1. List all the words and phrases describing MR. Bounderby.

2. Ring the four phrases which explicitly convey the narrator's opinion of MR. Bounderby and find in a dictionary adjectives with the same meaning.

3. Now you go to the list you made for exercise 1 which of the other items on it are connected with one or more of the author's comments.

4. The surname of character contains the word "bounder" on purpose. Look it up in the dictionary, which of the phrases you have listed reinforces the meaning of the surname?

5. Mr Bounderby is described as coming from a poor family, without education and self-made. In other contexts these attributes might represent him as worthy of sympathy and or admiration. Why aren't they here?

6. Now go on reading and see if what Bounderby says is consistent with the description of his character.

7. Which aspect or aspects of Bounderby's character is or are empathized in what he says?

8. Does what he say confirm or modify his portrait?

9. Consider how MR Bounderby:

• underline any repetition of pronounce words or sentences in the extract
• how would you define his way of talking? See how does his way of talking fit in with his character as described by the narrator.

1. Bounderby is a rich business man: a banker, a merchant a manufacturer. He is devoid of sentiments. He is a big, loud man with a metallic laugh. He is made of coarse, stretched material. He has a great head and a great forehead. He has swelled veins in his temples and a very strained skin to his face. He is a self- inflated man who vaunts himself of being a self-made man. He has not much hair.

2. - Perfectly devoid of sentiment à he is a arid person

- He seems inflated, he is a Bully of Humanity à he is a self-centered person

- A big loud man à he is a noisy, rude person.

- A man made of coarse material à he is a rough person

3. He is devoid of sentiment. He is made of coarse stretched material. He seems to be inflated: he is a bully of humanity.

4. Bounder= a man who behaves badly and cannot be trusted. He is a loud man with a metallic laugh.

5. Because he uses this attributes to vaunt himself. He demonstrates total lack of humanity. He tries to convince Mrs Gradgrind (and the reader) he has the right to be rich because he suffered a lot.

6. He describes himself as the poorest, the dirtiest and the "most miserable little wretch" ever seen. Even in the description of his childhood he is the "most". He confirms he is self-centered.

7. He is a vain self-centered person. He is the perfect example of person who believes in Utilitarism. Through determination and selfishness man can reach what he wants.

8. What he says confirms his portrait. He affirms he doesn't have to thank anybody for his being here. He is self-referred. He is a self-assured, he is too big, too good.

9. a) "I,I,I" ; "ditch, ditch, ditch"; "I was determined, I have been determined".

b) It perfectly fits with the character because it is a self-referred way of talking. Bounderby seems to be the only person who suffered as a child and the only person capable to improve his situation. It creates a comic effect which evidences Dickens' negative opinion on him.