Summary themes characters and exam analysis of Evan Tries an O Level
Evans Tries An O Level is a short story in the Vistas English book of class 12. It is, at first, a slow story, but soon enough, it moves at a fast pace and keeps the reader's attention intact. A very short summary of Evan Tries An O Level would be that it is a story of cunning and smarts and is a very fun read. Let's go into a more detailed summary of Evans Tries O Level.
Summary of Evans Tries An O Level
Here is a summary of Evans Tries An O Level, a short story by Colin Dexter. The story begins with a telephone conversation between the Governor of Oxford Prison and the Secretary of the Examinations Board about conducting an O-Level German qualification test in the prison for an inmate named James Rodrick Evans. This inmate was commonly known as Evans the Break because he had successfully broken out of prison thrice before, no matter how high level of security the prison was. He had been taking O-Level German classes every night for the last seven months, but he wasn't as good as he should've been, so his passing was a doubt. Nevertheless, the exam was set up for Evans for 9:15 am the next morning, with the condition that the Governor himself would listen in and an officer be placed outside the cell to keep an eye.
At 8:30 am the next day, a senior prison officer Mr Jackson and Officer Stephens came to check up on, place two tables in the room and confiscate any items of Evans' that had the potential to turn into weapons - like his shaving razor blade. Upon asking Evans to remove the hat he was wearing, he responded that it was what brought him luck so no one could do it. He was granted permission to keep the hat on.
While Evans prepared himself, his invigilator Reverend Stuart McLeery made his way into the prison compound, and to Evans' cell. The Governor was worried that even if Evans did not have potential weapons, the Reverend may have brought something that could be. Thus, his briefcase was searched. It had some Bible papers, exam papers, a paper knife (which was confiscated) and around the inflatable tube which he claimed was for his hemorrhoids, which was left at that.
By 9:20 am, Evans had Officer Stephens removed from the cell because his incessant glaring made him uncomfortable writing his exam.
The Governor's phone rang a few times. First, it was the Examinations Board, with what seemed to be a correction in the question paper, and the second was from the Magistrates Court, in need of a prison van and officers.
During the exam, Evans put on a blanket, citing the cold. He hadn't written much during the exam, even an hour and 15 minutes into it.
At the end of the exam, Stephens asked the Reverend how Evans fared. The Reverend responded in a different accent than before. After leaving him at the prison gates, he went back to take another look at Evans before heading for a break. To his surprise, a bleeding man under a blanket laid in the cell. It turned out to be the real Reverend. He guided the detective who had arrived on the scene with directions to Elsfields Way, where he thought the convict may have headed. It seemed that despite the heavy bleeding, the Reverend was fine. As it turns out, the blood was pig's blood, which came in the hemorrhoid tube. Similarly, the prison van had been called for by Evans' associates for him to get away.
At the prison, all hell had broken loose with all senior officers screaming at Stephens and Jackson.
From Elsfields Way, the detective headed to Newbury, as per the directions of the Reverend.
Recalling this, Evans ended up at a hotel for the night. However, the Governor found him because of the correction slip made by the "Examinations Board." The Governor chatted with him about how he pulled it off, and finally put him in a prison van to be taken back to prison. The driver of this van was, however, another comrade of Evans'.
A list of Chapters are Present in the NCERT Books for Class 12 English Vistas
The NCERT Class 12 English book comprises 8 Chapters
Chapter 1 - The Third Level.
Chapter 2 - The Tiger King.
Chapter 3 - Journey to the end.
Chapter 4 - The Enemy.
Chapter 5 - Should the Wizard hit Mommy.
Chapter 6 - On the face of It.
Chapter 7 - Evans Tries an O-level.
Chapter 8 - Memories of Childhood.
Conclusion
The explanation for all the Class 12 English can be found on the Vedantu Website. The answers have been explained in simple terms to help students grasp the core concepts easily. Highly qualified experts and experienced teachers have created these explanations to aid and address students' doubts and to enhance their academic performance. Students can access all materials related to English by clicking here.
FAQs on Evan Tries an O Level Summary Themes and Analysis
1. What is “Evan Tries an O Level” about?
“Evan Tries an O Level” is a short story by Colin Dexter about a prisoner who cleverly escapes from prison while appearing to sit for an examination. The story follows Evan McMorris, a well-behaved prisoner, who requests to take a German O Level exam. Through careful planning, fake documents, and outside help, Evan manages to escape, highlighting themes of deception, intelligence, and irony.
2. Who is the author of “Evan Tries an O Level”?
The author of “Evan Tries an O Level” is Colin Dexter, a British crime writer. He is best known for creating the fictional detective Inspector Morse. The story reflects Dexter’s interest in crime, clever plotting, and unexpected twists.
3. Why does Evan want to take the O Level exam?
Evan wants to take the O Level exam as part of his clever plan to escape from prison. He requests to sit for a German O Level examination, which allows him special arrangements such as a separate room and an external invigilator. These arrangements create the perfect opportunity for his planned escape.
4. How does Evan escape from prison in “Evan Tries an O Level”?
Evan escapes by switching places with a fake exam invigilator who is actually his accomplice. The key steps in his escape plan include:
- Arranging for a fake German examiner to visit the prison.
- Using a forged letter from the examination board.
- Locking up the real prison officers in the examination room.
- Leaving the prison disguised as the examiner.
This carefully planned deception shows Evan’s intelligence and patience.
5. Who helps Evan in his escape plan?
Evan is helped by his friends outside the prison, especially a man named Jackson, who poses as the German examiner. These accomplices arrange forged documents, provide disguise materials, and coordinate transport. Their teamwork ensures the escape plan runs smoothly.
6. What role does the Governor play in “Evan Tries an O Level”?
The Governor is the prison authority who initially supports Evan’s request to take the exam but later realises he has been deceived. He represents trust and authority within the prison system. After discovering the escape, he feels embarrassed and frustrated by Evan’s cleverness.
7. What happens at the end of “Evan Tries an O Level”?
At the end of the story, Evan is recaptured but escapes again due to a clever trick. Although the police track him down at a hotel, he manages to flee once more because of a misunderstanding and overconfidence by the authorities. The ending highlights the theme of irony and Evan’s superior planning.
8. What are the main themes in “Evan Tries an O Level”?
The main themes in “Evan Tries an O Level” are deception, intelligence, and the clash between criminals and authority. Key thematic ideas include:
- The power of careful planning and patience.
- The weakness of overconfidence in authority figures.
- The use of education as a cover for crime.
These themes make the story both suspenseful and ironic.
9. Why is the story considered ironic?
The story is considered ironic because a prisoner escapes while appearing to improve himself through education. The biggest example of situational irony is that the prison authorities believe they are helping Evan reform, but they are unknowingly assisting in his escape. The final twist, where he escapes again, strengthens the irony.
10. What is the character sketch of Evan McMorris?
Evan McMorris is portrayed as intelligent, calm, and highly resourceful. His character traits include:
- Cleverness – He plans every detail of his escape.
- Patience – He waits for the perfect opportunity.
- Manipulative skills – He earns the trust of prison authorities.
- Confidence – He remains calm even during risky situations.
These qualities make him a memorable and complex character in the story.
