The Cop and the Anthem Class 7 Summary, Question Answers | An Alien Hand Book Chapter 4

by | May 15, 2024 | CBSE Class 7 English Lessons Explanation, Notes, NCERT Question Answers | 0 comments

class 7 chapter 4 the cop and the anthem

 

Class 7 Chapter 4 The Cop and the Anthem Summary, Explanation along with Word Meaning and Question Answers from An Alien Hand Book

The Cop and the Anthem Class 7 – NCERT Class 7 English An Alien Hand book Lesson 4 The Cop and the Anthem Summary and Detailed explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words. Also, the explanation is followed by a Summary of the lesson. All the exercises and Questions and Answers given at the back of the lesson have been covered. Take Free Online MCQs Test for Class 7 Click Here

 

The Cop and the Anthem Introduction

This story is about a thief named Soapy, describing the thief’s ironic situations and outcomes. 

See The Cop and the Anthem Video Part 1

The Cop and the Anthem Summary

Once upon a time, there was a thief named Soapy who lived in Madison Square Park, New York, USA. He was a jobless, homeless man with desires of a low standard. He moved restlessly on his seat as he knew that winter was on the way. He realised that he needed to find a way to take care of himself for the next few months. Unlike the rich people who would go to Florida or go sailing, he decided that he wanted to spend the upcoming season in the prison of Blackwell’s Island. As a prisoner, he would get fed, a bed, shelter and protection from cops. He also felt that being in prison was better than being a beggar as then he would have to wash his body and talk about his life. He thought that in a prison, a gentleman’s own life was still his own life. So, he decided to have dinner at a fancy restaurant. When the waiter would ask for money, he would simply state that he didn’t have the money, due to which a cop would be summoned who would have him arrested. He thought this way of being pleasant and flawless. However, as soon as he took one step into the restaurant, the head-waiter saw his torn shoes and worn out clothes. So, his first plan turned out to be a failure. His next tactic was to throw a stone at the glass window and have himself arrested by a cop. But that tactic too failed as the cop didn’t think that Soapy’s behaviour corresponded to the behaviour of a vandaliser. Then he decided to retry his first tactic but with a more casual restaurant where his shaggy appearance was not unwelcome. He had dinner and told the waiter he had no money. Everything went according to the plan but the waiter called another waiter and they threw him out of the restaurant instead of calling a cop. He walked on and saw a cop standing in front of a grand theatre. He then started acting as if he were drunk but he failed again. He then came across a man who had an umbrella with him. He stole the umbrella but ironically, he again failed to be arrested. At last, Soapy came to the quiet street of Madison Square and stopped in front of a house which earlier used to be his home. He then realised that he had fallen and began to see his worthless days, his wrong desires, his dead hopes and the lost power of his mind. The music coming from the house revived Soapy’s spirit to fight again and to make himself a renowned personality. He then felt a hand on his shoulder and came face-to-face with a broad-faced cop. The conversation led to an argument due to the thief’s newfound strength. However, it is said to be unwise to argue with a New York cop. Ironically, now that the thief didn’t want to be in the prison, he was sentenced for three months. 

 

 

The Tiny Teacher Summary in Hindi

एक बार की बात है, सोपी नाम का एक चोर मैडिसन स्क्वायर पार्क में रहता था। वह निम्न स्तर की इच्छाओं वाला एक बेरोजगार, बेघर व्यक्ति था। वह अपनी सीट पर बेचैन होकर बैठा था क्योंकि उसे पता था कि सर्दी आ रही है।

उसने महसूस किया कि उसे अगले कुछ महीनों के लिए खुद की देखभाल करने के लिए तरीका खोजने की जरूरत है। अमीर लोगों के विपरीत जो फ्लोरिडा जाएंगे या सेलिंग करेंगे, उसने फैसला किया कि वह आगामी सीजन ब्लैकवेल द्वीप की जेल में बिताना चाहते हैं।

एक कैदी के रूप में, उसे भोजन, एक बिस्तर, आश्रय और पुलिस से सुरक्षा मिलेगी । उसने यह भी महसूस किया कि जेल में रहना भिखारी होने से बेहतर है क्योंकि तब उसे अपने शरीर को धोना होगा और अपने जीवन के बारे में बात करनी होगी। उसने सोचा कि एक जेल में, एक सज्जन का अपना जीवन अभी भी उसका अपना जीवन था।

इसलिए, उसने एक फैंसी रेस्तरां में रात का खाना खाने का फैसला किया। जब वेटर पैसे मांगेगा, तो वह केवल यह कहेगा कि उसके पास पैसे नहीं हैं, जिसके कारण एक पुलिस वाले को बुलाया जाएगा जो उसे गिरफ्तार कर लेगा। उन्होंने सुखद और निर्दोष होने का यह तरीका सोचा। हालाँकि, जैसे ही उसने रेस्तरां में एक कदम रखा, हेड-वेटर ने उसके फटे जूते और पुराने कपड़े देखे। इसलिए, उनकी पहली योजना विफल हो गई।

उसकी अगली रणनीति कांच की खिड़की पर एक पत्थर फेंकना था और खुद को एक पुलिस वाले से गिरफ्तार करवा लेगा। लेकिन वह रणनीति भी विफल रही क्योंकि पुलिस को यह नहीं लगा कि सोपी का व्यवहार एक तोड़फोड़ करने वाले के व्यवहार से मेल खाता है। फिर उसने अपनी पहली रणनीति को फिर से आजमाने का फैसला किया, लेकिन एक अधिक आकस्मिक रेस्तरां के साथ जहां उसकी शग्गी उपस्थिति अवांछित नहीं थी। उसने खाना खाया और वेटर से कहा कि उसके पास पैसे नहीं हैं। सब कुछ योजना के अनुसार हुआ लेकिन वेटर ने दूसरे वेटर को बुलाया और उन्होंने एक पुलिस वाले को बुलाने के बजाय उसे रेस्तरां से बाहर निकाल दिया।

वह आगे बढ़ा और उसने एक भव्य थिएटर के सामने एक पुलिस वाले को खड़ा देखा। फिर उसने ऐसा अभिनय करना शुरू कर दिया जैसे कि वह नशे में हो लेकिन वह फिर से असफल हो गया। तभी उसे एक आदमी मिला, जिसके पास छाता था। उसने छाता चुरा लिया लेकिन विडंबना यह है कि वह फिर से गिरफ्तार होने में विफल रहा।

आखिर में सोपी मैडिसन स्क्वायर की शांत गली में आ गया और एक घर के सामने रुक गया जो पहले उसका घर हुआ करता था। तब उसने महसूस किया कि वह गिर गया था और अपने बेकार दिनों, अपनी गलत इच्छाओं, अपनी मृत आशाओं और अपने दिमाग की खोई हुई शक्ति को देखने लगा। घर से आने वाले संगीत ने फिर से लड़ने और खुद को एक प्रसिद्ध व्यक्तित्व बनाने के लिए सोपी की भावना को पुनर्जीवित किया। फिर उसने अपने कंधे पर एक हाथ महसूस किया और एक व्यापक चेहरे वाले पुलिस वाले के साथ आमने-सामने आ गया।

 

 

See The Cop and the Anthem Video Part 2

 

The Cop and the Anthem Explanation

Passage: Soapy moved restlessly on his seat in Madison Square. There are certain signs to show that winter is coming. Birds begin to fly south. People want new warm coats. And Soapy moves restlessly on his seat in the park. When you see these signs, you know that winter is near. 

Word Meaning
restlessly: lacking or denying rest, uneasily

Explanation of the above Passage: In this first passage, we see that Soapy is sitting on a seat in Madison Square Park and is feeling restless. The reason for such behaviour was that he knew that winter is near. He knows about certain signs which show that winter is coming. The first sign is that birds begin to fly towards the southern direction which is comparatively warmer. The second sign is that people begin to demand new warm coats because of the increasing cold weather. These two signs indicate that winter is near which makes him restless. 

Passage: A dead leaf fell at Soapy’s feet. That was a special sign for him that winter was coming. It was time for all who lived in Madison Square to prepare. 

Explanation of the above Passage:The third sign that indicates winter is approaching is the falling of a dead leaf. This indicated that that was the time for all the residents of Madison Square to prepare for the cold weather. It generally takes many days to prepare for the next season and so, Soapy thought that the people living in Madison Square should start their preparations from that moment in order to complete the task on time.

Passage: Soapy’s mind now realised that fact. The time had come. He had to find some way to take care of himself during the cold weather. And, therefore, he moved restlessly on his seat. 

Explanation of the above Passage: After seeing so many signs that indicated that winter was coming, he now was sure that at last the time had come when he needed to find shelter so that he would be safe from the harsh cold weather. 

Passage: Soapy’s hopes for the winter were not very high. He was not thinking of sailing away on a ship. He was not thinking of southern skies, or of the Bay of Naples. Three months in the prison on Blackwell’s Island was what he wanted. Three months of food every day and a bed every night, three months safe from the cold north wind and safe from cops. This is what Soapy wanted most in the world.

Word Meaning
southern skies: (here) warmer places
Blackwell’s Island: name of a prison (If Soapy went to prison, the government would look after his food and stay.)
cop: policeman (American English)

Explanation of the above Passage: Unlike the rich people who would think of sailing on a ship, going to warmer places or to the Bay of Naples, Soapy wanted to spend his next three months in prison on Blackwell’s Island. Therefore, he was not very hopeful about the cold weather, indicating that he wasn’t happy about the winter season. If he would be in the prison, he would not have to worry about food, bed, shelter from the cold north wind and protection from the cops as the government looks after the food and stay of prisoners. Hence, being in prison was what Soapy wanted most in the world.

Passage: For years, Blackwell’s Island had been his winter home. Richer New Yorkers made their plans to go to Florida or to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea each winter. Soapy made his small plans for going to the Island.

Explanation of the above Passage: We learn that Blackwell’s Island has been Soapy’s winter home for many years, meaning that he found Blackwell’s Island as a suitable place to spend the winter season for many years. So, he used to come up with one way or another which would land him in the island’s prison. On the other hand, richer New Yorkers came up with plans to go to warmer places like Florida or to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. This shows the difference in preferences of Soapy and the richer people and that Soapy had no intention of being a respectable and rich man.

Passage: And now, the time had come. Three big newspapers, some under his coat and some over his legs, had not kept him warm during the night in the park. 

Explanation of the above Passage: All these signs showing that winter was near indicated that it was time for Soapy to go back to the prison in Blackwell’s Island. There was no other way of keeping warm. Soapy had used three big newspapers, some under his coat and some over his legs, to keep himself warm during the night in the park. However, this method didn‘t work, which made Soapy realise that he couldn’t depend on himself for warmth and shelter from the harsh cold weather.

Passage: So Soapy was thinking of the Island. There were places in the city where he could go and ask for food and a bed. These would be given to him. He could move from one building to another, and he would be taken care of through the winter. But he liked Blackwell’s Island better. 

Explanation of the above Passage: Since Soapy couldn’t be dependent on himself, his best way to spend winter was to stay in the Island’s prison. But there was one more way he could survive the season without going to prison. There were many places in the city where he would be provided with food and a bed if he asked the people. Then, he could go from one building to another. There were enough buildings which could take care of him throughout the cold winter season. However, he considered Blackwell’s Island to be better. 

Passage: Soapy’s spirit was proud. If he went to any of these places, there were certain things he had to do. In one way or another, he would have to pay for what they gave him. They would not ask him for money. But they would make him wash his whole body. They would make him answer questions. They would want to know everything about his life.

Explanation of the above Passage: There were two reasons why Soapy wanted to be in prison and not beg people to help him. Firstly, Soapy’s spirit was proud, meaning that he was too prideful to go around begging for food and a bed. Secondly, if he were to stay in a building, he would have to do certain things in exchange for the help. Soapy didn’t want to be in debt nor did he wish to beg. He didn’t want to wash his body or to tell anyone about his life. In one way or another, he would be indebted to the helper and the helper would expect some sort of repayment. They would make him wash his whole body, which Soapy didn’t like. They would be curious about him and would ask him questions about his life. Soapy didn’t want people to know about him.

Passage: No. Prison was better than that. The prison had rules that he would have to follow. But in prison, a gentleman’s own life was still his own life. 

Explanation of the above Passage: So, he had decided to go to prison. Even though the prison too had its own rules, Soapy didn’t mind them as they didn’t interfere in anyone’s life. 

Passage: Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once began to move towards his desire.

Explanation of the above Passage: So now that Soapy had decided that he wanted to go to the prison of Blackwell’s Island, he started to move towards a direction that would lead him to the prison. This means that he was now enacting his plan of getting into the prison.

Passage: There were many easy ways of doing this. The most pleasant way was to go and have a good dinner at some fine restaurant. Then he would say that he had no money to pay. And then a cop would be called. It would all be done very quietly. The cop would arrest him. He would be taken to a judge. The judge would do the rest. 

Explanation of the above Passage: He had plenty of ways with which he could land into prison. The most pleasant way of doing so was to have a good dinner at some fine restaurant. A restaurant where the dining and preparation was sophisticated with higher prices was commonly referred to as a fine restaurant. It is a place where only rich people can afford to go. According to this method, he would go to a fine restaurant, a place a man like him cannot afford to go. There, he would eat a good dinner, and when the time to pay the bill would arrive, he would simply tell the waiter that he had no money to pay the bill. The waiter would then call a cop to have him arrested. This would be done quietly, meaning that this indeed was a pleasant or peaceful way of getting into the prison. No commotion would be caused. After his arrest, he would be taken to a judge. Then the judge would do the rest, but the most probable decision of the judge would be to send Soapy to Blackwell’s Island’s prison. 

Passage: Soapy left his seat and walked slowly out of Madison Square to the place where the great street called Broadway and Fifth Avenue meet. He went across this wide space and started north on Broadway. He stopped at a large and brightly lighted restaurant. This was where the best food and the best people in the best clothes appeared every evening. 

Explanation of the above Passage: Soapy left his seat where he had been sitting while making the plan and walked slowly out of Madison Square. He was heading towards a place where Broadway, a great street and Fifth Avenue met. This was a wide space. He went across this place and went north on Broadway. Then, he stopped at a large and brightly lighted restaurant. This restaurant was the fine restaurant where he would put his plan into motion. This fine restaurant provided the best food. Only rich, best-clothed people went to have food in this restaurant, unlike Soapy, who did not have such an appearance as he had. 

Passage: Soapy believed that above his legs he looked all right. His face was clean. His coat was good enough. If he could get to a table, he believed that success would be his. The part of him that would be seen above the table would look all right. The waiter would bring him what he asked for.

Explanation of the above Passage: Even though Soapy was not dressed in the best way possible, he believed that he looked good enough to have food in such a fine restaurant. The portion of his body above his legs looked fine. His face was clean. His coat was not the best but it was good enough. As long as he would get a table, his plan would be a success. The waiter would bring him the food of his desire as the part of him that would be seen above the table looked all right. 

Passage: He began thinking of what he would like to eat. In his mind he could see the whole dinner. The cost would not be too high. He did not want the restaurant people to feel any real anger. But the dinner would leave him filled and happy for the journey to his winter home.

Explanation of the above Passage: Before going to the restaurant, he began thinking of what he would like to eat when he would successfully get the table. He fantasised about his whole dinner. The dinner would not be too costly as he did not want the owner of the restaurant and other people working there to be much affected by the monetary loss. He did not want to anger the restaurant people. Although the cost of the meal would be low, his stomach would be filled and he would be satisfied. His hunger would be taken care of during the journey to his winter home.

Passage: But as Soapy put his foot inside the restaurant door, the head waiter saw his broken old shoes and the torn clothes that covered his legs. Strong and ready hands turned Soapy around and moved him quietly and quickly outside again.

Word Meaning
ready: confident, prepared

Explanation of the above Passage: However, the plan did not work. As Soapy put his foot inside the restaurant door, the head waiter saw his ragged appearance. He noticed Soapy’s broken old shoes and torn lowers. Since the place was a fine restaurant with a nice reputation, the head waiter felt like letting Soapy inside the restaurant would degrade their reputation. So, his strong and ready hands turned Soapy around and Soapy was moved out of the restaurant quietly and quickly. They did not want the rich families to see any of their actions.

Passage: Soapy turned off Broadway. It seemed that this most easy way to the Island was not to be his. He must think of some other way of getting there.

Explanation of the above Passage: Soapy came back from Broadway. He realised that the most easy way of getting into the island’s prison was not going to be the way he would succeed. He decided that he must think of some other way of getting to his desired destination.

Passage: At a corner of Sixth Avenue was a shop with a wide glass window, bright with electric lights. Soapy picked up a big stone and threw it through the glass. People came running around the corner. A cop was the first among them. Soapy stood still, and he smiled when he saw the cop. 

Explanation of the above Passage: As he kept on walking, he reached a corner of Sixth Avenue, where there was a shop. The shop had two two main features – a wide glass window and bright electric lights. Soapy picked up a big stone and threw it at the glass window. The window broke and the loud noise alarmed the people standing nearby. People came running around the corner. Among them was a cop. Soapy stood still, meaning that he was not running away from the cop. In fact, he smiled when he saw the cop as he knew that now he would surely get arrested. Hence, this act of vandalism or damaging other property was just another way of getting into Blackwell’s Island Prison.

Passage: “Where’s the man that did that?” asked the cop.
“Don’t you think that I might have done it?” said Soapy. He was friendly and happy. What he wanted was coming towards him.

Explanation of the above Passage: The cop went to Soapy and asked him where the man who broke the glass window was. Soapy asked the cop if he thought he could have done it. He was friendly and happy as what he wanted, the thing of his desire was coming towards him. 

Passage: But the cop’s mind would not consider Soapy. Men who break windows do not stop there to talk to cops. They run away as fast as they can. The cop saw a man further along the street, running. He ran after him. And Soapy, sick at heart, walked slowly away. He had failed two times. 

Explanation of the above Passage: The cop could not consider Soapy because of Soapy’s behaviour. The cop knew that men who break windows do not stop there to talk to people, especially cops. Also, such people run away as fast as possible when they see a cop coming towards them. So, since neither of these things could be seen in Soapy, the cop was sure that it was not Soapy who had vandalised the store. Then, the cop saw a stranger further along the street who was running. Suspecting that the stranger was the man, the cop ran after him. Soapy again failed and became sick at heart. He walked away, thinking that he had failed twice.

Passage: Across the street was another restaurant. It was not so fine as the one on Broadway. The people who went there were not so rich. Its food was not so good. Into this Soapy took his old shoes and his torn clothes, and no one stopped him. He sat down at a table and was soon eating a big dinner.

Explanation of the above Passage: When he walked across the street from the shop, he saw another restaurant. However, it was comparatively less fine than the restaurant on Broadway. In other words, the customers of this restaurant were not so rich and its food was not that good. So, as it was not a fine restaurant, even Soapy who had a ragged appearance, could go and have dinner there. When Soapy took his old shoes and torn clothes into this restaurant, no one stopped him. It was easy for him to sit down at a table and have a big dinner.

Passage: When he had finished, he said that he had no money.
“Get busy and call a cop,” said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.”
“No cop for you,” said the waiter. He called another waiter.
The two waiters threw Soapy upon his left ear on the hard street outside. 

Word Meaning
get busy: begin to do the work or tasks which need to be done urgently

Explanation of the above Passage: After having a big dinner, the bill came and Soapy told the waiter that he had no money to pay the bill. Soapy told them to begin doing the urgent task of call the cops. He also told them not to keep a gentleman, himself, waiting. Here, he is referring to himself as a ‘gentleman’. However, the waiter did not call a cop. Instead, he called another waiter. The two waiters took Soapy by his left ear and threw him onto the street outside the restaurant. The surface of the road was hard and rough.

Passage: He stood up slowly, one part at a time, and beat the dust from his clothes. Prison seemed only a happy dream. The Island seemed very far away.

Explanation of the above Passage: As the road was hard, he got hurt. So, he took his time and got up slowly. Then, he beat the dust from his clothes. He then thought that prison was now becoming a happy dream, meaning that he could only satisfy himself by dreaming about prison but he could not actually go there. Blackwell’s Island seemed to have become a very faraway land, a place he could never reach.

Passage: A cop who was standing near laughed and walked away. Soapy started moving again. When he stopped, he was near several theatres. In this part of the city, streets are brighter and hearts are more joyful than in other parts. Women and men in rich warm coats moved happily in the winter air. 

Explanation of the above Passage: There was a cop who was standing near the restaurant. He laughed at Soapy for being thrown out and then walked away. Soapy started moving again and then he reached several theatres. He stopped there, the part of the city where the rich visit. It had shiny, bright streets and the people were extremely rich and happy. Hence, a lot of people visited and enjoyed being in the theatres. Women and men were dressed in rich warm coats and they walked around happily in the winter air. They enjoyed the cold winter because they were adequately covered in warm coats.

Passage: A sudden fear caught Soapy. No cop was going to arrest him.
Then he came to another cop standing in front of a big theatre. He thought of something else to try.

Explanation of the above Passage: As he stopped near the theatres, he came to a sudden realisation which made him afraid. He realised that no cop was going to arrest him and that he would not be able to go to prison. He feared that he would not be able to face the harsh cold weather. Then, he came to another cop who was standing in front of a big theatre. He saw the cop and came up with another plan to get himself arrested.

Passage: He began to shout as if he had too much to drink. His voice was as loud as he could make it. He danced, he cried out.
And the cop turned his back to Soapy, and said to a man standing near him, “It’s one of those college boys. He won’t hurt anything. We have orders to let them shout.”

Explanation of the above Passage: According to his new plan, he was going to act as if he were really drunk. He shouted, cried, and danced. He made his voice as loud as he could make it. He did this because cops generally arrest those people who make too much noise and are drunk. However, the cop did not arrest him. The cop turned his back to Soapy and began telling a man standing near him the reason why he was not arresting Soapy. He said that Soapy seemed to be a harmless college boy who drank too much. Since such a person would generally not harm anyone, the cop had orders to let such persons shout.

Passage: Soapy was quiet. Was no cop going to touch him? He began to think of the Island as if it were as far away as a star. He pulled his thin coat around him. The wind was very cold. 

Explanation of the above Passage: Soapy was quiet and disappointed. He began to think whether no cop would touch or arrest him ever. The Island now seemed to be as far away as a star, which shows that he felt like he was very far from prison. He was wearing a thin coat but the wind was too cold. He pulled his thin coat closer so that he would not catch a cold. 

Passage: Then he saw a man in a shop buying a newspaper. The man’s umbrella stood beside the door. Soapy stepped inside the shop, took the umbrella, and walked slowly away. The man followed him quickly.

Explanation of the above Passage: Then, he reached a shop. In the shop, there was a man who was buying a newspaper. The man had an umbrella, which he kept beside the door of the shop. Soapy thought of another way to get arrested. Soapy stepped inside the shop and stole the umbrella. He then walked away from the shop but he did this slowly so that he could get caught by the man and get arrested by a cop.

Passage: “My umbrella,” he said.
“Oh, is it?” said Soapy. “Why don’t you call a cop? I took it. Your umbrella! Why don’t you call a cop? There’s one standing at the corner.”

Explanation of the above Passage: The man told Soapy that the umbrella belonged to him. Soapy told him that if the umbrella really belonged to him, then he should call a cop. He tried to help the man by directing him that there was a cop standing at the corner of the street. 

Passage: The man walked more slowly. Soapy did the same. But he had a feeling that he was going to fail again. The cop looked at the two men.
“I—” said the umbrella man “— that is — you know how these things happen; if that’s your umbrella, I’m very sorry. I found it this morning in a restaurant. If you say it’s yours I hope you’ll—”
“It’s mine!” cried Soapy, with anger in his voice.

Explanation of the above Passage: The man was walking more slowly than Soapy. Soapy did the same. But this made him think that he was going to fail once more in his attempt to be arrested. When they reached the cop, the cop looked at the two men and waited for an explanation. The man who had the umbrella, or the umbrella man explained that he was not the actual owner of the umbrella. He explained that he had found the umbrella that morning in a restaurant. He apologised for taking the umbrella and said that if Soapy was truly the owner  then he could keep it. He thought that the reason why Soapy wanted him to talk to a cop was that Soapy wanted to arrest the man for stealing his umbrella. Soapy was furious. He was so angry that he cried that the umbrella was his.

Passage: The umbrella man hurried away. The cop helped a lady across the street. Soapy walked east. He threw the umbrella as far as he could throw it. He talked to himself about cops and what he thought of them. Because he wished to be arrested, they seemed to believe he was like a king who could do no wrong. 

Word Meaning
hurried: did quickly

Explanation of the above Passage: The umbrella man went away quickly. The cop who was listening to them, went away to help a lady walk across the street. Soapy walked towards the East direction. He was so angry that he threw the umbrella as far as he could throw it. He thought of cops and the opinion he had about them. When he wished to escape the cops, they would successfully arrest him. But ironically, when he wished to be arrested, they would think Soapy to be a king who could do no wrong. The cops were now thinking that Soapy was an innocent person.

Passage: At last, Soapy came to one of the quiet streets on the side of the city. He turned here and began to walk south toward Madison Square. He was going home, although home was only a seat in a park.

Explanation of the above Passage: Then, he finally reached one of the quiet streets on the side of the city. He turned towards the quiet street and began to go towards Madison Square where he lived. The specific location of his home was just a seat in the park at Madison Square.

Passage: But at a very quiet corner, Soapy stopped. Here was his old childhood home. Through one window, he could see a soft light shining. That had been his living room, where he had spent many happy peaceful moments. Sweet music came to Soapy’s ears and seemed to hold him there.

Explanation of the above Passage:  As he went on towards his home, Soapy stopped at a very quiet corner of the quietest street of the city. His old childhood home stood at that corner. There was a window in the house through which Soapy could see a soft light shining. That room, he recalled, had been his living room. He had spent many happy peaceful moments in that room. As he looked through the window, he heard sweet music coming from the house. The music seemed to stop him there, meaning that Soapy was standing at one spot while listening to the sweet music.

Passage: The moon was above, peaceful and bright. There were few people passing. He could hear birds high above him. And the music that came from the room held Soapy there, for he had known it well long ago. In those days, his life contained such things as mothers and flowers and high hopes and friends and clean thoughts and clean clothes.

Explanation of the above Passage: It was night and the moon was in the sky. The moon looked peaceful and bright. There were a few people passing the street but Soapy could still hear the birds high above him. This was because the sweet music put him at peace. He had heard this music a long time ago, probably when he was a child. In those days, he had an abundance of positive things around him – a mother, flowers, high hopes, friends, clean thoughts and clothes. In those days, he was not a jobless, homeless man.

Passage: There was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul. He saw with sick fear how he had fallen. He saw his worthless days, his wrong desires, his dead hopes, the lost power of his mind.

Word Meaning
Sick fear: very frightened 

Explanation of the above Passage: As he listened to the music, a sudden and wonderful change in his soul took place. He felt highly scared as he realised how he had fallen. He realized how each passing day was worthless. He saw that he desired wrong things like being imprisoned. He saw how his high hopes were now dead and he had lost the power of his mind. He saw what he had become.

Passage: And also, in a moment, his heart answered this change in his soul. He would fight to change his life. He would pull himself up, out of the mud. He would make a man of himself again.
Out of the mud: to come from the bottom and then rise to the top

Explanation of the above Passage: Then, his heart gave a solution to support the change in his soul. He decided that he would fight to change his life. He would pull himself up and do something in such a way that he would rise from the bottom to the top. He would reconstruct himself in such a way that he would be the man he had always wanted to be.

Passage: There was time. He was young enough. He would find his old purpose in life, and follow it. That sweet music had changed him. Tomorrow he would find work. A man had once offered him a job. He would find that man tomorrow. He would be somebody in the world. He would. Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a cop. 

Explanation of the above Passage: He thought that he had still time to change his life as he was still young enough to do so. He decided to find his old or previous purpose in life and follow it. By hearing that sweet music, he changed so much that he was now determined to find the man who had once offered him a job that he was offered to join the next day. Through that job, he would no longer be jobless and he would gradually become a renowned person. He was sure that he would be successful in doing so. Then, Soapy felt the weight of a hand on his arm. He looked around quickly and saw that the hand belonged to a broad-faced cop.

Passage: “What are you doing hanging around here?” asked the cop.
“Nothing,” said Soapy.
“You think I believe that?” said the cop.
Full of his new strength, Soapy began to argue. And it is not wise to argue with a New York cop.
“Come along,” said the cop.
“Three months prison on Blackwell’s Island,” said the judge to Soapy next morning.

Explanation of the above Passage: The cop asked Soapy what he was doing standing in front of the house. The cop was suspicious that Soapy was a criminal. Soapy replied, saying that he was doing nothing. He was standing there for no particular reason. The cop asked him if he thought the cop would believe that. Hence, the cop was still suspicious that Soapy was not just an innocent citizen. Soapy began to argue with the cop as he was full of his new strength and had changed. He had decided to become renowned by fighting for himself, which is why he argued with the policeman. However, the cop was a New York cop and it is unwise to fight with such a cop. After the argument, the cop arrested him. The next morning, Soapy was brought in front of the judge who sentenced him to be imprisoned on Blackwell’s Island for three months. So, ironically, now that he did not wish to be in prison, he was arrested and was put to jail for three months.

The Cop and the Anthem Questions Answers

Answer the following questions

Q1. What are some of the signs of approaching winter referred to in the text?

Ans. There are three signs of approaching winter. Firstly, birds begin to fly south. Second sign is that people want new coats. People feel the need to buy new coats. The last sign is that dead leaves fall from the trees. 

Q2. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following. 

(i) Soapy did not want to go to prison. _____________

(ii) Soapy had been to prison several times. ___________

(iii) It was not possible for Soapy to survive in the city through the winter. _____________

(iv) Soapy hated to answer questions of a personal nature. ______________

Ans. (i) False

(ii) True

(iii) True

(iv) True

Q3. What was Soapy’s first plan? Why did it not work?

Ans. Soapy’s first plan was to have dinner at a fine restaurant. In this plan, he would get arrested when he would tell the waiter that he had no money to pay the bill. 

However, the plan did not work as he was thrown out of the restaurant even before he could eat. He wore worn out shoes and torn lowers, giving Soapy a shabby appearance. The restaurant served rich, well-dressed people, which is why the head-waiter refused entry to Soapy.

Q4. “But the cop’s mind would not consider Soapy”. What did the cop not consider, and why? 

Ans. Soapy’s second plan was to get arrested by damaging the glass window of a shop. However, the plan did not work as the cop, who was looking for the vandaliser, did not consider Soapy to be responsible for the damage. This was due to Soapy’s behaviour towards the cop. Usually, a criminal would avoid and run away from a cop. But Soapy was friendly towards the cop. In fact, he even walked up to the cop and asked if he looked to be a  criminal. This led the cop to think that Soapy could not be the criminal he was searching for.

Q5. “We have orders to let them shout”. What is the policeman referring to? 

Ans. Soapy had another plan – to act like a drunkard. However, this plan too did not work as the cop who was watching Soapy said that Soapy was probably a harmless, college boy. He said that he and the other cops were ordered to let drunk college boys shout. So, he did not arrest Soapy.

Q6. Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following. 

(i) Soapy stole a man’s umbrella. _____________

(ii) The owner of the umbrella offered to give it to Soapy. _______________

(iii) The man had stolen the umbrella that was now Soapy’s. ______________

(iv) Soapy threw away the umbrella. _______________

Ans. (i) True

(ii) True

(iii) True

(iv) True

Q7. “There was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul”. What brought about the change in Soapy?

Ans. When Soapy felt like he was not going to go to prison, he went to the quiet street of Madison Square. He then reached a quiet corner where there was a home. From this home, sweet music and bright lights were coming, making Soapy melancholy as that home had once been his childhood home. As he stood listening to the sweet music, he remembered the time when he had a mother, and a life full of flowers, friends, hopes and high ambitions. He then felt scared by the man he had now become. Someone who had dead hope, low desires and low mindpower. He felt this in his soul which corresponded with a new desire in his heart. He desired to be someone renowned. He wanted to make a man out of himself. He would get a job, even if he would have to search for people. He was now willing to be a hard-worker. Thinking that he was still young, he was now full of zeal and strength. Hence, there was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul.
 

 
Also See : 

Honeycomb Book Lessons

Honeycomb Book Poems

An Alien Hand Book Lessons

 

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