Learning to read and discuss fiction. Учебное пособие
.pdfat the prospect; boundless; to yield to a temptation; to stake all one’s life on a single moment; courage; to make a million over the transaction; to treble the fortune; to despise smb; to suffer no remorse; public charities; confession; to make a clean breast of the whole affair; to talk morality; to defend oneself against smb; to be in store for smb; not to have the smallest scruple; to inquire; to have some hold over smb; to clutch at every chance; to be a good friend to smb; to enable smb to do smth).
2.Which of Lord Goring’s qualities are revealed during his conversation with Lady Chiltern? Make your statements be well grounded (stainless; to withdraw one’s promise; to be above reproach; not to afford to do smth; to have no secrets from smb; to estimate smb; to have nothing to conceal; by experience; by observation; unscrupulous; to set one’s heart and soul on smth; to be hard on life; to make sufficient allowances; weakness; to be incapable of doing smth; charity; to be in trouble; to talk seriously).
3.Reproduce the conversation between Lady Chiltern and Mrs Cheveley (frankly; guilty of dishonest and dishonourable action; to be shunned; to apply the rule to everyone; for many reasons; further acquaintance; to talk morality; to detest smb; to solemnly bind oneself to help smb; fraudulent speculation; to hold smb in the hollow of one’s hand; impertinent; to have smth to do with smb; like meets with like; to pair together; enemies linked together; to threaten smb).
4.How did Lady Chiltern feel about the whole affair when her husband joined in the conversation? What qualities did Sir Robert Chiltern reveal? (to buy smth with the price of dishonour; by fraud; the origin of one’s fortune; to deny smth; to do one’s worst; to bow with somewhat exaggerated politeness; to make no sign of response; straight in the face; to lie to smb; to be temped; to soil smb forever; to wear a painted mask; to sell oneself for money; a common thief; to worship smb; pure; noble; honest; without stain; to commit an error; to place smb on monstrous pedestals; weakness; follies; imperfections; to forgive; to make ideals of smb; false idols; not to have the courage; to offer security; peace; stability; to be buried; to burn the witness; public disgrace; terrible shame; the mockery of the world; to ruin smb’s life; anguish; bewildered).
Ex.2 Quote the aphorisms and paradoxes you like best. Comment on the following statements.
1.…no man should have a secret from his own wife. She invariably finds it out. Women have a wonderful instinct about things. They can discover everything except the obvious.
2.…I had done a thing that …most men would call shameful and dishonourable …men who every day do something of the same kind themselves …, who have worse secrets in their own lives … Whom I did wrong by what I did? No one.
3.Life is never fair. And perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.
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4.To stake all one’s life on a single moment… there is no weakness in that. There is a horrible, a terrible courage.
5.When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers.
6.…I have paid conscience money many times… I have distributed twice over in public charities.
7.I usually say what I really think. A great mistake nowadays. It makes one so liable to be understood.
8.The English can’t stand on a man who is always saying he is in the right, but they are very fond of a man who admits that he has been in the wrong.
9.– Did you know her well? (about Mrs Cheveley)
–So little that got engaged to be married to her…
10.But everyone has some weak points. There is some flaw in each one of us.
11.It is always worth while asking a question, though it is not always worth while answering one.
12.The truth is a thing I get rid of as soon as possible! Bad habit, by the way. Makes one very unpopular at the club … with the other members. They call it being conceited. Perhaps it is.
13.Nobody is incapable of doing a foolish thing. Nobody is incapable of doing a wrong thing.
14.We were taught not to understand anything. That was the old system, and wonderfully interesting it was.
15.– …modern women understand everything…
– Except their husbands
– And a very good thing…, I dare say. It might break up many a happy home if they did.
16.…since Sir John has taken to attending the debates regularly, which he never used to do in the good old days, his language has become quite impossible.
17.My life will be quite ruined unless they send John at once to the Upper House. He won’t take any interest in politics then.
18.Fathers have so much to learn from their own sons nowadays.
19.Nothing ages a woman so rapidly as having married the general rule.
20.…talks more and says less than anybody I ever met. She is made to be a public speaker.
21.Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people… we …dislike.
22.In this world like meets with like. He and I are closer than friends… We are enemies linked together.
23.There was your error. The error all women commit… Why can’t you women love us, faults and all? Why do you place us on monstrous pedestals?.. When we love women, we love them knowing their weaknesses, their follies, their imperfections.
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Act III
Ex. 1 Read the third act. Prepare to speak on the following. Use the below words and word combinations in brackets. Learn all the descriptions of the characters and reproduce them. Learn to quote Oscar Wilde.
1.Describe the library in Lord Goring’s house. Reproduce his conversation with Phipps. Learn all the aphorisms (folding doors; distinction; impassivity; fopperies; buttonhole; salver; fashion; vulgarity; conduct; falsehoods; quite dreadful; a lifelong romance; in the prime of life; to observe no alternation; to account for smth; to complain of smth; to lose relations; fortunate).
2.WhatletterdidLordGoringreceive?Whostoodinhiswayasusual?(handwriting; to give up smth; to be expected; to stand by smth; the growth of moral sense; extraordinary mistake; delighted; draught; to have a serious conversation; an admirable hour; to talk in one’s sleep; to get married; an inconsolable widower; to pay addresses to smb; bachelors; to take smb for one’s model; heart-rending; at stake; a matter of common sense; to speak from hearsay).
3.What kind of misunderstanding occurred between Lord Goring and Sir Robert Chiltern? (a piece of good luck; a comparatively cold reception; to discover; a common huckster; to betray smb; to occupy a rather high position in society; to be in a mess; gulf; indiscretion; without mercy; brutal; to forgive; ajar; eavesdropper; to insist on smth; to be at stake; to swear on one’s honour; stainless; vile and infamous; false; treacherous).
4.How did Lord Goring outwit Mrs Cheveley? How did success change hands? (radiant and amused; with a mock curtsey; a passion for listening through keyholes; to offer smth on some condition; to care for smb; some great height of self-sacrifice; to contemplate one’s own perfection; to stand for each other; to war against each other; to expose smb; to use big words; to desecrate the word “love”; a brooch; to steal; to deny smth; to fetch the police; distorted; a wretched woman; by force).
Ex.2 Quote the aphorisms and paradoxes you like best. Comment on the following statements.
1.It is the growth of the moral sense that makes marriages such a hopeless, one-sided institution.
2.If there was less sympathy in the world there would be less trouble in the world.
3.Everybody one meets is a paradox nowadays. It is a great bore. It makes society so obvious.
4.To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.
5.Common sense is the privilege of our (male) sex. – And we men are so selfsacrificing that we never use it…
6.Spies are of no use today. Their profession is over. The newspapers do their word instead.
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7.One should never give a woman anything that she can’t wear in the evening.
8.Too much experience is a dangerous thing.
9.My dear Mrs Cheveley, you have always been far too clever to know anything about love.
10.When a man has once loved a woman, he will do anything for her, except continue to love her.
11.If one could only teach the English how to talk, and the Irish how to listen, society here would be quite civilised.
12.…women are never disarmed by compliments. Men always are. That is the difference between the two sexes.
13.…You would have risen to some great height of self-sacrifice … And the rest of your life you could spend in contemplating your own perfections.
14.Self-sacrifice…is so demoralizing to the people for whom one sacrifices oneself. They always go to the bad.
15.How you men stand up for each other! – How you women war against each other.
16.I hate her more than ever (Mrs Cheveley about Lady Chiltern). – Because you’ve brought a real tragedy into her life.
17.…there is only one real tragedy in a woman’s life, the fact that her past is always her lover, and her future invariably her husband.
18.Don’t use big words. They mean so little.
19.For so well-dressed a woman, Mrs Cheveley, you have moments of admirable common sense. I congratulate you.
Act IV
Ex. 1 Read the fourth act. Prepare to speak on the following. Use the below words and word combinations in brackets. Learn all the descriptions of the characters and reproduce them. Learn to quote Oscar Wilde.
1.What did Lord Cavesham come to inform his son of? (to look bored; nuisance; an article on smb’s career; the finest pieces of oratory ever delivered; to denounce the scheme; the turning point; unblemished career; integrity of character; noble contrast to smth; to be delighted at smth; affectation of youth; the smallest chance of smb’s accepting a proposal; the prettiest fool; to deserve).
2.What subject did the conversation drift to when Mabel joined in the conversation? How did Lord Goring propose to her? (to break the appointment; to behave occasionally; to have no influence over smb; to be in the way; behind one’s back; conceited; to see the unemployed; horrid; detestable; to admit smth; to have smth very particular to say; proposal; to be bound to say smth; to teach smb better manners; heaps of opportunities; in return; a public scandal; fearfully extravagant; a flash of genius).
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3.Lord Goring tells Lady Chiltern good news about the letter he burned and warns her against Mrs Cheveley’s blackmail. All that becomes known to Sir Robert Chiltern. His decision to retire (a certain amount of good news; to be safe; to distress smb; to be concealed in the room; to force one’s way in; to get possession of the letter; to intercept the letter; to be calm; not to care about the disgrace that is in the store; to retire from public life; to have no regrets; to be ambitions for smb; to lead smb astray; to repay smb).
4.Lord Caversham’s attitude to Sir Robert Chiltern’s decision. Lord Goring’s last serious conversation with Lady Chiltern (to accept the offer; to decline smth; nonsense; to prevent smb from smth; to approve of smth; not to hesitate about smth; hereditary; idiocy; to thrust smth on smb; to do smb wrong; to rob smb of the fruits of one’s ambition; forgiveness; to wreck the whole career; to make a terrible sacrifice for smb; to accept a sacrifice; to repent smth bitterly; to thrust smb into the mire; to mar; to be of more value; a useless sacrifice; to be in smb’s debt; to owe smb much).
5.Another misunderstanding between Sir Robert Chiltern and Lord Goring. The happy end (to want smb’s consent; utterly sacrificed; to have nothing whatsoever to do with smb; to send a letter anonymously; to doubt smb’s goodness; to accept the proposal; to accept the seat in the Cabinet; to congratulate smb on smth; to cut smb off with a shilling).
Ex.2 Quote the aphorisms and paradoxes you like best. Comment on the following statements.
1.I prefer pluck. It is not so common, nowadays, as a genius is.
2.A thoroughly sensible wife would reduce me to a condition of absolute idiocy in less than six months.
3.If we men married the women we deserved, we should have a very bad time of it.
4.I never believe a single word that either you or I say to each other.
5.How many men there are in modern life who would like to see their past burning into white ashes before them!
6.It was your ambition that led you astray.
7.Women are not meant to judge us, but to forgive us when we need forgiveness. Pardon, not punishment, is their mission… A man’s life is of more value than a woman’s. It has larger issues, wider scope, greater ambitions. A woman’s life revolves in curves of emotions. A woman who can keep a man’s love, and loves him in return, has done all the world wants of women, or should want of them.
8.Loveless marriages are horrible.
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PROBLEMS AND QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1.O. Wilde and his language. (Quote some aphorisms and paradoxes and comment on them).
2.Comment on the title of the play.
3.London high society as shown in the play.
4.Sir Robert Chiltern. (Do you disapprove of what he did or would you rather justify him?)
5.Lady Chiltern. (Did your attitude to the character change when you read the play up to the very end?)
6.Mrs Cheveley. (How did her appearance and her clothes reflect her character?)
7.Lord Goring. (Did your attitude to him change when you read the play up to the very end?)
8.Compare the book and the film.
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Rain W. S. Maugham
(М., «Прогресс», 1977)
PROBLEMS AND QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Reproduce some episodes to make your statements well grounded. Make use of the words and word-combinations suggested in brackets.
I. Collect all the information about Dr. Macphail
1) What did he look like? (red-haired, a bald patch, freckled skin, to accompany, a pinched face, precise, pedantic, a Scot’s accent, low quiet voice)
2) Dwell upon the qualities revealed:
a)in his attitude to his wife (to leave smb with the last word, to be conductive to peace, to be a big bug, to put on frills, to mix with smb, not to be so exclusive, to read oneself to sleep);
b)in his attitude to the Davidsons (a difficult smile, to sigh faintly, not to be averse to smb, (in)decent clothes, to be suitable to the climate, to be urgently needed, familiar, not to take offence easily, timid, never to be afraid, to shock smb, to hesitate to express smth, starvation);
c)in his attitude to Miss Thompson, in his conversation with the governor (to be unkind, to ignore, to say a word to smb (for smb), to look at smb with misgiving, to oppress smb, to be rash to do smth, to have nowhere to go, an uncomfortable peace to live in, to promise to behave, to persecute smb, to mind one’s own business, to be deported, a peril, harsh and tyrannical, to appeal to the governor, to guarantee smth, to explain one’s official actions, proper authorities, a busybody, a favourable opinion of smb, to be bound to do smth, crest-fallen, to give smb a chance, to have the heart to do smth).
3) What stylistic method does the author use to characterize Dr. Macphail: direct or indirect?
II. Collect all the information about Mrs Macphail 1) What, do you imagine, she looked like?
2) Dwell upon the qualities revealed:
a)in her attitude to the Davidsons (the intimacy of shipboard, to be due to propinquity, community of taste, to share the disapproval of smb, to be flattered, to associate, to get through the journey, to care to know smth, to put on frills, to mix with smb, not to joke about smth, to look for the best in people, to be more conductive to peace, to enjoy the alarming experience, with bated breath);
b)in her attitude to Miss Thonpson (to look rather fast to smb, to look at smb doubtfully, uneasy, to play cards, a vague sense of guilt, to be in the habit of doing smth, to be fellow lodgers, to have a poor stock of small talk).
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III. Collect all the information about the Davidsons 1) What did Mrs Davidson look like?
(dull, to be elaborately arranged, prominent, to give some impression, extreme alertness, the most remarkable thing, to fall on the ear, to irritate the nerves, the pneumatic drill);
2) What did Mr Davidson look like? How did he differ from his wife? (sociability, silent, affability, to impose smth upon oneself, reserved by nature, morose, singular, long limbs loosely jointed, hollow cheeks, curiously high cheekbones, sensual lips, to wear one’s hair long, deep-set tragic eyes, finely shaped hands, the feeling of suppressed fire, to be vaguely troubling, intimacy);
3) Were the Davidsons a good match? Dwell upon the qualities they revealed:
a) in their attitude to the natives
(to wear a cross, to be bad for smb, to make smb behave, to make it hot for smb, a ruthless stare, to be thankful to God, to be spared smth, to manage the mission, efficiency at work, depravity of smb, the singular sense of delicacy, married customs, exultant, dreadful, to achieve the desired effect, sores, ulcers, to be disfigured, to be infected, natives’ dwellings)
b)in their attitude to religion; their understanding of morality and of their mission
(the first thing to do, to be crazy about smth, to keep oneselves to oneselves, immoral, to lead to immorality, to stamp smth out, to wear lava-lava, to prohibit, indecent costume, to iradicate smth, to wear trousers and singlets, to be Christianised, to long to get back to his work, to be away, to be in charge of smth, to let things slide, to be lacking in energy, native missionaries, to let abuses creep in, to have no sense of sin, to break the commandments, to do wrong, to instill into smb the sense of sin, to institute fines, to refuse to pay, to expel smb from their church membership, to get no share of fish catch, starvation, to have things one’s own way, to ruin smb, to have no mercy for sin, to excite smb’s wrath)
c)in their attitude to Miss Thompson
(to repent, evil, to pursue smb, to urge smb to do smth, complaints about smth, not to mind smb’s doing smth, to think ill of smb, to be triumphant and good-humoured, to speak in cordial tones, penitentiary, to accept the punishment, to pray for the erring sister, an inhuman fire, remorse, to be starved and tortured and humiliated).
IV. Do the translation suggested
1) ПодопечнаяДэвидсонутерриториясостоялаизгруппыостровов, находящихся на большом расстоянии друг от друга, и ему часто приходилось преодолевать большие расстояния на каноэ. В таких случаях его миссию приходилось выполнять его жене.
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У доктора оборвалось сердце при мысли о том, насколько эффективно она справлялась со своей работой. Она говорила о порочности аборигенов голосом, который мог заглушить только неистовый ужас. У нее чесалисьрукивсепривестивпорядок(каконаегопонимала), чтоестественно сочеталось с ее характером. (р.35)
2)Миссис Дэвидсон была само лицемерие. Она с гордостью говорила, чтостехпоркаквышлазамуж, онаниразунетанцевалани скем, кроме мужа. Она считала, что танцы аборигенов не только аморальны, но и ведут к разврату.
3)Толпы местных жителей, шумных, доброжелательных, собрались там, некоторые – из чистого любопытства, некоторые – желая продать что-ни- будь. Доктор наблюдал за ними. Ему было больно видеть ребятишек, которые, казалось, страдали от язв и многих других болезней.
4)Миссис Дэвидсон оглядела своим зорким (птичьим) взглядом тяжелые облака, плывущие по небу. Начал капать дождь. И вскоре полило как из ведра, и дождь не прекращался. О, как им хотелось, чтобы дождь хоть на какое-то время прекратился, но на это, казалось, не было никакой надежды. Паго-паго было самым дождливым местом в бассейне Тихого океана.
5)ХотьДэвидсоныистоилидругдруга, темнеменеемистерДэвидсонне былтакобщителен, какегожена. Большуючастьвременионпроводилза чтением Библии.
6)Среди команды на шхуне разразилась эпидемия кори, серьезного заболевания, зачастуюприводившегоклетальномуисходу. Всемобъявили, что шхуну не впустят в гавань, пока не станет известно, не подхватили ли остальные моряки болезнь.
7)В комнате Макфейлов почти ничего не было, кроме старой кровати с рваной сеткой от москитов, колченогого стула и умывальника.
8)Мисс Томпсон было лет 27, она была полная и даже, пожалуй, хорошенькая, хотяигрубая. Нанейбылобелоеплатьеиогромнаябелаяшляпа. Еетолстыеикрывбелыххлопчатобумажныхчулкахсвисалинаддлинными белыми блестящими сапогами.
9)Из-засильныхпотоковдождяпочтинебыловиднопротивоположного берега. А Дэвидсоны продолжали говорить о том, как они наказывали местных. Они гордились тем, что у них не было жалости к грехам. Дэвидсоны были сама жестокость.
10)М-р Дэвидсон сказал, что их там небыло около года, имиссиябыла в руках местных жителей, которые запустили всю миссионерскую работу. М-р Дэвидсон считал их благочестивыми, богобоязненными христианами, но бездеятельными. Он считал, что если поручить миссионерство местным, то какими бы ответственными они ни казались, со временем они допустят злоупотребления.
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11)Дэвидсоныговорилиосвоейлюбвикработе. Слушаяих, докторМакфейл содрогнулся, он представил себе, каково было местным жителям. Доктор был робким человеком, он так и не смог привыкнуть к визгу снарядовнадокопами, авовремяоперацийпотструилсяпоеголицу, застилаяочки, ионструдомсдерживался. «Ябыоченьхотелсказать, чтотогда мне не было страшно, но это было бы неправдой», - говорил он.
12)Мистер Дэвидсон сказал, что не представляет, что бы он сделал, если бы не помощь жены. Он добавил, что когда у него обрывалось сердце от отчаяния, она давала ему силы и надежду.
V. Suggest the Russian for the following
1)But the most striking thing about him was the feeling he gave you of the suppressed fire. It was impressive and vaguely troubling. He was not the man with whom any intimacy was possible.
2)We had to make it a sin, not only to commit adultery and to lie and to thieve, but to expose their bodies, and to dance and not to come to church…I instituted fines. I fined them for all the sins. I had a tariff, and every sin had to be paid for either in money or work.
3)Davidson’s voice fell to a deep bass… He was silent for a minute or two. The silence was heavy with menace.
4)Mrs Macphail looked at him doubtfully. Her conversation with the Davidsons had left her a little uneasy, but she didn’t like to say that she thought they had better play cards when the Davidsons might come in at any moment. Dr Macphail brought them and she watched him, though with a vague sense of guilt, while he laid out his patience. Below the sound of revelry continued.
5)They exchanged a few more words. Miss Thompson , loud-voiced and garrulous, evidently quite willing to gossip, but Mrs Macphail had a poor stock of small talk…
6)“The governor has ordered her to be deported by the first boat… He’s only done his duty and I will not interfere. Her presence is a peril here… Believe me, my heart bleeds for the unfortunate woman, but I’m only trying to do my duty… Please, don’t bear me malice because I can’t accede to your wish… I respect you very much, doctor, and I should be sorry if you thought ill of me”, said Mr Davidson.
“I have no doubt you have a sufficiently good opinion of yourself to bear mine with equanimity” – retorted Dr Macphail.
VI. Dwell upon the problems touched upon in the story and the main message of it. (What stylistic device does the author use to convey the main idea of the story? Comment on the title).
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