The Way up to Heaven

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Main goal

Understanding the storyline & the characters in The Way up to Heaven

Who 'ha[s] an almost pathological fear of missing a train, a plane, a boat, or even a theatre curtain'?

1. The Butler
2. Mr Foster
3. Mrs Foster
4. The daughter (who lives in France)

Why does Mrs Foster miss her original flight to Europe?

1. Her husband is late
2. The butler hasn't prepared for their departure properly
3. The flight is postponed due to the fog
4. The airport clerk won't let her board her plane

Now read p. 130

Mr and Mrs Foster are in the car (for the second time) and they are about to leave for the airport..

What happens on p. 130?
Mr Foster says he forgot a gift for his daughter and walks back into the house to get it

1. Mrs Foster finds the present in the car..
2. Mrs Foster tells her driver to drive off to the airport
3. Mrs Foster starts to cry

Together read p. 131

Why doesn't Mrs Foster go inside?

'The chauffeur, had he been watching her closely, might have noticed that her face had turned absolutely white and that the whole expression had suddenly altered. There was no longer that rather soft and silly look. A peculiar hardness had settled itself upon the features.'
p.131

'The new mood was still with her. She felt remarkably strong and, in a queer sort of way, wonderful.'
  p. 131-132 

Where is Mr Foster when Mrs Foster returns home from her trip to Europe?

1. In the attic
2. In his office
3. In the lift
4. On the escalator

Mr Foster is...

1. alive, but seriously injured
2. dead
3. alive, yet angry
4. alive and very proud of his independent wife

Read p. 132(-133)

'When the six weeks were up... elevator' 

What happened?

Find evidence in the text we have just read that proves to you that Mrs Foster may have had an active role in her husband's 'departure'

Do you sympathise with Mrs Foster?
Why (not)?