YOUNG ADULT READERS STAGE 5 WILLIAM Makepeace Eli Readers is a beautifully illustrated series of timeless classics and specially-written stories for learners of English. Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray WILLIAM M a kepe Vanity Fair Vanity Fair A novel without a Hero A Novel without a Hero 5 STAGE ce Th a Vanity Fair was written 200 years ago, but it is a thoroughly modern story

that provides us with universal truths about what it means to be human, in all cker its splendour – and with all its imperfections. It is a story full of memorable a characters who accompany you on a fascinating journey through the first part y V of the nineteenth century. A journey full of comedy, tragedy, romance and a ni t adventure. y F a ir: A no

In this reader you will find:

- Information about William Makepeace Thackeray’s life ve l wi t hou a He ro - Sections focusing on background and context - Glossary of difficult words - Comprehension activities - CAE-style activities - Exit test

Tags Love Society

STAGE 1 Elementary 600 headwords A1 STAGE 2 Pre-Intermediate 800 headwords A2 Key (KET) STAGE 3 Intermediate 1000 headwords B1 Preliminary (PET) YOUN G AD UL STAGE 4 Upper Intermediate 1800 headwords B2 First (FCE) STAGE 5 Advanced 2500 headwords C1 Advanced (CAE) STAGE 6 Proficiency Unabridged Texts C2 Proficiency (CPE)

Classic T E LI R EADE S

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ISBN 978-88-536-2034-7ELI s.r.l. from www.elireaders.com Vanity Fair E www.elireaders.com LT ELT YOUNG ADULT READERS C1 C1 MAIN CHARACTERS

6 7 Chapter One Amelia and Becky

2 Welcome to Vanity Fair! The manager of the theatre is waiting impatiently. It’s nearly time to begin our show. From behind the curtain, he can see the audience. It’s very noisy out there. There is a great deal of eating and drinking, laughing and smoking and fighting, and dancing. The performance is about to begin. I promise you scenes of battle, of romance and comedy. Our puppets are ready to come on the stage, and we will start our story with Amelia and Becky. And now the manager bows to his audience, and the curtain rises. Let the performance begin! === Our story begins just outside Miss Pinkerton’s Academy for Young Ladies at Chiswick Mall in London. A large family carriage is waiting for two young ladies. They are about to leave the school to begin their life in the adult world. But the two ladies are leaving under very different circumstances. Miss Pinkerton herself looked at the carriage from the window of her office. She was with her sister, Jemima. ‘Have you completed all the preparations for their departure Jemima?’ asked Miss Pinkerton. ‘Everything is ready,’ replied Jemima. ‘Well, send in Amelia Sedley,’ said Miss Pinkerton.

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After-reading Activities

Speaking

1 Look again at the predictions you made in exercise 10 on page 121. Were you right? Did anything about the ending of the story surprise you? Note Taking

2 Make some notes about how the story ended for the following characters.

1 Amelia ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....… 2 Dobbin ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....… 3 Rawdon ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....… 4 Becky ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....… 5 Sir Pitt ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....… 6 Lady Jane ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....… 7 Rawdon Jr. ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....… 8 Georgy ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....… 9 Joseph ……………………………………………………………………...... ………………….....…

132 Writing

3a At the beginning of the book, Thackeray promises us tales of battle, romance and comedy. Write down some examples of stories in the book that fit these descriptions.

1 battle ...... 2 romance ...... 3 comedy ......

3b What is your favourite moment in the story? Note Taking & Speaking

4a In this chapter Becky asks Dobbin, ‘What is your accusation?’ What had Becky done wrong in the eyes of society? Make a list of the things that she is guilty of.

4b Would Becky be accused of the same things in society today? Discussion Points

5 Becky, like most women in those times, had to wear a mask at the gambling house. Why was this so? Can you think of any activities or professions that were considered unsuitable for women in the past but are acceptable now?

6 ‘Amelia didn’t want to give Dobbin anything, but she wanted him to give her everything. It is a deal that is quite common in love.’ Do you agree with the author’s comments about love and relationships?

7 How important was it that Amelia wrote the letter to Dobbin before reading George’s note? Why did Becky scream with laughter when she found out about this?

8 Look back at the exercise that you did in chapter five on page 78. Are the contents of your note similar to George’s note? 133 FOCUS ON... William Makepeace Thackeray

Following his own Path Thackeray was born in Calcutta in India in 1811. His father and grandfather had earned their living working as civil servants in the government of India. But such a steady form of employment was not for Thackeray. He was always independent, and in spite of going to various schools with an excellent reputation, and studying at Cambridge, he left university without getting a degree. He did, however, study Art in Paris in about 1834. was a great success. He completed this What Thackeray loved to do was write. While masterpiece when he was 37 years old. at Cambridge, he wrote for a paper called The Snob. His writing was always full of humour Other major works of Thackeray include and satire. He wrote for Fraser’s Magazine in The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon Esq. (1844), 1837, and he was on the staff of the famous Pendennis (1848-1850), The History of Henry satirical magazine Punch from 1842 to 1851. Esmond Esq. (1852), The Newcomers (1853- During this time, he wrote Vanity Fair which 1855), and The Virginians (1857-1859).

A Compassionate Man Thackeray was well known for his good nature, as one can see from his time as editor of another journal of the period, The Cornhill Magazine. He began his work there in 1859, but in 1862 he resigned because he couldn’t bear having to turn down contributors who wanted to be published.

134 Other Interests Although Thackeray spent a great deal parliament, unsuccessfully, in Oxford in of time following his main passion, that 1859. His interest in world affairs may of writing, he also had another interest, have begun when he met Napoleon which was gambling. He was extremely Bonaparte on his way back to England interested in politics and stood for from India when he was a child.

Thackeray, the Husband and Father Thackeray’s married life was far from simple. His wife was an Irish woman, named Isabella. She was the daughter of a colonel and she had a beautiful singing voice. He modelled the character of Amelia on her. They had three daughters, but sadly one of them died very young. Isabella suffered greatly with mental health problems, although she survived her husband by thirty years. Thackeray himself died on December 24th in 1863. He was buried in Kensal Green in London, but there is a monument to him that can be seen at Westminster Abbey.

Portrait of Anne Becher Thackery and William Makepeace Thackeray at about age 2 in Madras

As you have just read, Thackeray modelled the character of Amelia on his wife. Reading through some of the details of his life can you identify other facts or events that may have had an influence onVanity Fair?

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