His First Flight Summary

His First Flight Summary

“His First Flight” is a short story by Liam O’Flaherty that follows the journey of a young seagull as he overcomes his fear of flying. The seagull, the youngest of his family, is left alone on the cliff ledge after his parents, brothers, and sister have all flown away. Despite their encouragement and even threats to let him starve, he is unable to muster the courage to take the leap off the ledge.

The Struggle and the Leap

A day passes, and the young seagull grows hungrier. His mother flies near him with a piece of fish in her beak, but she does not come close enough for him to reach it. Maddened by hunger, he dives for the fish, and in doing so, he falls off the ledge.

At first, the seagull is seized by terror as he falls, but soon he feels his wings spread out and the wind rushing against his body. He realizes he is no longer falling but flying. His family flies around him, screaming with joy and encouragement.

Exhilaration and Discovery

The seagull flies out over the vast green sea, feeling a sense of exhilaration and freedom. When he attempts to land on what he believes is a green floor, he discovers it is actually water. His feet sink, and exhausted from his first flight, he is unable to rise again. However, he soon realizes he is floating on the surface, and his family surrounds him, offering scraps of fish.

A Metaphor for Overcoming Fear

This story is a metaphor for overcoming fear and taking that initial leap of faith. The young seagull’s hunger, a basic instinct, compels him to take the plunge, literally and figuratively. Through this challenging experience, he discovers his true potential and abilities. He learns that he is capable of flying and joins his family in their airborne life. The story encourages readers to face their fears and take risks, as these experiences can lead to growth, self-discovery, and ultimately, freedom.

Vocabulary and Word Meanings

• Ledge – a narrow horizontal shelf projecting from a wall or cliff.
• Upbraiding – scolding or criticizing severely.
• Skim – to move lightly just above a surface (in this context, the sea).
• Herring – a soft-finned sea fish.
• Preening – cleaning and maintaining one’s feathers with the beak.
• Whet – to sharpen (in this context, the seagull’s beak).
• Derisively – in a manner showing someone that they are stupid or foolish.
• Plaintively – in a way that shows sorrow or sadness.
• Monstrous – shockingly frightening or terrifying.
• Seized – to take hold of something suddenly or forcibly.
• Soaring – flying or gliding high in the air.
• Dizzy – having a sensation of spinning around and losing one’s balance.
• Curveting – leaping or jumping in a graceful manner, like a horse.
• Banking – flying with one wing higher than the other to make a turn.
• Exhausted – extremely tired.
• Expanse – a wide, open area.
• Muster up – to gather or summon up (courage, in this context).
• Plunge – to jump or dive quickly and energetically.
• Desperate – feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with.
• Devour – to eat (food or prey) hungrily or quickly.
• Cackle – a sharp, broken noise made by some birds, such as geese or chickens.
• Plateau – an area of relatively level high ground.
• Dozing – sleeping lightly or intermittently.
• Thrust – to push suddenly or violently in a specified direction.
• Tore – past tense of “tear,” meaning to pull apart or into pieces with force.
• Scrapped – past tense of “scrape,” meaning to drag or pull a hard or sharp implement across (a surface or object) so as to remove dirt or other matter.
• Beak – the hard, pointed, projecting mouth part of a bird.
• Maddened – to be made very angry.
• Uttered – to make (a sound) with one’s voice.
• Motionless – not moving.
• Swooped – to move rapidly downward through the air.
• Shrieking – uttering a high-pitched piercing cry or sound.
• Shrilly – in a high-pitched and piercing tone.
• Commended – to praise formally or officially.
• Ridges – long, narrow elevations on a surface.
• Cawed – past tense of “caw,” meaning (of a crow or similar bird) to utter its characteristic loud, harsh cry.
• Beckoning – to make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come closer or follow.
• Scraps – small pieces or fragments of something, especially food.
• Dog-fish – a small shark.