The plan of discussing a story

I. Identifying the main elements of a story:

• the theme or the subject-matter - What does the story deal with?

• the plot and the (historical and social) background –When and where is the scene laid and what happens in the story?

• the characters - Who are the main characters of the story?

II. Sharing one's impressions of a story, one's emotional response the story evokes: Did you enjoy the story?

• the theme – Is the story interesting? Is it involving, captivating?

• the plot – Is the plot dynamic?

• the characters – Do the characters seem to you true to life, are they flesh and blood?

• the style – Does the story read well?

III. Assessing the story:

• the message of the story – What conclusions about life and people does the story lead to?

• the human and social value of the story – How much d6es the story help readers understand human nature and psychology of people, the nature of conflicts they face?

• the theme – Is the theme significant in human, social or other terms?

• the plot and the background – Does the story seem convinc­ing? Does the background seem authentic?

• the characters – Do the characters seem typical and represen­tative of their social stratum?

Discussion activities The Portrait

1. Discuss some problem-questions.

1. Does Mr Bigger seem to you a typical art-dealer and his customer a typical bourgeois? What qualities of one and the other does the author seem to emphasize? Do you think there is some­thing symbolic or ironic in the name of the art-dealer and the fact that the Lord of the Manor is not given any name?

2. With what character of the story are the sympathies of the author?

3. Do the inside story and the outside story have anything in common? Does the inside story seem to be in accordance with the taste and the expectations of the Lord of the Manor?

4. Why did Mr Bigger suddenly remember his first real adventure in Venice, when he was selling the portrait?

5. Do people often appreciate pieces of art not for their artistic value but for some story behind them? What is this the indication of?

6. When and why did high art, collecting books, paintings, etc, become attributes of social status rather than promoters of culture and human progress?

2. Explain how the characters of the story become revealed in the following episodes.

The Lord of the Manor 1. his way up (4); 2. the way he spoke about Old Masters (2, 7); 3. the way he was listening to Mr Big-ger's story at the mention of Earl Hurtmore (11)

Mr Bigger 1. his assessment of his customer (2); 2. his mental picture of his customer's daughter (4); 3. the way he was mention­ing some Old Masters (7, 8); 4. his remark about his customer's "natural instinct" (9); 5. his thoughts about what he had told his customers (33)

3. Say how the writer's attitude to his characters becomes revealed in the following quotations.

1. to the Lord of the Manor - His face wore a gloomy expres­sion. The corners of baby's mouth drooped. One almost expected him to burst into tears. (8) 78

2. to Mr Bigger - There was a knowing kindliness in his smile (10). He turned his long foxy nose toward the Lord of the Manor and smiled benevolently. (18)

3. to Lady Hurtmore and Giangolini - Giangolini had bar­gained to elope with fifty thousand sequins. Lady Hurtmore didn't on reflection, much relish the idea of love in a cottage. (28)