Class 9 English Literature Reader – The Man Who Knew Too Much
Answer the following questions briefly.(a) What is a 'nickname'? Can you suggest another one for Private Quelch?
Answer
A nickname is a name that may be given to somebody in addition to the person's actual name. This nickname may represent the person's unique traits or his intellect.
'Mr. Knowledgeable' could be another one for Private Quelch as he had knowledge of all the things by heart.
(b) Private Quelch looked like a 'Professor' when the author first met him at the training depot. Why?
Answer
Private Quelch was a lanky, stooping man who frowned through horn rimmed spectacles and so was nick named 'Professor'.
(c) What does the dark, sun-dried appearance of the Sergeant suggest about him?
Answer
The Sergeant was as dark and sun-dried as raisins. He wore North-West Frontier Ribbons. He was to deliver a lecture on the mechanism of a service rifle. His appearance spoke much about him. He appeared to be a man who had dedicated his whole youth serving army. His ribbons reflected valour and gallantry.
He was not a man to be fooled around or impressed easily, a man not to be incited with anger.
(d) How was Private Quelch's knowledge exposed even further as the Sergeant's classes went on?
Answer
Quelch not only corrected sergeant’s knowledge of the rifle but he could answer all the questions directed
towards him. He was particularly very good with technical definitions.
(e) What did the Professor mean by "intelligent reading"?
Answer
By "intelligent reading" the Professor means to do a thorough study and have all knowledge available on a particular subject. For instance, if one is studying about 'the mechanism of a service rifle', one must know every detail-technical definitions, the parts of the rifle, its uses and care, muzzle velocity everything by heart.
(f) What were the Professor's ambitions in the army?
Answer
Professor Quelch wanted to race ahead of allhis batch in getting commission. His first step was to get a stripe.
(g) Did Private Quelch's day to day practices take him closer towards his goal? How can you make out?
Answer
Quelch was highly ambitious, very diligent,brainy but his strategy to impress his instructors, backfired. In pursuit of showing off his own knowledge, he irritatedand tried to belittle his instructors. He rudely interruptedthem infront of the squad and exhibited his knowledge. No wonder he is relegated to the back quarters of the kitchen house.
(h) Describe Corporal Turnbull.
Answer
Corporal Turnbull had a great reputation ofbeing tough and was not the one to be rubbed the wrong way. The squad were in awe of him and it was believedthat one could hammer nails into him and the fellow would not even wince. He was young and had recently come from Dunkirk.
(i) How did Private Quelch manage to anger the Corporal?
Answer
Private Quelch was a much learned student. He loved to exhibit his knowledge and he cared little of how people around him responded. Once, when Corporal Turnbull was taking a lesson on hand grenade, The Professor went on correcting him on the number of segments that a hand grenade is divided into and also The Professor suggested him, as an expert on the subject, on how Corporal should have started his lecture. Turnbull, though a calm person on the exterior, was a man not to be trifled with. Although he did not react at first and patiently let Quelch take the lecture. However, he took his revenge in the end of the class by assigning Private Quelch permanent cookhouse duties. The episode, of course, was to become a popular joke among the whole platoon.
(j) Do you think Private Quelch learnt a lesson when he was chosen for cookhouse duties? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer
Private Quelch was conceited and satisfied inhis own cocoon. He was totally indifferent to what others thought about him. When he was relegated to cook house duties, he might have felt bad temporarily but he would never change. It is evident from his lecture in the cookhouse, that some thickheads are too thick to change.
