Phantom of the Opera

by Gaston Leroux Gaston Leroux was born in Paris in 1868, and The Life and grew up in Normandy in the north of France. He Career of Gaston became interested in literature at an early age. Leroux He studied law in Paris, but quickly gave up1 this profession to concentrate on journalism. His first real success came when L'Echo de Paris published a series of his poems2 about Parisian actresses. Leroux's father died in 1889, and he inherited3 a fortune4 of one million francs. He immediately5 began to live on a grand scale6, eating in the best restaurants and entertaining7 splendidly8. He spent the whole of his inheritance9 in a period of six months, and then had to consider 10 how he would earn his living. In 1890 he became a court11 reporter for L'Echo de Paris. Soon after, he was given a job on the more prestigious newspaper, Le Matin. He was one of the first 'investigative'12 journalists, and he became famous when

1 to give up = vzdát se 2 a poem = báseň 3 to inherit = zdědit 4 a fortune [ˈfɔːtʃən] = jmění 5 immediately [ɪˈmiːdɪətlɪ] = okamžitě 6 on a grand scale = ve velkém (měřítku) 7 to entertain = pobavit 8 splendidly = skvěle, ohromně 9 an inheritance = dědictví 10 to consider = zvážit, promyslet 11 a court [kɔːt] = soud → a court reporter = soudní reportér 12 investigative = vyšetřovací, investigativní he solved a sensational13 case14 before it reached15 the law courts. Leroux combined journalism with novel16 writing and stories. His first novel, The Seeking17 of the Morning Treasures18, appeared19 in 1903. The story was based on20 a real 18th century criminal21, Louis Cartuche. Cartuche hid22 his treasure [poklad] in various secret locations around Paris, and died without telling anyone where it was. To publicise23 Leroux's book, Le Matin newspaper hid [schovalo] seven 'treasures' [pokladů] in different places [místech] around Paris, and readers of the book were encouraged24 to find them. The Mystery of the Yellow Room, which appeared [objevila se] in 1907, is a classic detective novel [román]. Its hero is the amateur detective Rouletabille, who investigates [řeší] crimes by using his powers of reason25. Leroux later wrote seven more books featuring26 Rouletabille. There was one part of court [soudní] reporting that Leroux did not like. He w a s obliged27 to watch the execution28 of several29 prisoners on the guillotine, and this disturbed30 him greatly. He became a life-long opponent of the death penalty as a result of his experiences.

13 sensational = úžasný, senzační 14 a case = případ 15 to reach = dosáhnout, dostat se někam 16 a novel = román 17 to seek = hledat (fwi, aplikace ICQ se čte [áj sík jů], což je fonetický opis: I seek you = hledám Tě) 18 a treasure = poklad 19 to appear = objevit se, vyskytnout se 20 to base on = založit na → a base = základna 21 a criminal = zločinec 22 to hide – hid – hidden = schovat 23 to publicise = obeznámit veřejnost, (u)dělat něčemu reklamu 24 to encourage = povzbudit 25 reason = rozum 26 to feature [ˈfiːtʃə] = představit (ve filmu, či knize) 27 to oblige [əˈblaɪdʒ] = ukládat za povinnost → an obligation = povinnost 28 an execution = poprava 29 several = několik 30 to disturb = rozrušit, zneklidnit Leroux travelled widely for Le Matin, and wrote accounts31 of many dramatic and violent32 events. In 1907, he decided to give up [vzdát se] his successful journalistic career and become a full-time novelist. The Phantom of the Opera was published in 1911. Leroux claimed33 that the idea for the story came from his personal knowledge of the Paris Opera House and its underground lake. The story was extremely popular with newspapers around the world, and many of them serialised it. Sales of the novel [román], however34, were disappointing35. Gaston Leroux's colourful career lasted36 nearly sixty years. He wrote more than fifty novels [románů] in total, the most famous being The Phantom of the Opera. He died in 1927. Answer please:

How would you translate: • The Seeking of the Morning Treasure Hledání Ranního Pokladu • The Mystery of the Yellow Room Záhada Žlutého Pokoje What happens to a prisoner if (s)he receives a death penalty? The prisoner is sentenced to death. (S)he is going to be executed.

What is the difference between: experience X an experience? experience = zkušenost an experience = zážitek What does a novelist do? A novelist writes novels (books). What can we find under the Paris Opera House? An underground lake.

31 an account = záznam, hlášení (o události) 32 violent [ˈvaɪələnt] = násilný 33 to claim = tvrdit 34 However, = avšak (lepší než 'but'; vždy očárkované ze všech stran, nebo aspoň za) 35 disappointing = chabý, neuspokojivý → to disappoint = sklamat 36 to last = trvat True or False? • Gaston Leroux was born in the south of France near Marseilles. FALSE: He was born in Paris (p.1) • He became interested in literature when he was at university. FALSE: He became interested in literature at an early age. (p. 1) • His first literary success was a series of poems about Parisian actresses. TRUE (p. 1) • Leroux inherited a large amount of money and he saved most of it. FALSE: He spent the whole of his inheritance. (p. 1) • Leroux studied law, but he began work as a journalist. TRUE (p. 1) • Leroux's first novel was based on a true story. TRUE (p. 2) • Rouletabille was the name of the detective in eight of Leroux's books. TRUE (p. 2) • The Phantom of the Opera did not sell very well when it was published as a novel. TRUE (p. 3)

Přepište fonetická slova

[ˈfɔːtʃən] fortune [ɪˈmiːdɪətlɪ] immediately [ˈfiːtʃə] feature [əˈblaɪdʒ] oblige [ˈvaɪələnt] violent [kɔːt] court [preˈstɪdʒəs] prestigious [ˈdʒɜːnəlɪst] journalist [ˈtreʒə] treasure [ˈpʌblɪˌsaɪz] publicize [ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ] encourage [ˌæməˈtɜː] amateur The Opera Ghost Strange37 things were happening38 at the Paris Opera House that season. There were rumours39 about a ghost40 in the building. No one knew when the ______[pomluvy] had started. Some people said it was Joseph Buquet who began it all.

Joseph Buquet was one of the scene- shifters41, a quiet reliable42 man. He said that he had seen a frightening43 figure44 in the corridors45 of the building. He said the ______[postava] was wearing a dress-suit46. At first he thought the man was just one of the audience47. Then he looked again. He saw that the ______[postavu] had no face – it was a skull48! The skin49 was yellow, the eyes were black holes50, and the whole ______[postava[ was terribly thin.

37 strange [streɪndʒ] = (po)divný 38 to happen [ˈhæpən] = stát se, dít se, přihodit se 39 a rumour [ˈruːmə] = pomluva, fáma, drb 40 a ghost [gəʊst] = duch, zjevení, přízrak 41 a scene-shifter [ˈsiːnˌʃɪf.tər] = ten kdo v divadle mění pro scény kulisy 42 reliable [rɪˈlaɪəbəl] = spolehlivý → to rely on = spolehnout se na 43 frightening [ˈfraɪtnɪŋ] = hrozivý, děsivý 44 a figure [ˈfɪgjər] = postava, silueta (člověka) 45 a corridor [ˈkɒrɪˌdɔː] = chodba 46 a dress-suit [dres sjuːt] = velmi formální oblek 47 an audience [ˈɔːdɪəns] = obecenstvo, publikum 48 a scull [skʌl] = lebka 49 skin [skɪn] = pokožka, pleť 50 a hole [həʊl] = díra, otvor Soon everyone at the Opera began to see ______[podivné] things. One of the firemen, Pampin, said that he had gone down into the cellars51 of the building. When he was down there, he had seen a head of fire coming towards52 him! He was very clear about53 it. He had seen a head of fire, but the head had no body at all54.

The people who worked at the Opera House were disturbed55 and excited56 by all these stories. The young girls in the corps de ballet57 were particularly58 thrilled59 by the stories. They said the ghost was responsible for60 all the little accidents61 that ______[se staly] at the Opera House.

One evening one of the Opera's principal62 dancer, La Sorelli, was sitting in her dressing room. It was an important evening for her. She was going to perform63 at a special gala ______[představení] for the two managers who were retiring64.

The peace and quiet of the ______[šatna herců] was suddenly65 disturbed by the entry66 of a group of young girls from the

51 a cellar [ˈselə] = sklep 52 towards [tɔːdz] = směrem (k) 53 to be clear about sth = mít v něčem jasno, mít něco ujasněné 54 at all = vůbec – dává se nakonec věty. You don't love at all. = Vůbec mne nemiluješ 55 disturbed [dɪˈstɜːbd] = znepokojený, zneklidněný 56 excited [ɪkˈsaɪtɪd] = nadšený 57 corps de ballet [kɔr də bale] = baletní sbor 58 particularly [pəˈtɪkjʊləlɪ] = obvzláště, mimořádně 59 thrilled [ˈθrɪld] = unešený, nadšený, uchvácený radostí 60 to be responsible for = bý zodpovědný za 61 an accident [ˈæksɪdənt] = nehoda 62 principal [ˈprɪnsɪpəl] = hlavní, nejdůležitější

63 to perform [pəˈfɔːm] = účinkovat → performance = představení 64 to retire [rɪˈtaɪə] = odejít do důchodu 65 suddenly [ˈsʌdənlɪ] = náhle 66 an entry [ˈentrɪ] = příchod ______[baletního sboru]. The girls were talking ______[nadšeně].

'We've seen him, we've seen him!' one of them announced67. 'We've seen the ______[ducha]!'

Sorelli did not really believe the girls, but she was very superstitious68. She was easily frightened69 by stories of the ghost, but she tried70 to be brave71.

'Pull yourselves together72,' she told the girls.

'But we've seen him – we've really seen him!' one of the girls insisted73. 'And Gabriel's seen him, too,' the girl added74.

'Gabriel, the chorus-master75?' asked Sorelli. ' What did he say?'

'He said he was talking to that strange Persian man … you know the one?'

'Yes,' said Sorelli, 'I know the Persian.'

Everyone at the Opera House knew the Persian. The girls were convinced76 that he had the evil eye. They were ______

67 to announce [əˈnaʊns] = prohlásit (hlasitě a jasně), ohlásit 68 superstitious [ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃəs] = pověrčivá 69 frightened (of sth/sb) [ˈfraɪtnd] = vystrašený, vyděšený, vylekaný; byýt vystrašený (z) 70 to try = zkusit; snažit se 71 brave [breɪv] = odvážná, statečná 72 to pull oneself together = dát se dohromady, dát se dokupy 73 to insist on sth [ɪnˈsɪst] = trvat na něčem; stát si za něčím 74 to add [æd] = přidat, dodat 75 a chorus-master = vedoucí/dirigent pěveckého sboru 76 convinced [kənˈvɪnst] = předsvědčený → to convince = přesvědčit [vystrašení] of him.

'So what ______[se stalo] ?' Sorelli asked.

'Gabriel was talking to the Persian. He looked over the Persian's shoulder77, and he saw a ghost standing behind him! Gabriel was terrified78!'

'What did the ______[duch] look like?' Sorelli wanted to know.

'He was wearing a ______[velmi formální oblek], just as Joseph Buquet described79 him. And his head was like a ______[lebka] ! One of the girls said.

'My mother says Joseph Buquet shouldn't talk so much,' one of the girls said quietly. It was Meg, whose mother Madame Giry also worked at the Opera. She was a box-keeper80.

'What did your mother tell you?' the girls asked Meg.

'She said the ghost didn't like people to talk about him,' Meg replied81 slowly. 'She says it was because of the ______[lóže] 5. Mum's in charge of82 Box 5, you see. ______[lóže] 5 is the ______[duchova] box,' she told them. 'That's where he goes during ______[představení]. No one else can go there.'

'Has your mother seen him, then83?' the girls asked.

'No,' Meg explained, 'you can't see him. All that talk about his ______[velmi formálním obleku], and the skeleton84, and the

77 a shoulder [ˈʃəʊldə] = rameno 78 terrified [ˈterɪˌfaɪd] = vyděšený 79 to describe [dɪˈskraɪb] = popsat 80 a box-keeper = ten, kdo se stará o divadelní lóže → a box = lóže 81 to reply [rɪˈplaɪ] = odpovědět 82 to be in charge of sth [tʃɑːdʒ] = osoba zodpovědná za něco 83 then [ðen] = tedy – dává se buď úplně na konec, nebo začátek věty. Používá se velmi často, akorát není moc slyšet, nejsme-li na něj zvyklí. 84 a skeleton [ˈskelɪtən] = kostra head of fire is all just nonsense85. Mother's never seen him. She just hears him when he's in the ______[lóže].'

The girls looked at each other86. They could not make sense of87 Meg's story ______[vůbec]. 'That's what I meant about Joseph Buquet,' Meg told them. 'He shouldn't tell all those stories. The ghost won't like it at all. He might88 …'

______[náhle] the dressing-room door opened, and a woman came in. Her eyes were wide open, and she looked really ______[vyděšeně].

'Joseph Buquet!' she gasped89. 'He's dead. Someone found his body in the ______[sklepě]. He was hanged90!'

Hovoříme-li o tom, jak moc, nebo není něco PRAVDĚPODOBNÉ, používáme tuto škálu:

CAN'T MAY ______MUST

(0%) (20-30%) (kolem 50%) (100%)

 V této kapitole je dvěma různými slovy vyjádřeno: vyděšená, kterými? ______ A co dva různé způsoby, jak vyjádřit, že někdo za něco zodpovídá? ______

85 - nonsense [ˈnɒnsəns] = nesmysl(i), hloupost(i) 86 each other = sebe vzájemně 87 to make sense of sth = porozumět (něčemu) 88 might [maɪt] = mohl by, od slova 'maybe' - možná, protože je tu jistá pravděpodobnost 89 to gasp [gɑːsp] = zalapat po dechu, ztěžka se nadechnout 90 hanged [hæŋgd] = pověšený; oběšený  I slovo nadšený se dá vyjádřit alespoň dvěma způsoby. ______ How else would you express this: I am trying understand it. I m trying to ______.

What is it?  When people tell each other speculative stories about somebody, or something. They are spreading (= šíří): ______ If I can trust my friend to do what I ask him/her to do, (s)he is: ______ If I don't like you, even a little bit, then I don't like you ______.  If nothing that I say will change your mind and keep repeating your demand, then you are ______on it.  If you don't understand something because it is unclear and stupid, then it is probably just some ______.

 Poslechněte si tuto větu z písničky Yesterday od the Beatles. O čem zpívají? '______I am not half the man I used to be.' ______[přeložte]

 How did Joseph Buquet describe the face of the frightening figure he saw?

 What did the fireman Pampin see?  Where did Pampin see that strange thing?

 Who was La Sorelli?

 What was the ghost wearing that the girls of the corps de ballet saw?

 According to Meg's monther, where does the ghost go during performances? What are these words? [ˈruːmə] ______[ˈkɒrɪˌdɔː] ______[tɔːdz] ______[pəˈfɔːm] ______[pəˈtɪkjʊləlɪ] ______[ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃəs] ______[kənˈvɪnst] ______