Summary of The Browning Version
The Browning Version is a play written by English playwright Terence Rattigan. Chapter 6 of the NCERT Class 11 Hornbill in the same name is an extract of this play. The chapter talks about the experience of a teenager, Taplow, with his literature teacher Mr Crocker-Harris. His feelings about his teacher are explored in the play through his interaction with another teacher – Frank. Mr Crocker-Harris is senior to Frank in terms of experience and age. Taplow is able to communicate with Frank easily because of the more friendly relationship between them. The personality of Mr Crocker-Harris is portrayed largely through the conversations between Taplow and Frank. Read The Browning Version Class 11 Summary given below to understand the essence of the chapter. Students can also visit BYJU’S CBSE Summary to learn more about Class 11 English Hornbill chapters. CBSE Notes can provide necessary learning materials for the Class 11 CBSE English syllabus.
CBSE Class 11 English The Browning Version Summary
As Taplow waits for Mr Crocker-Harris to arrive, he meets Frank, with whom he enters into a conversation. Frank asks Taplow if he is studying science, to which Taplow replies that he is still in the lower fifth and would only be able to specialise once he got his remove all right. Here remove refers to exam results according to which Taplow will be able to judge if he is eligible for specialising in science or not.
Frank asks Taplow if he still needs to learn about his remove. Taplow explains that Mr Crocker-Harris is different from the other teachers. He does not tell the results beforehand like the others. Frank tries to justify by saying that the results generally are to be announced by the headmaster on the last day of term. Taplow informs him that no one follows that rule except Mr Crocker-Harris.
The conversation continues, and they talk about Taplow’s academic future. Frank asks what Taplow will do if he gets his remove. Taplow responds that he will definitely choose science as a suitable subject. Taplow does not like literature. He likes the overall story of Agamemnon but complains about the way it is taught by Mr Crocker-Harris. He finds it redundant and verbose. This is the point where Taplow starts complaining about Crocker-Harris to Frank. He explains that even if it is Mr Crocker-Harris’s last day of work, Taplow has been called by the former to do extra work for missing one day of school the previous week.
Frank tries to comfort Taplow by saying that at least he can be sure about getting a remove for attending extra work. Taplow explains that it is not like that. Normal rules do not apply to Mr Crocker-Harris. When Taplow asked him about his position on getting a remove, Mr Crocker-Harris had informed him he had graded Taplow strictly, according to what he deserved – nothing more and nothing less. Taplow imitates this dialogue in a mocking tone for Frank.
Mr Crocker-Harris had asked Taplow to come at six-thirty in the evening. Taplow arrives on time but, Mr Crocker is yet to arrive. So, Frank tells Taplow that he can still play golf before lock-up. Taplow responds in a panicking tone that going against Crocker-Harris might lead to troublesome consequences. Taplow refers to Mr Crocker-Harris as ‘the Crock’ accidentally a few times during his conversation with Frank. This shows how the former has become a subject of mockery and ridicule among his students. Moreover, the term used by Taplow shows how frustrated and troubled he is by Mr Crocker-Harris’s attitude towards him. Taplow finds it easy to communicate with Frank since the latter is young and finds himself in a relatable position to the former.
Taplow finds Crocker-Harris to be different from others. According to him, Mr Crocker-Harris uses his hatred against people to gain popularity among people. Taplow confesses that he actually likes Mr Crocker-Harris and sometimes even pities him. He refers to an instance from a Latin class where Mr Crocker-Harris cracked a joke, and Taplow laughed at it out of pity since no one else was laughing. The former praised Taplow’s improvement in the subject, as evident from his understanding of the joke, and asked him to explain it to the rest of the class. As Taplow imitates Mr Crocker-Harris’s speech in front of Frank, the latter also seems to develop a sense of fun in the matter and mocks Mr Crocker-Harris by imitating him. Meanwhile, Mr Crocker-Harris’s wife, Millie Crocker-Harris, enters the room and seems to experience some part of their conversation.
Taplow worries about Millie listening to their conversation. Frank is confident that she has heard their conversation. Taplow is now positive about his remove being revoked now. Frank assures him otherwise. Mr Crocker-Harris’s wife, Millie, informs Taplow that her husband might take some time to arrive. He was asked to go away for a quarter of an hour and come back again. Taplow is worried Crocker-Harris might come before Taplow. Millie assures him she will take the time in case anything like that happens. She gives Taplow a prescription to be made up at the chemist’s. Taplow goes away to carry out the chore.
Conclusion of The Browning Version
The Browning Version Class 11 Summary shows us how important a teacher’s cooperation towards students is. Not understanding students’ learning methods has made Mr Crocker-Harris unpopular among the students. On top of that, he maintains a cold relationship with the students with absolutely no chance of going against the rules. Students are scared of him, and the kind of ideal attitude followed by Mr Crocker-Harris earns him vigorous criticism and rebuke from students. As learners, it is important that communication is easy and comfortable with teachers – otherwise, there will be a lack of interest towards what is being taught.
A detailed understanding of the poem can help students critically analyse and appreciate the poem. Students can refer to our website for further information and content related to the Class 11 English subject for better understanding and preparation for CBSE board exams. They can also access topics like grammar and writing in English.
