III. Post-reading
3.1. Feelings.
Describe the feelings every family member was experiencing while the little boy was 'misbehaving'. Show a wide range of emotions, from helpless confusion to violent desire to do the boy in.
3.2. Family archives.
Linda Allen, the author of the story you have read last in this book, is a well-known British children's writer. In the 1950s, we were lucky to have become pen-friends. Linda was a marvelous correspondent and a dedicated grandmother. In the photo, you can see her, her husband Walter, and their three grandchildren, Lowenna, Eliott and the baby Bryony.
Dear Maslovs,
A copy of your letter was sent on to me from the editor of Cricket Magazine. You mentioned one of my stories - The Black Thing on the Landing, which was published some time ago, I write quite regularly for Cricket, but most of my time is occupied by writing children's books.
Your letter was fascinating to read, and I must congratulate you on your high standard of English, which I am sad to say is superior to that of many English people. A fault in our educational system, which has deteriorated since I was at school for am now quite elderly, and a grandmother.
I write for all ages, from first readers to young adults. Strange as it may seem, I had been toying with the idea of writing a funny story set in the Kremlin, but things are changing so rapidly in your country that I have almost abandoned the idea. I am afraid I have rather a stereotyped idea of Russia and its people - but a Minister of Health called Mr Nastikoff would have been fun, wouldn't he?
I
have also been trying for years to get some information about a
Russian poet whose name I forget I read a most beautiful poem once
and it impressed me so much that on first reading it I committed it
to memory, and have it still in my head. It
begins: "Wait for me; I will come back, only wait and wait - "
If you know of it I should be delighted to learn about the name of
the poet. When he wrote the poem, he was in the forces and writing
the love poem to his wife.
I have three grown children and four grandchildren. I live with my husband, a retired college lecturer, in the most beautiful corner of England, where the climate is very mild and the gardens are world famous. My own garden is looking particularly lovely as I look out of the windows. I think I am one of the luckiest women in the world.
Oh, by the way, I have also three cats: I am very fond of animals.
Yours sincerely, Linda Allen.
3.3. Project work: cultural discoveries.
Prepare an extensive report on the things you learnt while reading (and doing) this book. Focus on your understandings rather than factual information. Good luck!
OVERALL DISCUSSION
STORY CONTEST
Recall the stories read in Part II and discuss their relative merits in a comprehensive fashion. All the twenty 'contestants' can be nominated for:
Top of the List;
the Most Surprising Ending;
the Most Poetic Style;
the Most Profound Message;
the Most Amusing Twist of the Plot.
CHARACTER TEST
Name three most appealing / most annoying characters in the stories you've read. Explain your choices.
TOTAL RECALL
Prepare a list of 25 words learnt recently that come from the stories you've read. Recall the situations in which these words occur.
ONE MORE STORY
Think of a story (read somewhere or originally composed) that you'd like to add to the collection in this book. Present the gist of the story in class.
TRANSLATION CONTEST
Do a translation of any of the poems found in this book. Present your translation project in class.
TEST YOUR MEMORY
Prepare a 25-item quiz for your class/group mates to check how well they remember the facts of culture mentioned in this book. Give your fellow students a chance to do it in class while playing the role of a knowledgeable instructor.