February 13 is Home Reading.
The story to read is The Etching by Hugh S. Walpole.
Reader-3, pp. 179-186
Questions to do in writing.
4, 5, 6, 9 - these four include many questions, all comprehension questions can be answered orally, but 2-3 analytical ones in each block are to be answered in writing!
NEW ITEMS: 11, 13, 14, 15 are to be answered in detail!!!
Interpretation in writing and be ready to present it in class.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS STORY?
Share the impressions in the commentaries.
I like this story because it was interesting for me to follow the Billy’s changes. At the beginning of the story he was a submissive, weak-willed man who could not argue back his wife. Mr. Gabriel lived according to Frances’ desires and rules. Undoubted, from the first page I disapproved of her behavior towards him because, in my opinion, a woman who loves a man would never order him what to do. She prohibited him to carry the bag despite he was a person who earned money in their family. I hoped he would spot living in such way. And one day Billy had bought the etching and with the help of power of art he changed completely. He was not afraid of his wife’s opinion anymore and was ready to rebut her. I was happy when the main character left Frances because I think he made a right decision.
ReplyDeleteGood!
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... (NO the)Billy's changes ...
UndoubtedLY ...
... despite THE FACT THAT he was ...
... sTop living in such A way ...
To say I like this story means to say nothing, as it really impressed me: especially its vivid plot. Sometimes a small thing, like the etching, can change us: without batting an eye you notice as you look at life from another point of view, as if art opens your eyes. And you can’t foretell this moment, as it is a life-long journey. Besides, I thing such people as artists can’t combine marriage and art, as they devote their love and passion to only one thing. However, if they’re married their painting becomes only hobby, or they don’t care much about their wives or use them only as muses or sitters. However, in the story Bill wasn’t an artist: he was one of those people who deserted their families, wishing to devote themselves to art.
ReplyDeleteGOOD!
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without batting an eye you notice THAT you look at life from another ANGLE, as if art openED your eyes ...
I THINk ...
... ONLY a HOBBY ...
I like this story. It shows us that true happiness and love cannot be in the family where each person pursues only his/her own interests. For instance, Frances always corrects Bill’s behaviour, tells him what to do, and fully runs him. When Bill, at last, changes with the power of art and starts to follow his dreams, Frances doesn’t try to understand him, and find a compromise, and in spite of her “sensibility” makes everything to ruin their relationship (as a result Bill leaves her). The ending of the story is quite obvious for me, because no man wants to be treated by a woman as Frances did. I think it is humiliating for a well-to-do man to be treated by his wife not as an equal partner, but as a child or a disabled person.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
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...DOES everything to ruin ...
.... be treated by a woman THE WAY Frances TREATS HER HUSBAND....
I think it's a fabulous story. I like it mostly because it teaches us to respect other people's tastes and opinions. Frances is a typical example of a domineering wife, who treats her husband (Billy, a mild and submissive man)as a child. Her attitude toward him is simply unfair. A newfound passion for art changes Billy completely. He becomes less dependent on Frances and she tries so hard to return her power back. But alas, it's too late, Billy leaves her after a certain incident took place in their family. I think it served Frances right. The humiliations Billy had to bear are outrageous. Billy managed to prove his wife that he deserves a better attitude towards him!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
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...treat LIKE a child ...
... prove TO his wife ... that he deserved ..
I like this story and the number of problems that were put under consideration.H.S.Walpole makes us think about timeless verities such as love,happiness, family values. Moreover, it touches upon the power of art that influences people all over the world, creting a fresh start for a new life.The main character -Bill Gabriel, was a passive husband,but by the end of the story we see that he had changed completely and his interest in art give impetus to his creative spark.
ReplyDeleteShort but to the point!
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... timeless values ...
... creating ...
... GAVE ...
The story impressed me greatly. I like the way the story was written, its plot and the conclusion I have drawn after reading. It was very interesting and, at some moments, breathtaking to read it, especially when it touched changes which happened to the main character Billy. At first, we see a typical submissive husband who is treated as a child by his wife. In spite of the fact he earns enough money, he doesn’t have any right to use it. Then, we see gradual, but so unusual for Billy’s wife, and even for Billy himself “metamorphosis” in Billy’s character, which are caused by so insignificant (to Frances’ opinion) thing as the etching. In spite of the fact that story, at first sight, focuses on the problem of marriage and relationships, indirectly, it perfectly proves the importance of art and its power. Art, and the etchings in particular, has made Billy another man. So, In fact, it doesn’t matter how old are you, what kind of past you have and how far you were from art before, it may make you a completely another person, if you open your heart to it.
ReplyDeleteGOOD!
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...it touched changes which HAD happened...
...is treated LIKE a child ...
Then, we see BILLY'S gradual “metamorphosis”, so unusual for Billy’s wife ...
... SUCH AN insignificant (to Frances’ opinion) thing ...
... doesn’t matter how old YOU ARE ...
So, I like this story. First of all it surprised me with its quite simple language, so I read this story smoothly. It seemed to me that it's kind of moralizing stories showing us that our life depends on us and we are the only who can make it happier and better. Mr. Gabriel's life didn't belong to himself at the beginning of the story, his life was controled by his wife Frances, he didn't enjoy his way of living. And the only good thing in his life was the marriage with Frances as he thought. Mr. Gabriel understood that he was nobody in his wretched life without Frances. But we understand that all of this was a kind of suggestion or even hypnosis. Mr. Gabriel realized it finally, and as we can see at the end of the story, he managed to make his life happier without Frances because he realized his life belonged to himself. All in all this story impresed me because I didn't expect that such an unconfident man like Billy can break his dependence from wife and begin to live according to his own rules.
ReplyDeleteGood!
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... eemed to me that it's ONE OF THE moralizing stories showing us ... nd we are the only ONES who can make it happier and better. Mr. Gabriel's life didn't belong to HIM...
I've took delight in reading this story , because it is always exciting to observe radical changes which come about in the life of a person , especially when they take place under the influence of somebody. Billy was under his wife's thumb , but the power of art set him on the right path. Every person is worthy of love and respect and if for the sake of this aim it would be necessary to break up with wife you should do it , because in this case the end justifies the means.
ReplyDeleteWow!
DeleteSound but a bit cruel!
I’d like to say that this story impressed me and set me thinking about lots of things. Truly speaking, I have never read such a long story on Home Reading. The author tried to do all his best to make it easy to read his work: the language of the story is very bright. By the way the ideas which are put on show in the story are really important nowadays. For example, every person needs to do what he likes and he should be supported and respected for his choice, especially by close people such as a wife, a mother, the best friend. And, as for me, I agree with this statement. As we see Billy has lack of these things. But nevertheless he found what he has searched and the art itself helped him.
ReplyDeleteReasonable!
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... Billy lackS these things. But nevertheless he found what he HAD searched FOR and the art itself helped him...
No more comments!
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