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SHRIKANWARTARA PUBLIC HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, MANDLESHWAR, Name of the chapter: Browning Version, Class:11th, , Sub: English, , Word-Meaning, o excerpt – a short extract from a piece of writing, o gather – understand, o remove – promotion, o form – class, o criterion – standard, o slackers – weak students, o muck – rubbish, o Aeschylus – a Greek dramatist, o Agamemnon – drama written by Aeschylus, o kept in – detained, o got carried away – got excited and lost control, o cut – go away without pepolitenes, sadist – person who gets pleasure from inflicting pain or suffering on others, o all shrivelled up – having no feelings, o shrivel him up – reduce his feelings, o general run – normal group, o cape – a shawl or stole, o infinitely – very much, o relieved – pleased, feeling relief, o frantically – in a hurried way, o it made up – the medicine prepared, Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow:, Passage 1, Taplow: (with dislike) Aeschylus.
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Frank: Look, what time did Mr. Crocker-Harris tell you to be here?, Taplow: Six-thirty, sir., Frank: Well, he’s ten minutes late. Why don’t you cut? You could still play golf before lock-up., Taplow: (really shocked) Oh, no, I couldn’t cut. Cut the Crock—Mr. Crocker-Harris? I shouldn’t think it’s, ever been done in the whole time he’s been here. God knows, what would happen if I did. He’d probably, follow me home, or something, Frank: I must admit I envy him the effect he seems to have on you boys in the form. You all seem scared, to death of him. What does he do—beat you all, or something?, Taplow: Good Lord, no. He’s not a sadist, like one or two of the others. (Pages 52-53), Questions:, (i) What is ‘Aeschylus’ referred to here?, (ii) Who is Crocker-Harris?, (iii) What suggestion does Frank give to Taplow to while away the time?, (iv) Did Taplow agree? Why I why not?, (v) Give the synonyms of the following, (a) sadist, (b) envy, Passage 2, Frank: And I don’t know any boy who doesn’t use that for his own purposes., Taplow: Well, it’s natural sir. But not with the Crock, Frank: Mr. Crocker-Harris., Taplow: Mr. Crocker-Harris. The funny thing is that in spite of everything. I do rather like him. I can’t, help, it. And sometimes I think he sees it and that seems to shrivel him up even more, Frank: I’m sure you’re exaggerating., Taplow: No, sir. I’m not. In form the other day he made one of his classical jokes. Of course nobody, laughed because nobody understood it, myself included Still, I knew he’d meant it as hinny, so I laughed., Out of ordinary common polite-ness, and feeling a bit sorry for him for having made a poor joke. Now I, can’t remember what the joke was, but suppose I make it. Now you laugh, sir. (Frank laughs) – (Page 54)
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Questions:, (i) What is the Taplow’s general attitude towards Mr. Crocker-Harris?, (ii) How does Mr. Crocker-Harris react to this Taplow’s attitude?, (iii) Why did Taplow laugh though he didn’t understand the joke?, (iv) What was the general reaction of the form at Mr. Crocker-Harris’ poor joke?, (v) Give the meanings of:, (a) shrivel, (b) politeness, , Passage 3, Taplow: (In a gentle, throaty voice) “Taplow you laughed at my little joke, I noticed. I must confess that I, am pleased at the advance your Latin has made since you so readily have understood what the rest of, the form did not. Perhaps, now, you would be good enough to explain it to them, so that they too can, share your pleasure” [The door up right is pushed open and Millie Crocker-Harris enters. She is a thin, woman in the late thirties, rather more smartly dressed than the general run of schoolmasters’ wives., She is wearing a cape and carries a shopping basket. She closes the door and then stands by the screen, watching Taplow and Frank. It is a few seconds before they notice her.] (Page 54), Questions:, (i) Whom does Taplow mimic here? Who is talking to him presently?, (ii) Who is Millie Crocker-Harris? Describe her appearance., (iii) Where does she seem to come from?, (iv) Who does ‘you’ and I stand here for?, (v) Give the meaning of:, (a) advance, (b) form, Question 1: What do you learn about the system of education in old British schools from the play ‘The, Browning Version’?, Question 2: What impression do you form about Mr Crocker-Harris on the basis of reading the play ‘The, Browning Version’?
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Question 3: “This humorous piece is an extract from a play.” What according to you makes this extract, humorous?
