Reading Contemporary British Literature
YEAR 2013-2014
Group 301

GRACE NOTES

By Bernard MacLaverty

Part 1  pp.3-28 (up to “She woke…”)

Evaluation. Summing up our today's discussion in class.
Were you interested in the events described? What attracted your attention - about the characters/ the situation, the atmosphere?, etc

Part 2  pp.28-56 (up to “The crunch of feet…”)

Evaluation. Which of Catherine’s childhood memories impressed you most of all? Why?

Part 3, pp. 56-83

(up to “The next day was cloudy and overcast…”)

Evaluation. What image of the Ukraine, a part of the former USSR, is created in the story? Why? What is its importance?

Part 4, pp. 83-114

(up to “If her mother wanted…”)

Evaluation. Comment on Miss Bingham’s statement: “You are not the only one. I am where you have been.” What does she imply? Do you agree with it?

Part 5, pp. 114-138

Evaluation. In this Part the author introduces the words “grace notes”, what is the idea implied?

Part 6, pp. 141-173

(up to “Catherine was the only one…)

Evaluation. What is the role of the childhood memory of Granny Boyd? What do you find interesting and peculiar about it?

Make a list of the author’s statements which you liked, comment why.

Part 7, pp. 173-203

Evaluation.

- Cross-cultural issues: universal and unique. Try to find in the text examples of the way the writer depicts reality: things common to the Russian and English cultures (what we do, how we do smth) and the way they are expressed; and things unique for the English culture.

- Make a list of expressions which caught your eye and which you liked.

Part 8, pp. 203 - 231

Evaluation.

- Cross-cultural issues: universal and unique. Try to find in the text examples of the way the writer depicts reality: things common to the Russian and English cultures (what we do, how we do smth) and the way they are expressed; and things unique for the English culture.

- Make a list of expressions which caught your eye and which you liked.