4
-NiE ,
13 SEPTEMBER 2017
INTERMEDIATE Novel
The silver lining IN Tim Vicary’s The Elephant Man, we see the two sides of humans: good and evil. Shop owner Simon Silcock takes advantage of Joseph Merrick’s deformity. He keeps Merrick in a room in his shop, and charges people 12 pence to come and view the man. Dr. Frederick Treves, on the other hand, represents the good side of humanity. He reaches out to Merrick, taking him to the London Hospital for a medical examination. Later in the story, Dr. Treves – with the help of the hospital chairman Mr. Carr Gomm – makes sure that Merrick has enough funds to live in the hospital.
NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Identify
● Reason
Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent
Problem solving ● Question
Collaborating
Communicating
● Present
● Oral ● Written
The hospital chairman Mr. Carr Gomm writes a letter to The Times, after hearing about Merrick. As a result, donations pour in for Merrick from the readers of the newspaper. With the donations, Dr. Treves is able to arrange for Merrick to live in the hospital. Read the following extract from The Elephant Man.
The second room had a bed, table, and chairs. I visited him every day, and talked to him. He loved reading, and talking about books. At first he did not know many books: the Bible, and one or two newspapers, that’s all. But I gave him some books of love stories, and he liked them very much. He read them again and again, and talked about them often.
● Aural
● Listen ● Attain goal ● Contribute respectfully
Herman Melville’s Moby Dick is about Captain Ahab’s blind pursuit of revenge after having lost his leg to a white whale in a fight. In his hunt for Moby Dick, the whale, he has no qualms about endangering the lives of the crew aboard his ship.
NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify
If Merrick was given The Star to read, which part do you think would interest him the most? In groups of four, find an article from The Star which would fit the bill. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Imagine you were Merrick. In 150 words, write your thoughts on the article in the form of a diary entry. Finally, take turns to read your diary entry aloud in class.
● Identify
● Reason
Communicating ● Oral
● Written
● Brainstorm ● Invent ● Connect
Problem solving ● Recreate
● Present
The story is narrated by Ishmael, a young sailor who is aboard the ship with Captain Ahab. The following is an extract from the beginning of the novel.
Communicating ● Oral ● Written
● Aural
Collaborating ● Listen ● Attain goal ● Contribute respectfully
My name is Ishmael and this is my story. I’m a sailor and I work on different ships. I love my life on the ocean. It’s sometimes dangerous but never, never boring. I feel sad when I’m not on a ship.
NiE Activity 3 Critical thinking
● Organise
Creative thinking
Creative thinking ● Brainstorm ● Connect
Problem solving ● Question
● Recreate
Collaborating ● Contribute ● Attain goal respectfully
In groups of four, look for someone from The Star who has an occupation which you find interesting. Cut the person’s picture out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. On the same page, complete the paragraph below with your own words. Then, add a few more sentences so that your paragraph is not less than 100 words in length. When you are done, present it in class.
My name is _______________ and this is my story. I’m a _______________ and I work _______________. I _______________ my life _______________. It’s sometimes _______________ but never, never _______________. I feel _______________ when I’m not _______________.
At the end of the story, Captain Ahab has his final battle with Moby Dick. Here’s an extract from the novel showing their face-off. Then Captain Ahab’s face was suddenly angry. He slowly brought his harpoon up. When he talked to the white whale, his face was the face of the Devil. “You can kill me, but you CANNOT WIN!” He threw the harpoon hard and fast. It hit Moby Dick below his small black eye.
In groups of four, scan The Star for an article or picture featuring a person (or a group of people) showing antagonistic feelings. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Then, write a brief description of the situation before exchanging papers with another group. The group will now provide a suggestion to help improve the situation. When they hand the paper back to you, decide if you agree with the suggestion. If not, recommend another way of improving the situation.
Description of the situation:
Paste the article or picture here
Suggestion: