II. Translate the sentences using the vocabulary.

1. Это повествование от третьего лица. Рассказ ведется «всезнающим» автором. Он проникает в сознание своих персонажей, воспроизводит их мысли, комментирует поступки. Поэтому читателю легко понять мотивы героев и получить представление об их внутреннем мире. Этот способ повествования проявляется особенно ярко в кульминации.

2. Перед нами повествование от первого лица.

События даны в восприятии главного героя. Несомненно, этот способ повествования удачен для подобного сюжета – это рассказ о любви, и яркая, живая речь героя делает историю более правдоподобной. Непосредственность восприятия, свобода от вмешательства автора, в то же время, заставляют читателя задуматься и сделать собственные выводы.

3. Автор очень точен в изображении второстепенных персонажей.

Он характеризует своих героев напрямую, неоднократно используя в описаниях метафоры и эпитеты.

4. Сюжет рассказа прост, но в тексте можно встретить много отступлений и сцен из прошлого.

5. Основная мысль выражена косвенно, а название имеет символическое значение.

6. Название рассказа позволяет предвидеть некоторые события, читатель ожидает, что все кончится хорошо.

7. Мрачная, таинственная атмосфера отрывка создается за счет поэтической лексики, образов, основанных на сравнении, метафоре, эпитетах.

6. В этом рассказе есть все элементы композиции – экспозиция, завязка, развитие действия, кульминация, развязка.

7. В экспозиции автор рассуждает о проблеме взаимоотношений в семье.

8. Главный герой вызывает восхищение и восторг, однако образ злодея тоже интересен – в конце отвращение сменяется сочувствием

9. Я не могу ничего сказать об основной идее рассказа, потому что это только отрывок. Но думаю, что одна из основных проблем, поднятых в этом рассказе, – это проблема взаимоотношений между людьми.

10. Я бы хотел рассказать о событиях, имеющих место в этом отрывке.

First Steps in text analysis

1. Read the text keeping in mind the main aspects of text interpretation. Then answer some questions. Hunting for a job

(By S.S. McClure)

I reached Boston late that night and got out at the South Station, in the midst of a terrible thunderstorm. I knew no one in Boston except Miss Malvina Bennett. She lived in Sommerville, and I immediately set out for Sommerville. If I had had my wits about me, I should not, of course, have started for anybody's house at that hour of the night. When I got to Miss Bennett's house I was taken in and made welcome, and for several days Miss Bennett and her family did all they could to make me comfortable and to help me to get myself established in some way. I remained with the Bennetts Saturday and Sunday. I had only six dollars and this hospitality was of utmost importance to me.

My first application for a job in Boston was made in accordance with an idea of my own.

Every boy in the West knew the Pope Manufacturing Company and the Columbia bicycle —- the high old-fashioned wheel which was then the only kind in general use. When I published my "History of Western College Journalism", the Pope Company had given me an advertisement, and that seemed to be a kind of "connection."

On Monday I took the street car in from Sommerville and got off at Scollay Square. From there I walked a considerable distance up Washington Street to the officers of the Pope Manufacturing Company at 597. I walked into the general office and said I wanted to see the president of the company.

"Colonel Pope?" asked the clerk.

I answered, "Yes, Colonel Pope."

I was taken to Colonel Pope, who was then alert, energetic man of thirty-nine. He had been an officer in the Civil War when a very young man, and after he entered business had, within a few years, made a very considerable fortune. I told Colonel Pope, by way of introduction, that he had once given me an "ad" for a little book I had published. He said that he was sorry, but they were not giving out any more advertising that season. I replied respectfully that I didn't want any more advertising; that I had been a college editor, and now was out of college and out of a job. What I wanted was work, and I wanted it very badly.He again said he was sorry, but they were laying off hands. I still hung on. I asked him if there wasn't anything at all that I could do. My earnestness made him look at me sharply.

"Willing to wash windows and scrub floors?" he asked.

I told him that I was.

"Very well," said Colonel Pope. "You can go to the rink and help Wilmot out for tomorrow."

The next day I went to the bicycle rink on Huntington Avenue and found that what Wilmot wanted was a man to teach beginners to ride. Now, I had never been on a bicycle in my life, but I was in the predicament of a dog that had to climb a tree. In a couple of hours I had learned to ride a wheel myself and was teaching other people.

Next day Mr. Wilmot paid me a dollar. He did not say anything about my coming back next morning, but I came and went to work, very much afraid I would be told I wasn't needed. After that Mr. Wilmot didn't exactly engage me, but he forgot to discharge me, and I came back every day and went to work. At the end of the week Colonel Pope sent for me and placed me in charge of the uptown rink.

Colonel Pope was a man who watched his workmen. I had not been mistaken when I felt that a young man would have a chance with him. He used to often say that "water would find its level," and he kept an eye on us. One day he called me into his office and asked me if I could edit a magazine.

"Yes, sir," I replied quickly. I remember it flashed through my mind that I could do anything I was put at just then — that if I were required to run an ocean steamer I could somehow manage to do it. I answered as quickly as I could get the words out of my mouth, afraid that Colonel Pope would change his mind before I could get them out.

This is how I got my first job. And I have never doubted ever since that one of the reasons why I got it was that I had been "willing to wash windows and scrub floors." I had been ready for anything.

Now answer the questions:

1. What is the title of the story?

2. Who is it written by?

3. What can you say about the narrative method? Are the events presented through the perception of the main character or a minor one?

4. Render the plot of the story. Are the events given chronologically or are they rearranged? Are there all components of plot structure in this story? Does the author include any digressions, descriptions or flashbacks?

5. What do we learn from the exposition?

6. Is the setting of the story clear? Are there any names, dates and facts which help the reader to recognize the place of the action? How can one guess at the time of the action?

7. Are there many characters in the story? What are their names? What does the author do to characterize them?

8. What kind of characterisation does the writer use to describe Colonel Pope? Can one discover anything important about him analysing his actions and words?

9. What kind of person is the narrator? Do you agree that he is persevering and optimistic? Why?

10. What feelings do the characters arouse in the reader?

11. Is the tone of the narrator familiar or formal? Prove your point of view.

12. Does the narrator resort to colloquial phrases and any stylistic devices to create a humorous tone? Are they numerous?

13. What can you say about the language of the text on the whole?

14. Is the message of the story quite clear? Does the last paragraph have anything to do with it?

15. Does the title reflect the theme of the story?