Unit 8

Text I

The Monster

Pre-reading Question

What kind of man is comparable to a monster?

Structural Analysis

Part I (paragraphs 1-9):

describes a man who seems to have rolled all kinds of demerits into one, a real monster.

Part II (paragraph 10):

transitional paragraph, which clarifies who this monster really is, i.e. a famous musician by the name of Richard Wagner.

Part III (paragraphs 11-13):

justifies all the peculiar behaviors of Richard Wagner. He, as “one of the worlds’ greatest dramatists … a great thinker … one of the most stupendous musical geniuses”, has every reason to be a monster.

Paraphrase 1

He was almost innocent of any sense of responsibility.

He almost had no sense of responsibility.

Paraphrase 2 He wrote begging letters by the score, sometimes groveling

without shame, at others loftily offering his intended benefactor the privilege of contributing to his support, and being mortally offended if the recipient declined the honor.

He wrote large numbers of letters begging for money. In some letters he was servile without shame, and in other letters he loftily offered his targeted benefactor the privilege of contributing to his support. If the recipient refused to accept his offer, i.e. refused to lend him money, he would fly into a rage.

Paraphrase 3

He would pull endless wires in order to meet some man who admired his work and was able and anxious to be of use to him …

He would use influence form as many people as possible in order to meet some admirer of his who was readily useful to him.

Paraphrase 4

Is it any wonder he had no time to be a man?

Since Wagner was such a miraculous monster, is it any wonder that he didn’t behave like a normal human being in this world?

More Exercises

The sick man is under the that he is Napoleon.

I have a lot to say your new project.

She has become his assistant and secretary . I’ll give up smoking health.

More Exercises

The sick man is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.

I have a lot to say your new project.

She has become his assistant and secretary . I’ll give up smoking health.

More Exercises

The sick man is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.

I have a lot to say in relation to your new project.

She has become his assistant and secretary . I’ll give up smoking health.

More Exercises

The sick man is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.

I have a lot to say in relation to your new project.

She has become his assistant and secretary rolled into one. I’ll give up smoking health.

More Exercises

The sick man is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.

I have a lot to say in relation to your new project.

She has become his assistant and secretary rolled into one. I’ll give up smoking for the sake of health.

More Exercises

Father is the Government again. He had to a few to get that job. We had only one hour to discuss the question and

Mr. Hones for most of it. It makes me angry to see food thrown

away.

More Exercises

Father is raving at/ against the Government again. He had to a few to get that job. We had only one hour to discuss the question and

Mr. Hones for most of it. It makes me angry to see food thrown

away.

More Exercises

Father is raving at/ against the Government again. He had to pull a few wires to get that job. We had only one hour to discuss the question and

Mr. Hones for most of it. It makes me angry to see food thrown a

way.

More Exercises

Father is raving at/ against the Government again. He had to pull a few wires to get that job. We had only one hour to discuss the question and

Mr. Hones held the stage for most of it. It makes me angry to see food thrown a

way.

More Exercises

Father is raving at/ against the Government again. He had to pull a few wires to get that job. We had only one hour to discuss the question and

Mr. Hones held the stage for most of it. It makes me downright angry to see food thrown a

way.

Dictation

As one of the key figures in the history of opera, Richard Wagner was largely responsible for altering its orientation in the nineteenth century.

Dictation

His program of artistic reform, though not executed to the last detail, accelerated the trend towards organically conceived structures, as well as influencing the development of the orchestra, of a new breed of singer, and of various aspects of theatrical practice.

Dictation

As the most influential composer during the second half of he nineteenth century, Richard Wagner’s conception of music remains very much with us even a century after his death. His style of orchestration can be heard in many movie scores.

Dictation

Wagner thought his Music Dramas were to be the models for the twentieth century opera, but he could not foresee the path of total abandonment of tonality that was to revolutionize music in the early twentieth century.

The end!