Lesson 16

Ch. 43-45

1. Find the English equivalents in the text and recollect the situations they are used in:

Ch. 43: to be ignorant of smth	to have impatient admiration for
an imposing figure	to delight smb
smouldering dimly	to move smb to ecstasy
the glamour of his environment	a confusion of ridiculous
at bay	Ch. 45: but for
to continue a course	I did not altogether believe my eyes
Ch. 44: a man of great intelligence

2. Give the synonyms and make up your examples:

Ch. 43: seem very unsatisfactory, to come to my knowledge, to seem to be arbitrary, to glean, it matters less, matter of fact, single-minded, at smb’s disposal, to surmise, to be at pains, love is but an episode, poor creatures

Ch. 45: it is thither, to rest on, hackneyed phrase, to wander round, there seemed no chance of breakfast, to saunter down, the wind dropped, aught.

3. Answer the questions:

1/ Why does the author believe everything he had written about Charles Strickland unsatisfactory? What could he have told us about if he was writing a novel?

2/ What traits of Strickland’s character does the author reveal while talking about what might have influenced Strickland’s life and hadn’t?

3/ What did the author think about Strickland and Blanche’s life together?

4/ Do you agree with the author’s words: “Strickland was an odious man, but I still think he was a great one” Prove.

5/ Why does the author say that Strickland’s views on painting were of no means out of the ordinary? Why did Strickland like Peter Brueghel’s paintings? What did they have in common?

6/ Why did Strickland go to Tahiti?

7/ Why was the author interested in Strickland again?

8/ Was he impressed by the nature of the island? Why? What devices does he use to describe it? Find metaphors, repetition, comparison.

9/ Find similarities between the description of the island and the stile of painting – impressionism and post-impressionism.

Lesson 17

Ch. 46-48

1. Find the English equivalents:

Ch. 46: любить судачить	они снова сели на мель
придавал изрядно жуликоватый вид	меланхолично пожать плечами
незаслуженно постигшая беда	проникнуть хитростью
жертва несправедливости	никогда не обижаться на что-либо
ухудшать настроение	лететь вверх тормашками
основания роптать	одерживать верх над обстоятельствами
нет ничего более жалкого	честить его на все лады
неумолимая как судьба и беспощадная как совесть	условности цивилизации
торжество духа над материей	пьяный в дым
Ch.47: оригинальная наружность	носиться взад и вперед
свидетельству можно верить	приступ белой горячки
своеобразная дружба	отъявленный лгун
заглушить приступ голода	Ch. 48: дразнить воображение
словарь блатного языка	быть не по карману
наполненный сытой толпой	опять потянуло бродяжничать
не такие формалисты	постараться разыскать ч.-л. из его вещей
без всяких церемоний	быть шокированным

2. Give the synonyms and make up your examples:

Ch. 46: a very lean man, burned brown, all the better for a wash, to repay small pains, the extent of their experience is pleasantly balanced by the fertility of their imagination, hobo, to frighten to death, to set smth. down.

Ch. 47: pauper and vagabond, to and fro, to be wont to congregate, wedge of bread, the stranded mariner, whither, the bargain, to be bound East, dozing, to tramp, to make a bit of money, to have a stroke of luck, reflectively, to do smb. in, the din, to look for trouble, a great gash, to be anxious.

Ch. 48: To settle comfortably in a groove, a note of hope, to make head or tail of, to have the heat to refuse smth, to fetch large prices.

3. Answer the questions:

1/ What was Captain Nichols? Describe his appearance and habits. What impression did he produce on the author?

2/ What did the author learn about his life, his family?

3/ What did Captain tell the author about Strickland? How and where did they meet? Did the author believe Captain? Prove.

4/ What life did the two lead in Marseilles? Was it full of hardships? Prove. How does the author characterize the beach-combers?

5/ What was Tough Bill? Does the name tell us anything about this person?

6/ What happened between him and Strickland one day? Why did Strickland have to leave?

7/ Why did the author purpose to end the book?

8/ Did Strickland impress the people who came in contact with him in Tahiti?

9/ What was Cohen? What did the author learn from him?