Les Misérables
Les Misérables
Les Misérables
DREAMTHE
THE D2EM
serables
sLONCSST A
Learning Objectives
Get the meaning of
foreign words from
Les Misérables
context An Excerpt
Predict outcomes
Determine author's by Victor Hugo
purpose
convicts?
each time, more years were added to the original sentence
he had served a total of nineteen years
While in thegalleys it was apparent that, in
nassed all the other inmates of the strength,
physical he tar
sur
prison. His strength wasequal to that of tour
men, a quality that made him easily
lalghed. From year to year his soul recognizable. He talked little and never
had withered more and more.
Jean Valjean entered the galleys a
man, condemning society,
frightened youth; he came out a harderea
sentencing it to his hatred for in his mind, it was
society which was responsible for the doom he had
At last, after nineteen years of torture undergone.
and slavery, he was set free. On
his way to his home village, he entereda town and looked for lodging; but at
every place he went to, he was turned away for it had become known that he
was Jean Valjean, former convict and galley slave, and therefore dangerous.
In desperation, he went to the town prison but the quard would not let him
in. He tried a dog-kennel but even the dog did not want him. At last, he came
to a stone bench in front of a church. He lay down on the bench. Just then
an old woman came out of the church and pointing to a little house next to
the church, told Jean Valjean to knock there. He did as he was told and was
astonished when, after telling the bishop about his past, he was
bidden to ear
with them and from silver plates. He was also given a clean, soft bed to sleep
in and was even called 'monsieur!" Monsieur toa convict is a glass of water
to a man dying of thirst at sea. Ignominy thirsts for respect.)
As the cathedral clock struck two, Jean Valjean awoke. What awakened
him was, too good a bed. For nearly twenty years, he had not slept in a
bed, and, although he had not undressed, the sensation was too novel
not to disturb his sleep. He had slept something more than four hours.
His fatigue had passed away. He was not accustomed to give many hours
to repose. He could not get to sleep again, and so he began to think.
Those six silver plates took possession of him. There they were, within
a few steps. His mind wavered a whole hour, and a long one, in fuctu-
ation and in struggle. The clock struck three. He opened his eyes, rose
up hastily in bed, reached out his arm and felt for his haversack, which
he had put into the corner of the alcove, then he thrust out his legs and
placed his feet on the ground, and found himself, he knew not how, seat
ed on his bed. All was still in the house. With stealthy steps, he moved
towards the door of the next room, which was the bishop's, as we know.
On reaching the door, he found it unlatched. The bishop had not closed
it. He took one step and was in the room.
A deep calm filled the chamber. Here and there indistinct, confused
forms could be distinguished; which by day, were papers scattered over
a fable, open folios, books piled on a stool, an armchair with clothes on
and whitish spots. Jean
a prie-dieu, but now were only dark corners
valjean advances, carefully avoiding the furniture. At the farther end
of the room he could hear the equal and quiet breathing of the sleeni
ping
bishop. from the old man. The only thina hich
He did not remove his eyes
countenance was a strange indee
was plain from
his attitude and his
he was hesitating between two realms, tht
sion. You would have said
of the doomed and that of the saved. He appeared ready either to cleqve