Unit II (p. P. 36 - 64) Part I First Reading

A. Thinking about the Chapters

What do you think about the events? Characters? Did you get interested? Or bored? Why?

B. Understanding the Plot

1. What was the main feature about? Did his father and grand parents get interested in it?

2. What feelings did the boy have during the film (the beginning, the middle)?

3. What way did his mother behave? Why did they leave the cinema?

4. What was the boy's reaction? What was he thinking about when going home?

5. When do the events of the next chapter take place? Who is the hero of it? How old is he?

6. How are the events of this connected with the previous one?

7. What do we learn about the life of the hero during all these years?

8. Who interrupted his loneliness? Describe the woman. What did she come for? What way did she address him?

9. What way did our hero behave? What embarrased him most?

10. What did Michael tell Fiona about his life during two years or more?

11. Whom did they see on TV? Why did the author write about this? How are these events and the articles by Hilary Winshaw on p. p. 63 - 64 connected with the talk on p. 17 about Mark?

Translate: p. 56 «This was the face … It was the face you could trust.»

Speak on Michael's kitchen and room.

12. What did Michael do the next morning? Where did he go? What impressed him in the park?

13. What do we learn about his occupation?

14. What did he find in the carrier-bag that impressed him most?

15. What do we learn about Hilary Winshaw?

16. Compare the two items. What are they about? The topic? The difference?

Part II Second Reading

A. Exploring Themes

1. What can you say about the mother's behaviour during the film? Was she right to leave the cinema? How did this influence the boy? Explain: «She doesn't realize that I can never forget about it.»

2. Why did Michael feel discomfort on seeing a woman?

3. Why was his curiosity aroused?

4. Explain the passage: «... I couldn't help staring … what she was talking about.» (p. 51) Why did it draw the attention of Michael?

5. Explain: 'And if you looked beyond the face, what did you see?' (p. 56)

6. Why do you think his kitchen restored his self-confidence?

7. Why does he think that his room had no form and personality?

8. What kind of person was Fiona? Prove this.

9. Why did Michael's attention start to wander?

10. With what feeling did he wake up and what was his mood when he was walking in the park? Why?

B. Judging for Yourself

Explain yourself as personally as you like:

1. Do you think the mother was right to interrupt watching the film without explaining anything? What would you do?

2. Why was Michael in the mood of festivity the next day?

3. What do you think about Fiona, Michael?

C. Making Connections

1. Can such a situation take place in this country?

2. What is the role of childhood in our future lives? Parents?

3. Does someone's flat reflect the personality of its owner? What gives it form and personality?

D. What can you say about the following allusions?

Saddam Hussein

Mrs. Thatcher

President Bush