Saturday, June 27, 2020

The Model Millionaire, Oscar Wilde (Exercises)

THE MODEL MILLIONAIRE, Oscar Wilde

Study Material

👇👇VIDEO👇👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-e-516btsc&t=122s

👇👇READING MATERIAL👇👇

http://bijoymardi.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-model-millionaire-oscar-wilde.html

WORD MEANINGS

pg. 25

1.         charming – happy, delightful

2.         ultimately – finally, eventually

3.         delightful – happy, charming

4.         retired – left, no more in service

5.         realised – understood

6.         worse – bad

7.         fond of – interested

8.         ragged – dirty, shabby

9.         eagerly – with interest

10.       fascinating – charming

11.       profile – outline

12.       freckled face – face with small, brownish spots

13.       sought after – in demand, everyone’s favourite

pg. 26

14.       flung – thrown

15.       raised – elevated, high

16.       patched – sticked, stitched, repaired

17.       battered – shabby, damaged

18.       miserable – sad, pathetic, in bad condition

19.       shilling – British currency

20.       sovereign – solemn, great

21.       fellow – person

22.       scolding – accusing

23.       easel – stand, support

24.       blushing – modest, timid

25.       conquest – win, victory

26.       coarse – rough

27.       all tears and tatters – clothes that are old and bodily torn

28.       guineas – old British coins each worth of 21 shillings

29.       forlorn – sad and lonely

30.       wretched – very unhappy

31.       took his leave – said goodbye to someone and left

32.       extravagance – wasteful or careless spending

pg. 27

33.       dreadful – awful, shocking

34.       heaps – piles, stack

35.       rags – strips, pieces

36.       splendid – gorgeous, marvelous, wonderful

37.       wretch – miserable, unhappy

38.       reckless – careless

39.       stammered – not able to say clearly, falter

40.       apologies – sorry

41.       remark – comment

42.       affairs – work, activity

43.       dines – to have dinner

44.       prevent – stop

45.       exclaimed – said in surprise

46.       dismay – panic, shock, nervous

47.       roar – loud sound

48.       falling to bits – in a very bad condition because of regular use

49.       relentless – strict and stubborn

pg. 28

50.       chuckling – murmuring, making continuous low noise

51.       rubbing – moving hand back and front

52.       wrinkled – folded

53.       growled – howled, rumbled, express with uncomfortable noise

54.       fits of laughter – unstoppable laugh

55.       apology – sorry

56.       extended – handed over

57.       sulkily – in an angry but quite manner

58.       duffer – a foolish person

59.       rare – difficult to find, not easily available

EXERCISE 

A. Choose the right options to complete these sentences.

1. The author portrays Hughie as...

a. charming and delightful, but unsuccessful.

b. successful and rich, but foolish.

c. intelligent and rich, but unkind.

d. practical and sly, but poor.

2. Hughie was in love with a girl but could not marry her because

a. the girl did not love him.

b. the girl's father did not like him.

c. his mother did not like girl.

d. the girl's father put a condition that Hughie must have 10000 pounds to marry his daughter.

3. Hughie gave money to the model because...

a. he had a lot of money to spare.

b. he wanted to pay the model for his work.

c. he had little money but felt that the poor man needed it more.

d. he wanted to impress his artist friend.


B. Answer these questions.

1. Describe the appearance of the beggar-man in the studio of Alan Trevor.

The old beggar man was standing on a raised platform in the studio. He had wrinkled face with sad expression, wearing thick patched boots. His cloak was torn and with one hand he leant on a rough stick while holding a hat with the other hand.


2. Why was Hughie first angry and then highly embarrassed after he met Alan that night?

Hughie was first angry with Alan because he had told the old beggar all his private affairs. Later on he was highly embarrassed because he came to know that beggar was infact one of the richest man in Europe, whom Hughie had given one gold coin. Therefore he thought himself as a duffer.


3. What surprise awaited Hughie the next morning?

The next day Mr. Gustave Naudin, on behalf of Hausberg comes and hands Hughie an envelop in which there was a cheque of 10000 pounds.


C. Read these sentences from the text and answer the questions that follow.

1. "...and, by the way, you have made a conquest."

a. Who is the speaker and who is he speaking to?

The speaker here is Alan Trevor, speaking to his friend Hughie Erskine.

b. How had the listener made a conquest and of whom?

The listener, Baron Hausberg, who knew nothing about Hughie Erskine, became very keen to know more about him.

c. What does the word 'conquest' mean in this sentence?

Here in the context of the Model Millionaire conquest means to become more eager to know about speaker. Hughie by his generosity was able to draw his entire attention towards him.

2. "What a duffer he must think me!"

a. Who is the speaker?

Hughie Erskine is the speaker here.

b. Who is 'he'?

He indicates to Baron Hausberg.

c. What makes him say this?

Baron Hausberg was one of the richest man in Europe, whom Hughie had given one gold coin. Therefore he thought himself as a duffer.


D. Think and answer.

1. How has the author indicated that the Baron was very amused and enjoyed the fact that he was mistaken for an unfortunate beggar?

The Baron was in the highest spirits after Hughie had left. He kept chuckling to himself and rubbing his wrinkled hands together and was very eager to know more and more about Hughie.


2. If the Baron had not given the gift to Hughie, would Hughie have been able to marry Laura? How would he have solved his problem?

Hughie Erskine was a delightful, unsuccessful young man with a perfect profile and no profession. We also come to know that he never realised value of permanent income. So, I don't think he would be ever able to get this huge amount of money and would remain the way he was continuing his life.


E. Discuss in the class.

You don't have to be rich to be generous. Express your thoughts on this viewpoint.

Being generous is about one's attitude and does not depend on having money or property. Generosity is all about willingness from heart to give. Therefore it does not matter how much one gives but how willingly one gives.

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