The Way Up to Heaven

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

The Way up to Heaven

What do we know about Mrs Foster (character + appearance)

What do we know about Mr Foster (character + appearance)

What, do you think, is the 'central problem' of the story?

General Understanding

What was Mrs Foster most worried about?

1. Her husband leaving her.
2. Being late for something.
3. The twitch in her eye.

General Understanding

What made Mr Foster a little angry?

1. His wife always being late.
2. His daughter marrying a Frenchman.
3. His wife worrying about silly things.

General Understanding

Why did Mrs Foster want to go to France?

1. To see her grandchildren.
2. To get away from Mr Foster.
3. To get to know the Frenchman.

General Understanding

Why did Mr Foster want to go with his wife to the airport?

1. Because she could not drive a car.
2. To make her think she will be late.
3. To help her find the way in the fog

General Understanding

Why was Mrs Foster feeling "strong and cool and calm" as her plane got closer to Paris?

1. She had not been late for the plane.
2. She was looking forward to seeing the Frenchman.
3. She had done something to change her life.

General Understanding

How did Mrs Foster seem as she prepared to leave Paris to come home?

1. Content, as if making plans to return to Paris soon.
2. Sad, as if knowing it would be a long time before she would be able to return.
3. Happy, as if looking forward to being back in New York with her husband.

General Understanding

Where did Mr Foster spend his time during the six weeks that his wife was in France?

1. At home, stuck in the lift.
2. With another woman.
3. Staying at his club.

What literary term is applicable to these situations?

IRONY

 a situation that is strange or funny because actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected. 

What are ironic elements in "The Way Up to Heaven", and why?

1

2

3

4

5

Introduction

Initial incident

Rising action

A series of events that complicates matters for your characters, and results in increased drama or suspense.

Climax

Resolution of the main conflict of the story and is the moment the main character reaches—or fails to reach—their goal.

Falling action

A series of events that follow the biggest conflict and show the fallout, whether good or bad. 

The opening of the story, in which you get to know the characters and the setting. 

The event that gets the story going one way instead of another.

Introduction

Initial incident

Climax

Downgoing action

Rising action

Mr. Eugene Foster, who was nearly seventy years old, lived with his wife in a large
six story house in New York City, on East Sixty-second Street, and they had four 

servants.

Mr Foster finds ways to keep his wife waiting for her appointments. 

Mrs Foster gets to the airport, but her flight is cancelled. 

Mr Foster has forgotten his present for his daughter.

Mrs Foster finds her husband's present in the car. 

Mrs Foster listens at the door for her husband, waits, and runs back to the car which takes her to the airport. 

Mrs Foster returns from France, and enters her house. 

Mrs Foster calls someone to repair the lift. 

Assignment 

• 1: two major differences between story and film
  
• 2: choose a character: like/dislike, describe why
  
• 3: indicate a form of irony in the story and explain
  
• 4: explain the plot structure (climax – highest point of tension in the story)

Remember: Write full sentences!!! Your arguments should be persuasive. In other words: they should make someone else believe what you are saying is the truth. 

Assignment 

• Think of THREE arguments that prove Mrs Foster is GUILTY. Also provide evidence from the story (or derived from the story or make up something that makes sense).
  
• Think of THREE arguments that prove Mrs Foster is INNOCENT. Also provide evidence from the story (or derived from the story or make up something that makes sense).
• Make notes: this is preparation for your test!

Remember: your arguments should be persuasive. In other words: they should make someone else believe what you are saying is the truth. 

Guilty

Innocent

Homework questions

• Summarize the short story in 150 words. 
• Explain the title of the short story. 
• Expain the ending of the story, and explain how the story sets up this conclusion. 
• What is the symbolic function of Mr Foster's gift?
• Who do you think is the more cruel character, Mr Foster or Mrs Foster? Why?