How the Dog Found Himself a New Master — Study Notes

1. Introduction

"How the Dog Found Himself a New Master" is a traditional folk tale included in the NCERT Honeysuckle textbook for Class 6. It tells the story of a dog who was unhappy because he had no master to serve and protect him. He felt that his life was dull and without purpose. To improve his situation, the dog decided to find a powerful master who could give him shelter and companionship.

The dog first approached the wolf, but when the wolf showed fear of the bear, the dog moved on to the bear. The bear in turn was afraid of the lion, so the dog went to the lion, whom everyone considered the king of beasts. To the dog's surprise, the mighty lion too was afraid of a human being. Realising that the man was the most powerful creature in the world, the dog finally chose the man as his master and has lived with humans ever since.

The tale is a simple but wise story about power, courage and companionship. It explains, in a playful way, why dogs and humans became such close friends. The story also carries a deeper message: true strength is not measured by noise or size but by courage and intelligence, and every creature, however strong, has someone or something it fears.

2. About the Story

This lesson is an old folk tale rather than the work of a single known author. Folk tales are stories that were told by word of mouth for generations before they were written down. This particular tale has been retold in many cultures with small variations, and the NCERT version presents a charming explanation of how the dog, the first animal to be tamed by humans, came to live with his new master, the man.

3. Summary of the Story

Once there lived a dog who was very unhappy. He had no master of his own and wandered about alone, feeling that his life had no meaning. He thought that if he had a strong master who was stronger than anyone in the world, his problems would be solved and he would live safely.

The dog decided to go in search of such a master. He walked and walked until he met a big wolf. The dog thought that the wolf, being fierce and powerful, would make an excellent master, so he asked the wolf to accept him as a servant. The wolf agreed, and the dog began to follow him faithfully.

One day, while they were walking, the dog saw the wolf suddenly turn aside and hide behind a thick bush. When the dog asked why, the wolf whispered in fear that a bear was coming their way. The dog realised that the wolf was not the strongest creature, because it feared the bear. So the dog left the wolf and asked the bear to be his master.

The bear accepted the dog. They travelled together until one day the bear saw a lion coming and quietly slunk away. The bear, too, was frightened of the lion. The dog understood that the bear was not the most powerful master either. So the dog approached the lion and requested him to be his master.

The lion, who was called the king of the forest, agreed. The dog was happy and thought that now he had found the strongest master in the world. But one day the lion too grew afraid. As a man walked past, the lion told the dog that the man was the strongest creature on earth, and even the lion would have to run away from him.

This convinced the dog that the man was the most powerful being. He parted from the lion and went to the man, asking to be his servant. The man accepted the dog, and from that day the dog has lived with humans as their faithful companion. That is why dogs are known as the most loyal friends of human beings.

4. Characters in the Story

1. The Dog: The protagonist, an unhappy animal without a master, who finally chooses the man as his master.
2. The Wolf: The first master the dog tries; it proves fearful of the bear.
3. The Bear: The second master; it runs away from the lion.
4. The Lion: The king of the beasts; even he fears a human being.
5. The Man: The final and most powerful master, whom the dog serves forever.

5. Theme and Moral

The theme of the story is the search for true strength and security. Each animal the dog meets is weaker than the one before him in the chain of power, until the man proves to be the strongest of all. The story teaches that might is not always what it seems, and that even the proudest creatures have fears. The moral is that intelligence and reason make humans the strongest of all creatures, and loyalty is a great virtue. The tale also celebrates the friendship between dogs and humans.

6. Literary Devices

1. Repetition: The pattern of the dog moving from wolf to bear to lion to man is repeated, which makes the tale easy to remember and pleasing to read.
2. Personification: The dog, wolf, bear and lion all talk and think like humans.
3. Folktale Opening: The story begins in the classic "Once there lived..." style typical of folk tales.
4. Climax: The point where even the lion confesses his fear of man forms the turning point of the tale.
5. Simple Contrast: Each animal's strength is contrasted with its hidden fear, building towards the final discovery.

Quick Revision Tables

Table 1: Masters in Order

Table 2: Lessons from the Tale

Mind Map

Important Diagrams (SVG)

Diagram 1: The Search for a Master

Diagram 2: Chain of Fear

Common Mistakes

1. Many students think the dog chose the wolf in the end; in fact he chose the man, who proved to be the strongest.
2. Some believe the story ends with the lion as master; actually the dog leaves even the lion after learning of his fear of man.
3. Learners often forget the correct order: wolf, bear, lion, man. Reversing this order is a common error.
4. It is wrong to say the tale gives a moral about wealth; the moral is about true strength, courage and loyalty.
5. Some students treat this as a real historical event; it is a folk tale told to explain the bond between dogs and humans.
6. Students may confuse the bear's fear; the bear feared the lion, not the wolf.

Exam Tips

1. Learn the sequence of masters in the correct order and mention what each one feared.
2. Quote the key line: the lion tells the dog that man is the strongest creature on earth.
3. Remember that the story is a folk tale and is told to explain why dogs live with humans.
4. Mention personification as the main device, since the animals speak and think like humans.
5. Practise the moral: intelligence and reason make man the most powerful creature.
6. Revise the vocabulary: master, servant, faithful, companion, wander.

Conclusion

"How the Dog Found Himself a New Master" is a wise and charming folk tale that explains an everyday truth through a simple animal story. The dog's journey from the wolf to the bear, then to the lion and finally to the man shows that strength is never absolute and that every creature has its own fears. The tale ends with the dog happily serving the man, and it celebrates the friendship between dogs and human beings. Its moral, that true power comes from intelligence and loyalty rather than mere size, remains relevant even today.