How to Discuss a Story. Бунеева И.М - 56 стр.

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      said to myself, "Rosie loves you dearly. You shouldn't give her the
medicine." Then I looked at her father. "If you marry Rosie you'll be connected with
her family. It would be good if he loved you," I thought. And I put the medicine in
Mr. Riddle's cup of tea. "Thank you for the medicine," said Jim and hurried away.

                            EXAMPLE DISCUSSION

       Student 1: The story “Love Drug” written by O’Henry is both educative and
entertaining. I think, it is typical of his stories as well as some other features, the
background setting, for example. In my opinion, the action takes place place in
America in the beginning of the 20th century. What do you think?
       Student 2: I agree with you, in America boarding houses were popular then.
The setting is typical of O’Henry’s stories where main characters are often borders
and they are poor. At the opening of the story we meet Jim, the main character of
the story and one of such typical O’Henry’s characters. What is your opinion of
Jim?
       Student 1: Well, like all romantic characters, Jim is poor and very much in
love, he is eager to marry Rosie, the daughter of the owner of the boarding house
known as Old Riddle, but he is not sure if she loves him much enough and if she is
ready to elope with him and marry secretly, because Rosie’s father is naturally
against their marriage. But don’t forget that at the opening of the story we also meet
another character, Pilkins!
       Student 2: Oh, yes, he is a really important character! He is the one who
makes the plot so dramatic and exciting! Pilkins is Jim’s friend who works at the
chemist's. He is a quiet man who is unable to do anything wrong, or so it seems. But
still waters run deep.
       Student 1: Right you are. As the story unfolds, we learn that Pilkins turns out
to be secretly in love with Rosie; what’s more, he is hoping the marriage to her will
bring him the money to set up his own chemist’s! Isn’t his plan selfish and even
cruel?
       Student 2: I think it really is. As the plot progresses, we learn that Jim asks
him for help: he wants a drug to make Rosie love him. Pilkins gives Jim some
powder of morphia and hurries to warn Old Riddle about Jim’s plan. Mr. Riddle
promises that Jim will find his death in the morning. This is when the story reaches
the climax, isn’t it?
       Student 1: Indeed, this is a very tense moment! The story ends well, though.
As the morning comes, we learn that Jim is married to Rosie. He put the powder
into Old Riddle’s cup at dinner as he realized Rosie loved him dearly but her father
didn’t, so it would be good if he did! So Mr. Riddle slept when Jim and Rosie got
married. I don’t think I could predict such an original end!