Question

what are the positive and negative traits of private quelch with their explanation ?

Answer 1

Positive traits
Instances from the story
(i)
Knowledgeable
When the Sergeant was delivering the lecture on the mechanism of a service rifle, he pointed out the exact figure of the muzzle velocity at which a bullet leaves a rifle.

Even in the class of Corporal Turnbull he pointed out that there are 44 segments in a hand grenade.
(ii)
Hard working
Quelch used to borrow training manuals and used to stay up late at nights reading them. He drilled with enthusiasm during the training marches. He had it all planned out. He was sure to become an army officer before long.
(iii)
Confident
On being asked by the Sergeant if he had had any formal training before, The Professor confidently replied, “No, Sergeant. It’s all a matter of intelligent reading.”
(iv)
Determined
The narrator talks about Private Quelch explaining his determination as how in pursuit of his ambition he worked so hard. He was sure to get a commission (to become an army officer) long before and as a first step he meant to get a stripe (a V-shaped band indicating rank of a soldier).

Negative traits
Instances from the story
(i)
Interrupting
The Professor always had to break in an ongoing lecture or a class. He interrupted the Sergeant to point out the exact figure of the muzzle velocity of a bullet when it leaves a rifle. Later also, when Corporal Turnbull was taking lesson on the hand grenade, Quelch pointed out the number of segments a grenade has. It is true that what he pointed out is correct. However, Private Quelch should have used a phrase like “excuse me” and then with the due permission of the senior he could go on making his point.
(ii)
Impolite
Besides that Private Quelch never used the phrase “excuse me” before interrupting an ongoing lecture. He paid little respect to his seniors and left no chance of pointing out their mistakes as to what he thought would make him appear even more admirable. After pointing out the number of segments a grenade has, The Professor went on telling Corporal that he should have started the lecture with the five characteristics of a grenade.
(iii)
Condescending
The Professor would publically correct any fellow soldier if he made a mistake. For example, on handling a rifle he would command them, “Let me show you fellow,” or “No, you’ll ruin your rifle, that way, old man.” He always looked down upon his mates and behaved like he alone had all the knowledge among the whole platoon.
(iv)
Critical
Private Quelch was always critical of not just his mates but his seniors, which earned him little respect. However, even after all what happened with Corporal Turnbull, Private Quelch did not take his lesson. Once, after Quelch was assigned permanent cookhouse duties, the narrator along his friend was returning to his hut, he heard The Professor exclaiming at two cooks on how unhygienic is the way they peel the potatoes and is abominably unscientific and how this method wastes the essential vitamins of the potatoes.