Theatre. Сhapters 15-18

I. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases:

condescending letter – снисходительное письмо
pearl studs – жемчужные запонки
peevish – капризный,раздражительный
make head or tail of it – ничего не понимать
fatuous irony – глупая ирония
to get back on sb – отделаться от кого-то
song and dance – сцена, скандал
to spend a lot on green fees – тратиться на аренду поля для гольфа
despicable – презренный
to give sb a treat – доставить кому либо удовольствие
to wheedle sb into –впутывать кого-то во что-то
prudishness –ханженство
to take liberties with sb – вести себя развязно с кем-то
to grudge sb – завидовать,жаловаться
conspicuous – очевидный
to take the rough with the smooth – стойко переносить превратности судьбы
to have a joke up your sleeve – держать шутку наготове
to mortify sb – усмирять
disconcerted –смущенный

II. Explain the following metaphors. Who do they refer to?

It won't hurt him to discover that I'm not all milk and honey. – These were Julia’s words when she thought that she had gon too far to humiliate Tom by sending him money.

I'm not the woman to desert a sinking ship. – These are  Dolly’s words. She didn’t want to ruin Julia’s reputation by spreading rumors about her love affair with a young boy.

III. Give a character sketch of Dolly de Vries. Pay special attention to the description of her appearance: "Dolly de Vries was now a woman of sixty. …and a slight cockney accent revealed itself." Dwell on her relationship with Michael and Julia. How did she feel about Tom?

Dolly de Vries was now a woman of sixty. She was very fat, and her face, with its large nose and heavy red lips, seemed larger than life. There was a slightly masculine touch in her black satin dress, but she wore a double string of pearls round her neck, a diamond brooch at her waist and another in her hat. Her short hair was dyed a rich copper. Her lips and her finger-nails were bright red. Her voice was loud and deep, but when she got excited the words were apt to tumble over one another and a slight cockney accent revealed itself. She adored Julia, but didn’t like Michael as well as she didn’t like Tom, because he grabbed all Julia’s attention.

IV. Speak on Julia's reputation and talent. Do you agree that no one expects an actress to be a pattern of propriety?

Julia is a great actress, whom a lot of people adore and almost worship. She earned a brilliant reputation of a faithful wife and a wonderful in all the aspects woman. I don’t agree with the statement that no one expects an actress to be a pattern of propriety, because many fans want to be similar to their idols.

V. Answer the questions:

1. Why did Julia offer Tom the money for servants' tips? Do you think she made the right decision?

She did it to humiliate him and she was wrong having done such a thing.

2. Did Julia manage to induce Tom to see her again after that?

Yes, but she herself was humiliated.

3. Did Dolly believe that Julia didn't have a lover? Why?

Yes, because she noticed how Julia dealt with Tom.

4. Whom did Dolly finally decide to talk to about Julia's cheating?

She decided to talk to Michael.

5. Why did Dolly not confess to Michael that she suspected Julia of having a love affair?

Because she didn’t want to ruin Julia’s reputation.

6. Why did Michael suggest buying Dolly's share out?

Michael suggested buying Dolly’s share out, as he thought the woman could suffer from Julia’s ruined reputation

 7. What was the reason for Dolly's desperate jealousy?

Because she wasn’t the only person who wanted to help Julia.

 8. How did Dolly try to convince Julia that Tom was not very discreet?

She told Julia that he used her to please another girl. And that she dealt with her like with a toy.

 9. Why couldn't Julia fall asleep after the lunch with Dolly?

Because she missed Tom.

VI. Summarize the events of chapters 15-18.

Julia got back the money sent to Tom. She pleaded him to come to see her and they renewed their relationships. Then it became clear that people talked about Tom and her. Her admirer Dolly de Vries talked to Michael, but finally didn’t confess him that Julia had a lover. After that she talked to Julia herself and pointed out that Tom just used her for his own purposes.

Chapter 14

TASKS for Chapter 14

I. Find in the text the following words and phrases and translate them into Russian:

•  1.     on one excuse and another – то под одним предлогом, то под другим
• 2.     to confess to oneself – признаться себе
• 3.     that was all to the good – все было к лучшему
• 4.     shrewd – проницательный, хитрый, умный
• 5.     vanity – тщеславие, суета
• 6.     to have an affair with sb. – крутить с кем-либо роман
• 7.     Sallow - болезненный
• 8.     to feel compassion for sb. – сочувствовать, сострадать
• 9.     eminent persons – знаменитые люди
• 10. to lay no claims on sb. – не предъявлять притязаний на кого - либо
• 11. to use all her arts of cajolery – использовать все свое умение льстить (умасливать)
• 12. stale food – залежалая еда
• 13. to overcome one's scruples – преодолеть сомнения
• 14. to find someone a trifle dull – считать кого-то глупой безделушкой
• 15. to have no inclination – не иметь склонности
• 16. a man of the world – светский человек
• 17. she was modest about herself – быть о себе скромного мнения
• 18. a smack in the face - пощечина
• 19. sulkily - угрюмо
• 20. Julia's heart was wrung – сердце Джулии сжалось
• 21. chivalrous courtesy - рыцарский
• 22. a vile disposition – гнусный нрав
• 23. alacrity – готовность, рвение, живость
• 24. wistful - задумчивый
• 25. to act with great naturalness – поступать очень естественно
• 26. to make a scene – устраивать сцену
• 27. she was in a black rage – быть вне себя от ярости
• 28. she'd get even with him – она бы ужилась даже с ним
• 29. to rack one's brains – ломать голову

II. Answer the following questions:

1. Was Julia really in love with Tom Fennell? And he?

Unlike Tom, Julia was really in love, but she realized that he wasn’t completely hers.

2. How old was Tom? What did he do? Why was he a success with women?

Tom was 22. He was an accountant.

 “He was a highly-sexed young man and enjoyed sexual exercise. From hints, from stories that she had dragged out of him, she discovered that since he was seventeen he had had a great many women. He loved the act rather than the person. He looked upon it as the greatest lark in the world. And she could understand why he had so much success. There was something appealing in his slightness, his body was just skin and bone, that was why his clothes sat on him so well, and something charming in his clean freshness. His shyness and his effrontery combined to make him irresistible. It was strangely flattering for a woman to be treated as a little bit of fluff that you just tumbled on to a bed.”

3. How can you characterize Roger? Where was he educated? What were his relations like with his parents? Did he know what he wanted to be? Did he want to go on the stage?

“Roger was seventeen. He was a nice-looking boy, with reddish hair and blue eyes, but that was the best you could say of him. He had neither his mother’s vivacity and changing expression nor his father’s beauty of feature. Julia was somewhat disappointed in him. As a child when she had been so constantly photographed with him he was lovely. He was rather stolid now and he had a serious look. Really when you came to examine him his only good features were his teeth and his hair. Julia was very fond of him, but she could not but find him a trifle dull. When she was alone with him the time hung somewhat heavily on her hands. She exhibited a lively interest in the things she supposed must interest him, cricket and such like, but he did not seem to have much to say about them.”

“Roger was very polite to the guests. He did his duty as part host like a man of the

world. But it seemed to Julia that he held himself in some curious way aloof, as though he were playing a part in which he had not lost himself, and she had an

uneasy feeling that he was not accepting all these people, but coolly judging them. She had an impression that he took none of them very seriously.”

“Michael had wished him to go into the army, but this he had set his face against. He did not yet know what he wanted to be. Both Julia and Michael had from the first been obsessed by the fear that he would go on the stage, but for this apparently he had no inclination.”

“He led his own life. He went out on the river and lay about the garden reading. On his seventeenth birthday Julia had given him a very smart roadster, and in this he

careered about the country at breakneck speeds.”

4. How did Tom and Roger get on together?  

Tom and Roger became the best friends, they spent all the time together and irritated Julia.

5. Was Julia as successful in the movies as in the theatre? Did she envy the film-stars?

No, she wasn’t very successful in the movies, but she did not envy the film-stars; they came and went; she stayed.

6. Describe in detail how Julia managed to play different characters on the stage. What thrilled her? Why did she sometimes fell like God?

“The critics admired her variety. They praised especially her capacity for insinuating herself into a part. She was not aware that she deliberately observed people, but when she came to study a new part vague recollections surged up in her from she knew not where, and she found that she knew things about the character she was to represent that she had had no inkling of. It helped her to think of someone she knew or even someone she had seen in the street or at a party; she combined with this recollection her own personality, and thus built up a character founded on fact but enriched with her experience, her knowledge of technique and her amazing magnetism. People thought that she only acted during the two or three hours she was on the stage; they did not know that the character she was playing dwelt in the back of her mind all day long, when she was talking to others with all the appearance of attention, or in whatever business she was engaged. It often seemed to her that she was two persons, the actress, the popular favourite, the best-dressed woman in London, and that was a shadow; and the woman she was playing at night, and that was the substance.”

“her mastery over the medium, that thrilled her”.

“She’ could step into a part, not a very good one perhaps, with silly words to say, and by her personality, by her dexterity which she had at her finger-tips, infuse

it with life. There was no one who could do what she

could with a part.” That’s why she sometimes felt like God.

7. How did Julia revenge herself on Tom?

She humiliated him by sending him some money to pay off servants.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases describing Tom Fennell. Comment on the repetition of "a young man" in the text. First "he was a blushing young man" for Julia. Did her attitude change when she was better aquainted with him? Prove it by giving examples from the text.

Yes, Julia’s opinion changed. She realized that he was a great lover, who changed women like socks. The repetition of "a young man" underlines the difference in the age between Julia and Tom.

Tom is described in the following way:

• ·        a highly-sexed young man
• ·        enjoyed sexual exercise
• ·        had a great many women
• ·        loved the act rather than the person
• ·        the greatest lark in the world
• ·        his body was just skin and bone
• ·        something charming in his clean freshness
• ·        his shyness and his effrontery combined to make him irresistible
• ·        when he could not get his hair to stay down, and the moment it was dry it spread over his head in unruly curls. It made him look younger.
• ·        in the constant companionship of Roger he had shed the young man about town who was so careful of his dress, so particular about wearing the right thing, and was become again a sloppy little schoolboy
• ·        In every remark he made, in his mischievousness, in his polite little ways, he made her feel that she belonged to an older generation.

IV. Find in the text epithets and similes which characterize Julia and Michael and say what effect the author achieves by using them.

Julia

• ·        really beautiful eyebrows
• ·        smiled charmingly
• ·        lively sense of the ridiculous
• ·        deeply hurt
• ·        acted with great naturalness
• ·        a beautiful performance
• ·        amazing magnetism
• ·        the best-dressed woman in London
• ·        the popular favourite
• ·        “I hope Tom won’t find it so,” she said, as though she
• ·        were seriously concerned.
• ·        excruciatingly bored by him (by Michael)

Michael

• ·        smiled in his friendly way
• ·        extraordinarily kind
• ·        good, friendly smile

V. What stylistic device did Maugham employ at large to characterize Julia? Illustrate your answer with the examples from the text. Comment on the lexicon used by Julia. To what stylistic layer of the vocabulary does it belong? How does it characterize Julia?

Julia is characterized thorough the interior monologue. In her thoughts Julia sometimes uses vulgar words, which underline that he is a real actress. When she talks to people she is polite as a noble woman, and in reality she is completely different:

• ·        “Bloody fool, bloody fool”
• ·        “My God, I wish it could have choked them.”
• ·        “Blast his eyes. No, I mustn’t show I mind. Thank God, I can act.”
• ·        “I must keep my temper. I must keep my temper. Why was I such a fool as to give him a racing punt?”

VI. Give a summary of chapter 14. (in written form)

Julia gave Tom a lot of presents, because he was very poor. Once she invited him to spent his vacation with her family and asked Michael to let a flat out on hire for Tom. While in their house, Tom got on well with Julia’s son Roger, so he spent no time with her. She was hurt and revenged on him by sending him money to pay off servants.

Theatre. Chapters 11-13.

I. Find the following words and phrases in the text and translate them into Russian:

·        a profound contempt – глубокое презрение
·        to have first nights – играть в премьере
·         to be exemplary – быть примерным
·         a pattern of conjugal fidelity – образец супружеской верности
·         to separate – отделяться, разводиться
·         be ingenuous – быть простодушным
·         to cry almost at will – плакать почти по желанию
·         common sense – здравый смысл
·         to elope with sb. – сбежать с кем-то
·         Preposterous – нелепый, абсурдный
·         curtain calls – вызовы актера
·         Prudish – ханжеский, не в меру стыдливый
·         in for a penny, in for a pound - назвался груздем - полезай в кузов
·         this was all a put-up job – это была чистой воды махинация
·         Indecent - неприличный
·         in a flash – в мгновение ока
·         to take liberties with sb. - позволять себе вольности с кем-либо (по отношению к кому-либо)
·         a matinee – утренник, утренняя пора
·         Amiably – любезность, доброжелательность
·         well-chosen words – хорошо отобранный слова
·         to have no sequel – не иметь продолжения
·         to erase the episode from her memory – стереть этот эпизод из памяти
·         pleasant reveries sauntered through her mind – приятные грезы блуждали по ее разуму
·         hectic flush – лихорадочный румянец
·         to see in the flesh – увидеть вживую
·         to hurt one's pride – задеть чью-то гордость
·         to have an inkling – намек, слабое подозрение
·         to pawn – закладывать, отдавать в залог

II. Answer the following questions:

1.      1 How did Julia and Lord Tamerly get acquainted? Was Julia his mistress? What did Julia owe to Charles Tamerly?

Julia and Lord Tamerly got acquented due to his wife, who later told everybody that Julia was Lord’s mistress, but it wasn’t true. Julia and Charles had an agreement that she will marry him if her husband died, because he was very kind to her. In fact, he was an only person, whom he completely trusted.

2.      Describe Julia's acting when Lord Tamerly declared his love to her. How can you prove that it was only make-believe?

“Then Julia did a disgraceful thing. She sat down and for a minute looked silently at the miniature. Timing it perfectly, she raised her eyes till they met Charles's. She could cry almost at will, it was one of her most telling accomplishments, and now without a sound, without a sob, the tears poured down her cheeks. With her mouth slightly open, with the look in her eyes of a child that has been deeply hurt and does not know why, the effect was unbearably pathetic. His face was crossed by a twinge of agony. When he spoke his voice was hoarse with emotion.” It was only make believe, because she thought not about ral feeling and emotions, but how she looked like and then we read the following: “She gave a deep sigh of contentment and for a minute or two rested in his arms. When he went away she got up and looked in the glass.

"You rotten bitch," she said to herself.

But she giggled as though she were not in the least ashamed and then went into the bathroom to wash her face and eyes. She felt wonderfully exhilarated. She heard Michael come in and called out to him.

"Michael, look at that miniature Charles has just given me. It's on the chimney-piece. Are those diamonds or paste?"

3.      Why do you think Julia agreed to have tea with the young man? What was his name? Did Julia know it or not?

Julia didn’t know his name but she was glad to make something pleasant for a boy, who, how she thought adored her. She thought that it would be nice of her to condescend to drink a cup of tea with him. After that she got to know that his name was Tom Fennell.

4.      Was the young man as shy as he seemed to be?

Now, his appearance was deceptive. He turned out to be a very ambitious and assertive young man.

5.      How did he show his admiration for Julia?

He sent her flowers and was very gentle to her when she came. Moreover, then he pawned his watch to pay the bill at the restaurant.

6.      What feelings did Julia experience after the date with the young man? How did she act after that? How old was Julia at that time? What's your opinion of Julia's behaviour?

She was elated, but a bit ashamed. She did her best to perform her role in the performance and everybody noticed that. That time she was 46. I disapprove of such behavior, because she wasn’t only married, but she had a 16-year-old son.

7.      Describe the episode of Julia's adventure on the train to Cannes. What was Julia's attitude towards this accident? Give quotations from the text and comment on them. What do you think of this adventure?

Julia wanted to find a good sleeper in the train and one Spanish (Spaniard in the text) man offered to exchange with her. Before going to sleep he came to her compartment and said that he had forgotten a toothbrush and then they spent the whole night together. The next time they met, they both pretended not to recognize each other. Moreover, he was with his wife and daughter.

Julia liked to remember this accident, because she considered it a bit funny and romantic. This is proved by the lines “It was an odd little adventure and Julia was enjoying It.” “But as time passed Julia's indignation was mitigated, and she had often thought of the adventure since with a good deal of pleasure.”

In my opinion, this is odd and disgusting to sleep with an unknown man and consider it to be funny.

8.      When did Julia see Tom Fennell again? Under what circumstances?

She saw him in her makeup room, when he asked for a cup of tea. That time they made love again and it was very risky, because the doo wasn’t locked.

9.      What do you think attracted Julia to Tom? How old was he?

He was very young, about 26 years old, and that’s why Julia liked him. He felt young too near him.

10.  Why do you think Tom was interested in grand people?

Because Julia was surrounded by them and he was interested in her.

11.  Do you approve or disapprove of Julia's love affair with Tom Fennell?

Of course, I disapprove of it, because she is older, she is married and she has got a son.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases which the author uses to show Julia's attitude towards Tom Fennell. Comment on their semantics and stylistic value.

·        “But when she saw him, so slight, with his hectic flush and his blue eyes, so charmingly boyish, she felt a sudden pang”
·        "Oh, my good resolutions. My God, I can't have fallen in love with him."
·        "What the devil's the matter with me? God, I can hardly breathe
·        She could not but look at him.
·        She had been as excited all the evening as a girl going to her first ball.
·        she found his slight awkwardness rather charming
·        Poor sweet
·        She could have taken him in her arms then and there and kissed his blue eyes. She adored him.
So, Julia felt like a young girl, who fell in love, and this is perfectly underlined with such phrases, most of them are her thoughts.

IV. The author uses a number of theatrical allusions. Find them in the text and say what you know about them. (Consult the Oxford Guide to British and American Culture or any other culture dictionary).

·        Dame Ellen Terry, GBE (27 February 1847 – 21 July 1928) was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain.

·        Millamant is generally conceded to be the most charming heroine in Restoration comedy. She is a heroine from Congreve’s  play “ «The way of the world»

·        George Farquhar (1677 – 29 April 1707) was an Irish dramatist. He is noted for his contributions to late Restoration comedy, particularly for his plays The Recruiting Officer (1706) and The Beaux' Stratagem (1707).

V. In chapter 11 you can find the following phrase: "... like Venus rising from the waves." What is the source of this allusion? Comment on it and its stylistic effect.

The source of this allusion is Botticelli’s picture “Venus Rising from the Sea”. On this canvas the artist represented the Neoplatonic idea of divine love in the form of a nude Venus. So, it underlines the enormous Julia’s love for Tom.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 11-13. (in written form)

Julia remembered a story of a man, who fell in love with her, Charles Tamerly . After his declaration of love he began her closest person, but she didn’t love him as a man, beause he was much older. Once, Julia was invited to have a cup of tea with a young boy, Thomas Fennell, who had lunch with her and her husband. When she came to him, they made love and she fell in love with him. Then she remembered another episode of a similar “mischief” in the train, when she slept with a Spanish attaché. After that Tom came to her makeup room and they made love again. Then he invited her to a very expensive restaurant, and to pay the bill, he had to pawn his watch.

Theatre. Chapters 7-10.

I. Find the following words and phrases in the text and translate them into Russian:

1. placidity – спокойствие, безмятежность, благодушие
2. to make frantic scenes – закатывать безумные сцены
3. to give sb. a look of scorn – бросать на кого-либо презрительный взгляд
4. lavishness – щедрость, расточительность
5. to know how to pull strings adroitly – искусно пускать в ход связи
6. to fall out of love - разлюбить
7. close-cropped hair – коротко стриженные волосы
8. to resist an inclination – сопротивляться желанию
9. weather-beaten skin – обветренная кожа
10. coltish grace – щенячья грация
11. to be on active service – находиться в действующей армии
12. confinement - роды
13. to run a theatre – управлять театром
14. effusive – несдержанный, чрезмерный
15. virile air – сильный дух
16. to set one's mind to smth. – решить что - либо
17. Disconcerting - замешательство
18. it's a knock out – сногсшибательный успех
19. amiability - дружелюбие
20. affable manner - учтивость
21. to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth. – проявлять в чем-то великую изобретательность
22. to be unperturbed – быть невозмутимым
23. shrewdness - проницательность
24. to grizzle – седеть, капризничать
25. it's a mere commonplace – это банально, избито
26. exorbitant – непомерный, чрезмерный
27. to be conciliatory – быть умиротворяющим
28. to foster one's career – способствовать продвижению чьей – либо карьеры
29. prosiness – прозаичность, банальность
30. acumen – сообразительность, проницательность
31. to have one's face lifted – делать подтяжку
32. it's no good crying over spilt milk – слезами горю не поможешь
33. to have little flirtations – заводить легкие интрижки
34. masseuse - массажистка
35. gossip column – светская хроника
36. the world of make-believe – воображаемый мир

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What did Michael and Julia do when the war broke out? 
They both acted and then Michael enlisted and soon became an officer.
2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war? 
He was very popular in the regimental mess and the officers accepted him at once since he had the manner and way of thinking of the professional soldier. So, it was inevitable that he should get on the staff of some general.
3. Do you think love is important for a successful family life?
 Would you share your point of view on this problem with your fellow students?
Of  course, love is very important for a successful family life, moreover, it’s the key factor, which keeps all the members of this family together.
 4. How did it happen that Julia fell out of love with Michael?
When he returned from the war, she understood that he wasn’t that attractive young boy with whom she fell in love one day, because he grew older and lost most those features which seemed so inviting for Julia.
 5. How did Michael manage to find the money to rent a theatre? What was the theatre called? Who was in the partnership with him?
 Jimmy Langton helped the by giving the letter of reference, so one old woman, Dolly de Vries agreed to give them money to open their own theatre. When they had been in management for three years they were sufficiently well established for Michael to be able to borrow from the bank enough money to buy the lease of a theatre that had just been built. After much discussion they decided to call it the Siddons
Theatre.
6. Why was Julia against Michael's taking up directing? 
Because he possessed poor imagination, to cut a long story short, his ideas were banal and Julia was not sure that he would have authority over the cast.
7. What kind of director was Michael? 
He was thorough; he worked hard. Julia, strangely enough, felt that he was getting more out of her than any other director had done. He knew what she was capable of, and, familiar with her every inflection, every glance of her wonderful eyes, every graceful movement of her  body. With the cast he was at once conciliatory and exacting. When tempers were frayed his good humour, his real kindliness, smoothed things over. Authors liked him because, being unimaginative, he was quite sure what they meant he was obliged to listen to them.
forced to let the plays speak for themselves and often not being
8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more? How did he change in Julia's eyes? 
It seemed to her that none but she knew what it was like to live with a man who was such a monster of vanity. His complacency when he had beaten an opponent at golf or got the better of
someone in a business deal was infuriating. He gloried in his artfulness. He was a bore, a crashing bore. He liked to tell Julia everything he did and every scheme that passed through his head; it had been charming when merely to have him with her was a delight, but for years she had found his prosiness intolerable. As a youth he had taken his beauty for granted: now he began to pay more attention to it and spared no pains to keep what was left of it. It became an obsession. He was prudent, and all he wanted was admiration.
9. Why was Julia sad when she thought of her married life? 
Because she couldn’t understand how she managed to fall in love with such a man, who had changed so much and whom she didn’t love.
10. Why was Michael happier than he had been before?
Because he was famous and many people adored him.
 11. Julia's dresser and maid was a Cockney, wasn't she? Please prove it using the examples from the text.
'ealth and strength."
I'm young enough to dress 'er. And maid 'er.
It'd only fidget me to 'ave a lot of elephant's tusks in me mouth."( Dropping “h”)
12. Who was the unknown man who sent flowers to Julia? Why did she write him a thank you note? 
It was Thomas Fennel. She wrote a note, because she was naturally polite and it was, besides, a principle with her to answer all fan letters. That was how she kept in touch with
her public.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases describing Michael's appearance and character. Say what you think of him.

Appearance:

Before the war:

• the glorious beauty of his youth
• wonderfully handsome
• very good figure
• a great mass of curling chestnut hair
• a wonderful skin
• large deep blue eyes,
• a straight nose
• small ears
• the best-looking actor on the English stage
• The only thing that slightly spoiled him was the thinness of his mouth

After the war

• close-cropped hair
• weather-beaten skin
• his movements were set
• he lost his cotlish grace
• his beauty was stricken as with a mortal sickness

Character:

• placidity
• practical mind
• a good-humoured smile on his handsome face
• gentlemanly push
• thrift
• considerable organizing capacity
• Though not passionate he was affectionate
• The breeziness he had acquired in the army was effective.
• well set-up, normal, high-spirited fellow
• He never attempted to play anyone but himself
• worked hard and was amenable to direction
• made his plans carefully
• perfectly faithful
• conscientious, attentive, scrupulous
• selfless (for the sake of Julia)
• conceited
• a crashing bore

To my mind, Michael is rather interesting character. He possesses a lot of good traits and the only his drawback is his vanity. He is very sincere, because he can’t perform love if he isn’t in love. He does everything to make his wife happy, but at the same time, he doesn’t love her and their points of view concerning a happy married life are different.

IV. Comment on the phrase from chapter 9: "Roger had been entered for Eton within a week of his birth." Comment on it. Give a short presentation on public schools in Britain. 

Well, it’s not a secret that to send a child to some famous public school, parents enroll them long before their actual study, because public schools are considered to be very prestigious and they give a good opportunity to prepare pupils for entering the best universities in the UK.

Public schools provide elite education, which is gotten in the following way. At first children at the age of 11 go to a prep school, before which they take Common Entrance Examination and then to an independent school, where they take SAT at 14, and a bit later GSCE and A-level. Students stay there up to 18.

The most famous schools in Britain are private boarding schools, such as Eton College, Harrow School, Rugby School, and Winchester School. These famous private schools, founded during the Middle Ages, are theoretically open to the public, but in reality are attended by those who can afford the fees. Many of Britain’s leaders have attended these private schools, which cater to the wealthy and influential but also offer some scholarships to gifted poorer children. Local authorities and the central authority also provide assistance to some families who are unable to pay the fees. Only a small percentage of the population can attend these ancient and highly prestigious schools. A variety of other schools are also private, including kindergartens, day schools, and newer boarding schools. Private schools that take pupils from the age of 7 to the age of 11, 12, or 13 are called preparatory schools. Private schools that take older pupils from the age of 11, 12, or 13 to 18 or 19 are often referred to as public schools. Only 7 percent of British students attend private school.



VI. Give a summary of chapters 7-10. (in written form)

When the war broke out, Michael enlisted at one and then became an officer. Julia was pregnant. When Michael returned from front, they moved to a new house and opened their own theatre due to Dolly de Vries, who gave them money. Before one of her performances, Julia got flowers from an unknown admirer and wrote him a thank-you letter.

Theatre. Chapters 3 - 6.

Task I

·         asset - [USUALLY PLURAL] something such as money or property that a person or company owns; a major benefit

·         a sumptuous supper – an expensive supper

·         extravagance - [UNCOUNTABLE] the practice of spending a lot of money, especially more than you should; [UNCOUNTABLE] the extreme, unusual, or unreasonable quality of something

·         thrift - [UNCOUNTABLE] the practice of spending money carefully so that you do not waste any

·         to remonstrate - to argue with, complain to, or criticize someone about something

·         equanimity - a calm mental state when you deal with a difficult situation

·         be at a loose end - be in an uncertain or confused condition; be without any particular plans; be in unsettled position; be without any specific occupation

·         to jeopardize - to risk damaging or destroying something important

·         alacrity – enthusiasm

·         susceptible to - easily influenced or affected by something

·         obsequious - too keen to please someone, in a way that does not seem sincere

·         a retainer - a payment made to someone such as a lawyer so that they will be available to do work for you when you want them; a reduced rent that you pay to keep your house, flat etc .when you are not living in it, so that you can live in it when you return; OLD-FASHIONED a servant, especially one who has worked for someone from a high social class for a long time

Task II

·         "I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honour more” (TO LUCASTA, GOING TO THE WARS by R. Lovelace) – Michael quoted it for Julia to underline that he was an honest man, who wasn’t going to misuse her love.

·         "Lord, what fools these mortals be" (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by W. Shakespeare) – Jimmie said it about Julia, who loved Michael, the man, who didn’t suit her. So this quotation underlines that people are not able to control their feelings.

Task III

The metaphor “she's a millstone round his neck” means that a wife, especially an actress, becomes a burden for a young actor’s career. This phrase belongs to Michael, who said it in general while talking to Julia, not meaning somebody in particular.

Task IV

·         “He was too modest to resent an unfavourable criticism”.  This phrase was written about Michael, who was able to stand any criticism in his address.

·         “…after all he was born a gentleman." – it was said about Michael, whose parents didn’t approve his occupation as an actor.

·         “He's going to be a flop." – it was said about Michael, who was an awful actor and was going to fail in  America.

·         "I suppose it's beastly of me," she thought, "but thank God, thank God." – Julia thought that it was bad of her to be glad that Michael failed, but she wanted him to do it, because she loved him and wanted him to be nearby.

Task VI

The author uses the so-called “stream of consciousness” when the reader understands Julia’s thoughts.

Task VII

1. Who was Jimmie Langton and what role did he play in Julia's and Michael's lives? A man called James Langton was running a repertory theatre at Middlepool that was attracting a good deal of attention. Due to him, Julia and Michael got acquainted and Julia became a brilliant actress.

2. When did Julia and Michael join the Middlepool Theatre Company? Michael had been with Benson for three years and then asked Langton to employ him. Julia joined his theatre company  after playing second roles, when he noticed her great talent.

3. How did Julia and Michael get to know each other? They played in the same play and began to walk together and meet to discuss their roles.

4. What did Julia like about Michael?  She liked that he was beautiful, careful and thrifty.

5. What did Michael think of good looks and decent families? He thought that it was more important to have a decent family than a good look.

6. How did Julia feel about her family? She was a bit ashamed, because her father was a vet.

7. What were Michael's views on marriage?  He considered that it was silly of a young actor to get married.

8. Why did Michael find Julia extravagant?  Because she spent a lot of money.

9. What did Michael read newspaper reviews for? Did Julia share his views? He read these reviews to know critics’ opinions about him. Julia didn’t share his views, she thought that he was a bad actor, though very beautiful.

10. Who invited Julia to Michael's house for the Holy Week?  Michael’s mother.

11. Did Michael's father meet Julia's expectations?  No, she expected him to be more stern.

12. What impression did Julia produce on Michael's parents? They liked her very much.

13. Was the proposal expected by Michael's parents?  Yes, it was.

14. What professional offer did Michael receive and who facilitated this? He was invited to America due to Jimmie Langton.

15. What steps did Julia take upon finding Michael was leaving for America?  She asked Jimmie to help her.

16. Was Michael a success in America?  No, he wasn’t.

17. Did Julia keep in touch with him while he was away? Yes. She wrote him lots of letters.

18. Was Julia eager to meet Michael straight at the station? Yes, she was.

19. What were Michael's impressions after staying and working in America? He wasn’t disappointed very much, because he saved dome money for their marriage.

20. What was Michael going to do in England and what were his prospects? He was going to marry Julia and open their own theatre.

Task VIII

Julia remembered how she fell in love with Michael and tried to make him marry her. He asked his mother to invite her to visit them then he popped the question. After that he was invited to work in America, Julia was very disappointed and tried to prevent it. Eventually he worked there for one season and saved some money for their marriage.