1. Life and literary activity of Charles Kingsley. Historical fiction genre in Literature

Chapter 20. Spanish Bloodhounds and English Mastiffs

Words to look up: galleon, pedantical, despotism, prowess, proselytizing, approbation. Madre Dolorosa means Mother of Sorrows.
Copywork: And now and then an opening in the smoke showed the Spanish captain, in his suit of black steel armor, standing cool and proud, guiding and pointing, careless of the iron hail, but too lofty a gentleman to soil his glove with aught but a knightly sword-hilt: while Amyas and Will, after the fashion of the English gentlemen, had stripped themselves nearly as bare as their own sailors, and were cheering, thrusting, hewing, and hauling, here, there, and everywhere, like any common mariner, and filling them with a spirit of self-respect, fellow-feeling, and personal daring, which the discipline of the Spaniards, more perfect mechanically, but cold and tyrannous, and crushing spiritually, never could bestow. The black-plumed se ñor was obeyed; but the golden-locked Amyas was followed, and would have been followed through the jaws of hell.
Narration and Discussion: Salvation Yeo says, "I thank the Lord, who has given so wise a heart to so young a general." Do you agree? How is Amyas showing wisdom, or not?
Who do you think is the bravest character in this chapter?

Chapter 21. How They Took the Communion Under the Tree at Higuerote

Words to look up: accrue, impregnable, caliver, abattis
Copywork: Flower-gardens at least were there in plenty; for every limb was covered with pendent cactuses, gorgeous orchises, and wild pines; and while one-half the tree was clothed in rich foliage, the other half, utterly leafless, bore on every twig brilliant yellow flowers, around which humming-birds whirred all day long. Parrots peeped in and out of every cranny, while, within the airy woodland, brilliant lizards basked like living gems upon the bark, gaudy finches flitted and chirruped, butterflies of every size and color hovered over the topmost twigs, innumerable insects hummed from morn till eve; and when the sun went down, tree-toads came out to snore and croak till dawn. There was more life round that one tree than in a whole square mile of English soil.
Narration and Discussion: What plans does Amyas make now? (What are the choices?) How does he (again) miss his chance to fight in single combat with Don Guzman?