This is a series of lesson plans for proficiency level students based around stories from “The Oxford Book of English Short Stories” edited by A. S. Byatt. Set the story as homework the week before, encourage students to bring any vocabulary questions to class.
The Waterfall tells the story of a repressed reverend’s daughter trying to cope with the emotions and sentiments of life and love. These feelings are symbolised by the waterfall in her garden which is being renovated. The breaking of the damn and the water surging down the waterfall could symbolise the release of all her bottled up affections and feelings towards her husband and the jovial Mr. Phillips who has been staying with the family.
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Vocabulary
First copy to the board or project the vocabulary table in the attachment above, students must try to match the new vocab to the definition.
Key: 1 – g, 2 – d, 3 – a, 4 – b, 5 – j, 6 – e, 7 – f, 8 – I, 9 – h, 10 – c.
Once they have matched the vocab give them 5 minutes to find the vocabulary in the text, make it a race, the first team to find all 10 wins.
Then discuss the following discussion questions:
Discussion Questions:
- What happens in the story?
- How would you describe the characters? Straight-laced. Prim and proper, repressed, damaged,
- What does the waterfall represent?
- How do you feel about Rose? Do you sympathise with her?
- How do you think she feels about her new husband?
- How do you think she feels about Phillips?
- Do you think people are more or less emotionally repressed these days?
- Do you think this is a good or bad thing?