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About an hour later, my mother returned and came upstairs to kiss us all goodnight.

‘I wish you hadn’t done that,’ I said to her. ‘It makes me look silly.’

‘They don’t beat small children like that where I come from,’ she said. ‘I won’t allow it.’

‘What did Mr. Coombes say to you, Mama?’

‘He told me that I was a foreigner and I didn’t understand how British schools were run,’ she said.

‘Did he get ratty with you?’

‘Very ratty,’ she said. ‘He told me that if I didn’t like his methods I could take you away.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I said I would, as soon as the school year is finished. I shall find you an English school this time,’ she said. ‘Your father was right. English schools are the best in the world.’

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Roald’s mother returns from a nighttime call on Mr. Coombes. After Mr. Coombes canes Roald for his role in the dead mouse prank on Mrs. Pratchett, Roald’s mother sees the marks from the cane on Roald’s bottom during bath time. ...

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Original

Romeo

(aside) She speaks.
O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white, upturnèd, wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Juliet

O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art though Romeo?
Deny they father and refuse they name.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Modern

Romeo

(to himself) She speaks. Speak again, bright angel! For tonight you are as glorious, there up above me, as a winged messenger of heaven who makes mortals fall onto their backs to gaze up with awestruck eyes as he strides across the lazy clouds and sails through the air.

Juliet

O Romeo, Romeo! Why must you be Romeo? Deny your father and give up your name. Or, if you won’t change your name, just swear your love to me and I’ll give up being a Capulet.

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