Chapter Overview
“Evans Tries an O‑Level” by W. Somerset Maugham is a humorous short story about a Malay man, Evans, who decides to take the British O‑level history exam to prove his intellect. Despite serious preparation, he ends up writing random answers quoting India, China, and Singapore. The story highlights cultural misunderstandings, bureaucratic absurdity, and the folly of blind ambition.
Important Keywords
- O‑Level: “Ordinary Level” UK secondary school examination.
- Colonialism: British rule in Malaya and its influence.
- Bureaucracy: Official procedures and red tape.
- Cultural clash: Evans’s Malay identity vs British educational expectations.
- Hypocrisy: The English officials’ patronizing attitude.
Detailed Notes
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