Hard Times guide: Question 5

5.- Look at the paragraph beginning `The third gentleman now stepped forth´. How does Dickens use the language of sport in this paragraph?

First of all, the sport that is appealead in the text to describe some situations and characters is boxing, this is reflected in words such as pugilist, training, fight, etc. The laguange of sport is used as a way  to show the toughness of the  third gentleman itself and the whole situation being a constant fight between the kids and their teachers (in this case, the government officer). He explains it this way beacause its an easy form to get to people in a way they undestand and also being very strong in what he is trying to say