King John & the Abbot of Coterbury

King John & the Abbot of Coterbury

-Anonymous

·        Literal Comprehension:

This Humorous balled is written by an unknown writer of England. King John was an evil monarch who was is dispute with people all the time.

            King John became too jealous towards the abbot of Canterbury because he had heard that the Abbot was popular than the king. The Abbot used to carry so Gold  coins in his pocket, his house was welt decorated than the king's palace and hundred workers used to be in his service. The King accused. The Abbot that he was plotting against the king. He called the Abbot to his palace and asked three nonsense questions, If he couldn't give the right answer he would kill the abbot. This first question was what was the king's worth. Second question, he had to say how fast he could travel the world and the third he had to answer what the king was thinking at the moment. The Abbot asked for 15  days time and he want to oxford and Cambridge Universities for the answer. But nobody cold give answer of such questions Being depressed he come back to his house. When he shepherd asked. The shepherd consoled the Abbot and asked his dress doe the next day, the shepherd went to palace to give the answer disguised like an Abbot and he answered the first question as the king's price was pence one penury less than Christ The king become happy as he compared him with Christ he answered the second question as he could travel the world with in 24 hours if he got up and walked with the sun. Then he  answered the third question as the king might be thinking the Abbot was giving the answer but he was shepherd. The king surprised answer told him to be the Abbot. But the surprised didn't like to be and they both got the pardon.

·        Interpretation:

This Humorous balled tells us books and educational institutes are notr the only source of knowledge a man having practical experience could solve many problems of life. Bookish knowledge couldn't solve the practical problems only the practical experience solve the problems of air real life. Here the scholars of Oxford and Cambridge couldn't give the answer of the Abbot's questions but a shepherd a practical man could solve the question so, Practical knowledge is better than theoretical knowledge.

·        Critical Thinking:

There are many issues in this poem which are difficult to accept. The event happened in the poem is impossible to be seen in real life It is only possible in story. It is said that king, couldn't recognize the disguised shepherd but how could he become so foolish not to know whom he liked to king if the king liked to kill Abbot, There would be no need to ask such nonsense question. He would kill at any time. The answer of the questions are also nonsense.

·        Assimilation:

 The poem reminded me my villagers as they could solve the same of interest orally but I couldn't do without calculator. They have the practical knowledge but I have the theoretical only so to solve the practical problems we need to have practical knowledge college and universities only give the theoretical knowledge but a practical man could easily solve the problems of life.