Gerard turned and saw a gigantic bear charging towards him and his friend Denys. The bear was chasing the two friends out of curiosity and had caught their scent. When the bear saw the two men, she reared up on her hind legs and seized Denys in her powerful jaws. Gerard tried to draw the bear away by jabbing at it, but the brute released Denys and sprang at Gerard instead. Gerard found himself in a dangerous situation as the enormous bear had grasped him in her jaws and was clenching down hard.

1. A FIGHT WITH A
BEAR
Abridged for CHARLES READE’S
The Cloister and the Hearth

2. Charles Reade
• Charles Reade (8 June 1814 – 11
April 1884) was an English novelist
and dramatist, best known for The
Cloister and the Hearth.
• As an author, he always had an eye
to stage effect in scene and
situation as well as in dialogue
• His novels attacked, with
passionate indignation and
laborious research, the social
injustices of his times

3. Meanings
Peculiar – distinct from all
others, strange, odd
Curiosity - strong desire to
know something,
inquisitiveness
Colossal - extremely large,
huge, enormous
Paces – single steps taken
while walking or running,

4. Calm - Not showing or feeling
nervousness, tranquil , still , placid
Stupor - A state of near-
unconsciousness or insensibility,
numbness , torpidity
Pale - having little color
Whirled - Move or cause to move
rapidly, spin, rotate

5. Tearing – to move with speed
Scent – To perceive or identify by
the sense of smell
Hoarsely - low, harsh, and lacking in
intensity
Dilating - To become wider or
larger; expand.
Trail - to follow the course taken by,
pursue
Tearing – to move with speed
Scent – To perceive or identify by
the sense of smell
Hoarsely - low, harsh, and lacking in
intensity
Dilating - To become wider or
larger; expand.
Trail - to follow the course taken by,
pursue

6. Whirlwind – tornedo

8. Reared – To rise on the hind
legs, as a horse., To rise
high in the air; tower.
Seized - to grasp suddenly
and forcibly; take or
grab:

9. Mount – climb
Pursuer - a person who is
pursuing and trying to
overtake or capture
Bough – branch
Spring - jump or leap

10. Grasped – hold firmly
Clenching – a tight grip
Jab – stab
Brute – animal, beast
Mount - climb

11. Reference to Context
“My hour has come he thought”
1. Why did Gerard turn and what did he see?
2. Why was the bear chasing the two friends?
3. How did the bear react when she saw the two men?
4. How did the bear first attach them?
5. Describe the dangerous situation in which Denys
found himself?