Lecture V CE2 Lector L. Deighton Chrisostomides lchrisostomides@singidunum.ac.rs

1. Lecture V CE2 Lector L. Deighton Chrisostomideslchrisostomides@singidunum.ac.rs

3. Les Miserables: Chapter 1: Jean Valjean • What is Jean Valjean’s appearance like at the beginning of the book? Why does the innkeeper refuse to give him a room and let him eat? Where does he end up trying to sleep? • Who is the Bishop of Digne and what is special about his house? What do his servant and sister tell him about? What does the Bishop do that surprises Valjean? • How and why did Valjean end up in prison? What does Valjean decide to do and why? What does the Bishop say when he realises what has happened? • What does the priest do when the police bring Jean Valjean to him? What does he “tell” Valjean to do with the silver? • What happens between Valjean and the chimney sweep? How does he react afterwards?

4. Chapter 2: Fantine • What new characters are introduced in this chapter of the book? What does Fantine say about her husband and what really happened? • What arrangement does Fantine make with the Thenardiers? What hints are there about the type of people they are at this point in the story? • How do the Thenardiers treat Cosette? What do they tell her mother? What happens at the factory where Fantine worked and how did it cause problems? • What types of things does Fantine have to do to pay the Thenardiers? Why do you think that she does them?

5. Chapter 3: Monsieur Madeleine • Who is Javert? What does his attitude towards Fantine tell you about his character? Who is Monsieur Madeleine? How does Fantine react when she sees him? • What does M. Madeleine offer to do for Fantine? How does Fantine react? What do the Thenardiers do when they realise what is happening? • What does Javert say to M. Madeleine about his “mistake”? Why is it not possible that his theory is true? Why does M. Madeleine refuse to do what Javert asks? • What happens at the trial of Champmathieu? What promise did Valjean break to attend the trial? What happens during Javert’s confrontation with Valjean? • Knowing what you know about the rest of the book, how does Javert’s character and belief system now dictate his actions later in the book?

6. Chapter 4: The Man in the Long Yellow Coat • What do the Thenardiers start saying about Cosette? What task is she sent to do and who helps her finish the task? What does she stop to look at on the way? • How does Valjean intervene when it turns out Cosette has lost the money for the bread? How about when the girls argue about the doll? Why is everyone so surprised by his actions? • What do the Thenardiers do after Valjean buys the doll? How much do they charge him for his room? • What offer does Valjean make to the Thenardiers and why do you think that they accepted? How does Cosette feel as she is holding Valjean’s hand?

7. Chapter 5: Valjean and Cosette • Where does Valjean take Cosette and what does Cosette do when she wakes up? What does she ask him? • How does Valjean describe his feelings about rescuing Cosette? How does this tie in with one of the deeper themes of the book? • What precautions does Valjean take to evade the police? What does he do regularly that could be described as unwise? What is the result of his carelessness? • Who turns up looking around outside his door one night? What happens at the end of the chapter?

8. Chapter 6: Marius • What does Georges Pontmercy think that Thenardier did? What did Thenardier actually do? What offer does Georges’ father-in-law make to him and why? • What does M. Gillenormand say to Marius about his father? What does his father leave him? Why does Marius leave home? • How does Marius make a living? What is he like with women? Who does he see in the Luxembourg gardens and what names does he give them? How does he describe the girl’s appearance? • What happens in the six months Marius does not visit the gardens? What happens when Marius walks past the girl and what does he start doing?

9. Chapter 6: Cont. • How does the father become aware of Marius? What does he do to work out if Marius is following them? Why doesn’t Marius realise his actions have attracted the father’s attention? • What happens with the handkerchief and how does Cossete react when she sees Marius with it? How does Marius escalate his pursuit of the girl? What is the end result of his actions and how do you think he should have acted differently? • Knowing that the pair are Valjean and Cosette, why do you think that Marius’ actions had the result that they did? How does Marius feel as a result of his actions?

10. Chapter 7: The Yondrettes • What happens with the Jondrette daughters at the beginning of the chapter? What does one of them write on a piece of paper to prove she can read and write? Who are they really and what does the daughter say to Marius? • What does the father do when he hears the “man from the church” is coming? How does Marius watch what is happening at his neighbours’ house? Who turns up at the Yondrettes’ house and what happens? • What does Marius ask the Yondrette girl to do for him? What do you think she wants from him? What do the Yondrettes plan to do to Valjean and what does Marius decide is the best way to help?

11. Chapter 7: Cont. • How is Marius to signal Javer when he should intervene? What happens to Valjean when he returns? When Yondrette reveals who he really is, what conflict arises for Marius? • What does Thenardier ask Valjean to do and how does Valjean manage to stall for time? What does he do during the time he bought? • How does Marius intervene and save Valjean without signalling Javert? What happens anyway? What does Valjean do while Javert is occupied with the other prisoners surrendering?

12. Chapter 8: Marius and Cosette • Where does Marius go to live and why? What did Eponine manage to find and why would it make Marius happy? What does he make Eponine promise to him? Why do you think Eponine reacted the way she did? What do you think she actually wanted? • What do you think is causing the noises in Cosettes garden? What does she find underneath a stone in the garden? • What happens when Cosette and Marius meet in the garden? How often do they see each other? What has Valjean ordered Cosette to do and why do you think he ordered her to do it? What is the result for the two characters and what does Marius say he will do if she leaves him?

13. Chapter 9: Monsieur Gillenormand • Where does Marius go and what does he do to try and prevent Cosette from leaving? What does Monsieur Gillenormand spend his time thinking about? • How do Gillenormand’s thoughts and actions clash? What does Marius ask his grandfather for and how does his grandfather react? What makes him change his tone? How does he insult Marius? • Who was General Lemarque and why is his funeral such a big event? Who comes to get Marius and take him to the barricades?

14. Chapter 10: The Barricade • What was happening in the spring of 1832 in France? What was the political situation like and what events were influencing it? Why is general Larmarque’s death a cause for violence? • Where do Enjolras and his allies set up a barricade and what two characters have secretly joined them? How? What do the rebels do when they find out Javert is a police officer? • Who dives in front of Marius to save him? How does he save his friends and delay the attack? Why do you think he acts so recklessly? • Why does Eponine keep the letter Cosette wrote from Marius? What is her last request? What are her last words? What does Marius write in his letter to Cosette?

15. Chapter 11: The Letter • Why do you think that Valjean and Cosette argued? Why does their argument shock Valjean? What does Valjean find near the mirror? • What conflict arises in Valjean upon finding out that his daughter is in love? How does he identify the man and how does he start to feel about him? Knowing what you know about Valjean, why would this development be such a problem for him? Think about his life up to the present moment. • What letter does Valjean receive and what is his immediate reaction? How does he change his mind and why? What does he go to do?

16. Chapter 12: Fight to the Death • What discussion are Enjolras and Marius having with their fellow rebels? What had the soldiers brought with them for this assault? What happens in the rest of Paris and how do they feel? • What deal does Valjean make with Enjolas? Where does he take Javert and what does he do? What is the result of his action on the rest of the story? • What happens to Marius when the barricade becomes overrun? What is the final fate of Enjolras and the rest of his men? Who’s hand does Marius feel on his shoulder as he loses consciousness?

17. Chapter 13: The Sewers of Paris • How does Valjean save Marius from the battle? What does he see in the distance that scares him? What does he find in Marius’ pocket? • What happens that makes Valjean lose hope? Who finds him in the sewer and what offer does he make? • Who does Valjean meet outside by the river and why is he there? Why is the character so confused by Valjean? Why do you think that he decides to help? • Where do Javert and Valjean take Marius? What does Valjean ask Javert to let him do? Why do you think that Javert allows Valjean to do what he wants? What does Javert do afterwards and why?

18. Chapter 14: The Wedding • What news does Marius’ grandfather give him? What happened while he was sick? What happens when Marius and Cosette are reunited? • What arrangements are made by Valjean for the wedding? What mysteries are there for Marius to solve? What is the irony of Marius discussing his saviour with Valjean? • How does Valjean feel about Cosette getting married? What information does he disclose to Marius? What does Marius agree to let him do and what secret does he agree to keep?

19. Chapter 15: The Truth at last • How does Valjean distance himself from Cosette and why? How does Marius start to signal to Valjean he is no longer welcome? What does Valjean do after he stops visiting? • Where does Marius think Valjean acquired his wealth? How does Thenardier correct Marius? What does Marius realise about the dead man Valjean was carring through the sewer? • How does Marius feel after finding out Valjean saved his life? What do Cosette and Marius insist Valjean do? Why can’t he? • What does he leave Marius and Cosette and what is the significance? Who does he tell Cosette about? What are his last words?

20. Les Miserables: Themes- Love • In broad terms there are four regularly defined types of love: agape, philia, eros and storge. • Agape: The love of man for God or God for man. Example: Valjean’s love for God (Played down somewhat in the reader). • Philia: Brotherly love or friendship. Example: Enjolras and Marius. Eros: Romantic love. Example: Marius and Cosette. • Storge: The love between parents and their children. Example: Either Fantine or Valjean and Cosette.

21. Les Miserables: Love Cont. • Valjean’s last line in the reader “There is nothing else that matters in this world except love.” is a sign that love is the focal topic of this work. • Valjean rescuing Cosette from the Thenardiers, and his subsequent love for her, gives his life meaning. The narrator remarks that “He had discovered the greatest joy he had ever known”. • This love for his adopted daughter is what compels him to risk his own life to save Marius later in the book, despite his hatred of him. He understands that his fatherly love will not always be enough for Cosette and ultimately puts her happiness above his own. In fact, his saving Marius’ life can be described as completely selfless. A trait often seen in parents.

22. Les Miserables: Themes- Injustice • Fantine suffers a great deal in the book for doing something very human. She fell in love with a man who ultimately left her alone with a child. • While Fantine lost her job because she had a child out of wedlock, there were no repercussions for the father. She ended up having to sell her hair, teeth and body to support her child with no support from the father. Here Hugo highlights the inequality and unfairness of 19th century France. • Similarly, Valjean’s crime was stealing bread to feed his sister and her children. This resulted in Valjean being imprisoned for almost 20 years. He grew bitter, began to hate the world and was treated as a social outcast. • With Valjean, Hugo demonstrates how an individual convicted of a petty crime, even in a time of need, can be turned into a lifelong criminal.

23. Les Miserables: Themes- Human Redemption and Grace • Hugo shows that a man can be condemned to a life of misery by a single misstep. However, he can be set on the right path again by a single act of grace. • The Bishop has the power to send Valjean back to prison. However, he lets him go with the silver, simply suggesting he make himself an honest man. Thus, Valjean’s path to redemption begins. • The clash of Javert’s ideology with the reality of who Jean Valjean is, represents one of the most important themes of the book. • Javert firmly believes that a criminal is always a criminal, he does not believe in redemption and he thinks the law should be followed to the letter. When Valjean saves his life, his entire belief system collapses and Javert decides he can no longer go on living.

24. Tips for the Midterm • Try to answer fluently and on your own as much as possible. If you get stuck I will help you out with prompts, but don’t rely on being prompted as it reduces your fluency score. • Topic knowledge, will be an important marking criteria. Make sure to familiarise yourself with the topics in the book and the presentations before the midterm. • As always, the reader constitutes a part of your score. Make sure to read it and have a decent level of knowledge about the story and its themes.

25. Review: Topic 1- Not What it Seems • Generally, how would you say you feel about advertisements? Would you like there to be fewer on TV? Do you use AdBlock on your browser? What about advertisements in public places? • What are practical jokes and pranks? When do people do these things to one another? • Broadly speaking, how do you feel about the media in your country? Do you feel it is mostly honest, mostly dishonest or something in between? • What skills do you think are important if one wishes to organise an event? What types of ways can an event be promoted? Have you ever had to promote or organise an event?

26. Review: Topic 2- Follow the clues • Do you believe in ghosts or any other supernatural phenomena? If yes, what led you to believe in them? If not, why don’t you believe in them? • On the whole, what do you think about magic and magicians? Is it an interesting art or just trickery? Have you ever seen any impressive tricks? Would you like to learn some magic yourself? • Why do you think that we as a civilisation are so obsessed with crime and criminals? What about them do you think that people find interesting? • Have you ever had a friend or family member who did something you thought to be wrong? What did you do and how did they react? Would you want someone to intervene if you were doing something wrong?

27. Review: Topic 3- The Mind • Generally, do you think that education encourages or inhibits creativity? How about in Serbia specifically? Justify your answers. • Would you say you have a good or bad memory? Do you often find yourself forgetting things? Do you find yourself going into a room and forgetting why? • If you could edit your own memories, would you do it? What types of things would you choose to erase? What types of things would you choose to remember better? • It is often said that “there is a fine line between genius and insanity”. Why do you think this is? Have most of the intelligent people you’ve met been eccentric?