It's a drama piece of CBSE Class XI English. It's a must for learning the theme faster. Entire Drama can be understood by these beautiful slides

1. The Browning Version
A story by: Terence Rattigan
A PowerPoint presentation by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT (English)
Under Directorate of Secondary Education, Govt. Of Tripura (India)

2. About the Writer
Sir Terence Mervyn Rattigan, CBE was a British dramatist. He
was one of England's most popular mid-twentieth century
dramatists. His plays are typically set in an upper-middle-class
background. He wrote The Winslow Boy, The Browning Version,
The Deep Blue Sea and Separate Tables, among many others.
• Born: 10 June 1911, South Kensington, London, United
Kingdom
• Died: 30 November 1977, Hamilton, Bermuda
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

3. The Browning Version
The play is an extract of Terence Rattigan’s play, The
Browning Version.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

4. The Browning Version
• It is the last day of the School.
• While all other students have left after school time, Taplow
has to has to stay behind.
• He has been given extra work to do because he had been
ill for a day during the week and missed the class.
• His teacher Mr. Crocker Harris has told him that he would
come at 6.30 and see the work done by him.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

5. The Browning Version
• It is already 6.40 and Mr. Crocker Harris hasn’t come yet.
• Another teacher named Frank comes there.
• He sees Taplow waiting for Mr. Crocker Harris.
• He tells Taplow that he should go because Mr. Crocker
Harris hasn’t arrived so far.
• But Taplow doesn’t dare to do that.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

6. The Browning Version
• Frank feels jealous to see that students hold Mr. Crocker
Harris in such fear.
• He encourages Taplow to make fun of Mr. Crocker Harris.
• In the mean time, Mrs. Crocker Harris comes there.
• She says that her husband has gone somewhere and it
would take him quite some time to come back.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

7. The Browning Version
• She asks Taplow to go and play until Mr. Crocker Harris
comes.
• Still Taplow is afraid to go. She says that she will take the
blame on herself and sends Taplow to a chemist to get
some medicine.
• Clearly, the chief purpose is not to get the medicine but to
help the poor boy enjoy freedom for some time at least.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

8. The Browning Version
• John Taplow: Taplow is a teenager, a lower fifth grade
student of science. He is a student of Mr. Crocker-Harris.
His conversation with Frank gives a wide view of his
character and also the character of Crocker-Harris. It tells
about his likes and dislikes. He wants to specialise in the
subject of Science, h dislikes Arts.He has a strange attitude
towards Crocker-Harris. He presents his views about the
latter in a very frank and straight-forward manner.Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

9. The Browning Version
• Frank: Frank is a young teacher.He shows a better
understanding of student behaviour and psychology.He is
humble towards his students.
He has a friendly attitude towards
his students.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

10. The Browning Version
His conversation with Taplow shows that Taplow is very
comfortable discussing the matter with him.Even though
Frank is easy in his attitude, he is not of the kind who will
appreciate sarcasm on fellow teachers. He quickly points
out to Taplow when Taplow get too carried away mocking
Crocker-Harris.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

11. The Browning Version
• Crocker Harris:
Highly disciplined and principled, Crocker-Harris was a
teacher who would not compromise on the rules and
regulations to suffice sentiments of students. Some may
agree with his way of thinking, others may criticise him of
being too fastidious.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

12. The Browning Version
A teacher who was hard on students when it came to
studies. He was not of those teachers who would crack
romantic jokes in the class to make studies
fun, rather his jokes were poor, according
to his student, Taplow, as not a single
student was able to comprehend them.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

13. The Browning Version
• Millie: Millie is Mr. Crocker-Harris’s wife. She is a
thin woman and is in her late thirties. She
dresses herself in smart clothes. She sees
Taplow imitating her husband’s voice. But she
takes it lightly. She finds Taplow waiting for her
husband.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

14. The Browning Version
• She can understand very well that Taplow likes
to go and play like other boys. She tells him that
her husband is at the Bursars. It could take him
a lot of time there. Thus she indirectly hints to
Taplow that he could go and play. Even then
Taplow dare not go. Then she sends Taplow to
a chemist to get some medicine.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

15. The Browning Version
Her chief purpose is not to get the medicine.
She only wants to help the poor
boy enjoy his freedom for some
time at least.
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT

16. The Browning Version
• What do you learn about Taplow from the initial conversion
between him and Mr. Frank?
• What do you learn about the system of education in old British
schools from the play ‘The Browning Version’?
• How do Taplow and Frank react to Millie’s arrival?
• What leads to Mr. Frank to comment “I’m sure, you’re
exaggerating”?
Prepared by: Mrinal Ghosh, PGT