Chapter OneThe Gypsy and the Soldier
Iam from Spain. I do not need to tell you my name. It is not important for this story. The only name you really need to remember is the name, Carmen.1 In a small town, there was a man named Jose. He was a soldier and he lived in the army barracks, which were on one side of the town square.2 On the other side, there was a cigarette factory.
One day, a girl named Micaela went to this town. She came from the country and Jose was her sweetheart. As soon as she arrived at the square, she spoke to the Captain of the Guard.
“Excuse me. I’m looking for Don Jose. I’ve come from his village to bring a letter from his mother,”3 she said.
The man replied, “The guard changes at noon and he will be here then.4 You can wait until then.”
“Thank you,” she said.
Check up
What was the relationship between Jose and Micaela?
__________________________
Key Words & Sentences
Gypsy (n): người Gypsy
soldier (n): người lính
named (adj): có tên là
army barrack (n): doanh trại quân đội
on a side of: một mặt của
cigarette (n): thuốc lá
sweetheart (n): người yêu, người tình
captain (n): đại úy
guard (n): phiên gác
look for: tìm kiếm
1 The only name you really need to remember is the name, Carmen.
2 He was a soldier and he lived in the army barracks, which were on one side of the town square.
3 I’ve come from his village to bring a letter from his mother,
4 The guard changes at noon and he will be here then.
While she waited, she heard the sound of a whistle. It came from the cigarette factory. This meant it was lunchtime for the workers. All the women came out of the factory and went to the square to eat their lunches.1Carmen was one of those women.
There is no way to describe her. She was a Gypsy girl who entrapped every man with her charm.2 She was beautiful and magical. She loved passionately, but she became bored easily. She would cast aside a man as quickly as she loved him.3 She loved her freedom. She always wanted to be the one who did the choosing.4 She was like a bird that would rather die than be trapped in a cage.5 She would always say to her friends, “No man will choose me. I will always decide who I love.”
Check up
Based on the text, mark ‘T’ if true or ‘F’ if false.
a. Jose worked at a cigarette factory. ______
b. Carmen was a boring person. ______
c. Carmen didn’t want to be controlled by others. ______
Key Words
whistle (n): tiếng còi hiệu
out of (prep): ra khỏi
describe (v): diễn tả, mô tả
entrap (v): đánh bẫy, lừa
charm (n): sự quyến rũ
magical (adj): có sức lôi cuốn
passionately (adv): say đắm, nồng nàn
bored (adj): chán
cast aside: bỏ, loại ra
rather (adv): còn hơn là
trap (v): giam, nhốt
cage (n): lồng, chuồng
Key Sentences
1 All the women came out of the factory and went to the square to eat their lunches.
2 She was a Gypsy girl who entrapped every man with her charm.
3 She would cast aside a man as quickly as she loved him.
4 She always wanted to be the one who did the choosing.
5 She was like a bird that would rather die than be trapped in a cage.
While the women were eating their meals, the change of guard took place.1 Many soldiers marched into the square. When they saw Carmen, they all behaved differently. Each man flirted with her and tried to get her attention.2 But she laughed at their childish efforts.
“Why are you all trying so hard? I like a man who is hard to get. Love is never simple. It shows itself just when you are not expecting it.”3
Don Jose was also there in the square. He came under her spell immediately.4 He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She suddenly turned around and saw him.
Just at that moment the whistle of the cigarette factory blew again. Carmen called to her friends, “Frasquita! Mercedes! We have to go back to work.”
But Carmen did not directly go to the factory. She walked up to Don Jose. From her lovely hair, she pulled a red rose and threw it down at his feet and smiled sweetly.5
Check up
Why did the soldiers behave differently when they saw Carmen?
a. They were hungry and wanted some food.
b. The soldiers were attracted to Carmen.
c. Carmen had a cute child with her.
Key Words & Sentences
meal (n): bữa ăn
take place (= happen): xảy ra, diễn ra
march (v): diễu hành, tuần hành
behave (v): hành xử
flirt (v): tán tỉnh, ve vãn
attention (n): sự chú ý
laugh at: cười nhạo
childish (adj): ngây ngô, trẻ con
effort (n): sự nỗ lực, sự cố gắng
under a spell: bị mê hoặc, say mê
immediately (adv): ngay lập tức
blow (v): thổi
(blow - blew - blown)
directly (adv): thẳng
walk up to: đi về phía, lại gần
sweetly (adv): một cách duyên dáng
1 While the women were eating their meals, the change of guard took place.
2 Each man flirted with her and tried to get her attention.
3 It shows itself just when you are not expecting it.
4 He came under her spell immediately.
5 From her lovely hair, she pulled a red rose and threw it down at his feet and smiled sweetly.
At the time this story took place, many people believed in fate. They believed that everything that happened was controlled by destiny.1
Don Jose knew that if he picked up the rose, he would be trapped forever by her.2 If that happened, Carmen could do whatever she wanted with his heart. They remained looking at each other. After a long silence, he bent down and picked up the rose. Now he was hers. He was bewitched, and could do nothing but wait for destiny to show him his future happiness.3
Just after all the women had left, Micaela entered the square. Don Jose was very surprised and pleased to see her. He was also very happy to receive the letter from his mother. But he could not concentrate on Micaela or the letter.4 His mind and heart were in another place. Micaela left, no doubt feeling disappointed that Don Jose did not want to talk longer to her.5 After she left, he almost never thought of her again.
Check up
He was bewitched.
= He was under her _____________ .
a. spell
b. beauty
c. hand
Key Words
believe in: tin
fate (n): số phận
control (v): kiểm soát, điều khiển
destiny (n): số phận
pick up: nhặt lên
whatever (pronoun): bất cứ điều gì
remain (v): vẫn, cứ
silence (n): sự im lặng
bend (v): cúi xuống
(bend - bent - bent)
be bewitched: bị quyến rũ, say mê
(bewitch (v): quyến rũ, mê hoặc)
concentrate on: tập trung, nghĩ về
no doubt: chắc chắn,
không nghi ngờ gì
disappointed (adj): thất vọng
Key Sentences
1 They believed that everything that happened was controlled by destiny.
2 Don Jose knew that if he picked up the rose, he would be trapped forever by her.
3 He was bewitched, and could do nothing but wait for destiny to show him his future happiness.
4 But he could not concentrate on Micaela or the letter.
5 Micaela left, no doubt feeling disappointed that Don Jose did not want to talk longer to her.
One day, a fight broke out in the factory, and Carmen wounded another woman.1 No one even knew how the fight started. Anyway, Carmen was arrested. A captain in the army, Zuniga, told Don Jose that he was in charge of the group of men to take her to prison.2When Carmen saw Don Jose, she smiled sweetly at him.
“It is destiny for us to be together. Let me go free when we go across the bridge. Then, I’ll meet you at Lilla Pastia’s tavern. I promise I will love only you.”
“I cannot,” replied Don Jose. “I have to take you to prison.”
“You have to let me go because your heart is in my power.3 You picked up the rose. It’s a magic flower that binds us together.4 Can’t you feel it?” she said.
Don Jose had a difficult time with this. But she was right. He had to let her go. As she ran off, she said, “Lilla Pastia’s tavern! Don’t forget!”
Check up
What does it mean by the sentence: “It is destiny for us to be together.”?
a. We cannot marry.
b. We should stay together.
c. Life will be hard for us.
Key Words
break out: nổ ra, diễn ra
(break - broke - broken)
wound (v): làm bị thương
arrest (v): bắt giữ
in charge of: phụ trách, chỉ huy
prison (n): nhà tù, nhà giam
let go: thả ra
tavern (n): quán rượu
in one’s power: bị ai sai khiến/
điều khiển
bind (v): buộc, trói chặt
(bind - bound - bound)
run off: chạy trốn
Key Sentences
1 One day, a fight broke out in the factory, and Carmen wounded another woman.
2 A captain in the army, Zuniga, told Don Jose that he was in charge of the group of men to take her to prison.
3 You have to let me go because your heart is in my power.
4 It’s a magic flower that binds us together.
When Zuniga found out Carmen had escaped, he was furious.
“You are such an idiot! You let her escape and now you have to be punished.1 Lock him away in prison!”
It was well–known that Zuniga loved Carmen too. In fact, he was relieved to have his rival taken away to prison.2 Poor Don Jose just wondered how long it would be before he saw Carmen again.
Many months passed by and one night in Lilla Pastia’s tavern, Carmen was with her friends Frasquita and Mercedes.3 They were drinking wine and talking to some smugglers. Zuniga was also there. He had begged Carmen to forget Don Jose many times.4
“He has forgotten you for sure,” he told her. “You think he will come here for you but he won’t. He was released from prison today and he hasn’t come.”5
Carmen said, “He loves me, so he will come. I promised I would wait. I must keep my promise.”
Key Words & Sentences
find out: phát hiện
furious (adj): tức giận
idiot (n): thằng ngốc, tên ngốc
punish (v): trừng phạt
lock (v): nhốt, giam
well-known (adj): ai cũng biết
be relieved: cảm thấy nhẹ nhõm, hả dạ
(relieve (v): làm dễ chịu, yên tâm)
rival (n): đối thủ, kình địch
take away: mang đi, đem đi
wonder (v): không biết, tự hỏi
pass by: trôi qua
smuggler (n): tên buôn lậu
for sure: chắc chắn, không nghi ngờ
release (v): thả, trả tự do
keep one’s promise: giữ lời hứa
1 You let her escape and now you have to be punished.
2 In fact, he was relieved to have his rival taken away to prison.
3 Many months passed by and one night in Lilla Pastia’s tavern, Carmen was with her friends Frasquita and Mercedes.
4 He had begged Carmen to forget Don Jose many times.
5 He was released from prison today and he hasn’t come.
Just then, Frasquita said, “Listen. It is Escamillo’s procession. They are going to Seville. Let’s go and meet him.”
Escamillo was a bullfighter. He was always very well–dressed in a tight satin suit, and so many girls thought he was very handsome.1He came into the tavern and saw Carmen.
“What is your name?” he asked.
“I am Carmen,” she said.
“I’ll use your name as a charm to keep me safe when I fight the bulls.”2
Everyone could see that Carmen was looking at him very passionately.
It was fate that took Escamillo to the tavern.3This story would end very differently if he had gone to a different place that night.4
Check up
What brought Escamillo to the tavern?
a. He knew Carmen was there.
b. He was thirsty.
c. It was fate.
Key Words
procession (n): đám diễu hành
bullfighter (n): người đấu bò
tight (adj): chật, bó sát
satin (n): sa tanh
suit (n): bộ quần áo
charm (n): bùa, thần chú
keep safe: giữ an toàn, bảo vệ
bull (n): bò đực
differently (adv): khác, khác biệt
Key Sentences
1 He was always very well-dressed in a tight satin suit, and so many girls thought he was very handsome.
2 I’ll use your name as a charm to keep me safe when I fight the bulls.
3 It was fate that took Escamillo to the tavern.
4 This story would end very differently if he had gone to a different place that night.
After Escamillo had left, Don Jose walked through the door. Carmen ran to him and he said, “Carmen, my love! You are here just as you promised.”1 Then, they danced together until the sun rose.
“I must go now,” he said. “It is daylight and I must return to the barracks.”
“Don’t go back,” she begged. “Stay with me and let’s join the smugglers. We can live in the mountains and be free.”
“I cannot desert my army,” he said.
Carmen stepped back.
“And I cannot love a coward. If you will not risk anything for me, then you do not love me.”2 It seemed as if she wanted a reason for him to leave her, so she could run to Escamillo.3
“Come with us,” Carmen asked him again.
“I love you and so I will come with you,” he said.
So Don Jose went to join the smugglers in the mountains with Carmen.4
Check up
Based on the text, mark ‘T’ if true or ‘F’ if false.
1. Don Jose kept his promise to Carmen. ______
2. Carmen wanted Don Jose to return to his barracks. ______
3. Don Jose and Carmen went to farm in the country. ______
Key Words & Sentences
rise (v): mọc
(rise - rose - risen)
daylight (n): bình minh, rạng đông
join (v): tham gia vào, gia nhập
desert (v): bỏ trốn, rời bỏ
step back: lùi lại
coward (n): kẻ hèn nhát
risk (v): liều lĩnh, mạo hiểm
reason (n): lý do, cái cớ
1 You are here just as you promised.
2 If you will not risk anything for me, then you do not love me.
3 It seemed as if she wanted a reason for him to leave her, so she could run to Escamillo.
4 So Don Jose went to join the smugglers in the mountains with Carmen.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Based on the story, mark ‘T’ if true or ‘F’ if false.
1. Carmen was working in the cigarette factory.
2. When Don Jose saw Carmen for the first time, he couldn’t take his eyes from her.
3. When Carmen arrested, Don Jose took her away to prison free her.
4. Carmen believed Don Jose would come to the tavern.
5. Escamillo was a smuggler, and he loved Carmen.
B. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. Why did Micaela go to see Don Jose in the square?
(a) To tell him she loved him.
(b) To deliver a letter from his mother to him.
(c) To tell him she was getting married.
2. Why did Don Jose hesitate to pick up the rose Carmen threw at his feet?
(a) Because he did not want to be trapped by her.
(b) Because he didn’t know if he liked her.
(c) Because he was in love with another woman.
3. Why did Carmen injure another woman?
(a) Because the other woman wanted to marry Don Jose.
(b) Because the other woman spat at her.
(c) Nobody doesn’t know why.
C. Fill in the blanks with the right word.
desert - risk - coward - barracks - begged
1. “I must go now,” he said. “It is daylight and I must return to the _________.”
2. “Don’t go back,” she _________. “Stay with me and let’s join the smugglers. We can live in the mountains and be free.”
3. “I cannot _________ my army,” he said. Carmen stepped back.
4. “And I cannot love a _________. If you will not
5. _________ anything for me, then you do not love me.”
Understanding the Story
Do you know the ‘Gypsies’, a wandering group of people that refuses to settle down in one place and continues to move around from one place to another? Let’s find out about them.
Gypsies and their Lives
Carmen was a Gypsy, so her life seemed wild and adventurous. Modern scientific studies have shown that Gypsies were wanderers who left India 1,000 years ago and entered Europe in the 16th century. Many Europeans, and even many Gypsies themselves, believed they were from Egypt. This is how they got their name: first they were called Egyptians, then ‘Gyptians’, and finally ‘Gypsies.’
When the Gypsies reached Europe, most of the land was already settled. Gypsies were not Christian like most Europeans. They had darker skin and a different language and culture. For these reasons, Europeans did not welcome the Gypsies. As a result, the Gypsies usually did not settle in any particular place. There were stories that the Gypsies practiced magic, or were immoral.
Carmen represents this wild, sexual image of the Gypsies. Her lover, the Spanish captain, cannot control her, so he kills her. Unfortunately, this is what happened many times throughout European history as the Gypsies were punished for their differences.
adventurous (adj): thích phiêu lưu, mạo hiểm
wanderer (n): người lang thang, người nay đây mai đó
European (n): người Châu Âu
reach (v): đến
settle (v): định cư
Christian (n): người theo đạo Thiên Chúa
welcome (v): chào đón
particular (adj): cụ thể
practice (v): thực hiện, luyện
immoral (adj): xấu xa, phóng đãng
represent (v): đại diện, tiêu biểu cho
sexual (adj): khêu gợi
control (v): điều khiển, kiểm soát
punish (v): trừng phạt