Monday, July 31, 2006
"The Other Two" Notes and Homework Questions
THE OTHER TWO—NOTES
BY EDITH WARTON
EDITH WARTON
BORN JANUARY 24,1862
SHE WON THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR HER NOVEL, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE.
SHE DIED AUGUST 1937, OF A STROKE.
THEMES AND MEANINGS
THE STORY IS CONSIDED A COMEDY OF MANNERS WHICH SATIRIZES THE SENSIBILITIES OF NEW YORK ARISTOCRATS
ALICE IS IMPERTURBABLE, LIGHTHEARTED, COMPOSED, WITH PERFECTLY BALANCED NERVES.
AS THE STORY UNFOLDS, WAYTHORN, HER PRESENT HUSBAND, COMES TO SEE ALICE IN A CHANGING LIGHT…A SHOE THAT TOO MANY FEET HAD WORN.
WAYTHORN BECOMES MORE TOLERANT OF HER AND LESS JUDGMENTAL AS THE STORY DEVELOPS.
THE STORY EXAMINES THE STRESSES AND FORCED ADJUSTMENTS TO MARRIED LIFE.
STYLE AND TECHNIQUES
WARTON BLENDS REALISM WITH ELEMENTS OF SATIRE AND PARODY.
IN THIS SHORT STORY THE SITUATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
GREAT WORKS OF FICTION CONTAIN TWO ELEMENTS
1) LIVING CHARACTERS (BELIEVABLE)
2) A GENERAL LAW OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
¨ This short story is taken from the book ROMAN FEVER AND OTHER STORIES
¨ In this story she dissects the elements of emotional subtleties, moral ambiguities, and implications of social restriction.
¨ The author is known for her elegance and precision and her sharpness of wit.
¨ The major theme is the effects of class on behavior and consciousness
¨
The American belief in progress and advance
¨ The contrast of customs
¨ Her writings are rooted in social and psychological realism
¨ Many of her stories deal with issues in her own life.
HOMEWORK: DUE THE DAY AFTER WE COMPLETE THE STORY.
THE OTHER TWO by Edith Wharton
A. Write a sentence using the following words. Sentences must reflect the story.
1. agitation
2. ballast
3. proffer
4. perennial
5. scrupulous
B. Briefly answer the following questions.
1. When the Waythorns return from their honeymoon, what is their first concern?
2. What does the reader learn about Mrs. Waythorn’s marital history?
3. Why has Haskett moved from Ithaca to New York City?
4. Why is it ironic that Varick becomes involved in Waythorn’s business affairs?
5. What error does Mrs. Waythorn make when she serves her husband coffee? Why is it significant?
6. Describe each husband in one sentence.
7. What are some changes in Mr. Waythorn’s attitude toward marriage? (See page 179, Part V, paragraphs 1 and 2)
8. Of what significance is the action that ends the story? What do you think will happen to the Waythorns
C. If the italized word is used correctly, write “C”. If not, write “I”.
1. In agitation the cats twitched their tails and hissed.
2. The princess had an unblemished reputation.
3. Sally was disturbed by the innuendos she had overheard.
4. A beautiful bouquet of flowers filled the earthen pot.
5. Do not lift that heavy box or you may rupture a disk.
6. A typhoid is a kind of nautical knot.
7. To be in a state of propinquity means to be far away.
8. To proffer something means to offer it.
D. Write true or false for each of the following statements about the story.
1. Mrs. Waythorn has been married five times.
2. As the story opens, the reader learns that Lily Haskett is ill.
3. “The Other Two” refers to Mrs. Waythorn’s previous husbands.
4. Waythorn enjoys having cognac in his coffee.
5. Waythorn assists Varick in a business matter because Waythorn’s partner is ill.
6. Lily Haskett dies from typhoid fever.
7. At the end of the story the Waythorns divorce.
E. Briefly answer the following questions.
1. How many times has Alice been married and to whom?
2. Who is Lily and who are her parents?
3. Who is Gus Varick and what is his relationship to Mr. Waythorn?
4. What is Haskett’s complaint concerning Lily?
5. How does Waythorn view his wife’s behavior with Haskett and Varick?
6. Who ends up having tea together at the end of the story?
BY EDITH WARTON
EDITH WARTON
BORN JANUARY 24,1862
SHE WON THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR HER NOVEL, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE.
SHE DIED AUGUST 1937, OF A STROKE.
THEMES AND MEANINGS
THE STORY IS CONSIDED A COMEDY OF MANNERS WHICH SATIRIZES THE SENSIBILITIES OF NEW YORK ARISTOCRATS
ALICE IS IMPERTURBABLE, LIGHTHEARTED, COMPOSED, WITH PERFECTLY BALANCED NERVES.
AS THE STORY UNFOLDS, WAYTHORN, HER PRESENT HUSBAND, COMES TO SEE ALICE IN A CHANGING LIGHT…A SHOE THAT TOO MANY FEET HAD WORN.
WAYTHORN BECOMES MORE TOLERANT OF HER AND LESS JUDGMENTAL AS THE STORY DEVELOPS.
THE STORY EXAMINES THE STRESSES AND FORCED ADJUSTMENTS TO MARRIED LIFE.
STYLE AND TECHNIQUES
WARTON BLENDS REALISM WITH ELEMENTS OF SATIRE AND PARODY.
IN THIS SHORT STORY THE SITUATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
GREAT WORKS OF FICTION CONTAIN TWO ELEMENTS
1) LIVING CHARACTERS (BELIEVABLE)
2) A GENERAL LAW OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
¨ This short story is taken from the book ROMAN FEVER AND OTHER STORIES
¨ In this story she dissects the elements of emotional subtleties, moral ambiguities, and implications of social restriction.
¨ The author is known for her elegance and precision and her sharpness of wit.
¨ The major theme is the effects of class on behavior and consciousness
¨
The American belief in progress and advance
¨ The contrast of customs
¨ Her writings are rooted in social and psychological realism
¨ Many of her stories deal with issues in her own life.
HOMEWORK: DUE THE DAY AFTER WE COMPLETE THE STORY.
THE OTHER TWO by Edith Wharton
A. Write a sentence using the following words. Sentences must reflect the story.
1. agitation
2. ballast
3. proffer
4. perennial
5. scrupulous
B. Briefly answer the following questions.
1. When the Waythorns return from their honeymoon, what is their first concern?
2. What does the reader learn about Mrs. Waythorn’s marital history?
3. Why has Haskett moved from Ithaca to New York City?
4. Why is it ironic that Varick becomes involved in Waythorn’s business affairs?
5. What error does Mrs. Waythorn make when she serves her husband coffee? Why is it significant?
6. Describe each husband in one sentence.
7. What are some changes in Mr. Waythorn’s attitude toward marriage? (See page 179, Part V, paragraphs 1 and 2)
8. Of what significance is the action that ends the story? What do you think will happen to the Waythorns
C. If the italized word is used correctly, write “C”. If not, write “I”.
1. In agitation the cats twitched their tails and hissed.
2. The princess had an unblemished reputation.
3. Sally was disturbed by the innuendos she had overheard.
4. A beautiful bouquet of flowers filled the earthen pot.
5. Do not lift that heavy box or you may rupture a disk.
6. A typhoid is a kind of nautical knot.
7. To be in a state of propinquity means to be far away.
8. To proffer something means to offer it.
D. Write true or false for each of the following statements about the story.
1. Mrs. Waythorn has been married five times.
2. As the story opens, the reader learns that Lily Haskett is ill.
3. “The Other Two” refers to Mrs. Waythorn’s previous husbands.
4. Waythorn enjoys having cognac in his coffee.
5. Waythorn assists Varick in a business matter because Waythorn’s partner is ill.
6. Lily Haskett dies from typhoid fever.
7. At the end of the story the Waythorns divorce.
E. Briefly answer the following questions.
1. How many times has Alice been married and to whom?
2. Who is Lily and who are her parents?
3. Who is Gus Varick and what is his relationship to Mr. Waythorn?
4. What is Haskett’s complaint concerning Lily?
5. How does Waythorn view his wife’s behavior with Haskett and Varick?
6. Who ends up having tea together at the end of the story?
# posted by Sister Pat / English @ 6:10 AM 
