Hey guys & gals,Check out the webbie here ok? This video IS NOT abt the whole story...rather, it gives you a visual idea on how Perkins & Foxley might have looked/dressed/behaved like when they were kids...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8i8U9Ni6Dcand please please DO NOT compare with Rowan Atkinson's (guy who's the Mr Bean character). The video was shown to give you an idea of behaviours of train commuters - in this case, the man being distracted (maybe from his usual routine)..Here's the video should you wanna see it again:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWiaeMvYuBcHappy Viewing :)mdm d3wi
Setting up for the betRefer to p21 of your book.
--- “He was very brisk and animated, like a person organising games at a children’s party”
---“brisk and animated” – this shows his eagerness about performing the bet.
---“like a person organising games” – he is also very systematic and knows exactly what to do
Is there any indication that the Man may have participated in a similar bet before?
--- Yes
--- According to the narrator, “He never hesitates…knows exactly what he needs and how to arrange it.”
--- From the text you can see that the Man knows:
-how much to hammer in the nails,
-how tightly to tie the string around the boy’s wrist,
-how the boy should clench his fist and leave his little finger sticking out
-how high to hold the chopper above the boy’s finger
What creates the suspense?
Refer to p23 of your book.
--- The description of how the boy lights his lighter the 1st time – almost as if we are visualising this in slow-motion.
--- The boy waiting for 5 sec before striking the lighter the 2nd time – this slows down the action and makes us anxious whether it will light again.
--- Also, no one else says anything except for the narrator - this silence adds to the suspense.
--- The boy watches his lighter intensely; the Man also watches the lighter while holding on to the chopper.
--- The 3rd - 7th successful times that the lighter lights – this sudden quick pacing makes our hearts race
--- The detailed description of the boy using his thumb to strike the lighter before the 8th attempt – again, slow-motion, and we’re wondering if it will light
The old woman’s entrance
--- She suddenly rushes forward, shouts and shakes the Man vigorously
--- This heightens the excitement in this scene (climax).
--- You can tell that her entrance and the way she handles her husband roughly have an impact on the others.
--- The boy unties his hand from the table while the English girl and narrator stand there saying nothing.
---They are shocked and not sure how to respond to her sudden entrance.
He’s truly crazy!
--- From what the old woman tells us, we learn that the Man is crazy because he was supposed to be “put away somewhere” (referring to a mental institution)
--- Also, we learn that he is very addicted to gambling – he had chopped off 47 fingers and lost 11 cars.
--- Yet he never learnt to stop or control himself.
Questions about the ending
--- Why aren’t the 3 characters angry at the old woman?
--- How do you feel towards the old woman?
--- Has your impression of the Man changed?
Let’s focus on the “birth” of the betRefer to p15 of your books “Here, let me give you a light.” The American boy held up
his lighter.
“Dat will not work in dis wind.”
“Sure it’ll work. It always works.”
The little man removed his unlighted cigar
from his mouth, cocked his head on one
side and looked at the boy.
* QUESTION BREAK
Look at the italicized sentence. What can you infer about the Man’s reaction?
“All-ways?” he said slowly.
“Sure, it never fails. It always works.”
The little man’s head was still cocked over on
one side and he was still watching the boy.
“Well, well. So you say dis famous lighter it
never fails. Iss dat you say?”
“Sure,” the boy said. “That’s right.”
…“It never fails,” he said, smiling now
because he was purposely exaggerating his
little boast. “I promise you it never fails.”
* QUESTION BREAK
What can you infer about the sailor’s character from this
italicized sentence?
Bonus Question : So, who’s responsible for starting the bet?********************************************************The sailor’s reaction to the terms of the wager
•He is attracted to the bet.
•“Sure, I’ll bet…Why not?”
•And when he learns about the Cadillac, he is even more interested
•However, he is shocked at the Man’s request to have him bet his little finger, and he declines.
•“Jumping jeepers. That’s a crazy bet. I think I’ll just make it a dollar.”
Fidgety sailor boy
•Refer to p17-18 to see how the bet had affected the sailor.
•“He was sitting there very still, and it was obvious that a small tension was beginning to build up inside him.”
•“…shifting about in his seat…rubbing his chest…stroking the back of his neck…tap-tapping with his fingers against the kneecaps…tapping with one of his feet as well.”
•He was fidgeting because he was affected and preoccupied with thinking about the bet.
Risk-taker or just plain crazy?•Finally he agrees to the bet.
•Why?
•The sailor is so eager to win the Cadillac that he is ignoring the gravity of the bet.
•“But I see you are not a betting man. Americans never are.”
•“The boy paused for a just a moment and he glanced first at the English girl, then at me.”
•He could’ve also agreed to the bet so that he didn’t embarrass himself in front of the girl and the narrator
•Look at p18 – 5th para.
•Despite gruesome description of chopping off the little finger, the sailor responds by asking about the year the car was manufactured.
•He is very reckless because
•he is willing to risk losing his finger just to win the car.
Questions to ponder (for your revision)
1.In your opinion, was it wise for the American sailor to agree to the terms of the bet? Explain your answer.
2.What impression have you formed about the Man? Provide examples from the story to support your answer.
3.Why do you think the narrator and the English girl decided to go along although they clearly were against the idea of the bet?
My dear 1e3 students,- I hope that many of you find this blog useful.
- I do know that most of you gain various insights and have benefitted from the discussions.
- Some of you have not contributed to any of the discussions, but I do know that more and more of you are actually gaining better understanding, even by reading others' entries. (I'd say that it's a good start!)
You may not neccessarily give any additional or original comments should you not be able to think of anything at our point of discussions.- But you may agree or disagree with your friends..by giving comments like
- "I agree with xxxx"...or " That's a wonderful thought, xxxx"....or "Well done xxx.." etc..
Let's hope some of your 'missing' friends will have their names appearing in this blog (:mdm d3wiP.S. - I do care about you peeps ok? Always bear that in mind...
- Stay nice and crazy always..esp index no 36 (but like i said, i can't remember your index no..wonder who's index no 36 hmm..)
Notes on MFTS (in a nutshell/summary)
The story "Man From The South" by Roald Dahl deals with the concerns of the mutilator rather than the mutilated.
· It is the story of a bet.
· A chance meeting of a rich-looking South American and a North American boy lead to a bet: the stakes are a Cadillac car against the little finger of the boy's left hand.
· The bet is that the boy's cigarette lighter will not light on the first strike ten consecutive times.
· The man from the south collects fingers.
· After the seventh successful strike and before the eighth attempt a woman bursts into the hotel room and grabs the man, her husband.
· She tells the others that the man, her husband, has no possessions of his own except a collection of forty-seven fingers.
· When she picks up the keys of her Cadillac, they see her hand: it has only the index finger and thumb left.
· The surface meaning of this story, mythic in its simplicity, is that everything has its price and that different people value things differently.
· The story is very skilfully written so that curiosity about the possible motives of the finger collector is never encouraged.
· We never wonder why he collects fingers.
http://www.overground.be/article.php?code=10&lan=enmdm d3wi
Hello Lit enthusiasts! hope you have enjoyed MFTS..since we will be working on GF, (I mentioned last Thursday in class that)you could pose me a question or two as an opening activity as we tackle and work on our 2nd story..I have divided the queries for GALLOPing FOXley into 3 categories:(You may choose to pose your question under ONE of the categories or more..)- All queries will be addressed in class during lesson time (Tues - 22nd July)K-W-L(1) K= WHAT I KNOW on GF..the plot of the story, the setting, the characters, the theme, etc(2) W = What I WANT to know abt GF...what else you'd like to know abt the story, characters, etc..(3) L = What I LEARNT abt GF..moral of the story..lessons to be learnt, etc...SO please indicate the category of your question :)mdm d3wi
Hi again. - Just to clear the air.
- Instruction for 2nd journal entry:
You need to write/enter this in the journal in the form
of a diary (not here at the blog, pls take note)
- Through the eyes of the sailor OR narrator...(that means TELL Me whether you're the sailor or narrator at the END of the diary..e.g
Sign off, (narrator - any name?)
mdm d3wi :)
PR book activity Diary entry (narator /sailor) - you may choose oneJournal : "What is your impression of the Man and his wife?" You will notice that the question is not new as we have discuss this in my previous blog entry. However, this time round, you will have to view your impression through the eyes of the NARRATOR or SAILOR (pls indicate this as a note at the end of your entry)You may write/type this on foolscap/plain paper and attach to your PR book once you receive. Date for submission for this assignment : 22nd July..so this gives you 10 days to prepare!!! mdm d3wi
Hello all, below are 2 questions you may want to work on as preparation for your Lit test:- What is the MORAL of the story ?
- Discuss the THEME of GREED in MFTS. (How was this shown throughout the story through the CHARACTERS in the story)
mdm d3wi
Hello all,I'm DELIGHTED to see many of you participating in this sharing platform (:Keep all your contributions coming!!! You may even comment on other questions that your friends (from the other groups) are working on..- When you contribute (and others do too), you'll gain more insights in a more 'appropriate' manner.
- 'Appropriate' because the contributions are typed and this (habit of contributing) also trains you to translate your thoughts into words (which is what you have to do ANYWAY for the exams right?)
- When you cite something (a characteristic, description, etc), you will learn to pick evidence from the story, to justify your views. So isn't this an amazing way of training your thinking pattern :p ?
About less than a third of you have not poured in your views - what's holding you up?DO REMEMBER to print or write all these views in your PERSONAL RESPONSE book. I am collecting your PR book on your next lesson (Fri 11th July).The journal entry on 'TAKING RISKS' is also due this Friday - remind one another ok?Happy writing away...(:mdm d3wi
Let's explore our minds! This question was asked during class discussion...
In your words, discuss the mood and atmosphere in the hotel room (i.e. How suspence was built up in the room).
mdm d3wi
Dearest 1e3,
Check this out: (the video is an adaptation - please bear that in mind)
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUWm1egD5uQ
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrpQPqRHkys&feature=related
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu-ZKVDcxkM&feature=related
This is just a manner to give you some ideas/visuals on the setting and characters of Man from the South.
How do the video clips compare to the original story in the book?
mdm d3wi
Man's WIFE
Pg 23
"..We all turned and saw a woman standing in the doorway, a small, black-haired woman, rather old, who stood there for about two seconds then rushed forward, shouting, 'Carlos! Carlos!'...
What is your impression of:
(discuss her characteristics - based on evidence from the book!)
mdm d3wi
BET http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/betverb (used with object)
1. to
wager with (
something or someone)
2. a
pledge of a forfeit risked on some
uncertain outcomenoun1. An
agreement usually between two parties that the one who has made an
incorrect prediction about an uncertain outcome
will forfeit something stipulated to the other; a wager.Your views please....1. Do you think the BET is a fair one? 2. What made the bet so enticing?3. Describe the build up of suspence in the man's hotel room(: mdm d3wi
Dear all,Do give me your thoughts:
1. List the (initial) characteristics of Man.
take note : initial refers to his traits before the bet
2. How has the narrator helped us to form our impression of the man?
3. List the characteristics of the American sailor.
Start typing away and include all inputs in your PR book :)
mdm d3wi
MAN FROM THE SOUTH
•From the description of his attire, he appears to be fairly well-to-do.
•“…immaculately dressed in a white suit…”
•However he seems to be a little out of place as well.
•He is overdressed as compared to the other people by the poolside who are dressed in bathing suits.
•Also the narrator draws our attention to his accent.
•We can tell that his manner of speaking is very much different from the narrator, the American sailor and the English girl.
•Perhaps this is the author’s way of indicating to us that this man is not very “normal” – as we do find out as the story progresses.
Why was the Man at the poolside?
•“…he came bouncing along the side of the pool, looking at the people and the chairs.”
•Clearly he is looking for a seat
•But he could also be looking for a seat next to a potential victim who may fall for his bet!
The American sailor
•Why was he the perfect candidate for the man’s bet?
•He was a fairly friendly and polite boy – we can see this from how he offered a cigarette to the narrator and the man
•This made it easy for the man to chat with the boy and start planting ideas for a bet
•He is overconfident – he is very sure that his lighter will never fail to light
•Thus he may want to defend his claim about his lighter if he was challenged about it
•Finally, he was with the English girl and he may want to impress her
Why does the American sailor agree to the bet?
•It seems like a very trivial task to win a huge prize - lighting a lighter 10 times in a row to win a Cadillac
•Furthermore, the man invites the boy to go up to his room where there is no wind
•It seems like a sure-win situation!
•The man mildly teases the boy by saying that Americans are not game enough for betting
•This has probably bruised his ego and his patriotism for his country so he decides to take on the bet
Any comments or queries?
mdm d3wi
With so many things to study these days, why study Literature?1. To benefit from the insight of others.- Some of life's most important lessons are subtly expressed in Literature.
- We learn these lessons only if we pause to think about what we read.
- Because some ideas cannot be expressed adequately in simple language...
- and because the lessons we have to work for are the ones that stick with us.
2. To open our minds to ambiguities of meaning.- While people will "say what they mean and mean what they say" in an ideal world, language in our world is, in reality, maddeningly and delightfully ambiguous.
- We learn to appreciate and create meanings to words.
3. To explore other cultures and beliefs. - History, anthropology and religious studies provide a method of learning about the cultures and beliefs of others from the outside looking in.
- Literature, on the other hand, allows you to experience the cultures and beliefs of others first-hand, from the inside looking out.
- The only other way to have such a personal understanding of others' beliefs are to adopt them yourself--which most of us aren't willing to do.
- If you understand where other people are coming from, you are better equipped to communicate meaningfully with them--and they with you.
4. To appreciate why individuals are the way they are. - Each person we meet represents a unique concoction of knowledge, beliefs, and experiences.
- In our own culture we find an infinite variety of attitudes and personalities, hatreds and bigotries, and assumptions.
- With each exposure to those who differ from us, we expand our minds.
- We may still reject their beliefs and assumptions, but we're one step closer to understanding them.
5. To help us see ourselves as others do.
- Literature is a tool of self-examination.
- You will see your own personality or habits or assumptions in literature.
- Literature serves as a mirror, revealing us to ourselves in all our naked, undefended glory.
To read more on Why Study Literature, check out the following websites :
http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9764
http://www.phc.edu/academics/liberalarts/literature/Essay04.pdf
Smile always ;)
Mdm d3wi
“I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.” ~Eartha Kitt quotes
Ni Hao Assalamu alai kum Namaste Hola Aloha Konnichiwa!!!!Finally, I am able to start proper blogging with you peeps ;)The blog serves as a platform for discussion for all - to clear your doubts, as well as to discuss queries on issues/topics relating to our classroom lessons.Do remember that we are here to appreciate and give insights to all contributions."All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind." ~Martin H. Fischer"Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." ~Oliver Wendell HolmesStay happy and smile always...Mdm D3wi
