Question

What do you learn about the system of education in old British schools from the play 'The Browning Version'?

Answer 1

Hint: The above question is taken from NCERT Solutions for Class 11. This chapter is a short extract from the play ‘The Browning Version’ written by Terence Rattigan. It is a one-act play that took place in a school. There are three characters in the play – Taplow, Frank, and Mr Crocker – Harris.

Complete answer:
In old British schools, there was much stress to study classical languages like Latin and Greek. Students of the lower fifth class were compelled to learn a classic play like the Agamemnon. Since the stress was to master the language, the students found it boring and displeasing. They could specialize only after completing the fifth form.

There was a system of punishment. For a simple error, one had to repeat fifty lines. Students were also “kept in’ or called for ‘Extra work’. They were seriously afraid of teachers like Mr Crocker-Harris who must follow rules and show no human feelings. At the same time, the school had teachers who were sadists and others who would break the rules and tell results to the students. Students like Tap low were afraid of hard masters like Mr Crocker-Harris, still, they liked him.

Note: In this chapter, Taplow is a sixteen years old student, Frank is a young teacher and Mr Crocker-Harris is a middle-aged schoolmaster. Taplow has arrived at the school to do extra work for Mr Crocker Harris. He meets Frank and they both engage in a conversation while Taplow waits for Mr Harris. Later, enters Millie, Mrs Crocker-Harris who talks to Taplow.