Read chapters from 23 to 25 and answer the following questions

1) Why did the Emerald Isle volunteer firefighter detain Coalhouse Walker Jr. on his way? What was the most insulting act of violence they did to him?

2) The family’s reaction to what had happened to Coalhouse was diverse, describe the way each member felt about the incident. Who of them was the most understanding?

3) Sarah decided to help her fiancé in her own way, she had at least two reasons to do that – what were they? Explain the phrase “It was the second of the frightened and desper­ate acts provoked from her innocence”.

Look up the dictionary for the following words and phrases:

Fiancée (n)

Fiancé (n)

Clapboard (n)

In the teeth of (phr)

Ostentatiously (adv)

Clutch pedal (n)

Thoroughfare (n)

Courteous (adj)

Pugnacious (adj)

Circumnavigate

Ingratiate oneself (v)

Prank (n)

Desecrate (v)

Righteously (adv)

Discomfiture (n)

Recite (v)

Subpoena (n)

Grenade (n)

Treachery (n)

Nervous col­lapse (n)

Calisthenics (n)

Chaise (n)

Complacent (adj)

Inconsiderate (adj)

Stevedore (n)

Redress (n)

Plead on (v)

Contemptuousness (n)

Arson (n)

Condone (v)

Mayhem (n)

Negritude (n)

Impoverished (adj)

Mellifluous (adj)

Lithe (adj)

Guile (n)

Dregs (n)

Dignitary (n)

Platoon (n)

Acrid (adj)

Festivities (n)

Sternum (n)

Pneumonia (n)

Sepulchral (adj)

Cultural Notes:

James Sherman - (October 24, 1855 – October 30, 1912) was a United States Representative from New York and the 27th Vice President of the United States. He was a member of the Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families.

William J. Gaynor - (1849 – September 10, 1913) was an American politician from New York City, associated with the Tammany Hall political machine. He served as mayor of the City of New York from 1910 to 1913, as well as stints as a New York Supreme Court Justice from 1893 to 1909.

Springfield rifle - The term Springfield Rifle may refer to any one of several types of small arms produced by the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the United States armed forces. In modern usage, the term "Springfield rifle" most commonly refers to the Springfield Model 1903.

Tin Lizzie – nickname for Ford Model T

Read chapters from 26 to 28 and answer the following questions:

1.Speak about the “grand parade”, what was metaphoric about all the description of it?

2. What tones does Doctorow bring out in the idea of spring as it comes to the city? What characters are mentioned in the relation? Quote the text to prove it.

3. Houdini’s obsession with his late mother turns out to be crucial for his career? Why, prove it.

4. What interrupted Houdini’s performance? Describe the situation and the family’s reaction.

5. What great inventions of the twentieth century are mentioned in this part of the novel? What makes their juxtaposition incongruous?

Look up the dictionary for the following words and phrases:

Mourn (v)

Dirge (n)

Suspension cable (n)

Fling (v)

Crocus (n)

Fox grape (n)

Forsythia (n)

Daffodil (n)

Standing ovation (n)

Wreath (n)

Bestow (v)

Nimbly (adv)

Exultant (adj)

Simian lope (n)

Abduct (v)

Divulge (v)

Solicit a comment (v)

Dogwood (n)

Petal (n)

Coffin (n)

Impenetrable (adj)

Close-up (n, v)

Crank (v)

Relive (v)

Redolence (n)

Clairvoyant (adj)

Gullibility (n)

Rube (n)

Spiritual fraud (n)

Rampant (adj)

Far-fetched (adj)

Pragmatist (n)

Swarm (n)

Rebuff (v)

Abreast (adv)

Brooch (n)

Pulley (n)

Pry (v)

Death-defying (adj)

Padlock (v)

Heed (v)

Chunk (n)

Proscenium (n)

Scorch (v)

Char (v)

Debris (n)

Homicide (n)

Buckshot (n)

Forensic (n)

Steam engine (n)

Rig (n)

Incur (v)

Awry (adj)

Ignite (v)

Suggestive of (adj)

Arsonist (n)

Accomplice (n)

Vigilance (n)

Vigil (adj)

Carafe (n)

Indigent (adj)

Thug (n)

Eulogy (n)

Insurrection (n)

Cultural Notes:

Gaudeamus Igitur - "De Brevitate Vitae" ("On the Shortness of Life"), more commonly known as "Gaudeamus Igitur" ("Let Us Rejoice") or just "Gaudeamus", is a popular academic commercium song in many European countries, mainly sung or performed at university graduation ceremonies. Despite its use as a formal graduation hymn, it is a jocular, light-hearted composition that pokes fun at university life. The song dates to 1287 and was already known by the time of founding of the first European university, the University of Bologna. It is in the tradition of carpe diem ("seize the day"), with its exhortations to enjoy life.

Columbia the Gem of the Ocean - is a United States patriotic song which was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was used on occasion as an unofficial national anthem in competition with "Hail, Columbia" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" until the latter's formal adoption as the national anthem of the United States in 1931. For many years the song's melody was used as the Voice of America's interval signal.

Music box - is a 19th century automatic musical instrument that produces sounds by the use of a set of pins placed on a revolving cylinder or disc so as to pluck the tuned teeth of a steel comb. They were developed from musical snuff boxes of the 18th century and called carillons à musique. Some of the more complex boxes also have a tiny drum and small bells, in addition to the metal comb. Note that the tone of a musical box is unlike that of any musical instrument.

Margaretta and Kate Fox - The Fox sisters were three women from New York who played an important role in the creation of Spiritualism, the religious movement. The three sisters were Kate Fox (1837–1892), Leah Fox (1814–1890) and Margaret Fox (also called Maggie) (1833–1893).

Luther Burbank - was an American botanist, horticulturist and a pioneer in agricultural science.

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor, scientist and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed "The Wizard of Menlo Park" (now Edison, New Jersey) by a newspaper reporter, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large teamwork to the process of invention, and therefore is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.

Steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The idea of using boiling water to produce mechanical motion has a long history, going back about 2,000 years. Early devices were not practical power producers, but more advanced designs producing usable power have become a major source of mechanical power over the last 300 years, enabling the Industrial Revolution, beginning with applications for mine water removal using vacuum engines. Subsequent developments using pressurized steam and converting to rotational motion enabled the powering of a wide range of manufacturing machinery anywhere water and coal or wood fuel could be obtained, previously restricted only to locations where water wheels or windmills could be used. Significantly, this power source would later be applied to prime movers, mobile devices such as steam tractors and railway locomotives. Modern steam turbines generate about 80 percent of the electric power in the world using a variety of heat sources.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 788