THEATRE by W. S. Maugham (Chapters 1-2)

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

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

three times running  - taking place three times

filthy - very dirty or obscene; muddy

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

military bearing -  the high level of military professionalism;

natural flamboyance natural brightness

stupendous –extremely large, great; astounding

staggered - to astound or overwhelm, as with shock; embarrass

natural homage – special respect; esteem

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

 

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

Artistic allusions:

1) Sir Thomas Lawrence (13 April 1769 – 7 January 1830) was a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy. The portraitist was mentioned to emphasize the lightness, tenderness, and feminity of the main character.

2) Jean-Marc Nattier (March 17, 1685 – November 7, 1766) was a French painter. He is noted for his portraits of the ladies of King Louis XV's court in classical mythological attire. The author used this name to show all the beauty and fineness of Julia Lambert.

3) Sarah Siddons (1755 – 1831) 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. 

This allusion occurs in the text because Sarah Siddons was an idol in the world of theatre, she was the most famous and conciderate actress.

4) Sarah Bernhardt (1844 – 1923) 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."

This actress was very tallented and had all opportunities to be the great actress as Julia herself.

5) Charles John Kean (1811-1868) was born at Waterford, Ireland, the son of the actor Edmund Kean. Plump of figure, facially expressionless, and vocally nasal, Charles Kean was not well endowed to enter the profession in which he was bound to be compared—unfavourably—with his father.

All these allusions were used in thi8s novel help to be absorbed into the world of theatre to appreciate all the beauty and charm of it.

Literary allusions:

1) William Shakespeare 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". His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Historical allusions:

1) 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.

Julia Lambert is the main character of Maugham’s novel “Theatre”. She is 46 year old woman with big brown eyes and very nice delightful "warm, ready" smile."She wasn’t a brilliant conversationalist, but her eyes were so bright, her manner so intelligent" She is an independent woman, in whom the sense of humor, the ability to judge people and to understand the circumstances are combined with being an adventurer.She was really a born actress and the fate gave her a great opportunity to develop her talent. Her clothes, made only in Paris, were very luxury. All Julia’s life was an acting. Jane Taitbout gave Julia her first lessons. She taught her all the arts that she had herself learnt at the Conservatoire and she talked to her of Reichenberg who had played ingenues till she was seventy, of Sarah Bernhardt and her golden voice, of Mounet-Sully and his majesty, and of Coquelin the greatest actor of them all. She recited to her the great tirades of Corneilly and Racine as she had learned to say them at the Francaise and taught her to say them in the same way. Jane Taitbout must always have been a very stagy actress, but she taught Julia to articulate with extreme distinctness, she taught her not to be afraid of her own voice, and she made deliberate that wonderful sense of timing which Julia had by instinct and which afterwards was one of her greatest gifts. When Julia was sixteen and went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in Gower Street she knew already much that they could teach her there. She won every prize that was open to her, and when she was finished with the school her good French got her almost immediately a small part in London as a French maid. It looked for a while as though her knowledge of French would specialize her in parts needing a foreign accent, for after this she was engaged to play an Austrian waitress.

Michael Gosselyn is the main character of Maugham’s novel “Theatre”.He is 52 years old. He had a very good figure, a great mass of curling chestnut hair and large deep blue eyes, a straight nose and small ears. The only thing that slightly spoiled him was the thinness of his mouth.He was the best- looking actor on the English stage. He was six foot tall and he had a military bearing. He was extremely handsome, so he had decided to go to the stage, rather than to connect his life with military career. 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. Michael had started with Shakespeare. He had played Romeo at Cambridge.
Michael was a pedant, stern, and meticulously thorough in fulfilling all the formal requirements. The man adored his wife, Julia, her skills and ability to play on stage. When he was young his playing was poor, though he grew popular with the company. The man was good-humoured and kindly; he would take any amount of trouble to do anyone a service. However, Michael didn’t like spending money; neither had he ever given on credit.

A Farewell To Arms

The title of the film under consideration is A Farewell to Arms. It is a 1957 American 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. The previous one dates back to 1932. It is distinguished by its hand-picked cast - Rock Hudson as Frederick Henry, Jennifer Jones as Catherine Barkley.

First of all, let me give you the brief reconstruction of the events. Frederick Henry is an American, serving as an ambulance driver for the Italian Army during World War I. He falls in love with a nurse - Catherine Barkley. During the retreat of the Italian Army, Henry deserts from his regiment and together with pregnant Catherine make their way to neutral Switzerland. For some months they live happily, but in the spring Catherine gives a birth to a still-born child, and dies shortly afterward.

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.

Further, I’d like to concentrate exactly on this overacting. In my opinion, the director shifted the accents a lot. This film lacks that all-important awareness of the inescapable presence and pressure of war. It focuses on the love affair of 2 characters. The essential excitement of a violent love is strangely missing here. Mr. Hudson is most noticeably unbending, as if he was cautious and shy, but Miss Jones plays the famous Catherine Barkley with bewildering nervous moves and grimaces. The show of devotion between two people is intensely acted, not realized, but, as I’ve already mentioned, it was a peculiar feature for me in their acting.

 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.

In Love and War

In Love and War is a 1996 romance drama film based on the book, Hemingway in Love and War by Henry S. Villard and James Nagel, starring Mackenzie Astin, Chris O'Donnell, Sandra Bullock, and Margot Steinberg. This film takes place during World War I, and is based on the World War I experiences of the writer Ernest Hemingway. It was directed by Richard Attenborough. The film was entered into the 47th Berlin International Film Festival.

Speaking about “In Love and War” we can discuss a different way of love-development. War here is a just a kind of setting and a background for feelings. It can be proved by the title - the word “Love” is placed on the primary position not accidentally. This means that the film is about love, relationship and fates, not about war itself.

 Ernie’s feelings to Agnes, his nurse, I can describe only as a passion, a flame. She has prejudices about the age-difference between them and her love to Ernie can be considered as love to a kid, a young man at war.

War is one of the main themes of Ernest Hemingway’s creative work. The main character of In Love and War fought hard to have the right to participate in war. Hemingway emphasizes that heroism doesn’t only exist in the front line, but also in hospitals, where the nurses fought for the lives of soldiers throughout day and night.


Speaking about main characters, Henry and Ernie are cool-headed, unselfish, proud, ambitious, ready for true feelings men, while their beloved are a little different. Agnes has too much prejudices, which destroy everything at the end, while Catherine is devoted to Henry, can not think of a day without him, wants everything to be done his way. It can be proved by the repetion “I’m a good wife. Everything is fine. Do you still love me?” I believe that Agnes was the prototype for Catherine. Hemingway just wrote his semi-autobiographical novel without traits he did not like, it is a kind of his dream, desire to change the events.


So, coming to the conclusion, I’d like to say, this film impressed me greatly. Such things as love and war seem to be incongruous, but Love and War  proves the contrary. Besides, they have a marvelous historical value as it is first-hand records of the events during the World War I. They placed me into the time of war and Ernest Hemingway. It helped me to imagine what kind of a person he was and what influenced his creative talent.

Higher Education in Britain and the USA

 1. What are the admission requirements to the colleges and universities in the USA/Britain?

 

Entrance to British universities is rather strict selection process? based on an interview. If students don't get the grades, specified in the offer, a place cannot be taken up. Some universities as Oxford and Cambridge have an entrance exam before the interview stage. As for American universities, students who want to study at a college or university have to take a standardized test, e.g. the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or the ACT (American College Test). Students from other countries outside the US must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

 2. What are the three types of schools in higher education?
As far as I know, there are graduate school, separate professional schools such as a medical school or a law school. 

 3. What degrees are offered by schools of higher learning in the USA/Britain? What are the requirements for these degrees? 

 In Britain a first degree, which is usually an honours degree, generally takes three years. Most courses end with exams called finals. Results are given as classes (= grades): a first is the highest class, seconds are often split between upper second and lower second, and below that is a third. Graduates may add the letters BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science) after their name. Some graduates go on to study for a further degree, often a master’s degree or a doctorate.
In the USA students are given grades at the end of each course. The highest grade is A; the lowest is F, which means that the student has failed the course and will not get credit for taking it. To check a student’s overall progress, the university calculates a grade point average (GPA). Students who finish their degree with a high GPA may be awarded Latin honours, of which the highest is summa cum laude.


4. What is a credit in the US system of higher education? How many credits must an undergraduate student earn to receive a bachelor’s degree? How can they be earned?

 A student has to earn a certain number of "credits" (about 120) in order to receive a degree at the end of four years of college. Credits are earned by attending lectures or laboratory classes and completing assignments and examinations.Students are given grades at the end of each course. The highest grade is A; the lowest is F, which means that the student has failed the course and will not get credit for taking it. To check a stu­dent’s overall progress, the university calculates a grade point average (GPA).

5. What steps do students have to take to enroll in a college/university for admission? Speak about the exams they take – PSAT, SAT, ACT.

American high school students who want to take to enroll in a college or university for admission have to take a standardized test, e.g. the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or the ACT (American College Test). Each college or university decides on the minimum score it will accept, though test scores are never the only factor taken into account.

6. What financial assistance are applicants eligible for? What is college scholarship, grants, loan? Explain and bring out the essence of student financial aid?

Students whose families cannot afford to pay the full amount apply for financial aid, receive a financial aid package which may be a combination of grants from the government, a scholarship, a student loan and work-study( a part-time job at the college).

7. What is a GPA (Grade Point Average)?

To check a student's overall progress, the university calculates a grade point average(GPA). Students who finish their degree with a high GPA may be awarded Latin honours.

8. What is the role of a student’s counselor? Specify the function of career development and job placement within a university.

Student counselors, also called guidance counselors, are professionals who help students at the high school or college level

 

10. What are the sources of funding for universities and colleges (both public and private)?

A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government. Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive tax breaks, public student loans, and grants.

11. What is an undergraduate student? A graduate student?

An undergrad student is one who hasn't graduate yet from a college. In college, working on a 4-year degree, their first year they are call Freshmen; the 2nd year, Sophomores; the 3rd year Juniors, and their 4th Seniors. All of those are "undergrads," which is short for "undergraduates." After they get a degree, later, if they stay in school to work on an advanced amount, then they're called graduate students. Undergraduate study is the 4 year term in which you study for your Bachelor's amount. A graduate student is someone who has their Bachelor's degree and is moving on to pursue their Master's level or PhD. Anyone who does not posses a Bachelor's degree but is pursuing one is an undergrad student.
A graduate student- a student who is studying for a degree that is higher than the one received after four years of study at a college or university.


12. Are you for written or oral examinations? Which ones are more objective?

 Oral examinations are rather complicted that written papers. They presupose inevitable necessity to face the examiners, to speak to them openly and even to answer their additional questions. Sometimes students may simply stumble through the exam because of their nervousness and anxiety. That is why I considere that written exams are more objective and are popular with the stydents.

13. What examinations (oral or written) are more popular with Russian students? Describe the psychological types of students of your group.

As you know, every student has his own point of view. Some choose written exam in the hope for cheating. Others prefer to speak face to face with their examiners and prove that they know well a given material or even they would like to go to the mat. To my way of thinking, written examinations are rather popular in Russia then written papers. You have not to worry, to nerve unlike viva exams.



14 Would you like to study in the USA or Great Britain? Why? Why not? What are the requirements for foreign students to study in the USA or Great Britain?

Well, to be honest, it s a brilliant idea to study abroad. There is always BUT. Firstly, you have to work harder, harder, harder to achieve their aim. Secondly, all depends on parents' income, because you are young and as a rule don't have a job to earn yourself for study. On the other hand it would be unfair to depend completely on parents.
Students from countries outside the US who are not native speakers of English must also take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

 

 

 

 

Laboratory Works

Laboratory Work 1

Speaker	Problem	Signs of Problem	Your Solution to the Problem
1	examination	incapable of showing students’ ability to learn	To combine oral and written exams with lowing difficultness
2	Preparing for A-levels	Tired face, sleepless nights	Do not overload oneself, otherwise it can lead to lamentable consequences
3	Entering into University	Loss of weight, great big black rims under eyes, sleepless nights	Do not overload oneself, otherwise it can lead to lamentable consequences
4	Getting a very high grade	Stunning, exciting	Try to save this level and not to revalue oneself
5	Electronically testing	Getting results faster	Do not rely only on machines as they can bog down

2. While studying I faced many problems, which were closely connected with unfairness and injustice from the direction of my teachers. Some of them were bad not only at teaching but also at holier-than-thou and irreverent attitude towards us. Frankly speaking, I never forget how the teacher of biology punched my classmate because of a bad behavior. All that had effect on me and my pupils. Worst of all was when they talked up our personal life and spread unacceptable gossips. That is why I was irritated at them and at the educational process.

  3. Studying is part of a process of change and, sometimes, change can cause a lot of anxiety. If you go to university straight from school, you are facing the challenge of leaving home, separating from your parents and beginning the process of finding your identity, as an adult, and your place in the world. This is a big psychological upheaval. When you become a student you may feel differently about yourself, and other people may react to you differently. There may be sports, social and political activities open to you now, which you've never tried before. This has two aspects: it can be very exciting, but it can also be terrifying. It can be easy to take on too many things, because you don't want to miss out on any new opportunities. Accommodation, finance, food, and travel can all present daunting problems in your first weeks. Ask for help from older students, from other first-years, or from your teachers. Don't be proud - you are not alone in your difficulties.

Laboratory Work 2

1.    They use the standard system of grading: A, B, C, В, F

2.    For some courses you can get satisfactory or unsatisfactory grade.

3.    We have a standard mark system: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for exams and for pass-fail courses there’s another system.

4,5 As practically all the countries pass to Bachelor’s system so there’s a system of points which students get for each task they should complete. At the end of the course these points are counted and if there’s enough to pass this course they get a pass or a mark.

Laboratory Work 3

1.    You can drop the course within the first 3 weeks of the semester. First, you need a signature of a professor of the course you want to drop on your official drop-card. Then, you need come to the advisor to get his or her signature.

2.    You can’t officially drop the course after the 3 weeks of the semester. If you have some problems with your course and you want to drop it you can’t do it.

If you stop attending a course without going through the official drop procedure the course will remain on your schedule and you receive a failing grade.

3.    To avoid any problems you should follow these rules.

Laboratory Work 4

1.    Library, Students’ Centre, Administration Complex, the Auditorium

2.    Library, the Dance Hall, where students can take part in diverse performing and hobby groups; the canteen and several cafeterias where students can have a snack

3.    First, on the ground floor there’s a library and a reading room where you can get diverse books, journals, magazines. There’s also on the first floor a canteen. Here the meals are very tasty. On the each floor you can make a photocopy. On the second floor you also can find an accounting department if you have some problems with your scholarship. On the third floor there’s a local trade of students. Also we have different hobby groups which can interest you: theatre, dance or singing. 

Review

Dangerous Minds

 The title of the film I’m going to tell you about is Dangerous Minds, directed by John N. Smith. It is distinguished by its hand-picked cast - Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Robin Bartlett. What is worth mentioning is the real background for the film. Dangerous Minds was adapted from a memoir by Lou Anne Johnson entitled -My Posse Don't Do Homework.

When a retired U.S. Marine, LouAnne Johnson, decides to become a teacher, she is given a class of tough, street-wise kids, involved in gangs and drugs. Her initially meek demeanor, small stature, and white skin earn her the nickname "white bread" from her students. Determined to have them trust and respect her, she quickly changes her presentation, wearing leather jackets, teaching karate to her students and cursing in the classroom. Creating her own curriculum for her "socially challenged" class, she starts having them read poetry, using Bob Dylan lyrics to teach symbolism. Johnson rewards her students for their hard work by giving them candy bars to say good job, toy prizes and trip to a boardwalk theme park. Along with helping her students with school work, she also provides emotional support to several students, including a couple of wise-cracking boys who are too caught up in street politics for their own good, and a teen who's dealing with the reality of being pregnant in high school. Although she intends to leave at the end of the year, the students quote the lyrics of a Dylan Thomas poem that they learned and insist that she's their "light" and refuse to let her leave. Touched, she agrees to stay.

 I’m deeply impressed by the way Luanne made the teens listen to her. At first I thought it would be impossible. She ultimately gets them to open up to learning and literature, through a combination of bribery (candy bars) and intimidation (her karate training from the Marines comes in handy), and she's able to reach out to the students who need her the most: Callie, a bright girl who believes she's thrown away her future when she becomes pregnant; Emilio, a macho bully whose violence is stifling his academic potential; and Raul, the brightest kid in the class, who is afraid to show his intelligence.

 Although the story is based on a real one, such stories always seem almost impossible for me. It’s too difficult to grow up some kind of hope and will in neglected children and only strong persons can do it, but not at once. Michele Pfeifer is great in the film. She managed to express real excitement, resolution and fearlessness. Despite her fragile appearance she played a role of a strong and experienced woman and did brilliantly.

 “Dangerous Minds" is indeed a powerful, emotionally charged film that knocked me over the head with its solid acting, its skillful manipulation of the emotions and the true-to-life ABC of teaching. Really, I’m grateful to have such a thought provoking film in my collection. I think, it does deserve watching.

 

Laboratory Works

Laboratory Work 3

1) In my opinion, the main reason for students to stay away is laziness and lack of willpower. Most pupils just can't make themselves get up from bed, get dressed and go to school, which is sometimes several metres away( I don't even speak of those who travel far to get to school in time). Some children are bored at classes, when they have much more interesting activities to be engaged in, the more so that small children often can't understand what benefits education can provide with, as they don't think about the future. 

1) Dr Greenway implies that some children who play truant are never punished (C)

2) Why do some parents take their children on holiday during term time? To spend time together(B)

3) Why is it difficult for schools to convince students to attend regularly? Some teachers behave irresponsibly (C)

4) How has the government reacted to truancy? They are only just beginning to help (B)

5) Why are the government having talks with travel agent? To make sure that children don't play truant (B)

6) What are the aims of behaviour improuvement projects? To teach parents to be responsible (A)

7) What does Dr Greenway say about the law against truancy? Many parents face criminal charges (C)

3)  I would like to choose three main aspects. First of all, lessons should be made more interesting and some new methods and technologies of education should be found to attract children's attention to studies-monotonous school routine only makes pupils bored. Secondly, parents need to be responsible for their children's doing well at school and set a good exemple for children themselves. Finally, they should teach their kids to respect school together with teachers. 

Laboratory Work 4

1) According to the speakers, the main advantage of a state school is its being free, while public schools are quite expensive. But at puplic scools, instructors are better, as well as facilities. At the same time in state schools students are mixed (both rich and poor). The girl thinks that both types are expensive, but students' being mixed-up at state schools makes them more interesting and captivating. The young man says that the advantage of going to public school is an ability to get a better job. If i personally was in the girl's shoes, I 'd better go to public school, as it provides more opportunities to settle my affairs well.

Similarities:

-school education is compulsory
-there are state schools and independent schools
-school education includes primary and secondary schools-
schools subjects are almost the same in 3 countries
-students have to take exams before leaving school
-there exist school uniforms in 3 countries
-there are sets of exams in 3 countries
-there are always exams at the end of school life

Differences:

-in the USA a kindergarden is compulsory
-school daily routine is not the same in 3 countries
-extra-curricular activities, optional courses ( are not usually present in Russia)
-different stages of education 
-in Britain and in the USA exams are taken several times through school life