Waterloo Summary | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Major English Class 12

Neb English Support Class 12

Waterloo Summary | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Major English Class 12

Waterloo by Arthur Conan Doyle

MAIN SUMMARY 

Waterloo by Arthur Conan Doyle

This play, 'Waterloo', has been written by a British writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This play presents the brief account of an imaginary soldier named Corporal Gregory Brewster. Waterloo is the title, which is named after a battle in 1815 in which the main character, Corporal Gregory Brewster, fought against Napoleon Bonaparte. In that battle, he showed great bravery. While fighting in that battle, the troops of the third guard had a shortage of gun powder. The corporal was sent to bring the gun powder. The French troops had burned down the hedge around the farmhouse. Among two carts of gun powder, one cart exploded, killing the driver. The corporal had shown his bravery by bringing a cart of gun powder for his troop. He drove the cart himself through the flames, and finally, due to his brave deed, his troop had won the battle.

There are three main characters in the play. The main character, Corporal, is quite old now. He is in his nineties. He is living a retired life. He is living alone in a country cottage. In his cottage, there are cutting pieces of newspaper articles about his bravery. Beside it, there are bravery medals dated August 18, 1815. It seems that Corporal is one of the most brave soldiers of his time. Now, the life of a corporal has become so difficult and miserable. It seems that such a brave hero is now being neglected. He is living in the memory of the past glorious days. His health isn't good, and he eats voraciously. He is worried about the cold weather, which is not suitable for his body. He is religious as well as quite conservative. He doesn't like new fashion and technological changes in the military service. He looks back to the past and realises that it was just yesterday that he fought the battle of Waterloo. He still smells the gun powder. He is thin, stoopy, and ugly. His face is wrinkled, and his hair is white. He doesn't hear well. The passage of time has brought all these changes and neglected conditions into his life. He seems happy when he is cared for and praised by young people. When he hears his appreciation, he forgets about his present condition and miseries. He is quite patriotic and wishes to be buried after death with a full set of military honours.

SERIES OF ACTION AND DIALOGUES 

Waterloo by Arthur Conan Doyle

Corporal Gregory is an old, retired military officer. He lives alone in a country cottage. He seems to be neglected because of his old age.

At the beginning of the play, a girl named Norah comes to Corporal's cottage. Norah is Corporal's grandson. She is sent by her father to serve her grandfather. When she arrives at the cottage, she finds no one there. Corporal is not down yet. She sees the articles as well as the medals that the corporal has received for his bravery. She gets quite impressed by her grandfather's achievements and deeds in the Waterloo battle.

A little later, Sergeant McDonald arrives at the cottage. He visits to see the corporal's condition, as he has heard that the corporal is not properly looked after. McDonald was on the Scots Guard and also fought in the Battle of Waterloo. He was at Hougoument. McDonald's introduces Norah. Norah also tells him her intention of visiting Corporal's cottage. McDonald's reads the cutting-edge newspaper articles as well as the dates on the medals. He says that very few people are living now who fought against Napoleon Bonaparte. Norah adds that she is proud of his grand uncle, against whom very few people dare to fight. Norah compares and contrasts the young Sergeant with her grandfather. She says that Sergeant will be an aged wreck in his sixties, and her grand uncle was like Sergeant in the past. Sergeant McDonald moves outside, saying that he will be back after one or two hours. McDonald goes to play butts. After returning from there, he again visits the corporal's cottage. When he sees the corporal, he salutes him. He expresses that he is too glad to see him. McDonald's and his friends are very proud to see him in town. He even says that in the military nowadays, it's quite easier to get three stripes (promotion). To get such a promotion, a soldier had to turn old with grey hair. After having a chat, the sergeant goes out, and the old man sleeps. Norah becomes afraid to see her grand uncle grey and thin. She is in a dilemma about whether her grandfather's condition is good or not. She doesn't identify the condition of her grandchild and hopes for someone to come and advise her. The sergeant again enters and inquires about the old man. The old man cries out suddenly, saying that the guards need gun powder. The old man tries to rise but suddenly falls on his chair. Norah weeps and asks about his grandfather's condition. Sergeant McDonald replies that the old man is dead. He adds that "the Third Guards have full muster." He means to say that Corporal is now together with all his friends.

IMPORTANT QUESTION   

Waterloo by Arthur Conan Doyle

1. Narrate the incidents that bring together Norah Brewster and Archie McDonald.

Answer:

At the beginning of the play, the corporal, Gregory Brewster, seems to be

neglected in his old age. Norah is sent by her father to do what she can to serve her grandfather. When she arrives, she finds nobody at home. The old man is not down yet. She looks at the portrait and medal of her grand-uncle. At the same time, sergeant McDonald arrives to visit the corporal, as he has heard that the old man is not properly looked after.

McDonald was in the Scots Guards, and he also fought in the Battle of Waterloo. He gives his introduction to Nora and goes out by saying that he will be back after an hour or two when the corporal is down. Norah says that she has come to take care of her grandfather. The sergeant reads the slip of paper beside the medal, the date of August 1815, and the cutting of the

newspaper. He says that very few of those who fought against Napoleon Bonaparte are now living. Norah says that she is proud of her grandfather, against whom only a brave man would dare to fight. While returning from the butts, the sergeant again visits the house of the corporal. When he sees the old man, he salutes him and says that he is very glad to see him. He and his friends are very proud to have him in town. Norah says that the sergeant will be like her granduncle in his old age. When the sergeant goes out, the old man sleeps. Norah is afraid to see her grand uncle grey and thin. She says that it would be better if she had someone to advise her when the corporal is sick and when not. The sergeant again enters and inquires about the old man. The old man cries, "The guards need gun powder". He tries to rise and then falls into the chair. Norah begins to weep and asks the sergeant about the condition of her grandfather. Sergeant McDonald replies that the old man is dead and says, "The Third Guards have full muster now". He means that the corporal is now together with all his friends.

Thanks for Visiting my Website: Suraj Bhatt