4. Interpreting symbolism. Choose answers which seem suitable.

1) The swimming pool in the text is a symbol of:

a) the Turners’ marriage;

b) summer holidays;

c) the joy of living.

2) The nylon divider torn in two halves:

a) shows that Mr. Chase was a poor caretaker;

b) suggests the idea that the neighbours and acquaintances ruined the Turners’ pool;

c) symbolizes divorce.

3) Dead dragonflies on the surface of the pool and toads in it are described:

a) to indicate a very hot summer;

b) to state that the Turners ran out of chemicals to keep the water clean;

c) as symbols of desolation and abandonment, showing that the family is on the verge of breaking.

5. Interpreting the title.

1) State the functions of the title “The Orphaned Swimming Pool”.

2) Translate the title.

3) Define the figure of speech at the basis of the title.

Keys to test 1

1. Usually only after reading the whole story.

2. a) 2; b) 4; c) 5; d) 6; e) 3; f) 1.

3. e.g. (your answers may be different):

1. Still waters run deep (conveying the author’s message; characterization of the protagonist).

2. A millionaire (orientating the reader, a means of foreshadowing).

3. A miser (characterization of the protagonist)…

4. a, c.

5. a) 3; b)1; c) 7; d)10 ; e) 4; f) 8; g) 2; h) 11; i) 9; j) 12; k) 5; l) 6.

6. e.g. (your answers may be different):

a) a heart; b) the white colour; c) a book;

d) the black colour; e) the sun; f) the dove.

7. A symbol is a metaphoric expression of the concept it stands for. Like the metaphor, it is based on the use of a word in its transferred meaning and suggests some likeness between two different objects or concepts.

8. a) 6; 1; 4; 5; 7; 12; 15; 16; 9.

b) 2; 5; 8; 10; 11; 14.

c) 3; 17; 13.

Keys to test 2

1. The assignment defies single interpretation. The classification of adjectives depends on the number of tones discovered in the text. The following is one of the possible ways to interpret the tonal systems in the story:

Humorous tone: a rowdy (family); a ticklish stage.

Elegiac tone: deserted (pool); awkward-making (aroma); cerulean pool; cloudy; a sere mint leaf; stagnant; desolate, forbidding, haunted (pool); the poor (Turners); quizzical (lips); a chained (dog); an otherworldly statement.

Happy tone: heavenly blue (water); supple, smooth; buoyant; mild; languorous; a cheerful (tray); healthy; happy.

Angry tone: private pool turned public carnival; angry (pounding of his … blood).

Intimate tone: depleted (cupboards).

2. 1) c; 2) a; 3) a; 4)b.

3. 1) Lyrical key; 2) Ironic key.

4. 1) a; 2) c; 3) c.

5. 1) The title of the story is a powerful symbol and contributes to the reader’s understanding of the message.

2) “Осиротевший бассейн”.

3) Personification.

REFERENCE

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Bassett J. A Window on the Universe. Oxford Univ. Press, 2000.

British Short Stories of Today / Ed. by E. Jones. London: Penguin Books, 1987.

Collier J., Slater S. Literature in the Language Classroom. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1987.

Collier J., Slater S. Short Stories for Creative Classrooms. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993.

Duff A., Maley A. Literature. Oxford Univ. Press, 1990.

Geyh P., Leebron F.G., Levy A. Postmodern American Fiction. A Norton Anthology. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc. 1998.

Gower R. Past into Present: An Anthology of British and American Literature. Harlow: Longman, 1995.

Henry O. The Skylight Room and other stories. M.: Higher School Publishing House, 1972.

Jones L. Cambridge Advanced English: Student’s Book. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1991.

McRae John. Literature with a Small “l”. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1999.

Mowat O., Bassett J. And All for Love. Oxford Univ. Press, 2001

Readers’ Digest. 1997. № 10.

Saki. The Best of Saki. London: Penguin Popular Classics, 1994.

Thurber J. Fables for Our Time and Famous Poems. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1940.

West C. Crime Never Pays. Oxford Univ. Press, 2000.

Wilde O. Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories. London: Penguin Books, 1994.

Учебное издание

А в т о р ы - с о с т а в и т е л и : Елена Юрьевна Кирейчук

Татьяна Геннадьевна Васильева