The Little Bully — Class 5 English (CBSE)
From the current Class 5 English Marigold textbook. Read the story about a boy who learns that kindness matters more than strength, then attempt the practice questions.
1. About the story
'The Little Bully' is a story about a boy who bullies other children. He thinks being tough and making others scared makes him powerful. But over time, the other children stop playing with him. He becomes lonely. The story follows his journey from being a bully to understanding that true strength comes from kindness and friendship, not from making others feel small.
2. Summary
The main character is a boy who enjoys bullying other children. He pulls their hair, takes their things, trips them up, and laughs when they are upset. The other children become afraid of him. They stop sitting near him, stop playing with him, and stop including him in their games.
At first, the bully does not mind being alone. But gradually, he realises that having no friends is not fun. He sees the other children laughing and playing together, and he feels left out. He decides to change. He apologises to the children he hurt and starts being kind. The other children forgive him, and he learns that kindness is the real source of happiness.
3. Characters
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| The bully | A boy who bullies others and then learns to change |
| Other children | The classmates who are bullied and then forgive |
4. Theme and values
| Theme | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Bullying | Hurting others is wrong and has consequences. |
| Loneliness | Bullies end up alone because people avoid them. |
| Change | It is possible to change and become better. |
| Forgiveness | People can forgive if you are truly sorry. |
| Kindness | True strength is being kind, not being mean. |
Values to learn
- Never bully or hurt others.
- If you have made mistakes, it is never too late to change.
- Apologise when you have hurt someone.
- Forgive others when they say sorry sincerely.
- Kindness makes you stronger, not weaker.
5. Key vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bully | A person who hurts or frightens others |
| Bullying | Repeatedly hurting or intimidating someone |
| Scared | Frightened or afraid |
| Lonely | Sad because you are alone or have no friends |
| Apologise | To say you are sorry |
| Forgive | To stop being angry at someone who did wrong |
| Kindness | The quality of being caring and nice |
| Respect | Treating others with consideration |
| Hurt | To cause pain or distress |
| Change | To become different |
6. Reading comprehension
Questions to think about while reading
- What does the bully do to other children?
- How do the other children react to the bully?
- Why does the bully end up alone?
- What makes the bully decide to change?
- How do the other children respond when the bully apologises?
Understanding the message
The story shows that bullying is not just wrong — it also hurts the bully in the end. When you are mean to others, people do not want to be around you. The story offers hope: it is never too late to change and make things right.
7. Writing practice
Prompt 1: Write a short paragraph explaining why bullying is harmful.
Prompt 2: Describe what you would do if you saw someone being bullied.
Prompt 3: Imagine you are the bully from the story. Write a letter of apology to the children you hurt.
8. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking the story supports bullying as a way to be popular Fix: The story clearly shows that bullying leads to loneliness, not popularity.
- Mistake: Believing bullies cannot change Fix: The story shows that people can change if they want to. The bully learns from his mistakes.
- Mistake: Not mentioning forgiveness in your answers Fix: Forgiveness is a key part of the story. The other children's willingness to forgive makes the happy ending possible.
9. Self-test
- What does the bully do to the other children?
- How do the other children respond to the bully?
- Why does the bully become lonely?
- What does the bully decide to do at the end of the story?
- What is the main lesson of the story?
10. Answer key
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What does the bully do to the other children? Answer: The bully pulls their hair, takes their things, trips them, and laughs when they are upset.
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How do the other children respond to the bully? Answer: They become afraid of him. They stop playing with him and avoid him.
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Why does the bully become lonely? Answer: Because no one wants to be friends with someone who is mean. The other children exclude him.
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What does the bully decide to do at the end of the story? Answer: He decides to change his behaviour, apologises to the children, and starts being kind.
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What is the main lesson of the story? Answer: Bullying is wrong and leads to loneliness. It is always possible to change and choose kindness. Forgiveness makes new friendships possible.
11. Quick revision
- Main theme: Bullying is harmful, but change is possible.
- The bully's journey: Mean -> Lonely -> Sorry -> Kind.
- Key message: True strength comes from kindness, not from hurting others.
- The story promotes forgiveness and second chances.
- Bullying has consequences for both the victim and the bully.
- If you see bullying, speak up and help.
- If you have made mistakes, apologise and change.
- Always choose kindness over cruelty.
