HAPPY NEW YEAR!

POSSESSION, A VERY ROMANTIC MOVIE

A visiting American scholar is paging through an old volume at the British Museum when he comes upon a letter stuffed between the pages, a love letter, it would appear, from Queen Victoria's poet laureate, addressed to a woman not his wife. The poet has been held up for more than a century as a model of marital fidelity. The letter is dynamite. The scholar slips the letter out of the book and into his portfolio, and is soon displaying it, with all the pride and uncertainly of a new father, to a British woman who knows (or thought she knew) everything about the poet. Read here.

https://www.silverpetticoatreview.com/possession-2002-a-love-story-with-multi-generational-pull/

https://fsharetv.io/watch/possession-episode-1-tt0256276

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ROMEO AND JULIET - 4^C LINGUISTICO

 

https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone/romeo-and-juliet/story/scene-by-scene

https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/r/romeo-and-juliet/romeo-and-juliet-at-a-glance

https://www.gradesaver.com/romeo-and-juliet

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISS AUSTEN!

 

December 16th is a festive day for Janeites. On a very snowy day in 1775 our favorite author Jane Austen was born to Rev. George Austen and his wife Cassandra at Steventon rectory in Hampshire, England. 

She was a revolutionary writer, who had very strong views about her society and found pleasure in expressing her thoughts through her writing. Born into a large family, she enjoyed sharing her writings and entertaining others. Read here.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

https://www.countryliving.com/life/g34240767/thanksgiving-prayers/

https://myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-day.html

LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI ~ 5^C LINGUISTICO

O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms, 
       Alone and palely loitering? 
The sedge has withered from the lake, 
       And no birds sing. 

O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms, 
       So haggard and so woe-begone? 
The squirrel’s granary is full, 
       And the harvest’s done. 

I see a lily on thy brow, 
       With anguish moist and fever-dew, 
And on thy cheeks a fading rose 
       Fast withereth too. 

I met a lady in the meads, 
       Full beautiful—a faery’s child, 
Her hair was long, her foot was light, 
       And her eyes were wild. 

I made a garland for her head, 
       And bracelets too, and fragrant zone; 
She looked at me as she did love, 
       And made sweet moan 

I set her on my pacing steed, 
       And nothing else saw all day long, 
For sidelong would she bend, and sing 
       A faery’s song. 

She found me roots of relish sweet, 
       And honey wild, and manna-dew, 
And sure in language strange she said— 
       ‘I love thee true’. 

She took me to her Elfin grot, 
       And there she wept and sighed full sore, 
And there I shut her wild wild eyes 
       With kisses four. 

And there she lulled me asleep, 
       And there I dreamed—Ah! woe betide!— 
The latest dream I ever dreamt 
       On the cold hill side. 

I saw pale kings and princes too, 
       Pale warriors, death-pale were they all; 
They cried—‘La Belle Dame sans Merci 
       Thee hath in thrall!’ 

I saw their starved lips in the gloam, 
       With horrid warning gaped wide, 
And I awoke and found me here, 
       On the cold hill’s side. 

And this is why I sojourn here, 
       Alone and palely loitering, 
Though the sedge is withered from the lake, 
       And no birds sing.

John Keats 

Here you can  find an analysis of this handsome ballad  which is considered an English classic. It is a narrative of an encounter that causes both pleasure and pain. It avoids simplicity of interpretation despite simplicity of structure. Composed of  twelve stanzas, of only four lines each, with a simple ABCB rhyme scheme, the poem is full of enigmas, and has been the subject of numerous interpretations.
Read here.

THE ELIZABETHAN THEATRE - 4^C LINGUISTICO

https://myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-elizabethan-theatre-4c.html

https://myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/2021/12/revising-elizabethan-theatre.html

https://www.youtube.com/user/ShakespearesGlobe

https://youtu.be/bM3h0Gb2O20

THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS - 3^C LINGUISTICO

The Commonwealth of Nations arose from the slow decolonization of the British Empire in which territories under this rule sought independence to self-govern and later gained sovereignty. These former dependents of the Empire came together as equals. With no constitution or by-laws, members of the Commonwealth are under no obligation. Together they share common interests and goals, such as democracy, world peace, equality, and free trade. 

Read here.

ELLIS ISLAND - 3^C LINGUISTICO

Ellis Island is a historical site that opened in 1892 as an immigration station, a purpose it served for more than 60 years until it closed in 1954. Located at the mouth of Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, Ellis Island saw millions of newly arrived immigrants pass through its doors. In fact, it has been estimated that close to 40 percent of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island. 

https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/ellis-island

NOVEMBER

 

It was November - the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul. 

L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - 5^C LINGUISTICO

Here you can find my previous post about William Wordsworth, a major English Romantic poet, well-known for his celebration of nature.

THE ENGLISH RENAISSANCE - 4^C LINGUISTICO

The Renaissance – that cultural, political, scientific and intellectual explosion in Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries – represents perhaps the most profoundly important period in human development since the fall of Ancient Rome. Read here.

The word renaissance literally means "rebirth." In the context of the English Renaissance, this rebirth refers to a renewal of learning, especially in terms of new beliefs and ways of doing things differently from the Middle Ages. Characteristics of the Renaissance include a renewed interest in classical antiquity; a rise in humanist philosophy (a belief in self, human worth, and individual dignity); and radical changes in ideas about religion, politics, and science.

The Elizabethan Age as part of the Renaissance period saw the development of Elizabethan poetry and drama as well as  the stability and prosperity of England. The Queen supported development of art which contributed to the emergence and recognition of individuals such as William Shakespeare and Ben Johnson. She also supported exploration by authorizing the voyage by Sir Francis Drake around the globe. Discover more here.

https://myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-renaissance-4c-linguistico.html

DO vs. MAKE

https://myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/2017/09/do-vs-make.html

https://usefulenglish.ru/vocabulary/synonyms-exercise-three

OCTOBER

THE ROMANTIC AGE - 5^C LINGUISTICO

The Romantic period began roughly around 1798 and lasted until 1837. The political and economic atmosphere at the time heavily influenced this period, with many writers finding inspiration from the French Revolution. There was a lot of social change during this period. Calls for the abolition of slavery became louder during this time, with more writing openly about their objections. After the Agricultural Revolution people moved away from the countryside and farmland and into the cities, where the Industrial Revolution provided jobs and technological innovations. Romanticism was a reaction against this spread of industrialism, as well as a criticism of the aristocratic social and political norms and a call for more attention to nature.

Click here to read my previous post about the Romantic Age.

GEORGIAN ENGLAND

The Georgian period saw Britain establish itself as an international power at the centre of an expanding empire. Accelerating change from the 1770s onwards made it the world’s first industrialised nation.

It ran from 1714 to 1837, ending when Queen Victoria ascended to the throne. Read here.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II HAS DIED

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”  Read here.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Majesty was the very heart and soul of the United Kingdom.

Her Majesty’s reign saw one of the longest periods of peace and prosperity in the history of the United Kingdom. Throughout her life, she steadfastly served the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. She performed her duties with devotion, grace, and humility. Her contributions to the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and indeed to the world will be recorded in history, and she will always be remembered fondly as a great world leader."

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

 

SEPTEMBER

 

HAPPY SUMMER HOLIDAYS!

 

ONLINE ENGLISH TESTS

https://test-english.com/

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/online-english-level-test

https://www.examenglish.com/leveltest/index.html

RAY BRADBURY'S FAHRENHEIT 451

Widely known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953), Ray Bradbury died on 5 June 2012. He was an American author best known for his highly imaginative short stories and novels that blend a poetic style, nostalgia for childhood, social criticism, and an awareness of the hazards of runaway technology.

Read here.

https://literarydevices.net/ray-bradbury/

JUNE

 

VIRGINIA WOOLF AND "MRS DALLOWAY"

"Absorbing, mysterious, of infinite richness, this life."

Mrs Dalloway 

As Virginia Woolf commented, "In this book I have almost too many ideas. I want to give life and death, sanity and insanity; I want to criticize the social system, and to show it at work, at its most intense." Furthermore, she hoped to respond to the stagnant state of the novel, with a consciously "modern" novel. Many critics believe she succeeded. The novel was published in 1925, and received much acclaim.

Here and here you can revise Virginia Woolf and her novel.

SOLDIER'S DREAM

I dreamed kind Jesus fouled the big-gun gears;
And caused a permanent stoppage in all bolts;
And buckled with a smile Mausers and Colts;
And rusted every bayonet with His tears.

And there were no more bombs, of ours or Theirs,
Not even an old flint-lock, not even a pikel.
But God was vexed, and gave all power to Michael;
And when I woke he'd seen to our repairs.

Wilfred Owen [1893-1918] was a remarkable young man. When he died he was just 25 years old, but his poetry has proved enduring and influential and is among the best known in the English language. He left behind a unique testament to the horrific impact of the First World War on an entire generation of young people.

Here you can find a text analysis of this poem.

HAMLET - 4^C LINGUISTICO

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in our philosophy.

(Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 5)

APRIL

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - 4^C LINGUISTICO

Here you can download a PDF presentation to revise the play. 

https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/short-stories/much-ado-about-nothing

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-plays/much-ado-about-nothing/

Now let's watch the light-hearted film Much Ado About Nothing (1993), a spirited, winningly acted rendition of one of the Bard's most popular comedies.

https://fsharetv.co/movie/much-ado-about-nothing-episode-1-tt0107616

STUDYING ENGLISH LITERATURE - 3^C LINGUISTICO

KING LEAR - 4^C LINGUISTICO

King Lear is one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies; indeed, some critics have considered it the greatest. It is certainly one of the bleakest. The plot and subplot deftly weave together the principal themes of the play, which include reason, madness, blindness of various kinds, and – perhaps most crucially of all – the relationship between a father and his children. Read here.

Lear, the aging king of Britain, decides to step down from the throne and divide his kingdom evenly among his three daughters. First, however, he puts his daughters through a test, asking each to tell him how much she loves him. Goneril and Regan, Lear’s older daughters, give their father flattering answers. But Cordelia, Lear’s youngest and favorite daughter, remains silent, saying that she has no words to describe how much she loves her father. Lear flies into a rage and disowns Cordelia. The king of France, who has courted Cordelia, says that he still wants to marry her even without her land, and she accompanies him to France without her father’s blessing.  Read here.

https://nosweatshakespeare.com/king-lear-play/

https://owlcation.com/humanities/King-Lears-

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/k/king-lear/play-summary

MIND MAPPING

 

https://www.dsastudymaps.it/

https://www.wisemapping.com/index.html

https://coggle.it/

RICHARD III - 4^C LINGUISTICO

Here  you can download a PDF presentation of Shakespeare's historical drama, Richard III.

Here you can find lots of material to revise the play  as well as some teaching material from The Old Vic Theatre Company here.

You  can watch  a documentary film about Richard III here.

https://www.shakespearereloaded.edu.au/workshop-two-richard-iii

https://nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/soliloquies/now-is-the-winter-of-our-discontent/

MEDIEVAL DRAMA - 3^C LINGUISTICO

The history of English drama began with the elaboration of the ecclesiastical (related to the Church) liturgy (series of rites to be followed in any public worship) in catechistical dialogues.

The plays that survive from the Middle Ages were written for street performances, services in churches and monasteries, entertainment in great halls and outdoor stages, but never for theatres as such.

There was a great variety of performances: cycle plays about biblical history, the so-called morality plays about how to be saved, liturgical plays celebrating important Christian holidays, plays about saints and miracles, and town pageants.

Read here.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

 

St. Patrick’s Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.  Read here.

A PRAYER FOR UKRAINE

Loving God,
We pray for the people of Ukraine,
for all those suffering or afraid,
that you will be close to them and protect them.

We pray for world leaders,
for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.

We pray for the world
that in this moment of crisis,
we may reach out in solidarity
to our brothers and sisters in need.

May we walk in your ways
so that peace and justice
become a reality for the people of Ukraine
and for all the world.

Amen.

QUIZZES ON SHAKESPEARE - 4^C LINGUISTICO

https://www.educationquizzes.com/specialist/books/author---william-shakespeare-0001/

https://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/literature/shakespeare.html

THE VICTORIAN AGE - 5^D LINGUISTICO

FEBRUARY

MY SUNDAY MOVIE - ROBIN HOOD

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is the 1991 blockbuster movie in which Kevin Costner plays the mythical medieval hero known for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.

When the shameful Sheriff of Nottingham murders Robin's father, the legendary archer vows vengeance. To accomplish his mission, Robin joins forces with a band of exiled villagers (and graceful Maid Marian), and together they battle to end the evil sheriff's reign of terror.

Read here.

https://fsharetv.co/movie/robin-hood:-prince-of-thieves-episode-1-tt0102798

NOTTING HILL

William Thacker is a London bookstore owner whose humdrum existence is thrown into romantic turmoil when famous American actress Anna Scott appears in his shop. A chance encounter over spilled orange juice leads to a kiss that blossoms into a full-blown affair. As the average bloke and glamorous movie star draw closer and closer together, they struggle to reconcile their radically different lifestyles in the name of love.  Read here.

https://fsharetv.co/movie/_uid12012022-notting-hill-episode-1-tt0125439

JANUARY MORN

 

“Bare branches of each tree
on this chilly January morn
look so cold so forlorn.
Gray skies dip ever so low
left from yesterday's dusting of snow.
Yet in the heart of each tree
waiting for each who wait to see
new life as warm sun and breeze will blow,
like magic, unlock springs sap to flow,
buds, new leaves, then blooms will grow."

Nelda Hartmann