# V explained — The History of Mr. Polly

> Chapter companion for The History of Mr. Polly by H. G. Wells.

## What happens

Mr. Polly is depicted as a less flamboyant youth than Parsons, with a quiet, speculative demeanor and a fascination with novel phrases and slang. He acts as an appreciative audience for Parsons' enthusiastic readings, parodying his dramatic style while avoiding conventional language himself.

## Themes in this chapter

### Education and Social Failure

Mr. Polly's school training left him with no mastery of English pronunciation and no confidence, leading him to adopt slang and mispronunciations as a defense.

### Imagination vs. Conformity

Parsons' dramatic readings and Mr. Polly's playful parody of them contrast with the mundane setting of the warehouse, highlighting a tension between imaginative expression and conformity.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Polly

Depicted as a quiet, speculative youth who loves slang and novel phrases, acting as an appreciative stimulant to Parsons.

### Parsons

Referenced as a more picturesque youth with a rich voice, given to enthusiastic readings of Carlyle.

### Platt

Present as an interlocutor, asking 'Where?' in response to Mr. Polly's description of Parsons' reading.

## Key lines

> Mr. Polly was not so picturesque a youth as Parsons. He lacked richness in his voice, and went about in those days with his hands in his pockets looking quietly speculative.

Mr. Polly was less striking than Parsons, with a flat voice and a habit of walking around with his hands in his pockets, appearing thoughtful.

_Establishes the contrast between the two characters' personalities._

> He specialised in slang and the disuse of English, and he played the role of an appreciative stimulant to Parsons.

He was an expert in using slang and avoiding proper English, serving as an encouraging audience for Parsons.

_Highlights Mr. Polly's linguistic quirks and his dynamic with Parsons._

> His school training had given him little or no mastery of the mysterious pronunciation of English and no confidence in himself.

His schooling left him unable to pronounce English correctly and lacking self-assurance.

_Points to the theme of education and social failure._

## Links

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