Урок домашнего чтения в 11 классе. S.W. Maugham.

The Ant and the Grasshopper.

Цели: обучение чтению с полным пониманием прочитанного, используя приёмы инсценировки, приёмы ''Student learning together"," Jigsaw", элементы дискуссии, получение информации из текстов на иностранном языке, увеличение лексического запаса и развития навыков устной речи учащихся;

формирование у учащихся психофизиологических механизмов чтения как деятельности, процесса, а также совершенствование устно-речевых навыков учащихся на основе прочитанного

приобщение к чтению на иностранном языке;

формирование у учащихся психофизиологических механизмов чтения как деятельности, процесса, а также в совершенствовании устно-речевых навыков учащихся на основе прочитанного;

прививать навыки исследовательской работы;

получение языковой и социокультурной информации, используя книги для чтения, превращая процесс изучения иностранного языка в увлекательное занятие. Уроки домашнего чтения бесспорно ценны: во-первых, потому, что учащийся соприкасается с современным языком, а не условно-учебным; во-вторых, есть возможность высказать свое мнение и дать оценку произведению, героям и ситуациям.

Со стороны цели в организации чтения

1) чтение с целью понять текст, т. е. собственно чтение;

2) чтение как подготовка к беседе по прочитанному.

План

1. Оргмомент, объявление темы и цели урока

2.Речевая зарядка

3. Драматизация басни "The Ant and the Grasshopper"

Characters are : Story-teller, Ant, Grasshopper

Now watch the play.

Scene I

Story-teller: It is summer now. The day is hot and sunny. An Ant is working near its little house.

Ant: How hot it is! I am very tired. But I must work. Winter will come soon.

Story-teller: And who is coming here? It is a Grasshopper.

Grasshopper: How do you do, Ant? What are you doing?

Ant: How do you do, Grasshopper? I am working.

Grasshopper: Why are you working? The day is hot. Stop working. Let's lie in the sun .

Ant: No, no. Winter will come soon. Where shall I get food then?

Grasshopper: Winter will not come soon. It is summer now. It is so nice in the fields. Let's go to the river.

Ant: No , I can't. And what do you do all the time?

Grasshopper: I dance and sing all day long. Let's sing and dance together.

Ant: No, no. I have no time to dance and sing. The winter is long and cold. I must be ready for it.

Grasshopper: I don't like winter. I like summer. Look how I can dance. I don't like to work in summer.

Ant: But you must! What will you eat in winter?

Grasshopper: I don't want to think of winter. Good-bye, Ant! I shall sing and dance.

Goes away.

Ant: Good-bye, Grasshopper. You don't want to work now. You will have to eat in winter.

Scene II

Story-teller: It is winter now. It is very cold. The sun doesn't shine. The Grasshopper is cold and hungry.

Grasshopper: Oh! How cold it is! I am cold and hungry. What can I do? Oh , here is Ant's house.

He knocks at the door.

Ant: Who is here?

Grasshopper: It's your friend, the Grasshopper.

Ant: What do you want?

Grasshopper: Let me in, please. I am cold and hungry. Give me something to eat.

Ant: You danced and sang well all summer, Grasshopper. Now dance and sing all winter. Good-bye.

He closes the door. The Grasshopper drops his head and goes away shivering and crying bitterly.

Story-teller: You see, boys and girls, what happens when you don't want to work in time.

Ant ( out of the window): All right! Come in! That will be a lesson for you. Will you work in summer?

Grasshopper: Oh, I am ready to work even in winter! Thank you , my dear friend!

4. Now listen to the biograghy of the famous British writer

William Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham is one of the best known English writers of the 20th century. He was not only a novelist, but also a one of the most successful dramatist and short-story writers.

He was born in Paris in 1874. His parents died when he was very young and the boy was brought up by his uncle, clergyman. After his parents' death the boy was taken away from the French school which he had attended, and went for his lessons daily to the apartment of the English clergyman at the church. At the age of ten the boy was sent to England to attend school. In 1890 he went abroad and studied at the University of Heidelberg from which he returned to England in 1892 and as his parents had destined him for the medical profession, he became a medical student at St. Thomas's hospital in London. His experience in treating the sick gave Maugham material for his first work "Lisa of Lambeth". After that, although he became a fully qualified doctor, Somerset decided to devote his life to literature. "I didn't want to be a doctor. I didn't want to be anything but a writer".

Soon after the publication of his first novel Maugham went to Spain and travelled widely to all parts of the world. He visited Russia, America, Africa, Asia. The technique of the short story had always interested Maugham. De Maupassant and Chekhov influenced him but he developed a form of a story that has unmistakable Maugham's flavor.

Somerset Maugham has written 24 plays, 19 novels and a large number of short stories. The most mature period of his life began in 1915, when he published one of his most popular novels.

Maugham wants the readers to draw his own conclusion about the characters and events described in his novels. The most prominent works by Somerset Maugham are: "Cakes and Ale", "Theatre", and "The Razor's Edge".

Realistic portrayal of life, keen character observation, and interesting plots coupled with beautiful, expressive language, simple and lucid style, place Somerset Maugham on a level with the greatest English writers of the 20th century.

5. Now let's read one of his best stories

The Ant and the Grasshopper
When I was a small boy I was made to learn by heart some fables of LaFontaine and the moral of each was carefully explained to me.

Among them was "The Ant and the Grasshopper".

In spite of the moral of this fable mysympathies were with the grasshopper and for some time I never saw an antwithout putting my foot on it.

I couldn't help thinking of this fable when the other day I saw George Ramsaylunching in the restaurant, I never saw an expression of such deep gloom.

He was staring into space.

I was sorry for him: I suspected at once that his unfortunate brother had been causing trouble again.

I went up him.

"How are you?"

I asked.

"Is it Tom again?"

He sighed "Yes, it's Tom again."

I suppose every family has a black sheep.

In this family it had been Tom.

He had begun life decently enough: he went into business, married and had twochildren.

The Ramsays were respectable people and everybody supposedthat Tom would have a good carrier.

But one day he announced that he didn'tlike work and that he wasn't suited for marriage.

He wanted to enjoy himself.

He left his wife and his office.

He spent two happy years in the various capitals of Europe.

His relations were shocked and wondered what wouldhappen when his money was spent.

They soon found out: he borrowed.

He was so charming that nobody could refuse him.

Very often he turned to George.

Once or twice he gave Tom considerable sums so that he could makea fresh start.

On these Tom bought a motor-car and some jewellery.

Butwhen George washed his hands of him, Tom began to blackmail him.

It wasnot nice for a respectable lawyer to find his brother shaking cocktails behind the bar of his favourite restaurant or driving a taxi.

So George paid again.

For twenty years Tom gambled, danced, ate in the most expensiverestaurants and dressed beautifully.

Though he was forty-six he looked not more than thirty-five.

He had high spirits and incredible charm.

Tom Ramsay knew everyone and everyone knew him.

You couldn't help liking him.

Poor George, only a year older than his brother, looked sixty.

He had never taken more than a fortnight's holiday in the year.

He was in his office everymorning at nine-thirty and never left it till six.

He was honest and industrious.

He had a good wife and four daughters to whom he was the best of father.

His plan was to retire at fifty-five to little house in the country.

His wife was blameless.

He was glad that he was growing old because Tom was growingold, too.

He used to say: "It was all well when Tom was young and good-looking.

In four years he'll be fifty.

He won't find life so easy then.

I shall have thirty thousand pounds by the time I'm fifty.

We shall see what is really best to work or to be idle."

Poor George!

I sympathized with him.

I wondered now that else Tom had done.

George was very much upset.

I was prepared for the worst.

George could hardly speak.

"A few weeks ago," he said, "Tom became engaged to a woman old enough to be his mother.

And now she has died and left himeverything she had: half a million pounds, a yacht, a house in London and ahouse in the country.

It is not fair, I tell you, it isn't fair!"

I couldn't help it I burst into laughter as I looked at George's face, I nearly fellon the floor.

George never forgave me.

But Tom often asks me to dinners his charming house and if he sometimes borrows money from me, it is simply from force of habit.

When I was a small boy I was made to learn by heart some fables of LaFontaine and the moral of each was carefully explained to me.

Among them was "The Ant and the Grasshopper".

In spite of the moral of this fable mysympathies were with the grasshopper and for some time I never saw an antwithout putting my foot on it.

I couldn't help thinking of this fable when the other day I saw George Ramsaylunching in the restaurant, I never saw an expression of such deep gloom.

He was staring into space.

I was sorry for him: I suspected at once that hisunfortunate brother had been causing trouble again.

I went up him.

"How are you?"

I asked.

"Is it Tom again?"

He sighed "Yes, it's Tom again."

I suppose every family has a black sheep.

In this family it had been Tom.

He had begun life decently enough: he went into business, married and had twochildren.

The Ramsays were respectable people and everybody supposedthat Tom would have a good carrier.

But one day he announced that he didn'tlike work and that he wasn't suited for marriage.

He wanted to enjoy himself.

He left his wife and his office.

He spend two happy years in the various capitals of Europe.

His relations were shocked and wondered what wouldhappen when his money was spent.

They soon found out: he borrowed.

Hewas so charming that nobody could refuse him.

Very often he turned to George.

Once or twice he gave Tom considerable sums so that he could makea fresh start.

On these Tom bought a motor-car and some jewellery.

Butwhen George washed his hands of him, Tom began to blackmail him.

It wasnot nice for a respectable lawyer to find his brother shaking cocktails behindthe bar of his favourite restaurant or driving a taxi.

So George paid again.

For twenty years Tom gambled, danced, ate in the most expensiverestaurants and dressed beautifully.

Though he was forty-six he looked not more than thirty-five.

He had high spirits and incredible charm.

Tom Ramsay knew everyone and everyone knew him.

You couldn't help liking him.

Poor George, only a year older than his brother, looked sixty.

He had never taken more than a fortnight's holiday in the year.

He was in his office everymorning at nine-thirty and never left it till six.

He was honest and industrious.

He had a good wife and four daughters to whom he was the best of father.

His plan was to retire at fifty-five to little house in the country.

His wife was blameless.

He was glad that he was growing old because Tom was growingold, too.

He used to say: "It was all well when Tom was young and good-looking.

In four years he'll be fifty.

He won't find life so easy then.

I shall have thirty thousand pounds by the time I'm fifty.

We shall see what is really best to work or to be idle."

Poor George!

I sympathized with him.

I wondered now that else Tom had done.

George was very much upset.

I was prepared for the worst.

George could hardly speak.

"A few weeks ago," he said, "Tom became engaged to a woman old enough to be his mother.

And now she has died and left him everything she had: half a million pounds, a yacht, a house in London and ahouse in the country.

It is not fair, I tell you, it isn't fair!"

I couldn't help it I burst into laughter as I looked at George's face, I nearly fell on the floor.

George never forgave me.

But Tom often asks me to dinners inhis charming house and if he sometimes borrows money from me, it is simply from force of habit.

6. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and use them in the sentences of your own: make smb do smth, in spite of smth, cause trouble, enjoy oneself, borrow smth from smb wash one's hands of smb, be upset, burst into laughter.

7 .Find the English equivalents: мне тщательно объясняли, на днях, смотрел в никуда, занялся бизнесом, семейная жизнь не для него, когда деньги закончатся, значительные суммы денег, начать заново, шантажировать, всегда быть в хорошем настроении, его нельзя было не любить, лучший из отцов, симпатичный, бездельничать, приготовиться к худшему, это несправедливо, чуть не упал, приглашает на обеды, по привычке.

8. Translate from Russian into English (pay attention to highlighted words):

1) Жизненный девиз повесы - кутить и флиртовать с красавицами. Его лицо всегда выражает беспечность и холодный расчет.

2) Не всегда удается справиться с хандрой в тяжелую минуту.

3)Трудолюбие награждается, а легкомыслие наказывается в форме горького испытания.

4) Соблазн порождает непомерный интерес и стремление к овладению источника возбудителя.

5) Он как истинный денди всегда одет с иголочки и обходителен с дамами.

6) Несмотря на превратности судьбы, он смог начать заново свой профессиональный путь.

7) Нелегальные действия караются законом.

8) Он осужден за шантаж родного брата.

9) Жизнь - испытание, которое нужно выстоять или окажешься за ее пределами.

10) Мстительный человек не сможет решиться на отступление, поскольку изменит свой жизненный принцип.

9.Answer the questions:

1. Who was a black sheep in the Ramsay?

2. Why did Tom begin to blackmail his elder brother George?

3. Describe two personages: Tom and George (mention about their traits, appearances, way of life etc.)

4. How do you reveal the proverb: "Industry is rewarded and giddiness is punished"?

5. Describe Tom at the age at forty- six.

6. Describe his way of life.

7. Why was George glad that he was growing older?

8. What news did George break to the author?

9. What was his reaction?

10.Retell the story.

11. Analysis

A short story from the writer's collection «The Ant and The Grasshopper» (1924) is analyzed in the aspect of ressentiment transformation of a classic fable plot about The Ant and The Grasshopper (The Dragonfly, The Bug, The Cicada) that is famous from the ancient times. This storyline, having gained a new life in the works of La Fontaine, I. Krylov and also in a short story of Somerset Maugham and having accumulated those peculiarities that are determined the choice of transformation as one being appropriate to the genre of flash fiction, attracts readers' attention. Peculiar characteristic of story translation into Russian with the defined priority of a title «The Ant and The Grasshopper» («Муравей и Кузнечик») becomes actual, considering it as the most appropriate equivalent to the author's one that produces the development of an ideologic conception going up to the Russian and English literary tradition with their «grasshopper and dragonfly» content as an integral part of a world beauty completeness. This philosophical orientation is considered as the starting point of the Maugham's ressentiment, artistic interpretation of the famous philosophical conception of Max Scheler such as cosmic becoming that is opposite to love and consequently malice, envy, hate, insult etc. Analysis stresses the key image of a story-teller who gives an account of course of events the opposition of brothers The Ant/George and The Grasshopper/Tom. At the same time his memories about child reaction to the moral of a fable . He took George as a respectable white-collar who thoroughly complied with the rules of the Victorian morals, had the appropriate way of life (desk work, allegiance to his wife and family) and who had to help his brother materially when the latter exonerated himself from labour, family obligations and enjoyed life without blame of society. Expectation of vindictive punishment for Tom by George appeared to be a failure to the attitude of The Ant who could not stand not only sudden brother's wealth but also impunity with his life enjoyment. Maugham shows the total penetration of ressentiment into the soul of brother/The Ant that was provoked by the devotion to the Victorian morals and bitter disappointment because of them. Allusive presence of a fabulous and literary motive (image of Smerdyakov of F. Dostoevsky) aggravates the situation.

12Подведение итогов урока

Использованные материалы:

lingualeo.com/uk/.../the-ant-and-the-grasshopper-ws-maugham-

https://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/node/48192

https://www.questia.com/.../somerset-maugham-.

http://www.native-english.ru/topics/william-somerset-maugham

http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/rasskaz-s-moema-the-ant-and-the-grasshopper-resentimentnye-prevrascheniya-klassicheskogo-syuzheta