TO
SIR, WITH LOVE – E.R.
Braithwaite
Characters in the novel
Ricky Braithwaite (Teacher) : Narrator
Miss Joseph and Denham : Students of Braithwaite’s class
Mr. Florian :
Head Master
Mrs. Dale-Evans :
Teacher
To Sir, With Love is an autobiographical novel by
E.R Braithwaite. It is based on the life of the writer. It deals with the theme
of students-teacher relationship and racial discrimination (racism). The
narrator Ricky Braithwaite is the main character (protagonist) in the novel. He
is a teacher in Greenslade School. Being jobless after leaving the job from the
Royal Air Force, he joined the school to earn his livelihood. Initially, he
found himself in conflict with the students. He took his students as notorious,
troublemaking, ill-mannered and disrespectful. His students also considered him
as an outsider. He is harassed and bullied by the students. He also scolded
them for being ill mannered and unruly. When he realized that his anger and indifference
towards his students had failed to bring him any respect and cooperation from
the students, he decided to change himself. He changed his teaching methods and
handled the students with respect. He treated them as adults and respectable
persons. He added ‘Miss’ before names of the girls. This strategy brought the
big change in the attitudes of the students as well as of the teacher. It
brought mutual respect for each other. The students started showing maturity,
empathy and knowledge. The teacher was very happy to notice this change.
Chapter 17 in the novel deals with the events
happened on the occasion of the half-yearly report of the Students’ Council. This
was the day on which students from the all classes reported about their
studies.
QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS ON CHARACTER
(Q) Give the character sketch of –
Or
Explain the character of
Miss. Joseph
Miss. Joseph was a girl student from Braithwaite’s
class. On the occasion, she was well dressed like an important official. She was
confident and ready for the Students’ Council. Miss. Joseph sat with the
headmaster Mr. Florian on the stage. Being an anchor for the programme, she
explained the Council’s purpose and its activities. In her presentation, she spoke
about their studies. She highlighted that in half-yearly term they had learnt
the interdependency of mankind in spite of geographical locations and
differences in colour, races and creeds. She presented her confidently and
anchored the programme effectively.
Denham
Denham is a student from Braithwaite’s class. On the
occasion, he was well dressed like an important official on the day. He seemed
to be confident and ready for the occasion. Denham sat with the headmaster Mr.
Florian on the stage. He anchored the programme and announced the names of the
students and the subjects. He presented the report of the subject of P.T. Being
a sportsperson; he criticized the limitations of space and general pattern of
P.T. He highlighted the uselessness of such subject of P.T. without serious
implementation. He had some stern
arguments with Mr. Weston, one of the teachers in the panel selected for
responding to the students’ questions. Mr. Weston responded ridiculously to
Denham by giving irrelevant answers. Denham was outwitted by another teacher,
Miss Phillips. He respectfully stopped making any further heated arguments.
Braithwaite was very happy and satisfied with Denham’s progress.
Fernman
Fernman is a student from Mr. Braithwaite’s senior
class. He presented the report on the subject of physiology in his presentation
of the half-yearly report,. He signals his two friends to bring a model of
human skeleton on the stage. Initially, this hanging skeleton makes the meeting
laugh. But as he proceeds, he speaks seriously, knowledgably about the
discrimination.
Mr. Florian (मि. फ्लोरियन)
Mr. Florian is the headmaster of Greenslade School.
On the occasion of the half-yearly report, he gives a long speech. In his
speech, he highlights the aims and policies of the school. He states the
importance of the students’ contribution to achieve the aims. He praises the
students as well as insists the need for the improvement in the conduct,
cleanliness and knowledge. It shows that Mr. Florian is truly a dedicated
headmaster. He wants his students to make all round development.
Miss Euphemia
Phillips
Miss Euphemia Phillips is one of the teachers in the
panel selected to respond to the questions. Apparently she seems to be
brainless but while answering to the questions she proved to be the coolest and
best informed of the three teachers. She was very frank and knowledgeable in
her responses. She helped other teachers in giving answers to the questions.
She skillfully handled the hot debate between Denham and Mr. Weston on the implementation
of P.T. in school. She made some arguments on the limitations of the school as
well as she focused on the need of such subjects for other students. She
successfully outwitted Denham with some sugary remarks. She is presented as a
skillful teacher in the extract.
Ricky Braithwaite/ the narrator/ the teacher
(रिकी ब्रेथवेट/ न्यारेटर / टिचर
या पैकी कोणत्याही पात्रा विषयी माहिती लिहायची सांगितल्यास खालील उत्तर लिहा.
कारण तिन्ही शब्द एकाच व्यक्तीसाठी वापरलेले आहेत.)
In the beginning of his career as a teacher,
Braithwaite is harassed and bullied by the students. After realizing that his
indifference and anger has not brought any respect to him from the students, he
changes his teaching techniques and handles the students respectfully. This
brings positive changes in teacher-students’ relationship. On the day of the
school’s half-yearly report, he becomes very excited. He becomes very anxious about the presentation
of his class. Braithwaite is a good teacher. He feels pleased and proud to
notice the confidence, courtesy and other positive changes in his students.
(Q) Compare the characters of Miss. Joseph and
Denham
Ans. Miss. Joseph and Denham, the students from Braithwaite’s class, were
smartly dressed like important officials on the occasion of the half-yearly
report. Both sat on the stage with the headmaster Mr. Florian. They had the
charge of anchoring the programme. They seemed to be confident and ready for
the meeting.
Miss Joseph explained
the Council’s purpose and its activities. In her presentation, she spoke about
their studies. She highlighted that in this term they had learnt the
interdependency of mankind in spite of geographical locations and differences
in colour, races and creeds. She presented her confidently and anchored the
programme effectively.
Denham, being an
anchor, announced the names of the students and the subjects. Being a
sportsperson, he presented the report of the subject of P.T. but criticized the
limitations of space and general pattern of P.T. He had some stern arguments
with Mr. Weston on the topic of P.T. Mr. Weston responded ridiculously to
Denham by giving irrelevant answers. Denham was outwitted by another teacher,
Miss Phillips. He just like any good student respectfully stopped making
further heated arguments.
(Q) One
of the following characters is a teacher in the extract. Select the correct
name of the teacher. Find and write a couple of lines from the extract in
support of your answer. (खाली दिलेल्या नावांच्या पर्यायांपैकी एक शिक्षकाचे नाव आहे. या पर्यायांतील
शिक्षकाचे नाव निवडून तुमच्या उत्तराच्या समर्थांनार्थ उताऱ्यातून दोन वाक्ये
लिहा.)
(a) Denham (b) Sapiano
(c) Miss Joseph (d) Dale-Evans
Ans.
Dale-Evans is the teacher in the extract. On
the occasion of half-yearly report of Students’ Council some teachers were to
be selected in the panel to answer the questions of the students. Mrs.
Dale-Evans was one of the teachers in the panel. Couple of lines in support my
answer are: The names were called: Mr. Weston, Mrs. Dale-Evans, Miss. Phillips.
Denham and Miss Joseph led the others off the stage and the teachers took their
seats.
(Q)The narrator played a significant role in
bringing a significant change in the students. Explain the statement by citing
some references from the extract.
The students in
Braithwaite’s class were ill mannered, notorious, unruly and mischievous. They
were not ready to change their behaviour. The students deliberately tortured
the teacher. After being harassed and bullied by the
students, the teacher realized that his anger had not brought any respect for
him from the students. So, he changed his teaching methods. He started handling
his students with respect. They were treated as adults and respectable persons.
Initially, the students found it ridiculous, but they noticed positive changes
among themselves. This change made the students confident. They started taking
responsibility. All the students from Braithwaite’s class became serious about
the problems of racial discrimination. These things are explicitly found in
their presentations. They highlighted the importance of the interdependency and
brotherhood of mankind. They boldly commented on the problem of discrimination
based on geographical location, colour, races and creed. Few statements from
the extract in support of these significant changes in the students are:
“The children arrived
smartly dressed polished, and Miss Joseph and Denham, who seemed to be the
important officials for the occasion.”
“I felt terribly
pleased and proud to see the confident courtesy with which Denham used the term
‘Miss’ in addressing each of the senior girl.”
(Q) Fernman
brought a comic relief in the Students’ Council programme. Explain. (विद्यार्थी परिषदेच्या कार्यक्रमात फर्नमनने थोडासा गमतीदार पणा आणला हे
उताऱ्यातील प्रसंगातून स्पष्ट करा.)
Ans. Fernman, a student from Braithwaite’s class,
made presentation of the subject of physiology. This episode on the half-yearly
report day brought a comic relief in the Student’s Council programme. Earlier presentation
by other students made the atmosphere somewhat serious by making comments on
the issues of bias towards the brotherhood, interdependency of mankind, racial
discrimination in their lessons. Fernman, at the beginning of his presentation,
signaled his two friends to bring a skeleton. They made an arrangement to hang
the skeleton to a hook screwed into the top of its skull. This hanging skeleton
gently revolved at the end of a cord. The students in the auditorium laughed at
this sight which brought a comic relief into the meeting.
QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS ON PLOT
Describe
in brief the purpose of organizing the half-yearly report programme of
Student’s Council. (2
marks)
Greenslade School
organizes the half-yearly report programme on 15th November. Since
it is an important day in the calendar of the school, it has some purposes. We
can easily realize these purposes from the narration of the event. Since this
day is completely arranged, presented and controlled by the students, the
purposes are to boost the confidence in the students, to develop their stage
daring. The day gives them opportunities to learn the skills of planning and
execution. Another purpose is to convey
the aims and policies of the school to students through the headmaster’s speech.
The most important purpose of the day is to give the students an opportunity to
present their study report to the school. It also gives them platform to
express their views and to put their questions to the teachers.
(Q.) Write in your own words the entire
half-yearly report programme of Students’ Council.
The half-yearly report programme of Students’
Council was organized on 15th November. It was arranged, presented
and controlled by the students only. The anchors, Denham and Miss Joseph, were
smartly dressed and polished like some important officials on the occasion. At
10.00 am all students arrived at the auditorium.
Mr. Florian, the
headmaster of the school, gave a speech. Miss Joseph gave a short address on
brotherhood and interdependency of mankind in spite of colour, races, creeds
and geographical location. Potter spoke about the greater understanding among
the people through the use of weights and measure. Ferman brought a comic
relief through the episode of skeleton. Miss Dare spoke about the problems of
sickness and disease in the world. Miss Dodd highlighted need of History to
understand the beliefs and cultures of other. At the end Denham has some
arguments with Weston. Denham criticized the P.T. exercises. Miss Philips tried
to convince him about the timetable and limitations of the schools. In the end
of the program the narrator finds him pleased with the performances by his
students.
(Q.) Describe the question-answer session that
took place at the end of the extract.
The end of the extract mainly consists the
question-answer session between Denham
and the teachers- Weston, Miss. Phillips. Denham
criticizes the P.T. exercises for
having any physical advantages. Weston answered almost
with offended dignity.
Denham insisted on daily exercises and said that exercise
twice a week is a waste of
time. Miss. Philips tried to convince Denham about the
school timetable and
limitations of the school with some sugary remarks. At
the of question-answer session
Denham stops arguing for being outwitted by Miss.
Philips.
(Q) Describe the problems in the world
highlighted by the students on the occasion of half-yearly report of the
Students’ Council.
On the occasion of
the half-yearly report of students, many students made presentations of various
subjects. In their presentations they highlighted the problems in the world.
Miss Joseph spoke about discrimination in the world made on the basis of race,
colour and geographical locations. Potter focused on the understanding among
the people through the weights and measures. In the presentation of geography,
Miss Peg and Jackson pointed unequal distribution minerals and vegetables. The
problems of feeding, clothing and housing in the post-war world as well as
problems of refugees, stateless and unwanted is focused upon. Fernman through a
comic scene focused on a grave problem of discrimination and stated that
outward appearances might be different but the human skeleton is the same.
Denham criticized the uselessness of the P.T. exercises only twice a week. He
points the problems in education.
QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS ON SETTING
(Q) The incidents in the extract occurred at a
particular place. Explain significance of that place in your own words.
Or
Explain
how the setting of the extract contributes to the theme of the novel.
The incidents in the extract occurred at the auditorium
of Greenslade School. This
setting has a great significance in the development of
the themes of teacher- student
relationship and racial discrimination. The school plays
a vital role in the
development of the students and their understanding of
the world. After a hostile and
indifferent treatment by the teacher as well as the
students, the teacher changed his
attitude and methods to handle the students. This marked
the beginning of mutual
respect for each other. In the course of time students
started taking responsibilities,
they started thinking about the problems in the world.
Teacher also found it interesting
to notice the changes. The theme of racial discrimination
is also developed in this
setting. Initially, the teacher, being a black, was
treated badly by the students. The
teacher also showed indifference towards the students
because his previous
experiences of racial discrimination. But when they
developed mutual respect for each
other, students realized the problems of discrimination
made on the basis of race,
colour and geographical locations. In the presentation
students made critical
comments on many problems and made the school think about
them. The setting of
school is apt for development of such themes.
QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS ON THEME
(Q.)
‘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. (2
marks)
On the occasion of the half-yearly
report of the Student’s Council, the students from all classes presented the
report. The narrator was the teacher of the upper class. He had seen the
meticulous preparations made by his students. They planned the program, they
distributed the work and worked hard for the program. His students-Miss Joseph
and Denham- were the anchors for the program. His other students were also
going to present the reports of other subjects like math, geography, history
and physiology. So he was very eager to see the performance of his students.
One more reason for his anxiousness was his relations with his students. After
dreadful experiences in the treatment by students, the narrator and the
students had developed a mutual respect for each other. The students got
changed. They started showing interest in the studies. They took
responsibility. There was good change in their habits and hygiene. For the
first time, his students were going to present with some changed attitude, so,
the narrator was anxious when the turn of his class came.
(Q.) Explain in brief the theme of the extract. (2 marks)
Or
(Q) The relationship between the teacher and
the students is highlighted in the extract. Illustrate with suitable examples
from the extract. (2 marks)
The extract from the novel ‘To Sir,
with Love’ deals with the themes of the teacher-student relationship and racial
discrimination. Initially, the relationship between the teacher and the student
was not good. The teacher was harassed by the students. Teacher also showed
prejudiced attitude towards the students. He scolded them for their
undisciplined behaviour. This bitter relationship between the teacher and the
students was caused by the racial discrimination. The narrator was rejected at
several job places because he was a black. This experience affected his
relations with the students. But once he changed his attitude and methods of
handling the students, a mutual respect got developed between them. The
students started showing changes in their habits, hygiene, studies and their
attitude towards the outer world full of problems. In their presentation, they
overtly expressed their views on the problems in the world. The teacher found
it pleasing to notice these changes in his students. When it was his class’s
turn for presentation, he became very anxious. These and many evidences in the novel
focus on the theme of relationship between the teacher and the students.
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