14. Penelope

1. Pronounce and translate the words given below:

stamen, mauve, buff-coloured, fawn, therapeutic, hassle, fricassee, lugubrious, histrionics, wake (n.), deliverance, exigency, cadaverous, slumberous, query, condolence, precipitous, glen, comme il faut.

2. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian, give the situations from the book they are used in:

1. The spell of perfect weather seemed, for the time being, to have broken (p. 390)

2. “If you steel yourself for the worst news of Danus, then anything better comes as a wonderful bonus.” (p. 390)

3. His voice had an edge to it. (p. 394)

4. “… Some other pot of gold at the end of a non-existent rainbow.” (p. 395)

5. She thought of tears but was beyond weeping.

6. “Not a bread-and-butter letter, a toast-and-marmalade one.” (p. 397)

7. Existence shrank to pain. (p. 402)

8. A simple explanation was given and a simple request made. (p. 407)

9. The carapace of reserve, strong as an armour, was, for the time being, her sole defence. (p. 409)

10. He spoke of The Plot and The Sexton and The Registrar. (p. 409)

11. Despite her own battened-down misery, Olivia’s heart went out to her. (p. 410)

12. “She may not have believed in God, but I’m pretty certain God believed in her.” (p. 414)

13. His brain stopped working, had turned to cotton wool, and he could think of no coherent thought. (p. 423)

14. Simply to look at Rose made Olivia feel ashamed of her own cowardice. (p. 430)

15. … Just what Mrs. Keeling would have enjoyed. (p. 432)

3. Translate in writing:

“She went at last… the upstairs window of her bedroom.” (pp. 392-393)

3. Finish the comparisons;

1. …The old engine houses of disused tin mines pointed to the cloudless spring sky, jagged as …

2. The size of the city; the millions of human beings who thronged the streets, their faces anxious and worried, all hurrying as though …

3. “I feel unwashed and exhausted, just like …”

4. A pain, like … , shot up her left arm, encircled her chest, and clamped shut, an ever-tightening band of steel.

5. For the present, grief would be set aside, like …

6. Olivia stood still as …, enduring for as long as was acceptably polite the messy, distasteful embrace.

7. She sounded offended, as though, …

8. When she rang off, her expression was satisfied, as though …

9. The carapace of reserve, strong as … , was for the time being, her sole defence.

10. Then, high in the blue, an aeroplane, like … , hummed drowsily across the sky, but did nothing to disturb the peace.

11. As long as Olivia could remember, a succession of oddballs and lame ducks – like … – had found their way into Mumma’s life.

12. Living together in the same house as Olivia was like …

13. Relief rendered him weightless, as though …

14. He began to herd them all forward, as though …

15. The Temple Pudley organ was not a fine instrument, being both breathless and aged, like …

5. Discuss the chapter you have read according to the following points:

1. The drive back to Temple Pudley.

2. The first hours at home.

3. Noel’s visit.

4. A call from Danus.

5. Penelope’s day in London. Her half-dreams at night. What were they about?

6. Tuesday morning. The meaning of “the ultimate luxury”. (Also see Chapter 11, p. 329).

7. A call from Mrs. Plackett.

8. The arrival of Nancy. Preparations for the funeral.

9. Joshua Bedway and the Rev. Thomas Tillingham.

10. Antonia’s anguish.

11. The family gathering.

12. The service.