Summary
Call for the Dead
introduces George Smiley, an active WWII intelligence agent now quietly doing counterespionage work at home and longing for his former active life and his wandering ex-wife, Lady Ann Sercomb. Smiley is called to task by his superior, Maston, for having bullied Arthur Fennan, a man Smitty had investigated because of an anonymous letter alleging party membership. Fennan has committed suicide. Smiley is surprised because he had not only cleared Fennan of suspicion, but had formed an affection and regard for him. Smiley is sent to Fennan’s widow Elsa, a former concentration camp inmate, to find out why Fennan killed himself. While there, he discovers that Fennan had left a wake-up call for that morning, an action a man contemplating suicide would not do.
Smiley’s friend, a C.I.D. superintendent, Inspector Mendel, confirms Smiley’s suspicions about the wake-up call. However, when Smiley presents his suspicions to Maston, he discovers that Maston intends to throw him to the wolves. Enraged, Smiley resigns, and narrowly escaping an attempt on his life, begins, with Inspector Mendel’s help, to track the murderer. The trail takes Smiley not only across London but across time, back to WWII. In a harrowing climax, Smiley confronts the murderer, a former member of Smiley’s spy network, and conquers. Smiley is reinstated, and the novel ends as Smiley travels to Zurich in search of his ex-wife.
Chapters 1-6
Vocabulary
enigmatic
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irreconcilable
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authorized
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incongruity
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mercenary
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uncompromising
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evasive
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amoral
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cul-de-sac
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promiscuous
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rudimentary
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denunciation
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l. Where and when does this story take place?
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2. Describe George Smiley physically and mentally.
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3. Why was Smiley’s marriage to Lady Ann Sercomb described as incongruous?
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4. What was Smiley’s job in the past? What does he do now?
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5. What is Smiley’s nickname? Why does it fit him?
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6. Who is Maston? What is his relationship to Smiley?
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7. How does Smiley feel about Maston? Give examples from the story to support your point of view.
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8. Why doesn’t Smiley want to see Elsa Fennan?
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9. What is Smiley’s impression of Elsa?
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10. How does Smiley learn that Elsa Fennan lied to him? How does he confirm his suspicions?
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11. Describe Inspector Mendel. Why do you think he helped Smiley?
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12. What happened when Smiley revealed his suspicions to Maston?
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13. Why did Smiley resign?
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14. What did Smiley find when he returned home? Why did he go to Mendel for help?
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15. Who is Scarr? What information does Smiley obtain?
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16. Describe what happened to Smiley when he returned to his car.
Chapters 7-11
Vocabulary
resignation
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articulate
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academic
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rendezvous
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revulsion
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conceivable
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flamboyance
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apprehensive
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1. Briefly summarize the information Mendel obtained from Adam Scarr after Smiley went to the hospital?
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2. How did Smiley feel about being in bed? Why?
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3. Who is Peter Guillam? Why does Smiley want his help?
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4. What does Smiley mean when he reflects about Samuel Fennan, “The new world and the old world met in him.”
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5. Why does Smiley think the murderer wants to kill him quickly?
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6. What information does he obtain from Peter?
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7. What surprising news does Mendel bring about Adam Scarr?
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8. What does Mendel observe about Smiley? Do you agree? Why or why not?
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9. Who is “The Virgin?” What information does Mendel obtain?
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10. What is the Steel Mission? Why is Dieter Frey important?
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11. Who is Mundt?
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l2. Why does Smiley want to see Elsa Fennan again?
Chapters 12-17
Vocabulary
concessive
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recompense
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detachment
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coherent
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immaterial
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incipient
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1. According to Elsa, Why was Samuel Fennan killed?
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2. Of what importance is it that Fennan had Dieter’s full name and number written in his address book?
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3. What kinds of files was Fennan taking home? Why?
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4. What did Smiley remember about Dresden?
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5. Why does Smiley have a message sent to Elsa? What is the result?
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6. What happens to Elsa at the theatre?
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7. Why does Smiley lose control when he confronts Dieter? Describe what happened.
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8. What does Smiley mean when he says at the end of chapter sixteen, “Oh God, who was then the gentleman . . . ?”
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9. Why does Maston visit Smiley?
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10. What was the truth about Elsa Fennan? What had Sam Fennan intended to do the day he took off?
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11. Why does Smiley turn down the promotion?
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12. Why is he on the plane to Zurich? Is the young man right?
Select any two of the following questions, and write a composition for each. Be sure to support your ideas with examples from the story.
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1. Where, how, and with whom does
Call for the Dead
begin? End? How much time does it cover in the lives of the main characters?
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2. What influence did the setting have on the events and characters? Could an almost identical story have occurred in another time and place and still be believable?
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3. Who are the main characters? What are their relationships? Do they seem real? How would Smiley act if he were a teacher at this school? Mendel? Elsa?
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4. Select two of Smiley’s personality traits and show how they are revealed. Does the author tell you? -Can you tell by Smiley’s words, actions, or thoughts? How do the other characters feel about him? How do you feel about him? Why?
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5. From what point of view is this story told? Does the point of view ever change? Why? What is accomplished? Select one scene and show how the point of view or change in the point of view increased your understanding or enjoyment of this book.
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6. Are flashbacks used in this story? Why? How would this novel have been changed if everything had been told in chronological order?
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7. How did Smiley’s and Mendel’s relationship change during the novel? Were they different in any way at the end than they were at the beginning?
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8. What is the theme of this story? What values do you think emerge at the end of the story? Did you learn anything you could apply to your life?
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9. Has this novel helped you understand how complex a person’s response could be in any given situation? Give examples.
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10. Select something about the novel you liked best and write about it. Lesson Plans
Day l—Time 3 hours
Objective
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To introduce the unit.
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To foster cooperation among students.
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To help students recognize their subjectivity.
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To obtain initial samples of student writing.
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To introduce plot and character.
Materials
Magic Markers, drawing paper, composition paper, pens
Procedure
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1. Have students sit in a circle, and tell why they entered class and what they wish to accomplish.
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2. Explain what I hope to accomplish, and the classroom rules.
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3. Move to tables. Sit in a circle and explain the rules of Circle Picture. (see the rules under “Launching the Unit”)
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4. Play game and discuss results. If a high degree of cooperation already exists go on to next activity. If not, discuss the reasons why and try again.
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5. Put pictures on display, have students return to seats and play circle story. Have students read stories aloud when finished and vote on which ones they think did the best job. Discuss why these stories were more interesting than the others and make a list. Review plot and character. Take break.
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6. After break, students are to write a composition about a time when their point of view differed from someone else’s which really mattered to them. (see “Launching the Unit”) Length is to be approximately one page. Collect compositions when finished.
Homework Assignment
Read “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber
Day Two—Time three hours
Objectives
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To establish rules for compositions.
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To help students recognize differing points of view.
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To introduce setting and conflict.
Materials
Paper, pens, play “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”
Procedure
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1. Sit in circle. Return yesterday’s compositions. Discuss what was good, what needs improvement. Compile list of errors too easy to make, such as, periods at end of each sentence, using capitals correctly, etc. The list will depend upon the level of students. Don’t make the list too long. Stick to the most basic things. Each student understands that his paper will be returned if a list error is discovered.
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2. Discuss “Walter Mitty.” (see “Launching Unit”)
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3. Composition assignment to be begun in class finished for homework. Write a story about someone who made his dream come true. The story can be real or fictional.
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4. After break, assign parts and begin reading play,”The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”.
Homework Assignment
Finish composition.
Day Three—Time three hours
Objectives
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To introduce novel— The Thirty-nine Steps.
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To help students recognize differing points of view.
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To reinforce plot, character, setting, conflict.
Materials
Folders, pens, paper, novel, film on WWI
Procedure
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1. Collect homework compositions. Pass out folders. Students are to collect future work in folders.
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2. Pass out “Monsters.” Finish play. Discussion. If you could be any one of these characters and change their destiny, who would you be? How would you change things?
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3. Present film. Discussion. Compare attitudes and beliefs to today’s. Break.
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4. Distribute novel, questions. Review things to look for in characters and setting. Begin story in class aloud. Finish first chapter silently.
Homework
Finish first four chapters. Answer questions.