Choose one of the following quotes and give your interpretation of the problem raised.

1. “Give the people polytechnics, with no frills. Not imitation Oxford colleges”. Should modern education be more practically orientated? What are the strengths and weaknesses of classical higher education?
2. “Universities may be the cathedrals of the modern age, but do you teach morality in them? ” Should universities teach their students moral values?
3. “We live in the age of the yob”. Do you agree with Vic? Why/why not? How can the problem of vandalism be dealth with?
4. “You and I have an open relationship, with no strings”. Is the modern type of relationship that Robyn and Charles are practising likely to take root? What are its advantages and disadvantages?

Read the following summary of Chapter V, finding and correcting the mistakes:

Answer the questions:

1. What did Penny Black think about Vic and Robyn’s fling? What did she think Robyn should do? What would you do if you were Robyn?
2. Modernisation (new machines) means redundancies, says Vic Wilcox. Does this mean that modernisation is bad? Why/why not? How do you think these drawbacks of modernisation can be compensated for?
3. “You don’t know what the real world is like down here”, Robyn says. How do you understand her words? In what context would it be possible for you to use her words?
4. “Charles is such a nice young man, and you have such a lot in common”. – “Perhaps too much”, said Robyn. Comment on Robyn’s words. Do you agree with her? Why/why not? In your point of view, what is essential for a good marriage/relationship?
5. What changes has the relationship of Vic and Marjorie undergone? What is going to happen next, do you think?

Read Charles’s letter and summarise the main points he is making:

1. Being a merchant banker means........, so......

2. ____________

3. ____________

4. ____________

5. ____________

6. ____________

7. ____________

8. ____________

9.

For each of the points put “+” if you totally agree, “-“ if you disagree and “+\-“ for “it depends...”

Do you think the point(s) Charles is making are still important for the contemporary world? Why/why not?

Chapter V (1). Study the epigraph. Who/what do you think it refers to in this chapter?

Task A. Continue the following statements:

1. When Robyn and Vic were leaving Rummidge, they....
2. When Robyn saw the airport,...
3. Vic’s attitude to bankers was...
4. Vic decided to introduce Robyn as his.... because....
5. The biggest problem with buying the machine turned out to be...
6. Robyn helped Vic by...
7. When Vic heard the song by Jennifer Rush, he...

Task B. Comment on the following quotes from the text:

1. “I thought I’d try and dress the part”.
2. “We were too greedy and too lazy”
3. “As distinct from Buck House, where the Queen lives”.
4. “That was cheeky”
5. “An item to tick off your list”
6. “I never let myself go. It’s against my nature”

Task C. What do the following words/phrases mean?

- bite the bullet

- smoochy

- mischievously

- rattle away

- heady experience

- vacant smile

- simper

Discuss one of the following questions:

1. Analyse Robyn’s attitude towards the choice of clothes throughout the book. What does her choice mainly depend on? Does she care about the way she looks? Does her attitude to clothes and fashion differ from the attitude demonstrated by other characters in the novel? If yes, then how?
2. At first Robyn declines Vic’s offer to buy her a swimming suit, but later she accepts it. Why? Do you think it is common in Europe for a man to pay for the lady he accompanies and give her gifts? Is it the same in Russia? What do you think about this tradition?
3. While Robyn and Penny Black are quite sceptical about love, Vic appears to believe in it. How can you explain this disparity of attitudes? Which of the attitudes do you think is prevalent among young people in Britain? In Russia? Why?
4. In what way are traditional gender roles reversed in Robyn and Vic’s relationship? Do you think it is typical of modern men-women relationships in general? Why/why not?
5. In Parts 2 and 5 Robyn lies, either by saying something that is untrue or concealing the truth. In what situations does she find it acceptable? Do you agree with her? Why/why not? In what cases do you consider lies excusable?

Questions for the “fishbowl” discussion:

1.“Nice Work” discusses problems of modern education. What points of view on the goals and features of modern education are represented by Robyn and Vic Wilcox? Who do you agree with? Why?

Do you agree with Robyn that universities should be open for everyone? Why/why not?

“Give the people polytechnics, with no frills. Not imitation Oxford colleges”. What does Vic mean by that? Do you agree with him? Why/why not?

2. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch”. What is the role of money in the life of modern people? Whose position (Robyn, Vic, Basil and Debbie) is yours closest too? Why?

3. “Nice Work” deals with the problem of tolerance. Which of the characters represent this position and to what extent? Which characters definitely lack tolerance?

What is your own attitude towards the policy of tolerance?

NB! The novel is set in the 1980s Britain. In 2011 in his speech at the 47th Munich Conference on Security British Prime Minister David Cameron commented on the failure of the policy of “state multiculturalism” and tolerance suggested that his European partners toughen policies against certain ethnic and religious groups.

4. How does the novel represent modern relationships between men and women (Vic – Robyn, Vic – Marjorie, Robyn – Charles, Debbie – Basil)? What are the types of relationships described in the novel? Which of them appeal to you most? Why?

Do you agree that the novel also points out the crisis of traditional marriage and family values? Why/why not?

5. “Nice Work” contains a few erotic scenes. Why, do you think, the author introduced them in the novel? Do you think that the author could have done without them? Why/why not?

What is your attitude towards sexual/erotic scenes in modern literature?

6. “Nice Work” draws a gallery of women’s portraits. What is the modern woman like, according to D.Lodge’s novel? What are the specific features emphasized in the novel? Do you find this portrait accurate? Why/why not?

Are the British women types depicted in the novel similar to Russian ones? In what way are they similar/different?

7. Point out the peculiar features of the language used by the following characters:

• Robyn
• Vic Wilcox
• Debbie
• Mr Wilcox Senior
• Factory workers
• Brian Everthorpe

How does the language they use reflect their personality and background?

1. What is the role of the author in the novel? Characterise the narrative “voice”. Can we call the author “intrusive”? Why/why not?

Rules of “fishbowl” discussion:

This type of discussion is called “fishbowl” because it involves one group of students looking in on another smaller group of students in a manner not unlike watching fish through the clear glass of an aquarium. The small group carries on a conversation about an issue/topic while the outside group listens and prepares questions and comments for the discussants.

Each small group will have about 5 minutes to discuss a chosen topic(s). When the small group finishes or is stopped, the other students make comments on the discussion they observed and/or ask questions. Then another small group gathers and continues the fishbowl process until ALL the students have had an opportunity to be inside the fishbowl.

The students outside the fishbowl write 3-column notes:

In the end ALL the notes will be collected for assessment and feedback!!! So please make sure you are really listening.

Preparation: choose the questions which you would most like to discuss and think of the appropriate arguments and examples you could provide. However, the question(s) you will be discussing won’t necessarily be the one(s) you have prepared. So, work through the whole list.