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Title: Hard Times.
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Author: Charles Dickens.
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Publishing House: Oxford University Press.
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Main Characters: -Mr. Gradgrind. He is a Member of Parliament. He has square body, a square face and a loud voice. He is a man that only believe in facts, numbers and information. -Mr. Bounderby. He's factory owner and rich banker. He is a big and a loud man. He looks older than that he is. In the initial part of the book, had forty-eight years old. -Mrs. Gradgrind. She is a thin, pink-eyed little woman, weak in body and in mind. She hasn't clean ideas, so Mr. Gradgrind married with her. -Louisa (Loo) Gradgrind, later Bounderby. She is the eldest child of the Gradgrind family, but she, still, is a young woman. She is pretty, with blonde hair and white skin. She is sullen like her brother, but she is pleasant and generous. She hasn't ideas in her mind, only facts, thanks to the education of her father. -Tom Gradgrind. He is a strong and a tall young man. He is sullen, resentful, lazy, very selfish and ungrateful too. -Sissy (Cecilia) Jupe. She worked at the circus when she was a child, then she lived in Stone Lodge because his father, Mr. Sleary, abandoned her. She is young, has brown eyes and hair. In the initially of the book, she was a very imaginative and active girl but when she went to Stone Lodge she convert to a person more serious and less nosy. She h -Stephen Blackpool. He is a factory worker. He looked older than his forty years, caused by his hard life. He is a very working man, simple and honest man. He is fell in love of his friend Rachael, but he is marriage. -Rachael. She has thirty-five years old, with very gentle, dark eyes, and shining hair. She is a very working woman, that works in the factory of Mr. Bounderby. -Mrs. Sparsit. She is the Mr. Bounderby housekeeper. She is widow, jealous and nosy. She was a high-class-lady, but now she is Mr.Bounderby's Housekeeper. -James Harthouse. He is a upper-class gentleman, about thirty-five years old, tall and expensively dressed, who attempts to woo Louisa.
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Summary.
In the initial of the book, there are two stories. The first story consists of a man called Mr.Gradgrind that thinks that the money and facts are the important things in the life. Gradgrind takes Sissy Jupe, a circus child, to his house (Stone Lodge). He educates Sissy equal than his others five children, with facts and useful things. When the time has passed Mr.Bounderby, a rich banker, sent by Mr. Gradgrind a message to Louisa Gradgrind, it was a proposal marriage. Louisa accepted the proposal but only for please her brother Tom Gradgrind. Louisa married with Mr.Bounderby and Tom began to work for Mr. Bounderby. Then Louisa went to live to Mr.Bounderby's House. The problems arrive to Louisa when Mr.Harthouse arrived to Mr.Bounderby's House. He was a upper-class gentleman and he tried to woo Louisa. When Louisa learned the intentions of Mr.Harthouse, went to speak with her father about her education and she speaked to her that she had no feelings, only facts. Sissy Jupe tells to Mr. Harthouse that must leave Coketown for not hurt more Louisa. Louisa finally abandoned Mr.Bounderby's House and she went to live in Stone Lodge. Tom Gradgind that hadn't money,because he had spend in gambles, decided to plan a robbery in the Bounderby's bank.
The second story tells the hard life of a Bounderby's factory worker, called Stephen Blackpool; he is fell in love of Rachael, a woman that works in the factory too. Blackpool plans to leave Coketown, and days later abandoned Coketown to find a better life. Here the two stories joins. Days later, it produces a robbery at the Bounderby's Bank. When the people is investigated who is the robber of the bank, Tom accuses to Blackpool that he is the robber; he explains that he walked and stay near of the Bounderby's Bank and that he wasn't go to work. Finally Blackpool appears hurt in the country, in a pit, but alive and Tom, the robber, finally his plan fail. In the final of the book Mr. Gradgrind learned that feelings are more importants than facts and money. •
Personal Opinion.
I don't understand many parts of the books, and I read it slowly, two times. Also, the story is boring and not interesting. I think that some parts of the book could have been explained better. The ultimate part is very difficult to understand, I don't like ''Hard Times''.
Vocabulary Word
Meaning
Chapter 1 Sentence
Facts
Hechos
Now, what I want is facts.
Shaking
Tembloroso/a
In a shaking voice.
Reddening
Enrojecido/a
Her face reddening.
Stern
Duro/a
Said Gradgrind in a stern voice.
Stony
Pétreo/a
Seeing Mr.Gradgrind's stony face.
Along
A lo largo de
Mr.Gradgrind walked along.
Edge
Borde
At the edge of the town.
Glimpse
Vistazo
All trying to catch a glimpse.
Wondering
Preguntando
'I was wondering what I was like'
Sullen
Hosco
With the same sullen look as her brother.
Weakly
Débilmente
Said Mrs.Gradgrind weakly.
Aching
Dolorido/a
And with my poor head aching so badly.
Worth
Valor
Well, Louisa, that's worth a kiss, isn't it?
Rubbing
Frotamiento
She was still rubbing her face.
Word
Meaning
Chapter 2 Sentence
Blackened
Ennegrecido/a
Blackened by years of endless smoke and dirt.
Ring
Círculo
When they get hurt in the ring.
Fearful
Miedoso
She looked up at him, astonished and fearful.
Shabby
Lamentable
Through a small, shabby bar.
Narrow
Estrecho/a
And up some dark, narrow stairs.
Suitcase
Maleta
And threw open a large, old suitcase.
Caring
Cuidar
Caring for each other like one large family.
Worn out
Desgastado/a
And a voice that was worn out.
Tightly
Estrechamente
Was still held tightly.
Chest
Pecho
Was still held tightly to her chest.
Seem
Parecer
But I always seem to say the wrong things
Perhaps
Tal vez
And Louisa began to think perhaps.
Word
Meaning
Chapter 3 Sentence
Weaver
Tejedor/a
Stephen was a cotton weaver.
Gone
Pasado
At last they were all gone.
Might
Poder
People might talk.
Law
Ley
For me your word is law.
Awful
Horrible
But what an awful woman!
Unwashed
Sucio/a
She was unwashed
Stained
Manchado/a
With stained clothes.
Screamed
Grit贸
Screamed the woman.
Blanket
Manta
Stephen hid her body and face with a blanket.
Stepped out
Sali贸
Stephen stepped out of the hot factory.
Mouthful
Bocado
He ate the mouthful, and then turned to Stephen.
Wiped
Limpi贸
And wiped gently over the cuts on the woman's face and neck.
Forkful
Tenedor
Bringing another large forkful of meat to his lips.
Chance
Oportunidad
If you're given a chance.
Tied
Vinculado/a
Which he had spent tied to that terrible woman.
Neck
Cuello
And wiped gently over the cuts on the woman's face and neck.
Word
Meaning
Chapter 4 Sentence
Sparks
Chispas
Looking quietly at the sparks of the dying fire
Selfish
Ego铆sta
As sullen and selfish as he had always been.
Waist
Cintura
Tom suddenly put his arm round his sister's waist
Although
Aunque
'I do, Tom, although you don't come to see me often enough.'
Enough
Suficiente
'I do, Tom, although you don't come to see me often enough.'
Jolly
Alegre
Being together with you is so jolly.
Ought
Debe
'Louisa, perhaps I ought to ask you something.
Taught
Enseñó
You taught me so well,Father.
Fear
Miedo
Never felt a child's fear.
Proud
Orgulloso/a
The proud father kissed his eldest child.
Pity
Lástima
It was a look of many emotions – surprise, sadness, pity.
Whispered
Susurró
'You're a fine girl, Loo,' whispered Tom.
Word
Meaning
Chapter 5 Sentence
Smell
Olor
And the smell of hot oil filled its thick, dirty air.
Handsome
Guapo/a
A handsome man of about thirty-five.
Belonged
Pertenece
Belonged to Mrs. Sparsit.
Politely
Educadamente
When she had politely.
Indeed
De hecho
Indeed, Bitzer had changed very little since his days as Mr. Gradgrind's model student.
Gambles
Apuestas
He spends it in extravagant ways and gambles with it.
Ashamed
Avergonzado/a
But was clearly ashamed of her husband's boastful ways.
Boastful
Presumido/a
But was clearly ashamed of her husband's boastful ways.
Plentiful
Abundante
The wine was good and plentiful.
Word
Meaning
Chapter 6 Sentence
Hoarse
Ronco/a
And a loud hoarse voice.
Fist
Puño
His fist held high, that it was time to join the Union.
Among
Entre
Among all of hundreds of men in the room.
Blushing
Ruborizado/a
Blushing to hear another person's voice.
Afraid
Asustado/a
The man's afraid to open his lips about them.
Beside
Junto a
Beside these men all my life.
Complaining
Quejarse
What are you people complaining about?
Warningly
Advertencia
warningly, towards the door.
Lowered
Bajada/o
Louisa's eyes were now lowered.
Footsteps
Huellas
When he heard footsteps behind him.
Cheerful
Alegre
He saw the same cheerful old woman.
Overjoyed
Encantado/a
Cried the old woman, overjoyed.
Wonderfully
Maravillosamente
He did well, wonderfully well.
Chapter 7 Sentence
Word
Meaning
Managed
Gestionado/a
Mr. Bounderby had managed to buy a very grand country house.
Leafy
Frondoso/a
The leafy shadows of the woods near the house.
Trouble
Problema
I fear Tom is in Trouble.
Borrowed
Prestado/a
Has he borrowed much money from you?
Forgive
Perdonar
I cannot forgive your brother.
Tears
Lágrimas
Tears suddenly filled Louisa's eyes.
Word
Meaning
Chapter 8 Sentence
Watchful
Cauteloso/a
And the watchful Mrs. Sparsit.
Staircase
Escalera
A great staircase.
Pit
Hoyo
Black pit of shame at the bottom.
Shame
Vergüenza
Black pit of shame at the bottom.
Horseback
A caballo
He had come secretly on horseback.
Blame
Culpa
I do not blame you, Father.
Fainted
Desmayó
And she fainted at his feet.
Fetch
Buscar
Shall I fetch him?
Word
Meaning
Chapter 9 Sentence
Plainly
Claramente
She was young and plainly dressed.
Foolish
Tonto/a
Feeling foolish.
Failure
Fracaso
A failure, and very ashamed indeed.
Overhead
Cotillear
What she had seen and overhead.
Blew
Sopló
Blew Bounderby's windy voice.
Mend
Arreglar
To try to mend what has gone wrong.
Stubborn
Terco/a
Said Bounderby in a stubborn voice.
Bachelor
Soltero
Now that he was living a bachelor's life again.
Thief
Ladrón/a
What about the real thief?
Word
Meaning
Chapter 10 Sentence
Coal
Carbón
Lay the great black mouth of an abandoned coal pit.