The document provides context about the short story "Luncheon" by William Somerset Maugham. It summarizes key details about the plot, including that the narrator meets a talkative woman at a play who takes him to the expensive restaurant Foyot's for lunch. Though the narrator could only afford a cheap meal, the woman orders expensive dishes and drinks. This causes the narrator to spend all his money for the month on the bill. Years later, he recalls being manipulated by the woman but sees she has become overweight, portraying some irony in her previous statements. The document also includes vocabulary words about foods mentioned in the story and words for a related activity.
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The Luncheon
2. The word ¡®Luncheon¡¯ is a formal word for
lunch. Luncheon is a formal meal served in
the middle of the day.
3. William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), a
writer of short stories, novels and plays was
born in Paris on 25 January 1874.
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4. The story is told in first
person narrative, the
narrator being the
writer.
¡°I caught sight of her
at the play.¡±
10. The narrator and the woman meet again after they last
saw each other, 20 years before and then he starts to
recall the luncheon at Foyot¡¯s that day.
11. ? The narrator had only 80 francs to last him for the
rest of the month.
? He found the lady talkative and unattractive.
? The lady orders all expensive dishes.
? He ordered the cheapest dish on the menu.
? The lady takes him to task for eating unhealthy
heavy mutton chops.
? The lady enjoyed the meal and kept talking about
art, literature and music.
12. ? After this huge satisfying lunch, she ordered
ice cream and coffee.
? The waiter appeared with a basket of peaches
and she took one.
? He had to spend the whole money on the bill.
? He thought about the expenditure for the
whole month.
? Now this woman who eats light and only one
thing at a time weighs twenty one stone.
14. He is not making a point about a particular
woman but is referring to people in general
who manipulate others and eventually
receive their just reward.
16. ? Appearance vs. Reality
? Sometimes it is necessary to say ¡°no¡±.
? When one tries to covet small gains one may
suffer a great loss.
17. There is an element of irony found in the
woman¡¯s speeches.
¡°I never eat anything for luncheon.¡±
¡°I never eat more than one thing for luncheon.¡±
¡°I never drink anything for luncheon.¡±
¡°Follow my example.¡±
18. ? The lady exploits the narrator by pretending to
be interested in his writings and admiring his
works.
? The irony is that narrator takes her to an
expensive restaurant where he had never
dared to go as he could not afford it.
19. What¡¯s the word?
1. E N C S U L T U C
2. I C V E R A A
3. H P A M G C E A N
4. F T R O I G M N Y I
5. T M O S I H U R
6. N E V E G E R
7. N S A C F R
8. U H T U S M L F O