Chapter 15
EXCUSES, EXCUSES!
1. Why was Blenkinsopp late to school?
Answer: Blenkinsopp claimed that he was late because his grandmother had died. He said it was not his fault and blamed the situation on his grandmother’s death, using it as an excuse to justify his lateness to the teacher.
2. How does the teacher react to Blenkinsopp’s excuse?
Answer: The teacher reacts with disbelief and sarcasm. He questions Blenkinsopp repeatedly, pointing out that this is the fourth grandmother to die during the same term and notices that all these deaths strangely happen on Physical Education days.
3. Why does the teacher find Blenkinsopp’s excuse suspicious?
Answer: The teacher finds the excuse suspicious because Blenkinsopp has mentioned four grandmothers dying in a single term, which is highly unlikely. Moreover, all the deaths conveniently occur on days when Physical Education classes are scheduled.
4. What does Blenkinsopp say about his grandmothers?
Answer: Blenkinsopp says that he has no grandmothers because all of them are dead. This statement further confuses the teacher and adds to the absurdity and humour of the situation.
5. How does humour arise from the mention of four grandmothers?
Answer: Humour arises because a person normally has only two grandmothers, but Blenkinsopp talks about four, all of whom have died. The exaggeration and repetition make his excuses clearly unbelievable and funny.
6. What excuse does Blenkinsopp give for being absent the previous day?
Answer: Blenkinsopp says that he was absent the previous day because of a dentist appointment. This excuse initially sounds reasonable until the teacher questions it further.
7. How does Blenkinsopp clarify the dentist excuse?
Answer: When the teacher sarcastically asks if the dentist died, Blenkinsopp replies that it was not the dentist but only one tooth. His broken and incorrect English adds to the humour of the poem.
8. Why is the teacher annoyed about the math test?
Answer: The teacher is annoyed because Blenkinsopp missed the math test, which the teacher claims he had been looking forward to. This ironic statement shows the teacher’s frustration with Blenkinsopp’s constant excuses.
9. What happens when the teacher asks Blenkinsopp to line up for P.E.?
Answer: When the teacher asks the class to line up for Physical Education, Blenkinsopp says that he cannot participate, continuing his pattern of avoiding P.E. classes.
10. Why does Blenkinsopp say he cannot attend P.E.?
Answer: Blenkinsopp says he cannot attend P.E. because he does not have his kit. This becomes another excuse to avoid physical activity.
11. Where is Blenkinsopp’s P.E. kit?
Answer: Blenkinsopp says that his P.E. kit is at home. This explanation leads to further questioning from the teacher.
12. Why does the kit remain at home?
Answer: According to Blenkinsopp, the kit is at home because he could not bring it due to a “bad hand,” suggesting an injury or inability to pack his things himself.
13. Who usually prepares Blenkinsopp’s kit?
Answer: Blenkinsopp says that his grandmother usually prepares his kit. This answer connects back to his earlier excuses involving his grandmother.
14. Why couldn’t his grandmother prepare the kit?
Answer: Blenkinsopp says his grandmother could not prepare the kit because she is dead. This repetition of the same excuse highlights his dishonesty and creates comic effect.
15. How does repetition contribute to humour in the poem?
Answer: The repeated mention of dead grandmothers becomes increasingly ridiculous. Each repetition makes the excuse less believable and more amusing, showing the clever use of humour by the poet.
16. What kind of student is Blenkinsopp portrayed as?
Answer: Blenkinsopp is portrayed as a lazy, dishonest, and clever student who constantly invents excuses to escape responsibility, especially Physical Education classes.
17. What does the poem suggest about students’ excuses?
Answer: The poem suggests that students often make exaggerated or false excuses to avoid schoolwork or activities they dislike, and teachers are usually aware of such tactics.
18. How does the teacher handle Blenkinsopp’s excuses?
Answer: The teacher handles the excuses with sarcasm and strict questioning. He does not easily accept Blenkinsopp’s explanations and keeps pointing out inconsistencies.
19. What role does Physical Education play in the poem?
Answer: Physical Education acts as the main reason behind Blenkinsopp’s excuses. All his problems seem to arise on P.E. days, showing his dislike for physical activity.
20. Why is the line “No such word as ‘can’t’” important?
Answer: This line reflects the teacher’s strict attitude and belief in discipline. He refuses to accept excuses and encourages responsibility and effort from students.
21. What language feature adds humour to the poem?
Answer: The incorrect grammar and broken sentences used by Blenkinsopp, such as “one teeth, sir,” add humour and show his nervousness and dishonesty.
22. How does the poet show the teacher’s authority?
Answer: The teacher’s authority is shown through direct questioning, commands, and refusal to accept excuses, reinforcing his position of control in the classroom.
23. Why does the poem feel like a conversation?
Answer: The poem is written entirely in dialogue form, making it feel like a real classroom conversation between a teacher and a student.
24. What theme is highlighted through the poem?
Answer: The main theme of the poem is excuses and avoidance of responsibility, especially in school life.
25. How does exaggeration function in the poem?
Answer: Exaggeration is used when Blenkinsopp talks about multiple grandmothers dying. This makes his excuses unbelievable and funny.
26. What does the poem teach students?
Answer: The poem teaches students that lying and making excuses eventually leads to embarrassment and loss of credibility.
27. Why does the teacher mention P.E. days specifically?
Answer: The teacher notices a pattern that all excuses happen on P.E. days, indicating Blenkinsopp’s deliberate attempt to avoid physical exercise.
28. How is irony used in the poem?
Answer: Irony is used when Blenkinsopp says the teacher was “looking forward” to the math test, which is usually disliked by students, not teachers.
29. What is the tone of the poem?
Answer: The tone of the poem is humorous, sarcastic, and light-hearted, despite dealing with discipline and excuses.
30. How does the poem reflect real school life?
Answer: The poem reflects real school life where students often try to escape classes using excuses, and teachers see through such behaviour.
31. Why is Blenkinsopp’s behaviour unrealistic?
Answer: His behaviour is unrealistic because having four dead grandmothers in one term is impossible, highlighting the absurdity of his excuses.
32. What does the teacher’s questioning reveal?
Answer: The teacher’s questioning reveals his intelligence, experience, and awareness of students’ tactics.
33. Why does the poem appeal to students?
Answer: Students find the poem appealing because it humorously represents classroom interactions and common student excuses.
34. What makes Blenkinsopp’s excuses weak?
Answer: His excuses are weak because they contradict each other and are repeated too often to be believable.
35. How does the poem use dialogue effectively?
Answer: The dialogue format keeps the poem lively, realistic, and engaging, making the humour more immediate and effective.
36. What moral lesson does the poem convey?
Answer: The moral lesson is that honesty is better than making repeated false excuses, which only leads to trouble.
37. How does the teacher maintain discipline?
Answer: The teacher maintains discipline by questioning excuses, enforcing rules, and not accepting illogical explanations.
38. Why is the poem memorable?
Answer: The poem is memorable because of its humour, repetition, and exaggerated excuses involving grandmothers.
39. What does the word “usual” suggest in the poem?
Answer: The word “usual” suggests that Blenkinsopp regularly depends on his grandmother, making her repeated deaths even more absurd.
40. How does Gareth Owen succeed in making the poem humorous?
Answer: Gareth Owen succeeds by using exaggerated excuses, witty dialogue, repetition, and realistic classroom situations to create effective humour.
Answer by Mrinmoee
