Our today’s meeting is devoted to such kind of literature as ‘’detective stories’’. If you look up in the dictionary of foreign words you can find such an explanation:” Detective is an adventure prose which describes different kinds of crimes”. Actually almost all people are fond of detective stories. I’m sure you know such detectives as Dupin from the stories by Edgar Poe, Hercule Poirot or miss Marple by Agatha Christie. But I won’t be mistaken if I say that that the most famous and talented is Sherlock Holmes by Conan Doyle. By the way, C. Doyle considered all his stories about Sherlock Holmes short-lived. He tried to finish his stories about Sherlock Holmes. But the readers made him continue writing about Sherlock Holmes.
Now we shall become acquainted with the most famous detective story writers. Just some facts from their biographies.
Agatha Christie
Readers call Agatha Christie ‘queen of detective stories’.
She called herself once the ‘sausage machine’ for she produced about 60 detective novels, and her books went through reprint after reprint and were sold into the hundreds of millions of copies.
Agatha Christie was the second daughter of an Anglo-American marriage, and her father died when she was little. She did not attend school and was taught at home by her mother.
Having taken First Aid and Home Nursing Certirtificates, she worked in the Red Cross Hospital during the Word War the First. There she gained her good knowledge of poisons, which helped her later in her literary work.
Agatha Christie wrote about 100 works – as we have already said-about 60 detective stories, then, six psychological or romantic stories published under the name of Mary Westmacott, 19 volumes of short mystery stories,14 plays based on detective stories, two works of non-fiction and a book of poems.
Now you’ll see a funny scene. I am sure you’ll guess about our next detective story writer. (сценка из произведения К. Дойла)
As you have already guessed this time we’ll speak about Conan Doyle. Be attentive, because you’ll answer my questions!
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. His father, Charles Doyle, was an artist and architect by profession, but he worked as a clerk in an office. The father died young and the Doyle family was very poor. Arthur’s mother was a very good story-teller and her fantastic stories he remembered all his life. And it helped him as a writer. After finishing school C. Doyle became a student of the medical faculty in the University of Edinburgh. He began his medical practice in a small English town called Southsea, where he spent eight years. Here in 1887 he published his first detective story “ A study in Scarlet”. (Этюд в багровых тонах). It’s main characters were Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and they became the most popular characters of a great many of C. Doyle’s stories.
In 1891 Conan Doyle gave up his medical work and devoted all his time to his literary activity.
Besides detective stories, Conan Doyle also wrote historical novels, war books and two fantastic stories “The Lost Word” – Затерянный мир and “The Poisoned Belt” – Отравленный пояс.
Now our questions!
- Where was C. Doyle born?
- What was his father?
- What profession did he get at the University?
- Who was the main character of the detective stories?
- What books besides detective stories did C. Doyle write?
Watch the scene by C. Doyle “Silver Blaze”.
Now we want to tell you some words about Edgar Allan Poe/
He was born in Boston. When he was two years old, he lost his parents and was brought up by his uncle. He was educated partly in England and partly in the USA. He wrote poems and was a literary critic. But he is best remembered for short stories. Edgar Poe had a great interest in unnatural things of one sort or another. His stories are full of mystery. Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be the founder of detective stories in American literature.
And now watch the scene by E. Poe “The Stolen letter”.
1. he main accessories of any detective are a lens, a forceps, a pipe, a top hat and a stick.
Now you’ll become detеctives.
I think every detective must possess the following features: He must be smart, observant, attentive, well-educated, broad-minded, quick-witted
For every right answer you’ll get a card. The person, who has the most number of cards, will be the best detective!
Now we’ll read some descriptions of different heroes. Try to guess who this is and name the author.
1) Внешность этого человека была необыкновенной. Он был одет в глухой костюм, голова его покрыта несколькими слоями бинта, на глазах – черные очки, розовый нос блестел так, как будто он был сделан из папье-маше, на руках надеты плотные перчатки. Этот человек был великим изобретателем, но его открытия не принесли счастья ни ему, ни человечеству, хотя он мог творить поистине чудеса. (Гриффин, “Человек невидимка” Г. Уэллс).
2) Это была собака, огромная, черная, как смоль. Но такой собаки еще никто из нас, смертных, не видывал. Из ее отверстой пасти вырывалось пламя, глаза метали искры, по морде и загривку переливался мерцающий огонь. Ни в чьем воспаленном мозгу не могло бы возникнуть видение более страшное, более омерзительное, чем это адское существо, выскочившее из тумана. (“Собака Баскервиллей”, К. Дойл).
3) Подруга мальчика, в детстве попавшего в волчью стаю и воспитанного там. Она была вся сплошь чёрная, как чернила, но с отметинами, видными на свету. Никто в джунглях не захотел бы становиться ей поперек дороги, ибо она была хитра, как шакал, отважна, как дикий буйвол, и бесстрашна, как раненый слон. Зато голос у неё был сладок, как дикий мёд, а шкура мягче пуха. (Багира, “Маугли”, Р. Киплинг).
4) “Аттестат”.
1. Знания в области литературы - плохие.
2. Знания в области философии – плохие.
3. Знания в области астрономии – плохие.
4. Знания в области политики – слабые.
5. Знания в области ботаники – неравномерные. Знает свойства белладонны, опиума и ядов вообще. Не имеет понятия о садоводстве.
6. Знания в области геологии – практические, но ограниченные. С первого взгляда определяет образцы различных почв. После прогулки показывает брызги грязи на брюках и по их цвету и консистенции определяет, из какой она части города.
7. Знания в области химии – глубокие.
8. Знания в области анатомии – точные, но бессистемные.
9. Знания в области уголовной хроники – огромные. Знает, кажется, все подробности каждого преступления, совершенного в XIX веке.
10. Хорошо играет на скрипке.
11. Отлично фехтует на шпагах, прекрасный боксёр.
12. Основательные практические знания английских законов.
(Ш. Холмс, К. Дойл)
5) Ехавшая поездом пожилая дама купила 3 утренних газеты. Пожилая дама сидела, распрямив спину и поджав губы, её бело-розовое лицо в морщинках выражало горечь и неодобрение. Она была в старомодном твидовом костюме, на шее повязаны 2 шарфика, голову украшала фетровая шляпка с птичьем пером. Человек она справедливый, безупречно честный. Как у большинства пожилых дам, свободного времени у неё в избытке плюс нюх старой девы на всевозможные сплетни и слухи. Пересуды, догадки, воспоминания – все это месиво она перелопатит и извлечёт на свет неопровержимые факты. (мисс Марпл, Агата Кристи)
6) Двое мужчин говорят по-французски. Один из них маленький человек с огромными усами. Маленький человек снял шляпу. Ну и голова – ни дать ни взять – яйцо! Внешний вид его был абсолютно безупречен; казалось, заметь он пятнышко на костюме, оно причинит ему больше страданий, чем пулевое ранение. И в то же время этот изысканный щеголь считался в своё время одним из лучших детективов в бельгийской полиции. Благодаря своему невероятному чутью, он блестяще распутывал самые загадочные преступления. (Э. Пуаро, А. Кристи)
2. Our next competition is called “Move your brains”(дана картинка).
Look at the picture!
Two men found themselves in a cell. There was no door there. And the window was very high near the ceiling, but it was opened. I should add, that one of the men was short and the other was tall. They decided to do so. The short man stood on the shoulders of the tall man. But he couldn’t touch the window. Just a couple of centimeters was left. They sat down on the floor, moved their brains and got out of the cell. How did they do it?
Move your brains!
(У человека, чей рост выше, соответственно длиннее руки, поэтому высокий должен встать на плечи низкому человеку.)
3. Our next competition is called “Who is quicker?”
We’ll ask questions and you’ll answer them. If you give the right answer, you’ll get a card. But before your answer, you should raise your hand.
- Give the full name of the country which we usually call England.
- Finish the pairs of words:
f. e, France – Paris
the USA – (Washington)
Australia – (Canberra)
Canada – (Ottawa)
New Zealand – (Wellington) - Who was the first president of America? (G. Washington)
- Whose address is this? “10, Downing street. ” (Prime-minister’s of the UK)
- Who was that scientist who discovered a physical law when an apple fell on his head? (Is. Newton)
- Who was Samuel Clemens? (Mark Twain)
- English people prefer their English tea (milk and tea). What do they call “Russian tea”? (tea with lemon)
- Give the real name of Robinson Crusoe? (Alexander Selkirk)
- Do you know the heroine of the story “Magician of the Emerald city” Ellie? What state was she from? (Kansas)
- One billion? How much is this? (1 milliard)
- In what town were the members of the famous and legendary group “Beatles” born? (Liverpool)
- What is it “Jolly Rodgers”? (pirate’s flag)
- Give the surname of the English poet which is sounded in English and can be translated into Russian as “Потрясай копьем”? (W. Shakespeare)
- Where was Shakespeare born? (Stratford-upon-Avon)
- Where are the following verses taken from?
Варкалось хливкие шорьки
Пырялись по нове
и хрюкотали зелюки
как мюмзики в мове. (“Alice in Wonderland” by L. Carroll) - 16. Who discovered America and when? (Ch. Columbus in 1492)
- 17. How many states are there in the USA? (50)
- Which is the biggest state in the USA? (Alaska)
- Where does the president of the USA live and work? (the White House)
- What is the nickname of the USA government? (uncle Sam)
- Give the name of a famous English admiral, who was a pirate? (Francis Drake)
- Give the name of the ships on which Ch. Columbus came to America? (Santa Maria, Pinta, Niniya)
- What was the first name of New York? (New Amsterdam)
- What town did king Arthur build with the help of the magician called Merlin? (Camelot)
- Give the name of the book where on every page we can read “the most, most, most” a lot of times. (Guinness book)
4. Our next competition is called “Why”. You’ll get a love letter. Read it and say why the father was glad and his daughter was glad too. (Дочь читала только нечетные строчки)
THE LOVE LETER
Once there was a boy who loved a girl very much.
The girl’s father, however, did not like the boy and did not want their love to grow. The boy wanted to write the girl a love letter, but he was sure that the girl’s father would read it first. At last he wrote this letter to the girl.
The great love I said I have for you
Is gone, and I find my dislike for you
Increases every day. When I see you,
I do not even like the way you look,
The one thing I want to do is to
Look the other way. I never wanted to
marry you. Our last conversation
was very dull and in no way has
made me anxious to see you again.
You think only of yourself.
If we were married, I know that I would find
life very difficult, and I would have no
pleasure in living with you. I have a heart
to give, but it is not a heart
I want to give to you. No one is more
demanding or selfish than you, and less
able to care for me and be of help to me.
I sincerely want you to understand that
I speak the truth. You will do me a favor
if you consider this the end. Do not try
to answer this. Your letters are full of
things that do not interest me. You have no
true concern for me. Good-bye! Believe
I do not care for you. Please do not think
I am still your loving friend.
The girl’s father read the letter. He was pleased, and then gave the letter to his daughter.
The girl read the letter and was very happy. The boy still loved her!
5. Следующее задание “Найдите автора!” (названия произведений и их автора перепутаны)
Alan A. Milne – Winnie-the-Pooh
Oscar Wilde – Happy Prince
Rudyard Kipling – Mowgli
Mark Twain – The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Jonathan Swift – Gulliver’s Travels
Lewis Carrol – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Daniel Defoe – Robinson Crusoe
Pamela Travers – Mary Poppins
6. Полиглоты. Кто это?
1) Что объединяет этих людей?
Джон Голсуори
Хуан Антонио Самаранч
Иоган Гутенберг
Жан Поль Бельмондо
Иван Грозный
Ян Жижка (имя Иван)
Используя свои знания, переведите:
- Фразу из монолога Гамлета “ Быть или не быть”. (To be or not to be)
- Veni, vedi, vici. (Ю. Цезарь) (Пришёл, увидел, победил)
- Ищите женщину! (франц. ) (Cher chez la femme!)
- Terra incognita (с латыни) (неизведанная земля)
- Маленький ребёнок (англ. ) (baby)
- Добрый день! (по франц. ) (Bonjour!)
- Finita la comedia (с итальянского) (Спектакль окончен)
- С глазу на глаз (франц. ) (Tete-a-tete)
Что говорил Киса Воробъянинов в Пятигорске, когда просил подаяния ? (по франц, нем. ) (Monsieur, je ne mange paas six jours)
7. Идея создания языка – посредника имела сторонников ещё в древнем мире. Разноязычные народы уже в давние времена ощущали необходимость в языке, при помощи которого они бы смогли общаться между собой. Наиболее удачным результатом систематизации языков стал язык эсперанто. Основал его польский врач – окулист Людвиг Заменгоф. В 1887 он выпустил “Международный язык”. Эсперанто – это простой, логичный, лёгкий для изучения и благозвучный язык.
Давайте переведём несколько предложений:
- Centra biblioteko estas granda. – Центральная библиотека – большая.
- Telefono estas aparato. –Телефон – это аппарат.
- Traktoro estas masino. – Трактор – это машина.
- La blanka kvadrato estas granda – Белый квадрат – большой.
- La nigra kvadrato estas malgranda – Черный квадрат – маленький.
8. Give the Russian equivalents of the English proverbs.
| 1) When in Rome do as the Romans do. (Когда бываешь в Риме, делай так, как делают римляне. | Со своим уставом в чужой монастырь не ходят. |
| 2) While it is fine weather, mend your sail. (Латай парус, пока погода хорошая). | Готовь сани летом, а телегу зимой. |
| 3) Better one small fish than an empty dish. (Лучше маленькая рыбка, чем пустая тарелка). | На безрыбье и рак рыба. |
| 4) It is too late to lock the stable-door when the horse has been stolen. (Поздно запирать конюшню, когда лошадь украдена). | После драки кулаками не машут. |
| 5) As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. (Все равно, за что быть повешенным: за овцу или ягненка). | Семь бед – один ответ. |
| 6) He that has a great nose thinks everybody is speaking of it. (Тот, у кого большой нос, думает, что все об этом говорят). | На воре шапка горит. |
| 7) He that fears every bush must never go birding. (Тот кто боится кустов, на охоту не ходит). | Волков бояться – в лес не ходить. |
| 8) Don’t teach your grandmother to eat eggs. (Не учи свою бабушку, как яйца есть). | Яйца курицу не учат. |
| 9) Fear has long legs. (У страха длинные ноги). | У страха глаза велики. |
| 10) Head cook and bottle- washer. (И шеф-повар, и мойщик посуды). | И швец, и жнец, и на дуде игрец. |
Тот, кто набрал больше всего карточек за правильные ответы и будет “Mr. Detective”.