Home-reading Aid - Карельская Государственная Педагогическая

Home-reading Aid
Методические рекомендации для проведения занятий по
домашнему чтению со студентами, изучающими
английский язык
Петрозаводск
2008
1
Министерство образования и науки Российской Федерации
Федеральное Агентство по образованию
Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального
образования
«Карельский государственный педагогический университет»
Печатается по решению кафедры английского языка КГПУ
Методические разработки по курсу «Домашнее чтение»
Составитель: В.О. Павлов, к.ф.н., доцент кафедры английского языка КГПУ
Рецензенты: к.п.н. И.Л. Краснов, ст. преподаватель КГПУ;
к.п.н. Ж.Е. Войнова, доцент КГПУ
Данные методические разработки предназначены для студентов 2-4 курсов ФИЯ,
изучающих английский язык как первую специальность.
Печатается в авторской редакции.
2
ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ
Пояснительная записка ……………………………………………………………. с. 4
Раздел I “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway ………………………. c. 5
Раздел II “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding …………………………………. c. 13
Раздел III “The Great Gatsby” by Francis Scott Fitzgerald ……………………….. c. 23
Раздел IV “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” by Thornton Wilder ……………………. c. 32
3
ПОЯСНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ЗАПИСКА
Настоящее пособие по курсу домашнего чтения рассчитано на студентов II –
IV курсов факультета иностранных языков, изучающих английский язык как
первую специальность. Оно состоит из четырёх разделов и включает в себя
методические разработки по повести Э. Хемингуэя «Старик и море», роману У.
Голдинга «Повелитель мух», роману Ф.С. Фицджеральда «Великий Гэтсби» и
роману Т. Уайлдера «Мост короля Людовика Святого».* Каждый раздел
открывается кратким предисловием, содержащим биографическую информацию
об авторе и его творческом пути, а также основных темах его произведений.
Система упражнений рассчитана на тренировку труднопроизносимых слов,
обогащение словарного запаса студентов, привитие навыков перевода и
правильного понимания оригинального текста, развитие речевых и письменных
навыков, а также навыков самостоятельной работы над книгой с различными
словарями, справочниками, а иногда и в сопоставлении с иными
художественными произведениями.
Речевые упражнения составлены так, чтобы они в то же время способствовали
пониманию романа или новеллы, их идейного содержания и основных образов.
Кроме этого в пособие включены упражнения по развитию навыков
стилистического анализа. Упражнения по переводу предложений с русского языка
на английский язык направлены на контроль употребления активных единиц и
составлены с целью активизации употребления различных синтаксических
структур, которые студенты изучают на данных курсах. Характер упражнений
несколько усложняется по мере проработки материала. Так, например, несколько
уменьшается вес языковых упражнений, и большее внимание уделяется речевым
упражнениям, направленным на раскрытие содержания повести или романа.
Вопросы и задания помогут студентам обсудить основные проблемы
произведений, интересные эпизоды, поступки героев, название книги или
рассказа, излюбленные стилистические приемы автора и т.п.
Основная цель пособия – показать возможные пути и методы работы над
художественным произведением на занятиях по домашнему чтению.
_________________________
* 1. E. Hemingway ‘The Old Man and the Sea’/ Progress Publishers. Moscow, 1967 (с
комментарием на русском языке) или E. Hemingway ‘The Old Man and the Sea’/ Progress
Publishers. Moscow, 1971 (с комментарием на чешском языке)
2. W. Golding ‘Lord of the Flies’ / Progress Publishers. Moscow, 1982 или W. Golding ‘Lord
of the Flies’ / The Penguin Putnam Inc. New-York, 1995
3. F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘The Great Gatsby’ /Scribner Paperback Fiction, NY, 1995
4. Th. Wilder ‘The Bridge of San Luis Rey’/ Москва, Просвещение, 1982
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РАЗДЕЛ 1 «The Old Man and the Sea»
Ernest
Hemingway
(1899-1961),
a
prominent
American novelist
and
short-story
writer began to
write fiction about
1923. With the
publication of his
first novel The Sun Also Rises (1926) he
was recognized as a leading spokesman
of the ‘lost generation’ by American
expatriates in post-World War I.
Writing in a somewhat dry, direct, tense
and laconic style Hemingway focused
on courageous people living essential,
dangerous lives. His other major novels
include A Farewell to Arms (1929), a
tragic wartime love story, and For
Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), based on
an incident in the Spanish Civil War in
which he was a correspondent. He is
also famous for his vigorous short
stories, e.g. The Killers and The Snows
of Kilimanjaro. In 1945 Hemingway
settled in Cuba, where he wrote a
novella The Old Man and the Sea
(1952, Pulitzer Prize). In 1954 he was
awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. E.
Hemingway later moved to Idaho,
where, plagued by illness, he committed
suicide.
Assignment #1.
(up to page 46 (24)* «Sometimes,
someone would speak...).
I. Study the vocabulary. Render the
situations from the text containing these
word-combinations:
to make fun of smb. 34 (12); to hoist
smth. 34 (12); to be faded to many
different shades 40 (17); to be
thoughtful for smb. 41 (19); to have
smb. on the team 41 (19);
to have
smth. for all of smb.’s life 42 (20); in
the older days 42 (20); one’s mind is on
sth. (to have one’s mind set on
smth./smb.) 42 (20); to prove smb.
wrong/right 43 (21); to shiver with cold
45 (22); to take hold of smth. 45 (23);
to leave one’s sleep 45 (23).
II. Translate into English, using the
vocabulary:
 Я с роду не видел ничего
подобного! В нашей команде
появился новый игрок, и дела
сразу же пошли в гору.
 Если вы посетите выставку этого
выдающегося художника, то вы
запомните ее на всю жизнь.
 Ну, какая же ты соня! Когда бы ты
ни ложилась спать, утром ты никак
не можешь отойти ото сна.
 Давай заключим пари, и я докажу,
что ты ошибался.
В
былые
времена
удача
сопутствовала рыбаку.
III. Make up lists of new words to
topics:
1. the sea equipment
2. the fish
IV. Give antonyms to the following:
- to get rid of sth.
- to be impartial to smb.
- to lose one’s form/shape/fit
_______________________
* Здесь и далее первая цифра, следующая за
словом или выражением, показывает номер
страницы по изданию 1967 г., а вторая - по
изданию 1971 г.
5
V. Comment on the following:
 «First you borrow, then you beg» p.
39 (17)
 «Age is my alarm-clock» p. 43 (21)
VI. Items for discussion:
a) In what way does the description
of the old man, his shack and his mode
of life characterize him?
b) Characterize the boy’s attitude
towards the old man.
c) What else is Di Maggio famous
for, besides being an outstanding
baseball player?
VII. Prepare good reading and
translation of the passage on p. 44 (22)
«He no longer dreamed of storms»... up
to the end of it.
Assignment #2.
46-62 (24-40) up to words «I wish the
boy was here…»)
I. Find the synonyms in the text for:
 to be drawn by 58(36)
 exactness / accuracy 50(27)
 to go for / to make for 47(24)
 fragile 47(25)
 a drop 58(36)
 to bear sth 59(37)
II. Find the antonyms for:
 to congregate 46(24)
 a loud voice 47(25)
 unstable (2 words) 48,54(26,32)
 respect/esteem for sb. 53(30)
 harsh/rude (2 words) 56,57(34,35)
 optimistic 61(39)
III. Study the pronunciation of the
following words:
phosphorescence; Portuguese; carapace;
filaments; iridescent; imperceptible;
gear; pivot; myriad; porpoise; scythe
IV. Give the English equivalents from
the text to:
 испытывать жалость 47(25)
 водоворот 47(25)
 проглотить наживку 50(27)
 быть в поле зрения 50(28)
 безрезультатно/неудачно 51(29)
 быть (не) восприимчивым к
(болезни) 52(30)
 примета 55(33)
V. Translate into English using the
vocabulary of the chapter.
1.
Джон
был
слабовольным
человеком, он лишь плыл по течению
жизни.
2. Мне больно смотреть на солнце, у
меня появляются черные пятна перед
глазами.
3. Не бойся, ты не упадешь - веревка
толщиной с кулак.
4. Они работали попеременно.
5. Пароход тащил их лодку на
буксире до самой пристани.
6. Если будешь долго оставаться в
воде, у тебя начнутся судороги.
VI. Explain the difference between the
words given in pairs. Illustrate it with
the sentences of your own.
 desperate – despairing
 course – direction
 tolerate – endure
VII. Comment on the following:
1. «No one should be alone in their old
age. But it’s unavoidable». p. 61(38)
2. «It is better to be lucky. But I would
rather be exact. Then when luck comes
you are ready». p. 50(27-28)
6
VIII. Speak on the following:
1. What details and trifles does an
experienced fisherman pay attention to?
How does he know that big fish is
somewhere around?
2. The deceiving beauty of the sea.
3. Why did the old man refer to the fish
he had hooked using the personal
pronoun «he»? Was it just a fish for
him? Did he consider the fish to be an
enemy?
4. If you are asked to paint a picture on
what you have read what colours would
you use and why? Put the idea verbally.
Assignment #3
(up to p. 78(56) «Just before it was
dark...»)
I. Study the pronunciation:
undulation; hurricane; cumulus; cirrus;
sword; rapier; conscientiously.
II. Explain the following. Be ready to
reproduce the situations from the text.
 to take all the strain 63(41)
 to have a big reserve of smth. 64(42)
 to wipe smth. on smth. 68(45-46)
 of one’s own accord 70(47)
 to abuse smth. (but abuse of smth.)
70(47)
 to be out of sight 70(48)
 a treachery of smth/sb. 70(48)
 to break the confidence of smb.
77(55)
III. Search the text for the synonyms to
the following:
to join the lines together 63(41); to
make a sudden upward movement
64(41); to begin 71(49); to make smb.
be sure 71(49); everlastingly 71(49); to
imagine / to form an impression of
74(52).
IV. Find in the text antonyms to the
following:
to tighten 71(48); cooked/prepared by
boiling or baking 73(51); fair/
reasonable 74(51) non-clutched hands
76(54)
V. Give English equivalents from the
text:
Это то, для чего я был рожден 63(40);
он взял курс на север 64(42); ловушка
62(40); корма 65(43) / нос 66(44)
лодки; кровоточить 66(44); потеря
сил(ы) 67(45); падать ниц (опускаться
на колени) 67(45); предатель 77(55).
VI. Try to guess or find in the
dictionary the meaning of the following
expressions containing the words from
the text:
 to fall (walk) into a trap – to lay a
trap
 to tie the knot – to tie oneself in (to)
knots
 to come to grips with smb./smth. – to
get a grip on oneself
 to touch smb. on one’s raw
 to have a loosen tongue
 to take a person into one’s confidence
VII. Think of some two situations of
encouragement for your group-mates to
use phrases from tasks II-VI.*
VIII. Translate into English using the
vocabulary discussed:
1. Он не знал, что она не умеет
хранить секреты, и доверился ей.
2. Он так хотел, чтобы мы его
сопровождали, что падал на колени.
_______________________________
*
студенту
необходимо
придумать
небольшую
ситуацию,
реагируя
на
которую, другие студенты могли бы
употребить
вокабуляр
предыдущего
задания. Не путать с заданием Complete my
sentence, please!
7
3. Где они? Они ушли еще вчера и до
сих пор не вернулись. Наверное, чтото произошло. - Возьми себя в руки
(2 варианта). Они, должно быть,
вернутся c минуты на минуту.
4. Он такой жестокий, от него не
дождешься ни капли жалости. К тому
же он всегда и всем ставит ловушки.
Лучше бы нам от него избавиться.
5. Я же просила тебя не вытирать
руки о брюки, когда ремонтируешь
машину.
IX. Comment on the following:
1. «... he knew no man was ever alone
in the sea». p. 70(48)
2. «There is no sense in being anything
but practical though» p. 69(46). Does it
somehow hold true with our everyday
life?
X. Be ready to discuss the following:
1) Why did the old man feel
humiliated when his arm was cramped,
though no one witnessed it?
2) Was the old man really religious
or his prayers had another meaning for
him?
3) The fish was two feet longer than
the skiff and the old man was absolutely
alone, but it even didn’t occur to him to
give up the idea of killing the fish. More
than that, it made him more determined.
Why?
4) Why did the author describe the
episode with the hand-game?
Assignment #4
(pp. 78-92(56-69) up to the words:
«The fish was coming in ...»)
I. Give the title to the part you have
read.
II. Study the pronunciation of the
following words:
sheath; bow; maw; gills; leprous;
descent; fillet; calloused; nausea;
nourishment; lavender; eel; placid
III. Explain the meaning of the
following word combinations. Give
the situations with them from the
text:
to bend and flap in the air 78(56) /note:
to bend smb. into smth./, to gut a fish
79(57), to make a drag 79(57) /note: to
be a drag on smb./, sustenance 80(57),
to have perils
and merits 80(58) /note: at one’s peril/,
to confide 81(59), to slit 82(60), to
scoop smth. clean 82(60), to be
nauseated 84(61), to rest one’s chin
(hand, eye) on smth. 85(62), to cede the
line 86(64), to pivot with smth. 88(66),
to be bound to do smth. 89(67).
IV. Translate into English using the
vocabulary of tasks II and III.
1. Она так и не заставила его
передумать, и он не пошел на
выборы.
2. На свой страх и риск Том все-таки
купил лотерейный билет.
3. Ник считал, что семья мешает ему
достичь успеха.
4. Его руки огрубели от многолетней
работы в шахтах.
5. Корабль сел на мель и его
пришлось буксировать.
V. Prepare good reading and translation
of the passage on p. 84(62) «He held the
line tight»... up to ... «he was asleep».
VI. Comment on the following:
1. «I have never seen or heard of such a
fish, but I must kill him. I’m glad we
don’t have to try to kill the stars» p.
80(58).
8
2. «The punishment of the hook is
nothing the punishment of hunger and
that he is against something that he does
not comprehend is everything» p.
81(59).
3. «And pain doesn’t matter to a man»
p. 87(65).
or to translate from Russian into
English, using the vocabulary above.
VII. Discuss the following:
1. What made the old man wake up?
2. Why did the fish head east?
3. Was the old man afraid of the black
spots before his eyes?
4. How did the fish look like?
5. How can you explain the old man’s
dreams? Any connection in their
succession?
6. Think of your own problem question.
V. Comment on the following. Give the
examples from our everyday life where
possible to illustrate your point of view.
Assignment #5.
(pp. 92-102 (69-80) up to the words:
«The breeze was steady».)
I. Study the pronunciation and the
meaning of the following:
to swamp 94(72); a sword 95(73); a
thwart 96(74); cumulus 97(75); cirrus
98(75); malignancy 99(77); resolution
99(77); to plough 100(77); to be
mutilated 100 (78); scavenger 102(80)
II. Find in the text the following words
and phrases:
 сращивать, соединять 95(73)
 валяться, барахтаться 95(73)
 прищемить, сдавливать 96(74)
 тащить, буксировать 97(75)
 править рулем, управлять 97(74)
 питаться чем-либо 98(76)
 рассекать 99(76)
 препятствие 101(78)
III. Think of some 2-3 sentences for
your group-mates either to paraphrase
IV. Prepare
good
reading
and
translation of the passage on p.96 (74)
«He did not need a compass ... tasted
good?»
1. «It was too good to last, he thought. I
wish it had been a dream now and that I
had never hooked the fish and was alone
in bed on the newspapers» p.100 (78).
2. «When the fish had been hit it was as
though he himself were hit» p.100 (78).
3. «A man can be destroyed but not
defeated» p. 100 (78).
4. «But I must think, he thought.
Because it is all I have left» p.100 (78).
5. «He watched only the forward part of
the fish and some of his hope returned»
p.101 (79).
VI. Think over the following problem
questions:
1. Why does the old man constantly
consider upon his actions from the point
of view of «the great Di Maggio»?
2. The old man lived almost without
food and water for a pretty long time
and didn’t sleep at that. What made him
not lose his strength? Was it natural
health or great experience or something
else? Where else from can you get
energy?
3. Do you agree that ‘everything kills
everything in some way’ (p. 102(80)?
4. What’s your own understanding of
what a sin is?
5. Give your own problem question.
9
Assignment #6.
(pp.102-117 (80-94)
I. Give the title to the part you have
read.
II. Study the pronunciation of the
following words:
Vertebrae, cartilage, trough, rigidity,
hatchet, perceptible, proprietor, wrench
III. Find the synonyms in the text to the
following:
 to beat, to hit with a fist 104(82)
 to hurt, to plunge (into) with one’s
teeth 107(88)
 to revolt, to protest 103(81)
 to extract, to pull out 104(82)
 to eat up what the others have left on
the table 112(90)
IV. Explain the meaning of the
following expressions, containing the
words from the text:
 to give smb. a broadside
 to lean over backwards
 to hang out one’s ear
 to hang up one’s hat
V. Translate the following sentences:
1. Джоанна сжала дверную ручку, но
не решалась войти. Проходивший
мимо Боб спросил ее: «Ты что,
подслушиваешь?». «Нет, что ты!
Просто вчера я протестовала против
подписания нового контракта и
боюсь, что, когда я войду, все
обрушатся на меня».
2. Уэнди, которая раньше была
заядлой курильщицей, ударилась в
другую крайность и бросила курить.
3. Энн надолго осталась у Билла. Они
слишком много времени проводили
вместе,
и
отношения.
это
погубило
их
VI. Think of some 2-3 sentences for
your group-mates to translate from
Russian into English using vocabulary
of tasks II-III.
VII. Translate the passage on p. 104(82)
from «The skiff was still shaking...» up
to the end of the passage.
VIII. Answer the questions:
1. What reasons besides money and
food did the old man have for killing the
fish?
2. Do you support the theory that it’s
not a sin to kill somebody, if you love
him/her?
3. The old man said he thought too
much. Do you believe that his thoughts
helped him or brought only harm?
4. Was the fish, which the old man had
hooked worth killing?
5. Was the old man strong enough to
kill the sharks? How did he manage to
do away with most of them? Was it a
sin to kill them?
6. Why did the old man wish his fight
with the sharks to be a dream?
7. What can you buy LUCK with?
8. In what way did the people react to
what had happened?
9. Will the old man go fishing again?
Why?
IX. Comment on the following:
1. «You are tired, old man, he said.
You’re tired inside»? 107(84).
2. «You violated your luck when you
went too far outside». 110(87).
10
A written test recommended for
checking the students’ knowledge of
the vocabulary of the book «The Old
Man and the Sea»
Use the vocabulary of the book
instead of the underlined wordcombinations:
1. Bob has quarreled with his former
girl-friend last week and yesterday he
got married in order to wound her in the
most sensitive spot.
2. He had been saving money for three
years and didn’t do anything he wanted
very much, but not long ago he changed
his habits radically and splashed out on
a new pair of shoes.
3. Nick’s Granny stayed with him for a
long time and in the long run he made
up his mind to do away with her and
calmly did her in.
4. Brace yourself up! You got stuck
because of your habit of talking too
much. And now the only thing to be
done is to be brave and uncomplaining.
5. President Nixon told his wife the
secret concerning future financial
course of the US but a spy overheard
him and blackmailed him afterwards.
6. She thought he loved her, but he
acted accordingly to his own interests
and overindulged in her confidence.
7. James walked over everybody that’s
why there was no one to help him when
he was caught by trick.
8. Get a grip on yourself! What a
beautiful teacher you are! You shouted
your students down only because they
didn’t learn the expressions from the
text.
9. The old man struggled with the shark
and hit her with his knife.
10. In public this girl seems to drift and
not to fall into extremes but at home she
doesn’t throw away the slop-pail and
speaks rudely to her mother.
«The Old man and the Sea»
Topics for the final discussion
1. Express your impressions of
Hemingway’s literary style.
Is it really lexically poor? Does it really
lack emotions?
2. The sea and its inhabitants as
expressed in the novel.
3. Is the old man the only main
character of the book?
4. Would you call the old man’s life «a
total defeat»?
Was that life worth living? Prove your
point.
5. The matters of sin and virtue as
expressed in the novel.
6. Dwell upon the ideas that the book
provoked you to think about.
7. Compare the sea in Hemingway’s
novel with the one described in Emily
Dickinson’s poem.
I started Early – Took my Dog—
And visited the Sea—
The Mermaids in the Basement
Came out to look at me—
And Frigates – in the Upper Floor
Extended Hempen Hands—
Presuming Me to be a Mouse—
Aground—upon the Sands—
But no Man moved Me—till the Tide
Went past my simple Shoe—
And past my Apron—and my Belt
And past my Bodice—too—
11
And made as He would eat me up—
As wholly as a Dew
Upon a Dandelion’s Sleeve—
And then—I started—too—
And He—He followed—close behind—
I felt His Silver Heel
Upon My Ankle—Then my Shoes
Would overflow with Pearl—
Until We met the Solid Town—
No One He seemed to know—
And bowing—with a Mighty look—
At me—The Sea withdrew—
--Emily Dickinson, 1862
12
РАЗДЕЛ 2
“Lord of the Flies” by W. Golding*
When William
Golding (19111993)
was
awarded
the
Nobel Prize for
Literature
in
1983, the Nobel
Foundation cited:
"His
novels
which, with the
perspicuity
of
realistic narrative art and the diversity
and universality of myth, illuminate the
human condition in the world of today".
Those novels are relatively few in
number - twelve. He seems to have
known from childhood that he wanted
to be a writer. His first published work
appeared when he was twenty-three.
Quite apart from his obvious
achievements as a writer, it is worth
pointing out the vast range and diversity
of the subject matter of his novels, and
the challenge he set himself. Perhaps his
greatest achievement is to have lived
through the most terrible and inhumane
of centuries, and to have left behind a
body of work that can be said to reflect
much of the horror of that time as well
as an understanding of it.
Assignment № 1
Chapter I. “The Sound of the Shell”
(pp. 39-73 \ 7-31). **
I.
Make use of internet to find
information about William Golding and
his novel “Lord of the Flies”. Be ready to
share it with the others.
II. Study the pronunciation of the
following words:
lagoon, echo, adolescence, typhoon,
rescue, conch, obedience, descent,
choir, mirage, to exhaust.
III.
Learn the following words and
word-combinations,
explain
their
meaning in English and use them in the
situations from the book:
to be offhand 41 (8), as far as smth.
goes 44 (10), to undo smth. 44 (10), to
bear smth. with patience 48 (13), to
make the best of a bad job 58 (20), to
intimidate 58 (21), to know one’s own
mind 59 (21), to keep to oneself 59 (22),
to be no good 63 (24).
IV.
Give English equivalents to the
following verbs of motion and use them
in sentences of your own:
пробираться 39 (7), карабкаться 39
(7), направиться 42 (9), кинуться
прочь 42 (9), перелезть через чтолибо 43 (9), поспешить куда-либо 46
(12), идти на цыпочках 48 (13),
трусить, семенить 49 (14), броситься
вперед 72 (31).
V.
Think of some short situation
(5-6 sentences) to encourage your
group-mates to use the vocabulary of
tasks 2-4. Do not mix up this task with
the task Complete my sentence, please!
___________________________
* При подготовке данного раздела
использованы
некоторые
задания,
представленные в Методических разработках
по домашнему чтению по книге У. Голдинга
«Повелитель мух» (составитель В.Г. Прозоров),
Петрозаводск, КГПИ, 1986 г.
** Здесь и далее первая цифра указывает №
страницы по изданию 1982 года, а вторая – по
изданию 1995 года
13
VI.
Answer the following questions:
1. When does the action take place?
How can you prove it? 2. What
happened to the boys? 3. What did
Ralph use the shell for? 4. What did the
boys who had gathered on the beach
look like? 5. How did the members of
the choir differ from the other boys? 6.
Why did Jack prefer to be called by his
last name? 7. Why was Ralph elected
chief? 8. What plan did he put forward?
9. What did the boys feel like during the
expedition? 10. What made the boys
think that the island was uninhabited?
11. Why did Jack fail to stab the pig?
VII. Comment on the sentence:
“… here at last was the imagined but
never fully realized place leaping into
real life” (p. 50 \ 15).
VIII. Give character sketches of Ralph,
Piggy and Jack. Prepare a list of keywords for each sketch.
IX. On a separate sheet of paper give a
written translation of the extract on p.
72 (31) from “They were in the
beginning … up to … back to the
track”.
Assignment № 2
Chapter II “Fire on the Mountain”
(pp. 73-93 / 32-47)
Chapter III “Huts on the Beach” (pp.
94-106 / 48-57)
I.
Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
to
seize,
dubiety,
to
caress,
maintenance, grotesque, incompetence,
horizon, silhouette, tumult, opaque,
spear
II. Explain the meaning of the
following
words
and
word
combinations. Use them in the
situations from the book:
to look round challengingly 74 (33), to
break the rules 75 (33), to be about to
do smth. 77 (35), to twist into oneself
77 (35), to keep up with 82 (38), to be
the first to do smth. 83 (39), to find
room for smth. 83 (39), to break into a
cheer 85 (41), to keep a look-out 88
(43), to lose one’s temper 91 (45), on all
fours 94 (48), to take smb. seriously
100 (53), to get fed up 103 (55), to cock
one’s ears 106 (57).
III. Give English equivalents to the
following phrases:
влезть в разговор (32), голосовать
поднятием руки (33), взрыв смеха
(35),
искать
поддержки
(36),
неподтвержденный доказательствами
(37), потерять нить разговора (37),
перекричать
(43),
завизжать,
запищать (44), выйти из себя (45),
жестикулировать, пытаясь подобрать
подходящее слово (50).
IV.
Situations of encouragement.
V.
Fill in the gaps with prepositions:
1. Ralph surveyed the wreck __ distaste.
2. He rolled __ and peered __ Jack’s
fierce, dirty face. 3. He screwed __ his
eyes and swung __ __ search the
horizon. 4. The ground was hardened __
an accustomed tread and as Jack rose __
his full height he heard something
moving __ it. 5. He squatted __, parted
the leaves and looked __ __ the
clearing. 6. I wonder how far __ you
could see that.
14
VI. Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
combinations; use them in the situations
from the book:
1.
Until grown-ups come to fetch us
we’ll have fun (77\35). 2. Once more …
was shed that glamour, that strange
invisible light of friendship, adventure
and content (83\39). 3. But you can feel
you are not hunting, but – being hunted
(101\53). 4. Jack had to think for a
moment before he could remember what
rescue was (101\53).
to adjust oneself to smth. 108\59;
natural belligerence 109\60; to feel the
unease of wrong doing 110\60; to
scavenge over the beach 111\61; to pull
smb.’s leg 116\65; to be at home
117\65; to impose one’s will upon smb.
123\70; to keep smth. going 124\71; to
go red 124\71; to drive smb. to violence
125\71; to give way 126\72; to put
oneself in the right (wrong) 126\72; to
break silence 129\74.
VII. Topics for discussion:
1.
The meeting and the decisions
taken at it.
2.
Making a fire on the mountain.
3.
Dwell upon the symbolic
meaning of the conch.
4.
You are Piggy. Make up your
speech on top of the mountain.
5.
What was the attitude of the boys
towards Simon and to what he said?
Why?
VIII. Give a written translation of the
extract on p. 83 (39) from “They found
a likeliest path” … up to “Not for the
two of us”.
Assignment № 3
Chapter IV “Painted Faces and Long
Hair” (pp. 107-130 \ 58-75)
I.
Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
flood; assembly; triumphant; filthily;
diameter;
involuntarily;
taboo;
opalescence;
malevolently;
perpendicular; exhilaration; vicious;
opaque; squeal
II.
Give synonyms or explain the
following
words
and
word-
III.
Situations of encouragement.
IV.
Comment on the following
sentences:
1.… the mask was a thing of its own,
behind which Jack hid, liberated from
shame and self-consciousness (115\64).
2. By the time the pile was built, they
were on different sides of a high barrier
(127\73).
V.
Comment on the author’s
allusion to the events in the big world:
“civilization that knew nothing of him
and was in ruins” (113\62). Is there any
relevance between the outbreak of the
war and the situation on the island?
VI.
Give some facts to prove the
following statements. Quote the text if
necessary:
1. The littluns led quite a distinct life of
their own. 2. There had grown an
opinion that Piggy was an outsider. 3.
Ralph began to lose his authority as
chief. 4. The children might have been
saved by a passing ship. 5. It was Jack’s
15
fault that the fire had burnt out. 6. Jack
played a dirty trick on Piggy.
VII. Give a character-sketch of Roger.
VIII. Give a written translation of the
extract on p. 121\68 from “A procession
had appeared … up to … spill her
blood” p. 69.
Assignment № 4
Chapter V “Beast from water” (pp.
130-155\76-94)
I. Transcribe the words and learn their
pronunciation:
wearisomeness, apex, reverence, effigy,
clamour, tempestuous, ludicrous, bogy,
to bully, to yawn, row (138/81), row
(140/83)
II. Explain in English and provide the
context:
to be dotted with (131/77), to be worn
away (132/77), to have the wit to do
smth. (132/77), to fish smth. out of
smth. (134/78), to put things straight
away (135/79), to be taken short
(136/80 и 143/85), to flit through one’s
mind (139/82), Serve you right!
(140/83), to flinch away from the
memory (144/86), to summon one’s
wits (151/91)
III. Give English equivalents to the
following phrases and make up your
own sentences for your group-mates to
translate:
чем
пойдет
речь
(134/79),
обдумывать
следующую
мысль
(137/81), брать слово без очереди
(150/90), вскочить на ноги (151/91)
IV. Give three synonyms to the word to
fight (pp. 149-151/90 – 91)
V. Comment on the sentences:
1) Serve you right if something did get
you, you useless lot of cry-babies!
(140/83)
2) Piggy: “I know there isn’t no fear …
unless we get frightened of people”
(141-142/84). Simon: “maybe there is a
beast. What I mean is … maybe it’s
only us” (148/89).
VI. Give some facts to prove the
following statements. Quote the text if
necessary.
1)
Ralph’s enthusiasm of first days
was gone. He thought it was the right
time to talk seriously.
2)
“We decide things but they don’t
get done.”
3)
Piggy still tried to stick to the
rules of the world of adults.
4)
Children
started
getting
frightened of the unknown beast.
5)
The assembly ended in a failure.
VII. Think of a problem question
starting with ‘Why?’ based on the
events of the chapter.
VIII. Give a written translation of the
extract on p. 130-131/76 from “The tide
was coming… up to … tried again”.
язвительно
улыбаться
(131/76),
прокрутить речь в голове (131/76),
запутаться в мыслях (two variants)
(131/76, 132/77), быстро принимать
решение (133/78), четко выразить, о
16
Assignment № 5
Chapter VI “Beast from the Air” (pp.
155-174 / 95-108)
I. Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
contour,
tremulously,
parachute,
leviathan, menace, contemptuously,
guano, impenetrable, polyp, mutinously,
constrainedly, exasperation, festoon,
stupendous
II. Study the following words and
word-combinations, give synonyms or
explain them and use them in the
situations from the book:
to be on watch 157(96); to take fire
158(96); to drive smb. insane 158(97);
to spread the (dreadful) news 161(99);
to take up the story 162(100); to pull
smb.’s leg 163(101); to be on the
lookout 163(101); to keep smb. out of
danger 164(101); to track the beast
165(102); to give smb. the energy to do
smth. 165(102); to make a fool of
oneself 167(103); the landsman’s view \
bird’s eye view 169(105); to do smth.
on one’s own 170(106); to be off one’s
rockers 174(108).
III. Situations of encouragement.
IV. Imagine you have just seen the
beast. You are supposed to tell the
assembly about it. Make use of the
vocabulary list.
V. Comment
on
the
following
sentences:
1. “But a sign came from the world of
grown-ups, though at the time there was
no child awake to read it” 156(96)
2.
“We don’t need the conch any
more. We know who ought to say
things”. 165(101-102)
3. Ralph walked in the rear, thankful
to have escaped responsibility for a
time. 166(103)
4. However Simon thought of the
beast, there rose before his inward sight
the picture of a human at once heroic
and sick. 167(103).
VI. On a separate sheet of paper give a
written translation of the second passage
of the chapter pp. 156-157(95-96)
VII. Topics for discussion:
1.
Does Ralph always feel confident
taking a decision? Provide examples
when he does not.
2.
Is Jack ready to take up the
position of a chief? What makes you
think so?
3.
How do you understand the
phrase “the pressure of personality”
Simon thinks about on p. 167(103)?
4.
What urged Jack to join Ralph on
p. 170(106)?
5.
Compare the reaction of the boys
when they saw the “fort”. How does it
characterize them?
Assignment № 6
Chapter VII “Shadows and Tall
Trees” (pp. 174-194 / 109-123)
I. Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
nausea,
bravado,
infuriatingly,
viciously, luxuriance, canopy, boar,
self-consciousness, caress, intimidate,
obtuseness, spectacular, supreme
17
II.
Study the following words and
word-combinations, explain them and
use them in the situations from the
book:
to be content to do smth. (174/109), to
put smth. out of one’s mind (174/109),
to come in handy (175/109), to indulge
in a habit (175/109), to get a kick out of
smth. (175/109), to be a subject for
smth. (175/110), out of custom
(175/110), to be in charge of smth.
(178/112), to take aim (179/113), to do
smb. (180/114), by oneself (186/117), to
take smb. at low water (189/119).
III. Paraphrase the following sentences
using the vocabulary of the chapter:
1. Ralph was glad to let Jack be
responsible for the hunt. 2. Ralph made
an effort to forget about the beast. 3.
Ralph thought that he needed a proper
bath and wouldn’t mind having a
toothbrush. 4. The boys seemed to enjoy
stuffing themselves with bananas. 5.
Only Simon dared to go through the
forest alone. 6. The boys were afraid
that the beast would attack and kill
them. 7. Jack’s suggestion to go up the
mountain took Ralph by surprise.
IV. Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
1.
The desire to squeeze and hurt
was over-mastering. (182/115)
2.
“You want a real pig”, said
Robert … “because you’ve got to kill
him”. “Use a littlun”, said Jack and
everybody laughed. (183/115)
V. Give a written translation of the
extract on pp. 193-194/123 from “In
front of them …” up to “… the ruin of a
face”.
VI. Topics for discussion:
1.
How does Simon reveal himself
in the chapter? Pay attention to his
dialogue with Ralph on p. 177/111.
2.
What for does W. Golding resort
to Ralph’s reminiscences of his life at
home? (pp. 178-179/112)
3.
In what way does the competition
for leadership between Jack and Ralph
develop?
Assignment №7
Chapter VIII “Gift for the Darkness”
(pp. 194-221 / 124-144)
I. Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
dozen, to squat, uncooperative, tremor,
hysteria, fervor, menace, cynicism,
grimace, to vibrate, catastrophe, to
gnaw,
sow,
demure,
obscene,
immediacy, sanctity, furtive, iridescent
II. Study the following words and
word-combinations, explain them and
use them in the situations from the
book:
to jerk away 194(124), good riddance
195(124), to be astir 196(125), to call an
assembly 196(125), to stab the air with
smth. 198(127), to pay no heed
199(127), to do without smb. or smth.
200(128), no go 201(128), contribution
to the good of society 202(129), to be
close at hand 202(129), to have no
common sense 205(132), to size smb.
up 206(133), to inch forward 208(134),
to look round in inquiry 208(134), to
spurt with the last strength 209(135), to
play leap-frog 213(138), to be vexed
214(139), to raid smb. for smth.
218(141).
18
III. Find in the text synonyms to the
following words:
to reproach 200(128), understanding
202(129), to leave secretly 204(131),
banquet/festival 205(132), to follow
smb. 206(132), to look fixedly
213(138), to disappear 217(141),
unconvincing
219(142),
indecent
221(143), absurd 221(143).
IV.
Situations of encouragement.
V.
Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
1.
Only Piggy could have the
intellectual daring to suggest moving
the fire from the mountain p. 201(129).
2.
For the first time on the island,
Piggy himself removed his one glass,
knelt down and focused the sun on
tinder 203(130).
3.
… ages ago they had stood in two
demure rows and their voices had been
the song of angels 206(133).
4.
The island was getting worse and
worse! 214(139)
VI. On a separate sheet of paper give
a written translation of the passage on p.
202(129) from “The greatest ideas are
the simplest” up to p. 203(130) “… a
bush of yellow flame”.
VII. Items for discussion:
1.
How do you understand the title
of the chapter?
2.
Why was Ralph sure Jack would
come back?
3.
How did Piggy change when Jack
left the boys?
4.
What
impression
did
the
description of hunting the sow produce
upon you? Does the fact the boys
hunted the sow with piglets and killed
her bear any significance?
5.
Dwell upon the symbolic
meaning of the episode describing the
talk between Simon and Lord of the
Flies. Is it a dialogue? Who talked to
Simon? How can you prove this?
Assignment № 8
Chapter IX “A View to a Death” (pp.
222-234 / 145-154)
Chapter X “The Shell and the
Glasses” (pp. 235-252 / 155-168)
I. Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
drearily, mechanics, succulent, parody,
idol, derision, gigantic, sulphurous,
phosphorescence, fragile, gesticulate,
accompaniment, obscene, composite
II. Give English equivalents to the
following word combinations:
выражать
предупреждение
(228/149), вступать в чьё-либо племя
(229/150), он на это напросился
(238/157), сменить тему (240/159),
прокрасться
тайком
(241/160),
отмахнуться от возражения (243/161),
поддерживать
огонь
(245/163),
выбраться
из
беды
(246/163),
тронуться умом (248/165), вести к
чему-то,
намекать
на
что-то
(246/163),
настоящий
вождь
(252/168), задать взбучку кому-либо;
показать что по чём (251/167).
III. Translate the following sentences
into English using the vocabulary of the
book:
1. Саймон понимал, что новость о
том, что зверь не мог причинить
вреда, нужно было сообщить как
19
можно скорее. Он начал спускаться с
горы, но ноги его подкосились. 2.
«Это был несчастный случай», сказал Хрюша. – Нечего ему было
так выползать из темноты. Он был
ненормальный. Сам напросился. 3.
Джек спросил, кто хочет вступить в
его племя. В его голосе звучало
предупреждение. 4. Единственной
надеждой для Ральфа и его друзей
выбраться
из
беды
–
было
поддерживать огонь. 5. Некоторые
мальчики сомневались, что Ральф и
его друзья попытаются тайком
пробраться в Замок, но Джек
отмахнулся от их возражений и
сменил тему. 6. Ральф утверждал, что
он задал неплохую взбучку одному
из нападавших. Эрик согласился, что
они им неплохо всыпали и те не
скоро снова сунутся. 7. После
удачного ночного нападения Джек
чувствовал, что он – настоящий
вождь. 8. Ральф мечтал о жизни в
тихом городке, где не было места
кровожадной жестокости.
1.
Why did even Ralph and Piggy
participate in the murder? How did they
try to forget it? Could they forget it?
2.
Why does the tribe never address
Jack by his name and use the word
‘chief’ instead?
3.
Why couldn’t Ralph and his
friends keep the fire going?
IV.
to take the job off smb.’s hands
(253/169); to scurry hither and thither
(253/169); to hold on to smb. (254/169);
to be a sport (256/171); to seek in one’s
mind for words (256/172); against all
odds (257/172); to find by touch
(257/172); out of recognition (261/175);
to play a dirty trick on smb. (263/176);
to keep out of fighting distance
(264/177); to keep an eye on smb.
(264/177); to parry the blow (266/179).
Situations of encouragement
V.
Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
1.
Now out of terror rose another
desire, thick, urgent, blind (231/152)
2.
“Look, Ralph. We got to forget
this. We can’t do no good thinking
about it, see?” (238/157)
3.
But the attraction of wildness had
gone (247/164)
VII. Prepare a written translation of the
extract on p. 250 (167) “Then there was
a vicious … up to the end of it.
VIII. Items for discussion:
Assignment № 9
Chapter XI “Castle Rock” (pp. 253271 / 169-182)
I. Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
luminous,
myopia,
multitudinous,
propitiatingly, impenetrable, weapon,
saber,
agonizingly,
truculently,
cessation, lethal, muscles, foliage,
rhythmic
II. Study the following words and
word-combinations, explain them and
use them in the situations from the
book:
III. Find in the text synonyms to the
following words:
dirty (257/172), very large (259/173),
very little (260/174), to decide
(261/175), to steal (263/176), to take
20
hold of (266/178), to scream (268/180),
seriously (270/182).
IV. Translate the following sentences
into English using the vocabulary of the
chapter:
1. Ральф дул на костёр, пока у него не
зазвенело в ушах от усилий, но всё
без толку. Наконец утренний ветерок
снял с него эту заботу. 2. Хрюша не
собирался умолять Джека быть
человеком. Он не хотел просить его
вернуть очки, как об одолжении. Он
был полон желания сказать Джеку,
что тот обязан отдать очки. 3. Хрюша
знал, что ему не поздоровится, но его
терпение кончилось. 4. Хрюша мог
найти дорогу только на ощупь.
Поэтому Ральф посоветовал ему
держаться на безопасном расстоянии.
5. Ральф не спускал глаз с Джека и
отбивал его удары своим копьём.
V. Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
1.
They understood only too well
the liberation into savagery that the
concealing paint brought p. 258(172).
2.
Which is better to have rules and
agree, or to hunt and kill? p. 268(180).
3.
… they were a solid mass of
menace that bristled with spears p.
268(180).
4.
The hangman’s horror clung
round him p. 270(182).
VI. On a separate sheet of paper give a
written translation of the passage on p.
268(180) from “Ralph heard the great
rock…” up to p. 269(181) “… Piggy
was gone”.
VII. Items for discussion:
1.
How do you account for Piggy’s
resolution to go to Jack’s tribe?
2.
Why did the boys smarten up
before going there?
3.
Did anybody expect their
coming?
4.
Dwell upon the symbolic
meaning of the conch exploding into a
thousand white fragments.
5.
Give a character sketch of Roger.
Assignment № 10
Chapter XII “The Cry of the
Hunters” (pp. 271-279 / 183-202)
I. Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
pursuit, injury, fatal, vapour, ululation,
vague, ambushing, interior, decipher,
loyalty,
ensconce,
volleying,
ravenously, elephantine, cruiser
II. Study the following words and
word-combinations,
give
their
synonyms and use them in the situations
from the text:
for the time being (272/184), to make
an outlaw of smb. (272/184), to shove
off (277/187), to occur to smb.
(279/189), to snatch at the advantage
(280/190), to take (no) time (282/191),
to diddle the savages (282/191), to have
a stroke of luck (283/192), to put all
eggs in one basket (288/195), to give a
clue to a plan (288/195), to put up a
good show (296/202).
III. Match the word or phrase with its
definition:
1. thicket
2. to jeer at smb.
21
3. to be touched by smb.’s action
4. simpleton
5. to pull oneself together
6. innocence
________________________________
a) somebody who has a very low level
of intelligence
b) to force oneself to stop behaving in a
nervous way
c) the fact of not being guilty of a crime
d) a group of bushes and small trees
e) to be moved and a little embarrassed
f) to laugh unkindly at smb. to show
that you strongly disapprove of them
IV. Give English equivalents of the
following Russian words and phrases:
У него потекли слюнки (272\183),
оставить кого-либо в покое (272\184),
по его телу побежали мурашки
(273\184), держать что-либо наготове
(274\185), мне чурики (я в домике)
(275\186), поднять тревогу (277\187),
тебе же лучше будет (278\188),
растянуться цепью (279\189), стоять
на страже (280\190), продираться
сквозь чащобу (287\195), прорвать
цепь (288\196), пугало (295\201),
передумать (296\201).
V.
Situations of encouragement.
VI. Comment
sentences:
on
the
started forward, then changed his mind
and stood still (296/201)
VII. Topics for discussion:
1.
What did Ralph see in the middle
of the clearing?
2.
Dwell upon the twins’ behavior
when they saw Ralph. Why did they
open Jack’s plans?
3.
What ideas did Ralph have to
rescue from the pursuit and which did
he choose?
4.
How do the boys change when
the adults appear on the island?
5.
Are you satisfied with the way
the book ends? Why? Is it a weak
ending?
6.
Is the story true to life?
The final discussion of the book is
proposed to be arranged in the form
of a trial. Jack’s case is heard in the
Court. One of the students performs
the role of a Judge and invites for
hearings the witnesses from the
offending and defending sides, which
are represented by W. Golding,
Ralph, Piggy, Simon, Roger, Robert,
Samneric, other members of the
choir, one of the littluns, etc. Jack is
also given the floor to defend himself.
following
1.
Then there was that indefinable
connection between himself and Jack;
who therefore would never let him
alone (272-273/184)
2.
Roger sharpened a stick at both
ends (280/190)
3.
A little boy who wore the remains
of an extraordinary cap on his hair …
22
РАЗДЕЛ 3
“THE GREAT GATSBY”
Francis Scott
Fitzgerald was
born
on
September 24,
1896 in St. Paul,
Minnesota to a
once well-to-do
family that had
lost much of its
wealth
and
influence. A wealthy aunt sent
Fitzgerald to boarding school in New
Jersey in 1911, and later to Princeton.
Although Fitzgerald engaged actively in
theater, arts and other campus activities,
his
financial
background
was
considerably poorer than those of his
classmates, and he resented what he
perceived as his outsider status. He left
Princeton after three years and joined
the Army during World War I. During
his army service, he was stationed in
Montgomery, Alabama, where he fell in
love with Zelda Sayre, daughter of a
State Supreme Court justice. She
rejected the young man, fearing he
would not be able to support her.
Fitzgerald moved to New York and
wrote the autobiographical novel This
Side of Paradise (1920), which
immediately launched the 23-year-old
writer to fame and fortune. Impressed
by his success, Zelda agreed to marry
him, and the two began a whirlwind life
of glamorous parties and extravagant
living in New York. Unfortunately, the
Fitzgeralds lived far beyond their means
and soon found themselves deeply in
debt. They moved to Europe, hoping to
cut back on expenses. There, they
befriended other expatriate writers
including Ernest Hemingway and
Gertrude Stein. While in Europe,
Fitzgerald finished his masterpiece, The
Great Gatsby (1925). However, Europe
proved no cheaper for the Fitzgeralds.
As the couple's debts mounted,
Fitzgerald plunged into alcoholism and
his wife suffered several breakdowns. In
1937, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood
to try screenwriting. He fell in love with
Sheilah
Graham,
a
prominent
Hollywood gossip columnist, stopped
drinking and began renewed literary
efforts. In 1940, while in the midst of
writing a novel about Hollywood, The
Last Tycoon, Fitzgerald died of a heart
attack at the age of 44. The Last Tycoon
was published posthumously in 1941.
ASSIGNMENT #1
CHAPTER I
I.
Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
gorgeous, plagiaristic, supercilious,
riotous, bungalow, colossal, contour,
tenor, buoy, infinitesimal, twilight,
settee, crimson, insincerity, nourish.
II. Study the vocabulary and render
the situations from the text. Make up
your own sentences with the
vocabulary:
to be privy to smth. 5, to be an eye-sore
9,10, to be a matter for reproach 10, to
hate smb’s guts 11, a brute of a man, to
take down a drink 15, it is beyond me
15, to go from bad to worse 18, to grasp
one’s meaning 20, see you anon 23, to
fling smb. together 23, to give smb. a
heart-to-heart talk 24, gossip 24, (to be
the gossip of).
III. Find synonyms in the text to the
following words:
23
to pretend 5, to be free from 6,
prosperous 7, haughty 11, out of
place/inappropriate 13, happening soon
14, to send friendly greetings 14, to be
on the alert 17, to improvise 19,
experienced in fashionable life 22,
imperious 25.
IV. With a situation of your own
encourage your group-mates to use the
vocabulary of tasks I – III.
V.
Comment on the following
sentences:
1.
“ … as my father snobbishly
suggested and I snobbishly repeat, a
sense of fundamental decencies is
parceled out unequally at birth”. (p. 6)
2.
Life is much more successfully
looked at from a single window, after
all. (p. 9).
3.
The extract on p. 12 “We talked
for a few minutes … We’ll go inside”.
4.
“Civilization
is
going
to
pieces…” (p. 17).
5.
“I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope
she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a
girl can be in this world, a beautiful
little fool”. (p. 21).
VI.
VII. Translate the passage on p. 11
“He had changed since his … who hated
his guts”
ASSIGNMENT #2
CHAPTER II
I.
Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
impenetrable, borough, jovially, crepede-chine, proprietor, surplus, airdale,
pivot, chiffon, hauteur, portfolio,
chandelier
II. Study the vocabulary and use it in
the situations from the text:
halfway 27; to resent smth. 28; to take
(get) hold of smth. (smb.) 28; a
drawbridge 28; to force smb. from
somewhere 28; halt 28; to saunter about
28; to fade off 29; to be contiguous to
29; in the vicinity 30; scrawny 30; to
bear resemblance to smb. 31; to
interpose 32; to decompose 33; to be
attired in 35; to be discreet 38; to gyp
smb. out of smth. 38, to lick smb’s shoe
39; to cry to beat the band 39; to be
through with smth. 40; in a daze 41
Speak on the following:
III.
1. When and where does the action take
place?
2. Speak about the Carraways. What
was the reason for Nick Carraway to
leave the parents and move to the
North?
3. West Egg and East Egg: the bizarre
contrast between them.
4. What is your impression of the
Buchanan’s family life? What epithets
does the author use to describe Tom,
Daisy and Jordan Baker?
Give English equivalents to:
предаваться
размышлениям
/созерцать 28, его решимость
граничила с жесткостью 28, флакон
духов 31, перейти из рук в руки 31,
уступать чьему-либо мнению 31, я
живу с ним по соседству 37,
рекомендательное
письмо
37,
изощрённая ложь 38, пока все не
уладится 38, деланный смех 40.
IV. Paraphrase
the
following
sentences using the vocabulary of tasks
I – III:
24
1. Turning to Mrs. McKee with
artificial laughter Myrtle confessed that
she was done with that one and was
about to buy another.
2. Everyone knew Tom had a mistress
but at the same time everyone resented
the fact that when they happen to see
Tom with her in public places, he would
walk around socializing with all her
acquaintances in a very confident
manner.
3. There are women who are willing to
obey their husbands like slaves, through
fear and admiration.
4. While heading to New York once
Nick and Tom occupied two seats
facing each other with nobody nearby.
At some point the train stopped in the
valley of ashes and Tom just got firmly
Nick out of the car.
5. Though Nick had created an image
of a thin young girl Myrtle turned to be
faintly stout and in the mid-thirties.
6. The Airedale was reluctant to eat
anything and the food just decayed in
the saucer.
7. Tom insisted upon nick’s staying at
their place and added some comments
into the conversation from time to time.
8. Mr. McKee was a bit stupefied after
having a short sleep and tried to make
his way towards the door.
V.
Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
1. ‘Throwing a regal homecoming
glance around the neighborhood, Mrs.
Wilson gathered up her dog and her
other purchases, and went haughtily in’.
(p. 32-33)
2. ‘She came in with such a proprietary
haste,
and
looked
around
so
possessively at the furniture that I
wondered if she lived here’. (p. 34)
3. ‘It’s really his wife that’s keeping
them apart. She’s catholic and they
don’t believe in divorce’. (p. 38)
VI.
Topics for discussion:
1. Why did Tom Buchanan want Nick
to meet his mistress?
2. The Wilsons. Why did Myrtle marry
Mr. Wilson?
3. Did Tom have any serious intentions
towards Myrtle?
4. What’s your opinion of the McKees.
5. What social levels do Tom and
Myrtle belong to?
6. What did Tom want to show by
hitting Mrs. Wilson in the face?
7. What impression did the party at
Catherine’s make on you?
VII. Prepare a written translation of
the passage on p. 27 from “About half
way between …” up to “… operations
from your sight”.
ASSIGMENT # 3
CHAPTER III
I.
Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
oboe,
caterer,
hors
d’oeuvre,
tumultuous, bona fide, conscientious,
poignant, vacuous, innuendo, chauffer,
buffet, premature, coupe, permeate
II. Study the vocabulary and use it in
the situations from the text:
to be gaudy with smth. 44; to be in full
swing 44; to prevent smth. 46; to be
struck by smth. 46; to attach oneself to
smb 46; to yield smb. up 49; to be liable
to collapse 50; privacy, private 54;
hilarity 54; to implore smb. to do smth.
25
55; ineptly (inaptly) 55; to tantalize 57;
to run out of 59; to fade away 61.
III. Give English equivalents to the
following word-combinations and use
them in the situations from the book:
Без подготовки \ экспромтом 44;
чувствовать себя не в своей тарелке
46;
красться
куда-либо
46;
внимательно слушать кого-то 47;
вертеться на языке 52; умыть руки
59.
IV. Situations of encouragement.
V. Prepare a written translation of the
passage on p. 44 from “He smiled
understandingly … to … picking his
words with care”.
VI. Comment on the following
sentences:
1.
“It was testimony to the romantic
speculation he inspired that there were
whispers about him from those who had
found little that it was necessary to
whisper about in this world”. (p. 48)
2.
“And I like large parties. They’re
so intimate. At small parties there isn’t
any privacy”. (p. 54)
3.
“Dishonesty in a woman is a
thing you never blame deeply”. (p. 63)
4.
“Everyone suspects himself of at
least one of the cardinal virtues, and this
is mine: I am one of the few honest
people that I have ever known”. (p. 64)
VII. Topics for discussion:
1.
The guests that came to Gatsby’s
parties and what they said about the
host.
2.
What were your first impressions
of Gatsby? To what extent did Nick’s
expectations of Gatsby as personality
come true?
3.
Give a character sketch of Jordan
Baker. What is Nick’s attitude towards
her? What is her attitude towards men?
4.
Nick Carraway and his visions of
New York.
ASSIGNMENT #4
CHAPTER IV
I. Learn the pronunciation of the
following words and state their origin:
fiancée,
chauffeur,
punctilious,
lieutenant, souvenir, limousine, beaux,
sauterne, debut, amour,
façade,
unfathomable, rajah
II. Study the vocabulary and use it in
the situations from the text:
to pay tribute to smb. 65, to turn cottonwhite 66, to be submerged in smth. 71,
to set foot upon 72, to outstay smb.’s
welcome 77, to lay eyes on smth. 80, to
work up to smth. 84, out of the way 84,
on the chance of doing smth. 84
III. Find synonyms in the text to the
following:
quick-wittedness 68, to keep under
control 70, extremely funny 65, to
satisfy 76, contemptuous 85, to read
smth. very quickly without giving it a
proper thought 71, blessing 77, to be
take away by smth. 79
IV.
Find antonyms to the following:
to have enough money for smth. 67,
regular 68, trustful 70, collaboration 73,
to be shy to attract attention to oneself
77, to share the thoughts and news with
smb. 80
26
V.
Situations of encouragement.
VI. Comment
sentence:
on
the
following
1.
‘There are only the pursued, the
pursuing, the busy and the tired’. p. 85
VII. Topics for discussion:
1.
Why does the narrator give a long
list with the names of Gatsby’s guests?
2.
Why did Gatsby want Jordan
Baker to talk to Nick on his matter and
didn’t do it himself?
3.
What impression did Meyer
Wolfshiem produce upon you and how
does connection to this person
characterize Gatsby?
4.
If you were Daisy would you
agree to meet Gatsby?
VIII. Prepare a written translation of
the passage on p. 83 from “Then it had
not been …” up to “… a stranger’s
garden”.
ASSIGNMENT #5
CHAPTER V
I.
Learn the spelling and the
pronunciation of the following words:
gaudily, soggy, scrutinize, exhilarating,
counterfeit,
distraught,
demoniac,
postern, bureau, pompadour, feudal,
jonquil
II. Find synonyms in the text to the
following word-combinations and use
them in the situations from the book:
to bring smb. problems 87, to interrupt
88, to be really busy 88, in payment for
smth. one has done 88, to examine
smth. very thoroughly and carefully 89,
persistent 93, the smallest amount of
quality/feeling 94, not to have more
power to work / to be exhausted 97, to
get gradually used to a new situation
101
III. Give English equivalents to the
following:
нелегальный бизнес 87, нервно
обойти дом 93, взъерошенный
человек в пижаме 96, огромное
значение 98, талисман 98, тёмные
брюки непонятного оттенка 100
IV.
Situations of encouragement
V.
Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
1.
‘I’d like to get one of those pink
clouds and put you in it and push you
around’. p. 99
2.
‘No amount of fire or freshness
can challenge what a man will store up
in his ghostly heart’. p. 101
VI.
Topics for discussion:
1.
Why was Gatsby so nervous and
even pessimistic about the meeting?
2.
What were they talking about
while Nick was away?
3.
What impression does the guided
tour of Gatsby’s mansion produce on
you?
4.
How does the scene with the
shirts characterize both Daisy and
Gatsby?
5.
How do you account for Gatsby’s
imperative
way
of
treating
Klipspringer?
6.
What symbolic allusions or
coincidences have you noticed in the
chapter?
27
VII. Prepare a written translation of
the passage on p. 101 from “As I went
on…” up to “… a deathless song”.
ASSIGNMENT #6
CHAPTER VI
I. Learn the spelling and the
pronunciation of the following words:
meretricious, grotesque, ferocious,
hitherto,
murmurous,
euphemism,
menagerie, notoriety, contingencies,
debauchee,
antecedent,
lethargic,
drowsiness, insidious
II. Study the following wordcombinations and use them in the
situations from the book:
to transpire 103, to haunt 105, to be
physically robust 105, to be startled
107, to be perturbed 110, to be appalled
113, to force one’s way in 115, to
obliterate smth. 116
III. Give English equivalents to the
following:
похвальная предприимчивость 103,
эгоцентризм 105, снискать чьё-либо
расположение
107,
гнетущая
атмосфера 110, близость 113
IV. Pay attention to the usage of the
following verbs of motion, differentiate
between their meanings and think of
some 3-5 sentences with them to be
translated from Russian into English:
to loaf along 104, to beat one’s way
104, to coast along 106, to trot around
107, to run around 110, to stroll 111, to
saunter over 112, to linger 115
V.
Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
1.
The whole passage on p. 115
starting with ‘Her glance left me …’
2.
‘You can’t repeat the past’. –
‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried
incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’
p. 116
VI.
Topics for discussion:
1.
The true story of Jay Gatsby.
2.
Tom
changed
the
usual
atmosphere of Gatsby’s parties, didn’t
he?
3.
How does the behaviour of Tom,
Daisy and Gatsby at the party reveal
their inner world?
4.
Is Gatsby a sentimental person?
VII. Prepare a written translation of
the passage on p. 105 from “But his
heart…” up to “… along shore”.
ASSIGNMENT #7
CHAPTER VII (pp. 119-131 up to
“There is no confusion …”)
I.
Learn the pronunciation of the
following words and be ready to
translate them into Russian:
villainous, weary, salon, couch,
momentarily, cymbal, coupe, gauge,
abyss, proprietor, inexplicable, sensuous
II.
Study the following phrases and
make use of them in the situations from
the chapter:
to outline smth. 120, common store of
life 121, to be affront to smth. 121,
commutation ticket 121, to lean down
28
123, to be morbid 125, on the verge of
tears 125, to mould senselessness into
forms 125, Have it your own way! 126
III. Give English equivalents to the
following words:
подозрительно
щуриться
119,
душераздирающая
сцена
120,
тщательно скрытая неприязнь 122,
хорошо вымуштрованный ребенок
124, внезапно 130
IV.
4.
Why is heat given
prominence in this chapter?
such
ASSIGNMENT #8
CHAPTER VII (SECOND
HALF)
I.
Study the pronunciation of the
following words:
precipitately; mint julep; magnanimous;
portentous; tumultuous; aluminum;
vicarious; rancour; incoherent
Situations of encouragement
V.
Comment on the following
sentences:
1.
“Life starts all over again when it
gets crisp in the fall” p. 125
2.
“I can’t say anything in his house,
old sport”. p. 126
3.
“Her voice is full of money”. p.
127
4.
“ – and it occurred to me that
there was no difference between men, in
intelligence or race, so profound as the
difference between the sick and the
well”. p. 131
VI. Prepare good reading and
translation of the passage on p. 120-121
from “The next day was broiling … “ to
“… suspected me just the same”.
VII. Items for discussion
1.
Why did Gatsby stop giving
parties?
2.
What kind of discovery did Tom
make?
3.
Dwell upon the reasons that made
Wilson wish to go west. Pay attention to
the phraseological meaning the words to
go west have.
II.
Explain the meaning of the
following words in English and
illustrate their usage with situations
from the chapter:
to elude smb. 132; to dart 132; to come
into sight 132; to crab about smth 133;
to cause a row 136; to count smb. out
137; to go off on a spree 138; Suit
yourself! 141; to have smb. up 141;
over the counter 141; to leave smb. in
the lurch 141; to be snapped out 142; to
draw into oneself 142
III. Encourage your group-mates to
use the vocabulary of the chapter
IV. Comment upon the following
statements:
1. “Human sympathy has its limits …”
p. 143
2. “He was his wife’s man and not his
own” p. 144
3. “There was an unmistakable air of
natural intimacy about the picture and
anybody would have said that they were
conspiring together” p. 152-153
V.
Prepare good reading and
translation of the passage on p. 137
from “Nowadays people begin …” up to
“… the last barrier of civilization”.
29
VI.
Topics for discussion:
1. Analyze the behaviour of all the
characters during the row in the hotel.
2. What’s the idea of mentioning the
wedding taking place in the room
below?
3. Why did Tom insist that Daisy and
Gatsby should go home together?
4. How come Nick didn’t remember his
birthday?
5. Why did Tom cry on his way home?
Were those tears about Myrtle?
6. What could Tom and Daisy be
talking about at home after the
accident?
ASSIGNMENT #9
CHAPTER VIII
I.
Study the following vocabulary
and reproduce the situations from the
text:
to clutch at smth 155; redolent of smth.
155/158; to make the most of
somebody’s time 156; to take smb.
under false pretenses 156; to commit
oneself to smth 156; grail 156; to throw
smb over 157; to keep dates with smb
158; to be in cahoots with 162; forlorn
hope 167; holocaust 170
II. Learn the pronunciation of the
following words:
dejection; chiffon; holocaust; quotation;
settee;
ancestral;
unscrupulously;
vibrant;
extravaganza;
malice;
garrulous; dew; swivel; protégé
III. Find in the text synonyms to the
following words:
class/division
of
society
156;
unexpectedly 157; fraud/impostor 159;
tactless/awkward 164; unwell/ill 166
IV.
Situations of encouragement
V.
Comment
sentences:
on
the
following
1.
“… he was almost sure that
Wilson had no friend: there was not
enough of him for his wife” p. 167
2.
“… he had lost the old warm
world, paid a high price for living too
long with a single dream” p. 169
VI. Prepare the translation of the
passage on p. 158-159 from “Through
the twilight universe … “ up to “… was
still at Oxford”.
VII. Topics for discussion:
1.
Nick did not want to leave Gatsby
alone in the morning. Why? What did
he feel?
2.
Why could not Nick talk to
Jordan?
3.
How do you account for inverted
commas in the word nice on p. 155 in
She was the first ‘nice’ girl he had ever
known?
4.
Would Gatsby be happy if he
were not killed?
ASSIGNMENT #10
CHAPTER IX
I.
Study the pronunciation of the
following words:
adventitious; indecipherable; prairie;
deficiency; aesthetic; circumstantial;
superfluous; defiance; pasquinade;
involuntarily; commensurate
30
II.
Explain the meaning of the
words. Use them in the situations from
the text:
middle west ...” to ”… and no one
cares”.
VII. Topics for discussion:
to set the key for smth. 171; to be into
mischief 172; to grow upon smb. 172;
to urge smb. to do smth. 173; a token of
smth. 173; to get mixed in smth.
174/180; to be knocked down and out
174; to defer arrangements 176; to sneer
177; in vain 178; to seem reluctant to do
smth. 181; to overtake smb. 186; to
retreat back into smth. 188
III. Give English equivalents from
the text of the following Russian
phrases:
1.
Уилсона
определили
как
человека, поменявшегося от горя 172
2. У него не было ни гроша в
кармане 179
3. Я вытащил его из грязи, из
ничтожества 179
4. Он бы далеко пошел 182
5. Стоило ей только кивнуть 186
6. Сейчас мне уже наплевать 186
7. Он вам пускал пыль в глаза 187
IV.
1.
Why almost nobody showed up
for Gatsby’s funeral? What do you think
of the reasons Klipspringer, Wolfshiem
and others gave not to come?
2.
How does the schedule for
September 12, 1906 characterize
Gatsby?
3.
Jordan Baker. Did you manage to
get her personality?
4.
How do you account for the
visions Nick was haunted by? (p. 185)
5.
Is Tom directly guilty of Gatsby’s
death? Why do you think Nick shook
hands with Tom after all?
6.
On having been published in
1934 the book didn’t sell well.
Fitzgerald attributed it to the ‘weak’
title. Would you agree that “Great
Gatsby” leads to the commercial failure
of the novel?
For the final class, please, submit an
essay to the topic “What is great in
Great Gatsby?”
Situations of encouragement
V.
Comment on the following
sentences:
1. “Let us learn to show our friendship
for a man when he is alive and not after
he is dead” p. 180
2. “I’m thirty,” I said. “I’m five years
too old to lie to myself and call it
honour” p. 186
3. “… that huge incoherent failure of a
house” p. 188
VI. Prepare a written translation of a
passage on p. 184 from “That’s my
31
РАЗДЕЛ 4
«The Bridge of San Luis Rey» by Th.
Wilder
Thornton
Niven
Wilder was
born in 1897
at Madison,
Wisconsin,
USA.
His
father
had
gained
a
Doctorate at Yale and became an editor
and owner of two newspapers. His
brilliant editorials made his career. He
was appointed by President Th.
Roosevelt American Consul-General in
Shanghai and Hong Kong between the
years 1905-1909. From the age of seven
to eleven Wilder junior attended school
in China. His parents returned to
America in 1910 and settled at Berkley
in California. There young Thornton
began to write. When he entered Yale
he had already produced three short
plays. Having a cultural family
background Wilder began at an early
age to study economy, history,
philosophy and literature, which can be
easily traced in his literary production.
Wilder graduated in 1920 also from
Yale and went to Europe to study
architecture in Italy. On his return to
America young Wilder taught French at
school and wrote some short stories. In
1927 his novel The Bridge of San Luis
Rey was published alongside with some
plays. The publication of The Bridge ...
made him famous in one night. It won
him his first Pulitzer Prize, a notable
American award for literature. His later
plays Our Town and The Skin of Our
Teeth got wide recognition and brought
Wilder his second and third Pulitzer
Prize. Some of Wilder’s novels and
plays have been translated into Russian.
Wilder died in 1975.
Assignment #1.
(Foreword, Part I (pp. 3-11 ) 
commentary (pp. 83-84)
I. Study the
following:
pronunciation
of
the
civilization; claimant; plague; reigning;
conquistador;
incessant;
heresy
antiquity; viceroy; inquisition; liturgy;
osier; crusade; luxuriously; drought;
marquesa; plumage; treacherously;
usurer;
admirable;
remnants;
hallucination; bracelet; stylization
II. Pick out all the words with the
meaning of «misfortune».
III. Explain the meaning of the
following word combinations and
illustrate their usage with examples of
your own:
 to raise smb. from obscurity (p. 4)
 to display originality and versatility
in sth /doing sth/ (p. 5)
 to create complex characters (p. 5)
 to impart sth. to sth. (p. 6)
 to outvalue sth. (p. 6)
 a rent in sth. (p. 9)
 to bid sb. (to) do sth. (p. 9)
 to resort to sth. (p. 10)
 to inquire into sth (p. 10)
 to surprise a reason/one’s intentions
(p. 10)
 to brush sb. of sth. (p. 9)
 to brush sth. away (p. 11)
 to canonize smb. (p. 83)
32
IV. Make up 2 sentences in Russian
with these phrases for your group-mates
to translate.
V. Search the text for
equivalents of the following:
English
достигать своей цели (p. 5); сбросить
в пропасть (p. 8); перекреститься (p.
8); давно пора; обращать в веру (p. 9);
принять решение; яростно выступать
в защиту чего-либо (p. 9); вызвать
чей-либо гнев (p. 83).
VI. Think of some short situation to
encourage your group-mates to use one
of the phrases listed in task V.
VII. Prepare
good
reading
and
translation of the first passage on p.10.
VIII. Speak on the following:
1. Is it typical of a novel to start with a
climax? Why?
2. When and where does the action take
place? How well do you know the
epoch described in the book?
3. Your attitude to the idea: «Either we
live by accident and die by accident, or
we live by plan and die by plan».
4. Your personal view on religion.
Assignment #2.
(pp. 12-23 ... But the person who saw
...)
I. Study the pronunciation:
supercilious;
scurrilous;
exquisite;
idolatrous;
obsequious;
subtle;
viceregal; flamboyance; conciliations;
loquacious; rouge; inconspicuous
II. Explain
following:
the
meaning
of
the
 to err (p. 12)
 to persecute sb. /with smth./ (p. 12)
 to be denounced (p. 13)
 to insinuate oneself into smth. (p. 14)
 to long to do smth. (p. 15)
 to be vexed (p. 19)
 to drift through the weeks (p. 20)
 to emerge from smth. (p. 20)
 to be confounded (p. 21)
 to have resentment at smb. (p. 22)
 to take liberties with smb. (p. 19)
III. Think of some 2 sentences in
Russian for your group mates to
translate, using the phrases from task II.
IV. Find in the text the English
equivalents to the following:
пропотеть (p. 16); ходить по домам и
предлагать что-либо на продажу (p.
16); быть близоруким (p. 17);
оставить притворство (p. 19).
V. With the situation of your own
encourage your group-mates to use a
phrase from tasks II and IV.
VI. Prepare
good
reading
and
translation of the passage on p. 15
starting with «This was the old woman
...».
VII. Speak on the following:
1. Was Marquesa’s life miserable and
tragic? Who is to be blamed for that?
2. Marquesa’s writing abilities.
3. The incident in the theater and the
consequences to which it lead.
VIII. Comment on the following:
1.
«Style is but the faintly
contemptible vessel in which the bitter
33
liquid is recommended to the world» (p.
15).
2. «All families live in a wasteful
atmosphere of custom and kiss one
another with secret indifference» (p.
15).
Assignment #3.
(pp.23-32)
I. Study the pronunciation:
obstinacy; minute; efficacy; virtuosity;
cessation; abominable; thither; brazier;
trough; etiquette; tranquil; charcoal;
torture; statuettes; jocose; obliquely;
tumult;
exhumed;
endearment;
encyclopædist
II. Explain the meaning of the
following and reproduce the situations
from the text.
 to concede (p. 23)
 to be gnawed away (p. 23)
 to bind smb. to the maintenance (p.
24)
 to dash into smth. (p. 25)
 to withdraw into oneself (p. 26)
 to mitigate smb. (p. 26)
 the rites of smth. (p. 27)
 to rend from smth. (p. 27)
 to surge up (p. 27)
 to make a pilgrimage (p. 27)
 to be cut short (p. 28)
 to enclose smth. (p. 31)
 to ransack smth. (p. 32)
Encourage your group-mates to use the
vocabulary of the task by the situations
of your own.
III. Make up some 2-3 Russian
sentences for your group-mates to
translate into English using the
vocabulary.
IV. Read and translate the passage on p.
27 «At times... her daughter’s bed»
V. Items for discussion:
1. The story of Pepita
2. Did the news about the child to be
born change the Marquesa?
3. Why do you think the accident
happened to them on their way back
but not on their way to the shrine?
Assignment #4.
(pp. 32-41)
I. Study the pronunciation:
hideous; quills; congeniality; crucifix;
tacit; resignation; choirmaster; somber;
luxury; quaint; lore; futile; bodice
II. Study the meaning of the following
vocabulary:
 to evolve smth. (p. 34)
 to be perplexed (p. 34)
 to dissipate in (p. 35)
 to be fascinated by (p. 35)
 to quench excitement (p. 36)
 to cast oneself upon smth. (p. 37)
 to brood over smth/smb. (p. 38)
Reproduce the situations from the text
with these phrases.
III. Think over a situation with the help
of which you can encourage your
group-mates to use one of the phrases
from task II.
IV. Find the English equivalents in the
text to:
суметь различить (p. 32); вытянуть
(информацию) из кого-либо (p. 34);
34
полупустой зал (о театре) (p. 35);
трепетать перед чьим-либо званием
(p. 34).
proprietor; serene; shepherd; sewing;
draught; devout; reticence; wraith;
guile; exasperation; prow; merchandise
V. Translate into English:
II. Explain the meaning of the
following phrases and reproduce the
situations from the text:
1. Близнецов
всегда
сложно
отличить одного от другого.
2.
Прокурору все-таки удалось
вытянуть признание из обвиняемого.
3.
Линда сразу же оказалась
очарована умением Пола говорить
комплименты и угадывать желания
женщин.
Make up your own sentences to
translate from Russian into English.
VI. Prepare
good
reading
and
translation of the passage on p. 36 «But
the life... of their life».
VII. Items for discussion:
1. In what way were the brothers alike
and in what way did they differ?
2. Dwell
upon
your
personal
experience of communication with
twins, if any.
3. Do you approve of parents trying to
make their twin children dress alike?
VIII. Comment on the following:
1. «Many people would never have
fallen in love if they had not heard
about it» (p. 36)
2. «...even in the most perfect love one
person loves less profoundly than the
other». (p. 36)
Assignment #5.
(pp. 41-51)
I. Study the pronunciation:
 to fling oneself about (p. 42)
 to become delirious (p. 42)
 to skip smth (p. 44)
 to be dumped into the street (p. 44)
 to allude to smth (p. 45)
 to entertain a great respect for smb (p.
47)
 to blurt out (p. 50)
 to be content with (p. 43)
Encourage your group-mates to use the
vocabulary of the task by the situations
of your own.
III. Make up 2-3 Russian sentences for
your group-mates to translate into
English using vocabulary of task II.
IV. Prepare
good
reading
and
translation of passage on p. 49. «I hear
you went ... Is that true»?
V. Items for discussion:
1. What made Esteban suffer after his
brother’s death? Were those real
sufferings or he exercised some other
feelings?
2. Why did Esteban call himself
Manuel?
3. Why didn’t Esteban want to take part
in Manuel’s funeral?
4. What did Marquesa mean in one of
her letters writing about Captain
Alvarado that «he goes about the
hemispheres to pass the time between
now and his old age»?
35
5. Do thoughts about death come to
your mind from time to time? In what
way? In what connection?
Assignment #6.
(pp. 51-62)
2. How do his life-aims characterize
Uncle Pio?
3. Uncle Pio and the ladies.
4. Uncle Pio plays Pygmalion.
5. Comment on the six attributes of the
adventurer given on p. 53
I. Read chapter IV up to passage «The
addition of the Archbishop ...» on p. 62.
Assignment #7
(chapter IV up to p. 73)
II. Study the pronunciation:
I. Study the pronunciation:
harlequin;
coiffeur;
lachrymose;
connoisseurship; coterie; masseur;
antiques; porcelain; nougat; frontier;
omniscient;
tenacious;
turquoise;
renaissance; puerile; omniscience
cursory; divinity; vagabondage; furtive;
usurpation; convalescence; distraught;
ludicrous; vicinity; rachitic; dowager;
parapet
II. Study the vocabulary
III. Study the meaning of
vocabulary below and give
situations from the text:
the
the
 to send word to somewhere (p. 51)
 to be moth-eaten by disease (p. 52)
 to be swamped with smth. (p. 53)
 to live by one’s wits (p. 53)
 to be tied down (p. 54)
 to reveal oneself (p. 55)
 to fall from favour (p. 55)
 to be contemptuous of smth. (p. 55)
 to bestir smb. (p. 59)
 to efface smb. (p. 59)
 of one’s own accord (p. 62)
 to allude to smth. (p. 64)
 to extricate oneself (p. 65)
 to linger about (p. 66)
 to fix a wish upon a star (p. 66)
 idle-handed (p. 66)
 to talk at random (p. 67)
 to have (no) heart for smth. (p. 68)
 to penetrate into (p. 69)
 to be impaired (p. 69)
 to besiege smth. (p. 69)
 to enforce one’s request (p. 72)
III. Situations of encouragement.
IV. Think of a situation to encourage
your group-mates to use the vocabulary
listed above.
V. Prepare good reading and translation
of the passage on p. 51 «As the golden
wire ... mysterious errands of his».
VI. Topics for discussion:
1. Uncle Pio’s biography.
IV. Prepare
good
reading
and
translation of the passage on p. 63 «All
night they talked ... the race of men»
V. Topics for discussion:
1. Uncle Pio’s love for Camila.
2. What does «some island» mean for
Uncle Pio? (p. 68)
3. What changes happened to Camila
with years?
36
Assignment #8
(part V)
I. Study the pronunciation:
votive; horizon; friar; languorous;
embroidery; procedure; unsavoury;
rueful; sincere; avarice; chasm; frontier
II. Study the vocabulary:
• by dint of hearing (p. 74)
• mainstay of a full hut (p. 74)
• to contrive (p. 74)
• to stumble about (p. 75)
• to relapse into smth. (p. 78)
• to gape over smb. (p. 78)
• to fail smb. (p. 78)
• to lurk about (p. 79)
III. Your situations of encouragement.
IV. Read and translate the passage
«And so saying ...» on p. 75.
Topics for the final discussion of
«The Bridge of San Luis Rey»
by Th. Wilder
I. Speak on the style and the language
of the book (choice of words, topical
vocabulary, the way the author copes
with the task to bring the ideas home to
the reader, stylistic devices, etc.).
II. Compare the different kinds of love
described by the author:
 Marquesa’s love for her daughter
 Uncle Pio’s love for Camila
 Twins’ love for each other
You can enlarge the list on your own.
III. Do the characters have something
in common that brings them to the
Bridge? Work out a character-sketch of
each victim. (5 persons for this task).
IV. Does the book prove the idea that a
person is his/her fate’s creator? Why do
you think so?
V. Items for discussion:
1. The way the work of Brother Juniper
was evaluated. Why did he admit he
was under the influence of the devil? (p.
76).
2. What brought Camila to the Abbess?
3. Give your opinion about the story of
the master of San Martin (p. 75)
4. Comment on the reaction of Captain
Alvarado (p. 77) «How false, how
unreal».
5. Comment on the last words of the
book.
6. Why those five?
7. Anyone who is interested in reading
biographies? What do you find in them?
V. Who do you mostly sympathize with
in the book and why? (Say as much
about the person(s) as you can).
37