Tenyaeva Anastasia ЯА-51

Variant 1

(1) Translate into Ukrainian according to the context:

to discuss family matters in public (p. 7) привселюдно обговорювати сімейні

справи;

to be cornered (p. 8) бути загнаним у кут, перекрити шлях;

to pull smb. about (p. 9) тягати туди та сюди, тріпати;

to boss smb. about (p. 12) командувати кимось;

to proofread (p. 10) вичитувати, перевіряти помилки;

to speak for oneself (p. 11) говорити за себе;

to be sharp with smb. (p. 11) бути різким із кимось;

to be preoccupied with smth. (p. 22) бути зайнятим/ заклопотаним чим-небудь;

to change one’s mind (p. 24) змінити думку;

to take a sleeping pill (p. 25) випити снодійного;

to be homesick (p. 27) сумувати за домом.

(2) Explain in your own words the meaning of the following passages from the play:

Act I, Scene One, p. 15:

GRIGGS: (As he turns to go) All professional soldiers marry Rose. It’s in the Army
Manual.

It was expected of General Griggs and other military men to marry a girl like Rose at
the time.

(3) Try and answer the following ‘tricky’ questions:

 How old was Nick when he painted Constance’s portrait? He was 22.
 Did Nick confuse Mozart’s music with Haydn or Beethoven’s on the
phonograph? Haydn’s.
 How old was Sophie when she came to the U.S.? She was 13.
4) What is the reason of Nick’s so-called “homecoming”? What is the true purpose of
all his masquerading?

Nick is by far one of the most hateful characters in the play and is definitely
not a man to be trusted. Even though he says the reason he’s coming is because he’s
missed his best friends, we understand right away that it is merely a lie (he forgets
Edward’s name and looks down on Constance). His real intentions are revealed in his
conversation with Nina:

NINA; So you came to do her portrait?

NICK: No, I didn’t “come to do her portrait”. I thought about it driving down here. If
the one I did is as good as I remember, it would be wonderful for the show. The
young girl, the woman at forty-five. She’s aged. […]

NICK; We have no “ reason” for being here. I just wanted to come back.

NINA: You’re simply looking for a new area in which to exercise yourself. It has
happened many, many times before.

Having read the play I can say with some certainty that even though Nick
denies the fact that he only wants to do another portrait of Constance, I’d rather
believe his wife who evidently knows him better than he does. Nick has no interest in
his “best friends’” lives and his primary concern (even as he’s leaving after showing
his true colors) is getting the paintings to try and revive his career as an artist.

NICK: (Takes her in his arms) I love you, Nina. And we’ll have the best time of our
lives. Good luck, darling. And thank you. (He kisses her.) They won’t rag you,
nobody ever does. If you possibly can, bring the new portrait with you. I can finish it
now. And try to get me the old portrait, darling. Maybe Constance will sell it to you.