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Politeness and characterisation
Task E – Turns 20-26
The contrast between Captain Biggar and Jeeves that we have begun to
establish in Tasks B-D can be traced through just about every turn of
this extract, and in very many particular ways. But you should be getting
the hang of it by now, and we don’t want to drive you into the ground
by looking at every word, even though you would need to if you were doing
a full stylistic analysis. Instead, we will end by looking at the last
seven turns of the passage together. Jeeves has now given up on trying
to get the Captain to leave, and is concentrating on trying to convince
him that he is mistaken in believing that the car he chased from the race
course belongs to the Earl of Towcester.
Describe the uses and effects of politeness/impoliteness
in the turns reproduced below, and compare your thoughts with ours:
| 20. JEEVES: |
In the kindliest spirit I suggest that your eyesight needs medical
atTWELVEtion. |
| 21. CAPTAIN: |
My eyesight? My eyesight? Do you know who you're talking to?
I am Sahib Biggar. |
| 22. JEEVES: |
I regret to say that the name is unknown to me. However, Sahib,
I can only repeat. |
| 23. CAPTAIN |
(cutting in on 'Sahib') In this
country I use my title of Captain. |
| 24. JEEVES: |
Sahib or Captain, I still say that you have made the pardonable
mistake of misreading a licence number. |
| 25. CAPTAIN: |
Look, perhaps you're not up on these things. I am a white hunter,
the most famous white hunter in Malaya, Indonesia, Africa. I can
stand without fear in the path of an oncoming rhino...and
why? Because I know I can get him in that one vulnerable spot before
he's within sixty paces. |
| 26. JEEVES: |
I concede that you may have trained your eyes for that purpose,
but, poorly informed as I am on the subject, I do not believe
that rhinoceri are equipped with number plates. |
Our Answer
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