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The Verger: AHSEC Class 12 Alternative English notes
Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF and guide of Class 12 (second year) Alternative English textbook, chapter 3 The Verger, which is part of the syllabus of students studying under AHSEC/ASSEB (Assam Board). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
Albert Edward Foreman had been the verger of St. Peter’s, Neville Square, a fashionable London church, for sixteen years. He performed his duties diligently and took great pride in his role. The story begins after a christening ceremony when the new vicar, recently appointed, calls Albert into the vestry. The two churchwardens are already present. The vicar, a more energetic and modern man compared to his predecessor, is astonished to discover that Albert cannot read or write. Despite acknowledging Albert’s competent service, the vicar insists that it is unacceptable for a verger at St Peter’s to be illiterate. He gives Albert three months to learn to read and write or face dismissal.
Albert did not think highly of the new vicar, often reminiscing about the old vicar who understood the sophisticated congregation and did not fuss over trivial matters. The old vicar knew of Albert’s illiteracy but did not consider it a hindrance. Albert, believing that he had managed well without literacy, declines the vicar’s ultimatum and offers his resignation.
Leaving the church, Albert is deeply troubled. He wanders aimlessly and finds himself on a street without a shop selling cigarettes. Struck by inspiration, he decides to open a tobacconist and newsagent shop there. He rents a shop and starts his business after leaving St. Peter’s. His venture proves successful, and he expands to multiple shops across London. Within a few years, he amasses a considerable fortune of over thirty thousand pounds.
One day at the bank, the manager suggests investing his substantial deposit in stocks and shares. Albert hesitates, revealing that he cannot read or write, which shocks the manager. The manager is astounded that Albert could build a successful business empire despite his illiteracy. Reflecting on this, Albert smiles and remarks that if he had been literate, he would still be the verger of St. Peter’s, implying that his lack of education led him to unexpected success.
Textbook solutions
State whether true or False
1. Albert Edward was a habitual smoker.
Answer: False
2. Albert Edward was very particular about his gowns.
Answer: True
3. The churchwardens were young men.
Answer: False
4. The verger learnt to read and write only upon entering into business.
Answer: False
Answer these questions in one or two words
1. For how long had the verger been at St Peter’s?
Answer: Sixteen years
2. In the course of how many years did Albert Edward own ten shops?
Answer: Ten years
3. From where did the new vicar hail?
Answer: East End
4. How much money did Albert Edward have at the bank?
Answer: Thirty thousand pounds
5. Which brand of cigarettes did the verger want to buy?
Answer: Gold Flake
6. How much time did the new vicar propose to give the verger to learn reading and writing?
Answer: Three months
Answer these questions in a sentence or two
1. What did Albert Edward do before he became the verger at St Peter’s?
Answer: He was in service, starting as a page-boy and rising to butler.
2. What did the new vicar discover?
Answer: The new vicar discovered that Albert Edward could neither read nor write.
3. What is the opinion of the verger regarding the new vicar?
Answer: The verger does not have a favourable opinion of the new vicar and maintains that the new vicar’s appointment at St Peter’s was a mistake.
4. What does the bank manager suggest to Albert Edward?
Answer: The bank manager suggests that Albert Edward invest his money in gilt-edged securities to earn a better rate of interest.
Answer these questions briefly
1. What was the condition put forth by the new vicar to the verger?
Answer: The new vicar proposed to give the verger three months to learn reading and writing.
2. Briefly describe the verger’s attitude towards his gowns.
Answer: The verger took pains with his gowns; he pressed and ironed them himself and kept them neatly wrapped up in brown paper in the bottom drawers of his wardrobe.
3. Explain the significance of the following sentence: ‘The vergers of St Peter’s, like the Popes of Rome, were there for life’.
Answer: This sentence signifies that the position of the verger at St Peter’s was considered a lifelong appointment, similar to the tenure of the Popes of Rome.
4. How did the manager react upon his discovery that Mr Foreman could neither read nor write?
Answer: The manager was so surprised that he jumped up from his chair, and he stared at Mr Foreman as though he were a prehistoric monster.
Answer these questions in detail
1. Describe, in detail, how Albert Edward lost the job of the verger at St Peter’s.
Answer: The new vicar at St Peter’s, Neville Square, discovered that Albert Edward, the verger, could neither read nor write. Though the vicar had no complaints about Albert Edward’s performance, he and the churchwardens deemed it unacceptable for a verger in such a prominent church to be illiterate. They gave Albert Edward three months to learn to read and write, but Albert Edward, believing he was too old to learn new skills, refused. As a result, he offered to resign once his replacement was found.
2. Would you consider that the new vicar’s chance discovery of Foreman’s illiteracy was a blessing in disguise for the verger? Write a persuasive answer.
Answer: Yes, the new vicar’s discovery of Foreman’s illiteracy was indeed a blessing in disguise for the verger. This event pushed Albert Edward out of his comfort zone and forced him to explore new opportunities. His venture into business as a tobacconist and newsagent turned out to be incredibly successful, far beyond what he could have achieved as a verger. Within a few years, he became a wealthy man with a fortune worth more than thirty thousand pounds. Thus, what seemed like a setback initially, ultimately led to a prosperous and fulfilling career.
Extra true and false
1. Albert Edward Foreman was the verger at St Peter’s for sixteen years.
Answer: True
2. Albert Edward kept all his old verger’s gowns wrapped in brown paper in his wardrobe.
Answer: True
3. The new vicar was in his early fifties.
Answer: False
4. Albert Edward had a succession of gowns during his service at the church.
Answer: True
5. The old vicar liked to have his finger in every pie.
Answer: False
6. The new vicar was not from the fashionable congregation.
Answer: True
7. The new vicar could easily quiet a crying baby during christenings.
Answer: True
8. Albert Edward was illiterate.
Answer: True
9. The previous vicar knew about Albert Edward’s illiteracy.
Answer: True
10. Albert Edward’s wife was able to read and write.
Answer: True
11. The vicar and churchwardens found Albert Edward’s illiteracy acceptable.
Answer: False
12. Albert Edward had saved enough money to live on without working.
Answer: False
13. Albert Edward was a habitual smoker and drinker.
Answer: False
14. Albert Edward decided to open a tobacco and sweets shop after leaving the church.
Answer: True
15. Albert Edward found a shop to let on the same day he thought of the idea.
Answer: True
16. Albert Edward eventually owned ten shops in London.
Answer: True
17. The bank manager suggested Albert Edward invest his money in gilt-edged securities.
Answer: True
18. Albert Edward could read and write his name.
Answer: True
19. The bank manager was not surprised by Albert Edward’s illiteracy.
Answer: False
20. The verger’s illiteracy was a blessing in disguise.
Answer: True
21. Albert Edward was satisfied with his work as a verger.
Answer: True
22. The vicar gave Albert Edward three months to learn to read and write.
Answer: True
23. Albert Edward had worked as a butler before becoming a verger.
Answer: True
24. The new vicar was described as red-faced and energetic.
Answer: True
25. Albert Edward could not find a shop selling cigarettes in the street he walked.
Answer: True
26. Albert Edward found the idea of opening a shop while taking a wrong turn.
Answer: True
27. The verger was a total abstainer from alcohol.
Answer: False
28. The vicar offered to help Albert Edward learn to read and write.
Answer: False
29. Albert Edward’s wife disapproved of him leaving the verger position.
Answer: True
30. Albert Edward became wealthier after leaving his position as a verger.
Answer: True
Extra questions and answers
1. For how long had Albert Edward been the verger at St. Peter’s?
Answer: Sixteen years.
2. Which brand of cigarettes did the verger want to buy?
Answer: Gold Flake.
3. From where did the new vicar hail?
Answer: East End.
4. How much money did Albert Edward have in the bank?
Answer: Thirty thousand pounds.
5. In the course of how many years did Albert Edward own ten shops?
Answer: Ten years.
6. How many months was Albert Edward given to learn to read and write?
Answer: Three months.
7. What role did Albert Edward hold before becoming a verger?
Answer: Butler.
8. Who was present in the vestry besides the vicar and Albert Edward?
Answer: Two churchwardens.
9. What did the vicar think was extraordinary about Albert Edward?
Answer: His illiteracy.
10. What type of business did Albert Edward start?
Answer: Tobacconist and newsagent.
11. What did Albert Edward do before he became the verger at St Peter’s?
Answer: He was a butler in various households, including that of a retired ambassador.
12. What did the new vicar discover about Albert Edward?
Answer: He discovered that Albert Edward could neither read nor write.
13. How did the verger react to the new vicar’s discovery?
Answer: He was not embarrassed and stated that his illiteracy had never hindered his duties.
14. What did the verger think of the new vicar compared to the old one?
Answer: He preferred the old vicar, who was less fussy and more suited to the congregation.
15. Why did the verger walk along the wrong street after leaving the church?
Answer: He was deep in thought and took a wrong turning by mistake.
16. How did Albert Edward’s wife react to his new business idea?
Answer: She thought it was a dreadful comedown after being the verger.
17. What condition did the new vicar put forth to the verger?
Answer: To learn to read and write within three months or resign.
18. How did the verger’s life change after he left his position at the church?
Answer: He became a successful tobacconist and newsagent, eventually owning ten shops.
19. What suggestion did the bank manager give to Albert Edward?
Answer: To invest his money in gilt-edged securities.
20. How did the verger handle his illiteracy while running his business?
Answer: He managed his business successfully despite being unable to read or write, only signing his name when necessary.
21. Describe the verger’s attitude towards his verger’s gown.
Answer: The verger took great pride in his gown, maintaining it meticulously and feeling somewhat incomplete without it. He kept his worn-out gowns as keepsakes, reflecting his dedication to his role.
22. Explain the significance of the statement: “The vergers of St Peter’s, like the Popes of Rome, were there for life.”
Answer: This statement highlights the expectation that the position of verger at St Peter’s was typically held until death, implying stability and long-term service, which contrasted with Albert Edward’s unexpected dismissal.
23. What led the new vicar to discover the verger’s illiteracy?
Answer: The new vicar discovered the verger’s illiteracy when he noticed that Albert Edward could not read or write during their interactions, prompting him to investigate further.
24. How did Albert Edward set up his new business?
Answer: After losing his job, Albert Edward found a shop to let on a street lacking a tobacconist and set up his business as a tobacconist and newsagent, which proved to be very successful.
25. What was the reaction of the bank manager when he found out Albert Edward couldn’t read or write?
Answer: The bank manager was astonished and found it extraordinary that Albert Edward had built a successful business and amassed a fortune despite his illiteracy.
26. How did the verger justify his inability to read and write to the vicar and churchwardens?
Answer: The verger explained that he never found the need to read or write in his duties and had managed well without those skills, emphasizing practical work over education.
27. What was Albert Edward’s reasoning for not needing to read or write?
Answer: Albert Edward believed he had managed well without those skills, prioritizing practical abilities and having his wife handle any reading or writing needs.
28. Describe how Albert Edward’s business grew over the years.
Answer: Albert Edward’s business expanded from a single shop to ten shops over ten years. He strategically opened shops in areas without tobacconists and personally managed the operations, leading to significant financial success.
29. How did Albert Edward’s past work experience influence his demeanor as a verger?
Answer: His experience as a butler in distinguished households instilled in him a sense of dignity, propriety, and impeccable conduct, which he carried into his role as a verger.
30. How did Albert Edward’s illiteracy turn out to be advantageous for him in the end?
Answer: His illiteracy indirectly led to his dismissal from the church, which pushed him to start his own business. This venture turned out to be highly successful, making him wealthy and independent.
31. Describe the sequence of events that led to Albert Edward losing his job as the verger at St Peter’s.
Answer: The new vicar discovered Albert Edward’s illiteracy and, despite his satisfactory performance, deemed it unacceptable for a verger at St Peter’s. The vicar and churchwardens gave him three months to learn to read and write, but Albert Edward, unwilling to comply, chose to resign. This led him to leave his position after sixteen years of dedicated service.
32. What were the characteristics of the new vicar compared to his predecessor, and how did these affect his relationship with Albert Edward?
Answer: The new vicar was energetic, meticulous, and hands-on, contrasting with the previous vicar’s leisurely and aristocratic approach. These differences created tension with Albert Edward, who preferred the old vicar’s more relaxed and accommodating style, finding the new vicar’s methods intrusive and demanding.
33. Discuss the verger’s emotions and thoughts after being asked to resign due to his illiteracy.
Answer: Albert Edward felt a mixture of regret, sadness, and indignation. He believed the new vicar’s decision was unjust, considering his years of faithful service. Although he maintained his dignity outwardly, he was deeply troubled by the abrupt end to his career and uncertain about his future.
34. Explain the growth of Albert Edward’s business from a single shop to owning ten shops.
Answer: Albert Edward’s business acumen and keen observation led him to identify profitable locations lacking tobacconists. Starting with one shop, he reinvested his earnings to open more shops in similar areas. His hands-on management style ensured success, eventually expanding to ten shops, each flourishing under his careful oversight.
35. Would you consider the new vicar’s discovery of the verger’s illiteracy a blessing in disguise for Albert Edward? Provide reasons for your answer.
Answer: Yes, the discovery can be seen as a blessing in disguise. Although it led to Albert Edward losing his job, it prompted him to start his own business, which became highly successful. This newfound success provided financial security and independence that he might not have achieved if he had remained a verger. The situation ultimately allowed him to capitalize on his practical skills and business sense, leading to a prosperous outcome.
