an MC and a DSO

Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order; medals won for bravery in war

The Welsh Guards

a famous military regiment in the British army

Justice of the Peace

a person who is not trained as a lawyer but who acts as a judge (unpaid) in a local law court, which deals with less serious crimes

Eton

a famous public school (fee-paying) for boys from upper-class families

Edgar Allan Рое

an American writer famous for his poetry and short stories

Henry V

a play by Shakespeare, often studied by schoolchildren

Penny-a-liner

(derogatory) a journalist who is paid by the number of lines written

Colonel Blimp

(derogatory) a person who is ridiculously pompous and conservative (especially an old army officer)

Emily Dickinson, Landor, Heine, Sappho

all famous poets (American, English, German, ancient Greek)

A Shropshire Lad

a volume of lyric poems written by the English poet A.E. Housman

Discussion

1 George Peregrine knows that he and his wife have 'drifted apart'. Who do you blame for that? He had had the thought that 'if Evie hadn't been such a good woman she'd have been a better wife.' What do you think he means by that? What does it reveal about his attitude to women?

2 'There is such a thing as imagination,' says Henry Blane. Are you sure Evie had a lover? If so, what do you think would have happened if he hadn't died? If not, why did she write the poems?

3 Do you think George and Evie's relationship will be different from now on? If so, how? From the point of view of their relationship, does it in fact matter whether there was a real lover or not?

Language Focus

1 Find all the vocabulary and expressions in the story that show

• George Peregrine as a typical, very conventional country gentleman

• Evie as a woman who is no longer young or attractive.

2 Words and word combinations to be memorized:

the outbreak of the war slyboots forebear

to tend the sick to succour the poor to be affable to inferiors

to drift apart to take for granted tenant

odd to embark on discreditable

hot stuff to keep the shirt on to pull smb’s leg

a celebrity gibberish to make fuss about

to gush a smash hit flattering things

to titter desiccated to be impertinent

malaise love affair to put the detective on

fastidious reticent

2 Rephrase these colloquial expressions in your own words:

Did it cost you a packet? I've half a mind to do it

I don't think that's your cup of tea Selling like hot cakes

Hot stuff Come off it

I must bolt I must watch my step

All that's a bit above my head It's no good crying over spilt milk

3 Find in the text some sentences, describing:

a) George Peregrine

b) Evie

4 Ask 10 what-questions and 10 why-questions on the text.

5 Reproduce the talk between George and his solicitor.

6 Speak on the structure of the text, the subject of the story and the ideas expressed, the author’s approach to the personages and the situation

Activities

1 Imagine that George did not take Henry Blane's advice, but went straight home to find out the truth from Evie. Write a new ending for the story. Does Evie decide to leave George, or do they agree to forget the past and stay together?

7 Imagine that you are a journalist from a 'gossip' magazine, and are interviewing George. Try to find out if George does in fact believe his wife had a love affair. George, having decided to follow Henry Blane's advice, tries hard to pretend that he doesn't believe it. Write the dialogue between George and the journalist.

8 Write a review of Evie's book for a Sheffield newspaper, mentioning that she is a local author.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31