Explain how the main characters become revealed in the episodes described in paragraphs pointed out in brackets.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 474.

Discuss some problem-questions.

Tactical Exercise

Speak on or write an essay about your assessment of the story and your impressions of it.

Which of the following phrases could be said to be the theme of the story.

Loneliness in a big city.

A painter needs an inspiration which is just right for him. The need for companionship is a very real need.

1. How did the war affect John Verney, his wife and their relationship?

2. Why did the reputation of cleverness condemned Elizabeth to social failure? Is the attitude to women who are considered clever or "deep" still the same?

3. Why did John Verney hate his wife so much? Did he hate her as a woman, as a person or as a symbol of changed and changing life? What was the root cause of his hatred?

4. Why is this century referred to (in John's thoughts) as "the century of the common man"? (17)

5. For what effect did the writer use military terms in the story? (36, 37, 41)

6. As you've observed the events of the story are mostly shown the way they appeared to John Verney. But was the real state of things actually like John Verney saw it?

7. Do you find the end of the story suggestive of any follow up?

8. Who of the two, John or Elizabeth, seems a more sympathe­tic character to you and why? With whom, to your mind, are the sympathies of the author?

Elizabeth – her first season (4); how she tried to explain to John the post-war situation in the country (15-16); in the way she told her husband about her visit to the doctor (42).

John – the days in the army (2); the fact that he married Elizabeth (5); his thoughts during the sleepless nights (21-22); the visit to the doctor (40).