Class 10 English Prose 5 The Hundred Dresses - I

The Hundred Dresses is a heartwarming short story written by Eleanor Estes. It revolves around a young girl named Wanda Petronski, who is teased by her classmates for claiming to own a hundred dresses, even though she always wears the same faded blue one to school. The story explores themes of bullying, kindness, and the consequences of our actions. 

Through the experiences of Wanda and her classmates, the story highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and standing up for others, teaching readers a valuable lesson about how words and actions can deeply affect others. The Hundred Dresses class 10 notes are curated by experienced SMEs in an easy-to-understand language.

CBSE Class 10 The Hundred Dresses  Notes

The Hundred Dresses class 10 notes will provide a summary and topic-wise details to help students understand what the story is about. Below, we have provided the links to downloadable PDFs of chapter-wise Notes for class 10 English and that too for different categories of marks.

The Hundred Dresses Class 10 Notes - Free PDF

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Chapter 5 The Hundred Dresses Class 10: Summary

In Chapter 5 of The Hundred Dresses for Class 10, titled Why? the story takes an emotional turn as the main characters reflect on their actions. This chapter focuses on the feeling of guilt and the realization of the consequences of bullying.

At the start of the chapter, Wanda Petronski, who had been teased for claiming she owned a hundred dresses, doesn't come to school anymore. Peggy and Maddie, the two girls who had teased Wanda the most, begin to feel guilty about their behaviour. Maddie, in particular, is troubled because she never spoke up to stop the teasing, even though she felt bad about it. She wishes she had done something to prevent Wanda from being hurt.

The turning point in the chapter is when the girls learn about Wanda's drawings of the hundred dresses, which are beautiful and detailed. This makes them realize that Wanda was telling the truth all along. But by the time they understand this, it’s too late—Wanda has already left the school, and the students never get to apologize to her.

In this chapter, the title Why? reflects the central question the characters ask themselves as they think about their actions. Why did they tease Wanda? Why didn’t they stand up for her? Why did they hurt her feelings? The chapter shows how bullying can affect people and how important it is to be kind and understanding.

Ultimately, this chapter teaches the lesson that it’s never too late to change and that kindness should always come first. It also emphasizes that we should be mindful of how our actions affect others, especially those who might be different from us.

Chapter 5 The Hundred Dresses  Class 10: Character Sketch

In Chapter 5 of The Hundred Dresses for Class 10, several characters play key roles in the unfolding events.

1. Wanda Petronski: Wanda Petronski is a Polish-American girl who comes from a poor family. She is quiet, humble, and kind-hearted, although she is often teased by her classmates because of her foreign background and the fact that she wears the same faded blue dress every day. Despite the teasing, Wanda shows resilience and never retaliates. She claims to have a hundred dresses at home, which nobody believes.  In Chapter 5, it is revealed that Wanda was telling the truth through her beautiful drawings of the hundred dresses. Even though she is misunderstood and bullied, Wanda’s talent and courage shine through. She leaves the school, and her departure makes the other students realize the impact of their actions. Wanda is a symbol of innocence and honesty, and her character teaches the lesson of never judging someone based on their appearance or background.

2. Peggy: Peggy is one of the popular girls in the class and initially joins in teasing Wanda. She enjoys making fun of Wanda’s claim of having a hundred dresses. Peggy comes from a wealthier background and tends to look down on people who are different.  Although she is often the ringleader of the teasing, she starts feeling guilty when she learns about Wanda’s drawings. She realizes that her behaviour was hurtful, and this causes her to reflect on her actions. Peggy's character develops in this chapter as she starts to understand the importance of kindness and how words can hurt others.

3. Maddie: Maddie is Peggy’s best friend and feels uncomfortable with the teasing. Although she never joins in making fun of Wanda, she doesn’t stand up for her either. Maddie is sensitive and feels guilty about her silence. She realizes that, by not intervening, she is just as responsible for the bullying as Peggy.  After learning about Wanda’s beautiful drawings and her departure from the school, Maddie feels deep regret for not having done more to stop the bullying. In this chapter, Maddie’s character undergoes significant growth as she vows to never let anyone be bullied again. Maddie represents conscience, and her transformation highlights the importance of standing up for others when they are being treated unfairly.

4. Miss Mason (The Teacher) Miss Mason is the kind and understanding teacher who organizes the drawing competition. She appreciates Wanda’s artwork and is the one who announces the winners. She also tries to create a fair environment, but she doesn’t fully recognize the bullying that Wanda faces.  In the end, Miss Mason's role emphasizes the importance of nurturing students' talents and treating everyone with respect, but she also represents the adults who, while caring, may sometimes miss the emotional struggles of their students.

5. The Classmates: The classmates who tease Wanda represent a group of children who, like Peggy and Maddie, follow the crowd and do not always think critically about the impact of their behaviour. As the story progresses, they realize their mistake and feel guilty for being part of the teasing. The classmates' eventual regret emphasizes the collective nature of bullying and the importance of fostering empathy and understanding among peers.

In this chapter, the characters transform. Wanda's quiet strength and creativity make the other characters realize the hurt they caused. Peggy and Maddie’s feelings of guilt reflect the realization that their actions were wrong, while Miss Mason’s role shows how important it is for teachers to create an environment where every student feels safe and valued.

How Can Ch-wise Notes Help Students?

Chapter-wise material like the one for The Hundred Dresses can be extremely helpful for students in several ways:

a) Better Understanding of Themes and Concepts: Each chapter highlights important themes such as bullying, kindness, empathy, and personal growth. By breaking down the chapter, students can grasp the key ideas more clearly. This understanding helps them connect the themes to real-life situations, making the learning more relevant.

b) Improved Reading Comprehension: When students go through chapter-wise material, they learn to break down the text into smaller sections, which improves their reading comprehension skills. It allows them to better understand the plot, characters, and key events without feeling overwhelmed by the entire text.

c) In-Depth Character Analysis: Chapter-wise summaries and character sketches offer insights into the development of each character. This helps students analyze the motivations, emotions, and transformations of characters like Wanda, Peggy, Maddie, and others. Analyzing characters in this way makes it easier to answer questions about their roles in the story and understand how they contribute to the overall message.

d) Exam Preparation: In many academic systems, literature questions in exams often focus on character analysis, themes, and events from specific chapters. Chapter-wise material makes it easier for students to focus on specific parts of the text that are likely to be covered in the exam. It also helps them organize their thoughts and provide well-structured answers.

e) Clear Structure and Organization: Chapter-wise material offers a clear structure, which helps students stay organized and focused. It allows them to tackle the story step-by-step and understand how each chapter builds upon the previous one. This approach enhances overall learning and makes it easier to retain information.

f) Encourages Reflection and Discussion: When students read chapter-wise material, they are encouraged to reflect on the events and the choices made by the characters. It can spark discussions in the classroom, where students can share their opinions, ask questions, and learn from each other. This active participation boosts critical thinking skills.

g) Building Moral Values: The Hundred Dresses teaches important moral lessons about kindness, empathy, and the impact of our actions on others. By going through chapter-wise material, students can reflect on these lessons and apply them in their daily lives. It can help them understand the consequences of bullying and inspire them to act with more compassion toward others.

h) Simplifies Complex Ideas: Some literary works, including The Hundred Dresses, contain complex ideas and emotions. Chapter-wise material simplifies these concepts and makes them more accessible to students, allowing them to engage with the story on a deeper level without feeling confused or lost.

i) Helps with Group Study: Students who are preparing together for exams or assignments can use chapter-wise material as a base for discussion. It helps them organize their study sessions effectively and make sure that everyone is on the same page with the content.

Chapter-wise material is a powerful tool that helps students engage with the text in a more organized and meaningful way. It encourages deeper understanding, reflection, and active participation, all of which are key to mastering the lessons of the story and performing well in exams. At Educart we have provided these questions and other support materials, so teachers can help the students practice these types of questions thoroughly. These PDFs can be downloaded just with a click and user authentication.