Class 12 English Notes Chapter 7 (Evans Tries an O-level) – Vistas Book

Alright students, let's focus on Chapter 7 from your Vistas book, 'Evans Tries an O-level' by Colin Dexter. This story is a fascinating cat-and-mouse game, often tested in competitive exams for its intricate plot and character details. Pay close attention.

Evans Tries an O-level: Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Introduction:

• Author: Colin Dexter
• Genre: Detective fiction/Crime thriller short story.
• Setting: H.M. Prison, Oxford.
• Protagonist: James Roderick Evans, a clever prisoner known for escaping.
• Antagonist(s): The prison authorities, primarily the Governor.
• Core Conflict: Evans's elaborate plan to escape prison under the guise of taking an O-level German examination versus the prison authorities' attempts to prevent it.

2. Characters:

• James Roderick Evans ('Evans the Break'): The protagonist. A congenital kleptomaniac but non-violent. Known for his intelligence, charm, and three previous escapes from prison. He is resourceful, meticulous, and a master of disguise and deception.
• The Governor: Head of H.M. Prison, Oxford. Initially confident, even slightly arrogant, about his security measures. He is intelligent but ultimately outsmarted by Evans. Represents the established authority.
• Mr. Jackson: Senior prison officer. Stern and meticulous, follows procedures strictly (e.g., removing potential weapons like razors and nail scissors). Shows a flicker of humanity but is focused on security.
• Mr. Stephens: Junior prison officer. Relatively new, assigned to watch Evans during the exam. He is diligent but easily misled and becomes an unwitting pawn in Evans's plan.
• Reverend Stuart McLeery: The invigilator from St. Mary Mags. He is impersonated by one of Evans's accomplices. The real McLeery is gagged and bound in his study.
• Detective Superintendent Carter: The police officer who takes the 'injured' McLeery (actually Evans in disguise) from the prison. He is deceived by Evans.
• Detective Chief Inspector Bell: The senior detective who later arrives at the prison. He is more astute and works with the Governor to track Evans down using the clues left behind.
• The German Teacher: Taught Evans German for 10 months; likely an accomplice who helped set up the plan.
• Friends/Accomplices of Evans: Unseen characters who play crucial roles outside the prison (e.g., arranging the fake McLeery, the car, the hotel booking, the final prison van).

3. Plot Summary - The Escape Unfolds:

• The Request: Evans expresses a desire to take an O-level German exam, surprising the prison authorities. The Governor, despite Evans's escape record, cautiously agrees, seeing it as a potential rehabilitation step and perhaps underestimating Evans.
• Precautions: The Governor takes extensive precautions: Evans's cell is thoroughly checked, sharp objects are removed, a special invigilator (Rev. S. McLeery) is arranged, and Officer Stephens is posted outside the cell. The Governor personally monitors the proceedings via a hidden microphone ('bug').
• The Exam Begins: Rev. McLeery arrives, carrying a small suitcase containing exam papers, a Bible, a church times newspaper, and a semi-inflated rubber ring (claiming haemorrhoids). Jackson checks the bag but misses the significance of the ring. Stephens observes Evans through the peephole.
• The Correction Slip: A phone call comes from the Examination Board (actually an accomplice) announcing a correction (Index number 313, Centre number 271) on the paper. This is a coded message for Evans, indicating the escape plan details and the hotel (The Golden Lion). The Governor allows the correction to be passed on.
• The 'Injured' Invigilator: Near the end of the exam time, Stephens hears a thud. He finds McLeery (actually Evans disguised as McLeery, covered in pig's blood carried in the rubber ring) seemingly injured and bleeding heavily in the cell. The real Evans is supposedly locked inside.
• The Chase Begins: Chaos ensues. The 'injured' McLeery, groaning and pointing to the German question paper (which now has a superimposed photocopied sheet with directions), insists on guiding the police. Carter is called, and he takes the 'injured' McLeery (Evans) away, supposedly towards Elsfield Way as indicated by the clue.
• The Discovery: Authorities realize the 'injured' McLeery has disappeared from the hospital. Simultaneously, they check McLeery's residence and find the real Reverend bound and gagged. They understand Evans impersonated McLeery to get out of the cell, not stay in.
• Decoding the Clue: The Governor, with help from his knowledge of German and Ordnance Survey maps, decodes the 'correction slip' message (Index 313/ Centre 271) which points to the Golden Lion hotel in Chipping Norton.
• The Recapture (or so it seems): The Governor personally goes to the Golden Lion hotel and finds Evans in his room. Evans appears resigned and doesn't resist.
• The Final Twist: Evans is handcuffed and put into a prison van, accompanied by a 'silent prison officer'. As the van drives away, the Governor feels triumphant. However, Evans asks the officer where they are going, and it's revealed that the prison officer and the van driver are Evans's accomplices. Evans has escaped again. The Governor has been outsmarted completely.

4. Themes:

• Wit and Cleverness vs. Authority: The central theme is the battle of wits between the individual (Evans) and the system (prison authorities). Evans consistently outsmarts the seemingly powerful and organized system.
• Appearance vs. Reality: Nothing is as it seems. McLeery is not McLeery, the injury is fake, the correction slip is a code, the recapture is staged, and the prison van is the final escape vehicle.
• Underestimation: The prison authorities, especially the Governor, repeatedly underestimate Evans's intelligence, meticulous planning, and audacity. Their overconfidence contributes to their failure.
• The Nature of Crime and Punishment: Evans is portrayed almost sympathetically – clever, non-violent, charming. The story plays with the reader's perception of the criminal and the authorities.
• Human Error and Complacency: The escape succeeds due to a series of small errors, assumptions, and moments of complacency by the prison staff (Jackson missing the ring's purpose, Stephens being distracted, Carter being fooled, the Governor revealing the hotel location).

5. Key Elements & Literary Techniques:

• Suspense: Built throughout the story using timed events, close calls, and the constant question of whether Evans will succeed.
• Irony: Dramatic irony (we know more than some characters, e.g., about the fake McLeery) and situational irony (the elaborate security measures facilitating the escape, the Governor catching Evans only to lose him again).
• Foreshadowing: Hints like Evans's nickname, the German teacher's involvement, and the Governor's initial overconfidence suggest the possibility of an escape.
• Red Herrings: Clues designed to mislead both the characters and the reader (e.g., the initial chase towards Elsfield Way).
• Detailed Planning: The story highlights the meticulousness required for such a complex plan, involving timing, disguise, codes, and external help.

6. Important Points for Exams:

• Remember Evans's nickname: "Evans the Break".
• The subject of the exam: O-level German.
• The invigilator's name: Reverend Stuart McLeery.
• Items brought by the fake McLeery: Small brown suitcase, sealed question paper envelope, yellow invigilation form, special authentication card, paper-knife, Bible, copy of 'The Church Times', semi-inflated rubber ring.
• The significance of the rubber ring: Used to carry pig's blood for the fake injury.
• The correction slip details: Index number 313, Centre number 271 – code for the escape plan and Hotel Golden Lion.
• The officers involved: Jackson (senior), Stephens (junior), Carter (Detective Superintendent), Bell (Detective Chief Inspector).
• The final escape method: Impersonating McLeery to get out of the cell, faking injury, misleading police, getting 'recaptured' at the hotel, and finally escaping in a fake prison van arranged by accomplices.
• The Governor's role: Overconfident, makes crucial mistakes (allowing correction slip info, personally finding Evans, trusting the final van).

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. What was the primary reason the prison authorities were wary of Evans taking the O-level exam?
   a) He had failed previous exams.
   b) He was known for his violent behaviour.
   c) He had a history of escaping from prison.
   d) He didn't know any German.

2. Which item carried by the invigilator, Reverend McLeery, was crucial for faking the injury scene later?
   a) The Bible
   b) The paper-knife
   c) The semi-inflated rubber ring
   d) The copy of 'The Church Times'

3. What was the actual purpose of the 'correction slip' telephoned in during the exam?
   a) To correct a genuine error on the exam paper.
   b) To distract the prison officers.
   c) To provide Evans with coded information about the escape plan.
   d) To test the Governor's German language skills.

4. Who impersonated the injured Reverend McLeery found in Evans's cell?
   a) The real Reverend McLeery
   b) Evans himself
   c) The German teacher
   d) Another prisoner

5. Which prison officer was primarily responsible for observing Evans through the peephole during the exam?
   a) The Governor
   b) Mr. Jackson
   c) Mr. Stephens
   d) Detective Superintendent Carter

6. Where did the Governor eventually track down Evans after decoding the message on the question paper?
   a) Elsfield Way
   b) St. Mary Mags Church
   c) The Examination Board office
   d) The Golden Lion hotel in Chipping Norton

7. Who escorted the 'injured' McLeery (Evans in disguise) away from the prison initially?
   a) Detective Chief Inspector Bell
   b) Detective Superintendent Carter
   c) Mr. Jackson
   d) The Governor

8. What object did Jackson insist Evans remove before the exam, which Evans cleverly complained about?
   a) His nail file
   b) His bobble hat
   c) His reading glasses
   d) His lucky charm

9. The final escape of Evans was facilitated by:
   a) A helicopter waiting nearby.
   b) A boat arranged on the canal.
   c) A fake prison van with his accomplices disguised as officers.
   d) Tunneling out from the Golden Lion hotel.

10. A major theme explored in 'Evans Tries an O-level' is:
    a) The importance of formal education.
    b) The inefficiency of the police force.
    c) The conflict between appearance and reality.
    d) The dangers of kleptomania.

Answer Key:

1. c) He had a history of escaping from prison.
2. c) The semi-inflated rubber ring
3. c) To provide Evans with coded information about the escape plan.
4. b) Evans himself
5. c) Mr. Stephens
6. d) The Golden Lion hotel in Chipping Norton
7. b) Detective Superintendent Carter
8. b) His bobble hat
9. c) A fake prison van with his accomplices disguised as officers.
10. c) The conflict between appearance and reality.

Study these notes thoroughly. Understanding the sequence of events, the characters' roles, and the hidden details is key to tackling questions from this chapter. Good luck with your preparation!