Question 1:
Comment on the attitude shown by Taplow towards Crocker-Harris.
Answer:
Taplow is Crocker-Harris’ student. Crocker is a very strict teacher. But he has his own principles. He is true to his duty. It is the last day of the term. Crocker is going to leave the school for good. Yet he gives Taplow extra work to do. He does so because Taplow had missed a day during the week for being ill. It might sound cruel on Crocker’s part to detain Taplow while all other students have gone. Most teachers tell the students about their result before the headmaster declares it. But Crocker never does that. He is a man of principles. Taplow is a little boy. But he understands all this. He has all respect for his teacher. He is afraid of him but he does not dislike him. He loves to go and play but doesn’t dare to leave without Crocker’s permission. His fear is tinged with respect not hatred.
Question 2:
Does Frank seem to encourage Taplow’s comments on Crocker-Harris ?
Answer:
Frank and Crocker-Harris are both teachers in Taplow’s school. Crocker is a very strict teacher. He is a man of discipline. He has his own principles. He is true to his duty. He never does any favour or disfavour to his students. He gives what one deserves. Students are scared of him but they don’t dislike him. They have deep respect for him. Frank feels jealous of Crocker. So he encourages Taplow to say things against Crocker and mock him. But Taplow does nothing of the kind. His act of imitating Crocker is no sign of disrespect. It is simply an act of mimicry. It is only by way of humour that he does so. There is no disrespect in it. But the way Frank encourages Taplow to do it is not like a teacher. In trying to degrade Crocker-Harris, he degrades himself only.
Question 3:
What do you gather about Crocker-Harris from the play ?
Answer:
Crocker-Harris is a teacher in Taplow’s school. He is very strict. He is a man of discipline. He is true to his duty. It is his last day at school. He is leaving the school for good. Yet he gives extra work to Taplow who is one of his students. Taplow has missed a day during the week. Crocker wants him to make it up. So he gives him extra work. He tells Taplow that he would come and see his work. Thus we see how strict Crocker is. His students are afraid of him, but they don’t dislike him. Their fear is tinged with respect, not with hatred. He never does any favour or disfavour to a student. He gives what one deserves. He never does anything that goes against the rules of the school. We can say he is an ideal teacher.