GROUNDHOG DAY

"A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS"

Hope you find this short video both interesting and funny. You'll have to watch it several times since the voice-over speaks quite fast. Enjoy it!!

DAFFODILS by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

This is the poem I told you about in our last class. It was written by William Wordsworth in 1804.

William Wordsworth is a well-known romantic poet who believed in conveying simple and creative expressions through his poems. He claimed that "Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility". Thus, Daffodils is one of the most popular poems of the Romantic Age, unfolding the poet's excitement, love and praise for a field blossoming with daffodils. Wordsworth wrote Daffodils on a stormy day in spring, while walking along with his sister Dorothy near Ullswater Lake, in England. He imagined that the daffodils were dancing and invoking him to join and enjoy the breezy nature of the fields. Dorothy Wordsworth, the younger sister of William Wordsworth, found the poem so interesting that she took 'Daffodils' as the subject for her journal.

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

The novel where DAFFODILS are seen as a symbol of colonialism and the power the latter has to control and choke people's own identity and culture is entitled Lucy and it was written by Jamaica Kincaid. While attending Queen Victoria Girl's school, the protagonist Lucy was forced to memorize a poem  written by William Wordsworth roughly two centuries ago about daffodils.  The poem recalls the beauty of daffodils that the speaker has seen years ago. Lucy cannot appreciate this beauty, because daffodils do not grow on her island. After reciting the poem, Lucy is applauded and she explains that at this moment she feels fake. She feels like people see her as English on the outside but on the inside she hates the English. The daffodils represent Lucy's alienation from both her education, and from her new home.

1984

Published in 1949 and set thirty-six years in the future, 1984 is George Orwell's dark vision of the future. Written while Orwell was dying and based on the work of the Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin, it is a chilling depiction of how the power of the state could come to dominate the lives of individuals through cultural conditioning. Perhaps the most powerful science fiction novel of the twentieth century, this apocalyptic satire shows with grim conviction how Winston Smith’s individual personality is wiped out and how he is recreated in the Party’s image until he does not just obey but even loves Big Brother. 
Some critics have related Winston Smith’s sufferings to those Orwell underwent at preparatory school, experiences he wrote about just before 1984. Orwell maintained that the book was written with the explicit intention “to alter other people’s idea of the kind of society they should strive after.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1)  In the afterword, the commentator describes 1984 as "a warning." Indeed, throughout the text, Orwell plants both subtle and overt warnings to the reader. What do you think are some of the larger issues at hand here?

2) In the final analysis, how accurate was Orwell in his vision of the future? In what ways does our contemporary society compare to his idea of society in 1984? Are there examples in which he was correct? What is most opposite? Do you see a potential for aspects of Orwell's "vision" to come true?

3)  During his final encounter with O'Brien, Winston argues that, if all else fails, the inherent nature of the individual-the "spirit of man"-is strong enough to undermine a society such as that created by The Party. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Is Winston's belief applicable to the world we live in today? Can you cite examples in our own recent history that support or dismiss Winston's belief in the resiliency and righteousness of the human spirit?

4) Discuss the role of sex and intimacy in 1984. What specific function does the Party's directive on sexual interaction serve?

5) Discuss the main THEMES in the book: TOTALITARISM; SEX & SEXUALITY; TECHNOLOGY; LANGUAGE; MUSIC; LOYALTY and any other you think it is relevant for a good understanding of the novel.

QUEEN'S SPEECH IN NORTHERN IRELAND, MAY 2011

18th May 2011. On the second day of her historic visit to Ireland the Queen has delivered a speech at a state banquet in her honour at Dublin Castle.

She said there was much to celebrate in the ties between the UK and Ireland.

This is her speech in full. She began by saying a few words in Irish Gaelic.

"A hUachtarain agus a chairde [president and friends].

"Prince Philip and I are delighted to be here, and to experience at first hand Ireland's world famous hospitality.

"Together we have much to celebrate: the ties between our people, the shared values, and the economic, business and cultural links that make us so much more than neighbours, that make us firm friends and equal partners.

"Madame President, speaking here in Dublin Castle it is impossible to ignore the weight of history, as it was yesterday when you and I laid wreaths at the Garden of Remembrance.

"Indeed so much of this visit reminds us of the complexity of our history, its many layers and traditions, but also the importance of forbearance and conciliation, of being able to bow to the past but not be bound by it.

"Of course the relationship has not always been straightforward; nor has the record over the centuries been entirely benign.

"It is a sad and regrettable reality that through history our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and loss.

"These events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are a painful legacy. We can never forget those who have died or been injured or their families.

"To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy.

"With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.

"But it is also true that no one who looked to the future over the past centuries could have imagined the strength of the bonds that are now in place between the governments and the people of our two nations, the spirit of partnership that we now enjoy, and the lasting rapport between us.

"No one here this evening could doubt that heartfelt desire of our two nations.

"Madame President, you have done a great deal to promote this understanding and reconciliation. You set out to build bridges. And I have seen it first hand, your success in bringing together different communities and traditions on this island.

"You have also shed new light on the sacrifice of those who served in the First World War. Even as we jointly opened the Messines Peace Park in 1998 it was difficult to look ahead to the time when you and I would be standing together at Islandbridge as we were today.

"That transformation is also evident in the establishment of a successful power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland. A knot of history that was painstakingly loosened by the British and Irish Governments together with the strength, vision and determination of the political parties in Northern Ireland.

"What were once only hopes for the future have now come to pass; it is almost exactly 13 years since the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland voted in favour of the agreement signed on Good Friday 1998, paving the way for Northern Ireland to become the exciting and inspirational place that it is today.

"I applaud the work of all those involved in the peace process and of all those who support and nurture peace, including members of the police, the Garda and the other emergency services, and those who work in the communities, the Churches and charitable bodies like Co-operation Ireland.

"Taken together, their work not only serves as the basis for reconciliation between our peoples and communities, but it gives hope to other peacemakers across the world that through sustained effort, peace can and will prevail.

"For the world moves on quickly. The challenges of the past have been replaced by new economic challenges which will demand the same imagination and courage.

"The lessons from the peace process are clear - whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load.

"There are other stories written daily across these islands which do not find their voice in solemn pages of history books, or newspaper headlines but which are at the heart of shared narrative.

"Many British families have members who live in this country, as many Irish families have close relatives in the United Kingdom. These families share the two islands; they have visited each other and have come home to each other over the years.

"They are the ordinary people who yearned for the peace and understanding we now have between our two nations and between the communities within those two nations; a living testament to how much in common we have.

"These ties of family, friendship and affection are our most precious resource. They are the lifeblood of the partnership across these islands, a golden thread that runs through all our joint successes so far, and all we will go on to achieve.

"They are a reminder that we have much to do together to build a future for all our grandchildren; the kind of future our grandparents could only dream of.

"So we celebrate together the widespread spirit of goodwill and deep mutual understanding that has served to make the relationship more harmonious, close as good neighbours should always be."

TEN ADS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD

Advertising is a world in which the normal is beautified, cracks are airbrushed over and real-life is portrayed with rose tinted glasses. And all with the intention of getting the consumers to buy into such ideals.

It is all the more uncomfortable when advertisers seek to shock rather than tantalise, although the effect can be incredible. The Independent picked ten controversial advertising campaigns to test how the shock factor compares.

Click here to have a look at the ads and feel free to post any comment expressing your views. 

THE TWELFTH DAY OF JULY- WORDS AND THEIR CONTEXT

Now that you have read the book, explain the meaning of these words paying special attention to the historical context in which they are ingrained. You'll probably have to do some research to come up with a PRECISE definition. GOOD LUCK!!

• MICKS 
• PRODS
• IRA  (chapter 2)
• THE POPE AND KING BILLY
• MURAL
• BOWLER HAT / SASHES AND BANNERS
• BANSHEE (chapter 8)
• ME  (FATHER/HOUSE)  / EEJIT (chapter 5) / WEE 
• CONSTABLE
• SHIPYARD GANTRIES  (chapter 1)
• BACK-TO-BACKS (chapter 1)
• THE BLITZ (chapter 11)
• NO SURRENDER (chapter 9)

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS:

·         TO BE A DAB HAND AT STH

·         HAVE SHARP EARS

·         START SMALL, END BIG

·         BOLD AS BRASS

·         (TO BE) IN HOT WATER

·         COULDN’T / CAN’TSLEEP A WINK

·         GIVE YOU AN INCH AND YOU TAKE A MILE

·         EVERY TOM, DICK AND HARRY

SCHEDULE FOR THE THIRD TERM

       Advertising

• Types of advertising: outdoor, surrogate, covert ….
• Analyzing several ads

1. 1. ASICS “Made of Sport”
2. 1. The Girl Effect: The clock is ticking
3. 1. Celebrating Working Women

Joan Lingard’s THE TWELTH DAY OF JULY.

• Carrying out some research on The Troubles in Northern Ireland. 
• Watching and commenting the film  “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER” (1993) by Jim Sheridan.
• Listening to and discussing  “SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY”  & “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER” by U2  and “ZOMBIE” by The Cranberries.

  

            Salman Rushdie’s The COURter from the collection East, West (1994).

• Analyzing the short story
• Reflecting upon varieties of English as portrayed in the book.
• Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If”.