"Theatre" by S. Maugham (Chapter 14)

I. Find in the text the following words and phrases and translate them into Russian:
on one excuse and another – под одним или другим предлогом
to confess to oneself – признаться самому себе
that was all to the good – это все было к лучшему
shrewd – проницательный
vanity – тщеславие
to have an affair with smb. – иметь роман с кем-то
sallow – болезненный
to feel compassion for smb. – чувствовать сострадание к кому-либо
eminent persons – видный деятель
to lay no claims on sb. – не иметь никаких претензий по поводу кого-либо
to use all her arts of cajolery – призывать все свое искусство обольщения
stale food – несвежая еда
to overcome one's scruples – преодолеть сомнения
to have no inclination – не иметь склонности,
a man of the world – светский человек
she was modest about herself – она была скромного о себе мнения
a smack in the face – прямо в лицо
sulkily – угрюмо
Julia's heart was wrung – сердце Джулии сжалось
chivalrous courtesy – рыцарская учтивость, любезность
a vile disposition – подлый/ужасный нрав
alacrity – готовность
wistful – задумчивый
 to act with great naturalness – изображать с большой естественностью
she was in a black rage – она была в черной ярости
she'd get even with him – она с ним поквитается

to rack one's brains –ломать голову над чем-либо.

II. Answer the following questions:
1. Was Julia really in love with Tom Fennell? And he?
No I don't think so, I think she just wanted to be loved. And Tom was an appropriate person for it. He was younger, so she reckoned on his blind love.
2. How old was Tom? What did he do? Why was he a success with women?
Tom was twenty-two years old. "...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..."
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?
As the author describes him, Roger was a nice-looking boy, with reddish hair and blue eyes. He had neither his mother’s vivacity nor changing expression nor his father's beauty of feature. He was rather stolid and he had a serious look. He was educated in Eton. The relationship with his parents were straind.  He wanted to go to Vienna for a few months and learn German before going up to Cambridge. He did not yet know what he wanted to do in his life.
5. Was Julia as successful in the movies as in the theatre? Did she envy the film-stars?
Julia was not successful in the movies. She had some problems with it. She couldn't be there as expressive as she was on stage. She had to refuse from any of the offers from cinematograph. But Julia did not envy the film-stars because she will be on stage a long time while film-stars constantly disappeared.
6. Describe in detail how Julia managed to play different characters on the stage. What thrilled her? Why did she sometimes fell like God?
Julia adored the stage. It was her life. Only there she can feel that she really live. In the reality she just pretend in order to be loved. But on stage she felt like God. She realized it was her lif.
7. How did Julia revenge herself on Tom?
She decides to hurt his self-esteem. She reminds him of the need to leave a tip for domestics putting money in envelope.

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.
charmingly boyish eyes
nice little thing
his lips were soft
a perfume of youth
well-dressed
a fresh, clean look
pleasant

The author uses this repetition in order to show how Julia refers to Tom. He was her young man who made her also younger.

IV. Find in the text epithets and similes which characterize Julia and Michael and say what effect the author achieves by using them.
"she read his mind like an open book" - refers to Michael, it shows Julia's attitude to him, it characterizes her like an experienced woman who lived enough time with her husband in order to understand him and know his feelings.

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 used a lot of abusive language such as "blasted fool, bloody, damned". It belongs to low stylistic layer of the vocabulary and it characterizes her hot temper. It shows her artistic nature.

VI. Give a summary.
Julia tried to make Tom happy, she decided to change his life, to make him rich and successful. He seems snob to her and she decided to bring him to high society but soon she saw that he was not interested in her. He prefered to communicate with young people such as Julia's son Roger or Evis, a young actrees. Julia understood that Tom just used her.

"Theatre" by S. Maugham (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 – проводить премьеры,
to be exemplary – примерный
a pattern of conjugal fidelity – образец супружеской верности
to separate - расставаться
be ingenuous – быть открытым, прямолинейным,
to cry almost at will – специально разрыдаться
common sense – здравый смысл
to elope with smb. – сбежать с кем-то
preposterous – абсурдный
curtain calls – выход на поклон
prudish – чопорный
in for a penny in for a pound – назвался груздем – полезай в кузов
this was all a put-up job – подстроить что-то специально,
indecent – непристойный
in a flash – в мгновение ока,
to take liberties with smb. – быть чересчур фамильярным с кем-то
a matinee – дневной спектакль, утренник
amiably – любезно,
well-chosen words – меткие слова
to have no sequel - не иметь продолжения
to erase the episode from her memory – стирать эпизод из памяти,
pleasant reveries sauntered through her mind – приятные грезы летали в ее голове
hectic flush – лихорадочный румянец
to see in the flesh – увидеть в живую
to hurt one's pride – задеть чью-то гордость, самолюбие
to have an inkling – заподозрить что-то

to pawn – ручаться.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. How did Julia and Lord Tamerly get acquainted? Was Julia his mistress? What did Julia owe to Charles Tamerly?
They got acquainted at Dolly de Vries's luncheon which was organised because of Julia's success. Julia was not his mistress, although everybody thought in the same way. Julia owed to Tamerly because the latter helped her in the acting

2. Describe Julia's acting when Lord Tamerly declared his love to her. How can you prove that it was only make-believe?
"...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. Then she just cried and nodded..."

3. Why do you think Julia agreed to have tea with the young man? What was his name? Did Julia know it or not?
Because it flattered her self-esteem. She was successful and she got used to bath in plentiful attention, especially from young men. Althoug she didn't know him, she was glad to accept the suggestion to have tea.

4. Was the young man as shy as he seemed to be?
No, I think he wasn't. he had his own benefits from acquaintance with Julia. He wanted to seem shy in order to be liked by Julia.

5.How did he show his admiration for Julia?
he made it clear to her that he admired her since his childhood.

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?
When the young man begins to kiss her, Julia submits. To her surprise she likes it. She understands that it is very stupid, but anyway she feels younger. she understands that she falls in love. Then Julia decided to make the young man happy. She tries to attach him to herself by means of rich presents, payment of his debts, etc.
I think her behaviour looks like the behaviour of a young girl whe wants to be loved.

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?
Going to Cannes she made acquaintance with the attache at the Spanish Embassy in Paris who was going to Cannes for Easter. He gave her his place in the sleeper, for there were no free ones. They spent the night together, and after a while it turned out that he had a family. But as time passed Julia's indignation was mitigated.
"...she had often thought of the adventure since with a good deal of pleasure. After all it had been fun. Sometimes she allowed her reveries to run away with her and she went over in her fancy the incidents of that singular night. He had been a most agreeable lover. It would be something to look back on when she was an old woman. He remained in her recollection, and in her bones, without a name..."

8. When did Julia see Tom Fennell again? Under what circumstances?
They met again in her house. She didn’t remember his name, but later she got to know that it was that young man. He wanted to see her again, and Julia tried to refuse him, but couldn’t and agreed to meet with Tom in her dressing-room.

9. What do you think attracted Julia to Tom? How old was he?
As I said before, Julia liked to be in the spotlight. especialy in the spotlight from young men. She felt the she was still a young woman.

10. Why do you think Tom was interested in grand people?
He had his own benefits. He wanted to seem a benefactor.

11. Do you approve or disapprove of Julia's love affair with Tom Fennell?
I disapprove of it. She had her husband. and having love affair with Tom she betrayed him.


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.
He was like a poor lamb
a sweet little thing
Young, fresh
She could have taken him in her arms then and there and kissed his blue eyes. She adored him.
a silly little thing
a simple fool
charmingly boyish

All of these words refers to the thenantic field of youth. Julia attituded to him like to a child.

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 nd its stylistic effect.
this allusion refers to the "The Birth of Venus". It is a 1486 painting by Sandro Botticelli. It depicts the goddess Venus, having emerged from the sea as a fully grown woman, arriving at the sea-shore (which is related to the Venus Anadyomene motif).

I think the author used it in order to compare Julia with Venus. As we know Venus is a symbol of beauty and youth. It symbolize a regeneration of life. With the young Tomas Julia felt younger.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 11-13.

Julia realized that her husband didn't love her and soon she fell out of love with him. She decided to dedicate entirely herself to the stage...One day Julia received flowers from the unknown man. He turned out to be Tommas Fannel, the accountant who was hired by her husband. They began to meet, and soon Julia understood that she fell in love with him. She tried to make him happy, she changed his life, he became rich and successful, but soon she saw that Tommas was not interested in her. He prefered to communicate with young people such as Julia's son Roger or Evis, a young actrees. He promised her that he manage to make her an actrees in Julia's theatre. Julia knew it and understood that Tom just used her.

"Theatre" by Maugham (Chapters 7-10)

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

placidity – безмятежность;
to make frantic scenes – устраивать безумные сцены;
to give somebody a look of scorn – бросить презрительный взгляд на кого-либо;
lavishness – щедрость;
to pull strings adroitly – пользоваться связями;
to fall out of love – разлюбить;
close-cropped hair – коротко стриженный;
 weather-beaten skin – обветренная кожа;
coltish grace – неуклюжая грация;
to be on active service – быть в действующей армии;
confinement – роды;
to run a theatre – руководить театром;
effusive – экспансивный, бурный;
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 – сообразительность;
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-понарошку.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What did Michael and Julia do when the war broke out?
Michael went to the front, and Julia stayed on the stage.

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war?
I  think so because Michael was not realy intended for scene, he was more intended for the militaey affair. He had practical mind.

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?
Certainly, it is. Love is one of the main things, and perhaps the most important one in order to make the family life successful. Family is the most important relationship between people and only love can make it firmer.

4. How did it happen that Julia fell out of love with Michael?
She became pregnant. She believed in her happy and successful family life, believed that Michael would love her, if only she mamaged to create the necessary condition for happy family, to give the birth to baby. But when she became pregnant and saw that even their future baby can't change Michael's attitude to her, Julia realized he never loved her.

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?
Michael inherited his parent's money after their death. 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 in Julia. She helped them to run a theatre. Mrs. de Vries was a widow. 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?
She did not believe in him as a director.

7. What kind of director was Michael?
I think he was capable of directing. He had a practical mind. It was his calling. in any case he was more succeeded in it than in acting.

8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more? How did he change in Julia's eyes?
Michael’s thrift, which in at first seemed to her an amusing, rather touching trait, now irritates her. Moreover, he no longer smelt like a youth, he smelt like a man. 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?
Because it was not what she dreamed of. She dreamed of being loved by her husband, but it turned out to be the "world of make-believe"

11. Julia's dresser and maid was a Cockney, wasn't she? Please prove it using the examples from the text.
 "...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?
The man who sent flowers to Julia was Tommas, that accountant who was hired by her husband. She wrote him only because it was usual thing for her to thank her admirors, for public can not be hurt.

III.  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.

Roger was a son of Michael and Julia. As a son of rich and successeful parents he had a chance to be entered Eton, a very prestige boarding school.

Eton is a British independent boarding school located in Eton, near Windsor in England. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor".
Eton is one of nine English independent schools, commonly referred to as "public schools", included in the original Public Schools Act 1868. Following the public school tradition, Eton is a full boarding school, which means all pupils live at the school, and is one of four such remaining single-sex boys' public schools in the United Kingdom to continue this practice. It has educated nineteen British Prime Ministers and generations of aristocracy.


VI. Give a summary of chapters 7-10. (in written form)
Michael went to fight, and Julia was left alone. She continued to play on the stage and soon she became a successful actrees. She had a right to rest so she left the scene for a while all the more she became pregnant. After the war Michael decided to run his own theatre. He got inheritance from his parents after their death and soon with a financial help from Mrs. de Vries, a rich woman who was an admirer of Julia, Michael became a director of the theatre.

Julia realized tha her husband didn't love her and soon she fell out of love with him. She decided to dedicate entirely herself to the stage...One day Julia received flowers from the unknown man. He turned out to be Tommas Fannel, the accountant who was hired by her husband. They began to meet, and soon Julia understood that she fell in love with him. She tried to make him happy, she changed his life, he became rich and successful, but soon she saw that Tommas was not interested in her. He prefered to communicate with young people such as Julia's son Roger or Evis, a young actrees. He promised her that he manage to make her an actrees in Julia's theatre. Julia knew it and understood that Tom just used her.

Julia realizes that all her life is a play. She doesn't want to play any more in order to be loved. She doesn't need in love.She belongs only to herself. After her triumphal play she goes to the restaurant in order to spend time as she really wishes.., with bear and beefsteak.

"Theatre" by Maugham (Chapters 3-6)

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

Asset - a single item of ownership having exchange value
A sumptuous supper - the evening meal amazing its abudance
Extravagance - an extravagant action, notion
Thrift – wise economy in the management of money
To remonstrate - to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval.
Equanimity - calm emotions when dealing with problems or pressure.
at a loose end  - in an uncertain or unsettled situation or position.
completion of something - to end smth.
to jeopardize - to put in jeopardy; hazard; risk; imperil.
alacrity - readiness, promptness, or willingness.
susceptible to - easily influenced or affected.
obsequious - characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference.
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," - This quotation characterizes Michael. He is a thrifty person.


"Lord, what fools these mortals be,"  - This quotation shows Jimmie's anxiety about relationship between Michael and Julia.

III. Explain the metaphor "she is a millstone round his neck." Who does it refer to?
It refers to Julia. Marriage and career of an actor are hardly compatible with each other.

IV. Comment on the context of the following phrases:

1."He was too modest to resent an unfavourable criticism."
It refers to Michael. I think he was unable to resent in general. Michael was an inefficient actor and he realized it therefore he accepted the criticism as a truth.
2. "... after all he was born a gentleman." This phrase also refers to Michael. Here we can see his parents' opinon. They could't accept that their son chose the stage career instead of military one. They believed being born a gentleman he was to become the military.
3. "'I suppose it's beastly of me,' she thought, 'but thank God, thank God.'"  It refers to Julia who is happy that her husband failed with the contract. She understands that it is the bad news, but she is glad to it because she wants her husband to be with her.

Maugham "Theatre" (Chapters 1-2)

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

1.Complacency - a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect.

2.filthy - vile; vulgar; obscene

3. supercilious – haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.

4. military bearing – is how a soldier conducts himself on duty. 

5. stupendous –amazingly large or great

6. staggered – a state of becoming unsteady:

7. natural homage – special honor or respect shown or expressed publicly and accepted as one's due

8. entanglement –the act of entangling.

9. concubinage – cohabitation of a man and woman without legal or formal marriage

10. languorous –  lacking energy, spirit, liveliness or vitality

11. flippant rejoinder – when you retort without care.

12. to risk smth –  to expose to the chance of injury or loss.

II. Search for the allusions in the text. Define their type (literary, artistic, historical and others) and functions; explain their meaning.

Jean-Marc Nattier (artistic) -  French painter,  a miniaturist, noted for his portraits of the ladies of King Louis XV's court in classical mythological attire.

As a painter Nattier was considered to have a high aesthetic taste. The allusion serves to compare the taste of the main character with the great artist's one. 

Charles John Kean (artistic) - English actor and theater director.

serves to show the theatrical atmosphere which their life is impregnated with. 

William Shakespeare (literary) - an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.

The allusion serves to show the high theatrical atmosphere.

Mounet-Sully - (artistic) - a French actor of the 20th century.

The allusion serves to show the high theatrical atmosphere.

Sarah Siddons (artistic) -  a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character, Lady Macbeth.

This allusion serves to compare the main character with a cult figure, thus to convey her feelings experienced by celebrities. 

Sir Thomas Lawrence (artistic) - a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy.

The allusion serves to show that the main characters belong to the high society and their surroundings correspond to it. 

III. Using direct and indirect evidence from the text give character sketches of Julia Lambert and Michael Gosselyn

Julia Lambert is the main character of the novel. She is 46 years old. She is the most famous theater actress in England. Her life is very successful: she has a successful husband Michael, the owner and director of the theater "Siddons," where she plays, an educated adult son, Roger, and the glory with admirers. Her feelings manifests mainly on the stage. Her husband Michael is closed and reserved, but he doesn't love her.

Her character is revealed indirectly by means of her acts and thought. We can see that she is a little selfish because she likes that she is admired by young people. 

Michael Gosselyn is another character of the novel. He is a husband of Julia Lambert. He is described directly. Being a young man, with a great mass of curling chestnut hair, with a wonderful skin and large deep blue eyes, a straight nose and small ears, he had been the best-looking actor on the English stage. Since his five years at the war he had adopted a military bearing, so that if you had not known who he was you might have taken him for an officer of high rank. But even now he is considered to be a very handsome man. Such description shows us that Michail is a confident man.

IV. Summary.

Julia Lambert, a famous actress comes to her husband, an owner of the theater, and makes the acquaintance of a young man. This man is a young accountant hired by her husband to restore order in the account of the theatre. Her husband Michael says that the young man is her admirer and dreams to make the acquaitance of her for a long time. She decides to invite him for a lunch, thus give him a big chance to diversity his boring life. Then she invites him to the theater on the play where she plays. Although he saw the play with her participation three times, and was glad to see it again behind the scenes. Julia is flatter by his attention and in order to make him happy she gives him her photo. She recollected her past. When she came to Langton’s troupe, Michael had already worked there, and grew popular with the company. Julia’s aunt, a former actress, gave her first acting lessons, due to which she entered the Royal Academy of dramatic art. Being on tour she met Jimmie Langton. 

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A farewell to Arms

I'd like to tell about an amazing movie "A Farewell to Arms". This is a 1932 American romance drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Helen Hayes, Gary Cooper, and Adolphe Menjou.It tells about the love between ambulance driver Lt. Henry and Nurse Catherine Barkley during World War I. The action takes place in Italy and the two fall in love during the war and will stop at nothing to be together. The film also analyses Lt. Henry's feelings on war and the purpose of fighting.

I‘d like to single out  the play of the actors who managed to convey the souls of their characters, the true love and pain. However, sometimes the development of the love affair did not seem natural, they overacted.

As for the movie, I think it is too sentimental. As for me, this aspect pushes off. Also the events of the film go too quickly and the hardships and other experiences of Lieutenant Henry are passed over too abruptly. But on the whole, this movie is worth to watch because of its exact transmission of the origin plot of the famous novel by Ernest Hamingway.