Whose Face Do You See
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AlisyaWhose Face Do You See
Uploaded by
AlisyaPre-Reading
1. The title of the story is “Whose face do you see?” Under which
circumstances would
this question be asked? Choose the best option:
When…
a. Talking about a dream or a nightmare
b. Looking at a photograph
c. Looking at a mirror
d. Looking through a pair of binoculars
e. Trying to recall a memory
f. …………………………………………
2. Look at this picture. Whose face do you see?
3. Read this extract from the story:
I don’t know what I am. Not a person. Not a picture, although a lot of people
look at me.
Perhaps I am a window, or a decoration, or even a mirror.
People come in and out of the room where I lay. I can’t move so I don’t see
them very
well but sometimes, someone comes up close in front of me and then I can see
them
properly.’
a. Who or what do you think is speaking?
b. What do you think has happened?
c. Where is the narrator?
4. Here is another short extract.
She’s always holding things up in front of me - a teddy bear, a CD cover,
clothes,
photographs of people. She gets very talkative sitting next to me,
a. Suggest why the woman ('she') does all these things?
b. Who might 'she' be?
c. Which of the senses do you associate this passage to: Hearing? Sight? Feeling?
Taste? Smell? Justify your choice.
5. Now try and construct a
story, by using the information above and answering these
questions.
1. Who or what is lying in a room where people come and stare?
2. Who is the woman who brings a teddy bear, a CD cover etc? Why does she
bring them?
3. Who else is with the woman? How often do they come?
4. Why is the narrator puzzled by their presence?
5. A man in a white coat talks to the woman seriously. What about?
6. What does the woman and her companions agree to?
7. When is this event to take place? (see Q6). Why is there a delay?
8. What happens at the event? Why are the people present happy and sad?
9. What happens at the end to change everything?
UNDERSTANDING THE STORY
A-ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
1- Why do you think Marianne is in a coma? What happened to her? Speculate about the
possible reasons, bearing in mind that she is a teenager.
2-How long has she been in a coma?
3-What does her mother hope by showing her CDs or other reminders? How does
Marianne feel by her presence?
4- What is the only thing Marianne remembers?
5- Marianne’s parents must take a decision? What is it?
6- Why does the doctor suggest pulling out her tubes?
7- While they talk to the doctor, each of them go through a mixture of different feelings.
Sort them out and fill the diagrams. Give your reasons.
persuasiveness, self-conviction, hope, guilt, desperation, fatigue, objectivity,
insistence, realism-like, comprehension, reassurance, mercy, doubt
DOCTOR MOTHER FATHER
8- Find examples that show mother’s or father’s hope, pain and desperation. Find
examples that show the doctor’s objectivity or realism.
9- Why does the mother want to wait for one more month? Do you think that she is
right?
10- What are Marianne’s ideas about the painful decision to be taken about her?
11- How do they celebrate her birthday? How old is she?
12- Do you think that the mirror had an affect on her?
13- Why does the narrative in italics in the last line (272) change? What does that show?
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
1- Ant:
2- Julie:
3- Simon:
4- Nana:
5-Sister Charlene:
CLASS DISCUSSION:
1- How did the story make you feel ?
2- How did you feel about Marianne’s parents when they agreed to pull out the tubes?
How would you behave if you were them?
3- Do you think that ‘euthanasia’ is acceptable in some situations? What are the
advantages and disadvantages? Think of three things for each.
4- If you were a reporter, what questions would you ask Marianne after her recovery
after eight months? Share your questions.
5- What can you say about Marianne’s personality? Give your reasons.
6- Do you think that the doctor in the story or doctors in general should be too direct
when talking about the situation of their patients?
WRITING TASKS
Create a poster, an animation or a book cover
Turn the story into a news article (headline, pictures , summary, interview)
Continue the story
Write an article on ‘euthanasia’. Prepare a short presentation on it.
