CBSE Class 12 English Evans Tries an O Level Notes

Evans Tries an O Level Class 12 English Summary of the Story

SUMMARY OF THE STORY

The story “Evans Tries An O-Level”, written by Colin Dexter is an interesting story depicting how a prisoner called James Evans fools all the officers of the prison to escape under a well-laid out plan.
Evans a kleptomaniac was imprisoned thrice and was able to escape every time, therefore he was nicknamed ‘Evans the Break’.
Now he was in the prison for the fourth time and all of a sudden expressed the wish to appear in the O-Level German Examination which was actually an effort to break the prison. Thinking that Evans may have a genuine interest in O-level German, the Governor wanted to give him a chance. For this, a German teacher would come to teach him for ten months in the prison. But he doesn’t want Evans to disgrace him by escaping his premises and so he gets involved in the security arrangements himself.
Evans was placed in the heavily guarded Recreational Block, just across D wing. There were two locked doors between his cell and the yard which boasted of a high wall. Moreover, all the prison officers were also on the alert. The Governor got a microphone installed in Evans’ cell while Stephens kept a hawk’s eye on Evans.
Two prison officers, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Stephens, thoroughly checked his cell for any sign of a possible escape. Even his razor, nail-file and nail scissors were taken away. But hitting on a tiny emotional cord hidden in the stern looking Jackson, Evans managed to retain his filthy bobble hat by claiming it to be his “lucky charm.”
Evans cell was bugged so that the Governor could himself listen to each and every conversation in the cell. The invigilator Rev.
S. McLeery left his house at 8:45 am as the exam was to begin at 9:15 am. McLerry came with a brown suitcase, having semiinflated rubber ring, needed for hemorrhoids. Stephen sitting outside the cell every now and then peeped into the cell. The exam went on smoothly. Stephen escorted the invigilator to the main gate and looked into Evan’s cell and found the invigilator McLeery (actually Evans) wounded and informed the Governor. The latter informed that he was alright and asked them to let him to follow Evans. Who had left Thus he escaped the prison. When the invigilator was not found in the hospital they went to the residence of Rev. S. Mc Leery only to find him ‘bound and gagged in his study in Broad Street’. He had been there, since 8.15 a.m. Now everything was clear to the Governor. Evan escaped the prison the fourth time. But by taking the hint from the correction slip the Governor reached the hotel where Evans was staying. He captured him and came to know how he planned his escape. The Governor said that his game was over. Evans surrendered himself to the Governor. Evans was handcuffed and sent away with a prison officer in the prison van. But here again he befooled the Governor. Both the prison officer and the prison van were part of the plan devised by Evan’s friends. Once again he was a free bird.

Evans Tries an O Level Class 12 English Character Sketch

CHARACTER SKETCH: James Roderick Evans

James Roderick Evans was a very cunning, smart and a deceitful prisoner. He was imprisoned in H.M. Oxford prison under the careful vigil of the Governor and other prison officials. Originally a non-violent kleptomaniac, he was arrested multiple times which made him a thief in the end.
However, he was shrewd enough to be able to escape from the prison as many as three times. Therefore, he was famous by the name of “Evans the Break”.
He was very amusing and good at making friends. Though he did not have an attractive appearance, he had a cheerful smile. He had the ability to get people to do whatever he wanted.
He also had a way with deception. He took special care while disguising himself as others, especially in the case where he disguised himself as the invigilator. We never see him losing his cool which tells us that he is supremely confident of himself and always has a backup plan at hand. With his charm and his expertise, he is almost like a negative hero.

CHARACTER SKETCH: The Governor

The Governor of the H.M. prison, Oxford appears to be considerate and kind-hearted fellow at the start as he arranges for an O-Level examination for a prisoner notorious for his ability to escape from the prison. However, he is quite skeptical of Evans and makes every arrangement to make sure that Evans doesn’t escape.
He is the primary antagonist of the main character Evans.
He has been characterised as an intelligent and able prison officer but in the end, he turns out to be ‘good-for-a-giggle- Governor’. The Governor tries to exert all caution but Evans eventually manages to escape. This was mainly due to the lapse in communication and flawless execution of work.

Important Points for Chapter 5 Evans Tries an O Level Class 12 English

By Colin Dexter 1930-2017
– Famous English Crime Writer.
– Wrote 13 mystery novels featuring Chief Inspector Morse.
– Wrote short stories about Crime and Criminals.

Key Points

Evan’s Request for O-level Exam
● It’s Early March, The Governor of Oxford Prison telephoned the secretary of the Examination board.
● Requested to conduct an O-level German Examination
● Prisoner ‘James Roderick Evans had no record of Violence.
● He is pleasant, fun-loving, expert at imitation, but a kleptomaniac.
● He had night classes in O-level German in the prison.
● Request was approved.
● One person from St. Mary Mags will act as an invigi later.

Evans the Break
● Evans had escaped the prison 3 times.
● The Governor doubted his real intentions of clearing the exam.
● 7th June, 8.30 am, was the exam time.
● German Autor did not expect Evans to clear the exam.

Precautions
● Two officers visited Evans.
● Jackson’- a senior officer and ‘Stephens’ – a new recruit.
● Jacksons and Evans were enemies.
● Evans kept his dirtly bobble hat, saying it was his good luck charm.
● Stephens took his razor back after he shaved.
● His nail scissors and file were-taken away.
● A listening device with receiver in the Governor’s room was connected to the cell.
● All precautions were taken.

Reverend Stuart Mcleery
● Reverend Stuart Mc Leery was appointed for examination.
● At 8:45 am, he arrived with a suitcase & other items.
● A sealed question paper, yellow invigilation form, special authentication card, a paper knife, a Bible & a current copy of the Church Times.
● The exam was of two hours, to be start at 9:15 am.
● Stephen set two small square tables and bought two chairs.
● A bug was set in cell, because no one would take chance with Evans.

The Examination Begins at 9:25 am
● Mc Leery’s suitcase was searched.
● Found a small-inflated rubber ring.
● It was to him in sitting in particular position because he had piles.
● Necessary instructions were given.
● To write down paper’s name 021-1, index number 313 & centre number 271.
● Stephen was called out from the cell by Governor.
● At 9:40 am, the Assistant Secretary for Modern Languages informs the Governor about the correction.
● Correction was on page three line fifteen by the invigilator.
● Stephen was keeping an eye through a peephole.
● Evans had pen between his lips and requested for blanket at 10.50 am.

Evans Escapes from the prison
● 3 mins left before exam, The Governor instructed stephens to accompany Mc Leery to the main gate.
● Stephen observed that the invigilator had grown thinner.
● His scottish accent was more noticeable.
● Suddenly he saw a man sprawled back in Evan’s chair
● Blanket was slipping from his shoulders.
● Blood was splattered.
● They thought it was Mc leery and Evans had escaped.
● Injured man tells the governor about the photocopied sheet that had been super imposed over the last page of the question paper.
● Instructions said – Not to hit Mc leery too hard.
● 3 mins before exam were very important.
● Not to overdo the Scottish accent.
● He told them that Evans has gone towards Elsfield way.
● The Governor asked carten to take Mc Leery with him; because only he know what happened.

Furious Governor
● Scolds both officers for letting Evan go
● He had not made any call at 11:22 am i.e. three minutes before the exam was over.
● Jackson did not search the cell properly.
● Governor looked at the photocopied slip & thought of New bury.
● He ordered the driver to take Jackson & Stephens to St. Aldated police station to meet chief inspector Bell.
● Evans left the question paper mistakenly which led him to Mr Clever – Clever Evans.
● Carter informed that Mc leery had seen Evans driving off along Elsfield way.
● Governor told that Evans had gone to New burry.
● When Governor. Asked about Mc leery to Carter, he told him that he was left at Rad Cliffe Hospital.
● But Mc leery was not there at hospital.
● Real Mc leery was bound & gagged in his own study. Since 8:15 am
● Evans did not walk out, he stayed in the prison.

The Final Escape
– In the Norton, at ‘The Golden lion’. Evan was there.
– Regretted sharing his head bad got to keep his hat fortunately.
– When he walked to his room, his heart skipped a beat.
– The Governor was in the room.
– Governor got the clue about the hotel’s name. It had index number 313 and centre number 271.
– To create real blood, the rubber ring was filled with pig’s blood and 3.8% trisodium tue.
– German teacher was friend of Evans
– Governor was impressed
– Evans was hand cuffed by a prison officer.
– In the cab with two officers, his handcuffs were unlocked.
– Evans moved to New burry as those people were not officers. But his friends.

Summary

Story started in early march. When the Governor of Oxford Prison telephoned the secretary of Examination board, to conduct an O-level German Examination for Evans ‘a prisoner’. Since he had no record of violence and was a pleasant personality, the examination was conducted. He took night classes and the request was approved. A parson from St. Mary mags will be sent for invigilation. Evans already escaped the prison 3 times. The exam was scheduled for 7th June, 8.30 am. Two officer were given the responsibility one was Jackson – a senior officers and other was Stephens – a new recruit. Jackson & Evans wore enemies. Evans wore a bubble hat as a good luck Charm. All sharp items like razor & blade, nail, scissors and file were taken away. At 8.45 am , Mc leery arrived with items like a sealed question paper, yellow inviligation form, special authentication card, a paper knife, a Bible a current copy of ‘The Church Times’. A bug was also set in cell. Mc leery bought a semi inflated rubber ring because of his piles. After few minutes from starting the exam, Governor got a call for correction in Question paper. Three minutes before exam, the Governor instructed Stephens to accompany Mc leery to the main gate. Stephen got thinner and had more Scottish accent. A man was Sprawled back in Evan’s chair & blanket slipped from his shoulders and the blood was splattering Mc leery was hurt in cell and Evans had escaped. The last sheet of the question paper had been super imposed over the last page. It had instructions saying Not to hit Mc leery too hard and not to over do the
scotthish accent. He told that Evans had gone towards Eastfield way. Governor guessed Evans would go to New burry. Mc Leery on the other hand was left at Rad Cliffe hospital but he was not there. Real Mc leery was bound & gagged in his own study since 8:15 am Evans did not walk out, the injured man in the prison was Evans only, not Mc lerry. It was all part of the plan.
Evans escaped to a hotel ‘The Golden Lion’ in Norton. He regretted shaving his head but got to keep his hat fortunately. In the room, he saw governor. Governor got the clue about the hotel’s name, it had index number 313 and centre number 271. The Governor understood the clue, same way Evans got it. The rubber ring had pig’s blood with 3.8% trisodium citrate to avoid clotting Evans was hand cuffed by prison officers but in the cab his handcuffs were unlocked.
Hence, those were not real officers but Evan’s friends. Evans moved to New burry and escaped the prison.

Question. Which article in Mcleery’s suitcase played perhaps the most significant role in Evan’s escape and how? 
Answer: The blood helped Evans to make himself up as a parson for his escape. He put that blood on himself so that no one suspect him. He offered to help the detective.

Question. What were the contents of the small suitcase that Mc leery carried?
Answer: The suitcase had a sealed question paper envelope, a yellow invigilation form, a special authentication card from the Examination Board, a paper knife, a Bible and the current copy of ‘The’ Church Times’ and one small semi-inflated rubber ring.

Question. How did the Governors react to the two phone calls he received in quick succession?
Answer: The first phone call came from Examination Board when the governor checked on it, he found the line busy. He thought of himself stupid to check the same line. The second call came from the Magistrate’s crowd. The Governor thought it was a hoax.

Question. How did the question paper & the correction ship help the prisoner and the Governor?
Answer: The question paper had a details of the address where evans would go after escape. It was also meant of make the authorities believe the wounded man was Mc lerry himself.

Question. Why did the prison officers call Evans, ‘Evans the Break’? 
Answer: Evans had already from the prison three times Because of his shrewd and clever nature the prison officers called Evans, ‘Evans the Break’.

Question. How was the injured Mc leery able to befool the prison officers?
Answer: The injured Mc Leery was Evans himself. He put fake. Pig’s Blood on his head, to make officers believe that he was actually injured.’ He pretended to be so much in pain that he could hardly utter words. This way no body noticed his reality per plan he offered help him. He became successful in making them believe that it was really Mc leery who was injured.

Question. Give a character sketch of the Governor of oxford prison based on your understanding of the story ‘Evans Tries an O-level’.? 
Answer: Governor of oxford prison was considerate and kind-hearted person. He arranged an O-level language exam for a prisoner. He allowed the examination to be conducted, without hiding the behaviour of Evans. He mentioned Evans being non-violent but a congenital Kleptomaniac. He was skeptical of evans hence made sure he could not escape. The prison. He was also proud & self conscious. He cross examined everything. His intelligence can be proved when he guessed the right location of Evans.

Question. Evan is characterised in the story as?
(a) cunning person
(b) foolish person
(c) pleasing personality who has a tendency to mislead the cops.
(d) both (a) and (c)
Answer: Both (a) and (c).

Question. What was the plan based on the decision of giving an O-level exam?
(a) To plan an escape from the prison.
(b) To add academic qualifications.
(c) To further continue his studies.
(d) To mislead the prisoners.
Answer: To plan an escape from the prison.

Question. What was the reason due to which Evan drapes his blanket around his shoulder?
(a) As he was feeling cold
(b) To hide his exam
(c) As he was making an escape plan.
(d) He was changing his dress to look like Mcleery.
Answer: He was changing his dress to look like Mcleery.

Question. Why did Evans request not to take off his hat?
(a) Because hat gives him a stylish look
(b) Because he loved to wear his hat.
(c) Because he considered it lucky for him.
(d) Because he was possessive for his hat.
Answer: Because he considered it lucky for him.