The Man Who Knew Too Much Summary Class 9 English

Key Points of the Story

• The story begins with the introduction of Private Quelch, a new recruit at the training depot, who quickly earns the nickname "the Professor" due to his lanky appearance and extensive knowledge.
• During a musketry lesson, Private Quelch impresses everyone with his knowledge of the service rifle's mechanics, correcting the Sergeant and showing his confidence.
• Private Quelch is ambitious and works hard to gain recognition, studying training manuals and constantly asking questions to the instructors.
• Although he initially earns respect from his peers, they soon grow to resent him as he constantly tries to outshine them and correct their mistakes.
• The atmosphere among the recruits becomes tense as Private Quelch's enthusiasm and need to show off his knowledge creates a divide between him and his fellow soldiers.
• A turning point occurs during a grenade lesson given by Corporal Turnbull when Private Quelch interrupts to provide additional information, which embarrasses the Corporal.
• In a surprising twist, Corporal Turnbull allows Private Quelch to give a lecture on grenades, showcasing his knowledge while the other recruits feel inferior.
• After the lecture, Corporal Turnbull announces that Private Quelch will be assigned to permanent cookhouse duties, which becomes a source of amusement for the other recruits.
• Later, Private Quelch is seen lecturing the cooks on proper potato peeling methods, demonstrating that his need to prove his knowledge continues even in mundane tasks.
• The story highlights the tension between ambition, knowledge, and social dynamics in a military setting, where one person's desire to excel can alienate them from their peers.

Detailed Summary

In the story, we meet a character named Private Quelch during his first week of army training. He quickly gets a nickname, "the Professor," because he is tall and wears glasses. When anyone talks to him, it is easy to see why he is called that. He knows a lot and is always ready to share what he knows. The other soldiers notice this right away.

One day, during a lesson about rifles, a Sergeant, who looks very tough, starts to teach the group about how rifles work. He tells everyone that the bullet comes out of the rifle very fast, at over two thousand feet per second. Just then, Private Quelch interrupts and corrects him, saying it is actually two thousand four hundred and forty feet per second. The Sergeant agrees but does not seem too happy about it. After the lesson, the Sergeant keeps asking questions, and he often turns to Private Quelch because he knows a lot. This makes the other soldiers respect Quelch even more.

Quelch wants to do well in the army. He studies hard and reads all the training manuals. He even stays up late to learn more. During training, he is very active and even tries to make everyone sing after long marches, which annoys the others. They do not like his enthusiasm, especially after walking for thirty miles. He tries very hard to impress the officers, and when they are around, he marches like a really serious soldier, swinging his arms like a Guardsman.

As time goes on, the other soldiers start to feel nervous around Private Quelch. At first, they respect him, but soon they begin to fear him because he always corrects their mistakes in front of everyone. If someone does something well, he tries to do it better. When the officer praises them for cleaning their hut well, Quelch jumps in to say thank you, trying to get attention for himself.

One afternoon, while everyone is relaxing, Corporal Turnbull is giving a lesson about hand grenades. Corporal Turnbull is a younger soldier who is very tough and has a lot of respect from the others because he has been to battle. He explains how a grenade is made and mentions that it has many parts to help it break into pieces when it explodes. Suddenly, Private Quelch interrupts and says there should be five main points to talk about first. This surprises everyone, and Corporal Turnbull, feeling embarrassed, hands the grenade to Quelch and tells him to take over the lesson.

Private Quelch stands up confidently and gives a detailed talk about the grenade. The other soldiers listen quietly, feeling scared. After he finishes, Corporal Turnbull thanks him but does not say much else. Then, he tells the soldiers that he has been asked to choose someone for a special job. Everyone thinks it might be a good job, but then he announces that Private Quelch is chosen for permanent cookhouse duties. This means Quelch will be the one to help in the kitchen, which is not a very exciting job at all. The other soldiers find it very funny and joke about it for days.

A few days later, the narrator and his friend Trower pass by the kitchen and hear Quelch's familiar voice complaining about how the cooks are preparing potatoes. He is lecturing them about how they are not doing it in a healthy way. Hearing this, they quickly leave because they do not want to hear more of his annoying talk. Private Quelch’s eagerness to show off his knowledge ends up with him in a position that the others find amusing and not at all what he had hoped for.

Theme/ Message

• The primary theme of the story revolves around ambition and the consequences of trying to outshine others. Private Quelch's intense ambition leads him to constantly seek approval and recognition, which ultimately alienates him from his peers.
• Another important theme is the challenge of fitting in. While Private Quelch possesses significant knowledge, his inability to connect with his fellow recruits creates a sense of isolation, highlighting the importance of social relationships in a group setting.
• The story also conveys a message about humility. Private Quelch's arrogance and need to display his intelligence often backfire, leading to his humiliation when he is assigned to a less prestigious role despite his impressive knowledge.
• Finally, the story illustrates that knowledge is valuable, but how one chooses to share that knowledge can affect relationships. It is essential to balance expertise with empathy to avoid creating divisions among peers.

Difficult Words

• Recruit: A person who has recently joined the military.
• Musketry: The skill or practice of shooting with a musket or rifle.
• Mechanism: The parts of a machine or device that work together.
• Ambition: A strong desire to achieve something, usually requiring hard work.
• Resent: To feel bitterness or anger about something unfair.
• Enthusiasm: Intense and eager enjoyment or interest in something.
• Impassive: Not showing emotion or feeling.
• Condescending: Showing a feeling of superiority; treating others as if they are less important.
• Nominate: To formally suggest someone for a position or role.
• Monotonous: Dull, repetitive, and lacking in variety.
• Unhygienic: Not clean or sanitary, which can cause health issues.
• Vitamin: Essential nutrients that are important for health.
• Droning: Speaking in a dull, monotonous voice.
• Impudent: Not showing respect for another person; rude.
• Segmentation: The act of dividing something into parts or sections.