The Way Up to Heaven

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

The Way up to Heaven 

By Roald Dahl 

Listen to the Way up to Heaven

https://xpressenglish.com/our-stories/way-to-heaven/

Read The way up to Heaven

https://xpressenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/Stories/The-Way-Up-To-Heaven.pdf

and/or

Vocabulary

https://www.bookwidgets.com/play/4BZMT4Z

Study vocabulary before you start. Try to guess the meaning of the underlined words before looking at the meanings/ definitions.  

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.

02:38

Do you sympathize or not with Mrs Foster? Do you think she should go to prison? Do you understand why she let her husband die?

I feel sympathy for her. It is sad that Mr Foster had to die, though Mrs Foster should not be blamed for his death.

I feel sympathy for her, though she shouldn't have left him to die. She is responsible for his death.

I don't feel sympathy for her. Mr. was cruel but leaving him to die is taking matters too far. Prison is the best option.

Setting

Main scenes that form the setting are the Foster's house in New York, in the taxi, at the airport and a visit to Paris. 

The Fosters’ house is an absurdly large residence in New York City. It has six stories, and it is populated by the Fosters and their servants. 

The story is set in 1950s or 1960s.
It all happens within a period of 6 weeks. 

Exposition 

Setting: Large six-story house on East Sixty-Second street in New York city. 

Characters: Mrs Foster and Mr. Eugene Foster

What is 'The Way up to Heaven' really about? What is the central theme?

Revenge

Assignment (5 minutes)

• Form pairs. 
• 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. 

After 5 minutes, you will team up with another pair and exchange arguments.

Guilty or innocent?