Shep's Hobby James Herriot

Shep's Hobby

James Herriot, UK

The writer says that there's an extra ordinary similarity between humans dogs in the sense that they enjoy making jokes fun-loving etc. Furthermore we shouldn't snatch anybody's or animals' "sparkle of life"

b. write four levels of meanings to the text "Shep's Hobby"

Literal comprehension: the writer was a veterinary surgeon. Once he had to go to Mr. Baile's farm to check his sick cow, Rose. The cow had some stomach problem regarding indigestion. Bailes had a big and fearful dog-named Shep. The dog was kept behind the high wall on the side of passage. The writer gave different medicine to Rose yet the cow was not recovered. As the writer was returning home along the passage of high wall all of a sudden a loud bark of Shep exploded into his ear. That frightened him a lot. Next morning, went to make inquiry about the condition of Rose. He found that Rose was more serious. While he was going to see the cow there was strong blow waaah! that made the writer staggered. The writer gave the treatment to the cow. The following afternoon he was going to find the condition of Rose. He became happy finding the cow in improved condition. When he reached there  Mr. Baile told him that the cow was cured by the postman, Jim Oakey not by the writer. Being angry the writer was returning along the passage. Shep frightened him as if he felt his heart would stop. The writer became much angry with the dog and threatened pulling it near him by the claim. He warned it showing his fist near its nose after a month when the writer had been to Baile's farm, he saw the dog inactive and didn't bark at him. the writer felt very sorry in snatching (killing) the barking hobby of harmless Shep. Sooner the dog frightened to a tinker in front of him. That made the writer satisfied that Shep had barking hobby by them.

Interpretation: this story “Shape’s hobby” may be trying to tell us that it is not only human beings who enjoy their hobbies; it is in animals in same way. Animal may have own types of enjoyment doing some activities like scaring other making loud bark here. Indirectly the story is also trying to say that it is humans who want to be superior to others and wants to control others unique characters. It is animal right to enjoy doing any types of activities. This story is advocating about animal rights and effect of human actions upon animals life. There are similarities between animals and humans in terms of wishes, hobbies, likes, dislikes etc. so, human being should always be careful not to hurt animal’s unique personality. It is a duty of every human being to save “Shackle of life”   that is a unique personality in everyone animal.

Critical thinking: it is not questionable about the concept of hobbies and unique personality of every animal. It is also selfish nature of human that always tries to dominate animals that will affect negatively. Still there are some unacceptable points. How is it possible to cure the cow that couldn’t be cured by animal doctor? How can a seriously in cow make fast walk? Can a dog understand human waring? Do animals enjoy similar like humans?  Still, the story has raised the ideas about how to save unique quality of animal that is acceptable to everyone.

Assimilation: before reading this story I used to think that animals are animals. They don’t have any similarities with human beings. I would think they don’t think and don’t have any special qualities as such. But after reading this story I knew that animals do have ‘unique personality' like of humans. They can easily be hurt from misdeeds of humans. I knew how to take care if any animal after reading this story

C. In the story “Shep’s hobby “the writer points out some extra ordinary similarity between humans and animals. Human must not hurt the unique personality of animals and their ‘sparkle’ of life. Do you agree with the writer?

The story  “Shep’s  hobby” is giving a clear picture of animals hobby and way of fun. Shep is a big dog with a fun of scaring other barking loudly. But when the writer threatened it showing his fist, it stopped barking at the writer. That made the writer feel sad. But when Shep barked harshly to tinker the writer felt  happy because he hadn’t completely destroyed its fun of barking.

The main crux of the story shows that animals do have hobbies and ways of making fun. For that humans should be careful while behaving to animals. We must take care of animals like to the children by their parents. There must be love, care and affection to animals form human beings.

I also agree with the ideas of the writer about animal hobby and way of fun. I like to love and have affection towards all animals. Like to my brother and sister I also love to animal kike dog, cat, rabbit, etc. I never like to hurt the sparkle of any animals and unique personality of them. Because like us animals have desires, hobbies, ways of fun and joke etc. this must be understood by humans before behaving with animals anyway.