A written test recommended for checking the students’ knowledge of the vocabulary of the book «The Old Man and the Sea»

Use the vocabulary of the book instead of the underlined word-combinations:

1. Bob has quarreled with his former girl-friend last week and yesterday he got married in order to wound her in the most sensitive spot.

2. He had been saving money for three years and didn’t do anything he wanted very much, but not long ago he changed his habits radically and splashed out on a new pair of shoes.

3. Nick’s Granny stayed with him for a long time and in the long run he made up his mind to do away with her and calmly did her in.

4. Brace yourself up! You got stuck because of your habit of talking too much. And now the only thing to be done is to be brave and uncomplaining.

5. President Nixon told his wife the secret concerning future financial course of the US but a spy overheard him and blackmailed him afterwards.

6. She thought he loved her, but he acted accordingly to his own interests and overindulged in her confidence.

7. James walked over everybody that’s why there was no one to help him when he was caught by trick.

8. Get a grip on yourself! What a beautiful teacher you are! You shouted your students down only because they didn’t learn the expressions from the text.

9. The old man struggled with the shark and hit her with his knife.

10. In public this girl seems to drift and not to fall into extremes but at home she doesn’t throw away the slop-pail and speaks rudely to her mother.

«The Old man and the Sea»

Topics for the final discussion

1. Express your impressions of Hemingway’s literary style.

Is it really lexically poor? Does it really lack emotions?

2. The sea and its inhabitants as expressed in the novel.

3. Is the old man the only main character of the book?

4. Would you call the old man’s life «a total defeat»?

Was that life worth living? Prove your point.

5. The matters of sin and virtue as expressed in the novel.

6. Dwell upon the ideas that the book provoked you to think about.

7. Compare the sea in Hemingway’s novel with the one described in Emily Dickinson’s poem.

I started Early – Took my Dog—

And visited the Sea—

The Mermaids in the Basement

Came out to look at me—

And Frigates – in the Upper Floor

Extended Hempen Hands—

Presuming Me to be a Mouse—

Aground—upon the Sands—

But no Man moved Me—till the Tide

Went past my simple Shoe—

And past my Apron—and my Belt

And past my Bodice—too—

And made as He would eat me up—

As wholly as a Dew

Upon a Dandelion’s Sleeve—

And then—I started—too—

And He—He followed—close behind—

I felt His Silver Heel

Upon My Ankle—Then my Shoes

Would overflow with Pearl—

Until We met the Solid Town—

No One He seemed to know—

And bowing—with a Mighty look—

At me—The Sea withdrew—

--Emily Dickinson, 1862