This content has been written by the experts keeping in mind the exam score. Go through The Browning Version Class 11 Extra Questions and add highest value to your studies.
Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 11th as Per CBSE Syllabus
Chapter-6 English Language and Literature
The Browning Version Class 11 Extra Questions
By- Terence Rattigan
Introduction of the lesson- The Browning Version
This short one-act play highlights the attitude of a teenaged student towards his teacher. His comments are shocking because they are very close to reality. He imitates the voice of his teacher, Mr Crocker-Harris. He calls the man almost inhuman. He is mortally afraid of his teacher. His promotion depends on the whim or goodwill of his teacher. But he opens up when the other young science teacher encourages him to do so. He hates the Greek play because he doesn’t like the teacher’s method of teaching. Mr Crocker-Harris seems to hate people, who make an effort to like him. But according to this student, he is still not a sadist like one or two other teachers. He speaks about the poor Latin joke narrated by the teacher. The boy laughed out of common politeness, without understanding the joke. But the teacher asks him to explain the joke to the class. Even Mrs Crocker-Harris is not quite happy with his nature. She creates an excuse to send Taplow away.
The description of the teachers is damaging. It reflects upon the hopeless quality of some of the teachers.
Important Word-Meanings of difficult words from the lesson- The Browning Version
Pages 50-51
Version–a statement, कथन; remove–promotion, अगली कक्षा में उत्तीर्ण करना; slackers–shirkers, कामचोर; muck–dirt, rubbish; kept in-made to overstay by the teacher; got carried away–too much excited to keep oneself in check; cut–run away, avoid; sadist–a person who takes pleasure out of giving pain to somebody; shrivelled-up–shrunken, अन्दर से भिंचे हुए ; excerpt–extract, उद्धरण ; extra–additional, अतिरिक्त; specialise–gain speciality, विशिष्टता प्राप्त करना ;criterion–yardstick, पैमाना ; protestingly–disagreeing,प्रतिवाद करते हुए; The Agamemnon-a play by a Greek writer, यूनानी नाटक ; indicating–pointing to; strung–threaded, joined, पिरोये हुए ; kept in–made to overstay for some reason,बाद में ठहरने को बोला गया l
Pages52-53
For good–for ever, permanently, सदा के लिए ; masters–teachers, शिक्षक; outright–straightaway, सीधे –सीध े; imitating–copying, नक़ल उतारते हुए; human–kind-hearted, दयावान; gone too far-said too much, अतिशयोक्ति कर द ी; got carried away-too excited to stay within limit उत्तेजना में आ गया ; evidently–clearly, स्पष्ट रूप से ; severe–strict, harsh, कठोर ; cut–get away, चले जाओ ; lock–up–closure of the school, स्कूल की बंदी का समय ; probable–perhaps, शायद ; envy–feel jealous, डाह करना ; form–class, कक्षा ; scared–afraid, भयभीत; sadist–one who gets pleasure out of giving pain to others,दूसरों से कष्ट देकर मज़ा लेने वाला ; pause–short silence or gap in speech, ठहराव; frightening–one who creates fear, डराने वाले ; shrivelled up–shrunken, सिकुड़ा हुआ l
Pages 54-55
Shrivel–contract, सिकुड़ जाना ; exaggerating–overstating the facts, बढ़ा –चढ़ा कर कहना ; classical-(here) wonderful, very old, शास्त्रीय ; politeness–gentle feeling, विनम्रता; confess–admit, स्वीकारना; advance–Improvement, प्रगति; general run–common wives of teachers; cape–cloak, sleeveless loose fitting garment, लबादा ; screen–curtain, पर्दा; infinitely–greatly, अत्यधिक; relieved–relaxed, राहत युक्त ; frantically–nervously, घबराहट के साथ ; goes–I lose,मैं खो दूँगा ; particularly–especially, विशेष रूप से ; prescription–a physician’s slip of medicine, दवाई की पर्ची I
Short and Simple Summary of the lesson in English- The Browning Version/ Summary in simple Words/ Critical appreciation of the lesson – The Browning Version
This one-act play has only four characters.
Frank: a young teacher of science
Mr Crocker-harris: an elderly, middle-aged teacher
Taplow: a student, 16 years old
Mrs Harris: The wife of Mr Crocker-Harris, in her late thirties
The scene is set in a school. It is the last day of school. Taplow, a 16-year-old boy has come to do extra work for Mr Crocker-Harris. He is still in the lower fifth. He is waiting for his promotion to the next higher form. All depends on the whim of his teacher. Mr Crocker-Harris, who has not yet arrived.
As a rule, the class final results should be announced only by the headmaster on the last day of the term or session. But Taplow complains that the rule is followed strictly only by Mr Crocker-harris. So, he will have to wait until the next day to know his fate. He is greatly afraid of his teacher. He had missed a day the previous week owing to Illness, so now he is there to do the extra work.
The weather is fine. It is ideal for playing golf. But Taplow does not dare to cut his teacher. He did ask him the previous day if he had declared him fit for promotion. He imitates Mr Crocker-Harris’s voice and repeats what he said. He only said that he had given him exactly what he deserved, no less, and certainly no more. Taplow can’t help saying that Mr Crocker-Harris is hardly human. Suddenly, Taplow realises that he has been rude towards his teacher. He suddenly feels sorry for his audacity. He admits that he got carried away.
Taplow is a boy with strong likes and dislikes. He is outspoken too. He plans to take up science. He considers this subject more exciting than the Greek play the Agamemnon. He calls the play hopeless because of a lot of Greek words used in it and also because it wasn’t taught in an interesting manner. He admits candidly that he is bitter. Frank, the science teacher has a grouse that mostly dullards opt for his subject. He encourages Taplow to speak out his mind frankly and fearlessly. Mr Crocker-Harris had promised to reach school by six-thirty. He is ten minutes late already. Frank asks the boy to get away and play golf. But Taplow does not dare to do so. He cannot displease his master although Mr Crocker-Harris never beats any boy. Frank envies him for the effect Mr Crocker-Harris produces on the boys of his class. He wonders why the boys are scared to death of Mr Crocker-Harris.
Taplow has some positive things also to say about his master. Mr Crocker-Harris, he says is not a sadist, not a person who gets pleasure out of giving pain to others. Taplow says that he is better than some other teachers. But he refuses to name them. He tries to please Frank also by excluding him from the list of sadists because he is young and also a science teacher.
But Mr Crocker-Harris is not a pleasant person. Inside, he is all shrivelled up like a nut. He seems to hate people who try to like him. In spite of all the faults, Taplow likes Crocker-Harris. He gives an example. The other day Mr Crocker-Harris related an old, poor joke in the class, inLatin. Nobody understood it and nobody laughed. Only Taplow, out of common politeness, laughed even though he was no better than others. Mr Crocker-Harris said that he was pleased with Taplow’s improvement in the understanding of Latin. He asked the boy to explain the joke to the class so that they, too, might share his pleasure. Poor Taplow was cornered and he could not say anything.
Just as Taplow was relating this incident to Mr Frank, Mrs Millie Crocker-Harris enters the staff room. Millie, a thin woman in her late thirties, is smartly dressed. She carries a shopping basket which she puts on the sideboard. Taplow gets nervous. He fears she must have overheard his comments on her husband. If she complains against him. Crocker-Harris won’t promote him to the next class.
Millie reports that her husband is at the Bursar’s and may come late. She suggests to Taplow to go and enjoy himself at least for fifteen minutes. To dispel Taplow’s fears she tells him to go to the chemist and bring some medicines for her. She promises to take the blame on herself if Crocker-Harris gets angry.
Summary In hindi The Browning Version
इस एकांकी में मात्र चारपात्र हैं IFrank एक युवा विज्ञान का शिक्षक हैI Mr Crocker –Harris एक अधेड़ आयु के शिक्षक हैंI Taplow एक 16 वर्षीय छात्र हैI Mrs Harris चालीस के आस-पास Mr Crocker-Harris की पत्नी हैI
दृश्यांकन किया गया है एक स्कूल मेंI अगले दिन से लम्बा अवकाश हो रहा हैI एक 16 वर्षीय लड़का Taplow अपने शिक्षक के आदेश पर अतिरिक्त काम पूरा करने आया हैIवे अभी पाँचवी श्रेणी में है Iउसको अगली कक्षा में भेजा जाना हैI सब कुछ Crocker-Harris की सनक पर निर्भर करता है, और वह अभी तक स्कूल नहीं पहुँचे हैंI
नियम के अनुसार तो कक्षा के परिणामों की घोषणा स्कूल सत्र के अंतिम दिन मुख्याध्यापक ही करते हैंI पर Taplow को शिकायत है कि इस नियम का कठोरता से पालन केवल Mr Crocker-Harrisही करते हैंI इस कारण Taplow को अगले दिन तक अपने पास/फेल का परिणाम पता चलेगा Iवह अपने शिक्षक से बहुत डरता है, इसलिए तो वह स्कूल के अंतिम दिन काम पूरा करने आ गया हैI
मौसम सुहावना है Iगोल्फ खेलने के लिए सर्वदा उपयुक्त है पर Taplow की जुर्रत नहीं कि अपने शिक्षक का आदेश पूरा न करेंIपिछले दिन ही उसने शिक्षक से अपनी कक्षोन्नति के बारे में पूछा था Iवह Mr Crocker – Harris की आवाज की नकल उतारता हुआ उनके कथन को दोहराता है Iमास्टर बोले मैंने तुम्हें वही ग्रेड दिया है जिसके तुम लायक हो,न तो नीचे किया है,न ऊपर किया हैITaplow मन का गुबार निकाले बिना नहीं रह पाता Iवह कहता है कि Mr Crocker – Harris में मानवीय सह्रदयता कतई नहीं हैIसहसा उसे अपनी धृष्टता का अहसास हो जाता है Iवह स्वीकार काटता है कि वह आवेग में बह गया थाI
Taplow की अपनी कड़ी पसंद और नापसंद है वह बेबाक भी है वह विज्ञान पढ़ना चाहता हैI वह इस विषय को ग्रीक नाटक ‘Agamemnon’ से अधिक रोचक कहता हैI वह इस यूनानी नाटक को कूड़ा कहता है क्योंकि उसमें यूनानी भाषा के शब्दों की भरमार है और चूँकि उसे पढ़ाया भी ठीक ढंग से नहीं जाता Iवह स्पष्ट स्वीकार करता है कि उसके अंदर कड़वाहट भरी हैI
Frank,विज्ञान शिक्षक, को यह शिकायत है कि मंदबुद्धि बालक विज्ञान पढ़ने का मन बना लेते हैं वह Taplow को प्रोत्साहित करता है कि वह अपनी बात निर्भीक होकर कहे I Mr Crocker-Harris ने कहा था कि वे स्कूल 6.30 बजे पहुँच जाएँगे Iपर उन्हें आने में दसमिनट की देर हो चुकी है I Frank Taplow को कहते हैं कि जाकर गोल्फ खेलो I Taplow ऐसा दुस्साहस नहीं कर सकताIवह अपने शिक्षक को नाराज नहीं कर सकता यद्यपि Crocker-Harris किसी की पिटाई नहीं करते I Frank को Crocker-Harris से ईर्ष्या होती है कि किस प्रकार से वह बालकों पर इतना काबू पा लेते हैंIउन्हें हैरानी होती है कि छात्र Mr Crocker –Harris से क्यों इतना भयभीत रहते हैंI
Taplow के पास Crocker-Harris के बारे में कुछ प्रशंसात्मक बातें भी हैं Iवह कहता है कि Crocker-Harris ऐसे व्यक्ति नहीं जो दूसरों को कष्ट देकर अपना मजा लें I इस दृष्टि से वे अन्य कई शिक्षकों से श्रेष्ठ और भिन्न है Iपर वह उन अन्य शिक्षकों के नाम नहीं बताता I वह Frank को भी खुश करने की कोशिश करता है पर Frank को उन परिपीड़कों में शामिल नहीं करता क्योंकि Frank युवाहैं और विज्ञान के शिक्षक हैंI
पर Mr Crocker-Harris कोई खुशी देने वाले व्यक्ति नहीं हैं I अन्दर से वे किसी अखरोट की भाँतिसिकुड़े-सूखे रहतेहैं ऐसा लगता है कि वे लोगों से नफरत करके उन्हें अपना प्रशंसक बनाना चाहते हैंI इन सभी त्रुटियों के बावजूद Taplow Crocker-Harris को पसंद करता हैI वह एक उदाहरण देता है Iएक दिन Crocker-Harris ने कक्षा में अपना एक पुराना घटिया-सा चुटकुला सुनायाIचूँकि वह लैटिन भाषा में था, कोई भी छात्र न तो उसे समझ सका,न ही हँसा I केवल Taplow ही सामान्य विनम्रतावश हँस दिया यद्यपि वह भी समझ नहीं पाया था I Mr Crocker Harris बोले मुझे खुशी है कि तुमने लेटिन भाषा में इतनी प्रवीणता हासिल कर ली है कि तुमने चुटकुला समझ लिया Iअब तुम उस चुटकुले की व्याख्या करके अन्य छात्रों को भी अपनी खुशी में शामिल करो Iबेचारा Taplow संकट में पड़ गया Iपर इस बीच Crocker की पत्नी Millie के आ जाए से उसकी जान बच गईI
Millie जो चालीसवर्ष के लगभग आयु की छरहरीमहिला है, अपने हाथ में एक टोकरी लिए प्रवेश करती हैIवह इसे साइड बोर्ड पर रख देती हैITaplow की जान सूख रही है कि Millie ने उसकी Crocker-Harris के बारे में धारणाएँ सुन ली होंगी और यदि वह शिकायत कर देगी तो Mr Crocker-Harris उसे फेल कर देंगे Iपर Frank ऐसा नहीं सोचतेI
Millie बताती है कि मेरे पति तो खजांची के पास गए हैं और शायद देर से आएँIवह Taplow को कहती है कि जाओ, मौज करो, कम से कम पंद्रहमिनट के लिएITaplow के भय को दूर करने हेतु वह उसे डॉक्टर की दवा की पर्ची थमाती है ताकि वह जाकर दवाइयाँ ले आए Iवह यह भी आश्वासन देती है कि यदि Mr Crocker-Harris नाराज हो जाते हैं तो सारा दोष वह अपने ऊपर ले लेंगीI
Following is the complete question bank for The Browning Version
Short Answer questions The Browning Version
1.Why did Taplow stay back at school on the last day of his form?
Ans. Taplow had come back to school to do extra work. He was ordered by his teacher Mr Crocker-Harris. The boy had missed a day the previous week. So Crocker-Harris had called him to pay for it and make up for the loss.
2. Who are the two teacher-characters in the play? What information do you get about them?
Ans. The two teachers arc Mr Crocker-Harris and Frank. Crocker-Harris teaches the Latin language while Frank teaches science. Crocker-Harris is middle-aged and strict. Frank is a young science teacher. The students are scared of Crocker-Harris. Frank wonders how Crocker-Harris had managed to over-awe the students, though he does not even beat them; Frank is envious of him.
3. Taplow has a grudge against his Latin master, Crocker-Harris. Why?
Ans. Taplow is a young boy in the fifth form. He loves to play golf on a fine day. But he dare not disobey Mr Crocker-Harris who had called him to school a day before the final results were to be declared. Taplow is made to do extra work to make up for his absence one day the previous week. His promotion is to be decided by Crocker-Harris.
Taplow’s grudge is that Crocker-harris is overstrict and even Inhuman. He does not give the boy any assurance about his promotion in spite of calling him to do extra work.
4. How does Taplow make fun of his teacher? Why? Who encourages him to ridicule Mr Crocker-Harris?
Ans. Taplow is a young boy, studying in the fifth form. His final result is to be announced the next day. He asks Mr Crocker-Harris about his chances for promotion. But Crocker-Harris gives him a vague answer. He tells the boy that he would get what he deserves, no less and no more. Moreover, Mr Crocker-harris has called Taplow to do extra work even on the last day of school. This irritates the boy and he makes fun of his teacher in front of Mr Frank. Taplow is encouraged by Frank to mimic Crocker-Harris’s voice and repeat his words. This is how he tries to hit back at the teacher.
5. Taplow says that Crocker-harris is hardly human. What makes him say that?
Ans. Taplow is a little-outspoken boy. He speaks out his mind honestly. His personal equation with Crocker-Harris is not smooth. One day Mr Crocker-Harris told a Latin joke in the class and no one laughed at it because not a single student understood it, including Taplow. Still, Taplow laughed out of politeness; but then his teacher asked him to explain the joke. This makes Taplow feel that he is hardly human.
6. How does Frank read Taplow’s motive behind doing extra work?
Ans. Frank is a science teacher who knows well the nature of his colleague. He does not approve of Crocker-Harris’s step to call a boy to do extra work on the last day of school. He points out that Taplow can now hope to get his promotion through doing extra work.
7. What is meant by ‘remove’ in English schools?
Ans. In English schools, the word ‘remove’ means promotion to the next higher class. Much depended on the rating given by Crocker-Harris to Taplow. So the boy is nervous and afraid about his result.
8. How does Taplow recount the incident of Crocker-Harris’s joke in the class?
Ans. One day Mr Crocker-Harris told a Latin joke in the class. No student laughed at it because no one understood it. Taplow was no exception. Still, he laughed at the poor joke out of common politeness. Crocker-Harris cornered him. He asked Taplow to explain the joke to other boys. That was Crocker-Harris’s way of dealing with the boys. He did not like it even if someone tried to help him.
9. What does Taplow think of Mr Crocker-Harris?
Ans. Taplow, the fifth form boy, is a good judge of persons, especially his teachers. He ridicules Crocker-Harris whom he calls ‘hardly human’. He mocks his master by mimicking his voice and words. He is mortally afraid of Crocker-Harris. He dare not disobey or go Against the wishes of Crocker-Harris. But at the same time, he has a word of praise as well for his teacher. He tells Frank that Crocker-harris never beats a boy although he is shrivelled up like a nut at heart. And he is not a ‘sadist’. Like one or two other teachers who got pleasure out of giving pain. Crocker-Harris’s drawback was that he hated it even when people tried to like him. Taplow finally tells Frank that in spite of all this he did like Crocker-Harris better than other teachers.
10. How does Taplow react on the arrival of Mrs Crocker-Harris?
Ans. Taplow was frightened to see Millie. His fear was that she must have heard what he had been saying about Mr Crocker-Harris. In case, she reports the matter to her husband. Taplow will miss his promotion.
11. How does Taplow finally get back his freedom?
Ans. It is Mrs Millie Crocker-Harris who finally comes to the rescue of Taplow. She reports that Crocker-Harris will not be back early. Hence, Taplow had better go. He can at least run away for 15 minutes and come back later. She assures the boy that no harm will come to him. She gives him a doctor’s prescription and tells him to bring medicines for Mr Crocker-Harris. This being a good excuse, Taplow goes out free from fear.
Long Answer Questions The Browning Version
1. What brings Taplow to the staff room? Who does he meet there?
Ans. Taplow, a fifth-grade student, goes to school on the last day. He is called by Mr Crocker-Harris to do extra work for missing a day the previous week. He is waiting for the Latin teacher in the staff room. Frank, the young science teacher, arrives and starts talking to him. They discuss Crocker-harris. In fact, Frank is envious of Crocker-Harris hold on the young boys. He encourages Taplow to give his honest opinion about his master. And Taplow makes some negative remarks. He levels several charges against Crocker-Harris. He calls him ‘hardly human’, a poor teacher of Latin, and a person who hates people to be liked by them. Taplow finally meets Mrs Crocker-Harris who sends him to the chemist to bring some medicines. This way, Taplow feels relieved and gets his freedom for a while.
2. What impression do you form of Frank and Mrs Crocker-Harris?
Ans. Frank is a young science teacher at the school. We get to know about him from his conversation with the boy Taplow. On the whole, he appears to be a mean and petty person. He envies Crocker-Harris, who keeps his students under control. He provokes Taplow to comment on his teacher and also to imitate his voice. This is unbecoming of a teacher to discuss his colleague with a boy. He suggests to Taplow to slip away because Crocker-Harris is late in coming and the weather is fine. Mrs Millie Crocker-Harris is a kind hearted and easy going person. She is very smart. She rescues Taplow by sending him out on an errand.
3. What is your assessment of Taplow as a student? Write his brief character-sketch as well.
Ans. Taplow, a student of the fifth form, is 16 years old. He is very talkative and outspoken. He gets carried away easily. On being provoked by Frank, he opens his heart out and speaks Critically about his Latin teacher. He is mortally afraid of Crocker-Harris although the master never beats any boy. He dare not ‘cut’ his master because Crocker-Harris might even follow him to his home. He calls Crocker-harris secretive and one who can not be easily pleased. Crocker-Harris refuses to tell the boy about his final result before the stipulated time. Taplow crosses the limit when he says that Crocker-harris is ‘hardly human’. On the whole, Taplow is quite honest and gullible. He ridicules his teacher and mimics his voice. He uses derogatory words for his teacher. He discusses one teacher with another foolishly. His actions show that he is not mature enough.
4. Who is Millie? What is her role in the play?
Ans. Millie is the wife of Mr Crocker-Harris. She is a thin woman in her late thirties. But she dresses smartly and speaks confidently. As she enters the school premises, she stands for a while behind a curtain to overhear the conversation between Taplow and Frank. Even if she has heard them, she gives no hint of it. She is quite unlike her harsh husband. She is kind and gentle. She tells Taplow to go and enjoy himself. But the boy dare not cut Crocker-Harris. So she finds an excuse to free him. She asks him to go to the chemist to bring some medicines for his master. She smilingly agrees to take the blame on herself if Crocker-Harris is angry. Thus, she outshines all the other three characters in the story.
5. What impression do you form about Mr Crocker-Harris?
Ans. Mr Crocker-harris is the language teacher at a school. He teaches Latin and also a Greek play. But he is perhaps a poor teacher. Taplow calls the Greek play rubbish because itis not taught well by Crocker-Harris. He has many negative things to say about his master. Crocker-Harris, he tells Frank, Is shrivelled up inside like a nut; he hates people to like him; he is hardly human; gives a vague answer to the boy about his result. But Taplow has a word of praise also for his teacher. He doesn’t beat the boys. He is not a sadist. He abides by the rules of the school and never declares the result before time. Still, all the boys in the class are scared to death of Crocker-Harris. Taplow finally admits that he likes Crocker-Harris spite of being scared of him.
Value-Based QuestionsThe Browning Version
1. In the lesson, we find that it is in the hands of the teacher to promote his student. It means if a teacher has some grudges against a student, he will never promote him. Then why not introduce automatic promotion. If this is introduced, what will happen? Evaluate the situation when there is no examination or assessment of students.
Ans. Automatic promotion will be a boon for the students but it will turn out to be a bane very soon. If no examinations were to be held, neither students nor teachers would know the outcome of their efforts. Examinations present a goal to the students and they make an effort to reach that goal. They goad the students and the teachers to go systematically to achieve the cherished goal. The teacher and the taught become serious, thoughtful and eager to present their best.
If there is no pressure of examinations, students will not take their studies seriously. At the end of the schooling, they will not be able to write even a simple application correctly. Moreover, after schooling, they have to face so many competitions. They will accept defeat because they are not well prepared. They had taken studies just as an exercise to Kill time. A recent survey has proved that automatic promotion has given us an army of incompetent people. Above all, even serious students suffer. The absence of assessment of students will usher in all-round deterioration.
2. If a teacher is strict and does not allow his pupils freedom, he becomes an object of their criticism. But later on, he is revered and remembered. Discuss.
Ans. It is a fact that a teacher who finds fault with the work of his pupils becomes an object of fear for them. It is but natural for teenagers to dislike their teachers who do not allow them freedom. These teachers do their job sincerely and expect the same from the students. They do not tolerate the casual attitude of their students. It is also a fact that such teachers leave a permanent impact on the impressionable minds of the pupils. When these pupils grow up and enter into the real phase of their life, they silently worship them. They become their idols.
Unsympathetic and harsh teachers are mimicked and laughed at but this is a passing phase and very soon the sun of wisdom dawns and the students soon realise the real worth of the teachers they have criticised. Hard taskmasters are in reality the real well-wishers of their students. Shallow reverence and respect soon dry away and when students mature they understand the difference between right and wrong. So, Students should not form opinions in favour or against their teachers in a hurry.
