READER DEADLINE

Remember there is a time limit for the reader: 12th-16th January. No papers will be accepted later

SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROLS

IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

" I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."

~Charles Dickens

TASK: It's Christmas time and to celebrate it, I would like you to post a song or a Christmas carol, a video, a picture, a quote, a proverb ...related to Christmas.

CATALONIA'S VERSION OF ROBIN HOOD

Read the article; then find information and answer the following questions


a.Who was Serrallonga?

b. Who was Robin Hood?

c.What things did they have in common?

PARTY TIME FOR SANT NARCÍS

1.Read the newspaper article. What is it about?
2.Which events / activities did you take part in ? ( October 2008 )

TWO LIVES // TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES

You must choose one of these two readers and read it on your own. They are both love stories. On 11th January , you must have answered and posted the answers on your dossier ( blog ).
You must include a conclusion: personal opinion about the book

I hope you enjoy them !!!

TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES by Thomas Hardy, Burlington Books

1. Write a short biography of Thomas Hardy( 5 lines ). Do not copy and paste it from internet. Use your own language

2. Although the places that appear in Hardy's novels actually exist, in many cases he gave the place a fictional name. For example, Hardy's hometown of Dorchester he called Casterbridge in his books. Find some information about Marlott, Shaston, Chaseborough, Tantridge and Sandbourne: situation, real names, inhabitants ...

3. Part I : The Maiden

-Write about Tess sad story of her stay at Tantridge
-Watch the video number 1 and relate it to the novel

4.Part II: Maiden no more

-Two years have passed since Tess left Tantridge. Write a summary of the main events that took place during these two years
-Why do you think Tess called her baby Sorrow?

5.Part III: A new life

-With all the information you get from chapters 8,9 and 10, write a description of Angel Clare
-Angel asks Tess: "Why are you crying ?" and she answers : " I don't know". Why do you think she is crying?
-Watch video number 2 and relate it to the story : " This is the moment when ..."

6.Part IV: Consequences

-Do you think Tess chose the right moment to tell Angel the truth?

7.Part V : The Woman pays

-Comment on Angel's reaction. Should he have forgiven her? Is it a question of prejudice or lack on confidence on Tess' part?
- "I couldn't lie to him " ( pag.44 ). Are love and lies compatible?
-Do Tess' parents really worry about her unhappiness ? What do they actually worry about?

8.Part VI : A changed Man

-Why does Tess finally surrender and sucumb to Alec's powers?
Would you judge her for such a decision?

9.Part VII : Tess' fate

-Write a short summary of chapter 18 ( 5-10 lines )




Video number 1



Video number 2

TWO LIVES by Helen Naylor, Cambridge University Press

1.Look at the front cover and observe it. How do you relate the title to the picture?

2.Most of the story takes place in Tredonald, Wales. Find information about this coal mining village.
With the Industrial Revolution ( 17th and 18th c ) , coal mining, a tiny industry in the 15th century, became a national and international industry. Thus, the 19th century was a century of massive expansion for the coal industry in Wales. But the end of the 20th century brought almost universe closure. Find information about 1984 miners' strike

3.Chapter 1: Two young lives

-" Life was not easy for the Thomas family." Why ? ( 3 lines )
- Richard Thomas had been killed while fighting in North Africa in 1943. Which war was it ?
- In chapter 1 we know that Megan and Huw are good friends. Describe the moment

4. Chapter 2 : The friendship continues

-In this chapter Megan and Huw take a decision about their relationship. Explain it. Why do they take it?

5. Chapter 3: Romance grows

-"This Saturday was going to be a night to remember." ( page 15 ) Why?

6. Chapter 4: Death at the mine / Leaving Tredonald

-After the first four chapters, how would you define the relationship between Huw and his brother?

7. Chapter 6: A surprise find

-Megan finds the letters Huw had sent her 50 years before, in 1946 and 1947. Imagine Meg's father was still alive and that you are Meg. What would you tell him?

In the first letter Meg asks Huw: " Do you think he wanted me to find them when it was to late?". What dou you think?

8. Chapter 7: Time to decide

-Before leaving Tredonald, Huw told Megan : "in a year ...I'll come back here and we'll get married..." ( pag.23 ); but things turned out to be completely different. Why ?

9. Chapter 8: Telling Beth

-Find some information about Cardiff ( 3 lines ) and post a picture

10. Chapter 10: Writing back

-Meg is about to get married. In spite of that, she lets Huw visit her and her daughter. Why does she act that way? Do you think she does it for Beth or for herself?

11. Chapter 11 : A new star

-What's Meg's present job?

-Why does Huw tell her " you always were a fighter, weren't you?" ? ( pag.48 )

-Do you think two people can still be in love after 50 years without seeing each other?

12. Chapter 17 : Time to go

-Imagie the conversation between Paul and Megan the moment she tells him that she is still in love with Huw. Write it down

13. Did you like the book? Why ? What did you learn by reading it?