First Year at Harrow

“First Year at Harrow” is an excerpt from Winston Churchill’s autobiography “My Early Life,” where he reflects on his initial experiences at Harrow School, an esteemed British boarding school. This piece provides an insight into Churchill’s early struggles with academics, particularly with Latin and Greek, subjects he found challenging. The narrative highlights how these difficulties shaped his character and his later success as a leader. Churchill’s reflections reveal a young boy’s determination to overcome adversity, offering readers a glimpse into the formative years of one of history’s most influential figures.

Mcqs from the Text

1. “First Year at Harrow” is written by _____________________.
(a)G.B Shaw (b) Liam O’Flaherty (c) Frank S. Skarpiti (d) Winston S.Churchil

2. How old was Churchill when he entered the inhospitable regions of examination?
(a)    10 years (b) 12 years (c) 14 years (d) 8 years

3. The subjects that were dearest to the examiners were those I _____________least.
(a)    Liked (b) disliked (c) fancied (d) loved

4. I would have liked to be examined in history, poetry, and writing __________.
(a)    Essays (b) Articles (c) Stories (d) Novels

5. The examiners on the other hand were partial to ___________ and ___________.
(a)    Latin and Physics (b) Latin and Greek (c) Greek and Mathematics (d) Latin and Mathematics

6. The examiners sought to expose my _____________.
(a)    Knowledge (b) Wisdom (c) Ignorance (d) Weakness

7. Churchill did not do well in ______________.
(a)    Examination (b) College (c) School (d) Class

8. This was especially true of my Entrance Examination to _______________.
(a)    Oxford (b) Harvard (c) Harrow (d) Cambridge

9. Mr. Welldon took a broadminded view of Churchill’s ______________.
(a)    Essay Writing (b) Prose (c) Poetry (d) Latin

10. Mr. Welldon showed ________________ in judging my general ability.
(a)    Discernment (b) Intelligence (c) Wisdom (d) Honesty

11. I gained no more advantage from _____________ than the wider sphere of letters.
(a)    Integers (b) Alphabet (c) Addition (d) Grammar

12. I continued in this _______________ situation for nearly a year.
(a)    Unpretentious (b) Prominent (c) Vintage (d) Important

13. I gained immense _____________ over the cleverer boys.
(a)    Disadvantage (b) Benefit (c) Advantage (d) Profit

14. The cleverer boy went on to learn __________ and __________ and splendid things like that.
(a) Latin and Mathematics (b) Greek and History (c) Greek and English (d) Latin and Greek

15. Churchill won the Noble Prize for Literature in _________.
(a)    1945 (b) 1953 (c) 1951 (d) 1954

16. Churchill was born in __________.
(a)    1873 (b) 1874 (c) 1974 (d) 1870

17. _____________ was charged with the task of teaching English to the stupidest of students.
(a) Mr Welldon (b) Mr Churchill (c) Mr Somervell (d) Mr Frank

18. The only thing Churchill would whip them for is not knowing ____________.
(a)    English (b) French (c) Greek (d) Latin

19. We were considered such ________ that we could learn only English.
(a)    Fools (b) Clowns (c) Intelligent (d) Dunces

20. Churchill was also the Prime Minister of ____________.
(a)    France (b) Germany (c) America (d) England

Questions and Answers

Q: The writer says that the examiners ask questions which students cannot answer and not those that they can answer. Is the writer’s complaint just or he is merely exaggerating?

Ans. The writer is specifically talking about the subjects he did not like, Latin and mathematics. It is quite normal for students to struggle in subjects they do not like. The writer did not like Latin and mathematics, so naturally, he was not very good at them. Therefore, in the examination, it appeared to him that the examiners were trying to expose his ignorance. But the fact of the matter was, he was not good at these subjects. In view of the above, it can be safely said that the writer’s complaint is not just. He is merely exaggerating the issue to hide his own lack of interest in these subjects.

Q: What sort of questions are asked by your examiner?

Ans. Most of the time, our examiners ask questions which are pertaining to the syllabus that we had studied. There are very rare examples that some examiners may ask questions which are not included in the syllabus. Sometimes, they ask questions indirectly which can confuse the students and they may struggle to answer them. But more often than not the questions are direct and from the prescribed syllabus.

Q: Why did not Churchill do well in examinations?

Ans. Churchill did not do well in examinations because he did not like Latin and Mathematics which were considered major subjects. He liked Poetry, History and Essay Writing and wanted to be examined in these subjects. The examiners on the other hand were partial to Latin and Mathematics. Since he did not like these subjects, therefore, he felt that the examiners were asking questions to which he could not find a satisfactory answer. This was the reason why Churchill did not do well in examinations.

Q: How did he attempt his Latin paper?

Ans. In his entrance examination at Harrow, Churchill was examined in Latin Prose. Since he did not like the subject, therefore, he was unable to answer even a single question. He just wrote his name at the top of the page and then he wrote the number of the question. After much reflection, he could only think of putting a bracket around it. After that, he could not think of a single thing connected to it which was either relevant or true. Incidentally, he dropped some ink on his paper and his paper was stained. He looked at this sad spectacle for two hours until the merciful ushers collected his paper.

Q: Churchill was taught English at Harrow and not Latin and Greek. Did he get any advantage or disadvantage of it in professional life? Was it a gain or loss?

Ans. Churchill was considered a weak student because he did not do well in his entrance examination and he was also not so good at Mathematics. Therefore, he was only taught English as compared to cleverer boys who were taught Latin and Greek. Churchill benefitted greatly from this apparent disadvantage at Harrow. He did not find himself at any disadvantage in his professional life. He spent three years learning English grammar and the essential structure of English sentences. Therefore, he got an immense advantage over the boys who learnt Latin and Greek at school because they had to return to English to prosper in their professional lives. So, it can be safely said that what seemed a loss for him in the beginning turned out to be a great gain in the end.

Q: What good did his three years of stay at Harrow do him?

Ans. His three-year stay at Harrow did a great good to him in his professional life. As he was considered a weak student and only taught English for three years, he learnt the English grammar and essential structure of English sentences thoroughly. This mastery of the English language did him great good when he entered professional life because English was the official language of England.

Q: In after years how did the knowledge of English stand him in good stead?

Ans. The knowledge of English stood him in good stead because English was the official language of England. It was the language of the court and the language of the masses as well. His mastery of the English language benefitted him greatly in his professional life and as well as in his writings.

Q: Critically appraise Churchill’s views with regard to the study of Latin, Greek and English and their value in earning a living.

Ans. Churchill’s views about the study of the above languages are practical and praiseworthy. It is not worthwhile to spend a great deal of time and energy learning languages that are dead and now have no use in practical and professional life. Priority should be given to the language we are to use in our practical and professional lives. However, it must not lead to the conclusion that Churchill was against these languages or he was against learning more than one language. All he is suggesting is that the students should not be forced to learn something for which they will not have any use in their professional lives. Let him study the subjects which are important and beneficial in his professional life. Subjects like Latin and Greek can be learnt afterwards if anyone wishes to learn them.