English Grammar Class

Monday, 22 August 2022

1.3 The Cop and the Anthem

1.3 THE COP AND THE ANTHEM

Summary of the lesson:

The lesson 'The Cop and the Anthem' is written by an American writer William Sydney Porter whose nick name is O’Henry. The Cop and the Anthem is O’ Henry’s well-known story. In the title the word ‘cop’ means police and the anthem means a song sung in the praise of religion or nation. In this story, the main character is Soapy who is vagabond. Here vagabond means the person who doesn’t have his own home and job. Hence, Soapy is homeless, jobless and moneyless person along with having criminal background. He leads his life on the bench in the park. The story is about Soapy’s different plans to get arrested and at the end the story ends ironically as fate has different plan in the life of poor Soapy. The story begins with Soapy’s ridiculous and miserable situation as the winter season is approaching very fast. Soapy is restless as he doesn’t have his own house for shelter. The story revolves around the main character ‘Soapy’ who makes five plans to get arrested in any circumstances. He wants to get arrested for three months till the end of winter season. He is in the search of the place where he can protect and survive himself. According to him, there is no proper place than prison or jail. Therefore he wants to get arrested. Soapy’s five plans are as follows-

The setting of the story is a park where Soapy is sitting on the bench.

First plan- wants to have lunch at luxurious café.

Second plan- wants to break glass of crockery shop.

Third plan- wants to have dinner at cheap restaurant.

Fourth plan- shouting loudly on the sidewalk.

Fifth plan- stealing silk umbrella outside the cigar store.

In any condition, Soapy wants to get arrested as he wants to protect himself from the severe cold of winter season. Therefore he has plan in his mind to get entry into a luxurious café and to eat varied and costly food items along with wine and cigar. After having a lunch, he will get arrested as he is not going to pay bill. But before he can put his plan into action. As soon as he wants to enter the café, the head waiter’s eye falls upon his tattered trouser and old shoes. Therefore, he is thrown out of the café. This is how his first attempt drastically failed as his entry is denied.

It seemed that Soapy’s way to prison/island is not so easy. From the Broadway, he turned to Sixth Avenue and attempts a second mischief or plan. He picks up a stone and dashes it through the glass of the shop. In this way, he breaks the glass of the store and expects the policeman standing nearby will arrest him. On the contrary of his desire, the policeman does not suspect him to have broken the glass and tries to follow someone else to arrest. This is how Soapy’s second plan also failed.

Discouraged from the failure of two attempts, he tries for the third plan. Now he wants to have his meal in the restaurant of the modest quality which is located opposite side. He enjoys there beefsteak, doughnuts and pie at a modest restaurant. When the time comes to pay the bill, Soapy asks them to call a cop. But the waiters in the hotel just kicks him out of the restaurant and not turn to police station. This is how Soapy’s third attempt to go to prison failed and remained a dream.

Now Soapy’s tried for his fourth attempt. It involves him yelling and shouting at the top of his voice disturbing the surrounding. The cop standing nearby looks at him but neglects this attempt. The policeman looks upon him as one of the lads of college and has a order to let them as there is no harm from them.

Now it is the last attempt made by Soapy. This time he pretends to be stealing a silk umbrella resting outside a store. He hopes to get arrested by the owner of umbrella. But his luck proves bad here as well because the man admits that he himself stole the umbrella from a restaurant and thinks Soapy might be its owner.

Soapy gets depressed by so many failed attempts, the vagabond makes his way back to the bench which is his only shelter. While returning to his bench, he comes across the church and listens to the Anthem. It makes him to stop at the gate of the church. The notes of the Anthem reminds him of his family and past life.

The Anthem, thus, prompts a sudden positive change in him. He thinks of how he is trapped into this pointlessness life. At this time of self-realisation, he resolves to begin his life afresh. He abandons all his plans to go to the prison. Just when the poor, homeless man is all determined to change for good and be a better man, a cop arrives and an argument arises between them.

The story ends with three months of imprisonment for misbehaving at the gate of church. Ironically it happens at a moment when he decides to start a new life. The vagabond like Soapy could not understand the difference between confinement and freedom.

Activities based on the lesson:

Extract-1 Soapy left his bench.......must be devised.

A1. Write the reasons that gave Soapy confidence to enter the luxurious cafe.

Reasons:

1.................................................

2.................................................

3.................................................

4.................................................

A2. Make a list o food items which Soapy desired to get in the luxurious cafe.

1..................................................

2..................................................

3..................................................

4...................................................

A3. Soapy couldn't fulfill his desire to enjoy the meal in the cafe. Give its reason.

...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

A4. Personal Response

Give a list of your favourite dishes that you like to eat in the hotel.

A5. Language Study

1. If only he could reach a table in the restaurant unsuspected, success would be his. (Use 'Unless')

2. Some other way of entering the limbo must be devised. (Use 'infinitive)

A6. Vocabulary

Match the words given under 'A' to their meaning given under 'B'

'A' 'B'

1. strolled a. old and worn out

2. decadent b. greatly desired

3. ignoble c. walked in a leisurely way

4. coveted d. dishonourable

Extract-2 At a corner of Sixth Avenue..........walked down the street.

A1. True or false

Rewrite the statements and state whether they are true or false

1) Soapy expected that police should catch him.

2) Soapy dashed the glass of the shop window to take a revenge.

3) The waiter handed over Soapy to the police.

4) The restaurant where Soapy ate was not a rich restaurant.

Answers:-

A2. Describe

Describe the restaurant where Soapy ate meal.

Answer:- ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

A3. Give reason

The policeman refused to accept Soapy as a culprit of dashing the glass window. Give its reason.

Answer:-

A4. Personal response

Give any funny event of your in 50 words.

Answer:-

A5. Language study (Do as directed)

1) The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue.(Make negative sentence)

Answer:-

...............................................................................................................

2) Men who smash windows do not remain to chat with the police. (Make simple sentences)

Answer:-

...............................................................................................................

A6. Word Register

Choose and write the words related to the restaurant from the extract.

Answer:-

...............................................................................................................

Extract 3-Soapy was seized with..............................man retreated.

A1. Complete the information taking the help of the extract.

1)Soapy feared about......................................................... that prevented his arrest.

2)The cop did not arrest Soapy for shouting and dancing because ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3)The umbrella man retreated because ............................................................................................................

4)Soapy desired to go ............................................. by braking the law.

A2. Mention

Mention the two attempts of Soapy to the break the law.

Answer:-

A3. Find

Find the two ironic situations from the extract.

Answer:-

A4. Personal response

Write any four situations when you felt 'scared' seeing the policeman approaching to you.

Answer:-

A5. Language Study ( Do as directed)

1) Would never a policeman lay hands on him?( make assertive sentence)

answer:-

...............................................................................................................

2) He had set his silk umbrella by the door on entering.

(Frame a wh-question to get the underlined words as answer)

Answer:-

..............................................................................................................

A6. Vocabulary

Find the homophones for the following from the extract:-

a)wood b)cot c)bee d)bye

Answer:-

a)............. b)............. c) ............... d)...............

Extract4- The policeman hurried to ................................. thoughts and collars.

A1. Choose

Choose the two statements showing appropriately the theme of the extract.

1)Soapy was sad due to the attitude of the police.

2The natural aspects of the country churchyards made Soapy recall his past life.

3) The police liked to help the beautiful tall woman.

4) Soapy liked to enjoy wondering everywhere.

Answer:-

A2. Describe the atmosphere when Soapy reached near the church.

Answer:-

A3. Pick out

Pick out the lines from the text which shows that-

a) Soapy complained about the behaviour of the cop.

b)Listening to the anthem, Soapy remembered his good old days.

Answer:-

A4. Personal Response

Write any four situations when you felt 'relieved' seeing the cop approaching you.

Answer:-

A5. Language Study (Do as directed)

1) He hurried the umbrella angrily into an excavation.

(Frame a wh- question to get the underlined words as answer)

Answer:-

..............................................................................................................

2) Here was an old church, quaint and rambling and gabled.( write adjectives used here)

Answer:-

..............................................................................................................

A6. Vocabulary

Find the words from the extract which mean-

a) a state of great disturbance

b) attractively unusual or old fashioned

c) a person with pale yellow hair

d) Perfectly clean and tidy

Answer:-

a)................................ b) ............................ c) ....................................

d) ...............................

Extract 5- The conjuction of soapy's ............................... the next morning.

A1. Complete

Complete the information taking the help of the extract.

'A' 'B'

1. Change in Soapy's soul due to a............

b............

2. A fur importer offered a post to Soapy c.............

3.Verdict of the Magistrate d.............

A2. Choose

Describe the wonderful change in Soapy's mind.

Answer:-

A3. Explain

Explain the irony shown at the end of the story.

Answer:-

A4. Personal Response

Write an incident in which you did something wrong and repented for it later.

Answer:-

A5. Language Study(Do as directed)

1) A strong impulse moved him to battle with his desperate fact.

(Begin the sentence with 'he')

Answer:-

..............................................................................................................

2) Tomorrow he would go into the roaring downtown district and find work.

(Join the clauses by infinitive)

Answer:-

..............................................................................................................

A6. Find the words

Find out any four words to describe the 'degraded state of Soapy' from the extract.

Answer:-

*****************************

Tuesday, 19 July 2022

1.2 On Saying "Please"

Read the following extract carefully and do the activities given below it.

The young lift-man in a City office who threw a passenger out of his lift the other morning and was fined for the offence was undoubtedly in the wrong. It was a question of “Please.” The complainant entering the lift, said, “Top.” The lift-man demanded “Top-please,” and this concession being refused he not only declined to comply with the instruction, but hurled the passenger out of the lift. This, of course was carrying a comment on manner too far. Discourtesy is not a legal offence, and it does not excuse assault and battery. If a burglar breaks into my house and I knock him down, the law will acquit me, and if I am physically assaulted, it will permit me to retaliate with reasonable violence. It does this because the burglar and my assailant have broken quite definite commands of the law. But no legal system could attempt to legislate against bad manners, or could sanction the use of violence against something which it does not itself recognize as a legally punishable offence. And our sympathy with the lift- man, we must admit that the law is reasonable. It would never do if we were at liberty to box people’s ears because we did not like their behaviour, or the tone of their voices, or the scowl on their faces. Our fists would never be idle, and the gutters of the city would run with blood all day.

I may be as uncivil as I may please and the law will protect me against violent retaliation. I may be haughty or boorish and there is no penalty to pay except the penalty of being written down an ill-mannered fellow. The law does not compel me to say “Please” or to attune my voice to other people’s sensibilities any more than it says that I shall not wax my moustache or dye my hair or wear ringlets down my back. It does not recognize the laceration of our feelings as a case for compensation. There is no allowance for moral and intellectual damages in these matters.

A1. True or False

Rewrite the statements and state whether they are true or false.

1. The young lift-man threw a passenger out of his lift.

2. The passenger showed discourteous behaviour.

3. Discourtesy is not a legal offence.

4. The law forces everyone to say 'Please'.

A2. Describe

Describe the incident that takes place in the lift.

A3. Explain

Explain with example from the extract, 'Discourtesy is not a legal offence'.

A4. Personal Response

Write down at least four statements that show courtesy in daily life.

A5. Language Study

1. The lift-man demanded 'Top-please'. (Frame 'Wh-question' to get underlined part as an answer)

2. If I am physically assaulted, it will permit me to retaliate with reasonable violence. (Use 'Unless' and rewrite it.)

A6. Vocabulary

Find the words from the extract which mean-

a. rudeness b. attacker c. uncultured d. a cut or tear

Read the following extract carefully and do the activities given below it.

This does not mean that the damages are negligible. It is probable that the lift-man was much more acutely hurt by what he regarded as a slur upon his social standing than he would have been if he had a kick on the shins, for which he could have got a legal redress. The pain of a kick on the shins soon passes away but the pain of a wound to our self-respect or our vanity may poison a whole day. I can imagine that lift-man, denied the relief of throwing the author of his wound out of the lift, brooding over the insult by the hour, and visiting his wife in the evening as the only way of restoring his equilibrium. For there are few things more catching than bad temper and bad manners. When Sir Anthony Absolute bullied Captain Absolute, the latter went out and bullied his man, Fag, whereupon Fag went out downstairs and kicked the page- boy. Probably the man who said “Top” to the lift-man was really only getting back on his employer who had not said “Good morning” to him because he himself had been henpecked at breakfast by his wife, to whom the cook had been insolent because the housemaid had “answered her back”. We infect the world with our ill-humours. Bad manners probably do more to poison the stream of the general life than all the crimes in the calendar. For one wife who gets a black eye from an otherwise good- natured husband there are a hundred who live a life of martyrdom under the shadow of a morose temper. But all the same the law cannot become the guardian of our private manners. No Decalogue could cover the vast area of offences and no court could administer a law which governed our social civilities, our speech, the tilt of our eyebrows and all our moods and manners.

A1. Order

Rearrange the following jumbled sentences as per their occurrence in the extract.

1. The lift-man was acutely hurt.

2. No court could administer a law.

3. We infect the world with our ill-humours.

4. Captain Absolute bullied Fag.

A2. Inference

The pain of a kick on the shins soon passes away but the pain of a wound to our self-respect or our vanity may poison a whole day.

A3. Explain

Explain the fact that forced the passenger not to fulfil lift-man's demand.

A4. Personal Response

Express your views on the statement 'The law cannot become the guardian of our private manners.'

A5. Language Study

1. This does not mean that the damages are negligible. (Add question tag)

2. We infect the world with our ill-humours. (Transform into Present Perfect Tense)

A6. Vocabulary

Give antonyms of the followings-

a. social b. legal c. insolent d. general

Read the following extract carefully and do the activities given below it.

But though we are bound to endorse the verdict against the lift-man, most people will have a certain sympathy with him. While it is true that there is no law that compels us to say “Please”, there is a social practice much older and much more sacred than any law which enjoins us to be civil. And the first requirement of civility is that we should acknowledge a service. “Please” and “Thank you” are the small change with which we pay our ways as social beings. They are the little courtesies by which we keep the machine of life oiled and running sweetly. They put our intercourse upon the basis of a friendly co-operation, an easy give-and-take, instead of on the basis of superiors dictating to inferiors. It is a very vulgar mind that would wish to command where he can have the service for asking, and have it with willingness and good-feeling instead of resentment.

I should like to “feature” in this connection my friend, the polite conductor. By this discriminating title I do not intend to suggest a rebuke to conductors generally. On the contrary, I am disposed to think that there are few classes of men who come through the ordeal of a very trying calling better than bus conductors do. Here and there you will meet an unpleasant specimen who regards the passengers as his natural enemies - as creatures whose chief purpose on the bus is to cheat him, and who can only be kept reasonably honest by a loud voice and an aggressive manner. But this type is rare - rarer than it used to be. I fancy the public owes much to the Underground Railway Company, which also runs the buses, for insisting on a certain standard of civility in its servants and taking care that standard is observed. In doing this it not only makes things pleasant for the travelling public, but performs an important social service.

A1. Explain

The courteous words 'Please' and 'Thank you' have positive impact in our daily life. Justify the statement with the help of above extract.

A2. Select the most appropriate sentences which suggest the theme of the essay.

(a)The essay tells us about courtesy, civility, morality, responsibility and control.
(b) The essay explores the difficulties that can be incurred by an individual when dealing with the public.
(c)One can keep one’s peace of mind without having to lower themselves to the level of the perceived offender.

(d)People with low self-esteem are generally difficult to work with and they look down upon others to get a feeling of superiority.

A3. Explain the general unpleasant view about bus conductor.

A4. Personal Response

Express your views on the impact of good manners and kindliness on the society.

A5. Language Study

1. Though we are bound to endorse the verdict against the lift-man, most people will have a certain sympathy with him. (Remove 'Though' and rewrite it)

2. I should like to “feature” in this connection my friend. (Rewrite the sentence using modal auxiliary verb of 'obligation'.)

A6. Vocabulary

Find out the words which mean following from the extract-

a. to force b. polite c. anger d. difficult experience

Compiled By-Dr. Salukhe T. B.

Saturday, 16 July 2022

Spot the error-Part-IV

Spot the error and correct it.

1. Incorrect-One should do his duty.

Correct-One should do one's duty.

2. Incorrect-The teacher will take us a test tomorrow.

Correct-The teacher will give us a test tomorrow.

3. Incorrect-Don't speak a lie.

Correct-Don't tell a lie.

4. Incorrect-I need two dozens oranges.

Correct-I need two dozen oranges.

5. Incorrect-The boy entered into the class.

Correct-The boy entered the class.

6. Incorrect-What is the fresh news?

Correct-What is the latest news?

7. Incorrect-Are you alone or married?

Correct-Are you married or single?

8. Incorrect-Either of these girls have a book.

Correct-Either of these girls has a book.

9. Incorrect-The students are walking in the centre of the road.

Correct-The boys are walking in the middle of the road.

10. Incorrect-My house's roof is leaking.

Correct-The roof of my house is leaking.

11. Incorrect-I have lost a ten-rupees note.

Correct-I have lost a ten-rupee note.

12. Incorrect-How many son-in-laws have you?

Correct-How many sons-in-law have you?

13. Incorrect-I have many works to do.

Correct-I have much work to do.

14. Incorrect-The question is difficult for me.

Correct-The question is difficult to me.

15. Incorrect-Both Vishal as well as Madhu were absent.

Correct-Both Vishal and Madhu were absent.

16. Incorrect-I do not know to swim.

Correct-I do not know how to swim.

17. Incorrect-She quickly ran.

Correct-She ran quickly.

18. Incorrect-He admitted his son into a school.

Correct-He got his son admitted into a school.

19. Incorrect-She gave me good advises.

Correct-She gave me good advice.

20. Incorrect-I took some foods to eat.

Correct-I took some food to eat.

21. Incorrect-A team of players have arrived.

Correct-A team of players has arrived.

22. Incorrect-Rich are seldom happy.

Correct-The rich are seldom happy.

23. Incorrect-He is my cousin brother.

Correct-He is my cousin.

24. Incorrect-The whole people were in panic.

Correct-All the people were in panic.

25. Incorrect-She is seeing the TV now.

Correct-She is watching the TV now.

26. Incorrect-Let me shut the light.

Correct-Let me turn off the light.

27. Incorrect-I cannot part with my son.

Correct-I cannot part from my son.

28. Incorrect-The first world war was fought during 1914-1918.

Correct-The first world war was fought between 1914-1918.

29. Incorrect-My both brothers are clever.

Correct-Both my brothers are clever.

30. Incorrect-Look at this shop across the road.

Correct-Look at that shop across the road.

31. Incorrect-My older sister is an engineer.

Correct-My elder sister is an engineer.

32. Incorrect-Is he listening her?

Correct-Is he listening to her?

33. Incorrect-He goes to office with feet.

Correct-He goes to office on foot.

34. Incorrect-The students are prepared to give their exam.

Correct-The students are prepared to take their exam.

35. Incorrect-What is the time in your watch?

Correct-What is the time by your watch?

36. Incorrect-He sat down under the shade of a tree.

Correct-He sat down in the shade of a tree.

37. Incorrect-Repeat it again.

Correct-Repeat it.

38. Incorrect-Law and order have to be maintained seriously.

Correct-Law and order has to be maintained seriously.

39. Incorrect-He is warned about the notice.

Correct-He is warned of the notice.

40. Incorrect-The boy get up early in the morning.

Correct-The boy gets up in the morning.

41. Incorrect-We are leaving to Japan.

Correct-We are leaving for Japan.

42. Incorrect-Sheeps are useful.

Correct-Sheep are useful.

43. Incorrect-Please credit this sum in my account.

Correct-Please credit this sum to my account.

44. Incorrect-Two third of the portion was completed.

Correct-Two thirds of the portion was completed.

45. Incorrect-The committee appointed her as a teacher.

Correct-The committee appointed her teacher.

46. Incorrect-Its raining.

Correct-It's raining.

47.Incorrect-My sister's friends' son is an engineer.

Correct-The son of sister's friend is an engineer.

48. Incorrect-It is real fact.

Correct-It is fact.

49. Incorrect-Rahul spent all the day into his cabin.

Correct-Rahul spent all the day in his cabin.

50. Incorrect-He was died.

Correct-He was dead or He died.

Compiled By-Dr. Salunkhe T. B.

Monday, 22 August 2022

1.3 The Cop and the Anthem

Tuesday, 19 July 2022

1.2 On Saying "Please"

Saturday, 16 July 2022

Spot the error-Part-IV

Oral Examination-Key Information