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.