Character Sketch from PSEB Class 12 A Rainbow of English Book Chapter 3– Thinking Out Of The Box: Lateral Thinking of Edward de Bono,  the Policeman,  Average Thinker and the Educator/Mentor

 

A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of Edward de Bono,  the Policeman,  Average Thinker and the Educator/Mentor from PSEB Class 12 A Rainbow of English Book Lesson 3- Thinking Out Of The Box: Lateral Thinking

 

 

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Character Sketch of Edward de Bono

Edward de Bono is the principal character presented in the essay, and he is regarded as the creator of lateral thinking. He is described as a creative, original, and visionary thinker who thought that intelligence should be utilised creatively, and not just logically. According to de Bono, humans are hardwired to think habitually, which inhibits our ability to solve problems. He was convinced that innovation comes from thinking beyond the bounds of conventional logic. In de Bono’s lessons and examples, he also encouraged people to approach problems in unconventional and surprising ways. Interviews with him showed him as a leader in cognitive science and education, and a significant figure in developing problem-solving approaches for various students and professionals. As a character, de Bono exemplifies open-mindedness, intellectual curiosity, and the audacity to go against tradition.

 

Questions related to the Character of Edward de Bono

Q1. What were Bono’s views on problem-solving?
Q2. What does Edward promote?

 

Character Sketch of the Policeman (Ice Block Puzzle)

The unnamed officer in the classic ice block puzzle story is a protagonist who illustrates the concept of lateral thinking. When others have given up on trying to figure out how a man could hang himself in a locked, vacant room, the officer magically comes up with an unexpected solution—he stands on a block of ice that melted! This response demonstrates the officer’s remarkable insight, imagination, and thinking in an atmosphere absent of fixed assumptions. Where others get caught up in trying to analyse the problem to death or relying on what is prior knowledge to them, this officer applies creative thinking and the simplest explainable mechanism. His role, at least in rhetoric, serves to illustrate the importance of flexible, practical, and out-of-the-box thinking when solving a problem.

 

Questions related to the Character of the Policeman

Q1. Describe the policeman’s use of lateral thinking?
Q2. Describe the policeman’s character.

 

Character Sketch of the Average Thinker 

The “average thinker” or “traditional thinker” in the essay represents that person who employs vertical thinking exclusively, using logical, systematic steps to solve problems. This kind of person believes in following the rules rigidly; he/she only believe in the facts. Average thinkers tend to miss out on creative or alternative approaches to solving problems. Their minds are trained to think within rigid structures that can be disadvantageous to them when working with a situation that is complex and/or unfamiliar. In the context of the essay, the average thinker has been discussed with contrast to the lateral thinker, to highlight that traditional logical thinking has its place, but if the usefulness of traditional reasoning (vertical thinking) is not combined with non-linear creativity, it may be seen as an impediment to innovation. The average thinker is a representative of the average person who wants to remain within his/her comfort zone and misses the chance to solve the problem with a simple but non-traditional approach.

 

Questions related to the Character of the Average Thinker 

Q1. How does the average thinker think?
Q2. What does the average thinker miss out?

 

Character Sketch of the Educator/Mentor

The educator or narrator in the essay serves as a guide and mentor, sometimes encouraging readers to consider ideas that are beyond textbook learning. Although we don’t have a name in identifying the character, this essay is a representation of a voice that promotes curiosity, challenges the past, nudges creativity and thinking outside the box. This character is informative and inspirational, often using stories and metaphors to represent abstract ideas. They intend to make students and readers aware of the fact that producing excellence in learning does not come from just following the rules but questioning, searching, and being willing to develop their line of thinking. The educator represented in this essay is the ideal teacher who believes in individualisation, innovation, reflective practice, and personal growth.

 

Questions related to the Character of the Educator/Mentor

Q1. What does the educator promote?
Q2. Why does the educator promote thinking out-of-the-box?