Novel 4.2 To Sir, With Love by E.R. Braithwaite Brainstorming activities Part II

 

Brainstorming Activities

CHARACTER

(A1) (i) Which one among the following is a teacher in the extract? Select the correct one. Also cite a couple of lines from the extract in support of your answer.

(a) Denham (c) Sapiano

(b) Miss Joseph (d) Dale- Evans

Ans:d) Dale- Evans

The lines from the extract to support the answer are :-

Mr. Weston, Mrs. Dale-Evans, Miss. Philips, Denham, and Miss. Joseph led the others off the stage and the teachers took their seats.

(ii) Complete the table highlighting the various traits of the major characters in the extract.

1. Denham: 

• Blunt
• Critical
• Confident
• Courteous
• Argumentative 
• Boxer

2. Miss Phillips:

• Honest
• Smart
• Cool
• Responsible
• Witful
• Supportive

3. Fernman:

• Dramatic
• Clear
• Precise
• Clever

4. Potter:

• Knowledgeable
• Clear
• Concise
• Clever
• Smart 
• Precise

(iii) The narrator played a crucial role in bringing a significant change in the students. Explain the statement by citing some references from the extract.

Answer:

The narrator belonged to black race and joined a school of London where maximum people were belonged to the white race. The discrimination between white and black race was first experienced by the narrator. He had very difficult time with the students in the beginning. The students were rejected from another school and admitted this school. They were disrespectful, ill mannered and mischievous. They considered the teacher arrogant outsider, unfamiliar with the social environment where they have grown up. They harassed the narrator by slamming the benches, speaking in foul language or not obeying him. But the narrator tolerated all the things, without thinking seriously he used to neglect and forgive them. Instead he used the respectful words 'miss' for the girls and 'sir'. Even he completely changed their hygiene and their attitude towards each other. Thus he handled the students in a very amicable way. There was a big change in the students behaviour. This is proved on the day of the half- yearly report of students council. They presented their reports confidently and clearly. They were cool and efficient in their work. They were respectful to the teachers and accepted the verdict of the teachers. This shows the significant and crucial change brought about by the narrator in his students.

(iv) Fernman brought a comic relief in the Students’ Council programme. Explain

Answer: 

Ferman presented physiology.When this arrangement had been set up there was the skeleton hanging from a hook screwed into the top of its skull, gently revolving at the end of a cord. This was somewhat in the nature of comic relief, and the school showed its approval by laughing uproariously. 

(v) Give a brief character-sketch of –

(a) Denham: 

Denham was one of the most senior students of the school. He was important official of the program of students council. He was like business-like and confident allocating the tasks. He addressed the girls as 'miss'. He was a trained boxer. He didn't want P.T. exercises ,he feels unnecessary for him. He presented different views regarding  P.T. and games. He had critical and argumentative views initially but when Miss Phillips gently replied to his arguments, he accepted politely his defeat.

(b) Miss Joseph:

Miss Joseph also was important official of the program students council. She was one of the most senior students. She was like business-like and confident allocating the tasks and fitting in the programme.She sat on the stage beside Mr. Florian with composure. She addressed the audience with confidence.

(c) The Narrator:

The narrator Braithwaite, was Guyanese- born- British-American novelist, writer, teacher and diplomat, best known for his stories of social conditions and racial discrimination against black race. After serving in Army he faced discrimination against black race. He got a job of teacher in a school. He faced difficult time in the school initially. The students of the school were disrespectful, ill mannered and mischievous. They harassed him. But with his innovative techniques and understanding power ,ultimately he won the heart of his  students. He didn't lose his patience, though he was harassed mentally and physically tortured many times. His technique of novel ideas and understanding power helped him to bring significant changes in his students' lives. On the day of the Students council ,half yearly report, he was anxious to see them but observed confidence, cool, respectful behavior of his students.

(d) Miss Dare: 

Miss. Dare was a student's representative who presented the subject physiology with Fernman. She spoke about the problems of all humanity ,they face in terms of sickness and disease,and the advantages gained by interchange of knowledge, advice and assistance. Her contribution was something of an anticlimax after Fernman's performance. She seemed to realize it,but continued with her speech.

(e) Miss Phillips:

Miss. Phillips was one of the teachers from the teachers panel selected for answering the questions while students council. She intervened skillfully when other teachers were at loss without embarrassing them. She spoke coolly, honestly and with authority. She controlled her class very well. According to her the whole time table in the school is meant to help all the students in the world after they leave the school. She explained the importance of the P.T. 

(vi) Compare the following characters:

Miss. Joseph and Denham

Fernman and Miss. Dare

Both were important officials for the function of the half-yearly report, students’ council. (Major Characters)      Both were business-like and efficient while allocating tasks and fitting in the programme.       Both addressed the audience with confidence. While Denham was blunt, critical and argumentative while discussing the P.T. exercises that everyone has to do in the school.        He argued with Miss. Phillips but when Miss. Phillips pleasantly and coolly put him in his place, he accepted his defeat graciously.

1.       Both were representatives of the class to present their subject knowledge report.(Minor Characters) 2.       Both discussed the subject of physiology by exhibiting a model of a human Skeleton and stressing the conclusion that basically all people are the same. 3.       Miss. Dare spoke about the problems, all human have to face in terms of sickness and diseases and advantages gained by interchange of knowledge, advice and assistance. 4.       Fernman was clear, precise and dramatic. He kept audience spell-bound by speech. He was clever while questioning the teachers.

  

Miss. Phillips and Denham

Narrator and the Head of the school

1.       Miss. Phillips was best- informed of the three teachers on the stage. 2.       She intervened skillfully when the other two teachers were at a loss. 3.       She spoke coolly and honestly and with authority. 4.       Denham was an important official of the program. He was blunt, critical and argumentative while discussing the P.T. exercises that everyone has to do in the school. 5.       He told that timetable in the school is meant to help the students in the world after they left the school. 6.       Denham accepted the defeat graciously.

1.       The narrator was a teacher, sensitive and upset about the racism. 2.       He faced very difficult time with the students who were disrespectful, ill-mannered and mischievous. 3.       He didn’t lose his patience and implemented is novel ideas and techniques to handle the students. This helped him to make significant changes in the students’’ behavior. 4.       The Head of the school Mr. Florian addressed the school on the day of the half-yearly report of the students’ council. 5.       He spoke about the aims and policy of the school and important contribution of each child. He praised wherever necessary. 6.       His remarks showed that he identified himself with the school and everyone in it. He expressed his pride in all the children at the end .

Plot:

A2. i) Arrange the incidents in correct sequence as per their occurrence in the extract.

a) Denham was outwitted by Miss. Phillips

b) The head of the school closed the proceedings.

c) Denham asserted that P.T. periods were a waste of time.

d) The slips were folded and placed in a hat.

e) Fernman was as usual a trump card.

f) Denham called out the names of the representatives.

g) Students' council was held every year on November 15th.

Answer : - 

g) Students' council was held every year on November 15th.

f) Denham called out the names of the representatives.

e) Fernman was as usual a trump card.

d) The slips were folded and placed in a hat.

c) Denham asserted that P.T. periods were a waste of time.

a) Denham was outwitted by Miss. Phillips

b) The head of the school closed the proceedings.

ii) Describe in brief the purpose of organising the half-yearly report programme of students' council.

Answer: The students council was held every year on November 15th. Each class representatives would report their studies pursued during half year. A representative was chosen for each subject. After the reports one panel of teachers would be appointed to answer the questions arising out of the various reports.The overall importance was given on the what they understood rather than what they were expected to learn.

iii) Write in your words the entire half yearly report programme of Students council.

Answer: 

Students' council was held every year on November 15th. The representative of the each class report here what they or how much they have learnt. 

Miss Joseph and Denham were important official of the students council. Both were representative of the narrator's class, presided over the meeting. The Head of the school, Florian addressed the meeting. After that one by one each class gave brief report of their progress. A panel of teachers was chosen to answer any questions out by the students.

The council began with the lowest class. The oldest class was the last.The students were shy and new for the meeting. Miss Joseph presented the common theme of the term of the interdependency of mankind. Potter spoke about the Math. Miss. Pegg and Jackson spoke Geography. Miss Dare and Fernman  presented the knowledge of the subject Physiology. Fernman brought the human skeleton and proved that basically all people are the same. Miss. Dodd reported History and Miss Joseph, Domestic Science. Denham criticized the P.T. subject and Games. 

Mr. Weston,Mrs. Dale Evans and Miss Phillips were the teachers in the selected panel. Miss Phillips explained the importance of P.T.  with coolly and honestly. Finally Denham accepted defeat and agreed with Miss Joseph point about the P.T.  The narrator was very happy and satisfied to see the progress and the confidence of his students.

iv) Describe the question answer session that took place at the end.

Answer: 

There was question answer session at the end of the report presentation of the students. Teachers had to answer the questions of the students. One of the most discussed question about P.T. subject raised. Miss Euphemia Phillips answered coolly  and honestly rather than the two teachers. Fernman was skillful in asking questions. Denham was blunt, clever in his criticism. He criticized the P.T. and games in the school. He said there is wasting time by practicing P.T. and game twice weekly. Miss Phillips replied coolly that subject including P.T. and games had been considered carefully and fitted in the time table so that students got maximum benefit from it. Denham replied only the kids who needed it could take it , others who wanted football or any other game for them it was useless. But Miss Phillips replied this one also by putting important of the P.T. subject in the school. She said the whole time table in the school was meant to help them in the world after they left the school. The answer defeated Denham and he accepted also.

 SETTING

(A3) (i) Which event took place in the extract? Choose the correct one. Give reason/s to support your answer.

(a) Annual Sports Day on November 15th

(b) Annual Social and Cultural Gathering on November 15th

(c) Half-yearly report of Students’ Council on November 15th

(d) Farewell Programme on November 15th

Answer: c) Half-yearly report of Students’ Council on November 15th

The lines to support this:

The half-yearly report of the students council was on November 15th and was one of the important days in the calendar of Greenslade School.

(ii) The event in the extract was held at the ______________ . Choose the

correct alternative. Give reason/s to support your answer.

(a) author’s house

(b) auditorium of the school

(c) market

(d) garden

Answer: (b) auditorium of the school.

The lines from extract to support:

A bell was rung at 10 am and every one trooped into the auditorium to sit together in classes.

(iii) The incidents in the extract occured at a particular place. Explain the significance of that place in your own words.

Answer: The incident of the students council that took place on the day of half yearly report. This report took place in the presence of the Head of the school and teachers. It was disciplined and serious program. It was formal programme, and the setting is the auditorium with a stage and a formal atmosphere.

(iv) Explain how the setting of the extract contributes to the theme of the novel. 

Answer:  The teacher- students relationship is one of the most important theme of the novel.  Racism is another theme. The narrator felt difficult time with students. The students harassed him mentally. They were disrespectful and mischievous. The narrator tried to handle them peacefully with his novel techniques. He tolerated them and forgive. He used respectful words 'Miss' and 'sir'. There was shocking change in the behaviour of the students. It was observed on the day of Students Council. They performed confidently and cleverly. Thus the setting rightly contributes to the theme of the novel.

THEME

(A4) (i) ‘When the turn of my class came I sat up anxiously’. 

Why was the narrator anxious? Explain the statement by citing suitable references from the extract.

Answer: The students of his class were so disrespectful, ill mannered, and mischievous. The narrator felt so much difficulty to handle them. With his creative ideas and innovative techniques, he understood the mind set of the students. His efforts to improve the students became successful. There was development in the behaviour of the students. The students started giving him respect. 

On the day of half yearly report of students council representative of all classes were participated. They were going to perform their subject knowledge. The narrator was now so anxious to know how his class students would perform. He wanted to know his teachings has been effective or not. How they would express themselves and how much they had understood during the period, he wanted to know. The most important the program was held open on the stage in presence of the Head and other teachers of the school. So the narrator's anxiety grew more and sat up anxiously when the turn of his class came.

(ii) Select two statements that describe the theme of the extract:

(a) Half-yearly report  of the Students' Council was not an important event of the students and teachers of school. 

(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.

(d) The head of the institution was against conducting such activities in the school 

Answer: 

(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 and the students is highlighted in the extract Illustrate with suitable examples from the extract.

Answer: 

In the beginning of the extract the relationship between teachers and the students is so critical. The students of the narrator's class were disrespectful towards the teachers, narrator. The narrator as a teacher was peaceful towards them. He tried to improve their behavior with using his innovative techniques. He forgive  them on their every ill-mannered conduct. He talked them with respect.

On the day of the half yearly report of the Students' Council , the students were given full freedom. The whole programme was conducted by the two senior students Denham and Miss Joseph. The representative of each class presented their reports confidently. At the end of the students' presentation , three teachers were chosen to answer the questions asked by the students.The students asked questions clearly, confidently and critically. They had freedom of expression. They were fearless. The teachers were also frank with them. They satisfied their queries coolly and honestly. For example Miss. Phillips intervened skillfully. She was cool and pleasant. In short there was a democratic and fearlessness relationship between the teachers and the students.

(iv) Explain in brief the theme of the extract.

Answer: 

The central theme of the novel is the students - teachers relationship and the importance of the half-yearly report of the Students' Council. The improvement in the conduct of the students , the increase in their level of confidence and courtesy is the theme of the extract. The free and frank relationship between teachers and students also central theme of the extract. Another important theme - Racial discrimination too plays a vital role in this novel. 

(v) Describe the atmosphere of the school described in the extract.

Answer: 

The main incident of the school that is the half-yearly report of the Students Council- decides the atmosphere of the school. There was students freedom and fearlessness noticed. The programme was serious, frank and formal.The students honestly presented their report and asked questions fearlessly.The selected teachers also replied with frankly and confidently to satisfy the students. There was democratic set up. There was freedom of expression , honesty and analysis of issues .

LANGUAGE

(A4) (i) Explain the following statements that enrich the language and create a 

powerful impact.

(a) Miss Phillips is transformed into a very convincing personality.

Answer: Initially Miss. Phillips was considered as frilly and brainless. She was one of the tree selected teachers on the stage to answer the questions of the students.When Denham asked about the P.T. and games subject are unnecessary for the students in the school. Miss. Philips was the only teacher who replied coolly, honestly and with responsibility. She told Denham about the important of the P.T. and games in the school. She told that the whole time table in the school was meant to help the students in the world after they left the school. It is part of training. She put her views very pleasantly and cleverly. Denham accepted and agreed with her answer. Thus the statement give proves that who was considered brainless is transformed in to a very convincing personality at the end.

 (b) There are many features of language that contribute the smooth sailing of the plot.

Answer: 

The words used by the narrator are very suitable for the plot. He used figurative language that sustain interest among the readers to read the whole novel.The language , expressions and sentences very useful to contribute the smooth sailing of the plot. For instance- frilly and brainless- Miss Phillips, Ferman was wonderful;he had them eating out of his hand. Sugary remarks, her baby blue eyes twinkling in delight at this crossing of staves. etc are the many words or expressions used by the narrator to give the reader complete idea of the situations. The half-yearly report day program is described as lively and clearly.

 (ii) Following are some dialogues of the major characters in the extract. Find out who the speaker is, his/her tone, the style, significance etc. of the dialogues:

i) " Then why do we have to do P.T? why don't they take only the kids who need it?"

Answer: The given statement is spoken by the student - Denham. 

His tone was clear , critical and argumentative initially. Then while discussing with the teacher he accepted his defeat coolly. He was a boxer , he felt P.T. is unnecessary for him. After discussion with Miss. Phillips he transformed into a gracious loser.

ii) " Let's say it is as much an exercise of the mind as it is of the body, Denham".

Answer:  Miss. Philips is the speaker of the given statement. 

Her tone was  cool. She honestly answers the questions coolly. She explained Denham and others, the important of the timetable with P.T. She was sure that Denham would agree with her explanation. This piece of advice was not meant only for Denham but also for the whole school and the reader as well.