THE BROWNING VERSION - TERENCE RATTIGAN CBSE 11 English

The scene of the play “The Browning Version” is set in a school. Taplow, a boy of sixteen has come in to do extra work for Crocker-Harris, a middle-aged teacher who teaches Latin. Frank, a science teacher, finds Taplow waiting for Crocker-Harris. The conversation between Frank and Taplow exposes a very unhealthy trend among some teachers to encourage students to comment on their fellow teachers. Frank who does not like the subject he teaches, tells the results to students before it is officially announced. He tells Taplow that his staying back is his bad-luck and suggests him to leave Crocker Harris is ten minutes late. Instead of admonishing Taplow for mimicking his teacher, he wants him to mimic again. In the end, his shallow and malicious character is thoroughly exposed. Crocker-Harris, though not personally present in the scene, comes out as dignified and conscientious teacher.

1. “THE BROWNING VERSION”
TERENCE RATTIGAN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Son of a diplomat, Sir Terence Mervyn Rattigan (1911-1977) received his education at
Harrow, Trinity College and Oxford. His career as a playwright began rather early in
his life. His plays had a middle class and middle tilt in their contents, themes and
characters. His personal life was rather troubled but his career as a playwright was very
successful.
The present extract is from his play “The Browning Version” (1948) which is about a
repressed and unpopular school master Mr. Crocker-Harris. Among his other plays are
The Winslow Boy (1946), The Deep Blue Sea (1952) and Ross (1960). French Without
Tears (1936) a comedy was his first West End success.

ABOUT THE LESSON
The scene of the play “The Browning Version” is set in a school. Taplow, a boy of
sixteen has come in to do extra work for Crocker-Harris, a middle aged teacher who
teaches Latin. Frank, a science teacher, finds Taplow waiting for Crocker-Harris. The
conversation between Frank and Taplow exposes a very unhealthy trend among some
teachers to encourage students to comment on their fellow teachers. Frank who does
not like the subject he teaches, tells the results to students before it is officially
announced. He tells Taplow that his staying back is his bad-luck and suggests him to
leave Crocker Harris is ten minutes late. Instead of admonishing Taplow for mimicking
his teacher, he wants him to mimic again. In the end his shallow and malicious character
is thoroughly exposed. Crocker-Harris, though not personally present in the scene,
comes out as dignified and conscientious teacher.

NOTES
Taplow, a student comes to school
➢ Taplow is a student Mr. Crocker-Harris has called to do extra work
➢ Finds his teacher is not present
➢ Meets Mr. Frank, a science teacher
➢ Expresses his desire to join science stream next year if he passes

2. ➢ Expresses his dissatisfaction that Mr. Crocker-Harris does not tell the results like
other masters.
➢ Finds science more exciting than Greek tragedy “The Agamemnon’ which he
calls a muck.
• Frank’s Confession and Comments
➢ Admits that he tells the result to students before it is officially announced by the
headmaster.
➢ Admits that he does not like the science that he teaches.
➢ Calls Taplow’s coming to school for extra work his bad luck.
• Taplow mimics Mr. Crocker –Harris
➢ Calls him inhuman and then mildly regrets his remark. He got carried away, he
says
➢ Frank asks him to mimic again and suggests to him to leave as Mr. Crocker-
Harris is ten minutes late.
• Frank’s Jealousy for Mr. Crocker-Harris
➢ Wants to know why the class is afraid of Mr. Crocker –Harris and asks if he beats
the students.
➢ Feels envious of Crocker Harris because Taplow likes him.
➢ In the end he is almost caught talking about Crocker-Harris but feels relieved
that it was not him but his wife Mrs. Millie standing behind him.
• Mrs. Millie’s encounter with Taplow
➢ Millie Crocker-Harris informs Taplow that her husband is held up at Bursar’s
and suggests to him to go away.
➢ Taplow hesitates
➢ Tells him to run away for quarter of an hour and take the prescription to the
chemist and get it made up.
➢ Assures him that she would take the blame in case Crocker-Harris comes in the
meantime.
➢ Taplow goes to the chemist.

3. GLOSSARY
• Remove – result i.e., declared as passed for joining next class
• Excerpt – a passage taken from a big narrative
• Criterion – method or standard of judgment
• Slackers – lazy
• Kept in – made to stay back for extra work as a punishment,
detained after school
• Muck – dirt, filth, something unpleasant
• Outright – openly, straight away
• Humane – having human compassion
• Evidently – as it appears
• Sadist – one who gets pleasure in inflicting pain on others.
• Shriveled up – squeezed
• Exaggerate – magnify beyond truth, overrate
• Frantically – in a mad, restless manner
• Cape – a loose piece of clothing without sleeves; covering
for
Shoulders
• Frightening – fearful
• Scared – afraid
• Throaty – heavy
• Gone too far – crossed the limit
• Got carried away – moved by emotional appeal

4. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1.Why did Taplow stay back at school?
Q2.What is Taplow’s opinion about the Greek tragedy ‘Agamemnon’?
Q3.What does Taplow want to do if he gets his remove and why?
Q4.Which situation of Taplow does the science teacher call ‘bad luck’?
Q5.According to Frank what benefit or comfort would Taplow derive from his ‘bad
luck’?
Or
“Still there’s one comfort,” says Frank. What does he mean?
Q6.In spite of being a good boy and doing extra work Taplow would not get any comfort
as mentioned by Mr. Frank, the science teacher. Why?
Q7. Which rule of the school does Mr. Crocker-Harris follow sincerely but other
masters including Frank flout flagrantly?
Or
What is the rule about form results in Taplow’s school? How do many teachers flout
it ?
Q8.Why does Taplow get carried away? How does he feel about it?
Q9.What does Mr. Frank suggest Taplow to do because Mr. Crocker-Harris is ten
minutes late? What is Taplow’s response?
Or
What advise does Mr. Frank give Taplow? Is it safe for Taplow to follow it?
Q10.Why does Mr. Frank envy Mr. Crocker-Harris?
Q11.Who is a sadist? Why is Taplow afraid of Mr. Crocker-Harris though the latter is
not a sadist?
Q12.Which example does Taplow give to prove that Mr. Crocker-Harris does not like
being liked?
Or
In what embarrassing situation did Taplow find himself in Mr. Crocker-Harris’ class
one day?
Q13.In which one respects Crocker Harris is very different from all other masters
Taplow has known?
Q14. Why does Frank say “Oh Lord!” and is relieved at seeing Millie Crocker-Harris?
Q15. What is funny about Taplow’s attitude towards Crocker-Harris?

5. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Comment on the attitude shown by Taplow towards Mr. Crocker-Harris.
Q2. Does Frank seem to encourage Taplow’s comments on Crocker-Harris?
Or
Frank derives malicious pleasure in listening to Taplow’s comment on Mr. Crocker-
Harris. How does he encourage Taplow to comment on Mr. Harris?
Q3.What do you gather about Crocker-Harris from the play?
Q4. What impression do you form of Frank from the play “The Browning Version”?
Q5. What impression do you form of Taplow?