The Too-Many Professors Summary Class 7 English Oxford

Key Points of the Story

• In "The Too-Many Professors," we are introduced to an imaginative and eccentric professor who creates a remarkable liquid capable of bringing pictures to life. 
• His experiments lead to chaos and hilarity as animated images from his photo album wreak havoc in his home and beyond.

Detailed Summary

In this story, we meet Professor Branestawm, a very clever inventor. He has created a special liquid that can bring pictures to life. One day, he shows this amazing liquid to his housekeeper, Mrs. Flittersnoop. They try it on a picture of apples, and after a little while, real apples come out of the picture! They eat the apples, but they taste a bit like paper.

Next, Professor Branestawm tries it on a picture of chocolates. But he realizes it costs more to make the liquid than it would to buy the chocolates. Also, the things that come to life go back to normal when the liquid dries.

Then, the Professor wants to see if it works on animals, so he tries it on a picture of a cat. It works, but suddenly, a big elephant appears in the room! Mrs. Flittersnoop gets scared and runs away, with the cat and the elephant following her.

The house becomes chaotic, with many copies of Professor Branestawm and others coming to life from the photographs. They all say the same things over and over again, making it very confusing. There's even a half policeman hopping around!

Finally, a loud noise from the Professor's lab causes everyone to rush back inside. They realize that the magic liquid is wearing off. They chase the copies around the house, trying to dry them with blotting paper. Eventually, the copies disappear back into the photos.

The real Colonel Dedshott arrives, and together with the Professor, they burn all the photos to make sure nothing else comes to life. They succeed, but when the Professor writes a book about his amazing liquid, nobody believes him.

Theme

The central theme of the story revolves around the consequences of experimentation and the pursuit of scientific discovery without considering the potential risks and limitations of one's inventions. The professor's creation, while initially exciting, leads to unintended chaos and challenges, highlighting the importance of responsibility and foresight in scientific endeavors. Additionally, the story explores themes of imagination, curiosity, and the unpredictable nature of scientific innovation.

Difficult Words

1. Invention - Creating something new or coming up with a new idea.
2. Spectacles - Glasses that help a person see better.
3. Syringe - A medical tool used to inject or draw out liquids.
4. Papery - Having a texture or taste similar to paper.
5. Fiddling - Playing around with something in a casual or experimental way.
6. Chaos - A state of complete confusion and disorder.
7. Blotters - Absorbent paper used to soak up excess liquid or ink.
8. Draught - A current of air, especially one that is unwanted or unpleasant.
9. Routed - Defeated or driven away in a decisive manner.
10. Figurative - Using language in a way that is not literal, often for artistic or rhetorical effect.
11. Inventive - Having the ability to come up with new and creative ideas.
12. Efficient - Doing something in a way that saves time and effort.
13. Authoritative - Having a commanding or assertive manner.