Lesson: The Prize Poem
Author: P.G. Woodhouse
Q. "And did you, Smith, also find the poem in a piece of paper in the field?" There was a metallic ring of sarcasm in his voice.
Why was there a 'metallic ring of sarcasm' in the speaker's voice?
Answers
The question refers to the story, "The Prize Poem" by PG Wodehouse. The speaker is Mr. Perceval, the headmaster. He is speaking to the three boys- Morrison, Montgomery and Smith and trying to find out how each of their poems began with the same stanza.
Morrison is the first to confess that he is not the creator of the lines. He tells the headmaster that he found the poem written on a piece of paper in the field. Montgomery too had the same confession. This confused the headmaster terribly, who did not know whom to believe and how much to believe. So, when he turned to speak to the third boy, Smith, he was bewildered and possibly a little irritated. The headmaster suspected that the boys were acting smart with him. He expected Smith also to say the same thing and so had a sarcastic tone.