Note :
1. These answers are provided only for reference purpose. Students are always encouraged to try writing their own answers.
Character
A1.i.Which one among the following.....
Ans. Dale Evans
Lines to support the answer :
1. The names were called : Mr. Weston , Mrs. Dale Evans , Miss Phillips
2. Mr. Weston, Mrs. Dale Evans and Miss Phillips are chosen at random to answer students' questions arising from the senior presentations.
ii. Complete the table highlighting...
1. Denham : Intelligent , confident , bold , courteous, assertive , critical , etc.
2. Miss Phillips : best informed , cool , calm , wise , persuasive, etc.
3. Fernman : Innovative, confident, dramatic , precise , clear , etc.
4. Potter : knowledgeable, smart, clear , precise , etc.
iii. The narrator played a crucial role.....
Ans. When Mr. Braithwaite joins the school as a teacher for the senior class of Greenslade School , he meets with a bunch of disrespectful, ill mannered and mischievous students who harass and bulky him. No just boys but even girls leave no chance to trouble him which makes him really angry. But very soon he realizes that his outburst will not help him in anyway hence he change his teaching techniques and brings in new ideas to excite his students mind. He starts giving them respect and treats them as though they are adults and respectable persons. He requires every girl be referred to as "Miss" and that his students call him "Sir". At first , students fail to understand the kind of respect Mr. Braithwaite gives them but they come around only a few weeks, completely changing both their hygiene and attitudes towards one another. The half yearly report of students council proves to be the best day to understand how much these students have progressed and the narrator is so proud to see his students doing so well.
Two lines which prove that he brought a significant change in his students are :
1. "It was entirely their day,..... controlled by them." It proves how responsible his students had become.
2. I felt terribly pleased...."Miss" in addressing each of...." it proves the narrator's positive influence on his students.
iv. Fernman brought a comic....
Ans. Fernman being a very innovative student came up with an idea to explain how he learned the principle of equality. He signaled two of his classmates Welsh and Alison and they brought on stage a skeleton hanging between them , together with a sort of gallows. Once the arrangement was set up , there was a skeleton hanging from a hook screwed into top of its skull, gently revolving at the end of the cord. This made everybody present there laugh uproariously. Hence Ferman brought some comic relief in the Students' Council programme.
v. Give a brief character-sketch of...
Ans.
A. Denham : He was one of the two senior most students who was also an important official for the half yearly report of students' council. He was polite , courteous , assertive and critical. He spoke on the subject of P.T. and Sports and criticized it severely. When he was to call girls on stage , he very courteously adds "Miss" before their names. He speaks confidently and critically and is argumentative and is looked up to by all boys of his class who cheer for him when he says that P.T. subject is ill conceived and pointless, he is also the one who politely and with a great sporting spirit accepts his defeat when Miss Phillips outwits him.
B. Miss Joseph : She was one of the two senior most students and also an important official for the half yearly report of students' council. She was well informed, intelligent and dedicated towards the work that was assigned to her. She spoke on the subject Domestic Science. After the speech of Mr. Florian - the headmaster of the school , she comes on stage to give a short explanation of the Council's purpose and it's activities. When the turn of her class comes to make presentations she comes and gives a short address telling that their lessons had a particular bias towards the brotherhood of mankind.
C. The Narrator : The Narrator of " To Sir , with Love" Mr. Ricky Braithwaite was an engineer who worked in an oil refinery and also served British Royal Airforce during the war. He was very sensitive person who was a victim of racial discrimination. He feels very upset over the kind of treatment he gets because of his skin color. Nevertheless, to meet both ends , he accepts the job of a teacher at Greenslade School in East End London but his teaching profession starts quite roughly as his students trouble him a lot. They harass and bully him. Initially he gets very upset with his students but slowly understands they need to be dealt with love and respect. Though his class is difficult to manage, he never gives up ,brings up novel innovative techniques to his class and is very patient. Once his students come around and start behaving nicely , he takes them out to theatres and excursions and ultimately succeeds in bringing a positive change in his students attitudes and hygiene purely with his passion and patience. When his students speak on the day of Students' Council meeting , he feels extremely proud to witness their progress.
D. Miss Dare : Miss Dare , one of the students of the senior class spoke on the subject of Physiology. She was great at understanding things quickly and adapting to a particular situation pretty fast. She comes after Fernman to speak on physiology and her contribution turns out to be anti climax after Ferman's performance and she quickly realizes that. She is very straightforward and insightful and highlights the problems which all humanity has to face in terms of sickness and disease and very smartly and convincingly talks about advantages gained by interchange of knowledge, advice and assistance.
E. Miss Phillips : She was one of the teachers at Greenslade School with baby blue eyes and someone who seemed frilly and brainless to eyes but in fact was the coolest and best informed teacher. She was chosen randomly to answer students questions arising from the students council's report and she dealt with every question very politely but with great candour and authority and she would , very firmly and skillfully , intervene to assist one of the others without causing embarrassment. She was completely in control of the situation when question answer session was going on and with her logical and reasoning argument and her delightful personality she convinces Denham and everyone else why P.T. and Games subject was very important for all students.
vi. Compare the following....
Ans.
1. Miss Joseph and Denham :
Both Denham and Miss Joseph belonged to senior class of Greenslade School and were the two important officials for the half yearly programme of the students' council. They both were quite efficient, dedicated and hardworking. Miss joseph is well informed and organized and she spoke on the subject of Domestic Science and is very clear and well prepared. She briefs students about the purpose of students' council's purpose and it's activities. On the other hand Denham speaks on the subject of P.T. and Games and criticizes it severely and is critical , assertive but polite and courteous at the same time. He was also not the one who can be put off easily but when outwitted, he was also the one who accepts his defeat gracefully.
2. Fernman and Miss Dare :
Both Fernman and Miss Dare belonged to senior class of Greenslade School. They both discussed the subject physiology. If Fernman is innovative and has good sense of dramatics then Miss Dare knows how to stand out in the most sensible and reasonable way. Fernman talks about equality and how all humans has same blueprints but different trimmings and proves his point with help of a skeleton.
Miss Dare, on the other hand talks about how humanity has to face sickness , disease, etc. but adds that how with interchange of knowledge, advice and assistance it all can be dealt with successfully.
3. Miss Phillips and Denham :
Miss Phillips is a teacher at Greenslade School who was one of the three teachers who were chosen randomly to answer students questions of the day of half yearly report of students' council's programme. Whereas , Denham is one of the senior most students of the school who was also an important official for the students' council's programme on 15th November. Miss Phillips is a very well informed and polite teacher who speaks with great candour and authority and got really good persuasive skills. She speaks in support of having P.T. Classes and gives convincing arguments and finally succeeds in clearly putting her points across and thereby outwitting Denham. On the other hand Denham who is polite and courteous but also very confident, outspoken and assertive is not someone who can be put of easily until he is convinced. He is against having P.T. and Games subject and says that the subject is ill conceived and pointless. He very reasonably and confidently argues with miss Phillips but in the end when she finally outwits him , he gracefully accepts his defeat.
4. Narrator and the Head of the school :
The narrator Mr. Ricky Braithwaite was an engineer by profession but had to take up a job of a school teacher at Greenslade School to meet both ends. He was the victim of racial discrimination. He becomes very upset when his students harass and bully him but soon realizes that they can be delay with love and respect and hence starts using new methodologies and innovative techniques to win over his students and he succeeds too. He is a typical teacher who loves his students dearly and he sits anxiously when his students’ turn comes to make their presentation on the day of students' council's programme and he feels very proud of their achievements.
Mr. Florian on the other hand is the headmaster of the school who is very actively involved in all affairs of school and has good experience on how to run the school , encourage students and also keeps them rooted and motivated so that they gain more and more of knowledge. He is not remote from his school and his remarks show that he identified himself with the school and everyone in it. He gives praises to students wherever it was indicated but also insists , like a true leader , that there was a lot that students need to learn.
PLOT
A2.i. Arrange the incidents...
Ans.
i.g) Students' Council was held every on November 15th.
ii.f) Denham called out the names of the representatives.
iii.e) Fernman was as usual a trump card.
iv.d) The slips were folded and placed in a hat.
v.c) Denham asserted that P.T. periods were a waste of time.
vi.a) Denham was outwitted by Miss Phillips.
vii.b) The head of school closed the proceedings.
ii) Describe in brief the purpose...
Ans. The half yearly report of students' council programme was an important event in the calendar of Greenslade School. The main purpose of organizing the programme was to analyse the academic progress of the students. The students were given a chance to represent their respective classes and speak on what they have understood rather than what they were expected to learn.It was also to check if there was any marked development in students' ability to express. Another important aspect of the report was the panel discussion where teachers were selected randomly to answer students questions arising from the reports thereby giving students complete freedom to frame and ask questions. In addition to this , the programme also provided the students a platform to showcase their skills and talent and become active participants in the teaching learning process. It also helped them boost their confidence and voice their opinions and raise their concerns.
iii. Write in your words....
Ans. The half yearly report of the students' council which took place of November 15th was an important even in the calendar of Greenslade School and it was entirely arranged and presented by students.The programme begins with Ms. Florian , the headmaster of the school addressing the students. He outlines the aim and policies of of the school. His speech was lengthy but very well received by the students.Following this , Miss Joseph comes and briefs everyone about the purpose and activities of the Students' Council. After this , students , starting from lowest class to the highest come and report to the faculty and other students on what they have studied during the semester which started after Easter. Students , specially of senior class speak very confidently which makes the narrator feel very proud.Once the presentations were over , teachers were chosen randomly to answer students' questions arising from the reports.Teachers were given no briefing and we're often caught stammering.From senior class , Denham and Fernman ask quite adroit and tough questions and this irks Mr. Weston. But Miss Phillips , a seemingly brainless and frilly teacher emerges as someone who has great knowledge and she speaks with candour and authority. She handles all questions quite gracefully and answers convincingly and in the end outwits Denham. Once the session is over , the head comes on stage to close the proceedings.
iv. Describe the question-answer....
Ans. The question-answer session was an important feature of the half yearly report of students' council.Mr. Weston , Mrs. Dale Evans and Miss Phillips were chosen randomly to answer students questions arising from the reports.The questions asked were mostly from top 2 classes for the lower classes were new to frame their own questions and were hesitant to ask questions. The teachers had no briefings hence they were often caught stammering in their indecision.But Miss Phillips , among the three teachers , turns out to be the coolest and best informed tecaher.When Denham persues his inquiry, Mr. Weston responds quite ridiculously, trying to bluster his way out of the subject and provides no coherent argument but Miss Phillips skillfully intervenes and answers with great authority. Denham argues with her that P.T. classes should be arranged for students who are in need of it and that some boys and Denham should be given permission to play some jolly game. To this , Miss Phillips replies smartly and outwits him by saying that P.T. classes are kept not just for their physical training but also mental so that they learn early how sometimes in life they will have to do things which they don't like. This answer gains a lot of applause for Miss Phillips and Denham accepts his defeat gracefully and the session ends.
v. Describe the discussion that took place between Miss Joseph and Denham.
Ans. There is no discussion that took place between Miss Joseph and Denham as far as the given extract is concerned. But a discussion definitely took place between Miss Phillips and Denham. Miss Phillips was one of the three teachers who was randomly chosen to answer students' questions arising from students' reports. Being a trained boxer , Denham asks tough questions and questions the need of having P.T. and Games subject. He says that the subject is ill conceived and pointless and also school has very less space and resources. Hearing this , Miss Phillips responds by saying that though the school has limited resources , the goal was to have a timetable that ensured maximum benefit for maximum students. Denham argues back by adding that the students who need 20 minutes twice a week of P.T. subject can be given that and other boys including him should be allowed to play some other game of their choice. Miss Phillips goes right back at him and says that P.T. and Games classes are not just to pay attention to students physical health but also mental and it was a training for also those students who should learn that in the world outside the school , there will come times when they will have to do the work even if they are not willing to do it. This stops Denham and he gracefully accepts his defeat and Miss Phillips turns out to be the best informed teacher.
SETTING
A3.i. Which event took place....
Ans.
c. Half yearly report of students' council on November 15th.
Line to support the answer : "The half yearly report.......on November 15th....one of the..... Greenslade school." - page 181
ii. The event in the extract.....
Ans.
b. auditorium of the school.
Line to support the answer :
"A bell was rung..... everyone trooped into the auditorium... together in classess." - page 181
iii. The incidents in the extract occurred...
Ans. The incidents in the extract occurred in the auditorium of Greenslade school in presence of the head Mr. Florian.As the major theme of the extract is students-teacher relationship, this setting fits perfectly.The auditorium holds great importance for all students.They come on stage one after another and present their reports quite confidently , raise their concers and ask smart questions, specially the senior class students which makes the narrator Mr. Braithwaite very proud. It shows that the programme was serious and formal with a formal atmosphere and it becomes very clear that the students had made considerable progress. This particular setting makes everyone aware that the students have changed for the best and it also gives them a chance to showcase the talent they possess and the confidence they gained. It helps them step out of their comfort zone and take the centre stage and manage everything on their own. They also learn to be independent individuals.
iv. Explain how the setting of the extract....
Ans. The given extract is set in the auditorium of Greenslade School and the main theme of the extract is Students-teacher relationship.But the main theme of the novel is racism and prejudice along with students- teacher relationship. The extract begins when the bell rings and all students troop in and sit together as a class forgetting all their differences and with a feeling of unity which proves the fact that they rejected racism. Also , the place that is East End in London rejects the narrator for being a black man and the same place also rejects the students for being mischievous and ill mannered. Both being rejected from society come together and learn from each other and become better with each passing days. Though the teacher and his students initially struggle a lot to help well but slowly they comes around and students understand how their teacher Mr. Braithwaite is trying to bring in them a positive change. Slowly they change and this explains quite nicely the students-teacher relationship as one of the main themes. Hence this setting which is the auditorium of the school contributes greatly to the themes of novel that are racism , prejudice and students-teacher relationship and without this setting it wouldn't have been possible to bring out these themes so effectively.
THEME
A4.i. "When the turn of my class......
Ans. The narrator Ricky Braithwaite , an engineer by profession takes up the job of a teacher at Greenslade School to meet both ends but as soon as he joins the school , he finds it really tough to deal with his class. The entire class is full of notorious and disrespectful students who harass him and trouble him but he changes his techniques of teaching and showers on them love and respect. He wants them to succeed in life and when students understand his intentions, they also start to learn with interest and their behaviors and attitudes change. He becomes quite satisfied and happy to see his students and on the day when half yearly report of students' council programme takes , he eagerly waits for his students' turn. When their turn comes, he sits up anxiously like a typical teacher who is very proud of his students but wants to see if they are able to express themselves and how much they have understood from what was taught to them. The lines from the extract to support that he was anxious but proud of his students this are :
i. I had heard a great....noting with pride...neat programme."
ii. I felt terribly pleased and proud.... Denham used the term "Miss".......
iii. When the turn..... anxiously....
ii. Select two statements.....
Ans.
b. The writer was immensely pleased to notice the progress of his students.
c. The students showed a remarkable change in their behavior and were progressing in all the subjects.
iii. The relationship between the teacher.....
Ans. The Narrator Ricky Braithwaite joins Greenslade School as a teacher of the senior class and initially faces a lot of obstacles as his students are notorious and disresptful but when he changes his ways and gives them love and respect, they start changing their ways and behaviour proving that it is very important to have a healthy , loving bond between the teacher and his students if the teacher wishes to change their bad behaviour or to teach them values. This bond between Braithwaite and his students transcends traditional social boundaries between teachers and students.When Fernman presents his report impressively with help of a skeleton, the narrator is extremely proud of him and praises Fernman by saying that he had all people eating from his hand. When Denham questions his teachers , the narrator feels happy to see how confidently he asks questions.We also see how healthy is the bond which students share with even other teachers. They are given freedom to ask teachers certain questions and teachers also oblige politely.Students are fearless and honest in asking questions and so are the teachers.
Examples from the extract to support the answer :
i. "I felt terribly pleased and proud....."
ii. "Fernman was wonderful; he had them....."
iii. "Denham was not to be put off....."
iv. Explain in brief the theme....
Ans. The theme of the extract is students-teacher relationship.It depicts the bitter-sweet bond between Ricky Braithwaite and his students and how initially his students trouble him but when he changes his ways of teaching and bring in novel ideas aalomg with treating them like adults and giving them respect , they start listening to him and learning from him. The improvement in the conduct of the students , their behaviour and increase in their confidence and courtesy is highlighted during the half yearly report of students' council. The extract also highlights the freedom with which students ask questions to their teachers and also proves that even teachers encourage students to come up with their queries and feel proud of each student's progress. The themese also is explained beautifully when we see students respecting their teachers and once convinced about something, gracefully accept what teachers say.
v. Describe the atmosphere...
Ans. Before the commencement of the half yearly report of students' council, the atmosphere of the school described in the extract was full of excitement as the students were running around to prepare for the programme as it was entirely planned and arranged by them. There were whispered conferences happening and the narrator was noting with pride how his students were working in a business like way. On the day of the programme which was held of November 15th , the atmosphere was yet again full of excitement but also had a very formal feel to it with all classes and even the head sitting in the auditorium to witness all class respresentatives coming and presenting their reports. It was also quite a democratic kind of atmosphere where students were allowed to question their teachers and teachers were bound to answer. There is also some fun element when Fernman brings on stage a skeleton to explain his topic which makes everyone laugh uproariously and there is a slight tensed situation too when during the question answer session Denham asks tough questions and Mr. Weston tries to bluster his way out by providing no coherent argument. Overall the atmosphere of the school was a mixed of everything from some excitement to nervousness and some fun to seriousness.
LANGUAGE
A5.i. Explain the following statements....
A. Miss Phillips is transformed....
Ans. Miss Euphema Phillips initially considered as “frilly and brainless” lady turns out to be “the best informed of the three teachers on the stage.”She very skillfully intervenes to rescue the other two teachers without causing them embarrassment and very coolly and with authority convinces Denham that P.T. nd Games subject was important.She tells Denham that doing what one was told inspite of not liking it , is a part of the training and in this way Miss Phillips who is taken as someone who is " silly innocent looking puss" and "slight creature" which means she seems very timid and hesitant is effectively transformed from seemingly brainless lady to a very convincing personality at the end.
B. There are many features of language...
Ans. True. The rich words used by the narrator contribute greatly to the smooth sailing of the plot and makes novel a good read for the readers. Expressions like “ When the turn of my class came i sat up anxiously.” , “ the school showed its approval by laughing uproariously” , “Fernman had them eating out of it hand.”, "Miss Phillips spoke with candour and authority" , "Miss Phillips, a seemingly brainless and frilly lady" , etc.beautify the language and invite reader’s undivided attention.Also , appropriate usage and careful selection of words give readers a better idea about the situation. Hence , all of these expressions and language features contribute greatly to the smooth sailing of the plot.
ii. Following are some dialogues.....
A. " Then why do we have to......"
Ans. The speaker here is Denham. His tone is argumentative , blunt and critical as he responds back to Miss Phillips' defence of P.T. and games classes. He argues that he is a trained boxer and many boys like him find this subject I'll conceived and pointless and that P.T. twice a week for 20 minutes doesn't make any sense and that those students who get benefit out of the 20 minutes should be told to do P.T. and He along with some more boys should be allowed to play some other jolly game.The importance of this dialogue is that it shows readers how students at Greenslade School were given freedom to ask teachers questions and raise their concerns and also shows through Miss Phillips' convincing answers that even teachers were good at dealing with students' concerns. This dialogue also make readers aware about how confident and bold the character of Denham was.
B. " Let's say it is......"
Ans. The above line is spoken by Miss Phillips in response to Denham's argument against the need of P.T. and Games classes.Her tone is quite gentle but firm.She tells Denham that the whole timetable of school is designed to help students in the world after they leave school and doing what was told inspite of not liking it , is a part of the training which they have designed for all the students.This piece of advice is not meant just for Denham but all other students and even readers and hence this dialogue is quite significant.
