Interpretation of the text

1. Comment upon the opening paragraph.

a) Do you find any implication in the words: lunch hour, iced beer, chocolate malt, ice-cream, the brass eagle badges on the American girls’ bags.

b) What does the repetition of the word “identical” mean?

2. What does the author imply by using the word “explosion”?

3. Look for the word which is repeated several times. Why is the word frequently used? Is it a key word?

4. Expand upon Fowler’s perception of the blast near the fountain hideous scene. Is he in panic?

5. Judging from what you have read what can you say about the writer’s own presence within the extract. Does the reader go together with the writer?

6. Sum up your own observations on the vocabulary, style and syntax of the text and the way they are related to the contents.

7. What stylistic effect is produced on the reader by the following combinations; account for the usage, express your opinion:

1. a shade tilted – what verb form is it?

2. a tourist glutted with churches – what is peculiar in the meaning?

3. uselessly making up her face – is the word ironical?

4. it was impossible to conceive either of them – what is the subject of the sentence?

5. Did they take deodorants to bed with them?

What kind of question is it?

Is it ironical? Suggestive? Of what?

6. Her compact lay open and unhurt in my lap … are the underlined words parts of a predicate. Are they suggestive, descriptive, or may be both?

7. What effect do the French words (cointrean, chartreuse, porto, pastis) add to the text.

8. Is there a difference between the following combinations not in meaning, translation but in function.

…cars burning in the car-park…

People were crowding in from the rue Catinet.

…the edge to prevent the crowd increasing.

9. What is the meaning of the repetition of sentences:

I tried to follow the priest…

I tried to see…

10. The verb combination let it through – forms a complex object. Do you know any other expressions with “through”. Name them.

11. What’s the effect of the adverbs “inexplicably” broke “impregnably” armoured. Do they refer to literary style or common?

12. The writer uses a lot of similies in the text. What impression do they produce on the reader? How do they reproduce the situation:

like a tourist glutted with churches

like a chicken

unlike me

13. What can you observe examining the verb “to attend to”? Do you know other meanings of the verb?

Key Notions and Words Complete the list of the vocabulary using dictionaries and reference books, transcribe the words and practice their pronunciation.

Tragedy – a serious drama with a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion.

War – 1) when countries fight; 2) effort to stop something; 3) when people compete; 4) when people fight/argue.

Terror – a strong feeling of fear.

Retribution – punishment that someone deserves because they have done something very bad.

Fanaticism – very strong religious or political beliefs that make someone behave in an unreasonable way.

Patriotism – strong feelings of love, respect, and duty towards your country.

Inhumanity – the quality or state of being cruel or barbarous.

Pandemonium – a very noisy and confused situation, especially one caused by a lot of angry or excited people.

Demonstration – 1) an event that proves a fact; 2) an occasion when a large group of people protest about something.

To conceive – to think of something such as a new idea, plan, or design; to imagine something or think of doing something;

To frustrate – to make someone feel annoyed and impatient by preventing them from doing or getting something.

Wreckage – the act of ruining or damage by breaking up.

Explosion – the act or an instance of bursting violently and noisily.

Eliminate – to get rid of something that is not wanted or needed.

Insanity – very severe mental illness that makes it impossible for someone to be considered legally responsible for their actions.

To cancel – 1) to say that something that has been arranged will not now happen; 2) to say that a legal agreement or obligation is now ended.

Casualty – a person or thing injured, lost, or destroyed.

To mourn – to feel extremely sad because someone has died, and express this in public.

Damage – physical harm caused to something so that it is broken, spoiled, or injured.

To shout – to utter a sudden loud cry.

To injure – hurt someone and cause damage to their body to cause harm to someone or something.

To give up – to surrender.

To retaliate – 1) to return like for like; 2) to get revenge.