TASKS for Chapter 14

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

on one excuse and another – то с одной, то с другой отговоркой

to confess to oneself – признаться кому-либо

that was all to the good – все, что не делается - все к лучшему

shrewd – проницательный

vanity – тщеславие

to have an affair with sb. – иметь с кем-либо интрижку

sallow – болезненный

to feel compassion for sb. – чувствовать сострадание к кому-либо

eminent persons – выдающиеся люди

to lay no claims on sb. – ничего не предъявлять

to use all her arts of cajolery – использовать все ее умение льстить

stale food – несвежая еда

to overcome one's scruples – преодолеть сомнения

to find someone a trifle dull – находить кого-либо немного скучным

to have no inclination – не иметь склонностей

a man of the world – человек с опытом

she was modest about herself – она была скромного мнения о себе

a smack in the face – пощечина

sulkily – сердито

Julia's heart was wrung – сердце Джулии екнуло

chivalrous courtesy – рыцарская учтивость

a vile disposition – отвратительный нрав

alacrity – готовность

wistful – тоскливый

to act with great naturalness – играть очень естественно

to make a scene – закатывать сцену

she was in a black rage – она была в праведном гневе

she'd get even with him – расплатиться с ним

to rack one's brains – думать над чем-либо

II. Answer the following questions:

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

I think that she was in love with the man, she felt passion and desire to be with him anytime. But Julia did not confess in her feelings even herself until he realized she could hide and overcome it. As for Tom, I don’t think he loved Julia because he was too young and she too old for him. He was interested in her, not more.

 2. How old was Tom? What did he do? Why was he a success with women?
Tom was only 22 years old. 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.

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 and he had a serious look. His only good features were his teeth and his hair, while his figure was rather lumpy. Roger led his own life. Thus once he told Julia that he desired to leave Eton at Christmas, he thought he had got everything out of it that he could, and he wanted to go to Vienna for a few months and learn German before going up to Cambridge. And speaking about his future, the young man didn’t know what he wanted to be but he for sure didn’t want to go on the stage.

4. How did Tom and Roger get on together?

They were almost at the same age and spent all the time together. They had a great fancy to one another.

5. Was Julia as successful in the movies as in the theatre? Did she envy the film-stars?
She had not the world-wide notoriety of the film-stars; she had tried her luck on the pictures, but had achieved no success; her face on the stage so mobile and expressive for some reason lost on the screen, and after one trial she had with Michael's approval refused to accept any of the offers that were from time to time made her. She had got a good deal of useful publicity out of her dignified attitude. But Julia 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?
Julia 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. It was not the popularity, the celebrity if you like, that she cared for, nor the hold she had over audiences, the real love they bore her, it was certainly not the money this had brought her; it was the power she felt in herself, 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 the 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. Sometimes she felt like God.

7. How did Julia revenge herself on Tom?

Julia decided to revenge on him by turning him out bag and baggage.

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.

• sweet with his blue eyes and pale brown hair
• What he's got, of course, is sex appeal
• Lips were soft and there was a perfume of youth about him which was really rather delightful
• There was something charming in his clean freshness
• Young, fresh and ingenuous

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

Sometimes she felt like God – Julia realize how powerful and important she was
She read his mind like an open book –There was no unpredictable in his mind and behavior.

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?

The author uses metaphors like poor lamb, sweet little thing, poor little thing, silly little fool to show Julia’s attitude to the man she was thinking about (Tom).
There is inner speech like “Gosh, I’m going down like a barrel of oysters.” "Bloody fool, bloody fool" by means of which we can understand Julia’s true feelings and reactions.

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

How strongly Julia did not try, she could not overcome her feeling to the young man Tom, the relationship with whom was in progress. The time of vacation Julia supposed to spend in a good company of Tom but the man preferred her seventeen years old son Roger to Julia. They were almost at the same age and had a lot in common. That was the reason why the men spent all the vacation together. Julia was not glade about this fact; moreover, she was jealous Tom but did not show that. However, she decided to revenge on him by turning him out bag and baggage. He returned her money and she realized he was aggrieved. Being afraid she can lose him Julia made her best to repair their relations.

TASKS for 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 – премьерные показы

to be exemplary – быть достойным подражания

a pattern of conjugal fidelity – образец супружеской верности

to separate – разделять

be ingenuous – быть искренним

to cry almost at will –плакать по собственному желанию

common sense – здравый смысл

to elope with sb. –сбежать (с любовником)

preposterous – несообразный

curtain calls – поклоны

prudish –излишне скромный

in for a penny, in for a pound – назвался груздем-полезай в кузов

this was all a put-up job – сфабрикованное дело

indecent – недостойный

in a flash – мгновенно

to take liberties with sb. – распускать руки

a matinee – дневной спектакль

amiably –приветливо

well-chosen words – хорошо подобранные 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 воспоминания проскальзывали в ее мыслях

hectic flush – лихорадочный румянец

to hurt one's pride – задеть самолюбие

to have an inkling – осторожный намек

to pawn - заложить.

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 a luncheon party. Though Charles was madly in love with Julia, she was not his mistress.

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?

I think she agreed to have tea with him because it was something new and interesting for her. His name was Tom Fennel but Julia did not know the name.

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

No, for he started to take liberties with Julia.

5. How did he show his admiration for Julia? He had seen her in every play she had acted in since he was twelve years old. He told her that once when he was fourteen he had stood outside the stage door after a matinee and when she came out had asked her to sign her name in his autograph-book.

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 thought it was too absurd, of course she had no intention of seeing him again, it was stupid of her to have let him behave like that, but it was just as well to temporize. But at the same time she felt like a two-year old, though she was 40. I think she behaved that way because she didn’t love Michael anymore.

 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?

 On her way to Cannes she met the attache at the Spanish Embassy in Paris who was going down 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, and 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?

He called her after several days and she invited him to come to her dressing-room for a tea.

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

He was very young, no more than 20. I think that his youth attracted her. Though he was of no more than average height his slimness made him look tall.

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

I think, he wanted to become rich and famous just like them.

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

I disapprove of her love affair. The man was too young for she, and might be interested only in her money and fame, and all that it might gave 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.

·  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 had been as excited all the evening as a girl going to her first ball. She could not help thinking how absurd she was.

·  They danced and he did not dance very well, but she found his slight awkwardness rather charming. People recognized her, and she was conscious that he enjoyed the reflected glory of their glances.

·  She could have taken him in her arms then and there and kissed his blue eyes. She adored him.

The author used his phrase to show Julia’s attitude to Thomas Fennel. She realized that she fall in love with him bur at the same tome she thought it to be wrong.

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 was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain. Born into a family of actors, Terry began acting as a child in Shakespeare plays and continued as a teen, in London and on tour. At 16 she married the much-older artist George Frederic Watts, but they separated within a year. She was soon acting again but began a relationship with the architect Edward William Godwin and retired from the stage for six years. She returned to acting in 1874 and was immediately acclaimed for her portrayal of roles in Shakespeare and other classics. In 1878 she joined Henry Irving's company as his leading lady, and for more than the next two decades she was considered the leading Shakespearean and comic actress in Britain. Two of her most famous roles were Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. She and Irving also toured with great success in America and Britain. In 1903 Terry took over management of London's Imperial Theatre, focusing on the plays of George Bernard Shaw and Henrik Ibsen. The venture was a financial failure, and Terry turned to touring and lecturing. She continued to find acting success until 1920, while also appearing in films until 1922. Her career lasted nearly seven decades.

·  The Way of the World is a play written by English playwright William Congreve. It premiered in 1700 in the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. It is widely regarded as one of the best Restoration comedies and is still occasionally performed. The play is based around the two lovers, Mirabell and Millamant(originally played by John Verbruggen and Anne Bracegirdle). In order for the two to get married and receive Millamant's full dowry, Mirabell must receive the blessing of Millamant's aunt, Lady Wishfort. Unfortunately, she is a very bitter lady, who despises Mirabell and wants her own nephew, Sir Wilfull, to wed Millamant.

·  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).

·  Oliver Goldsmith (10 November 1730 – 4 April 1774) was an Irish novelist, playwright and poet, who is best known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770), and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man (1768) and She Stoops to Conquer (1771, first performed in 1773). He also wrote An History of the Earth and Animated Nature. He is thought to have written the classic children's tale The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes, the source of the phrase "goody two-shoes".

·  Alfred Louis Charles de Musset-Pathay ; 11 December 1810 – 2 May 1857) was a French dramatist, poet, and novelist. Along with his poetry, he is known for writing La Confession d'un enfant du siècle (The Confession of a Child of the Century, autobiographical) from 1836.

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.

:"... like Venus rising from the waves” is an artistic allusion. It is related to the 1486 painting by Sandro Botticelli “The Birth of Venus”. 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). The painting is on display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.

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

The flowers and letter which Julia receives from the young Tom Fennel did not impress her, however, the man called her and invited to his house. Julia came and remained the time her youth. Thomas suddenly kissed her and she did not resist despite she even did not remember his name. Lately the adventure on the train to Cannes  happened with Julia, she spent the night the man who just met. Then her relationship with Tom continued and they went to an expensive restaurant and to pay for the meal the man pawned his watch. After the dinner they went to his home again.

TASKS for Chapters 7-10

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

Placidity – спокойствие

to make frantic scenes – создавать безумные сцены

to give sb. a look of scorn – бросить взгляд полный презрения на кого-либо

lavishness- щедрость

 to know how to pull strings adroitly – искусно пускать в ход связи

 to fall out of love - разлюбить

close-cropped hair – коротко стриженные волосы

to resist an inclination – еле удержаться

weather-beaten skin – обветренная кожа

coltish grace -  щенячья грация

to be on active service – быть в действующей армии

confinement -  лишение свободы

to run a theatre – руководить театром

effusive - несдержанный

virile air – неуверенный в себе

to set one's mind to smth. – сосредоточиться на чем-либо

disconcerting - замешательство

it's a knock out – выдающийся человек

amiability -  дружелюбие

affable manner- мягкая дружелюбная манера

to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth.- проявлять большую избирательность делая что -  либо

to be unperturbed – быть невозмутимым

shrewdness - проницательность

to grizzle – возмущаться, ворчать

it's a mere commonplace – это просто банально

exorbitant - безмерный

to be conciliatory – быть примирительным

to foster one's career – способствовать продвижению чьей-либо карьеры

acumen - сообразительность

to have one's face lifted – подтянуть кожу лица

it's no good crying over spilt milk – уже нет смысла горевать

to have little flirtations – легко флиртовать

masseuse -  массажистка

gossip column – колонка светской хроники

the world of make-believe – мир фантазий

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What did Michael and Julia do when the war broke out?

Michael went to war with the help of his father, one of whose old brother officers was an important personage at the War Office, he very soon got a commission. Julia wanted to be near him in France and to become a nurse but Michael made her stay and she went on acting.  

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war?

Michael enjoyed the war because everyone likes him despite the was an actor and he was popular among soldiers.

3. Do you think love is important for a successful family life?

Undoubtedly, love is very important but it is not the most important part of family life.

4. How did it happen that Julia fell out of love with Michael?

She realized that he no longer smelt like a youth, he smelt like a man

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?

Finally the money was found by a rich woman who was interested in Julia. It was called the Siddons Theatre. His partner was Dolly.

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: Michael had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. 

7. What kind of director was Michael?

Michael ran the the-atre with the method and thrift with which he ran his home and made every possible penny out of their successes.

 8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more? How did he change in Julia's eyes?

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: Michael had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. 

 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.

“It'd only fidget me to 'ave a lot of elephant's tusks in me mouth."

“I'm young enough to dress 'er. And maid 'er”.

 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. 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.

·        He had a very good figure

·        He was the best- looking actor on the English stage

·        the thinness of his mouth

·        he had a gallant bearing

·        He had an easy manner and he talked like a gentleman

·        He was good-looking and kindly

·        His voice was a trifle thin

·        He was easy enough in ordinary dialogue

·        Very simple-minded in some ways

·        He had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace

·        He devoted anxious care to his figure

·        He was prudent and all he wanted was admiration

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.

Julia and Michael were successful and rich enough to give his son the best education.

Eton College, often informally referred to as Eton, is a British independent boarding school located in Eton, near Windsor in England. It educates over 1,300 pupils, aged between 13 and 18 years and was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. 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 (the others being Winchester College, Harrow School and Radley College) to continue this practice. It has educated nineteen British Prime Ministers and generations of aristocracy, and has been referred to as the chief nurse of England's statesmen.

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

Julia and Michael got married and everything was quite and calmly. Once the war broke out and the man enlisted with the help of his father while Julia stayed in America and went on acting. She wanted to be near him in France and to become a nurse but Michael made her not to go. Julia waited for him but then suddenly realized that she did not love him anymore. Julia gave birth to a baby-boy and left the stage for a few months. Michael decided to open his own theatre and made it with the help of Dolly de Frieze who was very rich and was interested in Julia. Michael was a good manager and director and so the couple earned a lot of money and sent his child to Eaton.

TASKS for Chapters 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 - We hear the quotation from Michael and that’s why we can suppose that it’s his life motto. Unlike Julia, he doesn’t like spending money and prefer saving it. Because of this attitude to money he doesn’t let himself to take or give it to anybody.

"I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honour more," Richard Lovelace (Tell Me Not, Sweet) – This quotation 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?

This metaphor refers to any actor who decides to marry a young actress who is not successful yet. It’s difficult to become famous and successful being married. That’s why it’s necessary to reach something and only then get marry.

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?

To help us understand Julia’s emotions the author uses such emotional words as filthy pig, beast, devil, brute, rotten old eunuch.

There are allusions in the text to show that for Julia her stage was her home and life.

The author uses the inner speech to show Julia’s emotions and attitudes to things: ("He doesn't love me. He doesn't care a damn about me. I hate him. I'd like to kill him. Blast that American manager."), ("By God, it was a put-up job."), ("I'd better get up. He wouldn't know how to sit down. God, that scene that Jimmie made him do over and over again!"), ("The blasted fool, why does he talk all that rot? Doesn't he know I'm crazy to marry him? Why doesn't he kiss me, kiss me, kiss me? I wonder if I dare tell him I'm absolutely sick with love for him.").

VII. Answer the questions:

1. Who was Jimmie Langton and what role did he play in Julia's and Michael's lives? – Jimmie Langton was the head of the troupe in the theatre at Middlepool. He was a fat, bald-headed, rubicund man of forty-five; an eccentric, arrogant, exuberant, vain and charming fellow. Michael and Julia met each other in his theatre.

 2. When did Julia and Michael join the Middlepool Theatre Company? 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? – Yes, it was. They bore a look of happy expectancy.

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? - She decided to meet him and booked two rooms in a hotel.

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 had a desire to open his own theatre where Julia will be able to play.

VIII. Summarize the events of chapters 3-6.

During the time Julia belongs to Jimmie’s troupe she meets Michael and falls in love with him. They spend a lot of time together and shortly after Michael introduces Julia to his parents and makes her a proposal. Julia accepts it with pleasure. One day she gets to know that Michael is going to leave for America to work there as an actor. She was disappointed and afraid that he can forget her and stop loving. However after a year Michael returns to England because he failed in America. Julia is happy about it and meets him at a station. 

TASKS for Chapters 1-2

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

Complacency - self-satisfaction orsmug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition - smugness

three times running – smth happen three times - functioning

filthy - disgustingly or completely dirty- grubby

supercilious - displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference - contemptuous

military bearing – level of professionalism when dealing with others and his approach to military situations - carriage

stupendous –  of amazing size or greatness - tremendous

staggered- overwhelm with emotion or astonishment – bewilder

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

entanglement -  involvemen – intricacy

concubinage - a man and woman without legal or formal marriage – cohabitation

languorous - lacking spirit or liveliness – impassive

lippant rejoinder - frivolous answer – frivolous answer

to risk smth - to expose to a chance of loss – run the venture

a quick study - a person who is able to learn or adapt to something - receptivity.

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

Literary allusions:

William Shakespeare (literary allusion) was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". So no wonder that time his plays are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Artistic allusions:

Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character, Lady Macbeth, a character she made her own, and for famously fainting at the sight of the Elgin Marbles in London. She is considered to be the best Lady Macbeth in the history of the world theatre.  In the 18^thcentury she was the star of the English theatre, that’s why acquaintance with her was a great honor.

Jean-Marc Nattier was a French painter. He is noted for his portraits of the ladies of King Louis XV's court in classical mythological attire. He subsequently revived the genre of the allegorical portrait, in which a living person is depicted as a Greco-Roman goddess or other mythological figure. I think, the author mentioned the painter’s name not without a reason, because Nattier’s female portraits, painted in light colors, always decorated a model.

John Philip Kemble was an English actor. He was rather popular due to his tall and imposing person, noble countenance, and solemn and grave demeanor that were uniquely adapted for the Roman characters in Shakespeare's plays

Sir Thomas Lawrence was a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy. One of his works was Satan summoning his legions, a giant canvas to illustrate lines from John Milton's Paradise Lost. The boxer John Jackson posed for the naked body of Satan; the face is that of Sarah Siddons' brother, John Philip Kemble. The portraitist was mentioned to emphasize the lightness, tenderness, and feminity of the main character.

Benoît-Constant Coquelin known as “Coquelin the Eldest", was a French actor. He was one of the greatest theatrical figures of the age, so therefore, the main character possessed all the qualities necessary for a successful actress.

Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and was referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known." She developed a reputation as a serious dramatic actress, earning the nickname "The Divine Sarah”.

Mounet-Sully was a French actor, was born at Bergerac. His birth name was Jean-Sully Mounet: "Mounet-Sully" was a stage name. His striking presence and voice and the passionate vigor of his acting made an immediate impression, which resulted in his election as sociétaire in 1874. He became one of the mainstays of the Comédie Française, and distinguished himself in a great variety of tragic and romantic parts.

Historical Allusions:

Sir Francis Robert Benson was a British actor-manager. He founded his own company in 1883 and produced all but two of Shakespeare's plays. From the first he devoted himself largely to the production of Shakespeare's plays.

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

Julia Lambert - was a forty-six year old beautiful woman with an indiarubber face, large, very dark brown and starry eyes, warm, delightful and ready smile. Her nose was slightly thick, but it was just a small point, because she was sweetheart. And not a wrinkle marred the smoothness of her skin, and there was a melting look in her fine eyes. She was a woman with a lovely figure, she was fairly tall for, and had long legs. Julia was always beautifully dressed, she had her clothes made in Paris, both for the stage and for private life. Being a born actress, she made a reputation of the best actress of England. Partly it was due to her nature (she was a woman of character), as Julia had a warmth, a force of character, and a bubbling vitality, very sweet and womanly (she lowered her eyelids for a second and then raising them gazed at him for a little with that soft expression that people described as her velvet look). Moreover, she could play not only on stage, but in life: she talked very differently to herself and to other people: she could be very vulgar and very polite; when she talked to herself her language was racy; with her brilliance, her roguishness, her sense of comedy she was perfect. Besides, it was no effort to her, it was as instinctive as brushing away a fly that was buzzing round her, to suggest now a faintly amused, friendly tenderness. However, the woman never took risks, as she took care never to do anything but what she could do.

Michael Gosselyn - He still had at fifty-two a very good figure. As 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. The only thing that slightly spoiled him was the thinness of his mouth. He was just six foot tall and he had a gallant bearing. It was his obvious beauty that had engaged him to go on the stage rather than to become a soldier like his father. Now his chestnut hair was very grey, and he wore it much shorter; his face had broadened and was a good deal lined; his skin no longer had the soft bloom of a peach and his colour was high. But with his splendid eyes and his fine figure he was still a very handsome man. Since his five years at the war he had adopted a military bearing, so that if you had not known who he was (which was scarcely possible, for in one way and another his photograph was always appearing in the illustrated papers) you might have taken him for an officer of high rank. He boasted that his weight had not changed since he was twenty, and for years, wet or fine, he had got up every morning at eight to put on shorts and a sweater and have a run round Regent's Park.

 IV. Give a summary of the first two chapters.

The famous and beautiful actress Julia Lambert and her husband Michael Gosselyn invited his young accountant to dinner because the man’s greatest desire was to talk to Julia. He loved her performance in the play which he had seen three times. The young man not only come to their house but received a photo of Julia from her. While she was looking at the different photos she remembered her life and the beginning of her career. At sixteen she entered the Royal academy because she was well-prepared by her aunt. Once she met Jimmie Langton who offered her to work with him.