Lesson 2 Ch:1-2 Continued
Read the given in formation. Look up and say.
William Somerset Maugham is a very popular writer. His novels and stories are read all over the world. His style is clear and fluent. He shows a hatred and contempt for middle-class moral standards, tastes and way of life. His main aim was to get an answer to the question: “What is man’s real self?” And he came to the conclusion that he didn’t know.
In his novel “Moon and sixpence” the author tries to answer the question “What is life? Is there any sense in it?” He finds the answer justifying the man – in fruit of his activity, that is necessary for the mankind. The perfect form of his activity is creating of Beauty.
Say if you agree with the last sentence. Prove your point of view.
Translate into English Maugham’s words and express your ideas to the point:
«Мне представляется, что на мир, в котором мы живем, можно смотреть без отвращения только потому, что есть красота, которую человек время от времени создает из хаоса… И больше всего красоты заключено в прекрасно прожитой жизни. Это самое высокое произведение искусства».
4.Maugham’s principle point of his esthetics was the following: “Я отказываюсь верить, что красота – это достояние единиц и склонен думать, что искусство, имеющее смысл только для людей прошедших специальную подготовку, столь же незначительно, как те единицы, которым оно что-то говорит. Подлинно великим и значительным искусством могут наслаждаться все».
Translate and prove.
Lesson 3
Ch. 3-5
Find the following words and phrases, recollect the situations in which they were used by the author:
Ch .3:To seek smb’s acquaintance |
a by-word |
the fear of ridicule |
wild theories |
celebrated person |
a stockbroker |
to make the most of it |
to exhaust the subject |
to pass for |
Ch.5: formidable tea-parties |
to tear pieces |
to take a fancy to smb |
a neat repartee |
hard road of letters |
the crackling of thorns under a pot |
a gift of sympathy |
ch.4 :to feel awkward |
an oil-well |
to rave about |
a blistering tongue |
to be led up |
a tail-coat |
in high spirit |
to bore smb. to death. |
2. Explain in English:
Ch. 3 : to wander among recollections, to be absurd; The woman had not yet altogether come into her own; I recall long excursions by bus; They wished to be taken for men of world.
Ch 4: They seemed absorbed in their own affairs; we felt friendly disposed to one another; who dwell between the river and St. James’s Park , we were in good humour, she wants to be in the movement.
Ch.5: a charming faculty, who are conscious of its possession, she managed her surroundings with elegance, he is a perfect philistine.
Answer the questions:
1/What recollections does the author have of the time when he was young and started his carrier of a writer?
2/ What were his feelings when he was introduced to the “celebrated person”?
3/ What kind of people were the men of letters? How did they try to look? Why?
4/ What was the author’s attitude to these people? Was it ironic? Prove.
5/ What kind of person was Rose Waterford? What did the author feel to her? What was R. Waterford’s attitude to Mrs. Strickland?
6/ What kid of woman was Mrs. Strickland according to the author’s opinion? Why does the author characterize her as “the most harmless of all the lion-hunters”?
7/ Describe Mrs. Strickland’s apartment. What does it stand for? What do we learn about her family?
8/ Did the author’s attitude to Mrs. Strickland change when he knew her better?
9/ What does the author want to say giving more information about Charles Strickland? Why does he do it gradually?
What stylistic devices are often used by the author? What attitude predominates when describing “the world of letters “, Mrs. Strickland’s tea-parties, people’s appearances?
Write out all the remarks done by different people about Mr. Strickland. What do they have in common?