12. Discussion

1) Describe the scope of work Feona Cleary was to do about the house.

2) Explain why her acquaintances were simultaneously sympathetic and envious.

3. Do you think Feona Cleary was content with her lot? Find evidence in the text to prove your point of view.

4. Express your opinion about the rule set by Paddy Cleary: “No male member of the family was to put his hand to a female task.” How can you explain such stringency concerning delegation of duties in the Cleary family?

5) Comment on the symbolic meaning of the name ‘Paddy’. What cultural connotations does it possess?

6) Can you call the Clearys a close-knit family?

7) Why was Feona concerned about the future of her eldest son? Do you think her fear was justified? Do you share her views of life or do you side with Frank?

8) Find evidence to prove that Frank starts thinking for himself. Do you expect it will lead him to trouble?

9) What is the message of the story?

10) What can you say about the writer’s approach to the tackled problem? Is the author’s attitude to the plight of the family critical or is his position that of a detached observer?

13. Read about the rules of ordering information in discourse (supplement. I) and do the assignments below.

8. A) Make the sentences emphatic using the devices of fronting, inversion and cleft sentences.

1) None of the family could realize that Feona was permanently and incurably tired.

2) They little valued what the mother did for them.

3) The children were accustomed to manual work.

4) The most stringent rule in Paddy’s domain concerned the proper delegation of duties.

5) The boys were allowed to do female tasks on no account.

6) Paddy never drank or gambled.

7) Frank was really concerned about his mother’s state.

8) Feona might have been content with her lot, but she was not happy.

9) Feona couldn’t but think about Frank’s future – her son was so discontented with his life.

10) Feona came to understand only later what Paddy meant to her.

b) Read the text below and choose the better option [a/ b] to fill in the gaps.

Social institutions are continually changing in conformity with the new requirements arising out of the evolving realities of life. [1] Yet, it has repeatedly changed its form. In early societies, the word “home” denoted the abode of man and woman, their offspring and dependents. [2]

Under the system the duties in a family were stringently divided among its members. Men were engaged in activities requiring strength, violence, speed, and the craft and foresight which follow from the contacts and strains of their rather “motor” life. Quite logically, the slow, unspasmodic routine, stationary occupations were the part of the woman. In other words, [3] Women did the cleaning, cooking and gardening, and also chopped wood, churned butter, sewed, wove, knitted and span. Likewise, the boys serves a long apprenticeship with their father, whether blacksmith, carpenter, or farmer, in the shop or on the farm. [4]

Such was the home under the domestic system, – a complete, self-sustaining economic unit. In the 19^th century, however, manual labour was replaced by machinery. The Industrial Revolution, as the change is commonly referred to, had a profound effect upon home, too. [5] The latter practically eliminated the old type of home of which we read in fiction and biography. Thereby, the woman, who for centuries was looked upon as a homemaker responsible for child-rearing and a myriad of household chores, entered the labour force.

Nevertheless, running the house seems to remain a woman’s lot. The matter is that [6] all or most household chores fall on her shoulders. No wonder that running the house has turned into one of the most contentious issues for many couples – battles over housekeeping are second only to conflicts over money.

Now that the material means of producing solidarity has left the home, the binding ties of a family must therefore depend on an ethical rather than a material basis. This new type of home solidarity will call for overhauling the approach to housekeeping handed down from cooperative home industry. [7] With such a foundation our home will regain peace, integrity and stability shaken, if not lost, in the previous century.

Options:

1. a) Home stands as one of our oldest institutions.

2. One of our oldest institutions is home.

2. a) It was in such a home that the domestic system of production developed.

b) In such a home the domestic system of production developed.

3. a) women’s sphere centered exclusively around home and housekeeping.

b) home and housekeeping represented an exclusively women’s responsibility.

4. a) The girls helped their mother in her work, learning the rudiments of domestic industry and arts almost as soon as they could walk or talk.

b) The girls, learning the rudiments of domestic industry and arts, helped their mother in her work as soon as they could walk or talk.

5. a) By removing industry from the home and calling the majority of its inmates into the factory, the Industrial Revolution was responsible for a “domestic revolution”.

b) The Industrial Revolution was responsible for a “domestic revolution”, by removing industry from the home and calling the majority of its inmates into the factory.

6. a) in practice the wife bears the brunt of it, though in theory both working spouses should take care of their home:

b) though in theory both working spouses should take care of their home, it is the wife who factually bears the brunt of it:

7. a) A similarity of ideas, respect and sympathy between all family members, as well as mutual aid from all to all can really take its place.

b) What can really take its place is a similarity of ideas, respect and sympathy between all family members, as well as mutual aid from all to all.