2. Say whether the following statements are true or false:

1. Blanche Stroeve was merely bored with her husband and went to Strickland out of a callous curiosity.

2. Strickland was a man without any conception of gratitude.

3. Dirk Stroeve agreed to go to the North of Holland where his parents still lived.

4. Dirk Stroeve wanted to forget his unhappiness, he didn’t want to remain a ridiculous object.

5. When the narrator met Blanche and Strickland in front of the café, he was surprised that she had not changed.

6. Dirk Stroeve was frightened, he knew something was going to happen, but he could do nothing to stop it.

7. The narrator felt a great sympathy for Blanche Stroeve.

8. Dirk made no claim on his wife, and on the recovery would not seek to induce her to return home to him, she would be perfectly free.

9. The doctor let Dirk Stroeve see his wife, because he didn’t look upon the case, as a case and Dirk was the husband anxious to forgive.

3. Fill in prepositions:

1. Blanche had never really cared … her husband, and what the narrator had taken … love was no more than the feminine response to comfort which … minds … most women passes … it.

2. Mrs. Stroeve was … the cruel grip … appetite.

3. Strickland had no tenderness either … himself, or … others.

4. Dirk told his wife that Strickland would soon tire … her.

5. … all his pain, Dirk Stroeve remained a ridiculous object.

6. She must be a woman … complicated character, and there was something dramatic … the contrast … that her demure appearance.

7. Dirk was conscious that his wife regarded him … an indifference so profound that the sight … his handwriting would have not the slightest effect … her.

8. Women are constantly trying to commit suicide … love, but generally they take care not to succeed.

4. Discussion.

Give the précis of the part. Answer the questions and motivate your answer:

1. Did Blanche Stroeve have a particular feeling for Strickland?

2. Why did the narrator feel that Strickland was at once too great and too small for love? What is love according to the author?

3. Why do you think Blanche tried to avoid Dirk? Do you agree with the author that there was some cruelty in her indifference?

4. Why did Dirk Stroeve have the passion of Romeo in the body of Sir Toby Belch? What did the author mean using an allusion?

5. Why did the author say that Nature had played a cruel practical joke when creating Dirk Stroeve?

6. Why did the author consider Strickland to be a bad winner and a good loser?

7. Why do you think Blanche didn’t read Dirk’s letters? Why did he ask the narrator to write to Blanche?

8. What made the doctor change his attitude towards Dirk?

9. Do you think that Blanche’s suicide was just a natural way out?

5. Enact a conversation between:

1. Dirk Stroeve and the narrator. (Chapter XXXIII).

Comment on the paragraph in which the author speaks about love. (Chapter XXX).

Unit VIII

Chapters XXXV-XXXIX

1. Study the following words and word combinations, explain their meaning in English, give the context in which they are used:

1. to be left in peace

2. a low cry of distress

3. an abyss of cruelty

4. to gather together the threads again

5. to hurry to and fro

6. to keep one’s house trim and spruce

7. broken spirit

8. to have a knack for drawing

9. with a heavy heart

10. a thrill of horror

11. the curiosity got the better of smb.

12. to scream at the top of one’s voice

13. a work of art

14. to look at smb. in stupid amazement