Two Stories about Flying — Study Notes

1. Introduction

"Two Stories about Flying" is a combination of two separate stories that are thematically connected through the idea of flying, fear, and self-belief. The first story, "His First Flight", written by Liam O'Flaherty, is about a young seagull who is afraid to fly and finally takes his first flight out of hunger and necessity. The second story, "Black Aeroplane", written by Frederick Forsyth, is about a pilot who flies through a dangerous storm with the help of a mysterious black aeroplane. Together, the two stories celebrate courage, the spirit to overcome fear, and the faith that guides one through difficult times.

In "His First Flight", a young seagull, the youngest of his family, is terrified of flying. He watches his brothers and sisters fly, but he cannot gather the courage to flap his wings. His family taunts him, and his mother tricks him into flying by showing him a piece of fish and then refusing to give it to him. Driven by hunger, the young seagull dives, and in his desperate attempt to avoid falling, he discovers he can fly. The story is a beautiful allegory for overcoming fear and taking the first step.

In "Black Aeroplane", the narrator, a pilot, is flying his old Dakota from Paris to England when he encounters a huge, black storm cloud. His fuel is limited, and he is lost inside the storm. Suddenly, a black aeroplane appears, piloted by an unknown man, which guides him safely out of the storm and to the airport. When the narrator lands, he looks for the black aeroplane and its pilot, but finds nothing — no one at the airport has seen any such plane. The mystery of the black aeroplane remains unresolved, adding a touch of the supernatural to the story.

2. Authors

• Liam O'Flaherty (1896-1984): An Irish novelist and short story writer, known for his vivid and realistic descriptions of nature and the sea. His works, such as "The Informer", are marked by a deep sense of human struggle and the rawness of natural life. "His First Flight" is taken from his short story collection.
• Frederick Forsyth (born 1938): A British author and journalist, famous for his political thrillers such as "The Day of the Jackal", "The Odessa File", and "The Dogs of War". His writing is known for its suspense, precise detail, and gripping narrative. "Black Aeroplane" is an extract from his short story "The Pilot".

3. Summary of the Stories

Part I: His First Flight

The young seagull was alone on his ledge, the only one of his brothers and sisters who had not yet flown. Every day his family taunted him for being a coward, and he would stand on the ledge, watching them soar and dive into the sea to catch fish. He was afraid to fly because he thought his wings would not support him. He was terribly hungry and could see his family eat fish below him. On one particular day, his mother picked up a piece of fish and flew towards him, showing him the food. When she came near his ledge, she halted, hovering in the air, tempting him. Maddened by hunger, the young seagull dived at the fish. Suddenly, he felt his wings spread outwards and realised he was flying. He was no longer afraid; his fear had given way to a wild joy. He flew with his brothers and sisters, and his parents praised him, flying around him.

Part II: Black Aeroplane

The narrator, a pilot, was flying his old Dakota aeroplane at night over Paris, returning to England. He was looking forward to breakfast with his family. It was a moonlit night and everything was going well until he saw a black storm cloud ahead. He had taken off late, so he could not avoid the storm. Inside the clouds, he was caught in heavy rain, thunder and lightning. His compass and other instruments failed, and he was lost. Just then, he saw another aeroplane — a black one — without lights, flying ahead of him. The pilot of the black plane signalled him to follow. The narrator followed the black aeroplane through the storm and soon found himself above the clouds, with the sun shining. When he landed safely at the airport, he asked about the black aeroplane that had guided him. The air controller told him no one else was flying in that area. The narrator never found out who the mysterious pilot was, and the mystery of the black aeroplane remains unexplained.

4. Characters

• The Young Seagull: The protagonist of "His First Flight". He is timid, afraid of flying, hungry, and dependent on his family. His story shows how necessity and fear can push one to discover one's own strength.
• The Young Seagull's Mother: She is clever and patient. She uses hunger to motivate her young one to fly, understanding that he needs a push.
• The Father Seagull: He encourages the young seagull and praises him once he flies, showing his pride.
• The Narrator (Pilot): The protagonist of "Black Aeroplane". He is experienced but takes a risk by flying through the storm; he is grateful to the mysterious pilot.
• The Mysterious Black Aeroplane Pilot: An unnamed figure who appears out of nowhere, guides the narrator to safety, and vanishes. He is the source of the story's mystery and possibly represents divine help or a guardian angel.

5. Themes

• Overcoming Fear: The primary theme of "His First Flight" is that fear is an obstacle that can be conquered through necessity and self-belief. The young seagull realises that the fear was in his mind.
• Self-Confidence and Taking the First Step: The stories emphasise that the hardest part of any achievement is taking the first step; once taken, success follows naturally.
• Help and Faith in Crisis: "Black Aeroplane" shows that when we are in trouble, a guiding hand can appear from unexpected quarters; the narrator's faith in the unknown pilot saves him.
• Bravery and Risk-Taking: The pilot risks flying through the storm, showing that courage and presence of mind are needed in danger.
• Parental Encouragement: The seagull's parents teach him that sometimes the ones who love us push us to be independent.
• The Mysterious/Unseen Power: The black aeroplane may symbolise divine grace or an inner voice that guides people through crises.

6. Literary Devices

• Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the sea, the sky, the storm, and the moonlight create powerful visual images in both stories.
• Symbolism: The young seagull's flight symbolises growing up and conquering fear. The black aeroplane symbolises hope, mystery, and divine guidance.
• Simile: The seagull is described as a "foolish and ignorant" bird; the storm cloud is described as a "black mountain".
• Personification: The moon is described as coming up and lighting the sky; the storm is given human-like qualities.
• Suspense: "Black Aeroplane" builds suspense through the failing instruments, the mysterious signal, and the unanswered question of who the pilot was.
• Foreshadowing: The seagull's hunger and his mother's teasing foreshadow the moment of his first flight.
• Allegory: The seagull's story is an allegory for human fear and self-belief.

7. Quick Revision Tables

Story Comparison Table

Important Events Table

8. Mind Map

9. Important Diagrams (SVG)

10. Common Mistakes

1. Confusing the two authors: "His First Flight" is by Liam O'Flaherty, while "Black Aeroplane" is by Frederick Forsyth. Students often swap them.
2. Saying the seagull flew because of bravery alone: The seagull took his first flight because of intense hunger, which overpowered his fear of falling.
3. Forgetting the mother's trick: The mother deliberately did not give the fish to force the young seagull to fly; it was a planned push, not cruelty.
4. Claiming the black aeroplane's pilot was the narrator's friend: The pilot of the black plane is unknown and never identified; the story deliberately leaves this a mystery.
5. Stating the narrator's compass worked: The narrator's compass and all other instruments failed inside the storm, which is why he was lost.
6. Thinking the seagull's parents were cruel: The parents were encouraging him to be independent; their teasing was their way of teaching.
7. Missing the allegorical meaning: Students focus on literal events and ignore that the seagull's flight represents overcoming fear in human life.

11. Exam Tips

1. Answer questions on 'His First Flight' by tracing the sequence: fear, hunger, dive, discovery, joy.
2. For 'Black Aeroplane', build the narrative around the storm, the failing instruments, the mysterious plane, and the unanswered mystery.
3. When asked about the theme of fear, link both stories — the seagull's fear of flying and the pilot's fear in the storm.
4. Mention that the seagull's story is an allegory for human growth and self-reliance.
5. For the mysterious pilot, present both interpretations: a real but unexplained guide, and a symbol of divine help.
6. Use quotes such as "maddened by hunger" for the seagull and "the moon was coming up in the east" for the setting of the second story.
7. In comparative answers, organise by author, plot, conflict, turning point, and theme.

12. Conclusion

"Two Stories about Flying" presents two faces of the same human truth: fear is a barrier that must be crossed, and help can arrive in the most unexpected ways. The young seagull's first flight teaches us that courage is born when we confront our fears head-on, often pushed by the necessities of life. The pilot's escape from the storm through the mysterious black aeroplane reminds us that we are never truly alone in our darkest hours, and that faith and persistence can see us through. Together, the two stories lift the reader with the powerful message that the sky is not a limit but an invitation, and that the wings we think we lack are already within us.