the way up to heaven' roald dahl
DESCRIPTION
workbookTRANSCRIPT
THE WAY UP TO HEAVEN
Word Definition selfish
cruel
fearful
nervous
anxious
loyal
devoted
obedient
painful
unhappy
sadistic
affluent
guilty
remorseful
frustrated
wealthy
desperate
patient
vengeful
resentful
insensitive
helpless
sympathetic
manipulative
submissive
compliant
compassionate
deceitful
callous
snide
liberated
miserable
confident
Definitions
*full of fear or causing fear, someone that is afraid
*vindictive, to seek revenge for a wrongdoing, a fierce desire to
punish a person for the harm he has done to oneself
*rich
*a person who delights in being cruel to other people
* having the ability to (a) wait for something calmly for a long time
(b) to control oneself when angered, esp. at foolishness or
slowness. The power of bearing pain or unpleasant things without
complaining
*worried, concerned
*having committed a crime, showing or feeling guilt, a feeling of
sorrow for having done wrong
*(of a person) ready for any wild act because of loss of hope
*wealthy
*concerned only with one’s own advantage or pleasure without
care for others
*having or showing a feeling of knowing or believing that one has
done something wrong
*not able to help oneself
*loyal, loving, caring a great deal
*unkind, liking to cause pain or suffering
*anxious and worried
*doing or being willing to do what one is told
*true to one’s friends, group, country etc. faithful
*causing pain
*a person who uses (someone) for their own purpose by skilfully
controlling and influencing, often in an unfair or dishonest manner
*having feelings of annoyance, disappointment, defeat, at being
prevented from doing what is intended
*to feel angry or bitter at
*sharing the feelings of others, the feeling of compassion
*the quality of being dishonest
*not kind to others because one does not understand how they feel
*feeling or showing sorrow, pity, or sympathy for the suffering and
misfortune of others, a desire to give help or show mercy
*gentle, willing to take orders from others
*unkind, without feelings for the suffering of other people
*being set free from control, anxiety, duty etc.
*readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, demand, the
wishes of others, yielding, obedient
*intending to hurt the feelings in a pretendedly funny way, mean
*sad
*very unhappy
*to believe in yourself and your ability
unhappy / resentful / snide / loyal / sadistic /
selfish / affluent / devoted / guilty / cruel /
remorseful / sympathetic / obedient / painful /
confident / frustrated / fearful / wealthy /
miserable / helpless / compliant / desperate /
compassionate / nervous / patient / vengeful /
deceitful / submissive / callous / liberated /
anxious / manipulative / insensitive
1. Full of fear or causing fear, someone that is afraid _______________
2. Vindictive, to seek revenge for a wrongdoing, a fierce desire to
punish a person for the harm he has done to oneself _______________
3. Rich __________________
4. A person who delights in being cruel to other people _____________
5. Having the ability to (a) wait for something calmly for a long time (b) to
control oneself when angered, esp. at foolishness or slowness. The
power of bearing pain or unpleasant things without complaining
__________________
6. Worried, concerned __________________
7. Having committed a crime, showing or feeling guilt, a feeling of
sorrow for having done wrong _____________________
8. (of a person) ready for any wild act because of loss of hope
__________________
9. Wealthy ____________________
10. Concerned only with one’s own advantage or pleasure without care
for others __________________
11. Having or showing a feeling of knowing or believing that one has
done something wrong __________________
12. Not able to help oneself _________________
13. Loyal, loving, caring a great deal __________________
14. Unkind, liking to cause pain or suffering __________________
15. Anxious and worried _________________
16. Doing or being willing to do what one is told __________________
17. True to one’s friends, group, country etc. faithful _______________
18. Causing pain ________________
19. A person who uses (someone) for their own purpose by skilfully
controlling and influencing, often in an unfair or dishonest manner
__________________
20. Having feelings of annoyance, disappointment, defeat, at being
prevented from doing what is intended __________________
21. To feel angry or bitter at __________________
22. Sharing the feelings of others, the feeling of compassion
___________________
23. The quality of being dishonest ____________________
24. Not kind to others because one does not understand how they feel
____________________
25. Feeling or showing sorrow, pity, or sympathy for the suffering and
misfortune of others, a desire to give help or show mercy
____________________
26. Gentle, willing to take orders from others __________________
27. Unkind, without feelings for the suffering of other people
____________________
28. Being set free from control, anxiety, duty etc. _________________
29. Readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, demand, the wishes
of others, yielding, obedient ____________________
30. Intending to hurt the feelings in a pretendedly funny way, mean
____________________
31. Sad ___________________
32. Very unhappy __________________
33. To believe in yourself and your ability __________________
unhappy / resentful / snide / loyal / sadistic /
selfish / affluent / devoted / guilty / cruel /
remorseful / sympathetic / obedient / anxious /
frustrated / fearful / wealthy / manipulative /
miserable / helpless / compliant / desperate /
compassionate / nervous / patient / vengeful /
deceitful / submissive / callous / insensitive
Which of the above words are similar in meaning or belong together?
Group them together below.
Noun Adjective selfishness
cruel
fear
nervous
anxiety
loyal
devotion
obedient
pain
unhappy
sadism
callous
affluence
guilty
remorse
frustrated
strength
wealthy
desperation
patient
vengeance
resentful
insensitivity
helpless
sympathy
manipulative
submissiveness
compassionate
compliance
snide
liberation
deceitful
misery
confident
Choose the words in the column which you associate with either
Mr Foster, Mrs Foster or the butler. You can use the same word
to describe these characters if you think it’s appropriate.
Mr Foster Mrs Foster The butler
1. Choose the correct word and fill in the gaps.
(cruelty / cruel)
a) Mr Foster’s ________________ was evident in the way he
treated his wife.
b) Mr Foster was _______________.
(fear / fearful)
a) Mrs Foster was _______________ of being late.
b) Mrs Foster had a great ______________ of being late.
(anxiety / anxious)
a) Mrs Foster would become very ______________ every time
she was late.
b) Mr Foster contributed to his wife’s _______________.
2. Choose nine words from the table and write your own
sentences using both the noun and the adjective.
(_______________ / _______________)
a) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
b) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
(_______________ / _______________)
c) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
d) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
(_______________ / _______________)
e) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
f) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
(_______________ / _______________)
g) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
h) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
(_______________ / _______________)
i) ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
j) ________________________________________________________________________
(_______________ / _______________)
k) ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
l)_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
(_______________ / _______________)
m)__________________________________________
____________________________________________
n)_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
(_______________ / _______________)
o)_____________________________________________
___________________________________________
p)_____________________________________________
______________________________________________
(_______________ / _______________)
q)_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
r)_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Choose any of the words in the table to write sentences. Justify
your choice by giving appropriate examples from the story. Use
the modal ‘would / wouldn’t’ or ‘could / couldn’t’ in your answer.
You can also use either ‘was or felt’ after each name.
cruel / sadistic / selfish / obedient / unhappy /
sympathetic / resentful / loyal / helpless /
insensitive / deceitful / frustrated / compassionate
a) Mr Foster _______ ________________ because ______
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
b) Mr Foster _______ ________________ because _______
_____________________________________________
______________________________________________
c) Mr Foster ________ ________________ because ______
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
d) Mrs Foster ________ _______________ because ____
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
e) Mrs Foster _________ _______________ because ____
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
f) Mrs Foster _______ _______________ because _______
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
g) The butler _________ _______________ because _____
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
h) Mrs Foster _______ _____________ because _________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
i) Mrs Foster ________ _____________ because ________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
j) The Butler _________ ______________ because ______
Use the words in the table to write sentences. Justify your choice
by providing appropriate examples from the story.
anxiety / unhappiness / frustration
cruelty / selfishness / insensitivity
a) Mrs Foster’s _________________ was caused by her
husband’s ___________________. For example, he
would _______________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
b) Mrs Foster’s _________________ was caused by her
husband’s ___________________. For example, he
would _______________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
c) Mrs Foster’s _________________ was caused by her
husband’s ___________________. For example, he
would _______________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Complete the following by using the same words you used in the
previous exercise. Use another word from the table to explain
how Mrs Foster would feel as a result of her husband’s behaviour.
a) Mrs Foster’s ________________ was caused by her
husband’s ________________. As a result, she
would ____________________________________
b) Mrs Foster’s ________________ was caused by her
husband’s ________________. As a result, she
would ____________________________________
c) Mrs Foster’s ________________ was caused by her
husband’s ________________. As a result, she
would ____________________________________
We use by ….. ing and without ……ing to say how
people do something.
I earn my pocket money by working in a petrol station.
She passed her exams without studying.
Make sentences with by …….ing or without …….ing.
Example
a) John got a wonderful job. He was in the right place at the
right time.
John got a wonderful job by being in the right place at the right
time.
b) I left the house this morning. I didn’t close the windows.
I left the house this morning without closing the windows.
1. Ellie stayed awake. She drank lots of coffee.
__________________________________________________
2. Eric drank three glasses of water. He didn’t stop.
__________________________________________________
3. Charles woke us up. He turned the TV on.
__________________________________________________
4. You can find out the meaning of a word. Use a dictionary.
__________________________________________________
5. Mike paid for his new house. He didn’t borrow any
money.
__________________________________________________
6. Sue lost her driving licence. She drove too fast, too often.
__________________________________________________
7. Carl did all his homework. He didn’t ask for any help.
__________________________________________________
8. Teresa cooks all her food. She doesn’t use any salt.
__________________________________________________
Make sentences with by …….ing or without …….ing.
1. Mr Foster prolonged his wife’s agony. He made her wait
unnecessarily.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2. Mr Foster tormented his wife. He prolonged her suffering.
__________________________________________________
3. Mr Foster made his wife miserable. He was selfish.
__________________________________________________
4. Mrs Foster showed her loyalty. She stayed with her
husband despite her unhappiness.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
5. Mr Foster mistreated his wife. He deliberately made her
suffer.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
6. Mr Foster was always late. He didn’t ever have a reason.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
7. Mr Foster would prolong his wife’s suffering. He wouldn’t
ever feel remorseful.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
8. Mr Foster contributed to his wife’s misery. He was
insensitive to her condition.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
9. Mrs Foster finally obtained her freedom. She left her
husband to die.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
10. Mrs Foster let her husband die. She didn’t feel guilty.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Write your own sentences using by …….ing or without
…….ing.
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
What would you do if your house was on fire?
If my house was on fire I would .... get out, call 000 etc.
(modal + base verb)
What would you do if you were in Mrs Foster’s position?
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
A small fire started in Sue’s Kitchen. She didn’t want to
lose her most precious belongings so she started to pack
some photographs, clothes and jewellery in a big bag.
Before she knew it, the fire had spread to every room and
she was trapped. She couldn’t escape.
Past tense
Negation
The infinitive
Past perfect
The passive
Modal
This is what Sue did.
What should she have done instead?
Situation
What did she/he do? What do you think she/he should / shouldn’t have done?
Mrs Foster has to go to the airport. She is waiting for her husband and she is late. Her husband is in his study.
She _____________ uneasily outside. (pace) She __________ asking the butler for the time. (keep)
She _____________ ________ _________ on the door and _____________ to her husband. (knock / speak) She ___________ ________ _________ him about the airport. (remind) She __________ ________ _________ without him. (leave) She ___________ ________ _________ for him. (wait)
Mr. Foster is in his study. His wife is outside waiting for him. They are late.
He _________ her waiting unnecessarily. (keep) He deliberately _______________ her anxiety. (increase)
He _________ ______ ____________ outside on time. (come) He __________ _____ _________ supportive and caring. (be) He ___________ ________ _________ insensitive to her feelings. (be)
The flight to Paris is delayed until the next morning.
She ___________ her husband. (call)
She __________ _______ __________ in a hotel near the airport. (stay) She __________ ________ _________ her husband. (call) She __________ _________ ________ back home. (go)
Mr Foster wants his wife to take him to the club the next morning on her way to the airport.
She _____________ him that the club wasn’t on the way to the airport. (remind) She _____________ to take him. (agree)
She _________ _____ ___________ that they take two separate cars. (insist) She ________ ______ __________ her concerns about this. (express) She ___________ ________ _________ to take him. (agree)
She sees the gift wedged in the crack of the seat and realises that her husband has been deliberately causing her pain.
She ___________up the stairs to call her husband. (hurry) She ____________ to a noise that was coming from inside the house. (listen)
She __________ ________ _________ the driver to take her to the airport. (ask) He _________ ______ ____________ the gift and __________ to his wife. (hide / lie) He ___________ ________ _________ deceitful. (be)
Mrs Foster hears a noise coming deep from within the house.
She ___________ down the stairs and _________ back in the car. (come / get) She ___________ the driver to take her to the airport. (ask)
She __________ ________ _________ inside the house to help her husband. (go) She ________ ______ _________ someone else to help him. (tell) She _________ _____ ___________ him. (abandon) She ____________ _________ ________ him there to die. (leave)
Situation
What did she/he do? What do you think she/he should have or shouldn’t have done?
Mrs Foster has to go to the airport. She is waiting for her husband and she is late. Her husband is in his study.
Mr. Foster is in his study. His wife is outside waiting for him. They are late.
The flight to Paris is delayed until the next morning.
Mr Foster wants his wife to take him to the club the next morning on her way to the airport.
She sees the gift wedged in the crack of the seat and realises that her husband has been deliberately causing her pain.
Mrs Foster hears a noise coming deep from within the house.
a) but
b) Although
a) Mr Foster would deliberately keep his wife waiting but she
never once complained about this.
b) __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
a) Mrs Foster was afraid of being late but she would never disturb
her husband.
b) __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
a) Mrs Foster had refused to believe that her husband would ever
consciously cause her pain but she had recently started to
suspect that he was tormenting her deliberately.
b) ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
a) Mr Foster knew that his wife had a great fear of being late but
he would keep her waiting nonetheless.
b) ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
a) Mr Foster had no commitments in New York but he refused to
move to Paris.
b) __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
a) Mr Foster knew how desperately his wife wanted to live in
France but he refused to go there.
b) __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
a) Mrs Foster had never met her grandchildren but she loved them
deeply.
b)______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
The Way Up to Heaven
Mrs Foster was forced to do what she did. She had no
other choice. Do you agree?
Find as many quotes from the story as you can to show
that the following statements are true.
a) That Mrs Foster suspected her husband was hurting her
deliberately.
b) That Mrs Foster loved her grandchildren.
c) That she longed to lived in Paris.
d) That Mr Foster was deliberately prolonging his wife’s anxiety.
e) That Mr Foster wasn’t concerned about his wife’s distress.
f) That Mrs Foster was a loyal wife.
g) That Mrs Foster was happy in Paris.
h) That Mrs Foster always intended to return to Paris.
i) That Mrs Foster knew what to expect when she returned from
Paris.
j) That Mrs Foster was aware of her husband’s whereabouts
when she returned to the apartment.
k) That Mrs Foster wasn’t remorseful for what she had done.
The following have been changed from direct speech to
indirect speech. Fill in the gaps with the correct word and
tense.
‘What time is it Walker?’ she asked the butler as she
passed him. Pg. 41 (Mrs Foster)
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
‘It’s ten minutes past nine, madam.’ Pg. 41 (the butler)
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
‘And has the car come?’ Pg.41 (Mrs Foster)
___________________________________________________
‘Yes, madam, it’s waiting. I’m just going to put the luggage
in now.’ Pg. 41 (the butler)
The butler ____________ her that the car ___________
____________ and _____________ he __________ going to
put the luggage in it at that time.
‘It takes an hour to get to the airport,’ she said. ‘My plane
leaves at eleven. I have to be there half an hour before
that to check in. I shall be late. I just know I’m going to
be late.’ Pg. 41 – 42 (Mrs Foster)
Mrs Foster ___________ ___________ it ____________ an
hour to get to the airport and _____________ her plane
___________ ____________ at eleven. She ___________
__________ she ___________ to be there half an hour before
that so ___________ she ____________ check in. She was
worried ______________ she thought ___________ she
_________ going to be late.
‘I think you have plenty of time, madam,’ the butler said
kindly. ‘I warned Mr Foster that you must leave at 9.15.
There’s still another five minutes.’ Pg. 42 (the butler)
The butler ____________ her __________ she _________
plenty of time and ___________ he ___________warned Mr
Foster about the fact ____________ she __________ _______
leave at 9.15. He also ____________ her ___________ they
still _____________ another five minutes left.
‘Everything’s ready. The car’s waiting.’ Pg. 43 (Mrs Foster
to Mr Foster)
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
‘I arranged everything with the servants,’ Mr Foster said.
‘They’re all going away today. I gave them half-pay for
six weeks and told Walker I’d write to him when we
wanted them back.’ Pg. 44 (Mr Foster)
Mr Foster ___________ that he __________ arranged
everything with the servants and ___________ they _________
all going away that day. He __________ ___________ he
_________ ____________ them half-pay for six weeks and
____________ he ___________ ___________ Walker
________ he ___________ write to him when ___________
wanted them to come back.
‘I’ll move into the club tonight. It’ll be a nice change,
staying at the club.’ Pg. 44 (Mr Foster to Mrs Foster)
Mr Foster ____________ Mrs Foster __________ he
_________ move into the club that night. He ___________
_________ it __________ be a nice change to __________
at the club.
‘I’ll call in at the house occasionally to see that
everything’s all right and to collect the mail.’ Pg. 44 (Mr
Foster to Mrs Foster)
Mr Foster ____________ Mrs Foster __________ he
___________ call in at the house occasionally to see ______
everything ___________ all right and so ___________ he
_____________ collect the mail.
‘Stop worrying,’ the old man said. ‘It doesn’t matter. They
never fly in this sort of weather. I don’t know why you
came out at all.’ Pg. 45 (Mr Foster to Mrs Foster)
Mr Foster ____________ Mrs Foster to ____________
worrying because it didn’t matter. He __________ __________
planes never ___________ in that sort of weather and
___________ he ___________ ___________ why she
__________ come out at all.
‘I must have left it in my bedroom.’ Pg. 49 (Mr Foster)
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Unreal Past
If a had happened, b would have happened.
If + past perfect, …. would have …..
To talk about unreal past events – things that did not happen – we
use if + past perfect.
(We normally use would have + past participle in the other part
of the sentence.)
Eg. I’m sorry you had all those problems. If you had asked me, I
would have helped you.
a) Mr Foster – understanding
b) His wife – leave him
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a) Mr Foster – supportive
b) His wife – abandon him
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a) Mr Foster – selfish
b) They – go to Paris together
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a) Mr Foster – insensitive towards his wife
b) She – abandon him
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a) The flight – delayed
b) Mrs Foster – not go home
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a) Mr Foster – lie to his wife
b) She – go inside the house
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a) Mr Foster – go inside the house
b) He – live
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a) Mr Foster – be a better husband
b) His wife – save him
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
a) Mrs Foster – go inside the house when she heard the noise
b) She – miss her flight
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Write some of your own sentences here
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Mr Foster
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Mrs Foster
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
The butler
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
THE WAY UP TO HEAVEN
Roald Dahl
1. What did Mrs Foster have a great fear of?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. What would the idea of being late do to her?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
3. As a result of this, what would happen?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
4. What would Mrs Foster do while she was waiting for her husband?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
5. Why wouldn’t Mrs Foster ever call out to her husband and tell him
to hurry?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
6. How was Mr Foster increasing his wife’s anxiety?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
7. How do you know that Mrs Fosters fear was serious and almost an
illness?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
8. Was Mr Foster aware of the affect he was having on his wife?
Find the sentences that prove this.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________