Mijbil the Otter Class 10 Notes: Summary, Q&A & MCQs PDF

1. Chapter Introduction

“Mijbil the Otter” is a wonderful and humorous story written by Gavin Maxwell. It describes his unique experience of keeping an otter as a pet after his pet dog died. The story highlights the strong bond between humans and animals, the funny habits of otters, and the chaotic yet highly entertaining journey of taking an otter from Basra (Iraq) to London.

2. Characters Detail

• Gavin Maxwell (The Narrator): A Scottish author and animal lover who adopts an otter to cope with the grief of losing his pet dog. He is deeply affectionate and caring towards his new pet.
• Mijbil (Mij): An intelligent, playful, and mischievous otter. He loves playing with water, marbles, and rubber balls. He belongs to a previously unknown race of otters, later named Maxwell’s otter.
• The Air Hostess: A very kind, helpful, and understanding woman on the flight to London. The author calls her the “very queen of her kind” because she helped him handle Mijbil during the chaotic flight.

3. Full Summary

The Decision to Keep an Otter

After the death of his pet dog, Jonnie, the author was very sad. Early in 1956, he traveled to Southern Iraq. He decided that instead of a dog, he would keep an otter as a pet because his home in Camusfearna (Scotland) was surrounded by water, making it an ideal place for an otter. He shared this idea with his friend, who suggested he could get an otter from the Tigris marshes in Iraq, where they were as common as mosquitoes.

Arrival of Mijbil

The author went to the Consulate-General in Basra to collect his mail. A few days later, two Arabs brought a sack to his room. Inside the sack was a beautiful but very dirty otter covered in mud. It took the author almost a month to clean him completely. He named the otter Mijbil (shortly called ‘Mij’). For the first 24 hours, Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly; he was simply aloof and indifferent. But soon, he started taking an interest in his surroundings.

Mijbil’s Love for Water

On the second night, Mijbil came to the author’s bed. The next day, when taken to the bathroom, he went wild with joy in the water, plunging and rolling in the bathtub. Otters inherently love water, and Mijbil was no exception. Two days later, Mijbil escaped from the bedroom to the bathroom and surprisingly managed to turn on the tap with his paws to get a full flow of water.

The Dreadful Flight to London

British Airways did not allow animals, so the author had to book a flight to Paris on another airline, and from there to London. The airline required Mijbil to be packed in an 18-inch square box. The author put Mij in the box an hour before the flight and went for a quick meal. When he returned, he was horrified. There was total silence, and blood was dripping from the air holes. Mij had torn the inner lining of the box and injured himself. With just 10 minutes left for the flight, the author rushed to the airport in a taxi.

Chaos on the Airplane

On the plane, the author explained the situation to an air hostess, who was extremely kind and advised him to keep the pet on his knee. But when the box was opened, Mijbil darted out and disappeared down the aisle. Passengers screamed in panic, and a woman stood up on her seat shouting “A rat! A rat!”. Finally, the air hostess helped find Mijbil, who came back and settled comfortably on the author’s knee.

Life in London and Funny Guesses

In London, Mijbil developed many games. He loved playing with ping-pong balls and marbles. He would balance marbles on his flat belly. While walking on the streets of London, the author took him on a lead like a dog. Londoners, who had rarely seen an otter, made wild guesses about his species. They guessed he was a baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a beaver, a bear cub, and even a leopard. The funniest question came from a laborer who asked, “Here, Mister, what is that ‘ere?”

4. Multiple Choice Questions (10 MCQs)

5. Short Answer Questions (35 Words)

6. Long Answer Questions (60-70 Words)