> From the end
of the British Empire to Europe
Séquence 6-AN01
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1. > Civilisation et culture
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2. > Texte 1 : The Landlady 1
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3. > Texte 2 The Landlady (2 et 3)
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4. > Prononciation et vocabulaire 5. > Grammaire 6. > Traduction
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7. > Expressi Expression on écrite
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8. > Présentation orale : texte 1
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Séquence 6-AN01
57
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47
ontenu de la séquence 6
C
ette sixième séquence aborde certains aspects de la Grande-Bretagne depuis la fin de l’époque victorienne jusqu’à nos jours en passant par “les Sixties” puis une nouvelle de Roald Dahl démontre la vigueur de la littérature anglaise actuelle.
Civilisation et culture
The end of the British Empire. The Commonwealth, the 60’s. How the English view themselves. Some popular English writers.
Compréhension écrite
The Landlady (a short story)
Expression orale
Présentation d’un dessin humoristique The Landlady, présentation orale Les sons [i] et [i:], [ D] et [Q] Prononciation de mots difficiles
Expression écrite
Continuer une histoire
Méthodologie
Lecture expressive d’un passage Traduction d’un passage Lexique : les vêtements, le suspense
Compétence linguistique
La terminaison verbale en –ing; Le prétérit simple et en be + –ING Le past perfect
Séquence 6-AN01
49
Civilisation et culture - The end of the British Empire, the Commonwealth Task ᕡ ᕡ Read the following information Fill in the blanks in the text from the list on the left. From Empire to Europe
© The The Commission for Racial Equality for the picture, somewhere in the course book.
Decline, joined, realized, toward, allowed, reach, former, settlers, achieved, notably.
World War I saw the British Empire …………… its full expansion. It covered two thirds of the planet and held two thirds of its people, but in the years that followed came its …………………….. . Victory over the Germans had been …………………….. with considerable considerable help from people of the Empire (more than 200,000 men from the overseas empire died in the war). war). However However,, the men from the colonies who had left their country to fight in France and Belgium ………………………. that the British were not so superior after all. The huge number of deaths bled Europe. Once Once they went back home the soldiers from Ireland, Australia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and British Africa expected now some sort of self-government. Nationalist agitation against economic disparities, disparities, often stimulated by acts of racial discrimination by British ………………….., ………………….. , was particularly strong in India and in parts of Africa. Britain gradually graduall y capitulated to the pressures of nationalist sentiment. Iraq gained full sovereignty in 1932 and concessions were made ………………… self-government in India and later in the African colonies. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, uprisings had started in Ireland which declared itself independent in 1919. In 1931 Great Britain officially recognized the independent and equal status of its ………………… colonies, most of them became members of the Commonwealth of Nations. After World War II, selfgovernment advanced rapidly in all parts of the Empire. In 1947, India was partitioned and independence Séquence 6-AN01
51
granted to the new states sta tes of India and Pakistan. Other parts of the Empire, E mpire, …………………. in Africa, gained independence and subsequently joined the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is thus an association of states which have economic ties with Britain, speak and write in English as well as in their own languages, have a common allegiance to the Queen, meet and help one another, are supposed to have democratic elections to elect their own government, play cricket and rugby, drink tea, wear school uniforms and are allowed to emigrate in the UK when the British have a labour shortage. In 1973, the United Kingdom joined the European Union, deciding to become part of Europe. ➠ Check your work now.
ᕢ Who said what – a quiz Find the names of the people who marked life in Britain and in the Commonwealth and who said the following quotes. Write the letter and the corresponding number. Choose from one of these famous figures a) Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon wea pon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. b) No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he only had good intentions. He had money as well. c) All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl. d) We’re more popular than Jesus Christ now. I don’t know which will go first; rock and roll or Christianity.
1. Aldous Leonard Leona rd Huxley, (1894-1963), A British writer, author of Brave New World. 2. John Lennon, (1940-1980), a British Pop star, member of the Beatles. 3. J.R.R. Tolkien, a South African born writer (1892-1973) in The Fellowship of the Ring.
4. Margaret Thatcher Thatcher,, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990.
5. Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), a British comic actor and e) The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many filmmaker. dark places; but still there is much that is fair; and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps 6. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), Indian political and spiritual leader. the greater. 7. Diana (1961-1997), Princess of Wales. f) Every murderer is probably somebody’s old friend. ourselves. g) It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.
8. Nelson Mandela (born in 1918), South African leader. leader.
h) I’d like to be the queen of people’s hearts.
9. Sir Edmund Hillary (born in New Zealand in 1919), the conqueror of Mount Everest.
i) Let freedom reign. The sun never sets on such a glorious human achievement.
10. Winston Churchill (1874-1965), a British statesman who led Britain during the Second World War. War.
j) I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only 11. Agatha Christie (1891-1976), a British mystery writer. thing one can be sure of changing is oneself. k) I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.
➠ Check your work now.
Task ᕢ Listening comprehension: The Sixties 2
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Listen to the French introduction. Listen to the recording only once, answer the following question.
2
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11
ᕡ General comprehension Sum up the content of the recording in about three lines. ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................
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Séquence 6-AN01
Listen and repeat the following words or expressions expressions:: 2
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12
Vocabulary help
The Swinging sixties, trends, a kaftan, a felt hat, flared trousers, the ‘mop top’ hair, cellars, a band, “fab“, the hub, Carnaby Street, the Shrimp, the baby-boomers, a rebellion, social consciousness, to tackle, Eastern religion, an Indian guru, involved in, prevailed, labels, permissive, the contraceptive pill, abortion, legal, illegal, protest marches, an upheaval, participate, demos, a black and white TV set. trends = tendances, modes a kaftan = un caftan (robe portée dans des pays
to tackle = s’attaquer à the baby-boomers = les bébés nés après la
musulmans) guerre a felt hat = un chapeau de feutre involved in = impliqué dans flared trousers = pantalon à pattes d’éléphant prevail = prévaloir, régner the “mop top“ hair = la coupe de cheveux des Beatles labels = étiquettes cellars = caves permissive = tolérant a band = un groupe musical an abortion = un avortement “fab“ (fabulous) = fabuleux (pop) an upheaval = un soulèvement the hub = le centre demos = des manifs (pop) Listen to each part of the recording several times and answer the following questions. questions.
ᕢ Detailed comprehension Part 1
a) What were the two things that represented the Swinging Sixties for Jennie? ............................................................................................................................................................... her.. b) Describe her favourite clothes and what it meant for her ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... Part 2
c) What is the name of the town the Beatles come from. ............................................................................................................................................................... d) Describe what Jennie says of London and the people there. ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... Part 3
e) What did Rock and Roll mean for Jennie? ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... personality and ideas through her favourite songs? f) What do you learn about Jennie’s personality ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... Part 4
g) Explain the situation concerning contraception and abortion in Britain and in France in the Sixties. ............................................................................................................................................................... Séquence 6-AN01
53
h) What was the political expression of the Hippies? ............................................................................................................................................................... Part 5
i) Choose four events which shook the world in the Sixties. ............................................................................................................................................................... ➠ Check your work now.
Task
ᕣ
Describing a cartoon This task is particularly recommended for those of you who are training for the oral examination. However,, we advise all of you to practice this task as it will help in your description of characters. However The vocabulary in task four may help you. Observe the cartoon and read the captions, pay attention to your first impression (characters, place, clothes, activities…).
From the How to Be British Collection © Collection © LGP, Brighton, UK www.lgpcards.com
Présentation d’un document iconographique (Reportez-vous à la séquence 2 si nécessaire ainsi qu’à l’annexe 1 si nécessaire). Les candidats se présentant à l’oral préparent leur travail sous forme de notes. Ensuite Ensuite ils enregistrent leur exposé sur leur cassette personnelle. Le tout doit durer environ 15 minutes. Les candidats se présentant à l’écrit peuvent rédiger à l’écrit.
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Séquence 6-AN01
ᕡ Introduction Nature, origin, title, characters, captions? This is a cartoon on a postcard from the series How to be British Postcards…. Its title is …. There are eight characters who each represent a stereotype of British society.
ᕢ Description and meaning Characters, room, objects, the environment outside, lighting, family’s social class?
(Je décris chaque personnage mais ma description n’est pas gratuite, je ne la sépare pas de l’effet voulu, je commence par ce qui saute aux yeux et ne me noie pas dans une énumération ennuyeuse. ennuyeuse. Je parle d’attitudes, de la pose des personnages, et je ne décris que ce qui sert à les définir. J’associe la description aux paroles du personnage. Il faut donc que je dispose du vocabulaire des vêtements et accessoires, des gestes, des attitudes. Par contre, s’il est vrai que je ne me noie pas dans la minutie, je peux rester plus longtemps sur un détail qui fait sens comme ici la description des vêtements du premier personnage car pour lui le paraître est essentiel. La jeune fille en seconde position peut aussi être décrite en détails. Le troisième personnage peut être opposé au premier. La description des autres personnages porte plutôt sur les emblèmes qu’ils portent. The first character, a man, wears the clothes of his condition. He is the stereotyped English gentleman. gentl eman. He is old, he has a moustache. He wears a bowler hat, a blue suit and a red waistcoat. He never goes out without… He is not afraid of his opinion and can declare… By contrast, the next character…
ᕣ The message of the cartoon The cartoonist’s aim is to make fun of…
ᕤ Give your opinion and ponder (think about) about ) on our stereotyped views
of the British
Séquence 6-AN01
55
Task
ᕤ
Vocabulary Learn by heart the vocabulary met so far. Use your dictionary if necessary. Here is a list headed “Fashion “Fashion and garments“ (La mode et les vêtements) which you need to know as well. Once you know by heart the words below, below, take a sheet of paper and classify the words by clusters of meaning. Write the words in colour, one colour per bubble. leather
cuir
have no dress sense
s’habiller sans goût
fur
fourrure
take something off
ôter qqe chose
woollen
en laine
roll up one’s trousers
remonter les jambes du pantalon
a plain fabric
un tissu uni
an apron
un tablier
a flowery material
un tissu à fleurs
bare arm/foot
bras/pied nu
checked
à carreaux
a shirt
une chemise
a collar
un collier
a sweater
un pullover
a shoulder pad
une épaulette
a scarf
une écharpe
gear
des fringues
trousers
un pantalon
clothes
des vêtements
a miniskirt
une minijupe
match
assortir (des couleurs)
a suit
un costume
suit
aller, convenir à
a vest
un maillot de corps
dress casually
s’habiller simplement
boots
des bottes
wear
porter
a bra
un soutien-gorge
a necklace
un collier
a bracelet
un bracelet
earrings
des boucles d’oreille
a bowler hat
un chapeau melon
an umbrella
un parapluie
a handbag
un sac à main
a tie
une cravate
provocative
provocant
casual
sans façon, de détente
a fashion designer
un créateur, un styliste
old-fashioned
démodé
a trend
une tendance
What’s on the Internet? www.whathaseuropedone.org/ www.backdate.co.uk/ www.nostalgiacentral.com/sixties.htm www.wikepedia.org/wiki/
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Séquence 6-AN01
Texte 1 : The Landlady 1 Task
ᕡ
Some popular writers in Britain The British people are fond of reading and you know many recent British writers no doubt. See if you can write their names from memory, if not choose from the list of names given under the texts and write them in the blanks. ᕡ ………………………… …………………………………… …………
(1916- 1990) was a short story writer, (1916-1990) writer, a novelist, a playwright and a screenwriter. He wrote many stories for children such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (now a film) and James and the Giant Peach. He is noted for his tales of grotesque horror. He once said that the writer for children chil dren “must be unconventional and inventive.” inve ntive.” Of children he said: “They loved being *spooked. They love chocolate and toys and money. They love being made to *giggle.” *spook spook = = effrayer ; giggle giggle = = rigoler
ᕢ It
has been noted by many critics that …………………………. has upgraded and expanded the entire genre of mystery writing; and that many of her books, especially the police procedurals starring Dalgliesh, the poetry writing detective, fit the mainstream novel criteria as much as they do the detective genre. Her strengths are characterization and her ability to construct atmosphere and stories rich in detail.
ᕣ
…………………………………… (1901-2000) was one of the most successful writers of romance novels. She was bizarre looking, dressed in outfits of pastels and whites and with heavy makeup. Her daughter was Lady Diana’s stepmother. Although she was ridiculed by the press in her later years as she claimed to be an expert on love matters, her novels were very successful. She wrote a total of 724 novels and sold over one billion books.
ᕤ …………………………………. was born in Bombay in 1947 and later came to England. His novel,
the Midnight’s Children, (1981), was acclaimed as “a new start for the late-twentieth-century late-twentieth-c entury novel.“ His fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, lead to accusations of blasphemy against Islam. A fatwa was issued against the writer on 14 February 1989 - effectively a sentence of death - and he was forced into hiding under the protection of the British police. He continued to write and publish books. ᕥ ………………………………… is the author of a series of over 17 novels featuring Detective Chief
Inspector Wexford, set in Kingsmarkham, a fictional English town. The first of these, From Doon with Death was published in 1964, the latest is End in Tears (2005). Many of her novels and short stories have been adapted for television. She is said to be one the best detective story writers of today. ᕦ ……………………………. ……………………………... (1892-1973) (1892-197 3) was Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. As he was marmar-
king examination papers one day he, inexplicably, jotted on a blank sheet: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”. He had started one of the world’s most widely-read works of literature: The Hobbit, later followed by its sequel: The Lord of the Rings. ᕧ
…………………………………. was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954 then came to Britain with his family. His most famous novel, The Remains of the Day (1989), is set in post-war England, and tells the story of an elderly English butler confronting disillusionment as he tells his memories. It was awarded the Booker Prize for Fiction, and was subsequently made into an award-winning film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.
ᕨ ……………………………… is today’s t oday’s most popular British writer write r. The magic of her character cha racter has
touched a huge audience audie nce of all ages all over ove r the world. The The sixth title, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, set a new record for a first printing with 10.8 million copies hitting stores on July 16, 2005. ᕩ ……………………………….. was born in Trinidad, in 1932, the eldest son of a second-genera-
tion Indian. He was later educated in Oxford. His acclaimed novel A House for Mr Biswa s (1961), Séquence 6-AN01
57
is based on his father’s life in Trinidad. He was knighted in 1989. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001. µ In Bridget Jones,
……………………………… created a massively successful, very funny comic character who was silly, shallow and insecure.The Bridget Jones books launched a fresh comic language of witty neologisms and list-making. V.S. Naipaul, J.K. Rowling, Dame Barbara Cartland, Ruth Rendell, PD James, Salman Rushdie, Kazuo Ishiguro, J.R.R. Tolkien, Tolkien, Helen Fielding, Roald Dahl.
➠ Check your work now.
Task
ᕢ
Text 1 The Landlady, a short story by Roald Dahl
This work is for all students. It can be used for oral presentation and will count as three texts. In this chapter we only do the first part, which constitutes one text for oral presentation. The landlady
The Landlady is part of a series of short stories by Roald Dahl called Tales of the Unexpected published by Penguin in 1979.
Anticipation Taking into account the title, the illustration and what you know of the author, anticipate the nature and content of the text choosing from one or several of the following alternatives alternatives.. a) The text is an extract from a detective story. b) The text is an extract from a novel. c) The text is a whole short story. d) Judging by the reputation of its author it is likely to be a mystery story. © TopFoto/Roger Viollet
e) Judging by its title it will have a very English flavour. f) The events will concern the character in the title.
Task
ᕣ
Pronunciation 2
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13
The following words and expressions may cause problems. Listen to the CD to repeat them out loud. Starry, blade, lodgings, settled, fantastically, amazing, swanky, façades, chrysanthemums, the hearth, dachshund, congenial, boarding-house, rapacious, queer, dithering.
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Séquence 6-AN01
Task
ᕤ
Read the text Texte Bac
Do not use your dictionary, read without stopping Billy Weaver had travelled down from London on the slow afternoon train, with a change at Swindon on the way, way, and by the time he got to Bath it was about nine o’clock in the evening and the moon was coming up out of a clear starry sky over the houses opposite the station entrance. But the air was deadly cold and the wind was like a flat blade of ice on his cheeks.
5 “Excuse me,” me,” he said, “but is there a fairly cheap hotel not too far away from here?” “Try The Bell and Dragon,” the porter answered, pointing down the road. “They might take you in. It’s about a quarter of a mile along on the other side. si de.”” Billy thanked him and picked up his suitcase and set out to walk the quarter-mile to The Bell and Dragon. He had never been to Bath before. He didn’t know anyone who lived there. But Mr Greenslade at the Head 10 Office in London had told him it was a splendid city. “Find your own *lodgings,” he had said, “and then go along and report to the Branch Manager as soon as you’ve got yourself settled.” Billy was seventeen years old. He was wearing a new navy-blue overcoat, a new brown trilby hat, and a new brown suit, and he was feeling fine. He walked walked *briskly down the street. street . He was was trying to do everything everythi ng briskly these days. Briskness, he had decided, was the one common characteristic of all successful businessmen. 15 *The big shots up at Head Office were absolutely fantastically brisk all the time. They were amazing. There were no shops on this wide street that he was walking along, only a line of tall houses on each side, all of them identical. They They had porches and pillars and four or five steps going up to their front doors, and it was obvious that once upon a time they had been very *swanky residences. But now, even in the darkness, he could see that the paint was peeling from the woodwork on their doors and windows, and that the 20 handsome white façades were cracked and blotchy from neglect. Suddenly, in a downstairs window that was brilliantly illuminated by a street-lamp not six yards away, away, Billy caught sight of a printed notice propped up against the glass in one of the upper panes. It said BED AND BREAKFAST. There was a vase of yellow chrysanthemums, tall and beautiful, standing just underneath the notice.
25 He stopped walking. He moved a bit closer. Green curtains (some sort of velvety material) were hanging down on either side of the window. The chrysanthemums looked wonderful beside them. He went right up and peered through the glass into the room, and the first thing he saw was a bright fire burning in the hearth. On the carpet in front of the fire, a pretty little *dachshund was curled up asleep with its nose tucked into its belly. The room itself, so far as he could see in the half-darkness, was filled with pleasant furniture. 30 There was a baby-grand piano and a big sofa and several plump armchairs; and in one corner he spotted a large *parrot in a cage. Animals were usually a good sign in a place like this, Billy told himself; and all in all, it looked to him as though it would be a pretty decent house to stay in. Certainly it would be more comfortable than The Bell and Dragon. On the other hand, a pub would be more *congenial than *a boarding-house. There would be beer and 35 *darts in the evenings, and lots of people to talk to, and it would probably be a good bit cheaper, cheaper, too. He He had stayed a couple of nights in a pub once before and he had liked it. He had never stayed in i n any boardinghouses, and, to be perfectly honest, he was a tiny bit frightened of them. The name itself conjured up images of watery cabbage, rapacious landladies, and a powerful smell of *kippers in the living-room. After *dithering about like this in the cold for two or three minutes, Billy decided that he would walk on 40 and take a look at The Bell and Dragon before making up his mind. He turned to go. And now a queer thing happened to him. He was in the act of stepping back and turning away from the window when all at once his eye was caught and held in the most peculiar manner by the small notice that was there. the re. BED AND BREAKFAST BREAK FAST,, it said. BED AND BREAKFAST BREAKFAST,, BED AND BREAKFAST BR EAKFAST,, BED AND BREAKFAST BR EAKFAST.. Each word was like a large black eye staring at him through the glass, holding him, *compelling him, for45 cing him to stay where he was and not to walk away from that house, and the next thing he knew, he was actually moving across from the window to the front door of the house, climbing the steps that led up to it, and reaching for the bell. Séquence 6-AN01
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He pressed the bell. Far away in a back room he heard it ringing, and then at once – it must have been at once because he hadn’t even had time to take his finger from the bell-button – the door swung open and a woman was standing there. Roald Dahl, The Landlady in Landlady in the series Tales of Unexpected , (1979) – Droits réservés
Vocabulary help
lodgings = hébergement briskly = avec vivacité the big shots = les gros gros bonnets bonnets swanky = qui en impose dachshund = dachshund (race de chien) a parrot = un perroquet
Task
congenial = sympathique a boarding-house = une pension de famille darts = des fléchettes kippers = des harengs saurs / en saumure to dither =se tâter, hésiter compelling = irrésistible
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Understanding the text - part one
ᕡ The initial situation (up to line 49: “a woman was standing there” ) Complete the grid. Answer in complete sentences. When?
Where?
The events happen The scene takes place during… in…
Who? (give name age, What about? (Sum up Narrator? social background, the story so far) jobs, expectations and interests) The two main charac- A young man is looking ters present are… for lodgings…
The point of view is that of…
➠ Check your work now.
ᕢ Detailed comprehension a) Put London and Bath on the map. b) Say if the statements are “right” or “wrong”. “wrong”. Justify your answer by quoting from the text.
1. Billy wanted to act like a successful businessman. .................................................. .......................... ............................................................................................................................................................... 2. Billy was elegantly dressed.................................................................. dressed.................................................................. ............................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... 3. The weather was pleasant. pleasant. ............................................................................ ........... ................................................................. .................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... 4. Billy didn’t know anyone in this city................................................................................................... city ................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... 60
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5. The The street he walk walked ed on had an air of being prosperous ........................................................... ......... ............................................................................................................................................................... 6. Billy was struck by something bright and cheerful ............................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................... 7. Billy hesitated then decided to push as far as the Bell and Dragon. ............................................................................................................................................................... 8. In the end he was irresistibly attracted to the boarding-ho boarding-house use and he rang the bell.......................... ............................................................................................................................................................... c) Billy compared a pub to a boarding-house and thought a pub was boarding-house.
nicer or worse than a
Because… Characteristics of a pub
Characteristics of the boarding house he is looking at
............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... d) Foreboding (un mauvais pressentiment)
Now we have only read the beginning of the story. Don’t you think something strange is already happening? Find examples (and justify by quoting the exact words or expressions), which are puzzling for Billy and the reader. ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... e) Vocabulary Find out the following words or expressions in the story (l. 1 to 49). un ciel clair étoilé une lame de glace plate hébergement un chapeau de feutre marcher d’un bon pas les grands pontes qui en imposent taché aperçut en velours regarda à travers la vitre
la cheminée rembourrés remarqua sympathique une pension (de famille) des fléchettes bien moins cher harengs saurs/en saumure
retourner dans sa tête contraindre étrange
➠ Check your work now.
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Texte 2 : The Landlady (2 et 3) Task ᕡ 2
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Pronunciation The following words and expressions may cause problems. Listen to the CD to repeat them out loud. This dame, popped, compulsion, accurately, fantastically, a teeny weeny bit choosy ,the law
Task ᕢ Read the extract (from line “Normally you ring the bell…“ down to line “… Mr Wilkins.“ Do not use your dictionary, read without stopping wait before the door opens. But this dame 50 Normally you ring the bell and you have at least a half-minute’s wait was a like *a jack-in-the-box. He pressed the bell – and out she popped! It made him jump. Texte Bac
She was about forty-five or fifty years old, and the moment she saw him, she gave him a warm welcoming smile.
“Please come in,” she said pleasantly. pleasantl y. She stepped aside, holding the door wide wi de open, and Billy found himself himsel f The compulsion or or,, more accurately, the desire to follow after 55 automatically starting forward into the house. The her into that house was extraordinarily strong. “I saw the notice in the window,” he said, holding himself back. “Yes, I know.” “I was wondering about a room.”
60 “It’s all ready for you, my dear,” she said. She had a round pink face and very gentle blue eyes. “I was on my way to The Bell and Dragon,” Billy told her. “But the notice in your window just happened to catch my eye.” “My dear boy,” she said, “why don’t you come in out of the cold?” “How much do you charge?”
65 “Five and sixpence a night, including breakfast.” It was fantastically cheap. It was less than half of what he had been willing to pay. “If that is too much,” she added, “then perhaps I can reduce it just *a tiny bit. Do you desire an egg for breakfast? Eggs are expensive at the moment. It would be sixpence less without the egg.” “Five and sixpence is fine,” he answered. “I should like very much to stay here.” i n.” 70 “I knew you would. Do come in.” She seemed terribly nice. She looked exactly like the mother of one’s best school-friend welcoming one into the house to stay for the Christmas holidays. Billy took off his hat, and stepped over the threshold. “Just hang it there,” she said, “and let me help you with your coat.” There were no other hats or coats in the hall. There were no umbrellas, no walking-sticks – nothing.
75 “We have it all to ourselves,” she said, smiling at him over her shoulder as she led the way upstairs. 62
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“You “Y ou see, it isn’t very often I have the pleasure of taking a visitor into my little nest.” The old girl is slightly *dotty, Billy told himself. But at five and sixpence a night, who gives a damn about that? – “I should’ve thought you’d be simply swamped with applicants, applicants,”” he said politely. “Oh, I am, my dear, dear, I am, of course I am. But the trouble is that I’m inclined to be just *a teeny weeny bit 80 *choosy and *particular – if you see what I mean.” “Ah, yes.” “But I’m always ready. Everything Everything is always ready day and night ni ght in this house just on the off-chance that an acceptable young gentleman will come along. And it is such a pleasure, my dear, dear, such a very great pleasure when now and again I open the door and I see someone standing there who is just exactly right.” She was and she paused with one hand on the stair-rail, turning her head and smiling down 85 half-way up the stairs, and at him with pale lips. “Like you,” you,” she added, and her blue eyes travelled slowly all the way down the length of Billy’s body, to his feet, and then up again. On the first-floor landing she said to him, “This *floor is mine.” They climbed up a second *flight. “And “And this one is all yours, yours,”” she said. “Here’s “Here’s your room. I do hope you’ll 90 like it.” She took him into a small but charming front bedroom, switching on the light as she went in. “The morning sun comes right in the window, Mr Perkins. Perkins. It is Mr Perkins, isn’t it?” “No,” he said. s aid. “It’s Weaver.” “Mr Weaver. How nice. I’ve put a water-bottle between the sheets to air them out, Mr Weaver. It’s such a comfort to have a hot water water-bottle -bottle in a strange bed with clean sheets, don’t you agree? And you 95 may light the gas fire at any time if you feel chilly.” “Thank you,” Billy said. “Thank you ever so much.” He noticed that the bedspread had been taken off the bed, and that the bedclothes had been neatly turned back on one side, all ready for someone to get in. “I’m so glad you appeared,” she said, looking earnestly into his face. “I was beginning to get worried.” “That’s all right,” “That’s r ight,” Billy answered brightly. “Y “You ou mustn’t worry about me.” He put his suitcase on the chair 100 and started to open it. “And what about supper, my dear? Did you manage to get anything to eat before you came here?” “I’m not a bit hungry, thank you,” he said. “I think I’ll just go to bed as soon as possible because tomorrow I’ve got to get up rather early and report to the office.” office.” “Very well, then. I’ll leave you now so that you can unpack. But before you go to bed, would you be kind 105 enough to pop into the sitting-room on the ground floor and sign the book? Everyone has to do that because it’s the *law of the land, and we don’t want to go breaking any laws at this stage in the proceedings, do we?” She gave him a little wave of the hand and went quickly out of the room and closed the door door.. Now, the fact that his landlady appeared *to be slightly off her rocker didn’t worry Billy Bill y in the least. After all, she was not only harmless – there was no question about that – but she was also quite obviously a 110 kind and generous soul. He guessed that she had probably lost a son in the war, or something like that, and had never got over it. So a few minutes later, after unpacking his suitcase and washing his hands, he trotted downstairs to the ground floor and entered the living-room. His landlady wasn’t there, but the fire was glowing in *the hearth, and the little dachshund was still sleeping in front of it. The room was wonderfully warm and cosy. I’m a 115 lucky fellow, he thought, rubbing his hands. This is a bit of all right. He found the guest-book lying open on the piano, so he took out his pen and wrote down his name and address. There were only two other entries above his on the page, and, as one always does with guestbooks, he started to read them. One was a Christopher Mulholland from Cardiff. The other was Gregory W. Temple from Bristol. That’ss funny, he thought suddenly. Christopher Mulholland. *It rings a bell. 120 That’ Now where on earth had he heard that rather unusual name before? Was he a boy at school? No. Was it one of his sister’s numerous young men, perhaps, or a friend of his father’s? No, no, it wasn’t any of those. He glanced down again at the book.
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Christopher Mulholland, 231 Cathedral Road, Cardiff. Cardiff. Gregory W. Temple, 27 Sycamore Drive, Bristol. As a matter of fact, now he came to think of it, he wasn’t at all sure that the second name didn’t have almost as much of a familiar ring about it as the first. Temple?” he said aloud, searching his memory. “Christopher Mulholland? …” 125 “Gregory Temple?” “Such charming boys,” boys,” a voice behind him answered, and he turned and saw his landlady l andlady sailing into the room with a large silver tea-tray in her hands. She was holding it well out in front of her, and rather high up, as though the tray were a pair of reins on a frisky horse. “They sound somehow familiar,” he said.
130 “They do? How interesting.” “I’m almost positive I’ve heard those names before somewhere. Isn’t that queer? Maybe it was in the newspapers. They weren’t famous in any way, were they? I mean famous cricketers or footballers or something like that?” “Famous,” she said, setting the tea-tray down on the low table in front of the sofa. “Oh no, I don’t think “Famous,” 135 they were famous. But they were extraordinarily handsome, both of them, I can promise you that. They were tall and young and handsome, my dear, just exactly like you.” Once more, Billy glanced down at the book. “Look here,” he said, noticing the dates. “This last entry is over two years old.” “It is?”
140 “Y “Yes, es, indeed. And Christopher Mulholland’s is nearly a year before that – more than three years ago.” “Dear me,” she said, shaking her head and heaving a dainty little sigh. “I would never have thought it. How time does fly away from us all, doesn’t it, Mr Wilkins?” Roald Dahl, The Landlady in Landlady in the series Tales of Unexpected , (1979) – Droits réservés
Vocabulary help
a jack-in-the box = un diable à ressort a tiny bit = un petit peu dotty = toqué a teeny weeny bit = un tout petit peu (pop) choosy = difficile (pop) particular = pointilleux
floor = étage the law = la loi, les autorités flight = escalier be slightly off her rocker = être cinglé the hearth = l’âtre it rings a bell = ça me rappelle qqe chose
Task ᕣ Understanding the text a) The narrative: put the following events in the correct order from 1 to 12. The The first sentence comes first.
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a. Billy asked the lady how much she charged for the night.
b. Billy unpacked his suitcase.
c. Billy had a look at the names in the guest book.
d. Billy put the suitcase on the bed and opened it.
e. The landlady asked Billy to come down to the living-room in order to sign the guest book. It was the law.
f. The landlady proposed Billy some supper but he declined the offer.
g. Billy ran down to the living-room.
h. Billy realized that he was the only guest in the boarding-house. boarding-house.
i. The lady told Billy he might light the gas fire if he was cold. j. Billy took off his coat and hung it.
k. Billy and the landlady went upstairs to the room.
l. Billy entered the house.
Extra for experts
The lady charged “Five and sixpence” for one night. Before 1971 (decimalisation) Britain used a different currency system from today (£1 = 100 pence) How much would it be in today’s English currency ? ............................................................................................................................................................... English currency today
£1 = 100 pence (p) £10.40 (ten pounds forty (pence)
British currency before 1971
£1 = 20 shillings (s) 1 shilling = 12 pence (d) “Five and sixpence” = 5 shillings and 6 pence. 5 shillings and 12 pence = 6 shillings (because 12 pence make a shilling) 19 shillings and 12 pence = £1 (12 pence = a shilling and 20 shillings = 1 pound) b) The stereotyped landlady: a deceiving appearance What stereotyped ideas about landladies come to Billy’s mind and reassure him? ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... c) Foreshadowing (présage) ᕡ Are
there any elements that give a negative impression of the landlady and foreshadow the events?
............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ᕢ Didn’t Billy notice something strange for a
boarding-house? boarding-ho use? How did the landlady explain it?
............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ᕣ Make a list of the
things that seem to indicate that Billy was expected in the house. (don’t (don’t forget to quote the text and note down the line numbers).
- ............................................................................................................................................................ - ............................................................................................................................................................ - ............................................................................................................................................................ - ............................................................................................................................................................ ᕤ Billy does want to stay and he dismisses the landlady’s strange behaviour. Why?
...............................................................................................................................................................
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d) The names in the guest book ᕡ The two names are : ......................................................................................................................... ᕢ What adverb is used
to indicate a change in Billy’s awareness?
............................................................................................................................................................... ᕣ Why does Billy keep thinking of those two names on the guest book? Quote the text.
............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ᕤ Who / what does Billy associate the names with?
- ............................................................................................................................................................ - ............................................................................................................................................................ - ............................................................................................................................................................ ᕥ What strange thing does Billy notice about the two names in the guest book?
............................................................................................................................................................... e) The landlady ᕡ Show that the landlady is not interested in the conversation about the names or does not want to
be interested in it. ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ᕢ The lady forgets Billy’s family name. She addresses him as Mr ……………. instead of Mr Weaver.
What is that supposed to show ? ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ➠ Check your work now.
Task ᕤ 2
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Pronunciation The following words and expressions may cause problems. Listen to the CD to repeat them out loud. W-E-A-V-E-R, apologise, as though, tantalising, sipping, peculiar, trifle, ignoring, a pause,
Task ᕥ Part three
Read the last extract (from (fro m line “It’s Weaver…” as far as the end). Do not use your dictionary, read without stopping.
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“It’s Weaver Weav er,” ,” Billy said. “W-e-a-v-e-r.”
Texte Bac
“Oh, of course it is!” she cried, sitting down on the sofa. “How silly of me. I do apologise. In one ear and out the t he other, ot her, that’s me, Mr Weaver.” Weaver.” “You “Y ou know something?” Billy said. “Something that’s that’s really quite extraordinary about all this?”
150 “No, dear, I don’t.” “Well, you see – both of these names, Mulholland and Temple, Temple, I not only seem to remember each one of them separately, so to speak, but somehow or other other,, in some peculiar way way,, they both appear to be sort of connected together as well. As As though they were both famous for the same sort of thing, if you see what I mean – like … like Dempsey and Tunney, for example, or Churchill and Roosevelt.” dear, and sit down beside me on the sofa and I’ll give 155 “How amusing,” she said. “But come over here now, dear, you a nice cup of tea and a ginger biscuit before you go to bed.” “You really shouldn’t bother “You bother,” ,” Billy said. “I didn’t mean you to do anything like that.” He stood by the piano, watching her as she fussed about with the cups and saucers. He noticed that she had small, white, quickly moving hands, and red finger-nails.
160 “I’m almost positive it was in the newspapers I saw them,” Billy said. “I’ll think of it in a second. I’m sure I will.” There is nothing more tantalising than a thing like this which lingers just outside the borders of one’s memory. He hated to give up.
165 “Now wait a minute,” he said. “Wait just a minute. Mulholland... Christopher Mulholland... wasn’t that the name of the Eton schoolboy who was on a walking-tour through the West Country, and then all of a sudden...” “Milk?” she said. “And sugar?” “Yes, please. And then all of a sudden...” dear, that can’t possibly be right because my Mr Mulholland was 170 “Eton schoolboy?” she said. “Oh no, my dear, certainly not an Eton schoolboy when he came to me. He was a Cambridge undergraduate. Come over here now and sit next to me and warm yourself in front of this lovely fire. Come on. Your tea’s all ready for you.” She patted the empty place beside her on the sofa, and she sat there smiling at Billy and waiting for him to come over.
175 He crossed the room slowly, and sat down on the edge of the sofa. She placed his teacup on the table in front of him. “There we are,” she said. “How nice and cosy this is, isn’t it?” Billy started sipping his tea. She did the same. For For half a minute or so, neither of them spoke. But Billy knew that she was looking at him. Her body was half-turned towards him, and he could feel her eyes resting on 180 his face, watching him over the rim of her teacup. Now and again, he caught *a whiff of a peculiar smell that seemed to emanate directly from her person. It was not in the least unpleasant, and it reminded him – well, he wasn’t quite sure what it reminded him of of.. *Pickled walnuts? New leather? Or was it the corridors of a hospital? “Mr Mulholland was a great one for his tea,” she said at length. “Never in my life have I seen anyone drink 185 as much tea as dear, sweet Mr Mulholland.” “I suppose he left fairly recently,” Billy said. He was still puzzling his head about the two names. He was positive now that he had seen them in the newspapers – in the headlines. “Left?” she said, arching her brows. “But my dear boy, he never left. He’s still here. Mr Temple is also here. They’re on the third floor, both of them together.” sl owly on the table, and stared at his landlady. She smiled back at him, and then she 190 Billy set down his cup slowly put out one of her white hands and patted him comfortingly on the knee. “How old are you, my dear?” she asked. “Seventeen.” “Seventeen!” she cried. “Oh, it’s the perfect age! Mr Mulholland was also seventeen. But I think he was a 195 trifle shorter than you are, in fact I’m sure he was, and his teeth weren’t quite so white. You have the most Séquence 6-AN01
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beautiful teeth, Mr Weaver, did you know that?” “They’re not as good as they look,” Billy said. “They’ve got simply masses of *fillings in them at the back.” “Mr Temple, of course, was a little older,” she said, ignoring his remark. “He was actually twenty-eight. 200 And yet I never would have guessed it if he hadn’t told me, never in my whole life. There wasn’t *a blemish on his body.” “A what?” Billy said. “His skin was just like a baby’s.” There was a pause. Billy picked up his teacup and took another anoth er sip of his tea, then he set it down again gently 205 in its saucer. He waited for her to say something else, but she seemed to have lapsed into another of her silences. He He sat there staring straight ahead of him into the far corner of the room, biting his lower lip. “That parrot,” he said at last. “You know something? *It had me completely fooled when I first saw it through the window from the street. I could have sworn it was alive.” “Alas, no longer.”
210 “It’s most terribly clever the way it’s been done,” he said. “It doesn’t look in the least bit dead. Who did it?” “I did.” “You did?” “Of course,” she said. “And have you met my little Basil as well?” wel l?” She nodded towards the dachshund dachshun d curled 215 up so comfortably in front of the fire. Billy looked at it. And suddenly, he realised that this animal had all the time been just as silent and motionless as the parrot. He put out a hand and touched it gently on the top of its back. The back was was hard and cold, and when he pushed the hair to one side with his fingers, he could see the skin ski n underneath, greyish-black and dry and perfectly preserved. “Good gracious me,” he said. “How absolutely fascinating.” He turned away from the dog and stared 220 with deep admiration at the little woman beside him on the sofa. “It must be most awfully difficult to do a thing like that.” “Not in the least,” she said. “I *stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away. Will you have another cup of tea?” “No, thank you,” Billy said. The tea tasted faintly of bitter almonds, and he didn’t much care for it. “You ou did sign the book, didn’t you?” 225 “Y “Oh, yes.” “That’s good. Because later on, if I happen to forget what you were called, then I can always come down “That’s here and look it up. I still do that almost every day with Mr Mulholland and Mr… Mr...” Mr...” “Temple,” Billy said. “Gregory Temple. Excuse my asking, but haven’t there been any other guests here 230 except them in the last two or three years?” Holding her teacup high in one hand, inclining her head slightly to the left, she looked up at him out of the corners of her eyes and gave him another gentle little smile. “No, my dear,” she said. `Only you.’ Roald Dahl, The Landlady in Landlady in the series Tales of Unexpected , (1979) – Droits réservés
Vocabulary help
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a whiff = une odeur pickled walnuts walnuts = des noix macérées filings = des plombages
a blemish = une imperfection had me… fooled = m’avait dupé stuff = empailler
Task
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Part 3 - Understanding the text
From “It’s Weaver…” to the end. a) The landlady ᕡ Isn’t
it surprising and contradictory that she has forgotten Billy’s name when she speaks about Mulholland and Temple? Temple? Quote the text to give examples.
............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... b) The suspense ᕡ Billy is uneasy about the names. Does his attitude to the landlady change when she says that the
young men are still upstairs? ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ᕢ What makes the reader even
more suspicious than Billy and increases the suspense?
............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ᕣ The landlady had said :
“… There wasn’t a blemish on his body.” “A what?” Billy said. “His skin was just like a baby’s.”
Why is there a silence afterwards? Can you think of an explanation for their presence upstairs? ............................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................
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ᕤ The stuffed animals:
When Billy learns about the animals in the house and the landlady’s role the story reaches its climax. Why? ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ᕥ The guest book.
Which word shows that the landlady insists on Billy signing the book? Why does she insist? ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... c) The cliff-hanging ending (une fin à suspense) Is there any explicit denouement? What can readers conclude? ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... d) Vocabulary Vocabulary (from parts 2 and 3) Find out the following words in the story and make sure you know what they mean. Deduce their meaning from the context or use your dictionary. Frisky Handsome Dainty Sigh Peculiar To bother To fuss Tantalising
Eton Undergraduate (in Britain) To pat Pickled walnuts Sweet Mr Mulholland She arched her brows A trifle A blemish
e) The craft of the writer and your reactions
For candidates in L LV1 and candidates preparing the oral examination When the reader realizes what happened and what will happen, some passages in the story may be seen in retrospect? Give some examples. (about 100 words) ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................... ➠ Check your work now.
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Prononciation et vocabulaire Task ᕡ Pronunciation Lecture expressive : lecture d’un passage du texte Attention à l’intonation, exprimez l’étonnement de Billy par exemple et la voix doucereuse de la femme.
ᕡ Repérez les mots ou expressions dont la prononciation peut poser problème.
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Écoutez le CD et répétez dans les blancs les mots et expressions mis en gras dans le passage suivant. suivant. Faites cet exercice plusieurs fois et à différents moments du cours. “Good gracious me,” he said. “How absolutely fascinating.” He turned away from the dog and stared with deep admiration at the little woman beside him on the sofa. “It must be most awfully difficult to do a thing like that.” “Not in the least,” she said. “I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away. Will you have another cup of tea?” “No, thank you,” Billy said. The tea tasted faintly of bitter almonds, and he didn’t much care for it.
“You did sign the book, didn’t you?” “Oh, yes.”
“That’s good. Because later on, if I happen to forget what you were called, then I can always come down here and look it up. I still do that almost every day with Mr Mulholland and Mr… Mr...” Mr...” “Temple,” Billy said. “Gregory Temple. Excuse my asking, but haven’t there been any other guests here except them in the last two or three years?” Holding her teacup high in one hand, inclining her head slightly to the left, she looked up at him out of the corners of her eyes and gave him another gentle l ittle smile.
“No, my dear,” she said. `Only you.’ you.’ ᕢ Prononciation de [i] et [i:] et de [ D] et de [Q] 2
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Ces sons sont difficiles à prononcer par les Français car ils nécessitent une “gymnastique buccale” peu habituelle,, entre autres les sons [ i ] et [ i: ] et [D] et [Q]. habituelle Écoutez le CD et imitez le modèle en vous concentrant sur les lettres en e n caractères gras. Prononciationn de [ i ] (comme dans ship ) et de [ i: ] (comme dans sheep ) a) Prononciatio Ship
Sheep
“How absolutely fascinating.” He turned away from the dog and stared with deep admiration at the little woman beside him on the sofa. “It must be most awfully difficult to do a thing like that.” “Not in the least,” she said. “I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away. Will you have another cup of tea?” “No, thank you,” Billy said. The tea tasted faintly of bitter almonds, and and he didn’t much care for it. “You did sign the book, didn’t you?” “Oh, yes.” Séquence 6-AN01
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b) Prononciati Prononciation on de [ D] (comme dans the book ) et de [Q] comme dans Thank you “That’s good. Because Because later on, if I happen to forget what you were called, then I can always come down here and look it up. I still do that almost every day with Mr Mulholland and Mr… Mr…” “Temple,” Billy said. “Gregory Temple. Excuse my asking, but haven’t there been any other guests here except them in the last two or three years?” Holding her teacup high in one hand, inclining her head slightly to the left, she looked up at him out of the corner of her eyes and gave him another gentle little smile. “No, my dear,” she said. “ Only you. ”
Ecoutez et répétez le passage, en faisant vous même les pauses. 2
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Task
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Enrich your vocabulary Vocabulaire du suspense
Faites un brainstorming du vocabulaire de l’étrange, de la peur, du suspense, voici un exemple. Vous pouvez le classer par catégories grammaticales ou en bulles de sens. Bien évidemment consultez votre dictionnaire si vous ne comprenez pas le sens exact d’un mot. Vous devriez connaître ce vocabulaire par cœur c œur.. adjectifs
strange, queer, peculiar, extraordinary, unexpected, unusual, spooky, terrible, awful, dead, disturbed, puzzled, anxious, frightened, scared, interested, excited, scary, terrifying.
verbes
wonder , dismiss, realiz realize, e, perceiv perceive, e, worry, kill, murder, murder, wound, flee, die, be fooled, be deceived, be afraid of, fear for, frighten, be frightened, frightene d, scare, be scared.
adverbes noms expressions
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extraordinarily, suddenly, all at once. a spook, a foreboding, a foreshadowing, fores hadowing, a twist, a murder, a murderer, a killer, killer, a killing, a strangling, a flight. a serial killer, a cold-blooded murder, a cliff-hanging situation, a fearsome sight.
Grammaire
Task
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ᕡ La forme en –ing , le gérondif et le participe présent a) Observez et classez 1. The moon was coming up. 2. … the porter answered pointing down the road. 3. He was wearing a navy-blue overcoat… and he was feeling fine. 4. They had… four or five steps going up to their front doors… 5. … he could see that the paint was peeling… 6. He stopped walking. 7. Green curtains were hanging down… 8. … and the first thing he saw was a bright fire burning in the hearth. 9. After dithering like this in the cold for two or three minutes… 10. Billy decided that he would walk… before making up his mind. prétérit en be + –ing
gérondif
participe présent
➠ Vérifiez vos réponses avant de continuer.
b) Choisissez la réponse qui convient ou complétez. Dans l’exemple 1, la forme en –ING est associée à l’opérateur be conjugué au …………………… Un exemple de prétérit en be + –ING au pluriel est …………………………….. Certains exemples de prétérits en be + –ING décrivent un personnage (ex…………) ou des choses qui étaient en train de se faire (ex ……). Le participe présent existe aussi en français. … pointing down the road se traduit par en montrant la rue
montrer la rue … going up to their front doors se traduit par qui montaient jusqu’à leur porte d’entrée
montant jusqu’à leur porte d’entrée
… a bright fire burning in the hearth se traduit par …………………………………..
Dans l’exemple 6 le gérondif est sujet complément du verbe stopped. En anglais les prépositions sont normalement suivies de noms de verbes conjugués d’une forme en -ING
Dans les exemples 9 et 10 les prépositions ………. et ……… sont suivies d’une …………………
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En français After dithering se traduit par
Après hésitant Après avoir hésité
Before making up his mind se traduit par
Avant de prendre une décision Avant prenant une décision
➠ Vérifiez vos réponses.
e) Retenez Le prétérit en be en be + –ING indique qu’une action était en cours dans le passé : the : the moon was coming up. La forme en -ING s’emploie après une préposition alors que le français emploie l’infi- nitif : before : before making up his mind (avant de se décider), après un verbe exprimant un goût : I love reading.
ᕢ Exercices a) Complétez les phrases. 1. He kept ……………………. . (wonder) where he had come across that name before. 2. He made a point of ……………….. briskly. (walk) 3. He …………………. down the avenue when he noticed a bright light. (walk) 4. He went on …………his tea without ……………..(drink, hesitate) 5. There was a staircase …………. to the second floor. (go up) 6. On ………… the house he saw that there were no other guests. (enter) ➠ Check your work now.
Task
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Révision ᕡ Le prétérit simple et le prétérit en be + –ING Nous avons déjà abordé ce point dans la première séquence mais il est important de bien posséder la notion de l’aspect en anglais anglais.. a) Observez et surlignez les prétérits Billy was seventeen years old. He was wearing a new navy-blue overcoat, a new brown trilby hat, and a new brown suit, and he was feeling fine. He walked briskly down the street. He was trying to do everything briskly these days. Briskness, he had decided, was the one common characteristic of all successful businessmen. The big shots up at Head Office were absolutely fantastically brisk all the time. They were amazing. There were no shops on this wide street that he was walking along, only a line of tall houses on each side, all of them identical.
b) Réfléchissez was seventeen, was seventeen, were were brisk, brisk, were were amazing, amazing, there were, there were, was et were sont des prétérits simples du verbe be, ils donnent l’âge du personnage, ils sont suivis d’adjectifs qui le décrivent, ils traduisent la forme «il y avait» (there was, there were).
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was wearing, was feeling, was trying Grâce à ces formes en be + –ING, l’énonciateur décrit Billy et commente cette description afin de
nous montrer la fierté du jeune homme. c) Opposez He walked briskly walked briskly down the street. There were no shops on this wide street that he was walking along. walking along.
Dans le premier énoncé, l’énonciateur annonce une action que Billy faisait. Dans le second énoncé, l’énonciateur et nous savons déjà que Billy marchait dans la rue, maintenant l’énonciateur commente l’action en la montrant dans son déroulement, c’est parce qu’il était en train de marcher le long de cette rue que Billy pouvait observer l’état délabré des maisons, donc il est important de mettre la forme en be + –ING qui n’est pas une déclaration neutre comme dans le premier exemple.
ᕢ Exercices a) Complete with the correct aspect of the preterit 1. As he …………… he ……………… how derelict the area ……… (walk along, notice, be) 2. Then she …………… the tea and he ……………it without any foreboding. (pour, drink) 3. Billy …………see that the room …….. cosy indeed. (can, be) 4. He ….. quite pleased with himself as he ………………down the stairs in a leisurely manner. (be, come) 5. She …………………..the tea-tray with a decisive air. (carry) 6. Finally, they both …………… on the sofa and she …………….. him on the knee. (sit down, pat) b) Translate Translate into English using the appropriate tenses 1. Il marchait seul. C’est pour ça qu’il a remarqué la lumière venant de la fenêtre. 2. “Que faisiez-vous hier soir ? “ - Je lisais un roman d’épouvante. 3. Il était trop naïf, il a fait son malheur lui-même. 4. Elle prenait une tasse de thé devant l’âtre tout en rêvassant, quand quand la sonnette a retenti. 5. Il allait au pub deux fois par semaine quand il était étudiant. 6. La propriétaire, qui était folle, tuait puis empaillait ses hôtes. ➠ Check your work now.
Task
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ᕡ Le past perfect (ou pluperfect/plus-que-parfait) – révision de la
séquence 2 Révision
Observez et surlignez les verbes au plus-que-parfait Billy Weaver had travelled down from London on the slow afternoon train, with a change at Swindon on the way, way, and by the time he got to Bath it was about nine o’clock in the evening and the moon was coming up… He had never been to Bath before. He didn’t know anyone who lived there. But Mr Greenslade at the Head Office in London had told him it was a splendid city. They had porches and pillars…. And it was obvious that at one time they had been very swanky residen- ces.
Répondez et complétez : les actions se déroulent dans un récit passé. Oui
Non
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Les premières actions (had travelled down, had never been, had told him, they had been) sont antérieures aux secondes (he got to Bath, ……………………………………………………). Oui Non
Dans un récit au passé, une action antérieure à une autre est au plus-que-parfait, que ce soit en français ou en anglais. Le plus-que-parfait situe l’événement dans un passé antérieur au passé du récit. Il est formé de l’auxiliaire HAVE au prétérit et du participe passé du verbe : HAD + Participe passé
ᕢ Le plus-que-parfait en BE + –ING (rappel) He could see that she had she had been crying .
Il voyait bien qu’elle avait pleuré. Comme le present perfect en BE + –ING, le past perfect (ou plus-que-parfait) est formé de l’auxiliaire HAVE + BEEN+ V–ING, mais ici HAVE est au passé : HAD + BEEN + V–ING
a) Mettez les verbes au plus-que-parfait 1. When he got to his room, he realized that she (already, make) ……………………the bed. 2. Once he saw that the animals were stuffed, he understood why they (be) ……………… so still. 3. Now he knew why she (watch) ………………………… him so closely. 4. The The woman (wait) ………………………… for quite a while before Billie entered her place. 5. After many attempts at getting up, he (give up)……………………………any hope of escaping and was now only wishing for a new visitor. b) Mettez les verbes du texte suivant au prétérit, simple ou en be + –ing, ou au pluperfect, simple ou en be + –ing, à la voix active ou passive. 1. Billie …………….………(wonder) …………….………(wonder) where and why he ……………….…… (already hear) of those names before. 2. Previously, when he …………………… (be away) from home, he ………………( always stay) in a pub, now he ………… (dither). 3. Up to now, Billie ………………….. (always think) that little old ladies …………………(be) harmless, presently he ………………….(be/not) so sure. 4. He then ………………….. ( realize) that they ………………….. (be dead) for over two years and that he ……………………. (be) in great danger of being her next victim. 5. This time he ………………….. (try) hard to get up but his legs ………………………..(fail him once more) and he……………………. (feel) the irresistible urge of sleep overcoming him. ➠ Check your work.
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Traduction ᕡ Read again the following passage which you will later translate So a few minutes later, after unpacking his suitcase and washing his hands, he trotted downstairs to the ground floor and entered the living-room. His landlady wasn’t there, but the fire was glowing in the hearth, and the little dachshund was still sleeping in front of it. The room was wonderfully warm and cosy. I’m a lucky fellow, he thought, rubbing his hands. This is a bit of all right. He found the guest-book lying open on the piano, so he took out his pen and wrote down his name and address. There were only two other entries above his on the page, and, as one always does with guestbooks, he started to read them. One was a Christopher Mulholland from Cardiff. The other was Gregory W. Temple from Bristol. That’ss funny, he thought suddenly. Christopher Mulholland. It rings a bell. That’ Now where on earth had he heard that rather unusual name before?
ᕢ Choose the best alternatives He trotted downstairs to the ground floor and entered…
Il descendit rapidement jusqu’au rez-de-chaussée et entra… Il trotta en bas jusqu’au rez-de chaussée et entra…
… the little dachshund was still sleeping in front of it.
… le petit teckel dormait encore devant lui. … le petit petit teckel dormait encore encore à la même place. place. The room was wonderfully warm and cosy.
La pièce était merveilleusement chaude et comfortable. Il faisait merveilleusement bon et la pièce était agréable. I am a lucky fellow…
Je suis un gars chanceux… J’ai de la veine… This is a bit of all right.
C’est un peu de tout bien. C’est pas mal du tout. ➠ You must check your work now and read the explanations.
ᕣ Translate The passage from“He found the guest-book…” to the end “name before?” ➠ Check your work now.
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Expression écrite Continue the story story.. Write up to 250 words Un type de sujet fréquent au Baccalauréat
Attention à bien respecter le style de l’histoire et l’atmosphère. L’histoire est racontée du point de vue de Billy, avec son vocabulaire et les connaissances encore limitées qu’il a de son hôtesse, avec sa personnalité, sa peur peut-être et n’oubliez pas que c’est un jeune homme d’action, mais le thé… et enfin que va faire la « landlady » ? Faites attention à l’emploi des temps et des formes verbales (voir Chapter 4 Enjoy your grammar ) ➠ Check your work now.
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Présentation orale : texte 1
Ce chapitre concerne principalement les candidats se présentant à l’oral.
Cette nouvelle compte pour 3 textes. Après Après l’introduction et la présentation des personnages communes à toutes les présentations vous déciderez de présenter en détail seulement une des trois parties à votre choix. Lors de l’examen vous annoncerez ce choix, en anglais, à l’examinateur.
Task
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Lecture Vous vous êtes entraîné entraîné à lire une partie du texte à haute voix, à arrêter le CD après chaque phrase ou élément de phrase et e t à répéter.
Task
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Faisons le point sur le texte. Complétez la grille de travail sous forme de notes. ᕡ Je détermine la nature du document, son origine. Je
parle brièvement de l’auteur. Je donne le titre, le lieu, la date. La nature du document va me permettre de mentionner que la nouvelle a les caractéristiques d’une histoire d’épouvante. Je Je décris l’illustration qui amorce l’atmosphère l’atmosphère..
ᕢ Je donne la situation initiale en
parlant des lieux. Je mentionne les personnages en présence. Je résume très brièvement l’histoire que je divise en trois parties.
ᕣ J’annonce
à l’examinateur que je choisis de ne présenter qu’une des trois parties de
l’histoire. Je commente donc maintenant en détail cette partie en utilisant le travail des chapitres 2 et 3. ᕤ Quelle que soit la
partie choisie, je termine toujours en rappelant les passages qui ont inquiété le lecteur avant Billy et que l’on ne comprend qu’à la fin. Je n’oublie pas de mentionner que la révélation tardive de l’activité de taxidermiste de la femme est un tour de force de la part de Roald Dahl. Dans mon commentaire, je parle des événements mais sous l’optique du suspense. JE CITE à chaque fois que je veux démontrer un point. JE SUIS SANS ARRÊT DANS LE TEXTE et non autour du texte. Je conclus par une réflexion sur l’intérêt que nous portons aux histoires d’épouvante. ■
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