I. THE GIRLS AND THE DEMON FOX

1)

a. girls                 

b. Daylight

c. Farm

d. White

f. chickens

g. well

 2.a)    B=Banford, M=March

          - Physically

B: small, thin, delicate

M: robust (the man about the place)

- Money

B: main investor (her father's money)

M: little or no money

         - Father

         B: a shopkeeper in Islington, north London

         - Health

         B: delicate

         M: robust

         - Marital Status

         B and M: unmarried

         - Skills

         B: her grandfather was a farmer

         M: carpentry and joinery

         - Age

         B and M: near 30

         - Farm Clothes

         M: puttees and breeches, a belted coat, loose cap

         - Movements

         M: easy and confident

         - Appearance

         M: like some graceful, loose-balanced young man

         - Face

         M: very feminine

         - Eyes

         M: big and wide and dark

         - Hair

         M: crisp dark hair blew

         - Manner

M: strange, shy and startled at the same time; as if in pain and irony; something odd and unexplained, odd whims and unsatisfied tendencies

Things they have in common:

1)     Personality traits: gallant, enterprising

2)     Attitude to mistakes on the farm: Life was not made merely to be slaved away; they disbelieved in living for work alone

3)     Hobbies: reading and cycle - riding. March also loves: paint curvilinear swans on porcelain and cabinet work.

2.b)

Banford was the real woman: she was very feminine and she physically represented a woman, too. She was very rich because of her father's work: he was a tradesman. As a matter of fact Banford was the main investor.

Both Banford and March were near 30 years old. The latter was the man of the situation: she was robust and she was specialized in carpentry and joinery. Her clothes well represented her personality: she wore always puttees and breeches, a belted coat and a loose cap. March was a very strange woman, shy and startled too. Her face was feminine: she had got big dark eyes and crisp dark hair. Her total appearance was like some graceful, loose-balanced young man.

2.c)

Banford had been a rich girl and so her behaviour was like that and March was the only that worked hard. In this first part she is the protagonist.

2.d)

In my opinion there are any important differences between Violet and March: the only difference I found is that Violet was conceit and arrogant. I found something different in the physical aspect and in the hobbies, too. Lawrence created his character taking inspiration from this real person.

3)

- Banford and March's irritation started when they sold in despair a heifer and when Banford's father died the two girls took only care of fowls and ducks. This was a relief because poultry was quite enough trouble.

- March made up fences and she had set up her carpenter's bench and here she made coops, doors and other things. She did most of the outdoor work and she provided food for fowls at morning and at night. There were two problems about poultry: when she had to give hot food to them because they had a long process of digestion and ,with the introduction of The Daylight Saving Bill, they refused to go to bed early.

4)

a. true

b. conversational

c. adverbs

d. admiration

e. informed

f. amused

g. repetition

h. dramatic

i. amused

j. sympathetic

k. beliefs

l. exaggerated

m. mimic

5.a)

1 uncountable noun ->D

2 countable noun ->A

3 adjective ->B

4 common phrases ->C

6) b

7)

Name: Bailey Farm

Kind of place: a little homestead

Buildings: ancient wooden barn; low-gabled farm-house

land around: field

what is near: the edge of a wood

how near: just one field away

kind of country: wide country stretching hollow and dim into the far distance

famous place nearby: the round hills of the White Horse

time of year: the end of August

colour of trees: darkish, brownish green

grass nearby: deep, long brownish stalks that gleam

where's the pond? under the pine trees

7.c)

Despondent (l. 108); alone (l. 110); nothing to keep them up - and no hope (l. 113-114).

8)

they are usually:      the best of friends

Banford is:              nervous and delicate, but also a warm, generous soul

March is:                odd and absent in herself, but has a strange magnanimity

on the other hand:   they trend to become a little irritable with one another; tired of another; seeming; to have to live too much off themselves without outside stimulus. And when Banford is despondent, March speaks sharply to her

9)

a. the girls were known by their surnames.

b. They couldn't take care of all their cattle. it was very difficult for only two people.

c. March was "the man about the place".

d. March dresses puttees and breeches, a belted coat and loose cap.

e. They believed that "life was not merely to be slaved away". Both Banford and March disbelieved in living for work alone.

g. March is artistic in painting curvilinear swans on porcelains, making fire-screen and working a roll of crochet-work.

h. She likes paint curvilinear swans on porcelains with green background.

i. They live in a railway-carriage that was deposited as a sort of out-house in a corner of the fields.

j. Banford was afraid when tramps should come prowling around and March was not so much afraid.

l. They often speak to fowls.

10.a)

Introduced as:         one evil greater than any other

compared to:          a demon

sex:                       male

main problem: carries off their fowls

Banford's reaction:   she just starts and stare

what she hears:       another squawk and flutter every time a chicken is taken

her feeling:             disheartening

attempted remedy:   they both stand sentinel with their guns at favoured times

legal change:         a law permitted people to shot foxes

speed:                   too sly for Banford and March

how long the problem

continues:              two years

financial conseq.:     they are making losses

Effects on March's

workload:               there seemed no relief

Personality:             it seems to circumvent the girls deliberately

movements:            he slid along; making off, with slow leaps slow, impudent jumps; ran smoothly away; gone, softly, soft as the wind

compared to what

animal:                   difficult as a serpent to see

physically:              the tip of his brush is white; he casts a ruddy shadow; he holds his brush smooth like a feather his white buttocks twinkle

10.b) The "s" hissing sound.

11)

- She was half watching, half musing. it was her constant state.

- it was a question, whether she was there, actually consciously present, or not.

- what was she thinking about? Heaven knows. her consciousness was, as it were, held back. 

12)

a. And.

b. To know sexually.

c. Man; woman.

d. He, her, she.

e. Very repetitive "And he knew her. [...] she knew he knew her [...] and [...]. He knew her."

13)

a. half

b. completely mesmerized

c. completely mesmerized

d. completely mesmerized

e. completely mesmerized

f. completely mesmerized

g. completely mesmerized

h. half

i. completely mesmerized

j. half

k. completely mesmerized

l. half

m. completely mesmerized

n. fully

14)

a. emotional

b. logical

c. psychological

d. passionately

e. same

f. think

g. touches

h. interest

i. pain

15.a)

The cumulative effect on me of this references to time is that a very long time passed, but it passed in a very slow way because the use of words like "another", "months", "time", "long", "weeks", etc. rendered at best the idea of this

15.b)

Yes, it is very important because in my opinion exact references of time render better the idea of time passing. In this case it's important because from time you can exactly know when Banford and March's problems had started.

15.c)

There aren't exact information about the encounter of March with the fox, but in my opinion it lasted only a few seconds because foxes are wild animals and they don't trust human being.

15.c)

The dark November evenings seem to last all day because "the night began to fall at four o'clock" and the day wasn't full of light. They seem unending - as though the girls are imprisoned

16)

A - 4

B - 3

C - 5

D - 1

E - 2

F - 6

17)

a. November evenings were dark and heavy and the day never properly became light.

b. The wind was moist.

c. Banford and March missed the real light, they hated the continuous darkness.

d. For the girls it is an "almost continuous darkness that enveloped them" (l. 243).

e. It is dark, sodden, black (l. 252). The rain drips (l. 255).

18)

a. A real fox has killed some of the hens.

c. The same fox has helped dishearten March and

Banford's attempts at farming.

b. The same fox seems to have awakened March.

II. THE YOUTH AND THE FOX

1.a)

age:             no more than 20

face:            ruddy, roundish

hair:             fairish, rather long

Eyes:           blue and bright

cheeks:        fresh ruddy skin

equipment:    heavy sacks on shoulder

stance:         he stooped, thrusting his head forward

travel:          Canada and Salonika

health:         good

appetite:       he was very hungry

place of birth,

upbringing:    Cornish

previous life

at B. Farm:    when he was 12 years old he had come to B. Farm with his grandfather

name:           Henry Grenfel

1.b)

For Banford, Henry is a boy, like her younger brother. For March, he's the fox, has a man's voice, is a young man.

2.a.b)

We get the impression that Banford is very friendly and hospitable. She knows how to put up a foreigner. On the contrary March is reserved and close to herself.

3.a)

a. lifts

b. stood

c. opens

d. says

e. takes

f. cries

g. said

h. said

i. starts

j. clinging

k. stands

l. relaxes

m. thinks

n. prepares

o. looks

p. keeps

q. sprawls

r. serves

s. talks

t. eats

u. wrinkles

4)

"She racked her brain to think of something else to put on the tray - she had only bread, margarine, and jam"...

III. A Pleasant Chat about the Farm

1)

a. He was very curious and wants to find out exactly what the girls are doing

b. His questions are of a farm youth.

c. they're acute, practical, a little mocking

d. he's amused by their attitude to their losses.

2.a)

a. amusement

b. believe

c. laugh

d. ourselves

e. laconically

f. hold on

g. a plangent

h. softly

i. care what you say

j. consider ourselves quite efficient

l. if you're going to do farming you must be at it from morning till night, and you might as well be a beast yourself.

m. know it

n. want some of our time for ourselves

o. scorn

p. silently

q. the calm scorn of the girls tickled him

r. a better opinion of the nature of fowls then, than we have now

s. nature altogether

t. delighted laughter

u. out

v. weather

w. yap of laughter

x. aside her face

y. don't mind

z. pleased

2.b)

1. March and Henry are more working - class and Banford is more lower middle - class.

2. March and Banford are more bohemian.

3. I share March and Banford's opinion.

4. the girls do.

5. Women are considered as men: they have same opportunities.

3.a)

a. laughter

b. scorn

c. amusement

d. curiosity

e. simplicity

f. pleasure

g. fascination

h. charm

3.b) under Henry's spell

3.c) She is no longer needing to go after the fox; no longer divided in herself

3.d) smell

4)

Place: The Swann (inn)

Problem: influenza

of view of Banford, not a problem

or the naïve March

5)

Banford is very friendly and hospitable

6)

a. Banford was as leased as thoughtful

b. it gave her out bath

c. her natural warmth and kindliness had now an outlet

d. He luxuriated in her sisterly attention; and was slightly puzzled that March was working for him

IV. March's First Dream

1.a)

outside.

understand it.

the house; the fields; the darkness.

felt she must weep.

1.b)

She goes out and suddenly knows it was the fox

she goes nearer but he runs away and ceased singing

She wants to touch him, so she stretches out the hand

He bits her wrist

she draws back, but the fox turns around, whisks is brush across her face causing her a fire on her mouth.

1.c)

It seems to be on fire.

2)

hearing, sight, touch

3)

It seems like a distant memory.

V.  The Day after March's First Dream

1)

a. She flies into the village on her bicycle to try and buy food.

b. By shooting a rabbit and a wild duck. The guns.

c. The glint of Henry's khaki.

d. His way of walking - with his head thrust forward, as if he had a slight curvature of the spine. His look is forwardreaching.

e. The calm way in which he tells them about the accomodation problem, hoping - cunningly - they will invite him to stay longer.

2)

a. The connection between Henry and the fox is made by March.

b. This is manifested by March who feels the same sly, provoking spark that leaps out of Henry's eyes.

c. No, because March looks as usual.

3)

a. It's "as if she were afraid of being imposed upon."

b. Banford invites Henry to stay.

c. Henry adopts a behaviour that makes me think about a person worried about a reaction of somebody, in this case March's reaction.

d. he is voluntarily foxy at point n. 1, and involuntarily at point n.2.

e. this comment is more relevant to  d. 1.

h. What he says and how he says it ("in a soft, courteous voice") is voluntary.

4)

a.Banford is quite charmed by him because his speech is so soft and courteous in manner not wanting to impose his ideas but to hear, and laughing in his quick half-mocking way. He helps but not too much.

b.

Yes, I agree.

c.

Henry is happiest and March is least happy.

5)

When watching March, but he also "loves to be out alone with the gun" .

VI. Henry's thoughts and feelings

1)

a. Her body piqued him. Her eyes made something rise in his soul, her speech made him laugh.

c. Her eyes stimulate his feelings and thoughts about March.

2.a)

free direct speech: : Why not?;Why not indeed?

free indirect speech: : It was a good idea.; What if it was rather ridiculous?; What did it matter?; What if she was older than he?; It didn't matter.; He was older than she, really.; He was master of her.

2.b)

It'll be a good thing to have this place for my own.

It's a good idea.

What if it is rather ridiculous?

What does it matter?

What if she is older than he?

doesn't matter.

I'm older than she, really.

I'm master of her.

3.a)

1. "the thought entered him shrewdly"

2. "he stood steal arrested by this thought"

3. "his mind waited in amazement - it seemed to calculate - and then his mild curiously to himself in acquiescence"

4. " when he thought of the dark startled vulnerable eyes, he smiled subtly to himself."

5. "he scarcely admitted even to himself"

6. "he kept it as secret even."

7. "he knew, sly and subtle as he was that..."

3.b) Calculate; subtly and sly; subtle.

4)

"It's all too uncertain yet."

"I'll have to see how things go."

"Yes, I'll have to see how things go."

"If I go to her plainly and say [...], her inevitable answer

will be"

"That's her attitude to men and their ‘tomfoolery '."

"If I'm not careful, she'll turn round on me with her savage, sardonic ridicule, and dismiss me from the farm and from her mind for ever."

"I'll have to go gently."

"I'll have to catch her as you catch a deer or a woodcock when you go out shooting."

6)

Present progressive and present simple start being used.

the narrator seems to be speaking.

7)

He killed rabbits.

8.a)

- it's less what you do than how you feel.

- you have to be subtle and cunning.

- your own fate overtakes and determines of your quarry.

- it's a strange battle, a subtle profound battle of wills.

- your project fate of the pray.

- it's like a supreme wish, a supreme act of volition.

8.b)

yes I agree.

9)

a. He's a huntsman - not a farmer, or a soldier.

b. He'll make her his wife.

c. She's as suspicious as a hare.

d. "just the nice, odd stranger-youth."

e. A fortnight.

VII. Henry proposes

1)

a. shy

b. lightning

c. sudden

d. rather than a sound

e. paw

f. sound

g. relaxation

h. banding

i. her fine sparks

j. quiver

k. tomfoolery

l. he is imperceptibly stroking.

m. dying

n. transiently

o. mother

p. voice

q. limbs

r. speak

s. marry

t. half-averted

u. pain

v. shoulder

w. his chin

x. killed

y. cruelly

z. child