How does Winston Churchill add humor to "First year at Harrow"?Explain with the help of examples from the story.
Answers
In this passage, the writer has explained the place of examinations in the life of a student and the choice of the right subjects. He tells that he never liked examinations because he could not perform well in the examinations. He tells that examiners asked the questions he could not produce a satisfactory answer for.
In the entrance examination at Harrow, the author got zero marks in Latin paper. He just wrote his name and returned the empty answer sheet back. The Headmaster, Mr. Welldon, however, let him be admitted at Harrow. It was both surprising and pleasant for the author.
The writer narrates that he was only two from the bottom of the merit list of admissions. While clever boys went for Latin and Greek because in that time these subjects were most important. He was taught English because of his apparent inability to study Latin and Greek.
The author worked hard and got good grades in English. His English teacher, Mr. Somervell taught him English thoroughly in an effective way. He surpassed all grammar rules and English prose. He had a long-term advantage over the clever boy. They had to improve their English later when they were in their jobs. The author is not sad for having not learned Latin and Greek. He says that he would whip those boys for not knowing English.