Broadways Premières - Worksheet on 'Plans' – page 14

1. Complete

Type of documentan extract from a novel / a book; a dialogue, a conversation

Source/origina novel entitled 'American Dreams'

AuthorJohn JAKES

First publishedin 1998

Type of narrativea third-person narrative (narrator?)

Settingan office, in Chicago (USA) at the turn of the 19th century

Number of characters presenttwo

Their first namesJoe and Fritzi

Their surname/family nameCROWN

How they relate to each otherthey're a father and his daughter

2. Using the tool-box page 15, complete this summary

The scene ______place in Joe Crown's ______. Fritzi has just broken the ______to her ______: she is going to ______her family to become an ______in ______. Her father disapproves of her ______. He thinks she's running ______. In his opinion, her place should be at ______, looking after her husband and her ______.

3. In the following lines, circle 2 words which are synonyms. See the context for help

L.8in a fine mood / in a good mood / in a bad mood

l.24calm / angry / relaxed

l.24friendly / antagonistic / unfriendly

l.28dubious / risky / safe

l. 31old-fashioned / conventional / unconventional

l.33filthy / dirty / marvelous

l.33steady / controlled / agitated

l.34dangerous / safe / healthy

l.35adamant / hesitant / determined

l.37thoughtful / kind / selfish

l.44a raving beauty / an ugly duckling / a top-model

l.45underrate / overestimate / underestimate

4. Use a dictionary and look up these words

adamant

amazed

apprehensive

astonished

bold

brave

contemptuous

critical

defiant

determined

distrustful

fearless

independent

outraged

outspoken

paternalistic

pessimistic

prejudiced

rebellious

relaxed

resolute

scornful

shocked

single

speechless

straighforward

strong-minded

stunned

suspicious

taken aback

worred

5. Say whether these words apply to the male character (M) or the female character (F)

6. Find a sentence in the passage which shows that …

She had made her decision before this conversation:line 23

He doesn't think much of actors and actresses:line 28

He has visited the Big Apple before:line 33

She doesn't want to feel remorse later:line 39

She thinks she is not beautiful:line 44

The place of women has changed since he was born:line 48

7. Copy the whole text retaining only the passages between " "

The scene takes place in Joe Crown's office in Chicago. Fritzi has just broken the news to her father Joe: she is going to leave her family to become an actress in New York. Her father disapproves of her choice/ decision / plan. He thinks she's running a risk. In his opinion, her place should be at home, looking after her husband and her children.

L.8in a fine mood / in a good mood ; l.24calm / relaxed; l.24 antagonistic / unfriendly; l.28 dubious / risky; l. 31 old-fashioned / conventional ; l.33 filthy / dirty ; l.33 steady / controlled ; l.34 safe / healthy

l.35 adamant / determined; l.37 thoughtful / kind ; l.44 a raving beauty / a top-model; l.45underrate / underestimate