ex. 1

Mr. Bounderby's physical appearance:

• Big, loud man with a stare and metallic laugh

•A man made out of a coarse material

• A man with a great puffed head and forehead

• swelled veins in his temples

•such a strained skin to his face

•a pervading appearance on him of being inflated like a balloon

• brassy speaking-trumpet of a voice of his

• looked older

• He had not much hair

• Hair all standing up in disorder

 

ex.2

•1) Why, Mr. Bounderby was as near being Mr. Gradgrind's bosom friend, as a man perfectly devoid of sentiment can approach that spiritual relationship towards another man perfectly devoid of sentiment. So near was Mr. Bounderby - or, if the reader should prefer it, so far off.

• bosom = close

• devoid of = free of

• far off = remote

•2) A man who could never sufficiently vaunt himself a self-made man.

• self-made = having become successful or rich by one's own efforts

•3) A man who was the Bully of humility.

• Bully of humility = proud, selfish

•4) was in that condition from being constantly blown about by his windy boastfulness.

- windy = marked by

 

ex. 3

 

The author's comments are revealed by the use of language

 

• A man made out of a coarse material, which seemed to have been stretched to make so much of him.

• A man with a pervading appearance on him of being inflated like a balloon, and ready to start.

 

ex. 4

 

Bounder : an unprincipled man

 

the surname's meaning is reinforced by several expressions:

 

•A man perfectly devoid of sentiment

• the Bully of humility

 

ex. 5

Mr. Bounderby's dishonourable nature prevents him for being a sympathetic character. On the other hand, the negative description provided by connotative use of the language, make him appear detestable.

 

ex. 6

Mr. Bounderby looks as proud and selfish as the narrator has introduced him.He states to have been successful just for his own determination.

 

ex. 7

A narcissistic behaviour, a tendency for acting like a victim and a self-overvaluation are aspects emphasised by Mr. Bounderby's sentences. The considerations are the result of the language adopted and situations chosen in the conversation.

 

ex. 8

What Mr. Bounderby says in the second sequence of the text confirm the character's boastfulness, told by the narrator in the first one. In addition, the portrait is confirmed because he really appears a "Bully of humility".

 

ex. 9

Repeated pronouns: I was 

Repeated words: ditch; inflammation; determined

Repeated sentence: I was born in a ditch; I was born with inflammation of the lungs

 

His way of talking is egotistical and compulsive

 

His way of talking fits in the description provided by the narrator: first of all his name perfectly represents his nature. Secondly his physical description reminds his poor origin. Moreover, he shows to be extremely proud and selfish: he is a self-centred man with a simple and practical mind. Last but not least he doesn't seem to have progressed in behaviour, education and experience .As the narrator stated, he is not a self-made man. Such a consideration is the result of techniques used by the narrator to introduce the character.