Chapter 7: Evans Tries an O-Level by Colin Dexter
1. What is the central theme of “Evans Tries an O-Level”?
Answer:
The story highlights intelligence, deception, and the failure of authority. It shows how Evans, a clever prisoner, outsmarts the prison system through planning and wit.
2. Who is Evans and why is he called “Evans the Break”?
Answer:
Evans is a cunning and charming prisoner known for escaping. Despite tight security, he uses his cleverness to plan and successfully escape again during an exam.
3. Why is the O-Level exam significant in the story?
Answer:
The exam is a setup used by Evans to escape. It appears to be academic, but is actually part of his intricate escape plan, fooling the jail staff.
4. What precautions did the Governor take before the exam?
Answer:
The Governor arranged for strict security, checked the invigilator’s identity, sealed the cell, and monitored everything—but still failed to stop Evans’s well-orchestrated escape.
5. How does Evans fool the prison authorities?
Answer:
He replaces the invigilator, changes clothes, and tricks the guards with a fake identity. His plan involves impersonation, deception, and careful use of timing.
6. What role does the Governor play in the story?
Answer:
The Governor is intelligent but overconfident. He tries to outsmart Evans but is repeatedly fooled, showing that authority isn’t always foolproof.
7. How does the story reflect irony?
Answer:
Despite all security, Evans escapes. The Governor, who thinks he’s in control, is constantly outwitted. The twist ending highlights the story’s clever and ironic structure.
8. What is the role of McLeery in the escape plan?
Answer:
McLeery, the invigilator, is replaced by an accomplice. Disguised as the injured McLeery, Evans escapes—using the authorities’ own arrangements against them.
9. Why did Evans want to take the exam?
Answer:
It wasn’t for education but part of his escape strategy. He used the exam as a cover to manipulate the system and stage his breakout.
10. What is the significance of the “injured McLeery” scene?
Answer:
It’s a masterstroke in Evans’s plan. The fake McLeery misleads the officers, providing false clues and helping Evans disappear while appearing helpful.
11. How does the author portray prison intelligence?
Answer:
The staff tries hard but lacks true foresight. Their conventional thinking is no match for Evans’s creative and calculated moves, exposing their incompetence.
12. How does the story build suspense?
Answer:
Through dialogue, timed sequences, and twist after twist, the narrative keeps readers guessing about Evans’s true plan and whether the authorities will catch him.
13. What kind of person is Evans?
Answer:
He’s witty, calm, and intelligent. Despite being a criminal, his cleverness and control earn him a strange admiration from both the reader and the characters.
14. How does the story critique authority?
Answer:
It shows how over-reliance on procedure and underestimation of creativity can cause failure. The Governor represents flawed systems unable to adapt to unconventional threats.
15. What role does disguise play in the story?
Answer:
Disguises are central to Evans’s escape. From impersonating McLeery to blending into the world outside, he uses appearance as a tool to mislead and disappear.
16. How does Evans use teamwork in his escape?
Answer:
He doesn’t work alone. Friends outside help coordinate clothing, disguise, and even give him final transportation—highlighting careful planning and loyal accomplices.
17. What is the importance of the German exam clues?
Answer:
The text contains hidden messages that mislead the authorities. The German clues are red herrings, showing how Evans manipulates information to delay and distract.
18. How does the ending surprise the reader?
Answer:
The Governor thinks he’s recaptured Evans, but the final twist reveals Evans escapes again. It shocks the reader and confirms Evans’s genius one last time.
19. What message does the story convey about intelligence?
Answer:
Real intelligence lies in adaptability and innovation. Evans, despite being a prisoner, is more mentally agile than the authorities—proving intellect isn’t limited to status.
20. What is the final takeaway of “Evans Tries an O-Level”?
Answer:
The story teaches that appearances can be deceptive and systems can fail. Cleverness and patience, when combined, can outmaneuver even the strictest control.