3. Divide the extract into logically connected parts. Characterize each.
4. What kind of boy was Dobbin? Comment on the description of his clothes. Are they suggestive of his social position? Account for his decision to help little Osborn.
5. What was the children’s attitude to Dobbin? How are Cuff’s contempt and Osborn’s surprise revealed?
6. Note the choice of words, the historical allusion to George III and the mythological allusion to David. Comment on their role.
7. How is Cuff described? What language means help to reveal his nature? How is his contempt to the other pupils reflected in his speech? How is his cruelty accentuated?
8. Comment on the battle, its different periods, and the reaction of the children observing it.
9. Where does the extract reach its climax?
10. The author’s digression and its role. What helps to attain a high degree of generalization? Can you trace the author’s attitude to the events described?
11. Comment on the syntactic structure of the extract.
12. Make up a list of bookish words and speak on their role.