Sir Rozer Assizes by Richard Steele, grade 12, Optional English.

Sir Roger Assizes by Richard Steele

Exercises

B. Exploring the text.

1. What does the author say about the general character of a man?

The author says a man's first care should be to avoid the blames of his own heart and the second should be to escape the criticisms of the world. He highlights the need for greater satisfaction to a man. He further claims that a man is surer of his conduct when the verdict which he passes upon his behaviour is confirmed by the opinion of all that know him.

2. How does the author describe Sir Roger's character?

In the essay, Sir Roger has been characterized vividly by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele. Sir Roger is presented in these essays as kind, generous, lovable and sometimes as a peculiar person. But in the hand of Joseph Addison, Sir Roger's character is conveyed ironically. For that reason, he sometimes seems odd. Although he is gentle and mild and lovable to people, he has some oddness too. And all these things are defined superbly in the essay.

3. What was Sir Roger's opinion about the yeoman?

According to Sir Roger, the yeoman is an honest man. He is qualified to kill a hare or a pheasant who knocks down his dinner with his gun twice or thrice a week. Sir Roger thinks that he would be a good neighbour if he did not destroy so many partridges. In the eyes of Sir Roger, yeoman is a very sensible man.

4. What was Tom Touchy like?

Tom Touchy was the selfish neighbour of Sir Roger. At every meeting of the court, he sues someone for thieving on his land. Touchy is disliked for his littleness, suffers the fury of the countryside when he sues Will Wimble for taking hazel sticks from his hedge.

5. What did Sir Roger speak about the case between Will Wimble and Tom Touchy?

He diplomatically said, "Much could be said on both sides" when Will wimble and Tom Touchy wanted his verdict on the fishing habit of Will Wimble.

6. How would Sir Roger act on the circuit bench?

Sir Roger surprisingly got up to speak though he had nothing special to talk about.

7. According to the narrator, what made their travel of that day pleasant?

According to the writer, several adventures with the Knight's behaviour in them gave him the pleasure to him which made him that day.

 C. Expanding the Horizon.

1. Sketch the character of Sir Roger.

Sir Roger de Coverly is the first member of the Spectator’s Club. He is a gentleman of fifty-six of Worcestershire, a non-metropolitan country of England with a very strong family history. His great grandfather was the inventor of the famous country-dance which is called after him. He was a baronet (a member of the lowest hereditary titled British order, with the status of a commoner but able to use the prefix ‘Sir’). All the people who know the county are familiar with his abilities and qualities. Though a gentleman, he is very singular in his behaviour towards others. The singularities of his behaviour result from his good sense and good nature. He behaves oddly only when he is sure that people around him are in the wrong. He is often in contradiction to other people but his contradiction does not create a home to any enemy because of his gentleness.

2. Comment on the style of Addison's prose.

Addison is one of the greatest prose stylists in English literary history. He was the pioneer of a style that was very simple, lucid, natural, moderate, free from extravagant expression, and called ‘middle style’.

 The most striking feature of Addison’s style is clearness and lucidity (reasoning) of expression. There is no complexity in his expression. Even, his long sentences are not difficult to understand. Humor is another key feature of his writing.

Addison showed a perfect English prose style to a large extent and freed it from extravagances and excesses of eighteenth century writers, and brought in it clearness, lucidity and exactness.

3. Which two humorous instances you like most in the essay and why?

I personally liked two instances which made me laugh while reading essay. The first instance is when Sir Roger said 'much could be said on both sides' while Will Wimbol and Tom Touchy had a discussion about fishing in the river. Another instance which I felt humorous was the painting of Sir Roger which was posted at the entrance of the inn which was owned by his former servant. The instance becomes more hilarious when Sir Roger tried to change the appearance but it became more similar to him.

4. After reading the essay, how would you say that Sir Roger belongs to English noble family?

Sir Roger de Coverly is the first member of the Spectator’s Club. He is a gentle man of fifty six of Worcestershire, a non-metropolitan country of England with very strong family history. His great grandfather was the inventor of the famous country-dance which is called after him. He was a baronet (a member of the lowest hereditary titled British order, with the status of a commoner but able to use the prefix ‘Sir’). All the people who know the county are familiar with his abilities and qualities. He behaves in an odd manner only when he is sure that people around him are in the wrong. He is often in contradiction to other people but his contradiction does not create home to any enemy because of his gentleness. All these traits shows him as a person who belongs to English noble family.

 

  

This is a Story, Optional English, Grade 12, Nepal.

 This is a Story by Jeannette C. Armstrong (Prepared by Pratap Pandey, Gorkha)

Expanding the Horizon

1.     How does the author bring contrast between Western people and native people?

The author has shown the difference between Western and native people in terms of their way of life and motive. She has mentioned that the Western people had everything swallow which refers to their dominance upon the native people after colonization. In the name of development, the Westerners had imposed their modern lifestyle which could destroy the native culture and history of the Okanagan people. On the other hand, native people have shown their opposition to the intruders to save their glorious history and culture in the story.

2.     How does the author criticize the western perspective of development?

In the story, the author has criticized that the Western people always destroy the aboriginal culture and lifestyle of people. Though the colonizers act like developing the country and making them civilized, they have a hidden motive to take control over the natural assets of the aboriginal people. Eventually, the swallow people oppress and destroy the true identity of the native people.

3.     Do you think the author is worried about the loss of native culture and identity? Give reasons.

The writer has shown a vivid intention to protect the native culture and identity through the character of Kyoti in the story. Kyoti is the symbol of protest against the colonization who is ready to break the dams made by the Western people. The symbol of breaking the dam illustrates the struggle of native people to preserve their aboriginal identity. The author being an Okanagan woman, is worried about the loss of her aboriginal status and identity after the colonization of the Swallow people.

4.     How are the white men trying to control the natural flow of the river?

The white men are trying to control the natural flow of the river by constructing dams across the Okanagan River. The control of the flow of the river symbolizes the control over the Okanagan people and their natural lifestyle. The white people after the colonization broke the aboriginal status of the Okanagan tribe and established their own culture and way of life. In conclusion, the white people not only controlled the flow of the river but also the flow of the Okanagan people.

5.     How does the story talk about the resistance of man's atrocity against the natural world?

The whole story centers on the resistance of the Okanagan people against the undesirable disturbance in their culture and true identity. The fear of the Salmon Chief and other people of the tribe shows the fear that may occur if they try to oppose the Swallows. However, Kyoti led the people against the intruders to protect their true history and identity. Finally, the people of the Okanagan tribe gathered together to break the dam which is the main barrier to them. The author has successfully created resistance against the white people and their oppression through the characters in the story.

6.     Comment on the language of the story.

Jeannette C. Armstrong gets straight to the point about her foundations as a writer. She writes being influenced by her original language, the language of her people. She makes the aboriginal connection with Okanagan tribe and culture. The process of being shaped by language and land seems fundamental to Armstrong’s writing style.