VISHAL CLASSES | 8TH STD NOTES | SUBJECT :- ENGLISH | UNIT 3 LESSONS | BY VISHAL SIR

The chapter "The Kite Festival" describes the excitement and history of kite
flying, especially during festivals like Makar Sankranti in Gujarat. Originally, kite-
flying was a simple activity, with only paper and wooden kites. Over time, it
evolved to include motorized and fiberglass kites, making kite-flying a popular
activity worldwide.
Kite-flying has deep roots in history and mythology. In India, it is closely
associated with festivals like Makar Sankranti and Basant. On these occasions,
people gather on rooftops and terraces to fly kites and try to ‘cut’ each other’s
kite lines. Makar Sankranti also marks the start of Uttarayan, the sun’s journey
northward, celebrated with joy and traditional foods.
The International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad is a major attraction, organized by
the Gujarat State Tourism Corporation. This event draws international kite-
flyers with unique and colorful kites shaped like eagles, snakes, and more. The
Patang Bazar stays open 24/7 for a week, where people buy kites and special
sharp threads made with glue and ground glass for competition.
The festival continues into the night, with illuminated box-kites called tukals
lighting up the dark sky, creating a spectacular view alongside the stars.
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The chapter "The Last Leaf" is about friendship, hope, and sacrifice. Sue and
Johnsy are struggling artists living together in New York. Johnsy falls seriously ill
with pneumonia and loses her will to live, believing she will die when the last
leaf on a nearby ivy vine falls. She watches the vine every day, waiting for the
final leaf to drop.
Sue, worried about her friend, tells Behrman, an old painter in their building
who has never achieved his dream of painting a masterpiece. He is shocked by
Johnsy’s thoughts and decides to help.
One night, after a storm, Johnsy wakes to see that one last ivy leaf remains on
the vine. The leaf's resilience gives her hope and the will to live, and she begins
to recover. Later, they learn that Behrman painted the leaf on the wall during
the storm, sacrificing his own health. Behrman catches pneumonia and dies, but
his final act becomes his masterpiece—the painted leaf that saved Johnsy.
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VISHAL CLASSES | 8TH STD NOTES | SUBJECT :- ENGLISH | UNIT 3 LESSONS | BY VISHAL SIR

The chapter "The Kite Festival" describes the excitement and history of kite
flying, especially during festivals like Makar Sankranti in Gujarat. Originally, kite-
flying was a simple activity, with only paper and wooden kites. Over time, it
evolved to include motorized and fiberglass kites, making kite-flying a popular
activity worldwide.
Kite-flying has deep roots in history and mythology. In India, it is closely
associated with festivals like Makar Sankranti and Basant. On these occasions,
people gather on rooftops and terraces to fly kites and try to ‘cut’ each other’s
kite lines. Makar Sankranti also marks the start of Uttarayan, the sun’s journey
northward, celebrated with joy and traditional foods.
The International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad is a major attraction, organized by
the Gujarat State Tourism Corporation. This event draws international kite-
flyers with unique and colorful kites shaped like eagles, snakes, and more. The
Patang Bazar stays open 24/7 for a week, where people buy kites and special
sharp threads made with glue and ground glass for competition.
The festival continues into the night, with illuminated box-kites called tukals
lighting up the dark sky, creating a spectacular view alongside the stars.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The chapter "The Last Leaf" is about friendship, hope, and sacrifice. Sue and
Johnsy are struggling artists living together in New York. Johnsy falls seriously ill
with pneumonia and loses her will to live, believing she will die when the last
leaf on a nearby ivy vine falls. She watches the vine every day, waiting for the
final leaf to drop.
Sue, worried about her friend, tells Behrman, an old painter in their building
who has never achieved his dream of painting a masterpiece. He is shocked by
Johnsy’s thoughts and decides to help.
One night, after a storm, Johnsy wakes to see that one last ivy leaf remains on
the vine. The leaf's resilience gives her hope and the will to live, and she begins
to recover. Later, they learn that Behrman painted the leaf on the wall during
the storm, sacrificing his own health. Behrman catches pneumonia and dies, but
his final act becomes his masterpiece—the painted leaf that saved Johnsy.
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