III. Post-reading

3.1. Feelings.

Grade Six is crucial time for starting a relationship, isn't it? Tucker should have known better when to ask Mary Ellen to wait for him after school. Do you think the 12-year-old girl felt comfortable after the note had been read aloud? Make your choice and explain in good English.

She was

1. pleased because everyone knew Tucker was after her;

2. shocked by the indecency of Tucker's proposal;

3. unhappy because the note came from Tucker, not Phil;

4. satisfied feeling it served that Tucker boy right;

5. afraid of other girls who'd tease her because of Tucker's freckles;

6. (your choice).

3.2. Teacher's DO NOTS.

It goes without saying that the fistfight described in the story was provoked by the awkward way in which the teacher reacted to a simple classroom episode. Teachers should not read others' notes aloud. Work in small groups and generate lists of Do Not's for any teacher. When finished, compare the list you developed with those of other students. Check on the most "popular" do not's, and try to remember them well — just in case, you know. Teachers, do not

1) read your students' notes aloud in class;

2)

3)

4)

5)

3.3. Roleplay: first (not fist) fight.

Act out a visitation to a school/college psychologist. The problem of yours is a fight (not fistfight, pray!) you've just had with your best friend.

3.4. Underground project: maledicta.

With great caution, engage in the above mentioned project exploring the realm of swear language. Find out as many fowl ways as you can of saying "You're a not what I'd call a clever person". And don't even think of using any of your findings in classroom communication!!!

THE UNOPENED DOOR

by Teresa Bateman

I. PRE-READING

1.1. SHARE some of your emotional problems with the group. Say if you ever experienced great trouble having no one to share your problems with? Have you ever felt really lonely?

1.2. IMAGINE growing up in a sheltered environment. Do you think life is harder for the daughters of kings and presidents? Talk in pairs.

1.3.FANTACIZE about the lives of real princesses. Is it always like a paradise? Is it not?

II. Reading

2.1. Understanding the title.

Read the exposition to the story, The Unopened Door. Guess the sort of test the Princess will have to pass.

It was the day before the coronation, and Princess Meredith of Dulcevia was in the schoolroom with her tutor. She gazed with displeasure at the books in front of her.

"Why do I have to learn these things?" she demanded. "As queen, I will have advisers. Isn't that right?"

Her tutor, Lindqvest, nodded slowly, adjusting his eyeglasses. "Well," she continued, "then why must I study? Surely my advisers will tell me all I need to know." "True," replied her tutor. "Yet, as queen, yours will be the final word. Advisers have their purpose, but you must learn to trust your 0wn mind and heart."

"Oh, all right." Meredith sat down unhappily...

2.2. Reading for pleasure and enrichment.

Just like Meredith, you've learnt by now that the story is to be read to the end. Read and say why the doors remained unopened.

The following words will be helpful to understand the events better.

Gulp — swallow quickly

Leap — move fast, jump

Pace — walk with slow steps to and fro

Grope — find something by feeling with your hands

Flicker — cast unsteady light going on and off

Burden — worrying or difficult responsibility

Wield — hold a weapon or anything symbolizing power

Whim — a sudden feeling that you want to do something for no reason

Cripple — seriously damage or weaken

Wail — cry out with a long high sound

"Besides," continued Lindqvest, "you still must pass Hhe test to prove that you are worthy to rule." Meredith looked up in surprise. "Test? What test?" The tutor gulped. "Oh dear," he murmured. "I shouldn't have said anything."

Meredith stood up and gripped his arm. Her blue eyes looked dark and stormy. "Maybe not, but you've spoken, and I demand an explanation. Geography? Embroidery? Swordplay? What kind of

test is it?"

"I"ve said too much already," Lindqvest replied, freeing himself and hurrying to the door. "I can tell you no more." "Do all rulers take this test?" she asked. "Yes, all rulers of Dulcevia have passed this test since the kingdom was founded."

She hesitated, but went on. "Have any... failed the test?"

He looked away. "Yes, a few have failed."

Meredith leaped to the point. "But I've never heard of anyone failing to become king or queen of Dulcevia. The only ones who haven't gone on to rule were those who died unexpectedly before the coronation, and they—" She stopped and her eyes widened. "They died unexpectedly," she repeated slowly.

"They failed the test," Lindqvest said, and left.

Meredith walked to the window. "They failed the test," she echoed. "What test? How did they fail?"

Meredith couldn't study. She spent the afternoon thinking about her parents, who had died only three months ago when the royal yacht had gone down in a terrible storm. How she longed for her mother's embrace and her father's warm glance! She felt too young to rule — and terribly alone.

At dinner she toyed with the roast duck, pushing it around her plate. She spent the evening pacing in her room until finally she donned her nightclothes and slipped into bed.

When was this test going to take place? The coronation was the next morning. Perhaps Lindqvest was mistaken. Perhaps there was no test at all.

She slipped into a troubled sleep.

The clock was striking midnight when Meredith woke suddenly, thinking she'd heard someone call her name. But she was alone. The dying embers of the fire cast long fingers of shadow that groped across the floor. She slipped out of bed to throw on more wood.

As her feet touched the floor, she shivered. The castle seemed full of quiet ghosts. There was a sound from the hallway. Forgetting the fire, Meredith ran to the door and peered out.

The candles in the hall were swaying in a breeze that ruffled Meredith's hair. She looked down the hall to where an oak door stood wide open.

Meredith rubbed her eyes. Was she dreaming? In all her life, that door had never been open. Nobody seemed to have the key, and since it appeared to lead only to a small closet like its twin on the lower floor, nobody seemed to care. Now it stood wide open.

2.3. Give it a break.

Stop reading for a while and name at least three things that lie in store for Meredith if she enters this never-to-be-opened door.

2.4. Read on.

Think if you've guessed right.

Gathering up her long nightgown in one hand, Meredith ran quietly down the hall to the open doorway and peered inside.

Before her, a stone staircase spiraled upward, its treads worn smooth. The only light came from the candles flickering in the hall. They cast long shadows that mounted the stairs like a procession of gray monks. Meredith shivered. She took a candle from a sconce in the hallway and, shielding it, joined the shadows in their climb up the spiral staircase.

At the top of the stairs, there was a landing with two doors. Both were locked, and large brass keys hung beside them. Meredith put the candle on the floor and reached for the first key.

"Meredith," a voice whispered from behind the first door.

Her hand dropped to her side. She stood frozen, hardly daring

to breathe.

"Meredith," it said again. "Open the door. Let me out."

"Who are you?" Meredith asked.

"Don't you know?" the voice answered. "I'm your heart's desire. I called you. Open the door and let me out, and you shall have your

fondest wish."

Meredith pictured her parents alive again. Her mother's kiss. Her father ruling the kingdom. Herself relieved of the burden of

leadership.

"Yes," the voice whispered. "Even that. I can grant you your heart's desire, but not while imprisoned in this stone tower. Let me out, and you will not have to rule the kingdom."

Her hand reached again for the key. "Meredith!" the voice came from behind the second door.

She hesitated. "Yes?"

"Let me out, Meredith. I will grant you power so that you need no longer fear your ability to rule. With me, you will master and control your people. Release me, and together we will reign supreme."

Meredith pictured herself in royal splendor, wielding her scepter as her people cowered before her. She could be terrible or merciful, as it suited her mood. She stood taller at the vision, and a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Yes," said the voice behind the second door, "Even that. Unlock the door. No one will order you about again or make decisions for you. Let me out, and together we will rule."

Meredith thought of Lindqvest and her studies. He would never again tell her what to do. She reached for the second key.

"Meredith," came the voice from the first door. "Your heart's desire. Your parents. No need to rule the kingdom."

"Meredith," came the second voice, louder than the first. "The power to rule. Your every word, your every whim, will be law!"

She looked at first one door, then at the other. The voices grew, argued, swirled around her like a riptide, pulling her first one way and then another. She felt as though she were drowning. She found her hand reaching for first one key and then the other. She covered her ears and screamed, "STOP!"

There was silence. Her hands dropped to her sides as she wearily faced the doors. "I have made my decision."

2.5. Give it another break.

Think about the Princess's decision. This is the climax of the whole story. What do you think the decision is? There are not so many choices for Meredith, are there? Please, explain your point of view.

2.6. Read to the end.

Finish off reading and say if your understanding of Meredith's character proved to be correct.

Meredith turned to the first door. "I cannot always have my heart's desire. Without my own sorrow, I could never understand the sorrow of my subjects. Even were my parents alive again, someday I would have to rule. To be granted my heart's desire would cripple my ability to care for my people."

"Ah," came the second voice. "Then you have chosen wisely. You have chosen me."

"No," Meredith replied, clenching her fists at her sides. "A queen does not crave power. It is a privilege to serve people. I do not desire the people to serve me."

Wearily she reached down to pick up the candle. Strangely, it seemed no shorter now than when she had first started up the stone staircase.

"I choose neither of you," she said. "I must face my own challenges to the best of my ability."

She turned and descended the stairs as the two voices wailed, pleaded, and screamed behind her. When Meredith stepped into the hallway, she found Lindqvest waiting beside the door. He looked at her with compassion and a touch of relief. Wordlessly, he took her candle and returned it to the sconce. Then he handed her a large key. She swung the door closed, firmly locked it, then gave the key back.

Lindqvest smiled. "Your Majesty," he murmured, bowing low before her for the first time. "As you command, so be it." He waved the key in the air, and it turned into a golden crown, which he placed gently on her tousled hair.

"Tomorrow, you will be crowned before the people. Tonight, you have earned the right to be queen."

"And if I had failed?" Meredith asked, reaching up to touch the

crown.

"Behind each door lies death," Lindqvest stated, walking her to her room. "You chose as only a true queen would choose."

2.7. True or false?

Meredith, the princess of Dulcevia, from what we know about her... is a lazy young lady.

1. seems to be unprepared for a royal role.

2. looks like an ordinary girl, nothing special about her.

3. dreams about an easy-going life of a monarch.

4. shows all the worst qualities a young ruler might display.

5. stands the test but not without hesitation.

6. understands at last that all that has been engineered by evil Lindquest.

7. will probably become a just and fair queen, the pride of her people.

2.8. Understanding points of view.

Scan the story and try to explain which of the characters said the following and why.

1. Why do I have to learn these things? As queen, I will have advisers.

2. Advisers have their purpose, but you must learn to trust your own mind.

3. I've said too much already, I can tell you no more.

4. Yes, even that. I can grant you your heart's desire.

5. With me, you will master and control your people. We will reign supreme.

6. I have made my decision.

7. I must face my own challenges to the best of my ability.

8. Tonight, you have earned the right to be queen.

2.9. Vocabulary.

Match the words with their definitions.

To gaze To adjust To long for To peer To grant To crave To murmur To shiver Compassion Splendor

to shake slightly because of cold or fear to say something in a soft, low voice to look at something attentively and for a long time strong feeling of sympathy for someone to make small changes to improve the position to have an extremely strong desire for something to look very carefully or hard to give somebody something they have asked for impressive beauty or richness to want something very much, especially the impossible

2.10. Storing vocabulary.

Paraphrase the following sentences using the words from Exercise 2.9.

1. Move the mirror a bit, to see the traffic better.

2. Princess Diana was admired for being sympathetic and helpful.

3. She's an insecure child who always demands attention.

4. The man was silently staring into the fire.

5. The company was given an official permission to start the project.

6. The girl was eager to have some excitement, something new.

7. He pronounced her name in a quiet low voice.

8. What an awful handwriting! One has to look closely at each line.

9. The kids were watching the horror movie, trembling and pale with fear.

10. The forest stood still in its autumnal magnificence.

2.11. Grammar.

Meredith was too young to rule. At least she felt so. Her tutor, on the other hand, was wise enough not to tell her too much. Or, maybe, he couldn't? Speak about the characters using the pattern below.

Meredith was	too awkward inexperienced desperate surprised self-assured ( ) to ___________
Lindquest, her tutor, was	wise jaded old compassionate experienced ( ) enough to __________

2.12. Shadow theatre grammar.

The candles in the story cast long shadows that mounted the stairs like a procession of grey monks. What a striking comparison! If you were the author, what would you compare the shadows with?

The shadows mounted the stairs like