The title of the text: The Cop and the Anthem
The title ‘The Cop and the Anthem’ does not give any clear idea of the content. Cop and Anthem are just nouns. The word ‘Cop’ stands for a policeman and ‘Anthem’ for a religious song or a prayer mostly sung in a church. We can just imagine that the text is related to the police and the religious song. If we go through the text, we will get the clear idea about the text.
ICE BREAKERS
1) Suppose you have gone to a place where the winter season is very severe, suggest the ways in which you would protect yourself in the cold climate.
Answer:
Ways to protect from cold climate:
a) To wear woolen clothes.
b) To do exercise and keep body warm
c) To sit near bonfire.
d) To drink hot drinks and soups.
e) To use room heaters
f) To take steam bath
g) To stay inside the closed room
2) When you see a cop approaching, you feel either ‘relieved’ or ‘scared’. Give the situations when you felt ‘relieved’ or ‘scared’.
Answer:
a) I felt relieved seeing the cop approaching:
i) When I was walking alone in a dark street.
ii) When I saw a thief stealing my friends bag.
iii) When I was attacked by anti – social elements.
iv) When I missed the correct road.
b) I felt scared seeing the cop approaching:
i) When I was riding a bike without a valid driving license.
ii) When I was driving a car on the wrong side.
iii) When I broke the red signal at the crossing.
iv) When I was carrying two friends on a motorcycle.
3) Write some of the motivating things that can change a person’s life.
Answer:
The motivating things that can change a person’s life:
a) Listening to an inspiring speech
b) Attending career development and inspirational seminars.
c) Reading success stories of eminent persons
d) Participating extra-curricular activities in the college
e) Seeing the films having inspirational themes.
f) Participating in social work
g) Helping the weaker sections of the society.
h) Becoming a creative participant of the organizations working for the well-being of others.
i) Watching inspirational videos on social media.
Synopsis of the text:
Soapy wanted to go in jail to live idle life. He tried to break law but his attempts were failed. He was not caught by the Cop. He came near the church yard. He heard a musical note of an anthem. Hearing it he remembered his past wonderful days. It brought a sudden and worth change in his soul. He decided to fight and change his life. He also decided to find work. While Soapy was daydreaming, a policeman taped him on the shoulder and asked what he was doing. He was arrested for loitering and the following day sentenced to three months in Blackwell’s Island (jail).
| New words and meanings: Asphalt – gravel, grit, small granules of stone used in road development. Vest – sleeveless shirt, coat, jacket, banyan Shaven – trimmed the beard, done shaving Trim – neat, tidy, orderly Bow – a knot used for to a tie (tie-knot) Thanksgiving Day – the fourth Thursday of November which is marked by religious observance and dinner. Roasted – baked, cooked, heated Mallard duck – a duck mostly used as food in western part of the world Revenge – avenge, retaliation Filled – satisfied, fulfilled, content Winter Island – Here it means jail Tattered – torn, rags, rugged, worn-out Decadent – degraded, gone bad Avert – stop, turn away, ward-off Ignoble – dishonorable, shameful, disgraceful, insulting Menaced – forbidden, threatened Coveted – highly desirable Coveted island – here, the jail Limbo – dividing line, midpoint here, boarder between heaven and hell Devise – set up, plan, formulate Cunningly – artfully, craftily Brass buttons – a policeman, a cop |
Brainstorming Activities
(A1)
(i) Find out the different ways in which Soapy tried to get arrested.
Answer-
(a) Soapy tried to enter a luxurious cafe.
(b) Soapy took a stone and dashed it through the glass of shop window.
(c) Soapy ate meal in a common restaurant and declared that he had no money to pay the bill.
(d) Soapy yelled like a drunken person and made noise on public place.
(e) Soapy grabbed the umbrella of one person and asked him to call the police.
(ii) Describe the atmosphere when Soapy reached near the Church.
(a) A soft light glowed through the violet-stained window.
(b) It was a quiet corner with an old church, quaint, rambling and gabled.
(c) The moon was above, full and radiant creating brightness.
(d) Sparrows twittered sleepily in the eaves in the country churchyard
(A2)
(i) Read the story and match the incidents given in Column A with the consequences given in Column B.
| Column A | Column B |
| (1) Soapy tried to enter a cafe. | Strong and ready hands of the head waiter turned him around. |
| (2) Soapy broke a glass window. | The cop ran after another man. |
| (3) Two waiters pitched Soapy on the callous pavement. | He stood up slowly beating the dust from his clothes. |
| (4) Soapy heard the anthem being played in the Church. | Suddenly a wonderful change came in his heart. |
| (5) Cop arrests Soapy for hanging around. | Dream of turning around in life was shattered. |
(ii) Give reasons and complete the following:
(a) Soapy had confidence in himself because – The portion of him that would show above the table was neat. He was shaven. His appearance would raise no doubt in the waiter’s mind.
(b) The head waiter of the luxurious cafe did not allow Soapy to enter because – when Soapy set foot inside the restaurant door, the head-waiter’s eye fell upon his tattered trousers and decadent shoes.
(c)The cop did not arrest Soapy for breaking the glass window because – according the cop men who smash windows do not remain to chat with the police. They run away from the place.
(d) The cop did not arrest Soapy for shouting and dancing because – he considered Soapy as the young person coming from a party at the Hartford College. The police had the instructions to neglect these young persons.
(iii) Pick out the lines from the text which show that:
(a) Soapy wants to enter the cafe for two reasons.
Answer:
i) The cafe catered to large appetites and modest purses.
ii) Now, get busy and call a cop”, said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.” Soapy wanted to enter the jail.
(b) Soapy was afraid that he won’t be able to enter the prison.
Answer: Soapy was seized with a sudden fear that some dreadful enchantment had rendered him immune to arrest.
(c) Soapy was not caught by the cop for throwing stones at the glass.
Answer: The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue.
(d) Soapy actually did not want the umbrella.
Answer: He hurled the umbrella angrily into an excavation.
(e) Listening to the anthem, Soapy remembered his good old days.
Answer: And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends and immaculate thoughts and collars.
(iv) ‘He would make a man of himself again’ – The word ‘man’ in the sentence means
Answer: A working person living worthy and respectable life.
(v) Soapy’s earlier life was much different from his present life. Complete the table to show this contrast.
Answer:
| Earlier life | Present life |
| (a) Contained friends and roses | (a) Unworthy desires |
| (b) Love of family | (b) Dead hopes |
| (c) Ambitions and good clothes | (c) Wrecked faculties |
| (d) Pure and flawless thoughts | (d) Valueless motives |
(vi) After listening to the sweet and solemn organ notes, Soapy decides to:
(a) bring back his old eager ambitions and pursue them without losing confidence and determination.
(b) go into the noisy downtown district and find work.
(A3) Vocabulary
(i) O’Henry has used different words to indicate prison where Soapy wants to reach. Make a list of those words.
Answer:
1) Winter island
2) Coveted island
3) Limbo
4) Unattainable Arcadia
5) Island
(ii) Find out the words used for the ‘degraded state of Soapy’.
Answer:
1)The pit into which he had tumble
2)Unworthy desires
3)Dead hopes
4)Wrecked faculties
5)Base motives that made up his existence
(iii) The specific meaning of word ‘anthem’ in the content of the story is…….
Answer:
1) A religious instrumental song or a prayer played by the organist in a church for the celebration of coming Sabbath.
2) An influential musical note played by the organist to inspire an idle person to become a worthy person.
(A4) Language Study
(i) Convert the following sentences into negative without changing their meanings.
(a) The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue.
Ans. The policeman didn’t accept Soapy even as a clue.
(b) Soapy drifted along twice unsuccessful.
Ans. Soapy drifted along twice with no success.
Ans. Soapy drifted along twice but wasn’t successful.
Ans. Soapy drifted along twice but he didn’t succeed.
(c) Soapy stopped his unavailing racket.
Ans. Soapy didn’t continue his unavailing racket.
(d) The island seemed very far away.
Ans. The island did not seem close by.
Ans. The island didn’t seem very close.
(e) The island seemed an unattainable Arcadia.
Ans. The island seemed an Arcadia which could not be attained.
Ans. The island did not seem attainable Arcadia.
(ii) Convert the following sentences into affirmative without changing their meanings.
(a) Men who smash windows do not remain to chat with the police.
Ans. Men who smash windows hardly remain to chat with the police.
Ans. Men who smash windows avoid to chat with the police.
Ans. Men who smash windows fail to remain to chat with the police.
Ans. Men who smash windows run away instead of chatting with the police.
(b) Why don’t you call a cop?
Ans. Why do you hesitate to call a cop?
Ans. You should call a cop.
(c) On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant of no great pretensions.
Ans. On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant without any great pretensions.
Ans. On the opposite side of the street was restaurant with a very low pretentions.
(d) Noisy; but no harm.
Ans. Noisy; but harmless.
(e) They seemed to regard him as a King who could do no wrong.
Ans. They seemed to regard him as a king who could hardly do any wrong.
Ans. They seemed to regard him as a King who could do only right.
Ans. They seemed to regard him as a king who was unable to do any wrong.
Activity Sheet No.1: 1-3 The Cop and the Anthem
Q. Read the extract and complete the activities given below.
| Soapy left his bench and strolled out of the square and across the level sea of asphalt, where Broadway and Fifth Avenue flow together. Up Broadway he turned, and stopped at a luxurious cafe. Soapy had confidence in himself from the lowest button of his vest upward. He was shaven, and his coat was trim and his neat, black bow had been presented to him by a lady missionary on Thanksgiving Day. If only he could reach a table in the restaurant unsuspected, success would be his. The portion of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter’s mind. A roasted mallard duck, thought Soapy, would be about the thing with a bottle of wine and then some cheese, a cup of coffee and a cigar. One dollar for the cigar would be enough. The total would not be so high as to call forth any extreme of revenge from the cafe management; and yet the meat would leave him filled and happy for the journey to his winter island. But as Soapy set foot inside the restaurant door, the head-waiter’s eye fell upon his tattered trousers and decadent shoes. Strong and ready hands turned him about and conveyed him in silence and haste to the side-walk and averted the ignoble fate of the menaced mallard. Soapy turned off Broadway. It seemed that his route to the coveted island was not to be an easy one. Some other way of entering the limbo must be devised. |
A1. Rearrange the events as per they occur in the given story extract. (2)
दिलेल्या कथेच्या उतार्यात घडलेल्या घटनांनुसार खालील घटनांचा क्रम लावा.
i) Soapy was thrown out of the cafe.
ii) Soapy left his bench and strolled out of the square.
iii) The head-waiter saw Soapy’s tattered trousers and decadent shoes.
iv) Soapy stopped at a luxurious cafe.
Answer:
ii) Soapy left his bench and strolled out of the square.
iv) Soapy stopped at a luxurious cafe.
iii) The head-waiter saw Soapy’s tattered trousers and decadent shoes.
i) Soapy was thrown out of the cafe.
A2. Make a list. (2)
Make a list of things which Soapy desired to get in the luxurious cafe.
सोपी ला महागड्या रेस्टॉरंट मध्ये हव्या असलेल्या बाबींची यादी द्या.
Answer:
The things which Soapy desired to get in the luxurious cafe are –
1) a roasted mallard duck
2) a bottle of wine
3) a cup of coffee
4) a cigar.
A3. Give reason (2)
Soapy couldn’t enjoy the meal in the luxurious cafe. Give its reason.
सोपी ला महागड्या रेस्टॉरंट मध्ये जेवण घेता आले नाही. त्याचे कारण दया.
Answer:
When Soapy set his foot inside the restaurant door, the head-waiter’s eye fell upon his tattered trousers and decadent shoes. Such person might not be allowed in that restaurant. So the waiter prevented him to enter it. He was thrown away on the side walk. So Soapy couldn’t enjoy the meal in the cafe.
A4. Personal Response (2)
Give names of any two your favourite dishes which you like to eat in the hotel.
हॉटेल मध्ये गेल्यावर जे आवडते खाद्यपदार्थ तुम्ही मागवतात त्यांची नावे द्या.
Answer:
When I go to hotel, I enjoy different types of food items. I like to eat Pav Bhaji, Veg Manchurian, Panner Tikka Masala and Angoori Malai in the hotel. I also like to eat Punjabi dishes and non veg food items like Chikan Handi, Chicken tikka, fish curry etc.
A5. Language Study (Do as directed) (2)
1) Soapy left his bench and strolled out of the square.
(Choose the alternative showing the correct transformation of this sentence into simple sentence.)
(या वाक्याचे साध्या वाक्यात योग्य रूपांतर दर्शविणारा पर्याय निवडा.)
i) Soapy leaving his bench and strolling out of the square.
ii) After leaving his bench, Soapy strolling out of the square.
iii) After leaving his bench, Soapy strolled out of the square.
iv) After leaving his bench, Soapy had strolled out of the square.
Answer:
iii) After leaving his bench, Soapy strolled out of the square.
2) Some other way of entering the limbo must be devised.
(Choose the alternative showing the correct use of model auxiliary showing ability.)
(क्षमता दर्शविणार्या मॉडेल ऑग्झि़लीअरी चा योग्य वापर दर्शविणारा पर्याय निवडा.)
i) Some other way of entering the limbo should be devised.
ii) Some other way of entering the limbo may to be devised.
iii) Some other way of entering the limbo will be devised.
iv) Some other way of entering the limbo can be devised.
Answer:
iv) Some other way of entering the limbo can be devised.
A6. Vocabulary (2)
Match the words given under ‘A’ to their meaning given under ‘B’.
जोड्या लावा
| A | B |
| 1) strolled | a) old and worn out |
| 2) decadent | b) greatly desired |
| 3) ignoble | c) walked in a leisurely way |
| 4) coveted | d) dishonourable |
Answer:
| A | B |
| 1) strolled | c) walked in a leisurely way |
| 2) decadent | a) old and worn out |
| 3) ignoble | d) dishonourable |
| 4) coveted | b) greatly desired |
Activity Sheet No. 2 on 1-3 The Cop and the Anthem
Q. Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12)
| At a corner of Sixth Avenue electric lights and cunningly displayed wares behind plate glass made a shop window attractive. Soapy took a stone and dashed it through the glass. People came running round the corner, a policeman in the lead. Soapy stood still with his hands in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of brass buttons. “Where’s the man that done that?” inquired the officer agitatedly. “Don’t you think that I might have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, with a friendly voice, as one greets good fortune. The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue. Men who smash windows do not remain to chat with the police. They take to their heels. The policeman saw a man half-way down the block running to catch a car. With drawn club he joined in the pursuit. Soapy, with disgust in his heart, drifted along, twice unsuccessful. On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant of no great pretensions. It catered to large appetites and modest purses. Its crockery and atmosphere were thick; its soup and napery thin. Into this place Soapy betook himself without challenge. At a table he sat and consumed beefsteak, flapjacks, doughnuts and pie. And then he told the waiter the fact that the minutest coin and himself were total strangers. “Now, get busy and call a cop,” said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.” “No cop for you,” said the waiter, with a voice like butter cakes and an eye like the cherry in the Manhattan cocktail. “Hey, Con!” Neatly upon his left ear on the callous pavement two waiters pitched Soapy. He arose, joint by joint, as a carpenter’s rule opens, and dusted his clothes. Arrest seemed now but an elusive dream. The island seemed very far away. A policeman who stood before a drugstore two doors away laughed and walked down the street. |
A1. True or False (2)
Rewrite the following statements and state whether they are true or false.
(i) Soapy broke the glass of the shop window.
(ii) Nobody heard the breaking of the window.
(iii) The policeman chased Soapy.
(iv) Soapy did not run away from the place.
Answer:
(i) Soapy broke the glass of the shop window.- True
(ii) Nobody heard the breaking of the window.- False
(iii) The policeman chased Soapy.- False
(iv) Soapy did not run away from the place.- True
A2. Complete (2)
Complete the following statements taking the help of the extract.
(i) The cop did not arrest Soapy for breaking the glass window because———–
(ii) Soapy entered low quality restaurant. The quality of the restaurant was low as it had——-
Answer:
(i) The cop did not arrest Soapy for breaking the glass window because as per his experience the men who smash windows do not remain to chat with the police.
(ii) Soapy entered low quality restaurant. The quality of the restaurant was low as it had large appetites and modest purses. Its crockery and atmosphere were thick; its soup and napery thin.
A3. Discuss (2)
Discuss the hidden meaning in the following expressions/sentences.
(i) It catered to large appetites and modest purses.
(ii) He told the waiter the fact that the minutest coin and himself were total strangers.
Answer:
(i) It catered to large appetites and modest purses. This means that the restaurant where Soapy entered could provide large quantity of food items taking less amount for it.
(ii) He told the waiter the fact that the minutest coin and himself were total strangers. It means that Soapy didn’t have money to pay and he hadn’t to do anything for this situation.
A4. Personal Response (2)
Imagine that you had bought few items but you didn’t have sufficient amount to pay for it. Describe your feeling at that time.
Answer:
If I had bought few items and I realized that I didn’t have sufficient amount to pay for it, I would feel embarrassed. I would return few of the items and take only those for which I could pay.
A5. Language Study (2)
(a) Men who smash windows do not remain to chat with the police.
(Convert the sentence into the affirmative without changing their meanings.)
i) Men who smash windows remain to chat with the police.
ii) Men who smash windows avoid to chat with the police.
iii) Men who smash windows try to chat with the police.
iv) Men who smash windows stay to chat with the police.
Answer:
ii) Men who smash windows avoid to chat with the police.
(b) A policeman who stood before a drugstore two doors away laughed.
(Choose the alternative showing the correct transformation of this sentence into simple sentence)
i) A policeman stood before a drugstore two doors and away laughed.
ii) When a policeman stood before a drugstore two doors away, he laughed.
iii) A policeman standing before a drugstore two doors away laughed.
iv) A policeman stood before a drugstore two doors away so laughed.
Answer:
iii) A policeman standing before a drugstore two doors away laughed.
A6. Vocabulary (2)
Match the words with their meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
| 1) cunningly | a) to be ahead |
| 2) lead | b) chase |
| 3) agitatedly | c) artfully |
| 4) pursuit | d) anxiously |
Answer:
Match the words with their meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
| 1) cunningly | a) artfully |
| 2) lead | b) to be ahead |
| 3) agitatedly | c) anxiously |
| 4) pursuit | d) chase |
More activities and resources on 1-3 The Cop and the Anthem will be available soon.
Get more activities on 1-3 The Cop and the Anthem with model answers in the Activity Work Book Std. XII English by Prof. Tushar Chavan.
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