1.2. On Saying "Please" - Class 12 - English Yuvakbharati

Author: Alfred George Gardiner (Alpha of the Plough) | Genre: Prose (Essay)

1. Comprehensive Glossary

2. Introduction & Summary

Ice Breakers:

• Words of Courtesy: Daily life requires expressions like "Thank you," "Please," "Excuse me," and "I'm sorry" to maintain social harmony.

  
  

• Desirable Traits: Desirable human characteristics include being humble, wise, humorous, benevolent, and generous.

  
  

Summary: Alfred George Gardiner’s essay "On Saying 'Please'" explores the significance of good manners and politeness in social interactions. He begins with an incident involving a lift-man who threw a passenger out of a lift for refusing to say "Please". While the law punishes physical violence (assault and battery), it does not recognize discourtesy as a legal offense. Gardiner argues that though the law cannot compel us to be civil, bad manners "poison the stream of general life" far more than actual crimes.

The author introduces a "polite conductor" as a model of civility. This conductor treats every passenger with patience—acting like a son to the elderly, a father to children, and a friend to the young. Gardiner emphasizes that good manners are infectious; a cheerful person can lighten the spirits of everyone around them. He concludes that while we cannot use the law to enforce civility, we can achieve a "spiritual victory" by meeting rudeness with elaborate politeness, much like Lord Chesterfield did when encountering a scoundrel in the street.

3. HSC Board Activity Sheet Pattern (Prose Section)

A1. Global Understanding (2 Marks)

• Set 1: True/False – 1. Discourtesy is a legal offense. 2. The law permits violent retaliation for bad manners. 3. "Please" and "Thank you" are the small change of social intercourse. 4. The polite conductor was patient with all passengers. 5. Lord Chesterfield pushed a scoundrel into the mud.

  • Answer: 1-False, 2-False, 3-True, 4-True, 5-False.

    
    

• Set 2: Complete the Web – Mention the most important soft skills.

  • Answer: Leadership, Work ethics, Interpersonal relations, Flexibility/Adaptability, Teamwork, Problem-solving, Communication .

    
    

• Set 3: Arrange in Sequence – 1. The lift-man hurls the passenger out. 2. The passenger says "Top". 3. The lift-man is fined for the offense. 4. The lift-man demands "Top-please".

  • Answer: 2, 4, 1, 3.

    
    

• Set 4: Correct the Sentences – 1. The author was annoyed when his toe was trampled. 2. The law recognizes the laceration of our feelings.

  • Answer: 1. Correct. 2. The law does not recognize the laceration of our feelings.

    
    

• Set 5: Complete the Table – Identify appropriate vs. inappropriate behavior.

  • Answer: Appropriate: Knocking before entering, Thanking someone for tea. Inappropriate: Receiving calls in class, Leaving without permission.

A2. Complex Factual (2 Marks)

1. Why was the lift-man undoubtedly in the wrong? -> Though he was insulted, the law does not excuse assault and battery for discourtesy. Hurling a passenger out of a lift is a violent act that exceeds a reasonable comment on manners.

   
   

2. Explain the chain of ill-humour mentioned in the text. -> A housemaid "answered back" to a cook, who then became insolent to a wife, who henpecked her husband, who then didn't say "Good morning" to his employee, who finally took it out on the lift-man.

   
   

3. How does the author describe "Please" and "Thank you"? -> He describes them as the "small change" with which we pay our way as social beings. They are little courtesies that keep the "machine of life oiled and running sweetly".

   
   

4. How did the polite conductor behave with a blind man? -> He didn't just set him down safely; he would call to the driver to wait while he took the blind man across the road or safely around the corner.

   
   

5. Describe the incident between Chesterfield and the scoundrel. -> A scoundrel refused to give the wall (the dry path) to Chesterfield, saying "I never give the wall to a scoundrel". Chesterfield replied "I always do" and stepped into the mud with a bow, winning a spiritual victory.

A3. Inference / Interpretation / Analysis (2 Marks)

1. Explain: "The pain of a kick on the shins soon passes away but the pain of a wound to our self-respect... may poison a whole day."  -> Physical pain is temporary, but a verbal insult or act of disrespect affects one's mind and dignity, causing long-lasting mental distress and potentially ruining one's mood and interactions with others for hours.

   
   

2. Why can't the law become the guardian of our private manners?  -> No legal code (Decalogue) could possibly cover every social interaction, tone of voice, or mood. Enforcing such a law would require an impossible level of surveillance over human behavior.

   
   

3. Analyze why the author calls the conductor's gaiety a "sound investment."  -> By being cheerful and polite, the conductor lightened the spirits of his passengers, which in turn made them more cooperative and his own work much easier and more pleasant.

   
   

4. What does the author mean by "spiritual victory"?  -> It refers to the internal triumph of maintaining one's character and dignity in the face of rudeness. By staying polite to a rude person, you prove your superiority over the offender's "boorishness".

   
   

5. Interpret the phrase "lower than the angels."  -> It suggests that humans are imperfect beings. Because we are not perfect, we still require institutions like the law and the police to protect us from material attacks and maintain social order.

A4. Personal Response (2 Marks)

1. Do you agree that "Manners maketh man"? Explain. -> Yes, manners define a person’s character and how they are perceived by society. Just as the essay states, politeness sweetens the atmosphere, while rudeness pollutes it.

   
   

2. How would you handle a situation where a service provider is being rude to you? -> I would try to remain calm and polite, as the essay suggests that good manners are infectious. Reacting with anger only lowers me to their level, whereas politeness might change their attitude.

   
   

3. Why do you think "Please" and "Thank you" are disappearing from modern life? -> The fast-paced "war-like" modern life has had a chilling effect on everyday civilities. People are often too stressed or hurried to acknowledge the small services that make life tolerable.

   
   

4. In your opinion, what is the most important soft skill for a student? -> Communication and interpersonal relations are vital. They help students collaborate with peers, respect teachers, and navigate the social environment of an educational institution effectively.

   
   

5. Should there be a law against being rude in public? -> I believe the author is right that the law cannot govern social civilities. A law against rudeness would be impossible to implement and would likely lead to more conflict than it solves

END

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