Assignment V (Chapters 13-16)

1. Discuss the background of the book:

1. сompare the description of the castle in the novel “Quentin Durward” by Walter Scott (see Supplementary material  1);

2. render the article “Mystery and performance in Barry Unsworth’s Morality play” by Ma. Jesus Martinez Alfaro from the University of Zaragoza (see Supplementary material 2);

2. Transcribe, read phonetically correctly and give a possible translation of the following words paying attention to their “archaic” meaning:

to dismount (143), chamber (143), the Rage of Herod (144), a blast of trumpets (146), to prance (146), harness (146), meless (147), the Dominicans (147), vainglory (147), excommunication (147), to sit astride (148), feats of arms (149), plate armour (149), the Holy Land (150), hem (149),canter (149), to hurtle (150), Poitiers (150), stirrup (150), quilted robe (154), the Lord of the Damned (156), Miniom (156), Arrogancy (161), Sway (161), the Holy Unction (164), man-at-arms (163), the Monk (171), Royal Commissioner (175), flower of chivalry (185).

3. Read, translate and memorize the following words and phrases. Describe the contexts they were used in. Give each word a definition in English (explain the words). Think of a situation (in Russian) using this vocabulary and let your fellow-students translate it into English.

fervour (n) (144). Compare with: “fervor”, “fever”, “ardor”

complacency (n) (145)

bout (n) (148). Compare with: “battle”, “duel”, “fight”

towager (v) (149). Compare with: “to bet”

adversary (n) (150). Compare with: “rival”, “enemy”, “foe”

prudence (n) (155)

restrain (n) (160). Compare with: “reticence”, “abstinence”

incongruous (adj) (164)

felony (n) (175)

to lessen (v) (175)

recompense (n) (184)

Phrases:

to be plunged into smth (144)

at smb’s behest (145)

in attendance (152)

the sap of life (153)

the stark silence (156)

as an afterthought (172)

to wave a hand in dismissal (177)

to be at one’s wits’ end (179)

4. Translate the following extracts paying attention to linguistic and stylistic peculiarities of the text.

a) p. 146 from “It was a scene…” – “and crested helmets.”

b) p. 184-185 from “I did not in my heart…” up to “flower of chivalry.”

5. Questions:

1. In what way and what for were the actors delivered to the castle?

2. Describe their night before the jousting tournament?

3. Can you describe the professional details of the knights’ munitions, decorations of the yard and general preparations of the jousting?

4. Give details of the jousting. What happened closer to the end of the tournament?

5. What strange smell did Nicholas feel when he and the company were led for their last performance in the castle?

6. Give account of the last performance of the company in front of the Lord Richard de Guise.

7. Why was the performance interrupted? What duty unexpectedly was entrusted of Nicholas? How did he serve the last Sacrament to the dying knight Roger of Yarm? What did Nicholas see in the room?

8. Speak on the first part of the intercourse between Nicholas Barber and the Lord Justice. What impression did the Lord Justice produce on you? What new details about Nicholas Barber’s intellect did you learn from the passage?

6. Discussion:

1. Comment on Nicholas’ escape from the castle.

2. Speak on the last meeting between Margaret and Nicholas.

3. Speak on the final outcome of the narration. What conclusion can you make of the horrible discovery of the Lord Justice and his retinue at night?