Theatre by W.S. Maugham

Chapter 14

I. Find in the text the following words and phrases and translate them into Russian:

on one excuse and another – то под одним предлогом, то под другим

to confess to oneself – признаться самому себе

that was all to the good – тем лучше

shrewd – проницательный

vanity – тщеславие

to have an affair with sb. – роман с кем-то

sallow – болезненный

to feel compassion for sb. – чувствовать сострадание к кому-то

eminent persons – выдающийся человек

to lay no claims on sb. – не претендовать ни на кого

to use all her arts of cajolery – призывать все свое искусство обольщения

stale food – несвежая пища

to overcome one's scruples – преодолеть сомнения

to have no inclination – не быть склонным

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 – надувшись

Julia's heart was wrung – сердце Джулии сжалось

chivalrous courtesy – рыцарская учтивость

a vile disposition – ужасный нрав

alacrity – готовность

wistful – мечтательный

to act with great naturalness – изображать с большой естественностью

to make a scene – устроить сцену

she was in a black rage – ее душила черная ярость

she'd get even with him – она с ним сквитается

to rack one's brains – биться над задачей

II. Answer the following questions:

1. Was Julia really in love with Tom Fennell? And he?

Julia was really in love with him, she felt a strange passion to him. This woman knew that Tom wasn’t in love with her. He was too young, he was not so interested in her.

2. How old was Tom? What did he do? Why was he a success with women?

Tom was twenty-two and he was five years elder Julia’s son. He was a highly-sexed young man. Julia 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.

3. How can you characterize Roger? Where was he educated? What were his relations like with his parents? Did he know what he wanted to be? Did he want to go on the stage?

Roger was a nice-looking boy, with reddish hair and blue eyes. He was seventeen. He had neither his mother's vivacity and changing expression nor his father's beauty of feature. As a child Roger was rather stolid and he had a serious look. His only good features were his teeth and his hair, but his figure was rather lumpy. Roger 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. As for his future, this young man didn’t know what he wanted to be but at the same time he didn’t want to go on the stage.

4. How did Tom and Roger get on together?

Tom and Roger were at the same age and they spent all the time together.

5. Was Julia as successful in the movies as in the theatre? Did she envy the film-stars?

Julia was not successful in the movies. 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. Julia did not envy the film-stars because they came and went but she could stay.

6. Describe in detail how Julia managed to play different characters on the stage. What thrilled her? Why did she sometimes fell like God?

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. How did Julia revenge herself on Tom?

Julia decided to revenge on him by reminding him to leave the maid tips, leaving the money in the envelope.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases describing Tom Fennell. Comment on the repetition of "a young man" in the text. First "he was a blushing young man" for Julia. Did her attitude change when she was better aquainted with him? Prove it by giving examples from the text.

- What he's got, of course, is sex appeal

- Sweet with his blue eyes and pale brown hair

- He was so deceitful

-  Young, fresh and ingenuous

- Lips were soft and there was a perfume of youth about him which was really rather delightful
The author uses the repetition "young man" to show that Julia admired Tom’s youth and through it she remembered her times when she was a young woman. At first, Julia tried to attach Tom to her giving him expensive gifts, paying his debts. “She felt a strange compassion for him. He had the high spirits of youth, and she lapped them up as a kitten laps up milk. But he was not amusing. Though he laughed when Julia said a funny thing he never said one himself. She did not mind. She found his dullness restful”.

IV. Find in the text epithets and similes which characterize Julia and Michael and say what effect the author achieves by using them.

Some epithets to describe Julia: very pretty and young (within a company of Tom Julia felt herself much younger); a maiden aunt (to show her disappointment and despair); the popular favourite, the best-dressed woman in London (to show that Julia pretended to be such a woman, it wasn’t her real substance).  

Some epithets to describe Michael: friendly way (to show Michael’s kindness); she read his mind like an open book (to show that Julia knew him perfectly).

V. What stylistic device did Maugham employ at large to characterize Julia? Illustrate your answer with the examples from the text. Comment on the lexicon used by Julia. To what stylistic layer of the vocabulary does it belong? How does it characterize Julia?

There were vulgar words: “The blasted fool, why does he talk all that rot?”, “Gosh, I’m going down like a barrel of oysters”. The author used them in Julia’s internal monologues to show that in reality she was not a person of high society. She only seemed to be intelligent with other people.

VI. Give a summary of chapter 14. (in written form)

Julia found herself totally enamored with Tom. She tried to attach the young man to her giving him expensive gifts and paying his debts.  In his turn, Tom had the high spirits of youth, but he was not amusing. Though he laughed when Julia said a funny thing he never said one himself. She found his dullness restful. Also Tom became close friends with her seventeen year son, Roger, and they spent all their time together. However this young man didn’t notice Julia decided to take revenge on him. She reminded him to leave the maid tips, leaving the money in the envelope.

Theatre by W.S. Maugham

Chapters 11-13

I. Find the following words and phrases in the text and translate them into Russian:

a profound contempt – глубочайшее презрение

to have first nights – премьеры

to be exemplary – примерный

a pattern of conjugal fidelity – образец супружеской верности

to separate – разлучать

be ingenuous – искренний

to cry almost at will – вызвать слезы по собственному желанию

common sense – здравый смысл

to elope with sb. – сбежать с кем-то

preposterous – абсурдный

curtain calls – выход на поклон

prudish – строгий

in for a penny in for a pound – назвался груздем – полезай в кузов

this was all a put-up job – подстроить что-то специально

indecent – неприличный

in a flash – в мгновение ока

to take liberties with sb. – быть чересчур фамильярным с кем-то

a matinee – дневной спектакль

amiably – дружелюбно

well-chosen words – меткие слова

to have no sequel – продолжения не будет

to erase the episode from her memory – вспоминать

pleasant reveries sauntered through her mind – приятные полумечты-полувоспоминания неторопливо ей в  голову

hectic flush – лихорадочный румянец

to see in the flesh – увидеть в живую

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

to have an inkling – заподозрить

to pawn –ручаться

II. Answer the following questions:

1. How did Julia and Lord Tamerly get acquainted? Was Julia his mistress? What did Julia owe to Charles Tamerly?

Julia and Lord Tamerly got  acquainted at a luncheon party. In spite of the fact that Lord Tamerly was madly fall in love with Julia, she wasn't his mistress.

2. Describe Julia's acting when Lord Tamerly declared his love to her. How can you prove that it was only make-believe?

As for Julia’s acting when Lord Tamerly declared his love to her, she found it rather comic. S said that he was a nice middle-aged man, but she didn’t love him. She sat down and for a minute looked silently at the miniature. Julia raised her eyes till they met Charles's. 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. She cried and nodded.

3. Why do you think Julia agreed to have tea with the young man? What was his name? Did Julia know it or not?

To my mind, she agreed to have tea with them out of curiosity. His name was Tom Fennel and Julia did not know it.

4. Was the young man as shy as he seemed to be?

The young man seemed shy but one moment he put his arm round her waist and kissed her full on the lips. At that moment this young man wasn’t so shy.

5. How did he show his admiration for Julia?

He had seen her in every play she had acted. He also said that when he was fourteen he had stood outside the stage door after a matinee and had asked her to sign her name in his autograph-book.

6. What feelings did Julia experience after the date with the young man? How did she act after that? How old was Julia at that time? What's your opinion of Julia's behaviour?

Julia found herself enamored with a young man. At that time Julia was fourty but she found herself looking and feeling 20 years younger. Everybody in the theatre noticed how she had changed. She acted with a passion and emotions. As for my opinion, I don’t appreciate her behavior, because I think the woman shouldn’t get out of line.

7. Describe the episode of Julia's adventure on the train to Cannes. What was Julia's attitude towards this accident? Give quotations from the text and comment on them. What do you think of this adventure?

During her trip to Cannes, Julia acquainted with the man who told her that he was an attaché at the Spanish Embassy in Paris and was going down to Cannes for
Easter. They spent the night together, and after a while it turned out that he had a family. Next morning she couldn’t believe that it had happened with her, but at the same time she did care more about the safety of her jewelry. I think her behavior was immoral.

8. When did Julia see Tom Fennell again? Under what circumstances?

Several days later Tom called her and ask for one more meeting. Julia tried to refuse him, but finally agreed to meet with Tom in her dressing-room.

9. What do you think attracted Julia to Tom? How old was he?

His youth attracted Julia. As for Tom, he was no more than 20. His lips were soft and there was a perfume of youth about him which was really rather delightful, blue eyes were so charmingly boyish.

10. Why do you think Tom was interested in grand people?

I think, Tom wanted to become rich and famous like them.

11. Do you approve or disapprove of Julia's love affair with Tom Fennell?

I disapprove of Julia’s love affair with Tom. I think any woman shouldn’t get out of line.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases which the author uses to show Julia's attitude towards Tom Fennell. Comment on their semantics and stylistic value.

- Young, fresh and ingenuous.

- Sweet with his blue eyes and pale brown hair.
- His lips were soft and there was a perfume of youth about him which was really rather delightful.
- There was something charming in his clean freshness.
- Julia could have taken him in her arms then and there and kissed his blue eyes. She adored him.
- She had been as excited all the evening as a girl going to her first ball. She could not help thinking how absurd she was.

All these phrases show Julia’s attitude to Thomas Fennel. She realized, she fall in love with Tom but she knew it was wrong to date with him.

IV. The author uses a number of theatrical allusions. Find them in the text and say what you know about them. (Consult the Oxford Guide to British and American Culture or any other culture dictionary).

Ellen Terry was an English actress who became one of the most popular stage performers in both Great Britain and North America. For 24 years she worked as the leading lady of Sir Henry Irving in one of the most famous partnerships in the theatre. In the 1890s she began her famous “paper courtship” with George Bernard Shaw, one of the most brilliant correspondences in the history of English letter writing.

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.

George Farquhar was an Irish playwright of real comic power who wrote for the English stage at the beginning of the 18th century. He stood out from his contemporaries for originality of dialogue and a stage sense that doubtless stemmed from his experience as an actor.

Oliver Goldsmith was an Anglo-Irish essayist, poet, novelist, dramatist, and eccentric, made famous by such works as the series of essays The Citizen of the World, or, Letters from a Chinese Philosopher (1762), the poem The Deserted Village (1770), the novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766).

Marcel Proust was a French novelist, author of “À la recherche du temps perdu”, a seven-volume novel based on Proust’s life told psychologically and allegorically.

Paul Cézanne was a French painter, one of the greatest of the Post-Impressionists, whose works and ideas were influential in the aesthetic development of many 20th-century artists and art movements, especially Cubism.

V. In chapter 11 you can find the following phrase: "... like Venus rising from the waves." What is the source of this allusion? Comment on it and its stylistic effect.

“The Birth of Venus” is a 1486 painting by Sandro Botticelli. I think, the author used such allusion to stress Julia’s state of mind. When she met Tom she was looking and feeling 20 years younger.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 11-13. (in written form)

Julia met with Tom, who was madly in love with her. This woman found him very polite and elegant. Next morning Mr. Fennel called her and invited to have a cup of tea. His poor apartment reminded Julia the times when she was in the beginning of her carrier. Suddenly the young man kissed her. At first Julia didn’t take it seriously, but this relationship made her feel younger and gave her inspiration. During her trip this woman had another affair with an unknown man. After her returning Julia and  Tom went to an expensive restaurant. She pointed out that he had pawned his watch in order to take her out to supper. Finally Julia realized that she had fallen in love with Tom.

Theatre by W.S. Maugham

Chapters 7-10

I. Find the following words and phrases in the text and translate them into Russian:

Placidity - спокойный

to make frantic scenes - закатывать безумные сцены

to give sb. a look of scorn - бросить презрительный взгляд на кого-либо

lavishness - щедрость

to know how to pull strings adroitly - знать, как пустить в ход связи

to fall out of love - разлюбить

close-cropped hair - коротко стриженный

to resist an inclination - удержаться от чего-то

weather-beaten skin - обветренная кожа

coltish grace - щенячья грация

to be on active service - быть в действующей армии

confinement - роды

to run a theatre - открыть театр

effusive - несдержанный

virile air – зрелый вид

to set one's mind to smth - стремиться к чему-либо

disconcerting - смущающий

it's a knock out - сногсшибательно

amiability - добродушие

affable manner - дружеское обращение

to exercise great ingenuity in (doing) smth - проявить великую изобретательность в чем-то

to be unperturbed - быть невозмутимым

shrewdness - проницательность

to grizzle - возмущаться, раздражать

it's a mere commonplace - это банально

exorbitant - непомерный

to be conciliatory - дружелюбный

to foster one's career - способствовать чьей-то карьере

prosiness - прозаичность

acumen - проницательность

to have one's face lifted - подтянуть кожу лица

it's no good crying over spilt milk - потерянного не воротишь

to have little flirtations - заводить небольшие интриги

masseuse - массажистка

gossip column - колонка светской хроники

the world of make-believe - мир притворства

II. Answer the following questions:

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

They were both acting when war broke out.

2. Why do you think Michael enjoyed the war?

“Michael thoroughly enjoyed the war. He was popular in the regimental mess, and the officers of the old army accepted him almost at once, even though he was an actor, as one of themselves.”

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 think, love is very important for a successful family life. Of course, every person has its own opinion on this problem.

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

It was just before the end of the war that she fell out of love with him. She was pregnant at the time. She realized that he no longer smelt like a young, 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 first, they wanted to find a rich man, who fell in love with Julia or a rich old woman, who loved Michael and set them up in management. Finally the money was found by a rich woman, and not an old one either, but who was interested not in him but in Julia. She was Mrs. de Vries. She was a widow and she was in the partnership with Michael and Julia. They decided to call the theatre “The Siddons theatre”.

6. Why was Julia against Michael's taking up directing?

Julia was doubtful. “He 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?

He made a much better job of it than Julia expected. “He was thorough; he worked hard. Julia, strangely enough, felt that he was getting more out of her than any other director had done”.

8. What irritated Julia in Michael more and more? How did he change in Julia's eyes?

“His thrift, which in the early days had seemed an amusing, rather touching trait, now revolted her. When people were in trouble, and on the stage they too often are, they got sympathy and kind friendly words from Michael, but very little cash. He looked upon himself as devilish generous when he parted with a guinea, and a five‑pound note was to him the extreme of lavishness. He had soon discovered that Julia ran the house extravagantly, and insisting that he wanted to save her trouble took the matter in his own hands. After that nothing was wasted. Every penny was accounted for. Julia wondered why servants stayed with them”.

9. Why was Julia sad when she thought of her married life?

Julia realized that she fell out of love with Michael. His behavior, manners, thought and even his appearance began to irritate her. She had never thought that such thing could happen with her.

10. Why was Michael happier than he had been before?

Julia was much easier to get on with, she never made scenes any more, so he was happier than he had ever been before.

11. Julia's dresser and maid was a Cockney, wasn't she? Please prove it using the examples from the text.

“Evie was Julia's dresser and maid. She had come to her first at Middlepool and had accompanied her to London. She was a cockney, a thin, raddled, angular woman, with red hair which was always untidy and looked as if it much needed washing, two of her front teeth were missing but, notwithstanding Julia's offer, repeated for years, to provide her with new ones she would not have them replaced”.

12. Who was the unknown man who sent flowers to Julia? Why did she write him a thank you note?

“Lord Charles Tamerley was the oldest and the most constant of Julia's admirers, and when he passed a florist's he was very apt to drop in and order some roses for her”. “She was naturally polite and it was a principle with her to answer all fan letters”.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases describing Michael's appearance and character. Say what you think of him.

- a good‑humoured smile on his handsome face

- the handsomest man in England

- a tailor's dummy

- the ordinary normal Englishman

- with his gentlemanly push, with his breezy good‑nature

- his thriftiness

- He had tact and a pleasant manner

- He showed himself possessed of considerable organizing capacity

- He came, looking wonderfully handsome in his well‑cut uniform, with the red tabs and the crown on his shoulder‑straps. He had filled out a good deal as the result of the hardships of G.H.Q. and his skin was tanned. With his close‑cropped hair, breezy manner and military carriage he looked every inch a soldier.

- he was only thirty‑six, but he was not a boy any more; with his close‑cropped hair and weather‑beaten skin, little lines beginning to mark the smoothness of his forehead and to show under his eyes, he was definitely a man. He had lost his coltish grace and his movements were set. He was a middle‑aged man.

- He was a well set‑up, normal, high‑spirited fellow, with a ready smile and a hearty laugh. He was well suited to drawing‑room comedy. His light voice gave a peculiar effect to a flippant line, and though he never managed to make love convincingly he could carry off a chaffing love scene, making a proposal as if it were rather a joke, or a declaration as though he were laughing at himself.

To my mind, Michael was the perfect man to run a theatre. He was pedant and stern. Michael didn’t spend much money, neither had he ever given on credit. Such kind of men could be successful in this business. Also I think, he was an ideal husband because this man was so devoted to his wife.

IV. Comment on the phrase from chapter 9: "Roger had been entered for Eton within a week of his birth." Comment on it. Give a short presentation on public schools in Britain.

Eton is a very prestigious school for boys. Every celebrity and famous people who want their child has quality education have to apply within a week of his birth. It’s a tradition of Eton.

Public Schools
A public school is an independent secondary school. Public schools in England are not run by the government. The entrance exams used by most public schools are known as Common Entrance exams and are taken at the age of 11 (girls) or 13 (boys).

The most famous public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

Eton is one of nine English independent schools, commonly referred to as "public schools", included in the original Public Schools Act 1868. Following the public school tradition, Eton is a full boarding school, which means all pupils live at the school, and is one of four such remaining single-sex boys' public schools in the United Kingdom to continue this practice. It has educated nineteen British Prime Ministers and generations of aristocracy, and has been referred to as the chief nurse of England's statesmen.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 7-10.

Julia was happy the first year of her marriage. But soon the war broke out. Michael became a soldier and he improved Julia to stay in the theatre. It was just before the end of the war that she fell out of love with him. Julia was pregnant at the time. When Michael came back they tried to find money to open their own theatre. Mrs. de Vries became their partnership and Michael was a director of this theatre. Julia was a famous actress and some fans appeared in her life. One of them was Lord Charles Tamerley.

Theatre by W.S. Maugham

Chapters 3-6

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

Asset – a major benefit (a useful quality)

a sumptuous supper – splendor suggesting great expense (lavish)

extravagance - the practice of spending a lot of money, especially more than you should (wastefulness)

thrift – wise economy in the management of money (frugality)

to remonstrate – criticize someone about something (affirm)

equanimity – a calm mental state when you deal with a difficult situation (imperturbability)

at a loose end – in an uncertain or unsettled situation or position (on the mooch)

to jeopardize – to expose to loss or injury (to run chances)

alacrity – cheerful readiness (eagerness)

susceptible to – easily influenced or affected (pliable)

obsequious – too keen to please someone, in a way that does not seem sincere (menial)

a retainer - a servant, especially one who has worked for someone from a high social class for a long time (man)

II. Find quotations in the text. State their meaning and their function.

“I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved I not honour more”

“Lord, what fools these mortals be”. Jimmie Langton couldn’t understand why Julia being the greatest actress in England loved untalented Michael.

The main function of these phrases is to show that actors learn a lot by heart and very often they use these phrases in their everyday life.

III. Explain the metaphor "she is a millstone round his neck." Who does it refer to?

"She is a millstone round his neck" refers to Julia and Michael. He became a star and she insisted on playing with him. If he was in management he had to give her leading parts and if he engaged someone else there were most frightful scenes.

IV. Comment on the context of the following phrases:

- "He was too modest to resent an unfavourable criticism." (Ch.3) – Michael understood that he had very poor talent and only his handsome appearance made him successful. “He was pleased by their approval, but not cast down by their censure”.

- "... after all he was born a gentleman." (Ch.4) – Michael’s parents wanted him to be a military. They thought that all actors were immoral, but when Julia told about Michael’s talent his mother said “Of course we hope he’ll do well”. “I know it doesn’t mean so much as when I was a girl, but after all he was born a gentleman”.

- "He is going to be a flop." (Ch.5) – These words were said by Jimmie Langton. He was sure that Michael was going to be a flop because he knew that Michael didn’t have any talent.

- "'I suppose it's beastly of me,' she thought, 'but thank God, thank God.'" (Ch.6) – This phrase was said by Julia. She was happy to hear that Michael didn’t have a success in New York.

VI. What techniques are employed by the author to make the reader see the events through Julia's eyes?

The author used a lot of dialogs, descriptions, quotations and allusions to make the reader to see the events through Julia’s eyes.

VII. Answer the questions:

1. Who was Jimmie Langton and what role did he play in Julia's and Michael's lives?

Jimmie was the director of the theatre. He looked for the actors for his theatre by himself. He invited Julia to his theatre and made her a great actress. A year later he gave a job to Michael. Julia saw Michael and she fell in love with him.

2. When did Julia and Michael join the Middlepool Theatre Company?

At first Julia joined the Middlepool theatre. Michael had been playing in another theatre for three years, when he was noticed by Langton to join Middlepool Theatre.

3. How did Julia and Michael get to know each other?

At first Julia joined the Middlepool theatre. “When Michael joined company, Julia had been playing Middlepool for a year”. They acted in the same performance. “She fell in love with Michael at first sight. She had never seen a more beautiful young man, and she pursued him relentlessly”. “Soon they were inseparable”.

4. What did Julia like about Michael? He was handsome and his appearance attracted her.

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

“ Anyone can be good-looking”, he answered, with his sweet smile, “but not everyone  can belong to a decent family. To tell you the truth I’m glad my governor’s gentleman”.

5. How did Julia feel about her family?

She was proud of her family, in spite of the fact her father was a vet.

6. What were Michael's views on marriage?

He said that 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”.

7. Why did Michael find Julia extravagant?

“It cost a good deal more than she could afford and he smilingly reproached her for her extravagance. He never dreamt what ecstatic pleasure it gave her to spend her money on him”.

8. What did Michael read newspaper reviews for? Did Julia share his views?

“He read the reviews, and their praise of Julia, but he read summarily, without paying much attention till he came to the remarks the critics made about him. He was pleased by their approval, but not cast down by their censure. He was too modest to resent an unfavorable criticism”. As for Julia, she wasn’t interested in reviews.

9. Who invited Julia to Michael's house for the Holy Week?

Julia received a letter from Mrs.Gosselyn, Michael’s mother.

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 read The Times, went to church on Sunday and accompanied his wife to tea-parties.

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

They liked her.

12. Was the proposal expected by Michael's parents?

Michael’s parents expected the proposal as they invited Julia to their house.

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

Michael received a professional offer from an American producer. Jimmie Langton facilitated this.

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

She went to Jimmie’s house and she cried loudly at him, she said that he was a devil. At that moment she was violent and strong.

15. Was Michael a success in America?

Michael failed in America.

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

She wrote him very often.

17. Was Julia eager to meet Michael straight at the station?

Julia was eager to meet Michael straight at the station. “When he announced the date of his sailing, she could not contain her joy. She got Jimmie so to arrange his program that she might go and meet him at Liverpool”.

18. What were Michael's impressions after staying and working in America?

He was sure, he was too English. They didn’t want him another year. He didn’t like America. Even if they had wanted him to stay, he should have refused.

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

He wanted to open his own theatre and made Julia the main actress.

VIII. Summarize the events of chapters 3-6.

Julia became famous and successful actress. A year later she met Michael and fell in love with him. She made a lot to be with him. At Easter holiday Michael introduced Julia to his parents. At the same time he offered his hand to Julia and she agreed. Coming back home, Michael signed contract with an American interpreter. Michael got a flop and returned home. He had some money to open a theatre.

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, especially extreme self-satisfaction (smugness)

three times running - taking place three times

filthy - very dirty (muddy)

supercilious – displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference (contemptuous)

military bearing - the high level of military professionalism (carriage)

natural flamboyance - natural brightness

stupendous – amazingly large or great (immense)

staggered - to astound or overwhelm, as with shock (embarrass)

natural homage – special honor or respect shown or expressed publicly and accepted as one's due (natural respect)

entanglement – state of confusion (involvement)

concubinage - cohabitation of a man and woman without legal or formal marriage (cohabitation)

languorous – lacking spirit or liveliness (impassive)

flippant rejoinder – frivolous answer (frivolous answer)

to risk smth –  to expose to a chance of loss (run the venture)

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.

Literary allusions:

William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) 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.

Artistic allusions:

Sir Thomas Lawrence (13 April 1769 – 7 January 1830) was a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy. The most outstanding work: Satan summoning his legions. Here he illustrated lines from John Milton's Paradise Lost. The portraitist was mentioned to emphasize the lightness, tenderness, and feminity of the main character.

Sarah Siddons (5 July 1755 – 8 June 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. The Sarah Siddons Society continues to present the Sarah Siddons Award in Chicago every year to a prominent actress.

John Philip Kemble (1 February 1757 – 26 February 1823) was an English actor. He was born into a theatrical family as the eldest son of Roger Kemble, actor-manager of a touring troupe. His elder sister Sarah Siddons achieved fame with him on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. His other siblings Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock also enjoyed success on the stage.

Benoît-Constant Coquelin (23 January 1841 – 27 January 1909), known as Coquelin aîné ("Coquelin the Eldest"), was a French actor, "one of the greatest theatrical figures of the age."

Sarah Bernhardt (23 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage and early film actress, and was referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known."Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, at the beginning of the Belle Epoque period, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas. She developed a reputation as a serious dramatic actress, earning the nickname "The Divine Sarah."

Mounet-Sully (February 28, 1841 – 1916), a French actor, was born at Bergerac. His birth name was Jean-Sully Mounet: "Mounet-Sully" (without the "Jean") was a stage name.

Jean-Marc Nattier (March 17, 1685 – November 7, 1766), French painter, was born in Paris, He is noted for his portraits of the ladies of King Louis XV's court in classical mythological attire.

Charles John Kean (18 January 1811 - 22 January 1868), was born at Waterford, Ireland, the son of the actor Edmund Kean. Charles Kean had early opportunities to play Shakespearian leads in London: Romeo (1829), Richard III (1830), Iago (1833) to his father's Othello, Othello and Hamlet (both 1838).

Historical allusions:

Sir Francis Robert Benson (4 November 1858 – 31 December 1939), commonly known as Frank Benson or F. R. Benson, was a British actor-manager. He founded his own company in 1883 and produced all but two of Shakespeare's plays.

To my mind their main function is to make the reader to be closer to the theatre and art.

III. Using direct and indirect evidence from the text give character sketches of Julia Lambert and Michael Gosselyn.

Julia Lambert was the best actress of her time in England. She was 46 years old. Julia had big brown eyes, her smile was warm and ready. She was a woman with a lovely figure. She was tall, she had long legs. “Her nose was slightly thick, but he had managed by his lighting to make it look very delicate, not a wrinkle marred the smoothness of her skin, and there was a melting look in her fine eyes.” “Her voice, her rather low rich voice, with that effective hoarseness, which wrung your heart in an emotional passage or gave so much humour to a comedy line, seemed to sound all wrong when she spoke it. And then her articulation; it was so distinct that, without raising her voice, she could make you hear her every word in the last row of the gallery; they said it made verse sound like prose.” Julia loved beautiful dresses and she had a lot of them. She had her clothes made in Paris. Julia earned enough to be an independent woman. This woman was hard-working. She wanted to be a good actress very much.  

Michael Gosselyn had at fifty‑two a very good figure. “As a young man, with a great mass of curling chestnut hair, with a wonderful skin and large deep blue eyes, a straight nose and small ears, he had been the best‑looking actor on the English stage. The only thing that slightly spoiled him was the thinness of his mouth. He was just six foot tall and he had a gallant bearing. It was his obvious beauty that had engaged him to go on the stage rather than to become a soldier like his father. Now his chestnut hair was very grey, and he wore it much shorter; his face had broadened and was a good deal lined; his skin no longer had the soft bloom of a peach and his colour was high. But with his splendid eyes and his fine figure he was still a very handsome man. Since his five years at the war he had adopted a military bearing.” “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.”

IV. Give a summary of the first two chapters.

One day young handsome man came to famous couple. Michael invited him to work as an accountant. Julia paid attention on him. He was very shy and it only amused Julia. This woman gave him a photo of her own. Looking through the photos she remembered her springtime. When Julia was 16 she entered the Royal academy of the dramatics, but only met Jimmie Langton she became a real actress.

Film Review (A Farewell to Arms)

The film I’ve recently watched is “A Farewell to Arms”. It is a 1957 American drama film, based in part on a 1930 play by Laurence Stallings, the second feature film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1929 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. The director of this film is Charles Vidor. The film stars are Rock Hudson, Jennifer Jones, Elaine Stritch. 

This film is based on the World War I experiences of the writer Ernest Hemingway. Let me pass on to the plot of the film. A young American Frederic Henry joins the Italian army as an ambulance driver. On the front, he is seriously wounded and sent to a hospital in Milan. Coming back, Henry falls in love with the nurse Catherine Barkley. Some time later Catherine reveals that she is pregnant but refuses to marry Frederic, fearing that she will be sent back to England. So Henry deserts from the army and they flee to Switzerland in a boat. They lead a quiet life in the mountains waiting the birth of their child. Finally both Catherine and the child die. 

Speaking about the actors, I should say that the cast of this film is perfect. The actors who were invited to take part in this film did their best to make this film successful. As for the main characters, Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones were excellent in their roles. They could create the atmosphere of real love. I believed their feelings. Especially Jennifer Jones was excellent at portraying a devoted nurse.

In my topic I can’t but mention that success of the film depends on the director. I think, Charles Vidor made a good job. He could transferred the feelings and emotions which the author wanted to show. 

As for me, I liked this film. It impressed me greatly. In spite of the fact this film have much in common with the book 'A Farewell to Arms' I hoped the end of the film would be different from the novel. To my mind this film is worth watching.