The Luncheon by Somerset Maugham Complete the tasks about the story by W.S.

Maugham A) Put the events into correct order:

1-She gave me her last kind advice how to improve my eating habits. 2-I met her in the theatre after many years and I could hardly recognize her. 3-Twenty years ago I lived in Paris and earned just enough money to get by. 4-I was really scared what could happen when I would pay the bill. 5-"I never eat anything for luncheon." 6-I ordered a mutton chop for myself. 7-She had read a book of mine. 8-She ordered asparagus. 9-I invited her to a famous and expensive restaurant. 10-I didnt have dinner for the rest of the month.

B) Comprehension questions: 1) How did the author of the story used to make his money twenty years ago? 2) Where did he live? 3) Why did he decide to invite the lady for luncheon? 4) Where did he invite her? What kind of the restaurant was Foyots? 5) Where did he invite her? What kind of the restaurant was Foyots? 6) How did he feel when he saw the menu and the prices? 7) What did she say about her eating routine for luncheon? 8) What did he order? 9) What did she order? 10) What kind of food did she order? What was the specialty of daily menu at the restaurant? 11) Why did she criticise his eating habits? 12) How did he feel when he imagined the price in the final bill? 13) Did he manage to fix the bill at the end of the story? 14) Why did she call him a humorist before she left? 15) What kind of revenge did he have after many years when he met her at the theatre?

C) Points for the discussion 1) What kind of personality was she? Describe her personal qualities and try to imagine her physical appearance. 2) What kind of man was he? Give some examples of some of his personal qualities. 3) Was her eating routine healthy? 4) Was his routine healthy? 5) Why did she always advise him about his eating habits? 6) Did they talk about anything else during the lunch? 7) How did he feel during the lunch? 8) How did he feel at the end of the story? D) Make a narrative of the story using this short skeleton:

a) The meeting at the theatre b) Twenty years ago in Paris a young writer in Paris c) A letter from one of my famous reader d)The invitation for luncheon e) I was a little bit surprised when I saw the lady f) The luncheon and her menu g) The authors menu h) The problems with money and paying the bill i) Her last advice j) Final revenge

E) Try to explain this complicated idea in your own words I do not believe that I am a vindictive man, but when the immortal gods take a hand in the matter it is pardonable to observe the result with complacency.

F) What are the autobiographic elements in this story?