Chapters 7-10

Chapters 7-10

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

Placidity – спокойный; 

to make frantic scenes – закатывать безумные сцены; 

to give sb. a look of scorn – бросить презрительный взгляд на кого-либо;

lavishness – щедрость;

to know how to pull strings adroitly – знать, как пустить в ход связи; 

to fall out of love – разлюбить; 

close-cropped hair – коротко стриженный; 

to resist an inclination – удержаться от чего-то; 

weather-beaten skin – обветренная кожа; 

coltish grace – щенячья грация; 

to be on active service – быть в действующей армии; 

confinement – роды; 

to run a theatre – открыть театр; 

effusive – экспансивный, несдержанный; 

to set one's mind to smth. – стремиться к чему-либо; 

disconcerting – смущающий, приводящий в замешательство; 

it's a knock out – сногсшибательно; 

amiability – добродушие; 

affable manner – дружеское обращение;

to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth. – проявить великую изобретательность в чем-то; 

to be unperturbed – быть невозмутимым; 

shrewdness – проницательность; 

to grizzle – возмущаться, раздражать;

it's a mere commonplace – это банально; 

exorbitant – непомерный; 

to be conciliatory – примирительный, дружелюбный; 

to foster one's career – способствовать чьей-то карьере; 

prosiness – прозаичность; 

acumen – проницательность; 

to have one's face lifted – подтянуть кожу лица; 

it's no good crying over spilt milk – потерянного не воротишь; 

to have little flirtations – заводить небольшие интриги; 

masseuse – массажистка; 

gossip column – колонка светской хроники; 

the world of make-believe – мир притворства.

II. Answer the following questions:
1. What did Michael and Julia do when the war broke out?
They were both acting when the war broke out.

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war? I think Michael volunteerd for the army because he was a patriot. Also the officers accepted him almost at once, even though he was an actor, as one of themselves. It was as though the family of soldiers from which he was born had set a seal on him so that he fell instinctively into the manner and way of thinking of the professional soldier.

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?
I suppose that love is extremly important  for successful family life, because only in such a way, I beleive, there are mutual support and understanding within the members of the family. Moreover, love in the family gives an opportunity to children to grow as individuals.

4. How did it happen that Julia fell out of love with Michael?
Julia was attracted by his beauty when she fell in love with Michael from the first sight. Moreover, she was pregnant when she realized it. When a woman expects a baby everything changes in thei life. The quiestion about love could change too. Their occasion isn't an exception.  As her passion went out, Julia started to notice defects in her husband’s appearance: He wasn’t so beautiful as earlier; he no longer smelt like a youth, he smelt like a man. Michael grew old that's why Julia fell out of love with him.

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?
After the death of Michael's parents he inherited nearly four thousand pounds, and this with his own savings and Julia's brought up their joint capital to seven thousand. But the rent of theatres had gone up enormously, the salaries of actors and the wages of stagehands had increased, so that the expense of running a theatre was very much greater than it had been before the war. Then they found a rich woman, not so old, who was interested not in the man but in Julia.
        Mrs. de Vries was a widow. She was a short stout woman with a fine Jewish nose and fine Jewish eyes, a great deal of energy, a manner at once effusive and timid, and a somewhat virile air. She had a passion for the stage.
        The theatre was then called the Siddons Theatre.

6. Why was Julia against Michael's taking up directing?
Julia was against her husband’s taking up directing because she doubted in his success, she didn't beleive in his talent at all. Michael had no fantasy and his ideas were trivial. She was not sure that he would have authority over the cast.

7. What kind of director was Michael?
Michael was workaholic. He paid Julia more than any other director had done, because he knew what she was capable of, and was familiar with her every inflection, every glance of her eyes, every graceful movement. He was too gentle to be director. With the cast he was conciliatory and exacting at the same time. When tempers were frayed his good humor, his real kindliness smoothed things over.

8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more? How did he change in Julia's eyes? His straight thin-lipped mouth irritated her.Moreover, he no longer smelt like a youth, he smelt like a man. Michael’s thrift, which in the early days had seemed an amusing, rather touching trait, now revolted her. Besides, as a youth he had taken his beauty for granted, but that time he began to pay more attention to it and spared no pains to keep what was left of it. It became an obsession. He devoted anxious care to his figure. He never ate a fattening thing and never forgot his exercises.

9. Why was Julia sad when she thought of her married life?
It made Julia a little sad to think how much she had loved him. Because her love had died she felt that life had cheated her.

10. Why was Michael happier than he had been before?
When Julia fell out of love with Michael, she no longer made any demands on him. Moreover, the man thought with satisfaction that the birth of the baby had calmed his wife down; she was much easier to get on with, she never made scenes any more. At the same time, Michael was happier when he founded his own theatre, where plays were crowned with success.

11. Julia's dresser and maid was a Cockney, wasn't she? Please prove it using the examples from the text.
Cockney speech characterized by colloquial pronunciation and grammatical errors: "if he saw you now 'e wouldn't, not if I know anything about men"

12. Who was the unknown man who sent flowers to Julia? Why did she write him a thank you note?
It was Mr. Thomas Fennell. Julia wrote a thank you note, because she was naturally polite and, besides, it was a principle with her to answer all fan letters.

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

- a very good figure, a great mass of curling chestnut hair and large deep blue eyes, a straight nose and small ears, (negative feature: thin mouth)

- the best- looking actor on the English stage
-six foot tall and he had a gallant bearing
- very handsome
- an easy manner to talk like a gentleman
- good-looking and kindly
- eager to get on
- his voice was a trifle thin
- he didn’t much like spending money
- friendly, good-humoured and kind
- very simple-minded in some ways
- he had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace (about theatre)
- honest
- a perfect husband
- take his beauty for granted
- to devote anxious care to his figure
- he was prudent and all he wanted was admiration
- he was prosy, near with his money, self-complacent, but how extraordinarily kind he was and how unselfish
- always the ferfect gentleman

I like Michael Gosselyn for his devotion to his wife. He is an ideal husband. 

Michael didn’t like spending money, neither he never gave on credit. When he returned from the war, he changed, as, firstly, he no longer smelt like a youth, he smelt like a man. Besides, as a youth the man had taken his beauty for granted, but that time he began to pay more attention to it and spared no pains to keep what was left of it. It became an obsession. So he is too conceited. I don't think it's the best man's character trait.

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.

Eton is a public school in Britain. Only chi;dren from rich families can an opportunity to study there. So does Roger. His parents live luxirous live and  of course their son should study in such a prestigious school.

public schools.

There are two types of schools in the UK: state schools where education is free and private schools where you have to pay. The only thing is that private schools in Britain are called ... public. Why? A long time ago when education was a privilege of the rich, the only schools where poor people could go were funded by charities (organisations that collect money for people in need). As it was public money, the schools for the poor were called public schools. Logical, isn't it? However, in the course of history many public schools became very successful and turned into expensive private schools but the conservative British continued to call them public schools.

Until very recently public schools were either all-boys or all-girls. Public schools can be full boarding (pupils live there all academic year except for holidays), normal (pupils go home every day) and mixed (some pupils go home every weekend and some stay).

Well, the first thing you need to have is money as some public schools charge up to £20,000 a year. There are some grants for bright pupils as well but the places are few and the competition is very strong. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that only six percent of the people in the UK can afford it. The other important criterion is that you have to belong to the right class as the class system in Britain is still very important. Mostly, public education is a privilege of the upper middle and upper classes. 

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

Julia and Michael were acting when the war arose suddenly. Michael volunteered, but Miss Lambert had to continue her work. She was the leading actress in England and she became the most well-paid. When Michael came back from the war Julia understood that didn’t love her husband anymore because he had changed. Michael decided to open his own theatre with the help of very rich old woman called Mrs. de Vries. He was a director. At the end of the play Julia received flowers from Tomas Fennel, unknown fan.

Theater 3-6

Theater 3-6

I. Explain in English or give definitions of and find contextual synonyms for the following words and phrases:

Asset - a useful and desirable thing or quality

a sumptuous supper - splendor suggesting great expense – lavish

extravagance - excessive or unnecessary expenditure or outlay of money

thrift - economical management; economy – frugality

to remonstrate - to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval - affirm equanimity - mental or emotional stabilityimperturbability

at a loose end - in an uncertain or unsettled situation or positionon the mooch

to jeopardize - to put in risk - to run chances

alacrity - cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingnesseagerness

susceptible to - admitting or capable of some specified treatment

obsequious - servilely compliant or deferential

a retainer - a servant or attendant who has served a family for many years

II. Find quotations in the text. State their meaning and their function.

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be," Polonius - The quotation belongs to Michael and we can assume it’s his life motto. Michael doesn’t like to spend money. He doesn’t  give it to anybody

"I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honour more," Richard Lovelace (Tell Me Not, Sweet) – That shows Michael’s attitude to love, wedding and Julia.

 "Lord, what fools these mortals be," Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream) – This quotation Jimmie said to Julia because of his misunderstanding how she could love Michael because, in Jimmie’s opinion, she’s much too good for Michael.

III. Explain the metaphor "she is a millstone round his neck." Who does it refer to?

That means to be a responsibility that is difficult to bear and causes you trouble. This metaphor belongs to Michael and refers to actors, when the man was speaking about his attitude to marriage with an actress just at the source of her career.

IV. Comment on the context of the following phrases:

 "He was too modest to resent an unfavourable criticism." (Ch.3)

Michael was too modest to resent it though he realized that he is still an actor only because of his appearance.

 "... after all he was born a gentleman." (Ch.4)

This phrase refers to Michael because his parents thought that a career of an actor is not good for his son. They preferred him to become a military man.

"He is going to be a flop." (Ch.5)

The phrase refers to Michael who was going to America as an actor. Jimmie supposed him to be an ordinary actor without a great talent that’s why he thought Michael to get a failure.

 "'I suppose it's beastly of me,' she thought, 'but thank God, thank God.'" (Ch.6)

Julia said this phrase after she’d found out about Michael’s return from America. She was afraid that he forgot her and stopped loving and she was really glad that he was going to come back.

VI. What techniques are employed by the author to make the reader see the events through Julia's eyes?

Maugham used metaphors such as poor lamb, silly little fool, angel, poor little thing. For instance she used poor lamb, while speaking about the clerk, who was trying to find a job; in entire monologues, while speaking about Michael. So all these metaphors are employed to convey the woman’s feelings to men: sympathy and pity. Moreover, such metaphors like ‘her heart melted within her’, ‘take courage in both her hands’ describe Julia’s passion to Michael. To help us understand Julia’s emotions the author uses such emotional words as filthy pig, beast, devil, brute, rotten old eunuch.

VII. Answer the questions:

1. Who was Jimmie Langton and what role did he play in Julia's and Michael's lives?James Langton was running a repertory theatre at Middlepool that was attracting a good deal of attention. He was a fat, bald-headed, rubicund man of forty-five; an eccentric, arrogant, exuberant, vain and charming fellow. He had a passion for the theatre and loved acting, but his appearance prevented him from playing any but a few parts.And although Jimmie was no actor, he worked his company hard. Due to him Julia and Michael met: both of them were in his troupe. He didn’t understand what the woman found in Michael, he even hinted that he wasn’t a good match for her.

 2. When did Julia and Michael join the Middlepool Theatre Company? Michael had been playing in another theatre for three years, when the he was in Middlepool, he was noticed  by Langton, who asked him to join Middlepool Theatre, Michael agreed.

3. How did Julia and Michael get to know each other? - Michael played the boy and Julia played Regina. They heard one another their parts and after rehearsals lunched together to talk of them. Soon they were inseparable.

4. What did Julia like about Michael? - His most engaging trait was his good humour. He bore Jimmie Langton's abuse with equanimity. When tempers grew frayed during a long rehearsal he remained serene. It was impossible to quarrel with him.

4. What did Michael think of good looks and decent families? He thinks that decent families are more important than good looks because everyone can have a good appearance but not everyone can belong to a decent family.

5. How did Julia feel about her family? – She feels good with it and she wasn’t embarrassed wither father’s profession.

6. What were Michael's views on marriage? “I think an actor's a perfect fool to marry young. There are so many cases in which it absolutely ruins a chap's career. Especially if he marries an actress. He becomes a star and then she's a millstone round his neck”.

8. What did Michael read newspaper reviews for? Did Julia share his views? – In newspapers reviews he would like to find information and opinions about himself and articles about Julia he reads briefly without special attention.

9. Who invited Julia to Michael's house for the Holy Week? It’s Michael’s mother, Mrs. Gosselyn

10. Did Michael's father meet Julia's expectations? - Julia found the Colonel a much less alarming person than she had expected. He was thin and rather small, with a lined face and close-cropped white hair. His features had a worn distinction. He reminded you of a head on an old coin that had been in circulation too long. He was civil, but reserved. He was neither peppery nor tyrannical as Julia, from her knowledge of the stage, expected a colonel to be. She could not imagine him shouting out words of command in that courteous, rather cold voice.

11. What impression did Julia produce on Michael's parents? Michael: "You've made a tremendous success with my people. They've taken an enormous fancy to you. Father told me you were very ladylike, and not a bit like an actress, and mother says you're so sensible."

12. Was the proposal expected by Michael's parents? Michael’s parents were delighted with Julia: she was well-mannered, educated, and was able to support any conversation. From one side, the woman was herself (the same sociable), but on the other hand, she wanted to hide an actress in herself and tried to be a simple, modest, and artless girl.

14. What steps did Julia take upon finding Michael was leaving for America? –She came to Jimmie and began blaming him and asked not to let Michael go.

15. Was Michael a success in America? –No, he had a great failure there.

16. Did Julia keep in touch with him while he was away? “Julia wrote to Michael constantly, pages and pages of love and gossip, while he answered once a week, four pages exactly in a neat, precise hand. He always ended up by sending her his best love and signing himself hers very affectionately, but the rest of his letter was more informative than passionate. Yet she awaited its coming in an agony of impatience and read it over and over again”.

17. Was Julia eager to meet Michael straight at the station? Julia regularly wrote to Michael with pages and pages of love and gossip, while he answered once a week, four pages exactly in a neat, precise hand. He always ended up by sending her his best love and signing himself hers very affectionately, but the rest of his letter was more informative than passionate.

18. What were Michael's impressions after staying and working in America? “ After a fortnight of rehearsals, Michael was thrown out of the part for which he had been engaged, and for three or four weeks was left to kick his heels about till something else could be found for him. He opened in due course in a play that ran less than a month in New York. It was sent on the road; but languished and was withdrawn. After another wait he was given a part in a costume play where his good looks shone to such advantage that his indifferent acting was little noticed, and in this he finished the season. There was no talk of renewing his contract”.  

20. What was Michael going to do in England and what were his prospects? He wanted to open the theater, where he and Julia would play key roles.

VIII. Summarize the events of chapters 3-6.

Julia meets Michael,while playing in a troupe, and falls in love with him. They spend a much time together and she was invited by his mother to their house for the Holy Week, during this week Michael made a proposal. Julia accepts it with pleasure. Soon Michael went to America, but he couldn’t find success there. He returned back home, there Julia was waiting for him. She met him at the station.