Chapters 15-18

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

II. Explain the following metaphors. Who do they refer to?
It won't hurt him to discover that I'm not all milk and honey. – This metaphor refers to Julia. It was themoment when she wanted to hurt Tom’s feelings and reminded him to leave the maid tips, leaving the money in the envelope, but then the woman had a fear now that she had gone too far. Thus this metaphor describes Julia’s feelings in one of the most important moments in her life: it describes her love to the young man.

III. Give a character sketch of Dolly de Vries. Pay special attention to the description of her appearance: "Dolly de Vries was now a woman of sixty. …and a slight cockney accent revealed itself." Dwell on her relationship with Michael and Julia. How did she feel about Tom?
I'm not the woman to desert a sinking ship. – This metaphor refers to Dolly de Vries, who used it while speaking to Michael about his wife, Julia, and how her love affairs with Tom could adversely affect her career and her position in the society. During that conversation Michael suggested buying Dolly’s share out, as he thought the woman could suffer from Julia’s broken reputation. The man didn’t mind admitting that if his wife got herself unpleasantly talked about it might have some effect on the takings. He was her husband and he had to put up with it. But Dolly was in a different position altogether.

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

V. Answer the questions:
1. Why did Julia offer Tom the money for servants' tips? Do you think she made the right decision?
While they were in Taplow the young Tom didn’t notice Julia as his lover, what hurt her, and for what she decided to take revenge on him. Her revenge was refined: knowing how to hurt his feelings, she reminded him to leave the maid tips, leaving the money in the envelope. If the woman wanted to hurt the man, she succeeded, but I don’t think it was a right decision, as that money were the most humiliating thing the man could receive.
2. Did Julia manage to induce Tom to see her again after that?
Yes, Julia managed to induce Tom to see her again saying that they had been too much to one another to part like that.
3. Did Dolly believe that Julia didn't have a lover? Why?
No, Dolly didn’t believe that Julia didn’t have a lover, as people were saying rather disagreeable things about her.
4. Whom did Dolly finally decide to talk to about Julia's cheating?
Even after all these years Dolly was a little frightened of Julia, as there was something about her that prevented you from taking liberties with her. The woman at last came to the conclusion that Michael had to speak to his wife. She had never liked Michael, but after all he was Julia's husband and it was her duty to tell him at least enough to make him put a stop to whatever was going on.
5. Why did Dolly not confess to Michael that she suspected Julia of having a love affair?
Dolly had no proof; she only had an intuition that she could not mistrust; she wanted to say yes, but she controlled it. The woman couldn’t give Julia away. Her husband might go and tell her and Julia would never speak to her again. He might have Julia watched and catch her out. No one could tell what might happen if she told the truth.
6. Why did Michael suggest buying Dolly's share out?
Michael suggested buying Dolly’s share out, as he thought the woman could suffer from Julia’s broken reputation. The man didn’t mind admitting that if his wife got herself unpleasantly talked about it might have some effect on the takings. He was her husband and he had to put up with it. But Dolly was in a different position altogether.
7. What was the reason for Dolly's desperate jealousy?
When Dolly got into her magnificent and very expensive car and drove back to Montagu Square she could not hold back the heavy, painful tears that filled her eyes. She felt old, lonely, unhappy, and desperately jealous, because there was somebody else who loved and wanted to help Julia, her husband Michael.
8. How did Dolly try to convince Julia that Tom was not very discreet?
Dolly knew that Tom’s father bought him a share in the firm and he became a junior partner. Then it seems a little strange that on that the young man should be able to have a flat, dress the way he does and take people to night clubs, as if his father bought him a partnership he wasn’t making him an allowance as well.
9. Why couldn't Julia fall asleep after the lunch with Dolly?
I think there were two reasons, as firstly, one or two of Dolly's remarks had been somewhat of a shock to Julia. It was disconcerting that gossip had so nearly reached the truth.  And secondly, the strange thing was that when she looked into her heart it was not Julia Lambert the woman who resented the affront, she didn't care for herself, it was the affront to Julia Lambert the actress that stung her. She had often felt that her talent, genius the critics called it, but that was a very grand word, her gift, if you like, was not really herself, not even part of her, but something outside that used her, Julia Lambert the woman, in order to express itself.

VI. Summarize the events of chapters 15-18.
While they were in Taplow the young Tom didn’t notice Julia as his lover, what hurt her, and for what she decided to take revenge on him. Her revenge was refined: knowing how to hurt his feelings, she reminded him to leave the maid tips, leaving the money in the envelope. The next day Tom returned all her presents, as the woman managed to hurt him. But Julia didn’t think that the young man would broke her up because of that, that’s why she decided to put on an act, saying that they had been too much to one another to part like that, and in the end she loved him. Thus after a little conversation Tom remained with her. Julia even bought him a flat, that was near to her, furnished it. Several times a week together they appeared in restaurants and night clubs, that’s why gossip had so nearly reached the truthabout them. Julia got to know about that from Michael, who knew that from possessed with jealousy Dolly de Vries. Julia tried to find out from Dolly, who gossiped about her, and during the conversation knew that Tom promised some Evis Crichton the role in the play. Since that moment the woman understand that the young man didn’t love her, for him she was just a woman, from whom he could build the ropes.

Theatre. Chapter 14.

1) 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.

2) 1. Julia loved Tom, she felt a strange compassion for him. Though he laughed when Julia said a funny thing he never said one himself. She found his dullness restful. However, the woman knew that Tom was’t in love with her. To have an affair with her flattered his vanity.
2. Tom was twenty-two, he was five years elder Julia’s son. Nevertheless, he was a highly-sexed young man and enjoyed sexual exercise. From hints, from stories that she had dragged out of him, she discovered that since he was seventeen he had had a great many women. He loved the act rather than the person. He looked upon it as the greatest lark in the world. And she could understand why he had so much success. There was something appealing in his slightness, his body was just skin and bone, that was why his clothes sat on him so well, and something charming in his clean freshness. His shyness and his effrontery combined to make him irresistible. It was strangely flattering for a woman to be treated as a little bit of fluff* that you just tumbled on to a bed.
3. 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 (though his mother worried about it, as she thought he would be a priest), but he definitely didn’t want to go on the stage.
4. Once the family decided to spend their weekend in Taplow, where Michael had taken a house, and Julia invited Tom just to be near him. And there Tom became close friends with her seventeen year old son, Roger, as they spent all their time together
5. 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. When it was possible she went to see the performance of actresses who played leading parts on the London stage. She was generous in her praise of them and her praise was sincere.
6. 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.
7.The young man didn’t notice Julia as his lover, what hurt her, and for what she decided to take revenge on him. Her revenge was refined: knowing how to hurt his feelings, she reminded him to leave the maid tips, leaving the money in the envelope.

3) - sweet with his blue eyes and pale brown hair
- a white skin and rather a high colour
- lips were soft and there was a perfume of youth about him which was really rather delightful
- There was smth. charming in his clean freshness
- Very commonplace
- Young, fresh and ingenuous
- He was so deceitful

4) She read his mind like an open book. – it means she understands him perfectly
Sometimes she felt like God. – she felt that  everything was in her powers
She shook off the obsession of him like a bad dream from which one awoke – she fell out of love with him
He reminded Julia of an old dog lying in the sun and gently beating his tail on the ground as he looked at a pair of puppies gambolling about him.

5) 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.

6) In some time, with horror she understands that she has desperately fallen in love.Without showing her feelings to Tom, she tries to bind him to herself. The actress knows he is a snob, so she lets him enter the high society. Tom is really poor, that’s why she showers him with expensive gifts and pays off his debts. Julia forgets about her age, but on vacation Tom so obviously and naturally prefers to spend his time with her son, Roger, that it really hurts her. Julia has an argument with Tom, but she is so afraid to lose him that finally she does everything to make it up.

Theatre: Chapter

1) Aprofound contempt – глубокое презрение

To have first nights – играть в премьере

To be exemplary – быть примерным

A pattern of conjugal fidelity – образец супружеской верности

To separate – отделяться, разделять

Be ingenuous – быть простодушным

To cry almost at will – плакать почти по желанию

Common sense – здравый смысл

To elope with sb. – сбежать с кем-то

Preposterous – нелепый, абсурдный

Curtain calls – вызовы актера

Prudish – ханжеский, не в меру стыдливый

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

This was all a put-up job – это была чистой воды махинация

Indecent - неприличный

In a flash – в мгновение ока

To take liberties with sb. - позволять себе вольности с кем-либо (по отношению к кому-либо)

A matinee – утренняя пора

Amiably – любезность, доброжелательность

Well-chosen words – хорошо отобранный слова

To have no sequel – не иметь продолжения

To erase the episode from her memory – стереть этот эпизод из памяти

Pleasant reveries sauntered through her mind – приятные грезы блуждали по ее разуму

Hectic flush – лихорадочный румянец

To see in the flesh – увидеть вживую

To hurt one's pride – задеть чью-то гордость

To have an inkling – намек, слабое подозрение

To pawn – закладывать, отдавать в залог

2) 1. Julia and Lord Tamerly got acquainted at a luncheon party. No, she wasn’t his mistress, though many people convinced that she was Charles Tamerley's mistress because of their close relationships.

2. 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.

There is no doubt that it was only make-believe because she had already prepared her course of conduct for the declaration which she felt he would sooner or later bring himself to make.

3. She agreed to have tea with him because it was something new and interesting for her.It was Tom Fennel, but Julia did not know the name.

4. At first, his behavior was predictable for her, but then, he turned out to be an absolute different person, not shy at all.

5. 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. She was extremely happy, it was a new adventure for her. Her eyes shone brightly and wonderfully. "I feel like a two-year-old.“

“Julia acted as though it was the first time. Her performance was brilliant. She got laughs that she had never got before. She always had magnetism, but on this occasion it seemed to flow over the house in a great radiance." She was 40 year old.

Your surrounding always reflects on you. She can’t refuse to Tom. She remembered her previous life and how happy she was. Her husband didn’t give her that passion and love that Tom gave. But she is older him and it is wrong to my mind to have an affair with him.

7.  The trains south were so crowded that she had not been able to get a sleeper. One man, Spaniard, offers her his place. She agreed. They had a conversation, but that man didn’t want to leave her. When they began to say goodbye, the man kissed Julie and they had an affair. She didn’t want to sleep with him. But his beard attracted her.

-"He can hardly expect me to ask him to come and sleep in here," Julia said to herself. "I'm beginning to think this was all a put-up job. Nothing doing, my lad." And then aloud. "Romantic, of course, but uncomfortable."   Her thoughts are right at first. She understands how she mustn’t act. But her actions are so different from her thoughts. She yielded to temptation.

-"If you think that because you've given up your compartment to me I'm going to let you sleep with me, you're mistaken."

"Just as you say, of course. But why not?"

"I'm not that sort of terribly attractive woman."

"What sort of woman are you then?"

"A faithful wife and a devoted mother."

He gave a little sigh.

"Very well. Then I'll say good night to you."  She quietly told about the man’s wish, she understood that many men wanted her. But she couldn’t think that she could sleep with a stranger.

"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.”  She perceived all this as an adventure. As she didn’t make something terrible. On the one hand, she had the right because her husband didn’t give her passion. He loved only himself. On the other hand, she is married. She must save her condition. I think she was wrong. It isn’t proper to sleep with a stranger, especially she is married. Moreover, she thought bad about such women, but anyway slept with that man.

8. Tom called her and they agreed upon to meet in the theater

9. “But when she saw him, so slight, with his hectic flush and his blue eyes, so charmingly boyish, she felt a sudden pang.” He was about 18. As her son Roger was seventeen . “she  was old enough to be his mother.”

10. They were so bright, beautiful and famous. They can do everything. He wants to be like they.

11. I disapprove her actions. It is ridiculous to my mind at her age to meet with so young man.

3) “She was troubled. It seemed to her that her voice did not sound quite natural.("What the devil's the matter with me? God, I can hardly breathe.")”   Her interior monologue helps to see her emotional experience, how she is afraid of her feelings.

("I'm a fool. I'm a bloody fool.") the repetition of the word “fool” strengthen her fear to him.

“kissed him as passionately”

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

She has contradictory feelings. Her mind and her soul think differently. When she is without Tom, she understands all her consequences, she thinks reasonably. But at his present her exciting and loving feelings to him win.

4) 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".

   Mlle Clairon-was a leading actress of the Comédie-Française who created many parts in the plays of Voltaire, Jean-François Marmontel, Bernard-Joseph Saurin, and others.She began her career as a soubrette but made her debut at the Comédie-Française in 1743 as Phèdre in the tragedy by Racine. She also portrayed Corneille’s heroines, who combined nobility of soul, pride, and intelligence. In 1753 Marmontel influenced her to simplify her declamatory style. Prompted by Diderot, she introduced touches of character and of ethnic realism into her roles.

  Madame de Pompadour was a mistress, friend and adviser to Louis XV, remained with the king up to her death in 1764. Introduced to the court through relatives, she was noticed by the king and quickly became one of his preferred mistresses. Louis XV had the Petit Trianon palace built for her, a haven of peace away from the court.

  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.

5) "... 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). It represents the birth of love.

6) The reader got to know about  Julia's  acquaintance with  Charles Tamerly,who was madly in love with her.She found him very polite and elegant man,he was her adviser and supporter. Some time later Thomas Fennel called Julia and invited her for a tea. His poor apartment reminded Julia the times when she was in the beginning of her carrier, the times of her youth... Suddenly the young man kissed her and she didn't resist. After this affair Julia was happy and her eyes were shining. During her trip she had another sexual affair with an unknown man. After the returning Julia and  Thomas Fennel went to an expensive restaurant, where Tom payed for them both. She noticed he had pawned his watch in order to take her out to supper. A lump came into her throat. She adored him. After that they drove back to his bed-sitting room in Tavistock Square. 

Chapters 7-10

1) Placidity – спокойствие

to make frantic scenes – создавать безумные сцены

to give smb. 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

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

They were both acting when the war broke out. But later Michael volunteered for the army (but with the help of his father), and Julia had to go on acting.

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war?

I think Michael enjoyed the war because he was popular in the regimental mess, and 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 believe that love is important not even for successful family life. But if we are speaking about successful family life, yes, love is important because the partners inspire each other. Moreover, love in the family gives the emotional support that helps overcome many other hurdles in life, and helps children to grow as individuals.

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

Julia fell in love with Michael from the first sight, as she was attracted by his beauty. She did her best to conquer him, but the man was so imperturbable that the woman, when they got married, lost interest in him. And 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.

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?

At the end of the war there was an epidemic of influenza, and Michael’s parents died. 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: Michael had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. She was not sure that he would have authority over the cast.

7. What kind of director was Michael?

Michael was thorough and worked hard. He was getting more out of Julia 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. 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?

Michael’s thrift, which in the early days had seemed an amusing, rather touching trait, now revolted 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?

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: For the little I eat I've got all the teeth I want. It'd only fidget me to 'ave a lot of elephant's tusks in me mouth.
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. That was how she kept in touch with her public.3) - 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)

3)- 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 for his honesty, prudence. He really knew his defects, and also he knew his best sides and made these things to work on him, like his allure. Also I liked his purposefulness, as he knew what he wanted and reached it.

4) Eton is a public school in Britain. As any public school, it demands money, prestige, and a high social status. Roger was a child of rich parents. They lived in the comfort and luxury. They could allow it.

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. 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. 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.

6) 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.

TASKS for Chapters 3-6

1) asset - a useful or valuable quality, person, or thing; an advantage or resource. Syn. plus

a sumptuous supper – splendor of a great expense. Syn. lavish

extravagance - a thing on which too much money has been spent or which has used up too many resources. Syn. luxury

thrift - careful use of money so that it is not wasted. Syn. frugality

to remonstrate - to present and urge reasons in opposition. Syn. expostulate

equanimity - calm emotions when dealing with problems or pressure. Syn. aplomb

at a loose end - to have nothing to do

to jeopardize - to put in danger. Syn. to risk

alacrity - a quick and cheerful readiness to do something. Syn. amenability

susceptible to - easily influenced or affected. Syn. suggestible

obsequious - marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness. Syn. cringing

a retainer - one that retains, as a device, frame, or groove that restrains or guides. Syn. worker

 2)"Neither a borrower nor a lender be," Polonius. I think, this quote characterizes one of Michael's qualities – his thrift. It was his principle. I think it's right, as, firstly, all loans spoil relations. Secondly, there is no certainty that the debt will be returned.

"I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honour more," Richard Lovelace (Tell Me Not, Sweet) - it shows Michael traits and values in life.

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

3)This metaphor belongs to Michael and refers to actors, as the man was speaking about his attitude to marriage with an actress just in the beginning of her career. The man thought an actor should marry only when both of them became staid, made a fortune. Otherwise she became a burden to him.

 4)"He was too modest to resent an unfavourable criticism." 

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." 

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."

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.'" 

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.

6) Epithets and emotional words - poor little thing, silly little fool, angel, brute, rotten old eunuch.

Inner speech monologues - "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.”

7)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 helped Julia to develop her talent and to become a good actress. Also  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?

Michael was very handsome and had a good sense of humour. She liked him because he behaved like a gentleman.

5.What did Michael think of good looks and decent families?

The family status played greater importance for him than a man’s appearance.

6.How did Julia feel about her family?

She liked her family,she was proud of her father's profession.

7.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?

He read all the articles in order to find out the information about him. He didn't pay attention to Julia's reviews.

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

10.Did Michael's father meet Julia's expectations?

Julia  found the Colonel not so alarming person than she had expected: he was civil, but reserved, generous. He was neither irritable nor oppressive. He read The Times, went to church on Sunday and accompanied his wife to tea-parties.According to Michael’s words his father was rather old-fashioned, and there were some things he couldn’t understand.

11.What impression did Julia produce on Michael's parents?

They liked Julia."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.

13.What steps did Julia take upon finding Michael was leaving for America?

She asked Jimmie not to let Michael go.

14.What professional offer did Michael receive and who facilitated this?

Michael was offered a lucrative contract in America, and Jimmie, the head of the troupe, facilitated it.

15.Was Michael a success in America?

He didn't find success there.

16.Did Julia keep in touch with him while he was away?

Yes,she wrote constantly  a lot of passionate letters to him,while he answered once a week, four pages exactly in a neat, precise hand.

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?

Michael was deeply mortified and depressed. He wasn't satisfied by his work in America. 

19.What was Michael going to do in England and what were his prospects? 

He saved money in America and he dreamed to open the theater, where Julia would play.

8)Julia recollected her life. She remembered her first play in Jimmies troupe, her relationship with Michael and their feelings. Julia and Michael fell in love and she was invited by his mother to their house for the Holy Week, during this week Michael made a proposal. They got married. 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 and booked two rooms in a luxurious hotel.

TASKS for Chapters 1-2

1) Complacency - a feeling of satisfaction, esp extreme self-satisfaction; smugness

three times running – smth happen three times - functioning

filthy - very dirty or obscene; muddy

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

military bearing -  the high level of military professionalism

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 – state of confusion; involvement

concubinage - cohabitation without legal marriage; cohabitation

languorous - lacking spirit or liveliness; torment

flippant rejoinde frivolous answer

to risk smth - the possibility of incurring misfortune or loss; hazard

 a quick study – to learn smth by heart very quickly

2) 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 18thcentury 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.

3) Michael Gosselyn

is the manager of the Siddons theatre who in his 52 looks as a very handsome man with a very good figure as he boasts that his weight so he didn’t change since he was twenty. The only thing that changed was chestnut hair that turned grey. But with his splendid eyes and his fine figure ha is still a very handsome man. He is just six foot tall and he has a gallant bearing so he was seducing. 

After he had adopted a military bearing as his father wanted it, many people have taken him for an officer of high rank while he had been the best-looking actor on the English stage. Actually he succeeded as an actor thanks to him appealing appearance. Michael had started with Shakespeare playing Romeo at Cambridge. He is very ambitious character  as soon  he realized that Shakespeare would get him nowhere and that if he wanted to become a leading actor he must gain experience in modern plays. So he joined the company of Jimmie Langton who noticed Michael playing Mercutio and he was staggered by his beauty. As an actor Michael showed an easy manner. He soon grew popular with the company. He was good-humoured and kindly; he would take any amount of trouble to do anyone a service. His beauty created a sensation in Middlepool and the girls used to hang about the stage door to see him go out. He took it as a natural homage, but did not allow it to turn his head. He was eager to get on and seemed determined not to let any entanglement interfere with his career. It was beauty that saved him.

Michael is self-loving, full of complacency a he is not vain of his good looks, he knows he is handsome and accepts compliments, not exactly with indifference, but as he might have accepted a compliment on a fine old house that had been in his family for generations. He is shrewd and ambitious. He knows that his beauty.

Moreover he is supercilious and harsh while speaking about the accountant. He say he’s not important to us.

He does not much like spending money. He hates to be in debt and even with the small salary he was getting managed to save up a little every week. Maybe he is stingy, yet he is a man of art as there are pictures of Queen Mary and George 4 in their bedroom, he likes Natier. 

Julia Lambert

She was an experienced actress, she even talked very differently to herself and to other people – when she talked to herself her language was racy, With the others she was kind and often smiled  from an instinctive desire to please.

She liked to be the most beautiful, the center of attention everywhere, she was a real woman of fashion, as no one could wear the modern clothers as well as she could. She had her clothers made in Paris both for the stage and the private life, and the dressmakers said no one brought them more orders. She had a lovely figure, she was fairly tall for a woman and she had long legs.

she had a rather low rich voice with an effective hoarseness, a perfect-actress articulation.

She trained herself to be an actress from the very childhood, when her aunt taught her everything. 

It is to be highlighted that she is ambitious, has a high self-esteem, able for self-reflection, hardworking, persistent (настойчивый), tolerant, ready for everything just to achieve her goals and fulfill the dreams.

Being in her 20th she was madly in love with Michael, although he did not notice her and her feelings. They were just friends but she made him realize she would be a good leading actress  for him as a theatre-manager-to-be.

She is an excellent psychologist – she played his game till the very end – did not interfear with his plans, supported him, waited. In other words she did everything she could to impress him and his family.

4) Having come to her husband Julia, one of the best English actresses, noticed an odd man. He was the new account of the theatre and was employed by her husband, Michael Gosselyn. The couple diceded to invite a fellow for  lunch, which was an immense event in the account's life. He was keen of Julia's playing, and saw plays with her acting 3 times! Besides, Julia gave him a photo of her own. Looking through the photos she recollected their past. She was born in Jersey. Her Aunt, who was a former actress, gave her the first lessons of actor's skill. At sixteen she entered the Royal academy of the dramatics, but only Jimmie Langton made a real actress of her.

A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms is a 1957 American DeLuxe Color CinemaScope drama film directed by Charles Vidor. The screenplay by Ben Hecht, based in part on a 1930 play by Laurence Stallings, was the second feature film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1929 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. It was the last film produced by David O. Selznick. An earlier film version, A Farewell to Arms starred Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes.

 Rock Hudson plays an American serving in the Italian Army during the "War to End All Wars". Jennifer Jones is his lover, a Red cross nurse. They have a torrid affair, which results in Jones' pregnancy. As the months pass, Hudson and Jones lose contact with one another, and Jones believes that Hudson has forgotten her. But a battle-weary Hudson finally makes it to Switzerland, where Jones is hospitalized. The baby is stillborn, and Jones dies shortly afterward, murmuring that her death is "a dirty trick."

The main thing, I‘d like to mention is the play of the actors who managed to feel their characters, their souls, mood and the way of thinking even. I am amazed by the way they took the message of the writer. However, sometimes the development of the love affair did not seem natural, they overacted.

I would like to mention the screenplay because I think it conveyed the atmosphere worse than the book. The relationship between Henry and Catherine developed quickly enough in the book but the screen writer made them lovers even faster. It seems strange for that period of time. The episodes from the book were cut and I do not see the reasonable reason. All in all, I did not enjoy the film because of the subdued events.

To conclude, the film helped me to imagine the main heroes, the events described in the book. I really enjoyed watching the film because I watch such “old” films rarely but always admire the work and skillfulness of the actors.