- Download the book “Sense and sensibility”
- Reflect on the thoughts below:
- People with practical common-sense opinions are usually quite boring.
- People who are full of passionate and romantic feelings all the time are very amusing (funny).
- True love can only be felt by the young. Middle-aged people cannot expect to fall in love.
- Everyone should marry by the age of thirty-five.
- Love is the most important thing in a woman’s life. Work or sport is the most important thing in a man’s life.
- Love itself solves all the problems.
- Why or when one feels one’s fortune is not one’s own.
- Why should we be afraid of expressing love?
3. Learn the words of the first chapter.
a spoilt child, to intend, affection, to be disapproved, bitterly, a fortune, to provide for, generously, to carry out a plan, to remain, to beg, a request, cold-hearted, a pleasanter woman, to be buried, unexpectedly, unforgivably, to feel strongly, to reconsider, a great deal, a common sense, an adviser, to the advantage of somebody, to persuade, to hold back, likely, violent, to see with concern, bitterly, to encourage, to rob, to be related to smb, valuable, beyond anything, to do mean, to hesitate, a yearly allowance, an income, in the fullest manner, to dare, neighborly assistance, a gentlemanly man, to return an affection, handsome, not … nor, a fine figure
4. Do you know well the family members in English? Watch a video about members of extended family.
5. Get ready to explain who they are to you. Use Longman dictionary for a reference when needed.
Great-grandfather, great-grandmother, great-uncle, great-aunt, uncle, aunt [ɑːnt $ ænt] brother-in-law, sister-in-law, cousin’s wife, cousin’s husband, nephew, niece, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, first cousin once removed (read the explanation here), grandson, granddaughter, a widow, a widower, a mistress, a lover, grand-niece, grand-nephew, siblings, parallel cousins
6. Draw a diagram with the names of members of your extended family and send it to me.
7. Interpret the following words and word combinations from Chapters 7 and 8.
Chapter 7: affectionate words, neither reasonable nor fair, eager mind, a debtors’ prison, to speak forcefully, a polite concern, a disagreeable expression, did you not notice it, to fetch somebody.
Chapter 8: it seemed too awful a moment to speak, to be deceived, affectionate way, to be persuaded, a worthless scoundrel, I feel for him sincerely, I wish I could get him a living, with all my heart, the smallness of the house, what an unlover-like thing to say, a vicar, I couldn’t help overhearing the word, I am not in the least astonished by it, to hurry off on the morning visit.
8. Interpret the following words and word combinations from Chapters 9 and 10.
Chapter 9: thoughtless and insensitive young man, to have a low opinion on smb, she was free to delight in her misery – thinking, dreaming and remembering, to make repairs to the house, I feel unwell, needless alarm of a lover, she felt feverish, to be very ready to do smth, she was just as hopeful, the seriousness of the illness, in cruel anxiety, sorrowful thoughts, to be out of danger, I have no time to spare, a scoundrel, I cannot see how you will explain away your part in that terrible business, to be at fault, a hard-hearted scoundrel, to recover self-control, she stopped him with a frown, she can never be lost to you than she is now, I feel a pity for him.
Chapter 10: firmness of the mind, calmness of expression, she was affectionately encouraged to speak openly, to be incautious in the behavior(u)r, my own uncontrolled feelings caused my suffering, your influence on his heart lessened, his selfish demands couldn’t’ be met, do you think him selfish, How foolish I was!, I am more to blame than you, a manservant, she took the trouble upon herself, she called to me from a carriage, to sit in thoughtful silence, extremely miserable, to bear thought of it, I wish you every happiness, to sew, great was the astonishment he felt behind him, to confess a mistake, a boyish attachment, they could not love Edward enough nor praise Elinor enough, her happiness was complete, being of similarly selfish character, they were attracted to each other, they were never favorites with her.
9. Let’s analyze the two main characters – Elinor and Marianne. Who represents a sense and who represents a sensibility? If help if needed, click the link and read about Elinor and Marianne.
- When her sister falls ill, she nurses (она нянчит) her tenderly.
- When she hears from a servant that “Mr. Ferrars is married,” Elinor / Marianne shows that she is not always the calm, collected girl (собранная девушка) she appears to be. Being capable of deep devotion, she is also able to love sincerely, and at the story’s end, her faith in Edward has been rewarded in their marriage and subsequent (последующее) happiness.
- Though probably intended as a caricature of the oversensitive heroine in the late-eighteenth-century novel, she is a character in her own right: “She was sensible and clever, but eager in everything; her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation.”
- She realizes her faults and how often she has hurt others: “Every body seemed injured by me. The kindness, the unceasing kindness (непрекоащающаяся доброта) of Mrs. Jennings, I had repaid with ungrateful contempt (я раплатилась неблагодарным презрением).”
- At last, learning sense (научившись здравому смыслу), she appreciates Colonel Brandon at his true worth. Married to him, she achieves happiness because she “could never love by halves; and her whole heart became in time, as much devoted to her husband, as it had once been to Willoughby.”
- She is amazed that her sister could love the colorless Edward. “He is not the kind of young man — there is something wanting (чего-то не хватает),” she tells her mother. She looks on Colonel Brandon as an old man, past romance, although he is only thirty-five, and falls headlong in love (безумно влюбляться) with the shallow Willoughby.
- Only nineteen, and she is her mother’s counselor, able to influence her in the direction of prudence (благоразумие).
- When Mrs. Dashwood wants to leave Norland Park, it is Elinor / Marianne who prevents her from acting too hastily.
- She induces her sister to look at things in a calmer, more sensible light than is natural to her.
- Though attracted to Edward, Elinor / Marianne is cautious, telling her sister, “I am by no means sure of his regard for me. (я никоем образом не уверена, что он уважает меня)” She keeps her self-control when she learns that Lucy has been secretly engaged to Edward and rightly concludes that Edward felt only a youthful infatuation (юношеское увлечение) for the girl.
- Always too impulsive, she goes with Willoughby to look over Mrs. Smith’s house (осмотреть дом), accepts his offer of a horse, and pokes fun at (подшучивать над) Colonel Brandon to please him.
- Intolerant of the feelings of others (нетерпимая к чувствам других), she is displeased (недовольна) by Sir John’s jests and finds Mrs. Jennings vulgar and gossipy. She treats the old lady impolitely during their trip to London but is eager to avail herself (очень хочет воспользоваться) of Mrs. Jennings’ hospitality (гостеприимство).
- She is outspoken (откровенная) and honest, and cannot tell even a polite lie: “It was impossible for her to say what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion.”
- Deeply devoted to her sister, she goes to London because her sister hopes to find Willoughby there, and she makes up for Marianne’s rudeness (компенсирует грубость) to their hostess by her own unfailing courtesy (безупречная вежливость).
- When Willoughby deserts (покидает) her, she loses all self-control (самообладание) and eventually becomes ill. When she recovers, she realizes that she has brought her troubles on herself, and she admits to her sister that Willoughby never actually proposed marriage to her.
10. Express your opinion on the quotes from the book.