Appunti di Quinta Anno scolastico 2007-2008 Docente Cinzia Tizzi

1. Appunti di QuintaAnno scolastico 2007-2008Docente Cinzia Tizzi The changing face of Britain and America The Victorian Compromise The present age The contemporary literature

2. The changing face of Britain and American The industrial revolution implied new technology and inventions, new source of power with the steam-power, the development of the factory system with the invention of the “spinning jenny” ( the machine for cloth- making) and transport with new waterways and fast road travel. The agrarian revolution with the enclosure of open fields improvement in the breeding of cattle and in farming techniques. The American and French revolutions: in 1783 with the treaty of Versailles, Britain recognised the independence of the American colonies. The new republic of the united states adopted a federal constitution, George Washington was the first president and New York temporary capital. The Romantic Age Complete the following sentences: • The declaration of American Independence was signed by the… • At that time the US was made up of… • The colonist’s discontent with England was • due to.. • The head of the committee …wrote the … • and presented it to the Congress on … • The Declaration was first printed in the… • It was then read in… • Independence Day is traditionally celebrated through.. • June 14 is American… • The original American states are remembered by… • Nowadays fifty states are represented by the… • The red of the flag stands for … the white for… and the blue for… • The American constitution consists of • The American system of Government is… and includes… The system of federal government Congress President Supreme Court House of representatives cabinet Senate

3. From the Luddites to 1837 • Britain’s internal situation was far from being happy; the country was on the verge of starvation, bankruptcy and revolution. The inhuman working condition in factories and the severe unemployment led to outbursts of machine-breaking culminating in the Luddites Riots of 1811. the combination Acts reaffirmed that the associations or trade unions of workers against their employers were illegal. In 1819 during a peaceful public meeting in Manchester soldiers fired into a crowd and eleven people were killed. • The period at the end of the Napoleonic wars was called “the Regency” since the Prince Regent later to become George IV acted as monarch during the illness of his father George III • In 1830 William IV came to the throne. In this period a new political awareness began to be felt and the new age of reforms started. This was the background when Queen Victoria came to the throne. • Listen to the dictation and take notes.

4. The Victorian Age was a period of great moralisers, of great inventions and discoveries, imperial expansion and imperialism, of social reform and new beliefs. Promoted a code of values based on personal duty, hard work, and charity. Respectability was a mixture of both morality and hypocrisy severity and conformity to social standards. Philanthropy was a wide phenomenon; it was addressed to every kind of poverty. Scientific discoveries especially in the field of geology and biology began to question the belief in an universe which was stable and transparent to the intellect. Uncertainty arose faced with a new view of the Universe as being incessantly changing and probably governed by the laws of chance.

5. Listen to part of an interview about the new beliefs about nature and man in the 19th century, complete the following sentences: • In… the science acquire great cultural authority • There was a change from… history to… • Beliefs about … and the place of … were questioned. • Charles Lyell, a Member of… argue that geological history… through observable geological processes • He used the engraving of … as a frontispiece of his work. • Darwin’s theory of evolution was based on three main elements:.. • He carried out his studies during a journey around the world that brought him to… • Darwin observed that the exiting species were related on a … • William Bateson instead argued that variation was not necessarily subtle and continuous but could occur in.. • He experimented on… • He found that his observations were in line with.. And so he published his work and established the language of…

6. Slave life • The vast majority of African Americans in slavery in the United States after 1810 were not African captives but native-born Americans. Their maters forced them to give up their language and their names. • As in any brutal system of unpaid labour, punishment was used more than reward.

7. They (1916) The bishop tells us “When the boys come back They will not be the same; for they’ll have fought In a just cause: They lead the last attack On anti-Christ; their comrades’ blood has bought New right to breed an honorable race, They have challenged Death and dared him face to face. “We’re none of us the same” the boys reply. “For George lost both his legs; and Bill’s stone blind Poor Jim’s shot through the lungs and like to die And Bert’s gone syphilitic: You’ll not find A chap who’s served that hasn’t found some change” And the Bishop said: “The ways of God are strange” By Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967)

8. "I’m not surprised that she’s looking into ways to strike a compromise. She’s always been partial to the purebloods, despite the fact she’s only a half-blood herself," Narcissa said with a slight sneer. "What kind of compromises does she feel are acceptable? Blocking Muggleborns from attending Hogwarts when it reopens or getting jobs at the Ministry?" Hermione asked, scowling. "More oppression and elitist attitudes, no doubt. It appears the Wizarding world can’t get enough of them.“ Percy winced. "I haven’t been privy to her list," he said stiffly. "I don’t believe this," Hermione said, fuming. "She’s deemed herself some kind of modern day Neville Chaimberlain." The vast majority of witches and wizards at the table stared at Hermione blankly, but Harry saw Professor McGonagall nodding, a pleased expression crossing her stern features. "Who?" Pansy asked scornfully, jabbing her mashed potatoes with her fork. Hermione waved her hand in the air. "He was a Muggle Prime Minister who tried to peacefully negotiate with a madman. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now." "A Muggle, you say?" asked Mr. Weasley eagerly. "Yes," Professor McGonagall said, nodding. "Miss Granger is correct . The Muggle to whom she’s referring was called Adolph Hitler, I believe. Prime Minister Chaimberlain tried to forge a peace treaty, but it ended up in tragedy with the loss of many lives." "Fascinating," Mr. Weasley replied. "Oh, really now, Arthur. We’re all aware of your odd obsession with Muggles, but this really has nothing to do with them," Narcissa said disdainfully. Harry Potter and the deadly hallow

9. The Hobbit by Tolkien There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber. Beneath him, under all his limbs and his huge coiled tail, and about him on all sides stretching away across the unseen floors, lay countless piles of precious things, gold wrought and unwrought, gems and jewels, and silver red-stained in the ruddy light…He gazed for what seemed an age, before drawn almost against his will, he stole from the shadow of the doorway, across the floor to the nearest edge of the mounds of treasure. Above him the sleeping dragon lay, a dire menace even in his sleep. He grasped a great two-handled cup, as heavy as he could carry, and cast one fearful eye upwards. Smaug stirred a wing, opened a claw, the rumble of his snoring changed its note. Then Bilbo fled. … The dwarves were still passing the cup from hand to hand and talking delightedly of the recovery of their treasure, when suddenly a vast rumbling woke in the mountain underneath as if it was an old volcano that had made up its mind to start eruptions once again. The door behind them was pulled nearly to, and blocked from closing with a stone, but up the long tunnel came the dreadful echoes, from far down in the depths, of a bellowing and a trampling that made the ground beneath them tremble…."Well, thief! I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare!" The riddling is another feature of Celtic legends, as well as Gandalf is the symbol of the druids

10. The most famous monster with many heads is certainly Cerberus the monstrous dog with many heads a dragon’s tail and snakes heads on his back. He was the guardian of the Hades the underworld. He forbid the entry to the living and exit of the dead.It belongs to the Roman matter But Bilbo was not quite so unlearned in dragon-lore as all that, and if Smaug hoped to get him to come nearer so easily he was disappointed. "No thank you, O Smaug the. Tremendous!" he replied. "I did not come for presents. I only wished to have a look at you and see if you were truly as great as tales say. I did not believe them." "Do you now?" said the dragon somewhat flattered, even though he did not believe a word of it. "Truly songs and tales fall utterly short of the reality, O Smaug the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities," replied Bilbo. You have nice manners for a thief and a liar," said the dragon. "You seem familiar with my name, but I don't seem to remember smelling you before. Who are you and where do you come from, may I ask?""I am the clue-finder, the web-cutter, the stinging fly. I as chosen for the lucky number.“ "I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water. I came from the end of a bag, but no bag went over me.""I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider," went on Bilbo beginning to be pleased with his riddling. "That's better!" said Smaug. "But don't let your imagination run away with you!" This of course is the way to talk to dragons, if you don't want to reveal your proper name (which is wise), and don't want to infuriate them by a flat refusal (which is also very wise). No dragon can resist the fascination of riddling talk and of wasting time….

11. The rising of the sun had made everything look so different- all colours and shadows were changed- that for a moment they didn't see the important thing. Then they did. The Stone Table was broken into two pieces by a great crack that ran down it from end to end; and there was no Aslan…. Oh you are real, you’re real! Cried Lucy, and both girls flung themselves upon him and covered him with kisses. “but what does it all mean?” asked Susan when they were somewhat calmer. “it means that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before time dawned, she would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards… By C.S.Lewis

12. Rearrange the story… • Mr. Tumnus invites Lucy to tea at his home. He lives in a warm and cosy cave. He plays a special song for her on his magical flute. • The white witch lives in a castle made of ice. She uses her wand to turn her enemies to stone. She locks Edmund in the dungeon where an ogre keeps him from escaping. • When Edmund follows Lucy through the wardrobe, he meets the White Witch. She gives him sweets called Turkisish Delight to trick him into bringing his brother and sisters to her castle. • Peter commands an army of fauns, satyrs, centaurs and many other creatures against the evil forces. • While playing hide and seek with brothers and sister, Lucy finds a magical wardrobe that leads into Narnia. There she meets a kind faun named Mr. Tumnus • Mr and Mrs. Beaver hide the children in their house made of sticks and logs and tell them about Aslam the Lion. When the Witch’s wolves come after them, the beaver help the children escape. • Aslan is a majestic lion who is the rightful ruler of Narnia. The children stand alongside him to help break the wintery curse of the white witch • As they try to cross a frozen river the White witch’s wolves corner them! The children will have to think fast and trust each other to get away.

13. The chivalry ideal summed up as followed: Loyalty between the knight and his sovereign, courage in the face of the death and a highly formalised code of love involving the knight absolute devotion to a woman for whom he usually set out on a series of adventures. Historically the aspiration of a pure and beautiful life has been present in most societies. The knight has to be poor and exempt from worldly ties, as the first Templars were. The religious element of the Chivalry such as compassion, fidelity and justice are essential to it. New romantic types will arise just as the cowboy has succeeded the corsair On the arrival at Hogwart’s school of Witchcraft and Wizardry the new students have to wear The sorting hat, that shouts out the name of the houses they are assigned to: the four houses are called: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Dumbledore is certainly the figure of the druid, like Gandalf, they were great savants, they were priest during the sacrifices but also they were doctors and wizards. The first one the druid-wizard Merlin chose the chief and he remains for a long time near him to help and teach him. Merlin disappeared in the second book when the feudalism spread over with the Rules of Quierzy (877) in which the feud can be pass by testament to the first son and it didn’t belong anymore to the king. Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets 1998 by J.K.Rowling

14. Hewas standing at the end of a very long dimly lit chamber. His heart beating fast, Harry stood listening to the chill silence. Could the basilisk be lurking in a shadowy corner, behind the pillar?...he pulled Harry’s wand from his pocket and began to trace it through the air writing three shimmering words: TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE, then he waved the wand once, and the letters of this name rearranged themselves: I AM LORD VOLDEMORT. A crimson bird the size of a swan had appeared piping his weird music to the vaulted ceiling. It had a glittering golden tail as long as a peacock's and gleaming golden talons which were gripping a ragged bundle… “that’s a phoenix” said Riddle, staring shrewdly back at it. “Fawkes?” Harry breathed and he felt the bird’s golden claws squeeze his shoulder gently. “And that” said Riddle now eyeing the ragged thing that Fawkes had dropped “That is the old sorting hat” Riddle began to laugh again: That is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter? Do you feel safe now?” Something huge hit the stone floor of the chamber. Harry felt shudder. He knew what was happening, he could sense it could almost see the giant serpent uncoiling itself from Slythering mouth. Then he heard Riddle’s hissing voice: “Kill him.”

15. The basilisk is a legendary serpent possibly the Egyptian cobra. In Hellenistic and Roman times it was thought to have of killing people by simply looking at them. The phoenix is a fabulous bird with brilliant scarlet and gold plumage And a melodious cry. Only one phoenix exist at any time. The legend says that after living 500 years in the Arabian desert when it saw its end approaching the phoenix built a nest of aromatic boughs and spices set it on fire and threw herself in the flames. From its ashes, however a new phoenix miraculously sprang: that is why the phoenix was said to be immortal. In ancient Egypt and in classical antiquity the phoenix was connected with the worship of the sun and was the emblem of immortality and of rebirth

16. Into this wild abyss, The womb of nature and perhaps her grave, Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, But all these in their pregnant causes mixed Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, Unless the almighty maker them ordain His dark materials to create more worlds, Into this wild abyss the wary fiend Stood on the brink of hell and looked a while, Pondering his voyage... -John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book II Philip Pullman has written picture books, plays, and novels for readers of all ages, including The Subtle Knife, the second book of the His Dark Materials trilogy. He is also the author of Count Karlstein and a trilogy of Victorian thrillers featuring Sally Lockhart: The Ruby in the Smoke, Shadow in the North, and The Tiger in the Well. A graduate of Oxford University with a degree in English, Philip Pullman taught literature for many years at Westminster College. He now writes full-time in Oxford, England, where he lives with his family.

17. Then she reached the summit, and saw what was happening. Fifty yards away in the starlight Lord Asriel was twisting together two wires that led to his upturned sledge, on which stood a row of batteries and jars and pieces of apparatus, already frosted with crystals of cold. He was dressed in heavy furs, his face illuminated by the flame of a naphtha lamp. Crouching like the Sphinx beside him was his daemon, her beautiful spotted coat glossy with power, her tail moving lazily in the snow. In her mouth she held Roger's daemon. The little creature was struggling, flapping, fighting, one moment a bird, the next a dog, then a cat, a rat, a bird again, and calling every moment to Roger himself, who was a few yards off, straining, trying to pull away against the heart-deep tug, and crying out with the pain and the cold. He was calling his daemon's name, and calling Lyra; he ran to Lord Asriel and plucked his arm, and Lord Asriel brushed him aside. He tried again, crying and pleading, begging, sobbing, and Lord Asriel took no notice except to knock him to the ground. They were on the edge of a cliff. Beyond them was nothing but a huge illimitable dark. They were a thousand feet or more above the frozen sea. All this Lyra saw by starlight alone; but then, as Lord Asriel connected his wires, the Aurora blazed all of a sudden into brilliant life. Like the long finger of blinding power that plays between two terminals, except that this was a thousand miles high and ten thousand miles long: dipping, soaring, undulating, glowing, a cataract of glory. He was controlling it... Or leading power down from it; for there was a wire running off a huge reel on the sledge, a wire that ran directly upward to the sky. Down from the dark swooped a raven, and Lyra knew it for a witch daemon. A witch was helping Lord Asriel, and she had flown that wire into the heights. And the Aurora was blazing again. He was nearly ready.

18. The 1950s also brought a new monarch: George IV unexpectedly died in February 1952 and he was succeeded by his daughter Elisabeth II crowded in 1953. despite the heralding of anew Elisabeth Age the general euphoria was mingled with a sense of anguish and rootlessness among the young caused by the aftermath of the Second World war and increased by the cold war. Disillusionment came also at the realisation that Britain was gradually being reduced to a second- class power dependant on the US.Moreover Britain lost its Empire accelerating a plan to hand over the Governement of the various colonies to local rulers Listen to a talk about the Commonwealth of Nations and fill in the missing information: The Commonwealth of Nations is a … association of – sovereign states. It arose from the … of the British…. , the leader of the Commonwealth is the… today there are … member countries. The sovereign of the United Kingdom is the head of the state in … and… Membership is calculated upon… the Commonwealth Secretariat’s … are in London. The aims of the Commonwealth are :… the Commonwealth events are … The population of the Commonwealth is about….

19. The image of the sixties in Britain is a composite one, marked by a mood of rebellion and by the quest for self expression and liberation. Pop music with the music of the Beatles above all, but also The Rolling Stones and The Who the boutiques and the bazaars of Kings Road and Carnaby Street; thin and shapeless models like Twiggy who were the antithesis of the stereotypes of female sensuality which had dominated the 50s drugs and discotheques, permissiveness in film plays and magazines and in sexual attitudes and behaviour these were the dominant traits of the swinging London in Britain. It was possible to live together for men and women without marriage and to have children without the label of illegitimacy. One parent families are even supported by public services, premarital sex is quite common aided by the spread of contraceptive pill. In 1968 the “Women’s liberation Movement” became an organisation with groups in the mayor towns. Listen to five people speaking about youth culture in England and find out which movements they belong to…