Text comprehension questions

1.1. Issues for Discussion

1. What types of narration and narrative compositional forms can be distinguished in the text? Which type of narration prevails and why?

2. State where the scene is laid.

3. Are there any indications of time showing when the action takes place? Are they explicit or implicit?

4. What sides of Dickens’ genius are revealed in this passage? Does it show Dickens the satirist or Dickens the sentimentalist? Dickens the brilliant story-teller or Dickens the master of character drawing? In this connection say whether the emotional tone of the narration is homogeneous throughout the text. How would you characterize it?

5. What journey has General Fladdock returned from? In what manner is he received in the Norrises’ house and how would you account for it?

6. To what layer of the American society do the main personages belong? In what way is their social status depicted?

7. What is the subject of the main characters’ conversation?

8. Characterize the members of the host family taking account of their verbal and non-verbal behaviour. What language means are employed by the author in the speech characterization of the Norrises? Explain the recurrent use of the verbs to cry, to exclaim. What deductions as to the nature and views of these people can be drawn from their words and actions?

9. What views does the general take of the Europeans’ way of life?

10. Do the Norrises share the general’s opinion of European country and Europeans?

11. What poetic details in General Fladdock’s portrayal illustrate how his military rank affects his physical behaviour?

12. Does the general’s manner of speech confirm the impression we get of him from his portrayal?

13. What features of the European society does the general criticize and mock at?

14. Comment on the general’s reaction to Martin’s confession in the final episode of the story. Does it reflect the general’s social views?

15. Account for a wide use of exclamatory sentences in the personages’ speech.

16. In what particular remarks of the general does the dominant trait of his character display itself?

17. Point out the lines in which the action reaches its climax.