Session 4.

Little Women

1. Read chapters 12-15;

2. Do tasks 2,3,5,10,15

2 Transcribe the words below and practice pronouncing them.

1. fete - [feɪt]

2. omen - [ˈoʊmən]

3. dexterity - [dɛkˈstɛrɪti]

4. ubiquitous - [juːˈbɪkwɪtəs]

5. skirmish - [ˈskɜrmɪʃ]

6. equestrian - [ɪˈkwɛstrɪən]

7. to reign - [reɪn]

8. copious - [ˈkoʊpiəs]

9. to atone - [əˈtoʊn]

10.consolation - [ˌkɒnsəˈleɪʃən]

11.afflicted - [əˈflɪktɪd]

12.feeble - [ˈfiːbəl]

13.condescension - [ˌkɒndɪˈsɛnʃən]

14.impertinent - [ɪmˈpɜrtɪnənt]

15.disdainful - [dɪsˈdeɪnfʊl]

16.exploit (n.) - [ˈɛkˌsplɔɪt]

17.to behold - [bɪˈhoʊld]

18.effigy - [ˈɛfɪdʒi]

19.aversion - [əˈvɜrʒən]

20.awe - [ɔ]

3 Match the following words with their definitions.

1. fete - E (a public event, often held outside, where you can take part in
competitions and buy small things and food, often organized to collect money
for a particular purpose)

2. omen - H (a sign of what will happen in the future)

3. dexterity - A (skill and speed in doing something with your hands)

4. ubiquitous - Q (seeming to be everywhere)

5. skirmish - M (a short argument, especially between political or sports

opponents)

6. copious - K (existing or being produced in large quantities)

7. to atone - O (to do something to show that you are sorry for having done
something wrong)

8. feeble - C (extremely weak)

9. impertinent - P (rude and not respectful, especially to someone who is older or

more important)

10.to condescend - F (to behave as if you think you are better, more intelligent, or
more important than other people)

11.to beckon - N (to make a signal to someone with your hand, to show that you
want them to come towards you or to follow you)

12.to desert - G (to leave someone or something and no longer help or support
them)

13.to nibble - R (to eat small amounts of food by taking very small bites)

14.to up and do sth. - L (to suddenly do something different or surprising)

15.effigy - J (a model or other object that represents someone, especially one of a

hated person that is hanged or burned in a public place)

16.aversion - B (a feeling of strong dislike or of not wishing to do something, or a

person or thing that causes it)

17.consolation - S (something that makes someone who is sad or disappointed feel

better)

18.to shirk - D (to deliberately avoid doing something you should do because you
are lazy)
 19.awe - I (a feeling of great respect and liking for someone or something)

5 Match the following words to form collocations. Name the context which each
of them was used in the text. Use the collocations in examples of your own.

1. odd and even

2. to bear one's hard lot

3. to look one's best

4. to seek one's fortune

5. to stand by sb. through thick and thin

6. to give a disdainful shrug

7. to lament one's lot

8. to chill to the utmost

9. a dead silence reigned

10.ever and anon

11.to shirk one's studies

12.to tell tales

13.to try one's patience to the utmost

14.high and mighty

15.with all your might and main

10 Suggest Ukrainian equivalents of the phrases in bold and use them in

examples of your own.

✔Feeling stronger than ever to meet and subdue her Apollyon, she pinned the note
inside her frock, as a shield and a reminder, lest she be taken unaware, and proceeded
to open her other letter, quite ready for either good or bad news.

✔It broke the ice in the beginning by producing a laugh, it created quite a refreshing
breeze, flapping to and fro as she rowed, and would make an excellent umbrella for
the whole party, if a shower came up, she said.

✔Meg liked his quiet manners and considered him a walking encyclopedia of useful
knowledge. He never talked to her much, but he looked at her a good deal, and she
felt sure that he did not regard her with aversion. Ned, being in college, of course put
on all the airs which freshmen think it their bounden duty to assume. What shall we
do when we can't eat anymore?" asked Laurie, feeling that his trump card had been
played when lunch was over.

✔ With these thrilling words he rushed away, and flinging open the door of the
mauve salon, was about to enter...

✔ Instantly, Sir What's-his-name recovered himself, pitched the tyrant out of the
window, and turned to join the lady, victorious, but with a bump on his brow, found
the door locked, tore up the curtains, made a rope ladder, got halfway down when the
ladder broke, and he went headfirst into the moat, sixty feet below.

✔Shadowy effigies in armor stood on either side, a dead silence reigned, the lamp
burned blue, and the ghostly figure ever and anon turned its face toward him,
showing the glitter of awful eyes through its white veil.

✔Beth forgot herself, and was quite unconscious of her sisters' surprise and delight at
the unusual spectacle of Beth talking away to one of the dreadful boys, against whom
she had begged protection.

✔He was in one of his moods, for the day had been both unprofitable and
unsatisfactory, and he was wishing he could live it over again. I'd have a stable full of
Arabian steeds, rooms piled high with books, and I'd write out of a magic inkstand, so
that my works should be as famous as Laurie's music.

✔ I don't much wonder, poor dear, for you see other girls having splendid times,
while you grind, grind, year in and year out.

Відчуваючи себе сильнішою, ніж будь-коли, щоб зустріти і підкорити свого

Аполлона, вона причепила записку під сукню, як щит і нагадування, щоб її не
застали зненацька, і продовжила відкривати іншого листа, цілком готова до
хороших або поганих новин.

На початку вона розбила кригу, розсмішивши всіх своїм сміхом, і створила

освіжаючий вітерець, який розвівався, коли вона веслувала, і, за її словами, міг
би стати чудовою парасолькою для всієї вечірки, якби раптом почалася злива.

Мег подобалися його спокійні манери і вона вважала його ходячою

енциклопедією корисних знань. Він ніколи не розмовляв з нею багато, але
багато дивився на неї, і вона була впевнена, що він не ставиться до неї з
відразою. Нед, навчаючись у коледжі, звичайно ж, напускав на себе всю ту
манірність, яку першокурсники вважають своїм святим обов'язком. Що ми
будемо робити, коли не зможемо більше їсти?" - запитала Лорі, відчуваючи, що
його козир був розіграний, коли обід закінчився.

З цими хвилюючими словами він кинувся геть і, відчинивши двері лілового

салону, вже збирався ввійти...

Сер Як-Там-Його-Звати миттєво оговтався, викинув тирана з вікна і

повернувся, щоб приєднатися до леді, переможно, але з шишкою на лобі,
знайшов двері замкненими, зірвав штори, зробив мотузяну драбину, спустився
на півдорозі, коли драбина зламалася, і він впав головою вниз у рів, на
шістдесят футів нижче.

По обидва боки стояли примарні опудала в обладунках, панувала мертва тиша,

лампа горіла синім, а примарна постать раз у раз поверталася до нього
обличчям, показуючи блиск жахливих очей крізь білу вуаль.

Бет забулася і не помітила, як її сестри здивувалися і захопилися незвичайним

видовищем: Бет розмовляла з одним із жахливих хлопчиків, від яких вона
благала захисту.

Він був не в найкращому настрої, бо день був і збитковим, і незадовільним, і

йому хотілося б прожити його знову. У мене була б стайня, повна арабських
коней, кімнати, завалені книжками, і я писав би з чарівної чорнильниці, щоб
мої твори стали такими ж відомими, як музика Лорі.

Я не дуже дивуюся, бідолашна, адже ти бачиш, як інші дівчата чудово

проводять час, а ти з року в рік шліфуєш, шліфуєш, шліфуєш.

15 Answer the following questions.

1. How did the Marches' personal post work?

The Marches’ personal post worked by having Beth collect and deliver the mail that
passes through Laurie’s little post office

2. Why did Mother send Jo a letter to compliment her on her efforts to control her
temper? Do you believe that correspondence can be more effective than face-to-face
communication?

Mother sent Jo a letter to compliment her on her efforts to control her temper because
Jo had been working hard on this and her mother wanted to acknowledge her efforts2.
Correspondence can sometimes be more effective than face-to-face communication
as it allows the sender to carefully craft their message and the receiver to absorb it at
their own pace.

3. Describe the sisters' preparations for the picnic.

The sisters’ preparations for the picnic involved getting ready and meeting up with
Mr. Brooke, Sallie Gardiner, Ned Moffat, and the Vaughns at Laurie’s house

4. Who were the young people invited to the picnic? How are they described in the
text?

The young people invited to the picnic were Mr. Brooke, Sallie Gardiner, Ned
Moffat, and the Vaughns: twenty-year-old Kate (who acts as chaperone), twins Fred
and Ned, and Grace

5. What do you think of the story jointly produced by the picnic party? How does the
style change from one storyteller to another? What can one deduce about each of the
narrators based on their contributions to the overall story?

The story jointly produced by the picnic party is not detailed in the text. However, it’s
mentioned that they made up a story together and played a truth-telling game

6. What is Ellen Tree?

Out in our garden is an apple tree that has a nice low branch, so Jo put the saddle on
it, fixed some reins on the part that turns up, and we bounce away on Ellen Tree
whenever we like."

7. Explain the title of chapter XIII.

The title of Chapter 13, “Castles in the Air”, refers to the dreams and aspirations of
the characters, which they discuss during their outing

8. Describe the "castles in the air" built by Laurie and the sisters.

Laurie’s “castle in the air” was to go to Europe and become a famous musician. Meg
wanted a rich home with beautiful possessions and servants to do all the work. Jo
wanted to become rich and famous, maybe as an author3. Amy wanted to become a
famous artist in Rome. Beth had a modest goal: she wanted to stay at home and take
care of Father and Mother.

9. Do values and aspirations of the main characters of the chapters coincide with the
traditional views on the female and male roles in the society?
The values and aspirations of the main characters do challenge traditional views on
female and male roles in society. For example, Jo’s aspiration to become a rich and
famous author defies traditional gender norms.

10. Why did Jo leave the house secretly and take a roundabout way (Chapter XIV)?

Jo left the house secretly and took a roundabout way because she was submitting two
stories to a local newspaper without telling anyone

11. How did Laurie get Jo to let him in on her secret?

Laurie got Jo to let him in on her secret by promising to tell her his secret if she tells
him hers

12. What secret of his own did Laurie share with Jo?

Laurie’s secret was that he knew where Meg’s missing glove was

13. What was the news in the telegram? How did the family bear this piece of news?

The news in the telegram was that Mr. March was gravely ill in a hospital in
Washington, D.C.

14. How did Aunt March take the message?

Aunt March lent money but also sent a note criticizing Marmee for letting Father join
the army in the first place

15. What was the Laurences' reaction to the news?

Mr. Laurence gave Mrs. March some wine to use as medicine and offered to protect
the girls in her absence