III. Recall the situations in which you come across the following expressions and explain their meanings.

a) to let on (p.70)

b) to make and mar one’s life (p.75)

c) to delve into one’s soul (p.85)

d) to intercede for smb (p.86)

e) to grope one’s way out of (p.88)

 

IV. Read, translate and comment upon the following extract on pp. 76 – 78: “Kate Swift’s mind was … she cried passionately”.

V. Speak on the following:

1. Describe Kate Swift and give her character-sketch. Take notice of how she is thought of by different people (her pupils, the people of the town, George Willard and the Reverend Curtis Hartman).

2. Dwell upon Kate’s relationship with her former pupil – George Willard. In what way did she remain his teacher? What did she want him to understand? What was the inner conflict that stirred the heart of the woman?

3. Speak about the Reverend Curtis Hartman (his appearance, family life, occupation and views).

4. What was the temptation the Reverend Curtis Hartman had to face as a test of his soul? How did he try to resist it? Say how he finally groped his way out of darkness into the light of righteousness? Comment upon his words “she (Kate Swift) is an instrument of God, bearing the message of truth”.

5. How would you formulate the “leading motive” of these two stories? What aspects of human life does the author mean to show the reader?

 

VI. Summarize the story.

 

VII. Comment upon the statement: “The ways of God are beyond human understanding”. When do people usually say that? Do you ever use this statement? Make up your own situation to illustrate it.

 

F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Babylon Revisited” (pp. 93 – 125)

 

I. Transcribe and explain the meanings, give Russian equivalents of the words.

1. bloated, adj	6. bob, v
2. tepid, adj	7. succinctly, adv
3. restiveness, n	8. buxom, adj
4. infallible, adj	9. recalcitrant, adj
5. swoop, v	10. rut, n

 

II. Recall the situations in which you come across the following expressions and explain their meanings.

a) days of the bull market (p.94)

b) to take a beating (p.109)

c) to be flat on one’s back (p.111)

d) to throw up the sponge (p.113)

 

III. Read, translate and comment upon the following extract on pp. 99 – 101:

“He left soon after dinner … took a taxi to his hotel”.

IV. Make up a dialogue between Marion and her husband discussing the pros and cons of letting Honoria go with her father.

 

V. Speak on the following:

1. What events caused Charles Wales’ bankruptcy? Find some historical information about this crash.

2. What can you deduce about Charles’ former life in Paris from the fragmentary information given in the story?

3. Speak about the reasons for Marion to hold her brother-in-law in distrust.

4. What impression did old Charles’ friends produce on him? Why?

5. Speak about Charles’ aim to come to Paris. Do you justify and approve of his intentions?

6. What went wrong in his plan?

7. They say there are always two sides of every story. Regard the situation first from Charles’ side and then from Marion’s. Who do you sympathize with more?

8. Comment upon the story’s title.

 

VI. Summarize the story.

 

VII. Write a letter that Honoria might have written to her father saying how miserable she was about not living with him.

 

E. Hemingway

“The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” (pp. 126 – 178)

 

I. Find and present some additional information about the author and his style of writing.

 

II. Translate and explain the meanings, give Russian equivalents of the words.

1. quid, n	6. topping, adj
2. eland, n	7. clientele, n
3. old-timer, n	8. mop up, v
4. guttural, adj	9. cuckoldry, n
5. spoor, n	10. gas, v

 

III. Recall the situations in which you come across the following expressions and explain their meanings.

a) to take a good birching (p.131)

b) to be a four-letter man (p.131)

c) to go to pot (p.132)

d) to let up on smb/smth (p.135)

 

IV. Read and translate the following extract on pp. 149 – 150: “Thirty-five yards … knew the lion was dead”.

 

V. Analyze the above given extract in the written form.

 

VI. Speak on the following:

1. Comment upon the title of the story. Why, do you think, Macomber’s life was happy?

2. Speak about the husband and wife’s relations. Pay attention to the husband’s words: ”You promised there wouldn’t be.” (p.154) How can you explain them?

3. Speak about Wilson’s attitude towards the couple.

4. Dwell upon the change that came over Macomber. What caused it, to your mind? Describe his wife’s and Wilson’s reactions to that change.

5. What really happened on safari that day? Do you believe it was an accident?

 

VII. Summarize the story.

 

VIII. Make up a police account on Francis Macomber’s death as if you were examining the site.

 

W. Saroyan

“The Cocktail Party” (pp. 179 – 211)

 

I. Find and present some additional information about the author and peculiarities of his writing.