Question

“Well, no sir, I don’t think the play is a muck- exactly. I suppose, in a way, it’s rather a good
plot, really.......”
a) Who speaks the above words and which play is he referring to?
b) Why does he call the play ‘a muck’?
c) What is it that he likes about the plot of the play?

Answer 1

Answer:

This chapter is a short extract from the play ‘The Browning Version’ written by Terence Rattigan. It is a one-act play set in a school, there are three characters in the play – Taplow, Frank, and Mr. Crocker – Harris. Taplow is sixteen years old student, Frank is a young teacher and Mr. Crocker-Harris is a middle-aged schoolmaster. Taplow has arrived in the school to do extra work for Mr. Crocker Harris. He meets Frank and they both engage in a conversation while Taplow waits for Mr. Harris. Later, enters Millie, Mrs.Crocker-Harris who talks to Taplow.

The scene is set in a school where Taplow arrives to do extra work on the last day for Mr. Crocker-Harris as he missed a day before. He finds Frank, a science teacher in the school. Frank asked him his name and the reason he is there that day. Taplow studies in the lower fifth standard and is about to get his result from his teacher Mr. Harris. Mr. Crocker-Harris usually reveals the result on the last day of school and unlike every other teacher, he follows the rules and regulations strictly.

They both started having a conversation where Frank asked him several questions. We don’t see Mr. Crocker-Harris in the whole chapter but we get to know a lot about him.

Taplow wants to take science as a remove because he finds the subject extremely interesting. Frank, on the other hand, doesn’t like what he teaches in the school. Mr. Croker-Harris is ‘hardly human’ as he never shrivels up. He told Taplow that he will get what he deserves. Nothing less and nothing more and this makes him tensed. Taplow further imitates Mr. Harris twice in front of Frank.

Franks admits that he envies Mr. Crocker-Harris because of the effect he has on them. Taplow told him that he never shows his emotions like other teachers and never beats them up like other matter.