DISCUSSION OF THE TEXT

1. Give a definition of the passage. Is it a description of nature, a narration intercepted with dialogue? Does it contain a satirical portrayal of society, a historical event, or a humorous episode?

2. Divide the passage into 5 or 6 logically connected parts. Make up an outline, the items of which serving as key points of each part. Which of the parts contains the culminating point (the climax) of the story? Justify your opinion.

3. Speak about the central character. What was Andrew’s position in the squire’s estate? Why did he want to join the players? Why were his words so convincing? What do we learn about him through his words and behaviour? Speak about his feelings during the performance.

4. What is the players’ attitude to Andrew? Can you agree that he was ‘a vile impostor’? How do remarks of different personages help us see their attitude to him? What is the role of the choice of words? What is Hardy’s attitude to Andrew? Account for your opinion.

5. How are other personages characterized through their attitude to Andrew (the players, the squire’s mother, the squire and his wife)? Prove your opinion by quoting the text.

6. Re-read the concluding lines of the story. What mood do they convey? What is there in these lines that is in accordance with Hardy’s outlook in general?

7. What means does Hardy resort to in creating a local colouring?

8. Comment upon the language of the passage.

· What grammatical peculiarities make the narration personal? (Account for the use of the first person and the shift of tenses.)

· Expand on the choice of words and phraseology. (Pick out phraseological combinations. Who uses them? How do they affect the manner of narration?) Pick out epithets referring to Andrew and the squire’s mother. What is their emotional value? Pick out the similes and analyse them. Can you call them effective? Why?

· Compare Andrew’s manner of speech with that of the squire’s mother. What do they differ in? How does it help to characterize these personages?

9. Make a summary of your comments.

MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
COMMENTARY	\|	By Charles Dickens

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