Give some facts concerning the development of fine arts in Belarus.

 

4. Prove that the following statements are true. Give additional information:

1. Belarus has an ancient and versatile culture.

2. The Belarusians have preserved the charm of national handicraft.

3. Theatrical life of our country is rich and diverse.

4. Contemporary Belarusian musical art preserves national traditions.

5. The Republic gave birth to a number of prominent writers.

6. The Belarusians have their own national character.

 

5. Comment on the following quotes about culture:

1. People without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture are like a tree without roots. (M. Garvey)

2. Without traditions, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. (W. Churchill)

3. Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit. (J. Nehru)

4. The theatre is the primary evidence of a national culture. (J. S. Mill)

 

ADDITIONAL READING ACTIVITIES

ADDITIONAL READING 1

Read the following texts about popular folk holidays in Belarus, complete exercises after each of them:

Folk Holidays in Belarus

There are ten public holidays in Belarus, which are observed nationwide and are official days off. Among them are New Year, Catholic and Orthodox Christmas, Labour Day, Victory Day, Independence Day, etc. But Belarusian people remember not only the great battles and fights: the traditions and customs of our ancestors are also kept in people’s memory. Some of them are even included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Certainly, nowadays, when most people live in big cities, old traditions are not so widespread. Still there is a tendency to revive old customs, especially if they are connected with positive emotions, enjoyable time, and bright impressions.

Perhaps, the most ancient and loved pagan holiday in contemporary Belarus is Kupalle.

KUPALLE

Kupalle is associated with numerous legends and myths. Now it is celebrated on the night of July, 7 in accordance with the Orthodox calendar. But our ancestors celebrated the Midsummer Day on June, 23. They believed that on the night before that day witches, sorcerers and ghosts roamed the earth trying to do harm to people. It was also believed that on Kupalle night the fern had a glowing flower –“Paparac’-kvetka”. The lucky couple that would find it would live happily and would be able to foresee the future. No wonder that a lot of young boys and girls spent hours in search for the fern-flower in blossom, which was also a symbol of love.

The central part in Kupalle celebration was lighting bonfires. During the day young men would prepare the place to start the fire. They would go around the village collecting old things – clothes, broken barrels – and would take them out to the chosen place. Usually it would be a meadow, a forest glade or a bank of the river. The oiled wooden wheel would be set on the fire to symbolize the sun. Jumping over the fire when it is burning low, as well as bathing in a river or lake were supposed to be the acts of purification. People also performed traditional dances (karagods), sang folk songs and competed in strength.

A popular type of magic practiced on Kupalle night was fortune telling. The girls would put their wreaths on the water and let the river carry them. The boy who fished the wreath out of the water would be that girl’s intended. It was also the best time to gather herbs and to prepare love potions.

The holiday of Kupalle has been widely featured in the Belarusian literature and works of art. It lives on the Belarusian soil as a living reminder of our past and our hope for a better future. Today, these festivities are a mix of ancient traditions and rituals, theatrical performances and games.

 

Say whether the following statements are true or false according to the text:

1. Our ancestors celebrated the Midsummer Day on June, 23.

2. A lot of young boys and girls spent hours at Kupalle night in search for the fern-flower in blossom, which was also a symbol of power.

3. Jumping over the fire when it is burning high, as well as bathing in a river or lake were supposed to be the signs of revelry and strength.

4. Kupalle was also the best time to gather herbs and to prepare love potions.

KALYADY

All New Year celebrations in Belarus are tied to Kalyady – the ancient pagan ritual with maskers and songs. On the 24^th of December (6^th of January according to the Orthodox Church) our ancestors were greeting Kalyada. Each family prepared delicious food, but most dishes were fast, for instance boiled apples, mushrooms, kvas (traditional drink), and others. People lit candles and put some straw under the table cloth, as before Christ, straw was a pagan symbol of fruitfulness.

Nowadays people say that “Kalyady” is a God’s holiday. All the days and nights from Christmas to Epiphany are considered sacred and called “Kalyady”. The main purpose of Kalyady is to get rid of everything bad in one’s life and to begin a new life cycle. It is also a joyful time when people are enjoying themselves.

During Kalyady, groups of merry young boys and girls in smart clothes go from house to house in Belarusian villages and towns. Each person in the procession of “Kalyadouschyki” (carol-singers) has a role according to his character and temperament: one of them bears the star, others sing carols, amateur musicians play the accordion or beat the tambourine, and amateur actors are disguised as Goats, Bears, Storks, Horses, Gypsies and Old Men.

On Kalyady the Belarusians like to visit each other, celebrate weddings and arrange fairs. By the way, it was at the fairs in the old days when vagrant musicians and puppeteers gave their performances. Small puppet theatres called “Batleyka” were popular in Belarus. Some people consider that the word “Batleyka” originated from the word “Bethlehem” – the name of Christ’s birthplace.

Folk celebrations of Kalyady occupy a special place in Belarusian holiday calendar. This holiday is especially appreciated by Belarusian people, because following our grandparents’ traditions and customs helps us preserve our identity and uniqueness.

 

Answer these questions to the text “Kalyady”:

1. When is the holiday of Kalyady celebrated in Belarus?

2. How did the Belarusians celebrate Kalyady in the past?

3. What is the main purpose of celebrating Kalyady today?

4. Speak on the role of the procession of “Kalyadouschyki”.

5. Small theatrical performances were given at fairs on Kalyady, weren’t they?

6. What ancient Kalyady traditions are kept nowadays?

 

A WEEK OF PANCAKES

For those who live in cities, Maslenitsa is a time for pancakes, barbeques and burning of straw dolls. In the countryside this is one of the best-loved holidays and the preparations begin in advance. During Maslenitsa week, preceding the fast, our ancestors would eat as much as they could and enjoy various entertainments. They cooked pancakes, made cheese, went sledging, danced round fires and had fistfights.

Maslenitsa is one of the “tastiest” holidays for rural children. Grandmothers do their best to treat their precious grandchildren to fabulous pancakes, cottage cheese cakes, bagels and stuffed pies. Maslenitsa is a public holiday rather than a family one. It is associated with jollity and fairs, dressing up and enjoyment. Many rituals and tokens, known to the older generation, are meant to encourage a good harvest and wealth. Some girls would tell fortunes on this holiday as they do at Christmas.

Along with pancakes rural dwellers make cheese for Maslenitsa. The other name for this period is Cheesy Week. In the past, on entering the house of a young hostess, the guests usually uttered “If you don’t give us cheese, you won’t have a son. If you don’t give us poppy seeds, you won’t have a daughter!” So, rural beauties had to learn to make cheese from childhood.

Each day of Maslenitsa week is special. Monday is a “Welcoming Day”, as on this day everyone welcomes guests, and in the villages the ice slopes are built. Tuesday is a “Playful Day” – most entertainments should be enjoyed on this day. On Wednesday Maslenitsa pancakes are cooked, so it’s called “Gobbling Day”. Thursday is a day of revelry, on which people would ride horses and play outdoor games. On Friday, “Mother-in-law Evenings” are held where they treat their sons-in-law to delicious pancakes. And on Saturday, on “Sisters-in-law Day”, women would invite their husbands’ sisters and give them presents. Sunday is a “Pardoning Day”; following the church service, people would ask each other to forgive them for all the offences they have caused over the past year. These rituals, passed down through the ages, help people learn to be jolly and to repent of bad deeds.

 

Complete the sentences with the information from the text “A Week of Pancakes”:

1. For those who live in cities, Maslenitsa is a time for …

2. During Maslenitsa week our ancestors would …

3. Maslenitsa is a public holiday, which is associated with …

4. The other name for Maslenitsa period is...

5. Many rituals and tokens – known to the older generation – are meant to encourage …

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Find information about food festivals held in other countries of the world. Share it with your group mates.

 

2. Get ready to speak about one of the Belarusian holidays mentioned above.

 

ADDITIONAL READING 2

Read the text about Slutsk waistbands and give its summary:

Slutsk Waistbands: History of the National Symbol

The famous Slutsk waistbands are among Belarusian national treasures, a fine example of decorative and applied art. They are not only a historic and cultural symbol but also a modern brand of Belarus.

Long, wide waistbands with beautiful patterns and complex weave-work from precious yarns became popular in the Belarusian lands in the 16^th and 17^th centuries. Amazing events and family secrets, mysterious and sometimes mystical stories are connected with them.

Only noblemen could afford wearing these exceptionally beautiful, symbolic and expensive waistbands. A waistband in the attire of a noble man symbolized belonging to the elite, centuries-old family traditions and, of course, wealth.

Belarusian weavers created unique patterns and symbolic motifs, and devised their own exclusive technology. The Slutsk manufactory of the Radziwills, one of the richest and most influential dynasties in Europe, became world famous. In its heyday the Slutsk manufactory employed up to 55 weavers, 55 apprentices and spinners. The production of authentic waistbands at the Radziwill’s manufactory continued into the middle of the 19^th century. Slutsk masters put special marks on every waistband they made. During the times of Rzeczpospolita these marks were in Latin. Later they were made in the Cyrillic alphabet.

A classical Slutsk waistband was a luxurious sash (3.5-4m long and 35-40cm wide), which was worn folded or rolled up above the outer garment of the nobility. This classy accessory could be one-, two-, three- and four-facial. Each side was used depending on the colours of the outfit and the situation. For instance, the waistband was put on with its golden or red side out on a holiday; the black side was used in mourning; green and grey parts were worn in everyday life.

It is believed that nearly 1,000 Slutsk waistbands have survived till the present day. Almost all of them are kept outside Belarus: in the museums of Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania, and also in private collections. Belarusian museums have 11 Slutsk waistbands of different years of manufacture, as well as numerous fragments.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Complete the sentences using the information from the text:

1. Slutsk waistbands are not only a historic and cultural symbol but also …

2. Long wide waistbands became popular in the Belarusian lands in …

3. A waistband in the attire of a noble man symbolized …

4. In its heyday the Slutsk manufactory …

5. A classical Slutsk waistband could be worn …

6. It is believed that nearly 1,000 Slutsk waistbands …

 

2. Answer the following questions:

1. When did long waistbands become popular in the Belarusian lands?

2. Who could afford wearing beautiful Slutsk waistbands?

3. What noble family owned the Slutsk manufactory?

4. Did Slutsk masters put special marks on every waistband?

5. How many Slutsk waistbands survived till the present day? Are there any in the Belarusian museums?

 

3. Get ready to speak about the most famous traditional crafts in Belarus.

 

ADDITIONAL READING 3

Read about a legendary folk dance ensemble “Khoroshki” and find in the text the adjectives, which describe the group:

The Legend of Belarusian Folk Dance

For many centuries, Belarusian folk dances have been one of the strongest and most developed forms of art, playing an important role in the preservation of national traditions and acting as an inspiration to Belarusian professional performers. Most folk dances developed among people in villages, and were passed on from generation to generation in a particular region.

Nowadays Belarusian folk bands help to understand a real Belarusian soul. Ensemble “Khoroshki” is a Belarusian legend, a leading choreographic group of the country. The history of the ensemble started in 1974. The white stork, a symbol of the Belarusian land, is the emblem of the choreographic group. The entire world has become the scenic area for “Khoroshki”. The audiences of more than 30 countries have gratefully applauded the Belarusian musicians and dancers, enchanted with wonderful colours of costumes, beautiful melodies, and masterly feats. Those who have seen a 60-member ensemble filling the stage with vigorous movement will never forget their exciting performance.

It is always a treat to watch the dozens of fresh-faced, high-spirited, perfectly drilled, smiling young dancers executing the intricate, athletic, gracefully patterned choreography. The dancers appear in a great variety of costumes, many of them lavishly embroidered on rich, glittering colourful fabrics; the men are dashing, the women are showy in their whirling skirts.

Each concert of “Khoroshki” consists of a lot of big numbers with their own costumes, gesture and musical style. There are “typical” folk dances, where traditionally dressed country lads and lasses are stepping lightly and playfully flirting. They are usually followed by “urban polka-quadrille” from the early 20^th century. A stylized, courtly looking circle dance is particularly attractive, when the boys are displaying the girls like beautiful figurines.

“Khoroshki” are accompanied by their own orchestra. It is lined up across the back of the stage, having pairs of flutes, violins, accordions, zithers, bagpipes, and other folk instruments. They give a full concert of folk-inspired Belarusian music, usually in a popular dance-band style. So, all is there, at the concert of “Khoroshki”, a great example of Belarusian culture.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Complete the sentences with the appropriate words from the list below:

circle dance; emblem; bands; numbers; ensemble; figurines; gesture; performance

 

1. Nowadays Belarusian folk … help to understand a real Belarusian soul.

2. The white stork, a symbol of the Belarusian land, is the … of this choreographic group.

3. Those who have seen a 60-member … filling the stage with vigorous movement will never forget their exciting ….

4. Each concert of “Khoroshki” consists of at least a dozen of big … with their own costumes, … and musical style.

5. A stylized, courtly looking … … is particularly attractive, when the boys are displaying the girls like beautiful …. 

 

2. Translate paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 in written form.

 

3. Find information about other famous choreographic ensembles of Belarus, get ready to report it to the group.

UNIT 10 Books in Our Life

Vocabulary

General:

read in the original

periodical

plot

print

 

Writers and characters:

author

character

novelist

playwright

poet

writer

 

Genres:

adventure story

autobiography

biography

classics

detective story

drama

essay

fable

fairy-tale

fiction

folklore

legend

myth

historical novel

humorous story

poetry

popular science

prose

psychological drama

short story

sonnet

tale

tragedy

 

Literary works and their parts:

chapter

episode

masterpiece

novel

piece of literature

play

poem

story

page

paragraph

passage

series

volume

 

Writer’s activities:

create

deal with

depict

describe

enrich

impress

inspire

publish

reveal

show

translate

 

 

Impressions and characteristics:

contemporary

critical

imaginary

impressive

lyrical

poetic

realistic

talented

touching

unbelievable

unusual

Pre-reading Activities

1. Study the following scheme. Give examples of books of different genres:

Short stories             Tales                         Diaries  Biographies Autobiographies

 

Novels  Legends Myths                     Speeches             Essays

Literary Genres

Sonnets       Poems     Ballads          Comedies       Tragedies Farce

 

Lyrics  Songs                                Pantomime Melodrama Tragicomedies

2. Match the English words and their Russian equivalents:

1. e-books                          a. беллетристика

2. fairy-tales                      b. персонажи

3. fiction                            c. сказки

4. dramatist                                d. сочувствовать

5. characters                               e. кругозор

6. contemporary                f. предубеждение

7. sympathize with                     g. брать взаймы

8. prejudice                        h. современник

9. borrow                          i. драматург

10. outlook                        k. электронные книги

 

3. Read the expressions and find their English equivalents in the text:

Я регулярно занимался чтением; источник духовной и эмоциональной силы; находить ответы на жизненные проблемы, с которыми я сталкиваюсь; чем больше я читаю, тем больше понимаю; пронизаны традицией наполнения души добром и состраданием; привлекла широкую взрослую аудиторию; широко представлена на международной арене.

 

Reading Activities

Read the text and say if the author is fond of reading. Do you share his preferences in reading? Make the plan of the text.

My reading habits

I’m fond of reading. I don’t borrow books from the library until it’s absolutely necessary because I like the smell and the rustling of the pages of a new book, which is just bought. As paper books are becoming more and more expensive, e-books seem rather popular and convenient.

I like reading books about the history of our country, about famous people and the life of my contemporaries abroad. Literature means much in my life. It helps to form the character and the world outlook, to understand life better. I’ve done regular reading since I was seven. At first these were small children books like fairy-tales, amusing stories for light reading. Then came adventure and detective stories to be followed by fiction. These were different kinds of books: for pleasure and entertainment, for knowledge and education. Some of them remained with me forever as a source of spiritual and emotional power. They awaken creative thought in my mind, help to find the answers to different life problems I face.

The more I read the more I understand the Russian classics: A. S. Pushkin, M. Y. Lermontov, L. N. Tolstoy, F. M. Dostoevsky, I. S. Turgenev. They are all my favourites. But there is one more name in Russian literature that is very dear to me. That is Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. In my opinion, he is the greatest Russian dramatist and short-story writer. I'm never tired of reading and rereading his plays and short stories. He created a number of characters who are sensitive, intellectual, and delicate. Chekhov’s books are permeated with the tradition of filling in the soul with good and compassion.

One of the first writers I read in the original was J. K. Rowling. Reading “Harry Potter” was a very entertaining and educative process. I developed my knowledge of English and enjoyed the time spent at reading. The novels chronicle the life of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School. A series of many genres, including fantasy, drama and the British school story (which combines elements of mystery, thriller, adventure, horror and romance), it has many cultural meanings and references. According to Rowling, the main theme is death. There are also many other themes in the series, such as prejudice, corruption, and madness. The Harry Potter series of fantasy novels attracted a wide adult audience, and have become some of the most widely read works of children’s literature in history, with readers of all ages and in many countries.

Like most Belarusians I’m proud of our national literature widely represented on the international arena by the classics Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas, Maksim Bahdanovich, Ivan Melezh, Uladzimir Karatkievich, Vasil Bykau and the contemporaries Svyatlana Alexievich, Raisa Baravikova, Adam Hlobus, Viktar Martsinovich. My favourite Belarusian writer is Uladzimir Karatkievich, a well-known author of historical novels, plays, short stories and poems. Among his best works are the works about the past of Belarus such as “Old Legend”, “The Black Castle of Alshany”, “The Wild Hunt of King Stakh”, etc. My favourite book is “The Land beneath White Wings”. The author tells us about the history and culture of Belarus from old times till today. Every line of his essay speaks of the author’s love for motherland, its people and its beautiful nature. In his books Uladzimir Karatkievich often used lines from the poems of other poets to describe the beauty of Belarus.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Answer the following questions:

1. Are you fond of reading? What books do you like reading?

2. Are you fond of reading detective / romantic / spy/ adventure / love stories?

3. Which American or British writers do you know?

4. Do you like poetry?

5. Who is your favourite poet? Can you recite any of his poems?

6. Have you ever tried to write poems?

7. What are the most prominent names in modern Belarusian literature?

8. Who is your favourite contemporary Belarusian writer?

9. Which of his books have you read?

10. Why do you like this author? Which of his characters do you like best of all?

11. Were his books translated into any foreign languages?

 

2. Comment on the following quotes about literature, find some facts about the authors:

I am a part of everything that I have read. (Theodore Roosevelt)

In a good book the best is between the lines. (Swedish Proverb)

There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them. (Joseph Brodsky)

Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself. (George Bernard Shaw)

If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book. (J. K. Rowling)

3. Get ready to speak about your reading habits and your favourite writers using the plan of the text “My reading habits”.

 

ADDITIONAL READING ACTIVITIES

ADDITIONAL READING 1

Read the review of the book. Be ready to write the review of the book just read, making use of the vocabulary:

Book review

I’d like to tell you about the book I’ve recently read. It’s quite a famous novel by an American writer Jerome David Salinger called The Catcher in the Rye. The story was written in the late 1940s and the action takes place in the post-war period in the USA. This book was very popular among the readers after it was published, and its problems aren’t old-fashioned even now.

The main character, Holden Caulfield, is a teenager of about seventeen. He is a student in Pencey School and tells us his life story. Holden is tall and handsome. He sounds miserable about the life he is living. But he is sincere and so romantic that he is liked by the readers.

The fact is that Holden has been expelled from Pencey for failing his exams. He’s got a couple of days before Christmas vacation starts, and he isn’t eager to appear at his house in New York where his parents and younger sister live, before next Wednesday. So he stays at a hotel and entertains himself with a lot of different things. For instance, he goes to a bar where he dances with unknown ladies; he calls his girlfriend and invites her to the movies. Finally, he wants to meet his sister, Phoebe, and enters his house secretly. To his luck, his parents are out at a party, so he has a chance to speak to Phoebe. Only when his mother comes into the room, Holden hides in the closet. After that he makes up his mind to leave home and go to another state. But he wishes he could see Phoebe and say good-by to her. To his surprise, Phoebe comes to the place of their meeting with a heavy suitcase as she wants to go away with him. In the end, Holden changes his mind and returns home.

I really enjoyed the book. You get to understand Holden’s behavior and his dream – to become “a catcher in the rye” so as to catch the kids in the rye. In my opinion, the problems of young people nowadays are similar to those Holden had. What I liked best is the way Holden changed during the story, as in the end he became a little better and got to understand the aim of his life. What I didn’t like was some slang Holden used, though it was very typical for such teens as Caulfield.

While I was reading the book, I felt sorry for him, but appreciated his personality and point of view.

I would, of course, recommend my friends, students and teachers to read that novel by Salinger. I hope you’ll like it.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Match the paragraphs of the review with the following aims:

a) to give the opinion of the book

b) to introduce the book to the reader

c) to recommend the book to the readers

d) to describe the main character

e) to describe the plot of the story

f) to say where and when the story takes place

 

2. Complete the sentences writing about the book you’ve read:

1) I’d like to tell you about the book called                                                          

2) The story was written in                                                                

3) The action takes place in                                                                         

4) The main character        , is (was)                                                       

5) What I really like is                                                                                  

6) What I’d like to criticize is                                                                      

7) I personally think the book is                                                                  

 

3. Match the author with the title of the book he or she wrote. Tell a few words about the author and the literary work. Use information from the Internet if necessary:

W. Scott                   wrote     Ivanhoe

Ch. Dickens                                          The Jungle Book

W. Shakespeare                          Alice in Wonderland

J. London                                    Jane Eyre

Ch. Bronte                                  Martin Eden

E. Hemingway                            Sister Carrie

O. Wilde                                     Winnie the Pooh

Th. Dreiser                                  The Picture of Dorian Gray

R. Kipling                                   A Farewell to Arms

A. Milne                                      Romeo and Juliet

L. Carroll                                    David Copperfield

 

ADDITIONAL READING 2

Read and listen to the text. Answer the following listening comprehension questions:

1. How was the main library of the Republic of Belarus called upon its opening in 1922?

2. Was the library destroyed during the war?

3. What does a “diamond” shape of the new library building symbolize?

4. What is the area in front of the library used for?

The National Library of Belarus

From the very beginning libraries were centres of education, the storage of all knowledge of the mankind. Modern libraries are increasingly being redefined as places to get unrestricted access to information in many formats and from many sources. Many libraries are now also repositories and access points for maps, prints, or other documents and artworks on various storage media. Libraries may also provide public facilities to access CD-ROMs, subscription databases, and the Internet. All the best from ancient traditions combined with modern achievements make the world famous libraries. They are Alexandria Public Library, Boston Public Library, Folger Shakespeare Library, The Library of Congress, The National Library of Canada, New York Public Library, etc. We can’t but mention The National Library of Belarus which is now a visit card of the republic.

The National Library of Belarus was established on September 15, 1922. Originally it was the main library of the Republic of Belarus and was called the Belarusian State University Library. There were only 60,000 items at the opening of the Library. About one thousand people were its users at that time. Some time passed and the Library opened its departments in other Belarusian cities such as Vitsyebsk, Mahilyow, and Homyel. There was a universal library collection covering all fields of knowledge including materials concerning Belarusian literature, history, sciences, etc. In 1932 the Library celebrated its 10^th anniversary. On this occasion the Library was named after V. I. Lenin.

At the beginning of 1941 the Library collections totalled over 2,000,000 items; over 15,000 users visited the Library. The further Library’s development was interrupted by World War II. Though the library was destroyed during the war, it was built anew and in October 1944 it opened its doors to readers. By 1948 the collection of the Library had been restored though many gaps still remain unfilled.

In 1992 the State Library of Belarus was renamed into the National Library of Belarus. The new building of the National Library of Belarus, situated on the Independence Avenue, opened its doors on June 16, 2006. It was designed by architects Mikhail Vinogradov and Viktor Kramarenko. The building is 73-metre high and it has 22 floors. It is an absolutely unique building, a gorgeous engineering and architectural construction. The shape of a “diamond” symbolizes the value and endlessness of the world of knowledge. There is the first Belarusian printer Francisk Skarina bronze monument in front of the Library’s central entrance.

Today the National Library of Belarus is the main informative and cultural centre of the country. It houses the largest collection of Belarusian printed materials and the third largest collection of books in Russian after the Russian State Library (Moscow) and the Russian National Library (St. Petersburg). The library service is in great demand. More than 90 thousand Belarusian citizens are the library users. Every day the library is visited by more than 2.2 thousand people. The library users have an access not only to bibliographic, full texts, graphic, sound and linguistic databases of the National Library but also to databases of other libraries and informative institutions, including foreign ones. There are 20 reading rooms in the Library to satisfy education and research needs of users in different subjects. They hold 2 thousand seats and are located on three floors. Each reading room is fitted up with the modern scanning, printing and copying equipment. There is also a multipurpose conference hall (a place for business meetings and negotiations), a musical-art hall and art galleries. In addition to serving as a functional library, the National Library is a city attraction. It has an observation deck overlooking Minsk. The area in front of the library is used for many public concerts and shows.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Translate the text using a dictionary and answer the following questions:

1. What are the functions of modern libraries?

2. Name the most famous libraries of the world.

3. When was the National library of Belarus established?

4. How many items were there at the opening?

5. Where did the library open its departments?

6. What happened to the library during the war period?

7. When did the new building of the National Library open its doors? Tell about it as a famous city attraction.

8. Prove that the National Library is a very important informative and cultural center of the country.

 

2. Think of the heading for each paragraph, get ready to speak about the National Library of Belarus according to the plan using the indicated vocabulary.

 

ADDITIONAL READING 3

Tell what you know about the following British writers. Read and translate the texts. What new facts have you learnt?

CHARLOTTE BRONTE

Charlotte Bronte was born in Thornton in Yorkshire, England, the daughter of a clergyman. Her mother died in 1821, so four of the Bronte daughters were sent to a boarding school (which Charlotte portrayed as Lowood school in Jane Eyre). Charlotte blamed this school for the early deaths of her two elder sisters Maria and Elizabeth, and for her own poor health in later life. At home the girls and their brother Branwell read widely, and invented and wrote highly imaginative stories.

Charlotte taught as a governess in two families, and then, in her early twenties, went to Brussels to study languages. She fell deeply in love with her French teacher, and suffered greatly when he did not reply to the letters she wrote to him after returning home. Charlotte helped her sisters Emily and Anne to publish their first novels, and began to write Jane Eyre. Although this novel was very successful, Charlotte was now living through a tragic period in her personal life. Branwell and Emily died in the same year, 1848, and her remaining sister Anne the following spring. In spite of this great emotional loss, and the terrible loneliness which followed, she struggled to continue writing. In 1854, after some hesitation, she agreed to marry her father’s assistant, Arthur Nicholls, but she died a few months after her wedding, when she was expecting their first child.

Charlotte Bronte is widely praised for her depth of feeling and the realism of her writing. Her works continue to be read and appreciated. Her most famous novel is Jane Eyre (1847), which has great emotional interest and narrative power. Her other published works are: Shirley (1849), Villette (1853) and The Professor, her first novel, published in 1857 after her death.

JEROME K. JEROME (1859-1927)

Jerome K. Jerome was born in Walsall in Staffordshire, England, and brought up in east London. His father was an unsuccessful ironmonger. Jerome was at various times a clerk, a schoolmaster, a reporter, an actor and a journalist. He became joint editor of a humorous magazine called The Idler in 1892, and then started his own weekly paper called To-day.

Jerome wrote articles, plays and novels, but is best known for his highly amusing Three Men in a Boat, which immediately became a humorous classic and has been appreciated as such by several generations of readers. It still maintains its popularity: as the author modestly says, “The world has been very kind to this book”.

Well-known works by Jerome K. Jerome include: Three men in a Boat (1889), Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow (1889), Three Men on the Bummel (1900), Paul Kelver (1902) and the play The Passing of the Third Floor Back (1907).

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (1859-1930)

Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of a civil servant. He studied medicine and then worked as a doctor for eight years. To add to his income he started writing short stories, which were published in magazines. His first novel A Study in Scarlet had as its main character a detective called Sherlock Holmes. This strange intellectual figure, based in his fictional home in London’s Baker Street, soon attracted public interest, and Conan Doyle was asked to write Sherlock Holmes stories for publication in the well-known Strand Magazine.

Conan Doyle is famous for creating the best-known detective in literature and his good-natured companion Dr. Watson. He himself, however, preferred writing his many historical romances, such as The White Company. He became bored with his hero Holmes, and tried to kill him off in a story called The Final Problem, but the public outcry was so great that Holmes had to be brought back to life in one of his best adventures, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

During the Boer War (1899-1902), Conan Doyle worked as a physician at a field hospital in South Africa. In 1902 he received a knighthood for his pamphlet about the war, The War in South Africa.

Well-known works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle include: A Study in Scarlet (1887), The Sign of Four (1890), The White Company (1890), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902), The Valley of Fear (1914). The Sherlock Holmes stories are collected in: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892), The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894), The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905) and The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes (1927).

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Correct these sentences if necessary:

Charlotte Bronte:

1. Charlotte Bronte liked her first boarding school.

2. She became a teacher in Brussels.

3. She finally married her French teacher.

4. She had four sisters and a brother.

5. She stayed in Yorkshire all her life.

Jerome K. Jerome:

1. Jerome K. Jerome was brought up in Walsall.

2. He had many jobs.

3. He was the editor of his own weekly paper called Yesterday.

4. His best-known work is A Study in Scarlet.

5. He wrote Three men in a Boat in 1898.

 

Arthur Conan Doyle:

1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in London.

2. He studied medicine for eight years.

3. Sherlock Holmes first appeared in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

4. The public preferred Conan Doyle’s historical romances.

5. Conan Doyle tried to kill off Sherlock Holmes forever in The Final Problem.

6. He was knighted for his short stories.

 

2. Get ready to speak about one of the writers adding some information from the Internet or library resources.

 

3. Write an essay about one of Belarusian writers.

 

ADDITIONAL READING 4

Read the texts about two famous playwrights, guess their names and say what facts helped you make your suggestions. Before reading study the translation of the following words and word combinations:

gentry – низшее дворянство

coat of arms – герб

peasant – крестьянин

rebellion – восстание

penname – псевдоним

yeoman – мелкий землевладелец

plague – чума

“Venus and Adonis” – “Венера и Адонис”

“The Rape of Lucrece” – “Обесчещенная Лукреция”

dedicate to – посвящать кому-л.

Earl – граф (английский дворянский титул)

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UNESCO announced 2008 the year of this Belarusian writer, poet, translator and a prominent theatrical figure. Some of the facts from his biography are quite uncertain. We know that he was born on the 17^th of February, 1808. His family formally belonged to the gentry and even had its coat of arms – a swan. But when his father Yan and his mother Martsiana were getting married they didn’t have their own land. Under one version he was sent to St. Petersburg after the death of his father. He studied medicine but left the Academy because couldn’t stand operating and blood.

In 1831 he returned to Minsk and worked as a clerk in court. He got married in 1840 to a lawyer’s daughter Yuzefa Baranouskaya. They had seven children. By the way, his daughter Camilla and son Miraslau were known as talented pianists when teenagers.

In 1840 he also bought the manor Lutsinka and left the civil service. He settled in Lutsinka and started his literature activity. The development of new literary genres, especially that of drama provoked a great interest in theatrical performances. In Lutsinka he established his amateur theatre. The company of his theatre numbered more than 20 actors including the writer himself, two his daughters and a son. There was a choir and an orchestra. The libretto for his farce “Selyanka” (which got one more name “Idylia”) was published in 1846. This work combines drama monologues and dialogues with music, choir singing and dancing.

The main hero of “Idylia” is not a landlord but a peasant Naum Prygavorka. When the production was staged in Minsk by the dramatist’s theatrical company, he played the role of Naum. He sometimes used the name Naum Prygavorka as his penname. The theatre was based on democratic and folk traditions. It was soon closed by the police. The hero of the article and his family supported the rebellion in 1863-1864 headed by K. Kalinousky. The writer even spent about 9 months in prison for this.

His literature pieces were written in the Polish and Belarusian languages. Among the works in Belarusian are “Hapon”, “Zalety”, “Idylia”, “Pinsk gentry” and many others. He was a talented translator. His translation of Mitskiewich’s poem “Pan Tadeush” was published in 1859. His work had a profound influence both on the development of Belarusian literature and theatre and on evoking a great interest in the Belarusian national character. Today if you look through the repertoires of Belarusian theatres you’ll undoubtedly find his name there.

-2-

He is generally regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist of English literature. He is also called “Swan of Avon”.

He was born in 1564, probably on April, 23 and he also died on April, 23, 53 years later. His parents, John and Mary got married about 1554. Mary was of the landed gentry, John – a yeoman – a glover and commodities merchant. No doubt, the boy attended the local grammar school in the town where his parents lived, and studied primarily Latin rhetoric, logic, and literature. At the age of 18 (1582) he married Anne Hathaway, a local farmer’s daughter eight years his senior. Their first daughter (Susanna) was born six months later (1583), and twins Judith and Hamnet were born in 1585.

His life can be divided into three periods. The first 20 years, which include his schooling, early marriage, and fatherhood, the next 25 years as an actor and playwright in London; and the last five in retirement back in Stratford where he enjoyed moderate wealth gained from his theatrical successes.

Perhaps in 1583, he began his career with a London theatrical company. When, in 1592, the plague closed the theatres for about two years, he turned to writing poetry. Most notable were “Venus and Adonis” and “The Rape of Lucrece” both of which were dedicated to the Earl of Southampton. During the same period he was writing his sonnets. He returned to playwriting when theatres reopened in 1594. Amid all of his success, he suffered the loss of his only son, Hamnet, who died in 1596, at the age of 11.

In 1599 our hero became one of the partners in the new Globe theatre, built by Chamberlain’s men. This group was a remarkable assemblage of “excellent actors who were also business partners and close friends including Richard Burbage and others who worked together as equals”.

He wrote 37 plays which continue to be read widely and produced frequently throughout the world. Among them are “Hamlet”, “Othello”, “Merchant of Venice”, “Macbeth”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Romeo and Juliet”, and many others.

His influence extends from theatre and literature to present-day movies and to the English language itself. His writings have also influenced a large number of notable novelists and poets over the years, including Herman Melville and Charles Dickens. Finally, he is the second most quoted writer in the history of the English-speaking world after whoever wrote The Bible.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Compare the two famous playwrights, noting down the things they have in common.

 

2. Get ready to speak about the impact of these prominent men into the development of literature of their nations.

UNIT 11 Theatre

Vocabulary

pride ballet to function choir palace mastery to create to attract to perform performance tours status the middle ages theatre - puppet theatre - drama theatre - opera and ballet theatre - young spectator’s theatre - guest theatres art professional company

audience phase renovation to be mentioned fruitfully to be located to establish drama dramatic genre post-war period remarkable repertoire works by Belarusian (foreign) authors stage to stage to play a role  - to play an important role  - to play a central role play

Listening Activities

Listen to the text and be ready to answer the questions:

1. When did the tradition of the Belarusian theatre start?

2. Who began to create the first Belarusian theatre of modern type?

3. Which Belarusian theatre is the oldest one?

 

Pre-reading Activities:

1. Explain the meaning of the following words:

puppet theatre, playwright, professional company, to be reopened, repertoire,

masterpiece, reconstruction, audience, to stage

 

2. What’s the English for:

древний, ранний, становиться, богатый, хотя, развитие, известный, Великая Отечественная война, большинство, в наши дни, областной, получать, современный, характеризовать, любители, возраст, разнообразный, зарубежный, сезон, тур, однако

 

3. Make your own sentences with the following words:

ballet, choir, to create, performance tours, puppet theatre, genre, repertoire, to stage, a play, playwright, masterpiece, company, to attract

 

Reading Activities

1. Read the text and get ready to speak on the topic “Theatre in the Republic of Belarus”

THEATRE IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The tradition of Belarusian theatre is very ancient. It started in the early Middle Ages as folk puppet theatres – Batlejka –and folk drama. The art of ballet became known in Belarus in the second half of the 18^th century. The richest Belarusian and Polish feudal lords such as the Radziwills, Oginskis, Sapiegas had drama theatres, choirs and ballet schools at their palaces. Though that tradition died out in the 19^th century, the development of the theatrical art did not stop.

An important role in the development of theatrical art in Belarus was played by the work of the playwright, actor and producer V. Dunin-Martsinkyevich, who began to create the Belarusian professional theatre in the middle of the 19^th century. A new phase of development of the Belarusian theatrical art began in the 20^th century: a series of new theatres with professional companies were opened, many famous Belarusian authors fruitfully worked in the dramatic genre, for example Y. Kupala, Y. Kolas, and others. By the middle of the 20^th century there were 23 professional theatres in Belarus. However, during the Great Patriotic War the majority of them were closed. In the post-war period many theatres were reopened, new ones were established. Today there are more than 30 state theatres in Belarus.

Dramatic art plays a central role in the theatrical culture of Belarus. The Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre is located in Minsk. This oldest Belarusian theatre, opened in 1920, is a real pride of our country. The first play performed on the stage of the theatre was Kupala’s “Pavlinka”. In general, the first performances were based on the Belarusian folklore and works by Belarusian writers but then foreign works started to be produced on the stage. Nowadays the theatre presents lots of plays, written by such authors as W. Shakespeare, B. Shaw, N. Gogol, F. Dostoevsky, V. Bykau and others.

The National Academic Drama Theatre named after Gorky began its functioning as the Regional Drama Theatre in 1928 in Mogilev. In 1932 the theatre received the status of the Russian Republican Drama Theatre. Since 1947 the company has been working in Minsk. The modern repertoire of the theatre is characterized by staging the classical masterpieces by A. Ostrovsky, A. Chekhov, F. Schiller, Lope de Vega, Goldoni.

The National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus was opened in Minsk in 1933 with the opera “Carmen”. Today the theatre suggests a remarkable choice of unforgettable operas and ballets: “Boris Godunov”, “Othello”, “Sadko”; “Nutcracker”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Fountain of Bakhchisarai”, “Firebird”, “Chipollino” and many others. The professional mastery of the Belarusian ballet dancers is highly estimated by theatre lovers all over the world. It should be mentioned, that in 1996 the theatre was divided into two independent structures: the Ballet Theatre and the Opera Theatre. In 2008 the two companies were reunited into the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus. Moreover, the building of the theatre underwent complex reconstruction and renovation. The reconstruction project was over in 2009.

The performances of the Young Spectator’s Theatre and the Belarusian State Puppet Theatre attract the audience of all ages. The theatres stage plays full of gaiety and unbelievable adventures. The repertoire of the theatres is rich and varied: it includes fairy tales and plays by Belarusian, Russian and foreign authors.

The theatrical season in Belarus continues all the year round. In summer the Belarusian theatres make performance tours, while the audience enjoys the art of guest theatres.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Match left-hand column with the right-hand column to make up the phrases according to the text:

 

1. theatrical                                     a. tale

2. middle                                         b. round

3. written                                        c. estimated

4. highly                                          d. by

5. to reunite                                    e. period

6. reconstruction                             f. art

7. to attract                                     g. the audience

8. fairy                                            h. project

9. to work                                       i. ages

10. post-war                                   j. into

11. all the year                                k. fruitfully

 

2. Fill in the suitable prepositions where necessary. In some cases prepositions are not needed:

1. The art … ballet became known in Belarus … the second half … the 18^th century.

2. A new phase … development … the Belarusian theatrical art began … the 20^th century.

3. … the middle … the 20^th century there were 23 professional theatres in Belarus.

4. V. Dunin-Martsinkyevich began to create the Belarusian professional theatre … the middle … the 19^th century.

5. Numerous plays are performed … the stage … the theatre.

6. This theatre stages the plays … modern authors.

7. The first performances were based … the Belarusian folklore but then foreign works started to be produced … the stage.

8. The professional mastery … the Belarusian ballet dancers is highly estimated … theatre lovers all … the world.

 

Dictionary Work

I Consult your English-English dictionary and study the difference between the words auditorium / house, play / performance.

1. Use auditorium or house (or both) according to the meaning:

1. What do we call the part of a theatre in which the audience sits? We call it.... 2. By 7.15... was almost full. 3. Smoking is not permitted in.... 4. This play inevitably draws full.... 5. He hurried upstairs towards.... 6. The curtain fell and... went wild. 7. Which are the best seats in...?

 

2. Use play or performance according to the meaning:

1. We managed to get seats just on the day of.... 2. “The Three Sisters” is my favourite... by Chekhov. 3. I got two stalls a quarter of an hour before... began. 4. He offered me two seats for the first... of.... 5. At what time do... start at the circus? 6. A matinee is... given in the afternoon. 7. Spectators are not allowed to stand in the aisle during....

 

II Translate the Russian words into English:

1. The bell rang and (зрители) went back to their (места). 2. They were sitting in (партер). 3. We could see (сцена) very well from our (места). 4. I’m an actress, and the job of an actress is (играть на сцене). 5. This is the best scene in (акт) One. 6. Englishmen often call (галерея) in a theatre “the gods”. 7. He took up his (бинокль) for a long look round (зал). 8. When I go to the Bolshoi I like having my seat in (бель-этаж). 9. We (купили) our seats at the box-office of the theatre. 10. He always plays (драматические) roles. 11. When does the (театральный) season begin in Minsk? 12. What do you think of (игра актеров)?

 

ADDITIONAL READING ACTIVITIES

ADDITIONAL READING 1

Read the text and be ready to speak about going to the theatre:

Going to the Theatre

Going to the theatre can be entertaining and educative. Despite competition from the cinema, television, and the Internet the theatre still plays an important part in the entertainment of the English.

In London there are theatres for all tastes: some people prefer musical comedy, and shows of this kind are very popular. Variety shows, in which actors entertain the audience with sentimental and comic performances or skits on social or political life, also draw full houses. Those who do not care for musical comedy or variety will find other shows to their taste. Some theatres stage modern plays; Shakespeare and other classics are played mostly at Old Vic; the Royal Opera, formerly Covent Garden, shows opera and ballet.

As a rule, performances start (or begin) at about half past seven and run for three hours or more, including about an hour for intervals between acts. There are sometimes matinees in the afternoon, but most spectators prefer evening shows.

People book (or reserve) seats beforehand either at the box-office (or booking office) or by phone. The best and most expensive seats in the auditorium (or house) are the orchestra stalls, the boxes, and the dress-circle. From these seats you can see the stage very well. The pit and the gallery are cheap, but the view is not so good from these seats. Spectators may not stand in the aisle during the performance.

When you arrive at the theatre you leave your coat at the cloakroom, where you can also get opera-glasses. An usher shows you to your place and sells you a program, which tells you the story of the play that is on that evening and gives the names of the actors who will act the different parts (or roles).

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Give the English equivalents for the following Russian words and phrases and use them in your own sentences:

эстрада, эстрадный концерт, оперетта, партер, ложа, спектакль, во время спектакля, дневной спектакль, антракт, бинокль, касса, заказать билеты по телефону, развлечение, билетер, провести на место, аншлаг, проход, играть на сцене, игра (актера), гардероб, сдать пальто в гардероб.

 

2. Insert the missing words:

1. I found the play most... and educative.

2.... isn’t over till 10.45.

3. I like... my seats beforehand, long before the night of....

4. The... was packed, there was not an empty seat.

5. The best seats in the theatre are...

 

ADDITIONAL READING 2

Read the text about theatre in your life and complete it using your own information:

Theatre in My Life

Theatre has been one of the most exciting attractions for centuries and today it is really popular. Of course nowadays there are a lot of other attractions, for example cinema, TV and the Internet, bu