Shep's Hobby summary and four levels [James Herriot]
About the Author James Herriot
James Herriot (1916-1995) was born in the United Kingdom. He
is the experienced British Veterinary Surgeon and best writer. He is popularly
known as the short story writer besides he has brought outstanding works to the
academic fields. He advocates for the right and freedom of the animals.
Summary of Shep's Hobby by James Herriot
James Herriot’s 'Shep's Hobby' is an animal story. The story
tries to defend the rights and freedom of animals. This story advocates that
animals’ rights should not be interfered. Since the writer is an animal lover,
he urges not to suppress the feelings, joys, hobbies, likes, dislikes,
emotions, etc. of the animals. The writer tells that all creatures have hobbies
and right for fun. If such hobbies and fun are seized, the creature's life
becomes useless.
In the story, Herriot often visited Mr. Bailes's farm. Mr.
Bailes had a big dog named 'Shep’. Shep was bigger than Collie, black and white
with massive limbs, brown head with upright ears. Shep was a very strange and
playful creature. He used to frighten passersby terribly. But he never harmed
anyone. The dog just wanted to have fun. The stranger would be frightened and
would jump several inches in the air. Then, Shep would be happy and wait for
another victim.
Once, James Herriot was invited by Mr. Bailes to see his sick
cow named 'Rose’. The cow was suffering from an unfamiliar illness. Herriot was
walking between the walls. In the meantime, Shep barked so loudly into his
right ear that he was frightened. He jumped several inches in the air almost
losing his sense. James checked the cow for a long time since Rose did not
improve her condition. Every time the doctor visited the farm, the dog
frightened Herriot. The writer did not understand whether the dog wanted to
bite him or he only played for fun. He thought Shep was a dangerous dog. So, he
decided to punish him. To punish him, he caught the chain and dragged the dog
nearby his feet. Shep wagged his tail and asked for an excuse looking at the
eyes of the writer. After a month, the writer was again invited by Mr. Bailes
to see the sick cow. This time the dog 'Shep' did not bark because he
understood that the writer did not like such behavior. The writer understood
that Shep used to enjoy frightening people with his loud barking and having no
evil plan of biting them. Therefore, the writer felt guilty for seizing his
hobby of Shep.
After a few weeks, the writer saw a potter walking through
Mr. Bailes's farm. He saw the Shep resuming his hobby. It was Shep who jumped
and barked loudly at him. Being frightened, the potter ran away leaving his all
pots. The Shep felt happy. The writer too felt happy realizing that Shep's
hobby was still alive.
Application of Four Levels of the story Shep's Hobby
Literal Comprehension of Shep's Hobby
Shep was a big dog kept by Mr. Bailes. He was a strange and
playful creature. He used to frighten passersby violently but without any harm
to them. When strangers start jumping in the air being frightened by the dog's
barking, he would be happy. One day, the writer went to Bailes's house to see
his sick cow named 'Rose As he arrived near the house of Bailes, Shep started
barking loudly which made him frightening. The writer as a Vet doctor used to
go there time and again to see the cow's condition, but each time he used to
get frightened by the activities of the dog.
Having tired from such actions of the dog he decided to
punish Shep. When he punished the dog, Shep stopped barking at him. Though the
dog used to bark without any planning of biting people, the writer at the very
beginning did not understand the dog. So, he felt guilty to stop the hobby of
Shep. However, the writer saw the dog's barking and the same action performed
on potter who was walking through Bailes's farm. The potter run away leaving
all the pots there which made the dog feel excitement and happiness. The writer
also became happy to see the dog's hobby as still alive.
Interpretation of Shep's Hobby
James Herriot tries to point out the similarity between
humans and dogs in the sense that they are both fun-loving and even they enjoy
making joys. If we look into the eyes of animals. we can see that they can
communicate their feelings and interest This story also satirizes the modern
human beings who misbehave or suppress the animals. The writer says that animals
can have their likes, dislikes, hobbies, desires, joys, feelings, and
understanding of life-like human beings.
Critical Thinking of Shep's Hobby
Animals are more faithful to their masters. Dogs are the best
examples of faithfulness and devotion. They know how to play with others. This
sense of playing tricks and enjoying games is in many animals. In this story,
the writer advocates that animals can also have hobbies, joys, emotions,
feelings, and understanding like human beings However, few ideas are less
convincing in the story. How can a sick cow gallop? How did the narrator dare
to catch the dog if Shep was dangerous?
Assimilation of Shep's Hobby
By reading this story I came to know that animals are also
fun-loving like human beings. This story also reminds me of an incident. I have
a dog named 'Pangrey" at my house. He has a playful and creative nature.
Those people, who are strangers, are supposed to see the actions and get
frightened of the dog and later he becomes familiar with them. He is fond of
playing with children, too. Now, I love him very much.
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Herriot concludes
"Shep's Hobby" with these reflections." My overriding emotion
was one of relief that I had not cut the sparkle out of the big dog's life.
Shep was still having his fun." Why is it so important to Herriot for Shep
to still have his fun?
Herriot tries to suggest to us that, we should respect the
rights and freedom of the animals because, like us, they have desires, joys,
feelings, understanding, and hobbies. This story also satirizes the modern
human beings who mistreat, neglect, and torture the animals. Since the writer
loves the animals, he knows their nature and activities more. He says that
there are extraordinary similarities between humans and dogs in the sense that
they are both fun-loving and they also enjoy making jokes. The writer says that
all creatures have hobbies and fun, and if they are deprived of them, the
creature's life becomes useless.
The strange hobby of barking into people's cars and
frightening them is Shep's unique nature. The writer was badly frightened every
time but never tried to know why the dog was doing that after barking at him in
a loud sound and getting satisfied with pleasure. Shep would disappear at top
speed towards the gate. In addition, he would be waiting for the next victim.
One day, the writer decided to punish him so he grabbed the chain and began to
pull on it madly. At the close approach of the dog, he noticed that he was
polite and all his attacks were just a game.
Shep knew that the writer knows all about him. Then he stopped barking at him anymore. He was sorry for depriving him of his chief pleasure. A few days later, the writer saw the dog's barking and his same activities toward porter who run away leaving all the pots there and Shep became excited and happy at that moment. Thus, the writer, Herriot felt happy thinking that he had not broken the strange hobby of Shep.
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