Summary of The Browning Version (Chapter 6 of Hornbill

book of English)
The Browning Version Summary
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
masters.
He is not a sadist.
As they were deeply engaged in a conversation, Millie enters and comes with a shopping bag.
She asked Taplow to go out and come back in a quarter of an hour as Mr. Crocker-Harris will be
late. If her husband arrives earlier, she will take the blame. She further gives him a prescription
and instructs him to purchase medicines for her from the chemist. Taplow follows and goes away
to do the job.
Multiple Choice Questions on The Browning Version
1. Who has written ‘The Browning Version’?
A. Terence Rattigan
B. Mr Edgar S. Woolard
C. Mr. Lester Brown
D. Khushwant Singh
 
2. Who are the three characters of the play ‘The Browning Version’?
A. Taplow, Alice and Mr. Harrow
B. Taplow, Frank and Mrs. Harris
C. Taplow, Frank, and Mr. Crocker – Harris
D. Alice, Frank and Mr. Crocker – Harris
 
3. What is the age of Taplow?
A. Fourteen
B. Sixteen
C. Twenty
D. Five
 
4. What does Frank do?
A. Student
B. Teacher
C. Principal
D. Parent
 
5. Who is Mr. Crocker-Harris ?
A. Principal
B. School Teacher
C. middle-aged schoolmaster
D. Don’t know
 
6. Where is the starting scene of the play set ?
A. School Classroom
B. School Playground
C. Home
D. Road
 
7. What was Taplow doing on the last day of school?
A. Extra Work
B. Time pass
C. Can’t say
D. completing homework
 
8. In which class does Taplow study in?
A. Lower fifth
B. seventh
C. ninth
D. lower tenth
 
9. Why does Taplow have to do extra work?
A. because he has missed his previous week due to illness
B. because he didn’t perfomed well in his studies
C. because he was there to help his teacher
D. because he was called by his teacher
 
10. Why does Taplow want Science as a remove?
A. because he has no option
B. because he finds the subject extremely interesting
C. because he is confused
D. Can’t say
  
11. Why did Taplow call Mr. Crocker – Harris ‘Hardly Human’?
A. because he is a sadist
B. he is all shrivelled up
C. He is very rude to everyone
D. he finds peace in failing students
 
12. What book was Taplow reading?
A. History textbook
B. The Agamemnon
B. Julius Caesar
D. Englsh Novel
 
13. At what time was Mr. Harris supposed to come to school?
A. Six-thirty
B. seven
C. eleven
D. twelve
 
14. Why was Frank jealous of Mr. Crocker – Harris?
A. because of the effect he has on students
B. because of his fame
C. because he was senior schoolmaster
D. because he was paid well
 
15. What short name does Taplow call Mr. Crocker – Harris in his absence?
A. Crock
B. Harris
C. Crocker
D. Teacher
 
16. How does Taplow react when Mr. Crocker – Harris cracked a joke in the class?
A. he laughed
B. he ignored it
C. he asked him what it meant
D. he did nothing
 
17. What is the name of Mr. Crocker – Harris’s wife?
A. Millie Crocker – Harris
B. Miley Crocker – Harris
C. Haley Crocker – Harris
D. never noticed
 
18. When did Mrs. Crocker – Harris entered the classroom?
A. When Taplow and Frank were discussing Mr. Harris
B. When no one was in the classroom
C. with Mr. Crocker – Harris
D. when only Taplow was in the classroom
 
19. How would you describe Millie Crocker – Harris?
A. Thin Woman, late thirties, smartly dressed
B. fat woman, forties
C. thin woman, in her twenties
D. thin women, smartly dressed
 
20. Who said the lines, ‘Come along, Taplow. Do not be so selfish as to keep a good joke
to yourself.’?
A. Mr. Crocker – Harris
B. Millie
C. Frank
D. Principal
 
21. Why was Taplow worried that Mrs. Crocker – Harris might have heard what they were
saying?
A. as she had been standing for a few minutes when they were busy talking
B. as she interrupted them talking about his husband
C. as she heard them talking about Principal
D. Don’t know
 
22. What was Millie carrying when she entered the classroom?
A. basket
B. books
C. knits
D. flowers
 
23. Where was Mr. Crocker – Harris?
A. At the Bursar’s
B. At home
C. At market
D. At library
 
24. What did Millie suggest to Taplow in her husband’s absence?
A. to go to chemist to get her prescription filled
B. to go to his home
C. to play golf
D. to wait
 
25. Does Taplow think that Mr. Crocker – Harris is biased?
A. Yes
B. no
C. May be
D. Can’t Say
 
26. How is Mr. Crocker – Harris different from other teachers?
A. as he is not biased
B. as he is strict
C. as he is old
D. as he is rude
 
27. How did Frank react upon the arrival of Mrs. Crocker – Harris?
A. he was happy
B. he was nervous
C. he was relieved
D. nothing as such
 
28. Who was Agamemnon?
A. he was American astrologer
B. he was an Egyptian king
C. he was the king of Mycenae in Greek mythology
D. Don’t know
 
29. What does ‘Remove’ mean in the chapter?
A. a division in British Schools
B. take away something
C. unfasten
D. get rid of
 
30. Does Mr. Crocker – Harris come to the school in the play?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Maybe
D. Can’t say
Answer key for Class 11 English Hornbill Book Chapter 6 –
The Browning Version
Q. No. Answer Q. No. Answer Q. No. Answer

1 A 11 B 21 A

2 C 12 B 22 A

3 B 13 A 23 A

4 B 14 A 24 A

5 C 15 A 25 B

6 A 16 A 26 A
 7 A 17 A 27 C

8 A 18 A 28 C

9 A 19 A 29 A

10 B 20 C 30 B
 

The Browning version class 11 Most important MCQs

Question and answers
Question:1 who has written the browning version?

1. Terence Rattigan
2. Mr Edgar, s woolard
3. Mr, lester brown
4. kushwant singh
Answer:(1) Terrence Rattigan

Question:2 who are the three main character of the play the browning
version?

1. Taplow, Alice and Mr, Harrow

2. Taplow, frank and Mrs, Harris
3. Taplow, frank and , mr Crocker–harris
4. Alice, frank and Mr Crocker–harris
Answer:(3) Taplow ,frank and , Mr Crocker–harris

Question:3 what is the age of Taplow ?

1. Fourteen
2. sixteen
3. twenty
4. five
Answer:(2) sixteen

Question:4 what does frank do?

1. student
2. Teacher
3. Principal
 4. Parent
Answer:(2) Teacher

Question;5 who is Mr, Crocker-harris

1. Principal
2. parent
3. schoolmaster
4. None of these
Answer:(3) schoolmaster

Question:6 where is the starting scene of the play set?

1. classroom
2. playground
3. staff room
4. auditorium
Answer:(1) classroom

Question 7 what was Taplow doing on the last days of school?

1. Extra work
2. Time pass
3. Can’t say
4. homework
Answer:(1) Extra work

Question:8 In which class does Taplow study?

1. Lower fifth
2. Upper seventh
3. upper fifth
4. lower tenth
Answer:(1) lower fifth

Question:9 why does Taplow have to do extra work ?

1. because he had missed class the previous week due to illness

2. because he didn’t preform well in his studies
 3. because he had to help his teacher
4. because he was called by his teacher
Answer:(1) because he had missed class the previous week due to illness

Question:10 why does Taplow want science as a remove?

1. because he has no other option

2. because he friend the subject extremely interesting
3. because he is confused
4. Can’t say
Answer:(2) because he friend the subject extremely interesting

Question:11 why did Taplow call Mr, Crocker harris hardly human?

1. because he is a sadist
2. he is all shrivelled up
3. he is very rude to everyone
4. he friends peace in failing students
Answer:(2) he is all shrivelled up

Question:12 what book was Taplow reading?

1. French Revolution
2. The Agamenon
3. Julius caesar
4. Romeo juliet
Answer:(2) The Agamenon

Question:13 At what time was Mr, harris supposed to come to school?

1. six-thirty
2. seven
3. Eleven –fifteen
4. twelve
Answer:(1) six-thirty

Question:14 why was Frank jealous of Mr, Crocker harris?

1. because of the effect that he had on students

 2. because of his fame
3. because he was a senior schoolmaster
4. because he was paid well
Answer:(1) because of the effect that he on students

Question;15 with what short name does Taplow call Mr, Crocker -harris in his
absence?

1. Crock
2. Harris
3. Crocker
4. Teacher
Answer:(1) Crock

Question:16 how had Taplow reached when Mr, Crocker harris had Crocked a
joke in the class?

1. he laughed
2. he ignored it
3. he asked him what it meant
4. he did not react
Answer:(1) he laughed

Question:17 what is the name of Mr, Crocker harris wife?

1. Millie Crocker-harris
2. milliey Crocker -harris
3. haley Crocker-harris
4. None of these
Answer:(1) Millie Crocker-Harris

Question:18 when did Mr Crocker-harris enter the classroom?

1. when Taplow and frank were discussing Mr, harris

2. when no one was in the classroom
3. when Mr, Crocker-harris entered
4. when only Taplow was present in the classroom
Answer:(1) when Taplow and frank were discussing Mr, harris
Question:19 how would you describe millie Crocker-Harris ?

1. Thin woman, late thirties smartly dressed

2. fat woman, early forties clumsy
3. thin woman, in her twenties looked aged
4. thin woman grey, hair shabbily dresses
Answer:(1) Thin woman late thirties smartly dressed

Question:20 who said the lines, come along Taplow do not be so selfish as to

keep a good joke to yourself?

1. Crocker-harris
2. Millie harris
3. frank
4. all of them
Answer:(3) Frank

The Browning Version Important Short Questions And Answers

Question 1.
Where does Taplow meet Frank? What does Taplow feel about being there?
Answer:
Taplow meets Frank at Mr Crocker-Harris’s office, at school. Taplow had been given
extra work to do as he had missed a day of school the previous week when he was
ill. It was the last day of school and he wished to play golf instead.

Question 2.
What subjects does Taplow want to opt for and why?
Answer:
Taplow wishes to opt for science if he manages good grades. He claims to be really
interested in science and feels it is more interesting than studying classics such as
‘The Agamemnon’, which he calls “muck” it had a lot of Greek words, and Mr
Crocker-Harris punished them for not getting them right.

Question 3.
Why does Taplow feel that Mr Harris is “hardly human”?
Answer:
Taplow feels that putting in extra work would make no difference to Mr Harris. He
had told Taplow that he had got what he deserved. Taplow suspects he might be
awarded with fewer marks to make him do extra work. He feels Mr Harris is unfeeling
worse than a sadist, and thus calls him “hardly human”.

Question 4.
What does Frank suggest to Taplow about waiting for Mr Harris?
Answer:
When Taplow tells Frank that he was supposed to meet Mr Crocker-Harris at six-
thirty, Frank tells Taplow that Mr Crocker-Harris was already ten minutes late. He
suggests that Taplow could go and play golf. But Taplow is shocked and expresses
his apprehension if Mr Crocker-Harris should know. He was certain that nobody had
ever done that with Mr Crocker-Harris.

Question 5.
Why does Taplow feel that Mr Harris has no feelings?
Answer:
Taplow calls Mr Harris worse than a sadist. One is required to admit to feelings if
considered a sadist. Mr Harris’s inside, feels Taplow, is like a nut and he seems to
hate people liking him. He did not appreciate Taplow appreciating his jokes and
embarrassed him in return.

Question 6.
How did Taplow try to express his liking for Mr Harris? What was the outcome?
Answer:
Taplow admits to liking Mr Harris and realized he felt uncomfortable about people
liking him. He recalls an episode, in class, where Mr Crocker-Harris made one of his
jokes to which nobody laughed. Taplow knew that it was meant to be funny, and
laughed. To which, Mr Crocker-Harris teased Taplow about his knowledge of Latin
and asked him to explain the joke to the class.

Question 7.
Who was Millie Crocker-Harris? What was she like?
Answer:
Millie Crocker-Harris was the young wife of Mr Crocker-Harris. She was a thin
woman in her late thirties, and was more smartly dressed than the other
schoolmasters’ wives.

Question 8.
How does Millie Crocker-Harris send Taplow away?
Answer:
Millie learns from Taplow that he was waiting for her husband and suggests he
leaves for quarter of an hour since Mr Harris might be a while. Taplow is hesitant;
Millie assures him she would take on the blame if Mr Harris arrives before that. She
finally sends Taplow off to the chemist.

The Browning Version Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type
Question 1.
Write a brief character sketch of Frank Hunter.
Answer:
Frank Hunter was the popular, young science teacher. He is liked by the students
who feel he can understand them better than Mr Crocker-Harris. He is also popular
because he teaches science which the students find easier to comprehend than
Classics which they think is “muck”. He, however, feels students who take up
science are slackers and don’t take much interest in the subject.

He is easy to talk to and approachable. His attitude puts them at their ease. Taplow
finds he can confide his troubles to him. In fact, he forgets himself enough to refer to
his teacher Mr Crocker-Harris as “the Crock”.

However, he encourages students to talk ill of other teachers. He probes the details
of the relationship between Mr Crocker-Harris and Taplow. He also encourages
Taplow to disobey the teacher’s orders and go off before meeting Mr Crocker-Harris.

Question 2.
What idea do you form of Taplow after reading the play ‘The Browning Version’?
Answer:
Taplow is a young boy of seventeen, studying in the lower fifth grade. He is an
obedient and hard-working student. He has great liking for science. He was
summoned for extra work by Mr Crocker-Ha Types 11 and 13 Questions rris for
missing school for a day. the week before. Though he wishes to play golf on the last
day before school closes, he obediently turns up to wait .for his teacher. He is
devoted to Mr Crocker-Harris.

When Taplow comes across Mr Frank, the science teacher, Mr Frank, gets Taplow
to discuss Mr Crocker- Harris and also encourages him to leave. Taplow replies that
he cannot “cut” as Mr Harris would probably follow him home.

When Mr Frank insinuates that his teacher might award him with a fine result for
doing extra work, Taplow refutes it calling Mr Harris a man of principles. He
reiterates that Mr Crocker-Harris had told him that he had given him exactly what he
deserved. Taplow is a sincere student who respected his teachers