ORISON ACADEMY SR.

SECONDARY, EACHANARI
Grade : 12 ENGLISH Helpline Material, Term -2 ,2021-22

The Rattrap – Selma Lagerlof

Chapter Sketch
Selma Lagerlof was a Swedish writer. The Rattrap is based on the theme that the
essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and
love. The story is set amidst the iron mines of Sweden. The author has beautifully
brought out human loneliness and the need to bond with others.
Characters
The Peddler
 A poor man who sold rattraps for a living and was a petty thief.
The Crofter 
A simple trusting person who is robbed by the Peddler.
The Ironmaster
 A stern taskmaster and law-abiding person, he trusts the Peddler due to his
daughter’s persuasion.
Edla 
The ironmaster’s daughter is a kind and compassionate lady.
The Rattrap Peddler and his Thoughts About the World
Once upon a time, there was a vagabond who went around selling small rattraps. He
made them from the material he got by begging. The business was not profitable, so he
had to beg and even steal to survive. His clothes were in rags, his cheeks were sunken
and hunger gleamed in his eyes.
While he was engrossed in his thoughts about rattraps one day, a very amusing
thought came to his mind that the world was a big rattrap. It offered comforts and joys
just like the rattrap offered cheese and pork. As soon as a rat was tempted to touch
the bait, it trapped him.
The Crofter Treats the Peddler Nicely but the Peddler Cheats him
One dark evening, as he was trudging along the road, he went to a small grey cottage,
seeking shelter for the night. The owner, who had once been a Crofter, not only invited
him in, but was happy to get someone to talk to. The Crofter, who had no wife or
children, was very talkative and shared, much about himself with the Peddler. He
informed the Peddler that during his days of prosperity, he worked at the Ramsjo
Ironworks. Now, his cow supported him. He even shared the fact that he had earned
thirty kronor by selling the cow’s milk.
The guest seemed incredulous, so the Crofter showed him the money, also revealing
where it was kept. Next day, both left the cottage at the same time. But, half an hour
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 later the Peddler returned. He went up to the window, smashed a pane and took out
the thirty kronor from the pouch in which they were kept.
The Vagabond is Pleased with his Smartness; Gets Lost in the Woods
The vagabond was quite pleased with his smartness. He avoided the public highway
and turned into the wood, as he felt he would be safer and no one would be able to
catch him. It was a big and confusing forest. He tried to walk in a definite direction,
but the paths twisted back and forth so strangely that he was perplexed. He walked on
and on and soon realised that he had been walking around in the same part of the
forest.
All at once, he recalled his thoughts about the world being a rattrap. Now, his own
turn had come. He had let himself be fooled by the bait and had been caught in a
rattrap. The entire forest, with its trees, trunks and branches, seemed to him like a
prison that offered no escape.
The Peddler Meets the Ironmaster; Declines his Invitation
Finally, he saw no way out. He was so overwhelmed with exhaustion that he sank
down to the ground, tired to death, thinking that his last moment had come. Just
then, he heard the sound of the regular thumping of a hammer. He realised that the
sound was coming from an iron mill. He summoned all his strength and walked in the
direction of the sound. He reached the Ramsjo Ironworks, which was then a large
plant with smelter, rolling mill and forge. He entered the ironworks amidst the
different sounds coming from the work going on in full swing. It was quite usual for
vagrants like him to be attracted by the warmth and shelter of the forge, so he was
ignored by the blacksmiths. The master blacksmith rather haughtily granted him
permission to stay.
Soon, the ironmaster came into the forge for his inspection and noticed the
ragamuffin. He mistook him in the dim light for an old regimental comrade and
addressed him as Nils Olof. The Peddler didn’t try to clear his doubt, as he thought the
ironmaster might give him some money. The ironmaster invited him home. The
Peddler thought that going to the manor house would be like ‘throwing himself
voluntarily into the lion’s den’. So, he declined the invitation.
Ironmaster Sends his Daughter Edla to Persuade the Peddler
The ironmaster assumed that the Peddler felt embarrassed because of his miserable
clothing. He tried to comfort the Peddler by informing him that there was nothing to be
ashamed about. He further told him that his wife Elizabeth was dead, his sons were
settled abroad and he lived with his daughter Edla. But the tramp constantly refused
to go with him. The ironmaster went away, but he was not deterred by the Peddler’s
persistent refusal. He sent his daughter to persuade the Peddler. When Edla came to
the ironworks, she found the man alarmed and frightened.

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 She tried to comfort him. She somehow sensed that his fear conveyed that he was
either a thief on the run or an escaped prisoner. Still, she was very friendly and kind
to the Peddler. The Peddler felt confidence in her and accepted the invitation. He felt
guilty and cursed himself for stealing the Crofter’s money.
Edla Expresses her Doubts About the Peddler
The next day was Christmas Eve. The ironmaster was happy that he would be
spending his time with an old friend. He told Edla that they needed to feed him well
and provide him with a better business than selling rattraps. Edla said that she was
doubtful about the Peddler, as he didn’t display the slightest sign of being educated.
However, the ironmaster told her to have some patience. Just then the door opened
and the stranger entered the room. He was now well groomed. He was wearing clothes
which belonged to the ironmaster.
The Ironmaster Gets Angry; the Peddler Retaliates
The ironmaster realised that the tramp was no friend of his. The Peddler made no
attempt to delude them any longer. He explained that he never said to the ironmaster
that he was Nils Olof. He had even pleaded and begged for not coming to the manor
house. He added that no harm had been done and he could put on his rags and go
away. The ironmaster said that the Peddler had not been very honest and he would
take him to the sheriff. The Peddler got agitated. He said that the world was like a big
rattrap, and some day the ironmaster would also be tempted to touch the bait and
would be doomed. The ironmaster started laughing.
Edla Argues on Behalf of the Peddler
The ironmaster asked the Peddler to leave. But Edla wanted him to stay back. She felt
that they had promised the Peddler Christmas cheer, and it would be wrong to send
him away. The vagabond was surprised by this gesture. Edla further added that the
Peddler must have been through a bad time, as he was always chased away. He could
not even sleep unafraid.
The ironmaster gave in. The Peddler was allowed to stay on for Christmas, but the
only thing he did was to sleep soundly after that. Once or twice he was woken up to
have food but besides that, he only slept. It seemed as though he had never slept as
quietly and safely. The ironmaster and Edla gifted him the suit that he was wearing as
a Christmas present. She told him that he was welcome tospend even the next
Christmas with them. The Peddler kept staring at her in boundless amazement.
The Peddler Becomes a Changed Man
The next morning the ironmaster and his daughter went to the church for Christmas
service, leaving the vagabond at home. They returned home and Edla was very sad. At
the church, they had learned that a rattrap Peddler robbed an old Crofter who once
worked at their Ramsjö Ironworks. The ironmaster was furious.
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 They thought that by the time they would reach home, the Peddler would have
escaped with all their silver and other valuables. When they got home, the ironmaster
asked the valet if the Peddler was still there. The valet informed him that the fellow
had left but he had not taken anything with him. Instead, he had left. something for
Edla. Edla opened the package and found a rattrap. In the rattrap were three wrinkled
ten kronor notes and a letter.
The vagabond had written that since Edla had treated him like a real captain, he also
wanted to be nice to her. He wanted the money to be returned to the Crofter. He
further wrote that he would not have been able to escape the rattrap, if he had not
been raised to the status of a captain. He even signed the letter as ‘Captain von
Stahie’. He was a changed man.
MEANINGS
● rattraps — traps for catching rats
● at odd moments — in his free time
● keep body and soul together — survive, especially in difficult circumstances
● sunken — hollow
● hunger gleamed in his eyes — anybody could make out mat he was hungry from
his eyes
● vagabond — a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job
● plods along the road — walks slowly with heavy steps on the road
● fallen into a line of thought — started thinking about something
● (whole world is a) rattrap — (the world was a) place offering temptations to trap
people
● set baits — offering temptâtions
● unwonted joy — unusual enjoyment
● trudging — walking slowty with heavy steps
● sour — hostile
● carvedoff — cut
● mjölis —. a card game played in Sweden
● confidences — secrets, private matters
● Crofter — small farmer
● bossy — (here) cow
● creamery — a factory that produces butter and cheese
● kronor — the currency of Sweden
● Peddler — a person who goes from place to place selling small goods
● stuck in — thrust in
● impenetrable prison — unbreakable prison
● summoned — gathered
● smelter — an estabhshmentfoc producing am base metal from its ore
● forge — a furnace where metals are heated or wrought
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 ● barges — long flat-bottomed boats for carrying heavy goods on canals or rivers
● scows — flat-bottomed boats for transporting cargo to and from ships ¡n
harbour
● pig iron — crude ron first obtained from a smelting furnace
● maw — mouth or opening
● nodded a haughty consent — arrogantly agreed
● Ironmaster — the master or proprietor of an ironworks
● ragamuffin — a person in ragged, dirty clothes
● eased his way — came in sIwty and carefully
● deIgned — condescended
● slouch hat — a hat with a wide flexible brim or edge
● undeceive — reveal his real identity to
● regiment — a unit of an army commanded by a lieutenant colonel
● manor house — a large country house with lands
● valet — personal attendant
● apprentice — a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer
● things have gone downhill — matters have deteriorated or worsened
● tramp — homeless person who lives by begging or doing casual work
● puckered — wrinkled
● dissimulate — pretend
● Sheriff — the chief executive officer of a district havin* administrative and
judicial powers .
● parson — priest
● interceded — intervened or spoke on behalf of somebody else
● fare — a range of food
● in good season — on time

Indigo - Fischer
Chapter Sketch
The chapter Indigo is an excerpt from Fischer’s book ‘The Life of Mahatma Gandhi’.
The book has been reviewed by the Times Educational Supplement as one of the best
books ever written on Gandhi. The author visited Gandhi in 1942 and Gandhi
narrated him the. incident which prompted him to fight against the British.
Rajkumar Shukla, a poor peasant, came to Gandhi with the problem of exploitation
in his district. Gandhi visited the place and freed the people of Champaran from
tyranny.
Characters
Gandhi 

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 The Father of the Nation; here he helps the peasants of Champaran to become
self-reliant.
Rajkumar Shukla 
A poor, emaciated peasant whose resoluteness impresses Gandhi to work for
empowering Champaran’s peasants
Rajkumar Shukla The Resolute Peasant
Gandhi starts narrating the incident which made him decide to spur the exit of the
British from India. The incident occurred in 1917. Gandhi had gone to the December,
1916 annual convention of the Indian National Congress Party in Lucknow. A poor
and emaciated peasant, Rajkumar Shukla, approached Gandhi there. Shukla was
one of the sharecroppers of Champaran. Shukla wanted Gandhi to visit his district
and look into the condition of the peasants there. He came to the Congress Session
to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.
Gandhi had other commitments but Shukla accompanied him everywhere; for weeks,
he never left Gandhi’s side. Gandhi was very impressed by his tenacity and agreed to
accompany him to Champaran. He told him to come to Calcutta and take him from
there. When Gandhi went to Calcutta after some months, he found Shukla already
present there.
Visit to Rajendra Prasad’s House and then to Muzaffarpur
Shukla and Gandhi went to Patna, Bihar, to meet a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad,
the man who later became the President of the Congress Party and of India. Rajendra
Prasad was out of town. The servants knew Shukla as a poor peasant, who pestered
their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. As Gandhi accompanied him, they
thought him to be another farmer. Gandhi was not allowed to drink water from the
well as they thought he was an untouchable.
Gandhi decided to visit Muzaffarpur before Champaran to obtain more complete
information about the conditions prevalent in the area.
Gandhi sent a telegram to Professor JB Kripalani, who received them at the station
with a large body of students. Gandhi stayed in Muzaffarpur for two days in the
home of Professor Malkani, a government school teacher.
He recalled that his stay in the house of a government servant was an extraordinary
thing ‘in those days. In smaller localities, the Indians were afraid to show sympathy
for advocates of home rule.
Gandhi Chided the Lawyers
The news of Gandhi’s arrival spread like wildfire. Sharecroppers from Champaran
began arriving in large numbers. Muzaffarpur lawyers met Gandhi. They told him
about their cases and reported the size of their fee.

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 Gandhi chided the lawyers for collecting huge fee from the poor sharecroppers.
Gandhi concluded that the peasants were so crushed and fear-stricken that going to
law courts was useless. The real relief for them was to be free from fear.

The Sharecropping Arrangement

Most of the land fit for cultivation in Champaran was divided into large estates owned
by Englishmen. They forced the Indian tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with
indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.
After the landlords learned that Germany had developed synthetic indigo, they asked
for compensation from the sharecroppers for being released from the, 15%
arrangement. The sharecropping arrangement was irksome and so many peasants
signed willingly.
However, some of them engaged lawyers. Meanwhile, the news of synthetic indigo
reached the sharecroppers and they felt cheated, unhappy and then became
resentful. They wanted their money back.
Gandhi Disobeys the Official Order
It was amidst such chaos that Gandhi arrived in Champaran. He visited the
secretary of the British landlord’s association in order to piece together all the facts.
He was met with resistance. The secretary told him that no information will be given
to an outsider. Gandhi answered that he was no outsider. He then visited the British
Commissioner. Gandhi reported that he was bullied and asked to leave Tirhut.
Gandhi proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran. A vast multitude greeted
him. Using a house as headquarters, he continued his investigations. A report came
in that a peasant had been maltreated in a nearby village. Gandhi decided to check
the matter himself.
On the way, he was ordered by a police superintendent’s messenger to return to the
town. Thereafter, he was served with an official notice to quit Champaran. Gandhi
signed a receipt of the notice and further wrote that he would disobey the order. As a
result, he was summoned to appear in the court the next day.
Spontaneous Demonstration of the Peasants
Gandhi could not sleep the whole night. He telegraphed Rajendra Prasad to come
from Patna with influential friends and sent instructions to the ashram. He also
wired a full report to the Viceroy.
Next day, several thousand peasants reached Motihari and started demonstrating
around the courthouse. They had merely heard that a certain Mahatma who wanted
to help them was in trouble with the authorities. Gandhi felt that this was the
beginning of their liberation from fear of the British.

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 The officials felt powerless, but Gandhi helped them regulate the crowd. He gave
them proof that the British tyranny will no longer be borne. The government was
baffled.
The trial was postponed. Gandhi protested against the delay. He confessed that he
broke the law but only because of the voice of his conscience. The magistrate
announced a two hour recess and asked Gandhi to get a bail prepared. Gandhi
refused. The judge didn’t deliver the judgement for days and Gandhi was allowed to
remain at liberty.
Gandhi Influences the Lawyers
Rajendra Prasad, along with any prominent lawyers, conferred with Gandhi. Gandhi
asked them what they would do if he was sent to jail. The senior lawyer replied that
they were there to help Gandhi; if he was arrested, they would go home. Gandhi
reprimanded them about the injustice to the sharecroppers.
The lawyers consulted among themselves. They thought that when Gandhi, a total
stranger, was ready to go to jail for the sake of the peasants in their region, it would
be shameful for them if they left the peasants, whom these lawyers claimed to serve.
They told Gandhi that they were ready to follow him to jail. Gandhi exclaimed, ‘The
battle of Champaran is won’.
Civil Disobedience Triumphs, Lieutenant-Governor Summons Gandhi
Gandhi was informed that the Lieutenant- Governor of the province had ordered the
case to be dropped. Civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern
India.
Inquiries into the grievances of the farmers over a wide area began. About ten
thousand testimonials were reported. Notes were made of the evidence. The whole
area throbbed with activity and the landlords protested vehemently against the
inquiries.
In June, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Edward Gait, summoned Gandhi. Gandhi laid
out detailed plans for civil disobedience if he did not return from the summons. The
Lieutenant-Governor, after having four protracted meetings with Gandhi, appointed
an official commission to enquire into the situation. Gandhi was the sole
representative of the peasants in the commission.
Gandhi Agrees to 25% Compensation
The evidence against the landlords was overwhelming. They asked Gandhi how much
they should repay. They thought he would demand full repayment of the money
which was illegally and deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers. Gandhi asked for
only 50%. The landlords offered to refund 25%. To everybody’s surprise, Gandhi
agreed.
Gandhi explained that the amount of the refund was not important. What mattered
was that the landlords were obliged to surrender part of the money, and with it, part
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 of their prestige. The planters behaved as lords above the law, but after this incident,
the peasants saw that they had rights and persons to defend them. They learned
courage.

The Poor Conditions of Champarann and Gandhi’s Typical Method

Gandhi wanted to do something about the cultural and social backwardness in the
Champaran villages immediately. He called for volunteers to help. His wife Kasturba
and his youngest son also arrived to help.
Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturba taught the ashram rules on
personal cleanliness and community sanitation. Castor oil, quinine and sulphur
ointment were given to the ailing.
Gandhi noticed the filthy state of women’s clothes. He asked Kasturba to talk to them
about it. One woman took Kasturba into her hut. She showed her that there were no
boxes or cupboards for clothes. The sari that she was wearing was the only one she
had.
Gandhi kept a long distance watch on the ashram. He sent regular instructions by
post and asked for financial accounts. The Champaran episode was a turning point
in Gandhi’s life. He explained that what he did was an ordinary thing. He declared
that the British could not order him about in his own country.
Champaran was an attempt to free the poor peasants from exploitation and ¡t didn’t
begin as an act of defiance. This was the typical Gandhi pattern. His politics were
intertwined with the practical day-to-day problems of the millions.
Self-reliance—The Making of a Free Indian
In all the things that Gandhi did, he tried to mould a new free Indian, who could
stand on own feet and thus make India free. Charles Freer Andrews, an English
pacifist, who had become a devoted follower of Gandhi, came to bid him goodbye.
Gandhi’s lawyer friends wanted Andrews to help them. Gandhi strongly opposed the
suggestion.
According to him, asking for Andrews’ help was showing the weakness of their
hearts. He assured them the cause was just and they must rely upon themselves to
win the battle. Gandhi in this way taught them a lesson in self-reliance. Self-reliance,
Indian independence and help to the sharecroppers were all bound together.
MEANINGS
● urge the departure — spur the exit (from India)
● convention — a meeting or formal assembly
● emaciated — abnormally thin or weak,.especially because of illness or lack of
food
● towering — very tail or high
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 ● sharecroppers — tenant farmers who give a part of each crop as rent
● yeoman — peasant ®1 farmer
● indigo — a dark blue dye obtained from the indigo plant
● harbour a man like me — give shelter to a person who advocated freedom
● advent — arrival
● champion — a person who defends or fights for a cause
● crushed — suppressed
● holdings — areas of land held on lease or rent
● synthetic — indigo obtained from a chemical indigo process which is just like
the natural product
● irksome — irritating, annoying
● thugs — criminals
● summons — an order to appear before a judge or magistrate
● conflict of duties — having two duties opposing each other
● reconvened — met again after a break in proceedings
● conferred — consulted or discussed
● deposition (s) — out-of-court oral testimony of a witness that is reduced to
writing for later use ¡n court
● associates — companions
● protracted — longer than expected
● entreaty — earnest request, appeal
● unlettered — illiterate
● defenders — protectors
● sanitation — cleanliness and other conditions relating to public health
● eruptions — rashes or spots
● alleviate — reduce or lessen
● intertwined — closely linked or connected
● pacifist — one who believes in adopting peaceful means rather than war or
víolence
● seek a prop— look for support

A Thing of Beauty – John Keats

Poet’s Intro :
John Keats was born in London in the year 1795 and died in Rome in 1821 at the
young age of 25 due to illness. He is a romantic poet and his poetry is characterized
by sensual imagery in his most popular work which is a series of odes, (a lyrical
poem which is meant for a particular subject). Today, his poems are one of the most
sought after creations in English literature. The above given poetry is an excerpt from
his poem, -Endymion : A poetic Romance-(1818), considered to be an epic poem.
Theme
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 The very opening line of the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty…. ‘ openly recites the very
theme of the poem. Any beautiful object is always treasured in our mind because it
provides us eternal and everlasting joy. The happiness that anything beautiful
provides, never fades into nothingness but multiplies manifold whenever it returns to
our mind.
Explanation
LINES 1 TO 12
A Thing of Beauty Poem Explanation
A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness, but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
Bower: A shady place under the tree
Morrow: The following day
Wreathing: surround, encircle
Despondence: depressed
Gloomy: sad
This poem is the source of one of the most famous lines in English Literature, that is,
“a thing of beauty is a joy for ever”. This sentence means that the beauty of the world
is everlasting, and beauty does not change as the seasons change, or as humans
evolve. Something beautiful will always be beautiful, and it will invoke joy in the
hearts of all who behold it. These things only grow in beauty and become more and
more lovely as time passes. The beauty of the world, of nature, will never dissipate
and will bring about a feeling of peace, or calm.
The bower here represents a place of comfort, where one can relax and be
reinvigorated. This bower provides a sweet slumber for those who want it and retains
their health and happiness. It is clear that this bower is a metaphor for Mount
Latmus, where Endymion spent eternity asleep, with his youth and health intact.
This bower for us is a place of relaxation, reflected in the “quiet breathing” and “sweet
dreams”.
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 The beauty of the world provides us with this peace, so people remain on Earth
joyfully. We wreathe a “flowery band” that holds us in the beauty that surrounds us
and enjoy it despite the terrors that exist simultaneously. Despondence and gloom do
not overtake the joy that beauty brings to the heart, so all the things that hurt the
heart are pushed away by the shape of beauty. A “pall” is a feeling of gloom or fear,
and this is pushed away by the beauty that pervades the world. There is no place for
both gloom and joy in a person, and beauty brings joy forever, while terrors bring
only fleeting sadness.

Literary devices:
● rhyme scheme: aabbc (forever, never, keep, sleep, breathing)
● Alliteration:
Use of consonant sound at the start of two words (Sleep-Sweet)
● Metaphor:
bower Quiet (calmness of the bower is compared to the calming effect of a beautiful
thing)
● Anaphora:
Use of same word in two consecutive lines (of noble natures- Of all the unhealthy)
● Alliteration:
Use of consonant sound at the start of two words (‘b’ in Band Bind, ‘n’ in Noble
nature, ‘s’ in some shape).
● Metaphor:
wreathing a flowery band (the beautiful things of our life bind us to the earth)
● Imagery:
creating a sensory effect of beautiful things lined up in a string ( A flowery band to
bind us)
● inversion:
normal order of words is reversed ( Are we wreathing a flowery band)
LINES 13 TO 24
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
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 That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms                    
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink
Boon: blessing
Rills: a small stream
Brake: a process to slow down
Grandeur: high rank or socially important
Mighty: enormous
Immortal: never dying
Brink: edge
Here, the poet describes the shapes of beauty that force the air of gloom to depart from
our minds. The sun, the moon, and the shade of the trees provide peace for the sheep
of the fields, just as the daffodils dance in the wind as they are surrounded by
greenery. The babbling streams make little thickets for animals to languish in and
provide cool water and rejuvenate all those that come by it. The “mid forest brake” is
the thick growth that can be seen in the centre of a forest, ad this place is full of
flowers and trees and provides a gorgeous perfume from the numerous blooms that
lay within it.
These beautiful spaces are not just limited to nature, as humanity portrays the
afterlife of the martyrs and freedom fighters with much greater magnificence. We have
created the beauty that one steps into after death as a reflection of the beauty that one
lives in before death. It truly is a joy forever, and this can be seen in the stories we tell
and the joy that is imbibed in us through the blessings that surround us.
So, our spirits do not remain dark. The poet compares the things that bring sadness
versus those that bring happiness. Gloom is brought about by despondence, the lack
of integrity, the terrible events that take place, and the unhealthy ways that we treat
ourselves. Joy is brought forth by the flowers, the sun and the moon, the greenery, the
new life that grows, and the comfort that nature brings to us. The happiness
is constant, while the sadness is transient.
The “endless fountain” may be an allusion to the Fountain of Youth, thus bringing
back the theme of Endymion’s immortality as the base of this poem. Additionally, the
mention of the moon is no coincidence, as the love between the moon goddess Selene
and Endymion is the myth that inspired this poem in the first place.

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Literary devices:
● Alliteration:
Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (‘s’ in
Sprouting Shady, Simple sheep, ‘c’ in cooling covert)
● Imagery:
Trees giving shade (sprouting shady boon), growing process of daffodils (daffodils
with the green world they live in), Clean river streams (Clear rills)
● Antithesis:
opposite words placed together (old and young)
● Alliteration:
Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (‘h’ in have
heard)
● Metaphor:
Immortal drinks ( beautiful objects of nature are forever like a neverending portion of
a drink)
● Rhyme:
Rhyme scheme is used in every stanza of the poem (forever; never, keep; sleep, dead;
read etc.)
● Imagery:
Bushes full of musk roses(sprinkling of fair musk rose blooms), books describing
valor of fighters (grandeur-..mighty dead), god providing us with best things (pouring
from the heaven’s brink)
Summary
A beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy, its attractiveness grows with the passage of
time and its impact never fades away. It is as pleasant as a cool quiet bower or sound
sleep with sweet dreams; or robust health and mental peace. It provides the beholder
with a haven of tranquility and solace.
It is the beauty of nature that keeps us attached to this earth. Every morning we
collect fresh lovely flowers and prepare garlands. The fascination for flowers is our
bonding with the earth. It helps us steer clear of despondency and disappointments.
We forget all our despair, of acute shortage of noble souls, of misfortunes that overtake
us to test our forbearance. Life is full of trials and tribulations and we often find
ourselves in the midst of gloom. It is at such depressing moments that a sight full of

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 beauty dispels the pall of sadness from our spirits making room for hope and
optimism.
The objects of beauty are countless. These include heavenly bodies like the sun and
the moon, the old and young trees that provide cool shelter to sleep, the daffodil
flowers encased in green leaves, the streams that flow through a shady passage which
they make themselves with plants, and the bushes that bear fragrant flowers. These
simple and even commonplace things lift the human spirit filling it with joy and
delight. In addition to these objects of nature, there are wonderful tales of our
legendary heroes, who lived and died heroically, which inspire us with their matchless
beauty. These beautiful things are metaphorically an endless source of nectar that
pours down to us from heaven bringing eternal joy for the soul’s grandeur. They are
like an elixir of life, a never diminishing source of pleasure and delight, an endless
fountain of joy that seems to be a precious gift from Heaven.

New words
● Bower- a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants.
● Morrow the following day
● Wreathing covering or to encircle.
● Spite – desire to offend or annoy someone.
● Despondence disheartened, hopeless.
● Noble of superior quality, having high moral principles
● Pall a cloud, here, a dark cloud of gloom and sadness.
● Spirits the soul where lie our emotions and character.
● Sprouting to develop suddenly in large numbers.
● Shady boon a shade which is helpful to someone.
● Rills streams of running water.
● Covert not openly known or displayed.
● Grandeur so as to impress.
● Dooms last day of existence.
● Immortal living forever.
● Heaven’s brink the door of God’s home.
List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
● The Sun
● The Moon
● Shady trees
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 ● Beautiful daffodil flowers
● Streams of water
● Dense green bushes of forest ferns where fragrant musk roses grow
● Tales of heroic men who sacrifice their lives
List the things that cause suffering and pain.
● Desire to offend others
● Hopelessness
● Lack of noble men
● Bad health
● Unhappiness
● Gloom
● Darkness

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers – Adrienne Rich

POET’S INFO:
Adrienne Cecile Rich (1929 – 2012)
● American poet, essayist and feminist.
● One of the most widely read and influenced poets of the second half of the 20th
century.
● She talks about a woman’s experiences in her married life.
● She has tried to explore the inner feelings of a woman who is living under the
dominance of men.
Theme:
● The principal theme of the poem is women’s freedom and feminism. “Aunt Jennifer’s
Tigers” sounds like a bead of good times. In reality, this is a woman whose life has
been limited by the patriarchal or male-dominated society in which she lives. But the
poem doesn’t give us any facts about that. It doesn’t tell us, for example, that Aunt
Jennifer wasn’t allowed to go to college, or that Aunt Jennifer’s husband didn’t give
her any say in financial matters. But the poem does strongly suggest that Aunt
Jennifer’s life prospects have been limited by her gender and her marriage, which left
her frightened in her bad times.
FIRST STANZA
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
EXPLANATION
● The poet is talking about a lady whom she addresses as aunt, Jennifer.
● She is embroidering a piece of cloth. It could be a table cloth or a wall hanging.

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 ● The pattern shows tigers who are moving and jumping around all over the fabric.
● They are bright yellow in colour like the colour of the topaz stone (use of metaphor).
● The dense green forest background is their home.
● They are the proud and fearless citizens of the forest.
● Here is a contrast between Aunt Jennifer and her tigers. The tigers are fearless but
this lady, who is embroidering them is not so.
● The tigers look elegant, shining and full of the gentleman’s grace.
The poet is describing a lady whom she addresses as Aunt Jennifer. She says that
Aunt Jennifer is doing embroidery on a piece of cloth which could be a table cloth or
a wall hanging. She has designed it with beautiful tigers which are running fearlessly
in the green forest. She has described their beauty by comparing them with a
precious yellow stone known as topaz. She says that they appear bright yellow in the
green backdrop of the forest. They are fearless and they are not affected by the
presence of men. Here we can sense the contrast of behavior between the tigers and
aunt, though the tigers designed by her are fearless but she herself is afraid of her
husband. Further, the poet says that the tigers are proud and fearless citizens of the
forests. They are very shiny and elegant.
Literary Devices
Rhyme scheme: aabb
Anaphora: use of same word in two consecutive lines (they do not … and they pace in…)
Metaphor: Use of topaz to describe the yellow color of tigers (Bright topaz)
SECOND STANZA
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
EXPLANATION
● The lady’s fingers are trembling with the fear of her husband.
● She is pursuing her hobby in her free time but probably, she is still afraid of her
husband who could scold her.
● Her fingers are so tired of working endlessly all her life
● The needle is also heavy for her to pull out of the cloth.
● The words ‘uncle’s wedding band’ as the band was bought by her husband, it is his
till today.
● The lady is dependent on her husband.
● She is still burdened by the weight of the ring. ‘weight’ means the encirclement or
trapping that has fallen upon her by getting married to him, she has been burdened
by the obligations of married life, has become the man’s property.
● She has been living a demanding life due to which she has worn out in her old age.

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 Here the poet describes the fear of Aunt Jennifer towards her husband. She says that
while she is doing embroidery, her fingers are quivering (shaking) with fear of her
husband.  Her husband doesn’t approve of her hobby of embroidery. Therefore, she
trembles while she is embroidering the piece of cloth. It has become difficult for her
to pull her needle up and down. Then she describes the wedding ring which was
given by uncle to Aunt Jennifer on their wedding day. She says that it is a kind of
burden for her to wear this ring. She has been tortured by her husband so much that
the wedding ring which could have been a beautiful gift for her seems like a burden
to her. She has faced so many difficulties in her married life that the little ring is
described as a heavy band on her trembling fingers. This means that the ring is
associated with some bad experiences in the form of torture she has faced because of
her husband’s dominating behaviour.
Literary device:
Rhyme scheme: aabb
Alliteration: ‘f’ sound is repeated in finger fluttering
THIRD STANZA
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
EXPLANATION
● Her wish to live a free, fearless life is indicated by her choice of design – tigers.
● It shows her innermost desire of being strong, fearless which has been overpowered
by her husband.
● Probably, her ordeal will end upon her death.
● Her frightened, shaking fingers will be put to rest.
● But still, even after death, the ring shall remain on her hand, i.e. her husband’s rule
over her is not yet over!
● After her death, her desire of freedom and fearlessness shall remain alive in these
tigers which she has embroidered.
The poet says that one can easily sense aunt’s desire for freedom and fearlessness
through her design of tigers. Further she says that it is not possible for aunt to achieve
this freedom during her lifetime. She will attain it only after her death but here also the
irony of her life is that still, she will be tied up with shackles in the form of her
husband’s wedding ring. The ring was the sole proof of the tortures which she had
faced from her husband. On the other hand, there are the tigers designed by Aunt
Jennifer which will always depict her desire of living a fearless life by jumping proudly
and bravely on the piece of cloth.
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Literary devices
Rhyme scheme: aabb
alliteration: ‘p’ is repeated in prancing proud
New words
Prance : walk or move around with high springy steps.
Topaz : a bright yellow coloured stone.
Denizens : here, an animal that lives or is found in a particular place.
Sleek : elegant.
Chivalric : being courteous esp. to women, an act of a gentleman.
Ordeals: extremely severe tests or experiences.
Prancing : to move around proudly.
Fluttering : to move in quick, irregular motions as if being agitated.

Should Wizard Hit Mommy - John Updike

Author’s Info:
John Hoyer Updike (18 March 1932 – 27 January 2009) was an American novelist,
poet, short story writer and art and literary critic. His most famous work is his
‘Rabbit Series’. His fiction is focused on the concerns, passions and sufferings of the
average American.
He is considered as one of the greatest American writers of his time. Updike had a
style which is rich and unusual and sometimes arcane vocabulary is conveyed
through the eyes of “a wry intelligent authorial voice”. He described the physical
world in a realist tradition.
Theme
The story deals with certain moral issues and the adult complexes that clash with
childish innocence. Father Jack tells stories to his daughter Jo, influenced by his
own childhood experiences, failures and complexes. On the other hand, his daughter
lives in her own world of fantasy and doesn’t want to come out of it.
She feels the pain of being rejected by the playmates when Roger Skunk is rejected
due to his bad smell. The story highlights the point that the children also have their
egos, identities, views and attitude. The ending of the story highlights the fact that
the children must understand that one must accept one’s identity and gracefully
accept the way we are created by God.
Summary
Jack’s Nightmare
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 Jack narrated stories to his two years old daughter Jo at bedtime. Each story had a
character whose first name would be Roger, and he had a problem and the solution
to his problem would be available at the Wizard’s house The wizard would then
perform a magic spell, and Roger’s problems would vanish.
Jo was not a little girl anymore who would believe in magic. Her father’s bedtime
stories did not affect her anymore. Her brother Bobby fell asleep as he was only two.
Jack asked about the main character of that night’s story, and Jo replied, “Skunk.”
Jo’s unusual choice triggered Jack’s enthusiasm for story-telling, and he started the
story.
The Art of Story-telling
There lived a tiny little creature by the name of Roger Skunk in dark woods. He
smelled awful. Roger Skunk smelled terrible and none of the animals living in those
woods ever played with him. Instead, whenever they saw Roger Skunk, they called
him names such as Roger Stinky Skunk. On hearing these names, Roger Skunk
cried and sobbed, and tears rolled down his eyes.
Jo asked Jack if Roger Skunk visited the Owl and Jack told her that Roger Skunk
called the Owl, who recommended Roger to see the wizard. Jo was very excited, but
Jack advised him to lie her head on the pillow and sleep.
Jo asked Jack if magic was real. A few days ago, she also asked her mother whether
God was in the sky. While ignoring Jo’s curious questions, Jack continued the story.
Roger Skunk went to the wizard’s house over the crick.
The Old Wizard
Roger Skunk located the house and rapped on the window, a little older man with a
long white beard came out. The wizard complaint of Roger’s bad smell. He decided to
help him by pulling his magic wand. Roger told the wizard that he wanted to smell
like roses.
The wizard uttered a sacred mantra, and Roger started to smell like roses. At that
moment, Jack, out of sheer excitement, spoke: “Roger Fish” instead of Roger Skunk.
Jo caught him in the act. Jack ignored and carried on with his story. The wizard
asked Roger Skunk for seven pennies, but he only had four.
The Ever-listening Jo!
Jack wanted to end the story as soon as possible because his wife Clare was
handling some heavy furniture, and she was also six months pregnant. So he made
the remaining story like this.

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 Wizard told Roger to go to a magic well where he would find three more pennies. He
gave the pennies to the wizard and went home happily. All the animals played with
him. When Roger Skunk reached home, his mom scolded him and commanded him
to go back to the wizard to undo his actions.
After the meeting with the wizard, Roger Skunk smelled like the way before. Roger
and his mom went home, and it was time for his dad to come home. He bought with
him lima beans, celery, liver, and mashed potatoes. Jo asked about the other
animals, and Jack told her that they got used to Roger’s smell and played with him.
Jack told Jo to sleep. But Jo wanted Jack to tell her a story where the wizard would
hit Roger’s mom. As he walked down the stairs, he saw Clare doing the paintwork on
wood. He was exhausted.
Character Sketch of Jack in Should Wizard Hit Mommy
Jack (The father):
Jack, like any loving father, tells stories to his daughter Jo every day to put her to
sleep. As he is not very creative and imaginative, he keeps one basic storyline. While
telling the story, he tries to dramatise and modulates his voice to bring the effect. He
himself didn’t have a very happy childhood. At times, his own childhood experiences,
complexes, miseries and humiliations are brought out in his stories.
He is a caring husband who shares the household work with his wife. At the same
time, he seems to be a chauvinist who does not want to be taken for granted by
women and doesn’t want to bow even before his small daughter. When the story fails
to convince his daughter, he uses coercive methods to stick to his point of view. He is
not able to understand a child’s psychology and exposes the child to the harsh
realities of the world at a tender age.
Character Sketch of Jo or Joanne in Should Wizard Hit Mommy
Joanne (The Daughter):
Joanne or Jo is a smart, pampered, loved but sensitive child. Like any other child of
four years, she is fond of stories. She is innocent and loves the happy ending stories.
She lives in her imaginary world of fairies, magic wands, miracles, etc. and is not
prepared for any harsh reality of life. She feels pain for Roger Skunk when he is
rejected by his friends. Fun, games and peer appreciation mean much to her.
She is very logical and argumentative. She has her own mind and cannot accept that
mothers can be so cruel as to hurt their children. When she is not able to persuade
him to change the ending of the story, she urges her father to tell her another story.

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 Jo, like a young smart kid, is full of questions. She is learning new things every day in
the school and is very inquisitive. It gives her maturity. She is brave enough not to
accept something that she doesn’t believe in.

On the Face of it - Susan Hill

Author’s Info:
Susan Hill (born on 5 February 1942-) is an English author of fiction and non-fiction
works. Her novels include The Woman in Black, The Mist in the Mirror and I’m the
King of the Castle. She received the Somerset Maugham Award in 1971 for her novel
I’m the King of the Castle. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British
Empire in the 2012 Birthday Honours for her services to literature. She is known to
explore the inner fears and loneliness. Her works reflect honest suffering and
optimism.
Derry’s mother
Introduction
The play is about the friendship between an old man and a young boy who is
withdrawn and defiant. Both of them had some physical impairment, but the outlook
of each of them towards life in general and people in particular was very different. The
old man had a positive outlook towards life, whereas the young boy with the scarred
face had become withdrawn and pessimistic.
Theme
The play, “On the Face of It” brings out the idea that the people who have any
handicap/ physical impairment of some kind, generally suffer from a sense of
loneliness and mental pain. It also talks about how appearances are deceptive and
most often, we go on dealing with impressions and prejudices about others without
caring to know about them actually.
CHARACTER SKETCH
Derry
● Young boy of 14 years with a burnt face.
● Lives secluded from other children
● Insecure about the way he looks
● Initially has a negative approach towards his life because of his deformity of the
face caused by the acid until he meets Mr. Lamb.
● He feels that people either feel sorry for him or feel that he is very ugly.
● He has suffered many rude remarks from the people like one woman told him that
no one will ever kiss such a face except his mother and that too on the other side
of his face.
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 ● Transforms himself after spending time with Mr. Lamb.
Mr. Lamb:
● He was a lonely man
● Had a tin leg
● Always had a positive approach towards his life
● Keeps himself busy by making jelly out the apples in his garden, sitting in the sun
and reading books.
● Did not have curtains in the house because he did not like to shut the light or
darkness
● Keeps the windows open to hear the sound of the wind
● Called Lamey lamb by people.
● He revives the almost dead feelings of Derry towards life

Derry: The Devil!

Mr. Lamb tried to console the young boy, but he believed that they were not the same.
Mr. Lamb attempted to justify his claim by telling Derry that if he had a burnt face,
Mr. Lamb had a tin leg, so there was no difference between them.
Derry told Mr. Lamb that at least he could hide his tin leg. They talked of beauty and
the beast, and how beauty kissed the creature, and he changed into a beautiful
prince. But Derry said that only his mother kissed him and that too on the other side
of his face.
Lamb: The Angel
They both had a little conversation about the world and certainly about Mr. Lamb’s
leg. Derry told Mr. Lamb that one day, two ladies whispered to each other about his
face when he was going through a street. According to them, only a mother could love
a face like that.
Derry loved being in the garden because it was the only place where he could hide. He
also did not like being around people because they stared at his face.
Mr. Lamb felt for the boy and tried to entertain him by telling the story of a man who
locked himself in the room. He had this feat that if he ever stepped outside, something
terrible might happen. A donkey would kick him, or lightning might strike him, or he
might slip on a banana skin but at last, while in the room, a picture fell on his head
and killed him.
You Got a Friend in Me!
Mr. Lamb told Derry that he likes reading books. Mr. Lamb also said to him that he
had hundreds of friends. Derry was reluctant to befriend Mr. Lamb, but eventually,

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 they both became friends. All Derry wanted was a garden and a house with no
curtains. Mr. Lamb welcomed him. in his garden any time of the day.
Mr. Lamb wanted Derry to help him pick the crab apples, but Derry’s home was three
miles across the fields. He was afraid his mother would not allow that. They argued on
their world views. Derry ran away but promised to come back.
In the next scene, Derry argued with his mother, who did not allow him to go to Mr.
Lamb’s garden. Derry disobeyed his mother and ran away to the garden to help Mr.
Lamb pick the crab apples.
Mr. Lamb tried to pick apples, but the ladder slipped. He fell and died. As Derry
entered the garden, he saw Mr. Lamb on the ground. He started to weep.

Evans Tries An O-Level - Colin Dexter

Author’s Info :
Colin Dexter (29 September 1930 – 21 March 2017) is a British crime writer who is
known for ‘Inspector Endeavour Morse’ who appears in detective novels authored by
him. These novels written between 1975 and 1999 were adopted as a television series
from 1987 to 2000. Dexter has received many awards and accolades, including two
Silver Draggers, two ‘Gold Draggers’ and a ‘Cartier Diamond Dragger’ for lifetime
achievement in 1997. He was conferred with the 1996 Macavity Award for his story
‘Evans Tries an O-level’. In the year 2000, he was appointed an ‘Officer of the Order of
British Empire’ for his services to literature.
Introduction:
The story, “Evans Tries An 0-Level”, written by Colin Dexter is an interesting story
depicting how a prisoner called James Evans befools all the officers of the prison to
escape under a well-laid out plan. Despite the best efforts of the prison authorities,
Evans is able to escape. In this battle of wits between him and the prison authorities,
he has the last laugh.
Theme
This story talks about a criminal Evans who is known as a prison-breaker. The prison
officials make huge efforts to keep Evans in prison, but he eventually escapes
successfully. Though he outwits the officials, they marvel at his ingenuity and wisdom.
Main Characters:
1. James Evan
He was known as a kleptomaniac who has escaped thrice from various prisons but
now a prisoner at HM Prison Oxford, which is guarded by the governor. He was known
to all for his teasing attitude and his amicable relations with the officers. While at the
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 prison, he takes night classes in o-level german language and very soon after 6
months he is going to take the final exam.
2. Jackson
He was the senior officer at the same prison and displays his war accolades on his
jacket’s pocket. He and Evan share animosity. Though he sometimes pokes fun at
Evan but wished him good luck also. He showed empathy but also exchange gruff
against him.

3. Reverend Stuart Mcleery

He was a clergyman at St. Mary Mags, is sent to Oxford prison as a proctor for Evan’s
o-level exam. He is short and stout with a choppy haircut wore a clerical shirt with a
long coat and glasses. Initially, he appears to be patient but losses his temper when
Jackson was in quest for his briefcase and interrogates him. Reader’s will get a
glimpse at the end of the story only.
4. Stephens
He is newly appointed as an officer at Oxford Prison and supposed to sit while Evans
is giving his exam. He is short-tempered and has been ordered to report if anything
looks fishy. He is adept at talking to himself and guides himself to control the
situation in case something goes wrong. Stephen was also confident enough and felt
proud when chosen for this job.
5. The governor
The governor is the protagonist of the story and is a proud man and wants to outwit
Evans and keep the prisoner locked so that he could not get out. He supervised the
prisoner through a receiver so that he feels safe and the situation remains under
control. He wants to redeem his obligations and doesn’t want that Evans escape this
time.
Summary:
The Inevitable Escape
In March, the governor of Oxford prison called the secretary of examination to arrange
an exam for a prisoner named Evans. Evans wanted to acquire some academic
qualifications.
The secretary agreed to the governor’s proposition of exam and assured him of
necessary action. Evans the Break was Evans’ nickname. He had tried to escape the
prison thrice but this time, according to the governor, there was a slight possibility
that Evans really wanted to pass this O-level German exam.
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 On Monday 7 June, Evans’ German teacher shook hands with him, and told him that
he had no chance of passing this exams. Mr Jackson and Officer Stephens reported in
Evans’ cell in the morning. Both of them were prison officers. Evans told them that he
wanted to shave.
The Impersonator
Jackson and Evans were not on good terms, and Jackson was in no mood to crack
jokes. He harshly ordered Evans to get ready in half an hour. Evans told him that his
hat (that he was wearing) was his only luck.
The Board scheduled the exam at 9:15 A.M, and Reverend Stuart McLeery was the
invigilator. He was dressed in a long black overcoat and had his belongings such as
the paper envelope (sealed), a Bible, and an authentication card.
While shaving,Evans asked Jackson why the Jail administration was so afraid of his
escape. Jackson said that nobody would take a chance on him. He clearly warned
Evans. Finally, McLeery had arrived, and the exam had started.
The Message
The governor was worried about a couple of events that might unfold that day. He
thought about Evans escape by holding McLeery as a hostage or what if McLeery
might have smuggled something inside the cage to help Evans.
Jackson came back, reopened the cage ad checked McLeery and his belongings to
satisfy himself. Jackson asked McLeery about his rubber ring. The exam started,
McLeery gave Evans some instructions. Stephens came out of the cage.
After some time, the governor got a call that something was missing (a correction
form). They rectified the error, but the governor was worried as it might have been a
secretly coded message. He tried to call the examination institution, but the line was
engaged.
The magistrate court wanted a prison van and some guards, so they called the prison
governor. He was worried. In the cell, Evans was staring at the paper, and McLeery
was reading Bible. Stephens was checking Evans through the peep-hole every minute
or so. There was a very tense atmosphere.
When Stephens checked Evans for the final times, he found out that Evans had a
blanket. A plethora of thoughts ran through his mind, was Evans trying to suffocate
McLeery? Or was he planning to escape? At noon, the exam ended. Stephen was
happy because the governor had assigned him to escort McLeery out of the cage.

S.Umamaheswari Murugesan, M.B.A., B.A., M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed., D.I.S.M Page 26

Dept. of English, Orison Academy Senior Secondary
 When Mc Leery was out of the cage, Stephen escorted him outside and asked him how
Evans had performed. It seemed to him that McLeery was a little taller and slimmer.
By any chance, he had this feeling of checking Evans once more, and he was stunned.
McLeery was inside the cage, and by the time he could alert Jackson, it was too late.
McLeery knew Evans location, but he was gasping for air. He told them that Evans
was heading to Elsfield way. The governor rang Stephens and called him an idiot. He
told Jackson that he had no brain.
The Chase Begins
Soon after, the governor vowed to catch Evans. The authorities had chased Evans for a
while but lost him at the Headington roundabout. The governor did not think so. He
asked Carter if McLeery was in the hospital, and he told the governor that indeed
McLeery was in Radcliffe hospital.
The governor called the Radcliffe hospital to confirm the fact, but he froze as he
listened to the person answering his phone call. McLeery was not there. They found
the real McLeery gagged in Broad Street. It was not Evans who walked with Stephens;
Evans was impersonating McLeery inside the prison.
Evans (after his great escapade) was in the Golden Lion hotel. While walking upstairs,
he reminisced each and everything that he did to make his great escape.
As he closed his room’s door, he was frozen. It was the governor who was already
sitting on the bed. Evans froze, and there was a long silence. It was a very awkward
moment for Evans. He knew that it was that correction slip that led to his failure.
Evans and the governor exchanged some words about how the governor got his trails.
Things Explained!
Evans also explained to the governor how he smuggled blood into the prison. The
governor also asked Evans how he planned this escapade as he had no friends and
visitors in prison, but Evans told him that he had many friends.
The receptionist girl told the governor that the van had arrived. The governor bade a
good farewell to Evans. While sitting in the van, the officer took off Evans handcuffs,
and they escaped to Newbury once again. Evans was free again.

S.Umamaheswari Murugesan, M.B.A., B.A., M.A., M.Phil., B.Ed., D.I.S.M Page 27

Dept. of English, Orison Academy Senior Secondary