Lesson 4

Ch. 6-8

1. Find the following words and phrases, recollect the situations in which they were used by the author:

Ch. 6: To be bored to extinction	to lose the pattern
to give smb	a harmless craze
a rather indifferent hand to shake	to reflect on
to claim smb.’s attention	affairs of the heart
a great deal of smth	It was likely enough
to give smb somewhat the idea of smth	to take smb. by surprise
to look commonplace	can’t help doing smth
to make oneself a position in the world of smth	to be startled
to do without smth.,	to live on air
to take smb. out of the common run	brother-in-law
to waste one’s time over smb.	to make up smb’s mind
Ch.7: a touch of envy	to break down
prosperous in their dignified retirement	to refer to matters
Ch. 8: old tapestry	a besetting sin of woman

2. Explain in English:

It was under circumstances, the Stricklands “owed” dinners to a number of persons, she shepherded the ladies out of one room, he was null, I strolled idly to my club, they would sink into the grave, something out of the common, on my part, to put me off, I was a little puzzled.

3. Answer the following questions:

1/ Under what circumstances did the author meet Charles Strickland?

2/ What were the people the Stricklands “owed” dinner to? What was unnatural in their behaviour?

3/ Describe Ch. Strickland’s appearance. Why could Mrs. Strickland feel a certain embarrassment about her husband?

4/ What impression did the meeting with Mrs. Strickland’s family produce on the author?

What news did the author learn after returning to London? Was he shocked? Why?

5/ How did the author find himself at Mrs.Strickland’s place? Describe his visit.

What did he notice there?

Lesson 5

Ch. 9-11

1. Find the following words and phrases, recollect the situations in which they were used by the author:

Ch. 9: to get on	maternal solicitude
to make up smb’s mind	whereabouts
,the affair seemed to grow more complicated	a luxurious suite of rooms
Ch. 10: to be taken aback	Ch. 11: to consider the matter
I felt a brute even to hesitate	to be puzzled by the contradictions
to tackle a case like this	to make a fool of
to steal a glance at smb	to do the best
to grow more prosperous	to assume an airy manner
to have the presence of mind	to look ill at ease

2. Explain in English:

Ch. 9: sister-in-law, wedlock, tenancy, chap, to have a bob. Ch. 10: notwithstanding, to reflect, to pry into smth, to get infatuated with anyone, to struggle for self-control, elaborate answers. Ch. 11: reprobate, to dismiss, to make an enquiry, to make smb’s way upstairs, on behalf of.

2. Be ready to answer the following questions:

1/ What was the talk between the author and Colonel Mac Andrew about when they left Mrs Strickland? What was Colonel really indignant about?

2/ What was the author surprised about when he met Mrs Strickland 2 days later? What part did she try to play?

3/ What did she ask him to do for her? How did she explain her choice?

4/ What did the author learn about the Stricklands’ life during their talk?

5/ How did Mrs Strickland explain her husband’s leaving her? Why was it the only possible explanation for her? Why didn’t she say a word to Robert? What does it stand for? Why didn’t she want to divorce Strickland?

6/ How did the author imagine Strickland’s life in Paris?

7/ Why does the author feel indignant at Strickland’s cruelty at the end of his meeting with Mrs Strickland?

8/ On the author’s way to Paris he was puzzled by contradictions which he saw in Mrs Strickland’s behaviour. What were they? Can we trust the author? What makes you think so?

9/ Describe the author’s searching of Strickland in Paris.

10/ Was he frustrated at the end? Why?

2. Despite being young the author seems to be quite a penetrating /проницательный/ person knowing human nature quite well. Find some facts from the text to prove this.

3. Make up a discussion to the point: one of you considers Mrs Strickland to be a victim in this situation and tries to justify her, the other thinks that she might be the reason of what had happened in her life and blames her.