Chapter 8 of Class 10 English textbook, First Flight, has Gavin Maxwell’s writing – Mijbil the Otter, a narrative about his amazing friendship with his pet otter, Mijbil. Here is a synopsis of the text in the form of CBSE English Notes for Class 10. Students enrolled in CBSE Class 10 may get a prose summary of Mijbil the Otter here. Additionally, they may use the CBSE Class 10 English Prose Notes – Mijbil the Otter to study for their Board examinations.
CBSE Class 10 English notes will assist students in studying the topic thoroughly and clearly.
These CBSE Class 10 English notes were written by subject experts who made the study material very basic, both in terms of language and format.
OPTING FOR AN OTTER AS A PET
In 1956, Maxwell travelled to southern Iraq. For him, a pet otter was the best option.
Because he lived in Camusfeama, which had plenty of water, he was able to conduct the experiment.
MAXWELL AND ONE OF HIS FRIENDS VISIT BASRA
Maxwell’s friend had heard about Maxwell’s plan to keep an otter as a pet. His friend told him he could get an otter from the Tigris Marshes because they were common there and the Arabs kept them as pets.
Maxwell and a friend were going to the Consulate-General (the Consul General’s office) in Basra to pick up and respond to their European mail. They were going there to pick up and respond to their European mail. Their mutual friend Maxwell’s mail had arrived, but not Maxwell’s mail.
MAXWELL’S MAIL IS RECEIVED
Maxwell sent a message to England after his mail did not arrive. There was no response for three days. His phone was broken. He attempted to call someone but was unable to do so due to technical difficulties. His mail finally arrived after five days.
His front door was open, and two Arabs sat on the floor, one holding an otter in a bag (bag). They handed him the bag and told him it belonged to him.
THE OTTER MAKES AN APPEARANCE
When the bag was opened, it appeared that a dragon had emerged, but this was not the case. Sharp, muddy scales and scaly skin covered his entire body. It took about a month for Maxwell to get rid of the mud, but it was well worth the effort.
Mijbil was his name, and it was a big hit. Until Maxwell told the storey, no one knew what kind of animal Mijbil was. He was dubbed “Maxwell’s Otter” by animal researchers.
ACTIVITIES OF MIJBIL
For the first twenty-four hours, she was neither unfriendly nor friendly. He took a nap on the ground. Mijbil didn’t come on to the bed until the second night, sleeping between the narrator and his knees.
He began to notice what was going on around him. According to reports, he would spend the majority of his time in the water. The author discovered the following about otter: they enjoy playing in the water.
Mijbil broke into Maxwell’s room two days later. He went to the restroom. In less than a minute, he entered the bathtub and turned on the faucet with his paws.
MIJBIL BECOMES FRIENDLY
He quickly became very friendly. He chased after Maxwell when he called out his name. Mijbil would also play with a rubber ball, similar to a soccer player, but he would use it for other purposes. Playing with marbles that he could roll on his belly and not drop was his favourite toy.
RETURNING MIJBIL TO HIS HOME
Maxwell decided to return to the UK after a few days in Basra. Maxwell didn’t want to take Mijbil to England and then to Camusfeama because he was afraid.
That’s why he knew he wouldn’t be able to bring his pets to London with him on the plane. He took a different flight from London to Paris.
They made Mijbil an 18-inch square box so he could stay on his feet.
THE BOX AND MIJBIL
Maxwell put Mijbil in a box and went out to eat his meal an hour before he had to leave for the airport. When he returned, it appeared that blood was pouring out of the box.
When he returned, this is what he saw. When Maxwell opened the box, it was covered in blood. There were only 10 minutes left on the flight. The airport was about a five-mile drive away. He put Mijbil in the box and took a taxi to the airport as soon as he was finished.
MIJBIL IN THE FLIGHT
When Maxwell arrived at the airport, the officials were furious. They drove him to the airport for his flight. Maxwell had already reserved the front seat when he went to do so. Newspapers were strewn about his chair on the floor. He handed the airhostess a package of fish for the otter, which she took. She advised him to keep his pet on his knees at all times. That’s what she said to him.
MIJBIL GOES OUT OF THE BOX
She quickly emerged from the confines of the box. He vanished from the plane. Fearful woman: “Rat! Rat! Rat!” Maxwell attempted to capture the otter in this manner. However, he failed miserably. A female air hostess told him to take a seat and promised to find the otter for him. Maxwell had to get up after the otter approached him and climbed on his knees. With his nose, he began to rub his face and neck.
MIJBIL IN LONDON
Maxwell and Mijbil spent a month in London, where they attended school. Mijbil used to play with his toys when he was younger, such as ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruits, and a shell that Maxwell had purchased from the Marshes. They’d throw a ball at the suitcase’s broken side and try to catch it before it fell off.
MIJBIL PLAYS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE
Maxwell used to go for a run or a walk with Mijbil. Mijbil learned a lot about himself on these walks through London.
He would go outside and walk around to play and run. The narrator’s apartment was close to a primary school. Maxwell and Mijbil passed by the primary school on their way home. When they came to the school, Mijbil would jump on the wall in front of it and gallop (walk in a certain way) on it. This kept everyone in the school from paying attention to what was going on.
PEOPLE COULD NOT RECOGNISE MIJBIL
A lot of people had never seen an otter in London before. Mustellines are a rare species of animal. This group includes otters.
They made up stories about what Mijbil looked like when they saw it. They assumed it was a small animal, such as walruses, hippopotamuses, bear cubs, leopards, and so on, because they didn’t know what it was.