Contents: Sneak Peek: Five Children and It Ch.1 Great English Writers 巴金：愛與真實 Charles Dickens: From Pauper to Prosperity 名家的創作泉源——家 Literary Classics We Love Steps to Success Create a Shakespearean Tragedy 四季沐歌 Winners Announcement Fun and Games Answers
Message from Ms Pun p3 p4-5 p6-7 p8-9 p10-11 p12-13 p14-17 p18-19 p20-21 p22-23 p24-25 p26
I love literary classics. Dramatic literature shows us the complexity of human nature and equips us with the courage to Kemmiss Pun face the truth; poetry delights and comforts; novels provide not just shelter, but also an opportunity to meet different character types. Through literature, we are able to nurture our empathy and language abilities. It provides endless possibilities for fun in the classroom. Over the years, i-Learner has introduced students to the wonderful world of literature through English, Latin and Chinese. Let’s read an article by Ms Shangguan on the importance of literature.
文學何為？文學何用？ / 上官惠東老師 「文學何為？」「文學何用？」是我們平日經常探討與爭辯的話題。在教學中，我發現有些孩 子一開始不願意閱讀，認為文學索然無味，不如觀看短視頻、打遊戲等娛樂活動來得有趣；他們還 認為文學毫無用處可言，既不能為生活提供實際的幫助，也不能解決現實生活中的燃眉之急。但是， 文學果真如此一無是處嗎？ 文學，能夠強化孩子說故事的能力。今天學校發生了甚麼有趣的事情？聖誕假期經歷了甚麼難 忘的旅行……如何繪聲繪色地把事件描述出來，讓讀者聽得津津有味，仿佛身臨其境，這，就涉及 到說故事的能力。而文學，能夠很好地培養一個人說故事的技能：通過閱讀文學作品，孩子們可以 充分地感知世界的形狀、顏色、氣味和肌理，並將這些感覺描述出來，付諸文字，去經歷、體會、 描述、表達日常生活中的細水流長與驚心動魄，從而不斷塑造與加強說故事的能力。 文學，還能夠提升語言文字水平。20 世紀的哲學大轉型，就和語言有關係。在持續了數個世紀 的爭吵不休後，哲學家們終於坐下來，平心靜氣地面對一個共同的問題：語言問題。他們發現，所 有的問題都是通向語言的。於是，海德格爾、薩特、加繆、維特根斯坦等哲學家，將全部的時間用 在了語言和與語言相關問題的探討上。詞語、句子，不再只是簡單的詞語、句子，而變成了存在的 狀態、存在的結構。可見，語言與思維有關，與我們對世界的認知有關。我們在表達觀點時，需要 語言這個媒介，讓我們的認識得以落實，使思想的傳承成為可能。文學又因其語言的豐富多彩性、 使用修辭時的積極態度，而使語言生機勃勃、富有魅力。 文學，也有助於孩子培養審美意趣，和擁有悲憫情懷。通過孔孟經典，孩子在「仁義禮智信， 溫良恭儉讓」的文雅風氣中耳濡目染，如沐春風；在狄更斯的現實主義小說中，其對社會現實的觀照， 對人道主義的重視，對人性回歸的期待，都有助於培養孩子對善惡真偽的辨別能力，對他人與世界 充滿關懷，對美好人性永葆希冀。 也許，今天的我們比往日更需要文學。如冰心所言，「讀書好，多讀書，讀好書。」讓我們都 在文學潤物細無聲的浸潤下，錘煉語言，感知世界，與自己的靈魂來一場深刻的對話吧！
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Levels 1-6 of Key to Classics are OUT NOW! Read one of the Level 4 stories, adapted from the novel by E Nesbit.
r e n d l i and It h C e v i F Chapter 1 – Digging to Australia
It was a hot day. The five children wanted to go to the beach. The beach was far away, but Cyril had an idea. ‘There’s sand in the gravel pit,’ he said. ‘We can pretend it’s the beach.’ They made sandcastles and dug holes. ‘Let’s keep digging,’ said Anthea. ‘Let’s dig to Australia.’
But at the bottom of the hole, something wriggled. ‘A rat!’ shouted Robert. ‘A snake!’ shouted Jane. ‘Leave me alone!’ shouted the thing in the hole. The children were excited. They dug and dug until they found a brown, furry, fat thing. It had long whiskers and hands like a monkey’s.
To continue reading, get your own copy of this book from the Key to Classics Level 3-4 set in i-Learner Education Centres or buy it online! The next instalment of this story will be published in the 2022 Austen Term newsletter.
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Great English Writers William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Robert Burton English Teacher
‘We are such stuff Shakespeare is widely thought As dreams are made on, and our little life of as the greatest writer in Is rounded with a sleep.’ the English language and is (Prospero, The Tempest, IV.i.155-158) England’s national poet. He is still important today because his poems and plays show us every aspect of human character and emotion. Shakespeare was also a great experimenter who discovered new ways of writing in order to convey the different moods and feelings of his characters in a powerful way. His writing has heavily influenced later writers in almost every genre and time period.
Quick reads: When you know the stories and main characters of Shakespeare’s plays, it is easy to dip into a play to examine a particular speech or scene. You might want to read the speech of love-struck Juliet, or explore the rhetoric of Marc Anthony. You can take a closer look at Hamlet’s doubt in his fourth soliloquy, or Macbeth’s despair as he declares that life is ‘a tale told by an idiot...signifying nothing.’
‘Ah, no; the years, the years; Down their carved names the rain-drop ploughs.’ (During Wind and Rain) Thomas Hardy is unusual in being both a great poet and a great novelist. He often wrote about the traditional way of life in his local countryside, which he feared was being lost. Many of his novels feature characters who struggle against their personal flaws and the society in which they live. Hardy wrote some of his best poems late in his life, following the death of his first wife.
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
Quick reads: During Wind and Rain; The Wind’s Prophecy.
WH Auden (1907-1973)
Auden is noted for his mastery of a wide ‘If equal affection cannot be, range of poetic styles and techniques as Let the more loving one be me.’ well as the variety of tone and content in his (The More Loving One) work. He has been described as a modern poet who reacted against romanticism, being interested in clarity, analysis and order. Some of Auden’s bestknown poetry deals with love, morals, and human suffering.
Quick reads: Journey to Iceland; Musee des Beaux Arts; Voltaire at Ferney
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Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)
‘the secret ministry of frost Coleridge is often remembered for Shall hang them up in silent icicles, his friendship with another famous Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.’ Romantic poet, William Wordsworth, (Frost at Midnight) and his belief in the power of the imagination to transform our experiences in a positive way. His epic poems such as The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan are known for their fevered, dream-like imagery, while the conversation poems are personal and introspective, exploring connections between imagination and the natural world. Quick reads: In Frost at Midnight, Coleridge finds a common pattern in our thoughts, the landscape and ice crystals as they form.
‘Let us go, through certain half deserted streets, One of the 20th The muttering retreats century’s major poets, Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels TS Eliot is a key And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells’ figure in Modernist (The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock) literature. Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock explores the loneliness, doubt and frustration of the modern age. The Waste Land shows feelings of emptiness and desolation after the First World War. Eliot composed this poem using a technique called ‘parataxis’ in which different fragments of writing are placed next to each other to create the effect of different voices and perspectives.
TS Eliot (1888-1965)
Quick reads: The Waste Land; The Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock
William Blake (1757-1827)
‘Tyger Tyger, burning bright, William Blake’s poetry was In the forests of the night; barely recognised in his own What immortal hand or eye, lifetime. However, today he is Could frame thy fearful symmetry?’ seen as a visionary who was (The Tyger) ahead of his time. Blake tried to bring about positive change in society and wrote against oppression and persecution. Many of his poems are simple in their form and structure, but use this simplicity to engage with more complicated ideas. Blake was originally trained as an engraver and viewed illustration as an essential part of his poetry. Quick reads: Blake published Songs of Innocence in 1789 and Songs of Experience in 1793. Blake viewed human experience as defined by opposites and reading some poems from these books is a great way to start to explore his ideas. Try A Poison Tree, The Sick Rose, Ah! Sun-flower, or Earth’s Answer.
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巴金：愛與真實
/ 楊環老師
因爲受到了愛，認識了愛，才知道把愛分給別人，纔想對 自己以外的人做一些事情。把我和這個社會聯起來的也正是這 個愛字，這是我的全性格的根底。 ——巴金
前一段時間，一直和學生們為如何寫抒情文而尋章摘句， 課堂上我補充了幾篇現當代作家巴金散文名作，一起讀完後， 學生們體會頗深，並津津樂道：巴金為甚麼會如此情感豐富 呢？這大約離不開他的人生經歷吧。 巴金雖然成長於沒落的大家庭，但母親的愛以及兄弟的支 持，影響著他的心靈和性格。巴金先生在回憶錄及採訪中都表 示過自己的「第一個先生」是母親。她的母親是一個德才兼備、 明辨是非的女子，當巴金做錯了事時，她決不姑息遷就。一次， 巴金與三哥為爭搶一張先生畫的畫兒，哭鬧著罵了先生，母親 得知此事後非常生氣，嚴厲地責備了他，並叫他當面向先生賠 禮道歉。 艱難承擔這一大家族的生活的大哥，是巴金寫作的啟蒙 者。即使捉襟見肘，也依然想辦法支付巴金的留學費用。大哥 自殺後，三哥支撐起大哥留下的破碎家庭，一如既往支持著巴 金的寫作，並做第一位讀者。巴金從小感受到了家人對他的愛 與支持，才能追求自由、追求光明，成為一個正直、講真話的 人。
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總覽青年時期巴金作品，無論是長篇小說還是 散文，巴金的寫作風格隨意，以情動人，語言熱烈、 明快、樸素。就作品的題材而論，長篇小說以描寫 家庭生活為主，並且帶有強烈的自傳性。其中家喻 戶曉的激流三部曲《家》這個故事的原型就是巴金 本人和兩位哥哥。散文作品題材更為廣泛，善於將 抒情與記述融合，如散文《繁星》把繁星比作母親 的懷抱、《春蠶》中飽含深情的文字描寫母親對孩 子們深沉的愛，在《燈》中寫出「在這人間，燈光 是不會滅的」對光明的嚮往。 從中年到晚年，巴金的境遇高低起伏，經歷了 家被查抄、妻子病逝、關進牛棚、作品被毀等多重 打擊。巴金將內心深處的愛、真誠、痛苦化為動力 繼續寫作，寫作筆調變得深沉，風格也更注重寫實 與反思。並在晚年作品《隨想錄》中直面自己人格 曾經出現的扭曲，完成最真實人格的塑造。
愛上語文班 在幼兒階段，課程通過唱誦兒歌、朗誦童詩、 閱讀故事和遊戲等方式，幫助學生提高詞彙量、 掌握基本的語文知識，並獲取中文閱讀的語感。 在小學階段，通過豐富有趣的繪本、故事、少 年小說等類型的篇章，提升學生的閱讀能力， 培養學生的閱讀興趣。小學四級以上的課程會 加入古詩和文言篇目，幫助學生熟悉古漢語， 為未來的學習打下良好的基礎。 在「愛上語文班」，我們會和同學們一起走進中文 的世界，在不同的書本中流浪，從中學得一手流利 的中文。「愛上語文班」旨在讓學生在提高語文能 力的同時，培養對語文的興趣。
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在中學階段（中一至中三），帶同學在日常中 熟悉考試的模式。我們也會挑選古今中外的經 典名篇，延續文化熏陶，培養學生對語文的興 趣。
Charles Dickens: From Pauper to Prosperity
Oliver Yen English Teacher
If you have ever heard of crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge or poor Oliver Twist, then you have encountered characters written by one of the most influential writers of the Victorian age – Charles Dickens. He holds the honour of having his own word: ‘Dickensian’, which means something related to what would be found in a Dickens novel. The characters and settings that Dickens portrayed were remarkable in literature at the time as he did not write about the powerful or wealthy, but about the lower classes and the forgotten members of his society. He was self educated and had a rags-to-riches background more fantastical than any of his characters’. Dickens was born on 7th February 1812 in Portsmouth, on the southern coast of England, to a poor family. Unfortunately, his father was sent to a debtors’ prison and Dickens was forced to leave school to help support the family at the age of twelve. He managed this through a job sticking labels on tins of boot-blacking. This experience would influence and inform his later writings.
‘Please, sir, I want some more.’ - One of the most famous quotations from Oliver Twist.
Fortunately, his family’s financial situation improved and he was able to return to school – until he was fifteen, when he was once again forced to drop out in order to help provide for the family. However, this was the start of his writing career as he found work reporting on law courts and started to educate himself from the library of the British Museum.
He began writing under the pen name of ‘Boz’ and soon wrote The Pickwick Papers, which was a hit. Oliver Twist followed, which changed tone from the comedic jocularity of The Pickwick Papers to deal with more serious issues such as moral evil and the London underworld of crime and poverty. The novel focuses on Oliver Twist, an orphan who endures numerous hardships and is famous for asking ‘Please, sir, I want some more’. Next came Nicholas Nickleby, which combined comedy with commentary on the failings of the Victorian educational system. The most famous of his books, however, was yet to come.
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Amazingly, A Christmas Carol was conceived and written in just a few weeks in late 1843. It became the quintessential Christmas story and even started the genre. In the book, Dickens introduces the timeless miser Ebenezer Scrooge and shows how he finds his Christmas spirit. The novel created Victorian conceptions of Christmas as an intimate family holiday and served as a poignant reminder to wealthy Victorians of the good they could do for their less fortunate counterparts – lessons that are just as true today. After A Christmas Carol, Dickens drew on his life experiences when writing David Copperfield. It is said to have been his favourite novel. A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations followed. A Tale of Two Cities is set in the turmoil of the French Revolution and deals with themes of sacrifice, oppression, and revolution. Dickens’ most critically acclaimed work, Great Expectations, criticises Victorian society through the life of an orphan named Pip. The novel deals with themes such as wealth and poverty, love and rejection, and social stratification. The novel’s name plays off the misguided social ‘expectations’ or values of the Victorian age. Unfortunately, Dickens’ health began to fail and he passed away from a stroke in 1870 at the age of 58. Despite a suddenly curtailed life, he had forever shaped literature. Throughout his life and writing, Dickens never failed to display an impeccable sense of humour and empathy, which are as universal now as they were in his time.
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名家的創作泉源—— 名家的創作泉源 ——家 家
/ 冼翠萍老師
葉聖陶先生曾說：「生活猶如泉源，文章猶如溪流，泉源豐盈，溪流自然活潑潑地晝夜不 息。」這句說明了生活中的材料是最豐富的，要寫出好文章，就必須貼近生活、深入生活、觀 察生活，從而認識生活、感悟生活，從生活中取材。而可以就地取材的地方當然離不開一開始 就生活的「家」。 今天就讓我們認識這兩位從「家」中取材的作家︰曹文軒和陳丹燕。
曹文軒 (1954-) 是中國最具影響力的兒童文學作家之一，著有六十多部作品，獲 獎四十餘種，諸多作品被翻譯成外語。他被譽為「中國的安徒生」，帶領一代又一代 的孩子們走進了一個個柔情世界。 曹文軒出生於江蘇省鹽城市，家住在一條大河邊上，在此生活了二十年。每天開 門見水，到了雨季，更是常常一片白水茫茫。他與水朝夕相處，許多故事發生在水邊、 水上。後來，他雖然生活在都市，但那個「家」的人事物卻永恆地留在他的記憶中。 於是曹文軒根據自己的親身感受和經歷，在 1995 年開始創作小説《草房子》。《草 房子》的故事就是發生在這樣的江南水鄉。故事從桑桑上一年級開始，一直講到他小 學畢業，敍述少男少女之間毫無瑕疵的純情，不幸少年與 厄運拼搏的悲愴與優雅。透過作者的筆下，藉由生活 的苦難、現實與無奈，呈現出人性中的真善美。
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另一位作家陳丹燕 (1958-) 在八十年代開始兒童文學創作，主要作品有《少女們》、 《女中學生三部曲》、《我的媽媽是精靈》等。而《我的媽媽是精靈》這一書，根據 陳丹燕說︰「這本書最初的故事來源於我給女兒講的睡前故事。女兒小的時候，睡覺 前洗澡，很喜歡把水也潑到我身上。為了嚇唬她，我説自己後背有一對翅膀，平時藏 在皮膚裏，但是如果濕了，就會長出來，我就得飛走。為了圓謊，我就開始編一個精 靈媽媽的故事。故事的走向，是女兒隨之而來的各種問題。」 陳丹燕為了增加這個幻想故事的真實感，就把故事的背景放在她家附近的那些街 道和店鋪裏。陳丹燕的幻想故事以現實生活和時代為背景，表現了人與精靈的感情交 流，以此來探求生活的真義和人性的本質。 從這兩位兒童文學作家的創作中，可見他們的創作來源都離不開 「家」給予的養份，可見「家」是創作的本源。小朋友，你也可以先從 「家」裏開始觀察生活，從而認識生活、感悟生活，為寫作增加源源不斷 的靈感吧﹗
中文寫作班 我們的中文寫作課程一方面教授孩子不同文體 的寫作方式，和提升作文可讀性的寫作技巧； 另一方面，也通過腦力激蕩、故事接龍、角色 扮演、字詞積累、範文閱讀等豐富的形式，幫 助孩子建立起自己的素材「寶庫」。 課程從即將升入小學的 K3 階段橫跨中學，無 論您想幫助子女寫出正確、完整而具體的句子， 熟練掌握各種文體、實用文格式和修辭技巧， 還是寫出優美的小小說、戲劇乃至嚴謹的專題 小論文，這裡都有為您子女量身定做的課堂。
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Literary Classics We Love Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
S1 - S3
What is this book about? Why is it considered a literary classic? This book is about an ambitious student who tries to create life from death. He successfully reanimates a dead body, but becomes repelled by it and abandons it. The creature seeks out companionship from both society and its creator. Frankenstein is considered a classic as its themes of the dangers of ‘playing God’ and the dangerous pursuit of knowledge still remain relevant. Why do I enjoy it? This book is one you can read multiple times. At first, you may simply see it as a story in which the monster seeks revenge against its creator. However, upon rereading, you may begin to empathise with the creature who, although monstrous in appearance, has a human heart and has faced rejection since being created. We begin to wonder who the true monster is. Who would like this book? People who are interested in gothic tales and scientifically curious students.
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
Ms Dorothy enjoys reading classics because it opens up a new way for us to appreciate modern literature. Through reading classics, we are able to understand how books that have withstood the test of time have influenced our reading tastes now.
S3 - S5
What is this book about? Why is it considered a literary classic? Much Ado About Nothing is considered one of Shakespeare’s best comedies. It revolves around resolving a barrage of misunderstandings and a deceptive ploy. Its themes of love, deception and misunderstanding still hold great value in the contemporary world, making it a timeless piece of work. Why do I enjoy it? I enjoy the boisterous merriment and its take on thought-provoking topics such as honour, deception, and politics. Additionally, one of the main characters, Beatrice, is outspoken, daring and intelligent. Her ability to outwit others in the many verbal spars of this play makes her stand out.
Mr Arisht is an ardent book lover. His love for books stems from the classics that he has read over the years. He believes that classics have an incredible amount of depth that can teach lessons that transcend all ages and time.
Who would like this book? While the language may seem dated and daunting to understand at first, anyone who loves a bit of drama and some light-hearted comedy would love this work. Love, lies and heaps of misunderstandings run throughout the story, making it a hard one to hate.
In Cold Blood
by Truman Capote
S5 and above
What is this book about? Why is it considered a literary classic? In Cold Blood is based on the true case of the horrific murder of the Clutter family that shook the community of Holcomb, Kansas in 1959. Capote blended reality with fiction and became a pioneer of the true-crime genre. Colourful and descriptive prose mixed with alternating perspectives added to the book’s richness and impact. Why do I enjoy it? I was gripped by the detail and imagery and emotionally charged by the reality of the case. I am very interested in psychology and what drives someone to act. I found Capote’s inclusion of the assailants’ perspectives to be very powerful and thought provoking.
Ms Ruth enjoys reading classics because they connect us to the past but also deliver a stark reminder of what the future may hold.
Who would like this book? Anyone who is interested in true crime but also enjoys getting lost in a novel would appreciate this. 12
《唐詩三百首》
孫洙、徐蘭英
P1-P6
內容簡介 ： 全書共收錄了 77 位作家的 311 首詩，當中收錄有「詩 聖」之稱的杜甫的詩為最多，其次則是「詩仙」李白。《唐詩 三百首》詩選內容題材廣泛但並不艱深。 喜愛理由：《唐詩三百首》收錄詩篇的篇幅短小，內容既具故事性， 又有歷史文化底蘊，更輔有簡單易明的解釋，絕對是消磨時間之 餘，培養中文語感的經典好物。
蔡泳詩老師 相信文字是 每個人表達自我、認識 世界的最好媒介，更能 讓我們在忙碌的生活中 感受平靜的時刻。
推薦受眾 ： 這本詩選適合對中華文化歷史有興趣的小朋友。因為這本書收錄的詩 篇，當中不少會讓讀者認識歷史，例如《七步詩》講述了兄弟相殘的故事，也讓 同學認識到曹丕、曹植兄弟的關係。因此《唐詩三百首》很適合對歷史故事感興 趣，又想輕鬆培養文學素養的同學。
《西遊記》
（明）吳承恩
P3 以上
內容簡介 ： 小說以孫悟空「大鬧天宮」故事作開端。再分寫如來 說法，觀音訪僧，魏徵斬龍，唐僧出世等故事，交代取經的緣起。 自十三回起到全書結束，講述了五百年後，觀音向孫出自救的方 法。以致孫悟空聯同豬八戒及沙僧開始跟隨師父唐三藏上路取經， 一路上歷盡艱險、降妖伏魔，經歷了無數困難取得了真經。 喜愛理由 ： 此書充滿冒險及幻想色彩。書中有許多驚險的情景，描寫了整個取經 旅程的艱辛。就是這些離奇的故事情節贏得了廣大讀者的心，此書成為我國古代 的四大名著之一。
冼翠萍老師 喜歡閱讀， 希望學生也能從書中找 到閱讀的樂趣，喜歡中 文，成為明辨是非之 人。
推薦受眾 ： 這本書十分適合小學至初中生閱讀，特別是一些喜歡冒險，充滿想象 力的學生。
《紅樓夢》( 庚辰本 ) （清）曹雪芹
S4-S6
內容簡介 ： 以賈寶玉和林黛玉的愛情悲劇為線索，以賈、史、王、 薛四大家族的興衰史為軸線，濃縮了整個社會的時代內容，是我 國古典小說中偉大的現實主義作品。 喜愛理由 ： 小說成功塑造了眾多栩栩如生、性格迥異的人物形象， 如率性單純、憎惡仕宦道路的賈寶玉，敏感細膩、天真率直的林黛玉，穩重隨和、 雄心勃勃的薛寶釵等，讀來令人牽腸掛肚，為他們的悲劇感慨不已。小說也體現 了作者對人性的洞察與同情，充滿了哲思。此外，《紅樓夢》堪稱一部百科全書， 涵蓋了生活中的各個方面，讓我對詩詞、飲食、園林、戲曲、服飾、陶藝等方面 都有所涉獵，大為滿足。 推薦受眾 ： 對清末時代變遷感興趣，心思細膩，有別緻的審美意趣的小讀者。
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上官惠東老 師喜愛文學， 希望帶著小朋友體會智 識的樂趣，培養獨立之 精神，自由之思想，從 哲思中尋得力量與慰 藉。
Steps to Success i-Learner’s close connection with parents is vital to our teaching success. When students receive consistent support at home and in their lessons, they can master their learning goals and improve their confidence. To reach this goal, our teachers share weekly articles on a wide range of topics. Below, Mr Matthew shares his thoughts and admiration of classic and postcolonial literature, while Ms Ceri shares some tips on how to polish your vocabulary through reading classics. Visit our website to get access to more articles on steps to your success.
Reading Classic and Postcolonial Literature What immediately comes to mind when ‘classic literature’ is mentioned in an English lesson? Perhaps wistful Victorian orphans or spurned women running across a heath. The texts we find in the literary canon are almost entirely Western, and that should not come as any surprise: English is a ‘Western’ language after all. But against the backdrop of a postcolonial and globalised Hong Kong, it is high time we re-examine this and consider alternatives. Should we retain every book in the pantheon of classic works and study them for years to come? Or could we turn elsewhere to examine the classic literature we might have overlooked?
Matthew Hui English Teacher
Literature that is commonly considered classic spans time and literary trends. According to Harold Bloom, a critic famous for defending the traditional Western canon, the list ranges from Shakespeare and Goethe to Woolf, Freud and Neruda. This, however, does not seem enough. Perspectives and lived experiences of whole swaths of people are summarily excluded. And while it was touching and necessary for Daniel Defoe in 1719 to depict the skewed yet genuine friendship between the master Crusoe and servant Friday under dire circumstances, the time for empowered voices of the previously colonised and enslaved to speak for themselves has most definitely come. This is where postcolonial literature plugs a large gap, as what is considered ‘classic’ has yet to catch up sufficiently.
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Simply put, postcolonial literature is ‘the literature by people from formerly colonised countries’, though it should be noted that it also includes work by previously ‘silenced’ groups on Western soil, such as African American literature. Toni Morrison’s Beloved, a novel inspired by the real-life account of a slave mother’s murder of her baby son, is an example of the category. The book, brutal and hopeful in equal measure, shocked and touched me in a way quite unlike any of the books I had read before. It was then I realised that I had never been introduced to or recommended any postcolonial (or for that matter, black) literature at school. There is universal beauty, pain and truth to be found in works written about experiences that are all too unfortunately shared around the world. These serve as empowerment as much as cautionary tales against the horrors of oppression. It would therefore not be a bad idea for you to look up some postcolonial novels to read alongside our Key to Classics series the next time you feel ready for an adventure into literature.
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Classics and Vocabulary Building As the key developer of Overseas Education materials for 11+ and 13+ examinations, I have spent a lot of time thinking of strategies for students to expand their vocabularies. A strong and broad vocabulary is the best weapon you can have in a Verbal Reasoning, Literary Analysis, Reading Comprehension, or Writing assessment; not only because of the words at your fingertips, but also the worlds of meaning these words open up.
Ceri Moss English Teacher
Extracts from classic literature feature heavily in these examinations and also in overseas curriculums. Through them, we are given windows into many different historical periods. We can learn ancient morals through Aesop’s fables, find out about medieval robbers in Robin Hood, or discover secret worlds in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 20th century novel The Secret Garden. Each of these historical periods comes with unique vocabulary and contextual references. For example, archaic words used in character names in Robin Hood could help students with profession vocabulary and feminine and masculine nouns (great for Verbal Reasoning preparation):
Friar Tuck = (arc.) meaning a religious brother, or medieval monk → coming from the Latin frater, or French frere for brother.
Maid Marion = (arc.) meaning an unmarried girl or young woman → more recent historical maid servants who were usually unmarried.
Sheriff of = (arc.) meaning a senior officer in an English county responsible Nottingham for law and order → modern day sheriffs in the US who are chief police officers.
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And in The Secret Garden, there are many wonderful adjectives used to describe the personality of the rude and sometimes unpleasant Mary Lennox. Try working out the definitions of these adjectives and using them in your creative writing. contrary
imperious
grave
solemn
But how can you use these great works of literature to effectively increase vocabulary? ・ Read attentively – don’t skip over unknown words or things you don’t understand. Pause and use your strategies for decoding complex vocabulary. ・ Use a dictionary – use a dictionary to find definitions to words you are unsure of. Keep a reading dictionary to keep a track of new words and remind you to use them in your own writing. ・ Read with others – find a friend to be your reading buddy and read the novel at the same time. After each chapter, test each other’s knowledge by asking comprehension questions or about the plot. Discuss the new vocabulary you have learned. ・ Start with abridged versions – if you feel intimidated by the length and complexity of a classic novel, start with an abridged version levelled for your reading ability. i-Learner has some ideal books in our Key to Classics series (L1-2, L3-4, L5-6). Start with these to understand the plot and gradually begin to expand your vocabulary.
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Create a Shakespearean Tragedy William Shakespeare wrote many plays and poems that are still widely studied and performed today. He is best known for his plays. Can you name any? Other than romances and comedies, Shakespeare wrote tragedies as well. Here are four of the greatest Shakespearean tragedies:
Gigi Cheng English Teacher
Hamlet
The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet, the young prince, to avenge his death by going after the new king, Hamlet’s uncle. But in his pursuit of revenge, Hamlet ends up being a tragic hero when his uncle also starts to plot against him.
Othello
Othello, an African general in the Venetian army, is deeply in love with his wife. However, eventually tricked by his trusted third in command, Othello begins to suspect his wife’s loyalty, and ends up being destroyed by jealousy.
King Lear
Lear, the aging king of Britain, retires and divides his kingdom among his two daughters who flatter him, but banishes the third, who loves him most deeply. Betrayed by the two daughters he trusted, Lear descends into madness.
Macbeth
Scottish general Macbeth is told by three witches that he will become the King of Scotland. Encouraged by his ambitious wife, Macbeth rises to power through cruel and violent means. He finally meets his downfall because of his greed and paranoia. What truly defines a Shakespearean tragedy? Walk through the steps and create your own Shakespearean tragedy. Step 1 Decide what kind of tragic event will happen. Will it be a…
… Heart Tragedy? It revolves around star-crossed lovers who are thwarted and torn apart for uncontrollable or fated reasons.
… Head Tragedy? It features a protagonist who is capable of free will but whose positive traits are eventually overcome by a fatal flaw.
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Step 2 Create your hero! Look at the common elements that most of them have. Make sure your hero has at least three of these traits. 1. The Fatal Flaw All Shakespearean tragedy heroes have a weakness in personality that finally leads to their downfall. 2. Noblemen Often extremely rich and powerful, Shakespearean tragedy heroes have extra tragic endings as they fall from their high position in society. 3. Fallen Angel Usually of decent character, the Shakespearean tragedy hero is eventually destroyed by his own ego or desire to advance himself. 4. Missed Opportunities Shakespearean tragedy heroes almost always have chances to redeem themselves, but they never take advantage of them in time. 5. External Pressure Evil spirits and manipulative characters may entice Shakespearean tragedy heroes to fall victim to their malicious plans. Step 3 Create an outline of the plot before you write your play! A Shakespearean tragedy traditionally follows the Freytag pyramid of dramatic structure, which consists of the following five parts:
1. Exposition - Introduce the characters, setting and main conflict. 2. Rising Action - Build on the main conflict and increase tension. 3. Climax - The most exciting part of the story. 4. Falling Action - What happens after the climax? 5. Denouement - Wrap up the story and answer any unanswered questions.
Now that you’re all set, happy (or tragic) writing! Created an excellent Shakespearean Tragedy? Let us know by sending your story to us at books@i-learner.edu.hk. We may share your story in future publications or on social media.
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四季沐歌 不少學生覺得寫詩是門十分高深的學問，不但要遵從很多格式、押韻平仄等限 制，更講究一文一字的雕琢、意象鮮活的呈現，以及詩人的真情實感。其實，作詩 是有趣的聯想遊戲，並有很多的可能性，以下會以四季為主題介紹不同類型的詩， 希望為你提供新的靈感。
/ 陳諾霖老師
春山 陳黎
雪線上，有走獸摩擦生電 把冷凍的，春色 灼燒成一座 活火山 噴 著 憤怒的葡萄
圖像詩是一種別具玩味的寫詩方式，以排列文字組成特定的圖案，具象 地呈現文字的意境，利用圖像的想像帶動文字的產生，或是把文字放進圖像這 「容器」，對於初寫詩的人會是個有趣的體驗。陳黎的《春山》排列成火山爆 發的圖形樣貌，我們可以看到倒三角的「活火山」，洞口噴發出「憤怒的葡 萄」，非常生動地呈現冬去春來、萬物醒來——春山的生命力。 星之葬 余光中 淺藍色的夜溢進窗來 夏斟得太滿 螢火蟲的小宮燈做著夢 夢見唐宮 夢見追逐的輕羅小扇
夢見另一個夏夜 一顆星的葬禮 夢見一閃光的伸延與消滅 以及你的驚呼 我的回顧 和片刻的愀然無語
現代詩是以內容決定形式，去除很多繁瑣的格式要求。初寫詩時，很常想 不到有甚麼可寫，其實我們所曾讀過的詩，皆可成為創作的養分。來看看余光 中的《星之葬》，便以古詩融入現代詩詞中，他把杜牧《秋夕》中「輕羅小扇 撲流螢」、「坐看牽牛織女星」的意象重新詮釋，以「螢火蟲的小宮燈做著夢」 去作聯想，跨時空地與古詩中的唐代宮女共鳴思怨。 20
山居秋暝 唐·王維
空山新雨後，天氣晚來秋。 明月松間照，清泉石上流。 竹喧歸浣女，蓮動下漁舟。 隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。
《山居秋暝》是一首五言律詩，短短四十字卻含豐富的寫景、描人及抒情 內容。詩描述了清幽秋涼的山林之景，除了結合動靜態描寫來呈現不同面貌， 更以多感官描寫，如秋風的觸感、流水淙淙的聲音、浣女的嘻笑等，使讀詩 人彷如身臨其景。
江雪 唐·柳宗元
千山鳥飛絕，萬徑人蹤滅。 孤舟蓑笠翁，獨釣寒江雪。
《江雪》是一首五言絕句，雖然詩人選取了冬天最為典型的「雪景」作主 題，而且全詩只用了白描手法，並無特別修辭。但正好引證了詩詞並不一定需 要華麗辭藻，以精煉的文字勾勒重點，反而更使人嘆服。柳宗元以「千山」、 「萬徑」先描繪出浩大的遠景，一片白茫茫的天地，襯托出下句的「孤舟」 和「獨釣」，營造一種極致寂靜的氣氛。
不論是以何形式 : 圖像詩、現代詩、古詩，或何寫作手法 : 白描、用典、感官描寫，詩也只是我 們所思所見的載體，當詩興大發時，不要顧慮形式，先寫下來吧 ! 現在就試一試，以四季景色為主題， 寫出你獨有的詩吧。
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Winners Announcement
We received many humorous submissions to our jokes and comic strip competition from the last newsletter. Read the hilarious winning jokes and comics below!
Riddle Charlotte Lau
P4
I'm a letter You use me to see It doesn’t mean you, but can mean me At night you close me But other times you don't.
Answer: I
新亡羊補牢 Avery Yu
P2
有一天，動物園的袋鼠跳出籠外， 動物園開會後，認為欄不夠高， 所以將欄的高度由 10 尺改為 20 尺。 然後第二日，又有幾隻袋鼠跳出籠外， 管理員決定再將 20 尺的欄改為 30 尺。 到第三日，所有的袋鼠都跳出籠外， 管理員憤怒下把欄的高度改到 80 尺。 完成後，袋鼠好奇地問好朋友長頸鹿︰ ' 你覺得管理員會不會再加高個圍欄 ?' 長頸鹿回答說︰ ' 很難說，如果他們還不記得關上門的話 ....'
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Comic Strip Hammon Wang
P4
Congratulations! Congratulations!
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Bookworm Comic
Bookworm Game Find 5 differences between these pictures from Thumbelina, a Level 2 book from the Key to Classics series.
Find the answers on the back cover. 24
成語迷宮 我迷路了，你能幫我找到回家的路 嗎？我還記得回家的路由七個與 「花」字相關的四字成語組成的。
花
容
月
杯
看
花
助
自
影
守
株
貌
蛙
東
張
西
望
如
待
兔
五
花
八
門
鳥
春
魚
河
流
半
途
而
廢
語
風
得
移
妙
筆
生
花
香
花
得
水
動
曇
公
瓜
假
輕
走
接
木
花
花
一
現
走
重
跑
花
長
人
山
人
海
馬
看
花
移
意
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i-Learner Burns Term
Feb r ua r y 2 0 2 2
International Education Education is a passport. Our international courses ensure that students cultivate the critical thinking, broad knowledge and multilingual self-expression needed to be a successful global citizen, wherever they find themselves in the world.
A variety of courses for every learner ・ Classics and Modern Languages - Learn French, German, Spanish, Latin and Classical Greek and become a polyglot! ・ English - Master English speaking in Global Speaking Passport or prepare for UK school admissions in our 11+ and 13+ classes. Take our Voyage and Discovery International streams to succeed at IGCSEs and IB or join IELTs to prepare for university applications. ・ Maths and Science - Prepare for the 11+, 13+ maths and nonverbal reasoning and 13+ science tests or get ahead in our Maths and Science transition courses. ・ Individual Subject Coaching - Receive individual subject coaching to prepare for overseas study or to support you whilst you’re there. Exam-specific courses are available for school assessments, GCSE, A-Level, IB and SAT.
Find out more on our website: i-learner.edu.hk
Looking to move abroad? Did you know we offer late evening and special timeslots for students overseas? Contact us for a timeslot to fit your schedule, wherever you are in the world!
P.24 Answers 答案：
Wan Chai Centre 6/F, 303 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Tel: 3611 8400 WhatsApp: 6468 8366 Tsim Sha Tsui Centre 2/F Ritz Plaza, 122 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: 3113 8815 WhatsApp: 9049 3014
P.25 Answers 答案： 花
容
月
杯
看
花
助
自
影
守
株
貌
蛙
東
張
西
望
如
待
兔
五
花
八
門
鳥
春
魚
河
流
半
途
而
廢
語
風
得
移
妙
筆
生
花
香
花
得
水
動
曇
公
瓜
假
輕
走
接
木
花
花
一
現
走
重
跑
花
長
人
山
人
海
馬
看
花
移
意