Main Characters and Important Lessons in Evan Tries an O Level
Evans Tries An O Level is a short story in the Vistas English book of class 12. It is, at first, a slow story, but soon enough, it moves at a fast pace and keeps the reader's attention intact. A very short summary of Evan Tries An O Level would be that it is a story of cunning and smarts and is a very fun read. Let's go into a more detailed summary of Evans Tries O Level.
Summary of Evans Tries An O Level
Here is a summary of Evans Tries An O Level, a short story by Colin Dexter. The story begins with a telephone conversation between the Governor of Oxford Prison and the Secretary of the Examinations Board about conducting an O-Level German qualification test in the prison for an inmate named James Rodrick Evans. This inmate was commonly known as Evans the Break because he had successfully broken out of prison thrice before, no matter how high level of security the prison was. He had been taking O-Level German classes every night for the last seven months, but he wasn't as good as he should've been, so his passing was a doubt. Nevertheless, the exam was set up for Evans for 9:15 am the next morning, with the condition that the Governor himself would listen in and an officer be placed outside the cell to keep an eye.
At 8:30 am the next day, a senior prison officer Mr Jackson and Officer Stephens came to check up on, place two tables in the room and confiscate any items of Evans' that had the potential to turn into weapons - like his shaving razor blade. Upon asking Evans to remove the hat he was wearing, he responded that it was what brought him luck so no one could do it. He was granted permission to keep the hat on.
While Evans prepared himself, his invigilator Reverend Stuart McLeery made his way into the prison compound, and to Evans' cell. The Governor was worried that even if Evans did not have potential weapons, the Reverend may have brought something that could be. Thus, his briefcase was searched. It had some Bible papers, exam papers, a paper knife (which was confiscated) and around the inflatable tube which he claimed was for his hemorrhoids, which was left at that.
By 9:20 am, Evans had Officer Stephens removed from the cell because his incessant glaring made him uncomfortable writing his exam.
The Governor's phone rang a few times. First, it was the Examinations Board, with what seemed to be a correction in the question paper, and the second was from the Magistrates Court, in need of a prison van and officers.
During the exam, Evans put on a blanket, citing the cold. He hadn't written much during the exam, even an hour and 15 minutes into it.
At the end of the exam, Stephens asked the Reverend how Evans fared. The Reverend responded in a different accent than before. After leaving him at the prison gates, he went back to take another look at Evans before heading for a break. To his surprise, a bleeding man under a blanket laid in the cell. It turned out to be the real Reverend. He guided the detective who had arrived on the scene with directions to Elsfields Way, where he thought the convict may have headed. It seemed that despite the heavy bleeding, the Reverend was fine. As it turns out, the blood was pig's blood, which came in the hemorrhoid tube. Similarly, the prison van had been called for by Evans' associates for him to get away.
At the prison, all hell had broken loose with all senior officers screaming at Stephens and Jackson.
From Elsfields Way, the detective headed to Newbury, as per the directions of the Reverend.
Recalling this, Evans ended up at a hotel for the night. However, the Governor found him because of the correction slip made by the "Examinations Board." The Governor chatted with him about how he pulled it off, and finally put him in a prison van to be taken back to prison. The driver of this van was, however, another comrade of Evans'.
A list of Chapters are Present in the NCERT Books for Class 12 English Vistas
The NCERT Class 12 English book comprises 8 Chapters
Chapter 1 - The Third Level.
Chapter 2 - The Tiger King.
Chapter 3 - Journey to the end.
Chapter 4 - The Enemy.
Chapter 5 - Should the Wizard hit Mommy.
Chapter 6 - On the face of It.
Chapter 7 - Evans Tries an O-level.
Chapter 8 - Memories of Childhood.
Conclusion
The explanation for all the Class 12 English can be found on the Vedantu Website. The answers have been explained in simple terms to help students grasp the core concepts easily. Highly qualified experts and experienced teachers have created these explanations to aid and address students' doubts and to enhance their academic performance. Students can access all materials related to English by clicking here.
FAQs on Evan Tries an O Level: Complete Summary & Analysis
1. Who is the author of the story 'Evans Tries an O-Level'?
The suspenseful story 'Evans Tries an O-Level' was written by the renowned British crime writer Colin Dexter. He is famous for his Inspector Morse series of novels, and this story reflects his mastery of intricate plotting and clever characters.
2. Is 'Evans Tries an O-Level' part of the CBSE Class 12 English syllabus for 2025-26?
Yes, for the academic session 2025-26, 'Evans Tries an O-Level' is a prescribed chapter in the NCERT Vistas supplementary reader for the CBSE Class 12 English Core syllabus.
3. What is the central plot or premise of 'Evans Tries an O-Level'?
The story's premise is a battle of wits between a cunning prisoner, James Roderick Evans, and the prison authorities. Evans, known as 'Evans the Break' for his previous escapes, devises an elaborate plan to break out of H.M. Prison, Oxford, under the clever guise of appearing for a German O-Level examination inside his cell.
4. What are the key personality traits of the protagonist, James Roderick Evans?
James Evans is portrayed as a highly intelligent, non-violent, and deceptively charming individual. His key traits include:
- Master Manipulator: He is skilled at psychological deception and exploiting people's assumptions.
- Meticulous Planner: His escape plans are incredibly detailed and account for multiple contingencies.
- Congenital Kleptomaniac: The story notes he is not a violent criminal but suffers from an urge to steal.
- Master of Disguise: He successfully impersonates Reverend McLeery to fool the entire prison staff.
5. What are the main themes explored in 'Evans Tries an O-Level'?
The primary theme is the classic conflict between crime and punishment, specifically focusing on intellectual prowess versus institutional power. Another significant theme is appearance versus reality. Throughout the story, characters and events are not what they seem, from the fake invigilator to the 'correction slip' and the final escape, highlighting how easily perception can be manipulated.
6. How does the story use irony to highlight the theme of appearance versus reality?
The story is rich with irony. The central irony is that an academic examination, a symbol of discipline and reform, becomes the perfect tool for a criminal escape. Furthermore, the prison Governor, who represents authority and intelligence, is consistently outsmarted by the prisoner he is supposed to guard. The ultimate irony occurs when the Governor believes he has finally outwitted Evans at the Golden Lion hotel, only to be fooled one last time by Evans's accomplices disguised as prison officers.
7. What does the conflict between the Governor and Evans reveal about different types of intelligence?
The conflict showcases two distinct forms of intelligence. The Governor represents systematic, logical, and authoritative intelligence, relying on procedures and established protocols. In contrast, Evans represents creative, unconventional, and 'street-smart' intelligence. He relies on understanding human psychology, exploiting loopholes, and thinking outside the box. The story suggests that creative cunning can often find ways to overcome rigid, rule-based systems.
8. What was the significance of the 'correction slip' in Evans's escape plan?
The 'correction slip' was a masterstroke of deception. Disguised as a genuine correction to the German exam paper, it was actually a coded message containing the final, crucial details of the escape plan. It conveyed the index number and centre number, which cleverly pointed to the exact location of the safe house—the Golden Lion hotel in Chipping Norton. This allowed Evans's team to communicate the plan right under the Governor's nose.
9. Despite their meticulous planning, where did the prison authorities ultimately fail in stopping Evans?
The authorities' failure was not in physical security but in their psychological underestimation of Evans. Their key errors were:
- Trusting appearances: They failed to see through the disguise of the fake Reverend McLeery.
- Being too literal: They followed the clues left by the 'wounded' McLeery (who was Evans in disguise) without questioning their authenticity.
- Complacency: The Governor, after capturing Evans at the hotel, let his guard down and handed him over to a prison van without verifying the officers' identities, leading to the final escape.
