (a) With fear (b) With anger (c) With acceptance (d) With laughter Answer: (c). Greedy shows fear; rich shows anger.
Quick Revision
This is your two-minute scan. Read it the night before the exam.
Key Takeaways
- One-line plot: A thief robs a kind writer, returns the money and is forgiven.
- Hari Singh: Clever, lying, observant, hungry for respect, and ready to change.
- Anil: Poor, trusting, generous, patient and perceptive.
- Main theme: Trust and a second chance can reform a person.
- Supporting themes: Value of education, conscience, kindness over punishment.
- Best proof Anil knew: The wet note, and the line “He knew.”
- Smile tracker: Two tool-smiles, then one real smile.
Key Facts and Numbers
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hari’s age | 15 |
| Anil’s age | About 25 |
| Time Hari works for Anil | Almost a month |
| Money stolen | 600 rupees, in fifties |
| Train | 10.30 Express to Lucknow |
| Daily profit from shopping | About a rupee |
| Note Anil gives next morning | 50 rupees, still wet |
| Season | Early November |
Remember the plot in five words
Rob. Run. Rain. Return. Reform.
Six Mistakes Students Make
These slips cost marks every year. Many come from online notes that copy each other.
- Mixing up the names. The thief is Hari Singh (an alias). The kind man is Anil.
- Saying Anil “tips” Hari a rupee. The rupee is Hari’s own profit from the shopping money.
- Writing that Hari expected anger. He expected sadness at the loss of trust.
- Claiming Anil never knew. The wet note and the line “He knew” prove otherwise.
- Inventing famous-sounding quotes. Use only lines from the NCERT text. Examiners check.
- Giving only guilt as the reason for returning. The textbook hint points to education and respect. Add guilt as a second reason.
Board-Pattern Practice Questions with Model Answers
These are practice questions in the style of CBSE literature papers. Use them to train your answer structure.
Answer template. Start with a direct answer. Add one proof from the text. End with a link to the theme. For 3 marks, write 40–50 words. For 5 marks, write 100–120 words.
Short answer (2–3 marks)
Q1. Why did Hari Singh take a new name every month? He did it to stay ahead of the police and his former employers. A fresh name made him hard to trace. It shows he was an experienced, careful thief.
Q2. How did Anil react when Hari’s first meal turned out terrible? Anil gave the food to a stray dog and told Hari to go. Hari stayed and smiled, and Anil could not help laughing. He then offered to teach him to cook. This shows his patience and humour.
Q3. What had Hari learned about people who lose their goods? He had studied men’s faces after thefts. The greedy showed fear, the rich showed anger, and the poor showed acceptance. He guessed Anil would show only sadness, for the loss of trust.
Long answer (5 marks)
Q4. “Anil’s trust is stronger than any lock.” Explain with reference to the story. Anil gives Hari a key to his room and never checks on him. This trust makes the theft harder for Hari. He says robbing a greedy man is easy. Robbing a careless one is hard. Even after the theft, Anil does not punish him. Instead, he gives Hari a note and promises regular pay. Hari is moved by this faith. He returns the money and chooses to learn. The story shows that trust can change a person where locks and fear cannot.
Q5. Describe the change in Hari Singh’s thoughts during the night of the theft. After stealing the money, Hari feels clever and plans to flee to Lucknow. At the station he hesitates and misses the train. Alone in the rain, he thinks about Anil’s face and the lost lessons. He sees that stealing is easy but earning respect is hard. At the clock tower he decides to go back, to learn to read and write. He returns the notes in fear and silence. By morning, his smile is real. His journey is from loot to self-respect.
Q6. Why does Anil not hand Hari over to the police? Would most people have done so? Anil sees that Hari has returned the money. He believes in giving a second chance. His own struggles may also make him understanding. He answers the theft with silence and keeps the lessons going. Most people would have called the police or beaten the boy. Anil is different because he values reform over revenge. His kindness gives Hari a real chance to change.
Extract-based (3–4 marks)
Read the lines where Hari compares robbing a greedy man with robbing a careless one.
- (a) Why is it hard to rob a careless man? He may not even notice the loss, which removes the thrill for a thief.
- (b) Who is the “careless” man here? Anil.
- (c) What does this show about Hari at this point? He treats stealing as a job and values the challenge. Yet he also hints that Anil’s trust is troubling him.
- (d) Is Hari’s tone here proud or regretful? Proud and professional. He speaks like a worker explaining his trade.
Featured Answer: What Is The Thief’s Story About?
The Thief’s Story by Ruskin Bond follows a fifteen-year-old thief called Hari Singh. He steals from his kind employer, Anil, but returns the money, and is quietly forgiven. The story shows that trust and education can reform a person.
FAQs
What is the summary of The Thief’s Story Class 10?
A fifteen-year-old thief calls himself Hari Singh. He befriends a young writer, Anil, and works for him. One night he steals six hundred rupees. A wish to learn and the weight of Anil’s trust pull him back. He returns the money. Anil never mentions it and quietly starts teaching him sentences.
Why did Hari Singh return the money to Anil?
Hari realises that stealing is easy but earning respect is hard. He wants to learn to read and write, and only Anil can teach him. Anil’s trust also weighs on him, and he had already hesitated at the station. The money matters less than the chance to become an educated, respected man.
Did Anil know that Hari Singh had stolen his money?
Yes, Anil knew. The fifty-rupee note he hands Hari next morning is still wet from the rain. It came from the money Hari carried through the storm. The text also says plainly that Anil knew. His lips and eyes showed nothing. He chose silence over punishment.
What is the message of The Thief’s Story?
Trust and kindness can change a person more than punishment can. Anil never threatens Hari, yet his faith makes Hari want to do better. The story also shows that education brings lasting respect. Stealing brings only quick, risky gains. A second chance can start a new life.
Who wrote The Thief’s Story and which book is it in?
Ruskin Bond wrote The Thief’s Story. It is Chapter 2 of Footprints Without Feet. That book is the supplementary reader for CBSE Class 10 English. It has nine chapters, and this story is the second. The thief himself narrates it.
Want more practice? Move on to the previous chapter notes or browse the full Footprints Without Feet index.
To Sum Up
These Class 10 English Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story notes cover plot, people and themes. They also build your exam skills. Learn the five-step plot, the evidence for Anil’s knowledge and the smile tracker.
Those three points lift an average answer into a strong one.
Most of all, remember the story’s heart. Anil trusts Hari when he has no reason to. That trust is what changes him.
Sources
- NCERT, Footprints Without Feet, Class 10 English, Chapter 2 “The Thief’s Story” (2026-27 reprint).
- Syllabus structure: CBSE Class 10 English syllabus 2026-27. Always confirm the latest details on <a href=”https://ncert.nic.in/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>NCERT</a> and the CBSE Academic site.
More Class 10 English Notes
About the Author
Written by the Nextoper Editorial Team. We prepare free CBSE study notes for Classes 9–12. Each page is checked line by line against the NCERT text before publishing.
