Culturestudy Lesson2

How the British political system works

Is the Queen in charge of the UK?

Sort of. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. This means that while a monarch – in this case, Queen Elizabeth II – is the head of state, she is not the head of government. She does not get to make most of the decisions about how the government is run; that job belongs to the Prime Minister, or PM.

The English monarchy used to have absolute power, but that was a long time ago – over 800 years in fact. 2015 was the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, or the Great Charter. This document spelled out the rights and responsibilities of King John of England and the ruling class in 1215. The Magna Carta is regarded as the first statement of citizen rights in the world.

 

The Bill of Rights of 1689 – which is still in effect – lays down limits on the powers of the crown and sets out the rights of Parliament and rules for freedom of speech in Parliament, the requirement for regular elections to Parliament, and the right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution.

Nowadays the Queen’s role is mostly ceremonial.

Do England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own governments?

Yes and no. England is the most powerful country of the four and the British Government works for the Queen, who is an English monarch. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are all ultimately beholden to English law. However, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all have governing bodies that work exclusively on issues in their own countries.

Scotland is the most politically independent country. The Scottish National Party (SNP) have 56 seats in the House of Commons and the Scottish Government is responsible for running day-to-day matters in Scotland such as education, transport, and health.

Wales has the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales, which are in charge of things like making laws for Wales and agreeing Welsh taxes.

At the moment Northern Ireland does not have a sitting government but Northern Ireland does have the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly which has powers closer to those already devolved to Scotland.

Who makes the laws in the UK?

The UK’s government has three basic types of power: legislative, executive, and judiciary.

Legislative power is the power to make new laws or remove old ones. This power is held by Parliament, which is made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, and the Northern Irish Assembly also have legislative powers; however, they do not have as much authority as Parliament.

Executive power – the power to implement and enforce laws – is controlled by the British government, which works on behalf of the Queen, as well as the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Judiciary power, which is the power to prosecute those who break the law, is kept independent of the legislature and the executive. The highest court in the UK is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

What are the different political parties and how are their members elected?

People vote in elections for Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent them. The party that gets the most seats in Parliament forms the Government. For example, right now the Conservatives have the most seats in Parliament, so the UK has a Conservative Government. If, in the next election, Labour wins more seats, we will have a Labour Government.

There are lots of political parties in the UK, but the big ones are:

·         The Conservative Party (currently led by Boris Johnson). The Conservatives are “right wing,” or conservative. They typically believe that business shouldn’t be regulated and that we should all look after ourselves.

·         The Labour Party (currently led by Jeremy Corbyn). Labour are “left wing,” or liberal. People who are left wing believe that the state should support those who cannot support themselves. Ideas like the redistribution of wealth, the NHS, and job seeker’s allowance are fundamentally left-wing ideas.

·         The Liberal Democrats (currently led by Jo Swinson). The Lib Dems, as they’re called, fall between the Conservatives and Labour. Even though they have “liberal” in their name they are really a mix of liberal and conservative.

·         Scottish National Party (currently led by Nicola Sturgeon). The SNP is left wing and Scotland is, politically-speaking, more liberal than England.

Who can vote in the UK?

Members of the UK Parliament are elected in General Elections, which typically take place every five years. To vote in a General Election you must be:

·         Registered to vote

·         18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’)

·         A British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen

·         Resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)

·         Eligible to vote – i.e. you cannot be legally excluded from voting

Watch the video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ns064a0kqfdzQhNz6QCcJS9-_UxMIjc0/view?usp=sharing

 Finish the sentences and write them down in your exercise books:

1. Parliament’s duty is to…
2. In 1215, King John agreed to a list…(number) of rules.
3. Magna Carta ensured for the first time that…
4. Parliament is made up of three parts:…
5. There are…MPs in the House of Commons and…MPs in the House of Lords.
6. The Prime Minister heads up…
7. The Cabinet is made up of…senior ministers.
8. Parties not in power are called the…
9. The monarch meets the Prime Minister…(how often?)
10. A Manifesto is…
11. Anyone can contact their local MP by…
12. By voting petitioning, campaigning and more you can…

 

English literature

 Lesson 3. Geoffrey Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales

                       Geoffrey Chaucer 

       

Geoffrey Chaucer (/ˈtʃɔːsər/; c. 1340s – 25 October 1400) was an English poet and author. Widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages, he is best known for The Canterbury Tales. He has been called the "father of English literature", or the "father of English poetry". He was the first writer to be buried in Poets' Corner, in Westminster Abbey. Chaucer also gained fame as a philosopher and astronomer.

One of the reasons Chaucer is so important is that he made the decision to write in English and not French. In the centuries following the Norman invasion, French was the language spoken by those in power. The Canterbury Tales was one of the first major works in literature written in English. Geoffrey Chaucer spent over a decade writing The Canterbury Tales, from the late 1380s until his death in 1400. His original plan was to write 120 stories as part of the collection of ''tales'' but he only wrote 24

The Canterbury Tales consists of the stories related by the 29 pilgrims on their way to Saint Thomas Becket's shrine in Canterbury. The purpose of their trip is religious; they are going to pay homage to the the blessed martyr, Thomas a Beckett.

Harry Bailey, the Host, had proposed a scheme in the General Prologue whereby each pilgrim was to narrate two tales on the way to Canterbury and two more while returning.

 Chaucer planned that each character would tell four stories: two while going to Canterbury and two while returning to London. If Chaucer had finished, he would have written 120 stories. He only actually wrote 24. We never get to see the pilgrims reach Canterbury, nor do we learn who wins the competition.

·                                 Geoffrey Chaucer, in his General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, introduces an array of characters who have stopped at an inn on their way to Canterbury.

The Knight Socially the most prominent person on the pilgrimage, epitomizing chivalry, truth, and honor. He stands apart from the other pilgrims because of his dignity and status.

The Miller A drunken, brash, and vulgar man who rudely interrupts the Host, demands that his tale be next, and warns everyone that his tale about a carpenter will be vulgar because it is true.

The Reeve A very old and irritable man who was once a carpenter. He resents the Miller's tale about a stupid old carpenter.

The Man of Law (or Sergeant of Law) A lawyer and one of the high justices of the court. He is cautious, suspicious, and wise, and one of the more cultivated men among the pilgrims.

Roger, the Cook Known for his cooking and characterized by a chancre sore that runs with pus. His story is incomplete.

The Wife of Bath (Alisoun) Characterized as gat-toothed, somewhat deaf, and wearing bright scarlet red stockings. She has had five husbands (the last half her age), enjoys her freedom, and is openly sensual.

Hubert, the Friar A sensual, licentious man who seduces young girls and then arranges their marriages. He loves money and knows the taverns better than the poor houses.

The Summoner An officer of the church who calls people for a church trial. He is as ugly as his profession; he frightens children with his red complexion, pimples and boils, and skin infected with scales.

The Clerk A sincere, devout student at Oxford University who loves learning and is respected by all the pilgrims. He is very poor because he spends all his money on books.

The Merchant A shrewd and intelligent man who knows how to strike a good bargain and is a member of the rich rising middle class.

The Squire A vain, lusty young man and a candidate for knighthood. He can sing, write poetry, and ride a horse very well, and considers himself a lady's man.

The Franklin A large and wealthy landowner who enjoys fine living and good companionship.

The Shipman A huge, uncouth man who can steer a ship but flounders on his horse.

The Prioress (Madame Eglantine) A very genteel lady who is coy and delicate. She has precise manners, eats as an aristocrat would, and wears a gold brooch with "Love conquers all" inscribed in Latin.

The Physician A doctor who can speak knowingly of medicines, drugs, and humours, and who knows astrology as well. He is fond of gold and makes a lot of money during the plague season.

The Pardoner The most complex of all the pilgrims. He is an intellect and uses advanced psychological means to gain his objective. Although he is not a good person, he can preach a good sermon.

The Monk A man who tends the property of the monastery. He is fat and happy, loves good food and wine, and finds the taverns more to his liking than the cold, severe monastery.

The Nun's Priest The priest of the church who accompanies the nuns so that they may offer up their confessions.

The Second Nun A very devout nun who, because she believes that idleness leads to sin,

The tales could be described both as social realism and as estates satire. At the same time that Chaucer takes care to honestly show the perspective of each of his characters, he also aims to critique the hypocrisy of the church and the social problems posed by Medieval politics and social custom.

In The Canterbury Tales, we see Chaucer explore moral values and lessons. 

Social satire is the major theme of The Canterbury Tales. The medieval society was set on three foundations: the nobility, the church, and the peasantry. Chaucer's satire targets all segments of the medieval social issues, human immorality, and depraved heart.

The Canterbury Tales ranks as one of the greatest poetic works in English.

Whatch  the video about J.Chauser and The Canterbury Tales.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NM62kze5z-t8DUiFc2KCMNWa9MckG61d/view?usp=sharing

Test 3

Geoffrey Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales

1. How many people are going on the pilgrimage to Canterbury?

 

a) 23   b)50  c)30   d)17

 

2. How many tales will each pilgrim tell, there and back?

a) 2      b)4       c)6        D)24

 

3. Why is the fact that Chaucer wrote in English so important?

 

 Because he was from Scotland and spoke Gaelic.

 Because the official language of England was French.

 Because writing was outlawed in England during the 14th century.

 Because he was blind.

4. How many tales did Chaucer complete before he died?

a)120   b)14   c)46  d)24

 

5. True or False:

Geoffrey Chaucer lived in the 15^th century

6. Answer the question.

What is The Canterbury Tales about?

 

     

 

                       

English literature

 Lesson2. ''Beowulf'' 

''Beowulf'' is an epic poem about a legendary Anglo-Saxon king. Like many figures of legend, such as King Arthur, Beowulf was probably based in part on a real king whose story was told and embellished for generations, making it difficult to separate fact from fiction.

The story is set in Scandinavia in the 6th century. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel.

           

After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated.

                             

The theme of the heroic code of chivalry |ˈʃɪvəlri| is the leading theme of Beowulf. The honorable behavior and manners have dominated the Anglo-Saxon is the leading theme of Beowulf. culture. Courage, bravery and the will to fight were considered basic norms of that heroic code. Beowulf sticks to these norms from the very beginning as he comes across the Danes.

Whatch the video about Beowolf.

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/15xsF4Hv4DvSA4ycf7jWaNcEunObmIhiB/view?usp=sharing

Test 2

Answer the questions

1.    What is Beowulf?

2.    Is the story about Beowulf based on real events?

3.    Where is the scene of the events set?

4.    When did the events take place?

5.    What do you know about Beowulf?

6.    What is the leading theme of Beowulf?

 

 

English literature

 Lesson1. Some pages from the history

Who were the Anglo-Saxons?

The last Roman soldiers left Britain in 410. New people came in ships across the North Sea – the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxon age in Britain was from around AD410 to 1066.

They were a mix of tribes from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. The three biggest were the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes. The land they settled in was 'Angle-land', or England.

If we use the modern names for the countries they came from, the Saxons were German-Dutch, the Angles were southern Danish, and the Jutes were northern Danish.

 

What jobs did the Anglo-Saxons do?

Life on an Anglo-Saxon farm was hard work. All the family had to help out - men, women and children.

Men cut down trees to clear land for ploughing and to sow crops. Farmers used oxen to pull ploughs up and down long strip fields. Children with dogs herded cattle and sheep.

The Anglo-Saxons were great craftsmen too. Metalworkers made iron tools, knives and swords. The Anglo-Saxons were skilled jewellers, who made beautiful brooches, beads and ornaments from gold, gemstones and glass.

The Anglo-Saxons had armies, but their soldiers didn't fight all the time. After a battle, they went home as soon as they could and looked after their animals and crops.

 

Who was Alfred the Great?

 

Each group of Anglo-Saxon settlers had a leader or war-chief. A strong and successful leader became 'cyning', the Anglo-Saxon word for 'king'. Each king ruled a kingdom and led a small army.

There were many famous Anglo-Saxon kings, but the most famous of all was Alfred, one of the only kings in British history to be called 'Great'.

                

He fought the Vikings and then made peace so that English and Vikings settled down to live together. He encouraged people to learn and he tried to govern well and fairly.

 

Alfred made good laws and believed education was important. He had books translated from Latin into English, so people could read them. He also told monks to begin writing the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

To help protect his kingdom from Viking attacks, Alfred built forts and walled towns known as ‘burhs’. He also built warships to guard the coast from raiders and organised his army into two parts. While half the men were at home on their farms, the rest were ready to fight Vikings.

 Did Anglo-Saxons tell stories?

Very few Anglo-Saxons could read or write. All their stories were told to them by their friends and family.

On dark winter days, people gathered in the great hall around a log fire. They listened to stories and poems, feasted and sang songs.

They ate roast meats with bread and fruit, and they drank ale or a strong drink made from honey called mead. People often drank too much, so feasts were usually noisy and sometimes ended in fights!

Anglo-Saxons loved tales about brave warriors and their adventures. A favourite story told how Beowulf, a heroic prince, battled the fierce man-eating monster Grendel.

 

The story of Beowulf was first written down around the 8th or 9th century, but long before that the story was told around the fire.

Lesson 3 Who were the Vikings?

   

 

The Viking age in European history was from about AD700 to 1100. During this period many Vikings left their homelands in Scandinavia and travelled by longboat to other countries, like Britain and Ireland.

     

 

 

When the people of Britain first saw the Viking longboats they came down to the shore to welcome them. However, the Vikings fought the local people, stealing from churches and burning buildings to the ground.

       

The people of Britain called the invaders 'Danes', but they came from Norway and Sweden as well as Denmark.

 

What was life like in Viking Britain?

 

Their longships brought families who settled in villages. There were farmers, who kept animals and grew crops, and skilful craft workers, who made beautiful metalwork and wooden carvings. Everyone lived together in a large home called a longhouse.

With just one room for all the family to share with their animals, a longhouse would have been a crowded and smelly place to live. There was no bathroom inside, but the Vikings kept clean by washing in a wooden bucket or beside a stream. 

The Vikings also brought with them their way of life and beliefs. The Norse people worshipped many gods and loved to tell stories of magic and monsters around the fire.

 

 

What happened to the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings?

 

Around the end of the 8th century, Anglo-Saxon history tells of many Viking raids. These marked the start of a long struggle between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings for control of Britain.

In the 9th century, the English king Alfred the Great stopped the Vikings taking over all of England. He agreed to peace with them and some Vikings settled down to live in their own area of eastern England, called the Danelaw.

The Anglo-Saxons and Vikings became neighbours in Britain, but they didn’t always get along peacefully.

 

In 954, the Anglo-Saxons drove out  the last Viking king of Jorvik. Later, the Vikings agreed to be ruled by England's king.

The most powerful Anglo-Saxon king was Edgar. Welsh and Scottish rulers obeyed him as well as the English, and his court at Winchester was one of the most splendid in Europe. Anglo-Saxon England reached its peak during Edgar's reign.

 

 

Who was King Cnut?

In Viking times, a king had to be strong to fight and keep his land. In the early 11th century, England had a weak king. His name was Ethelred the Unready.

Ethelred tried to stop the Vikings from invading by giving them gold and land. This money was called Danegeld. But it didn’t work – the Vikings took the gold and attacked anyway.

In 1002, Ethelred's soldiers killed many Viking families in the Danelaw. This made King Sweyn of Denmark angry. He invaded England and Ethelred had to flee to France.

In 1016 Sweyn's son Cnut became king of England. For the next few years England was part of his Viking empire, along with Denmark and Norway. He ruled well.

What happened when the Normans came?

When Edward died in 1066, the English Witan chose Harold as the next king.

Duke William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada, the King of Norway, were not happy with the decision. They believed they had a claim to the throne.

In 1066, England was invaded twice. First, a Norwegian army led by Harald Hardrada landed in the north. Harold killed Hardrada in a battle at Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire.

Three days later William's Norman army landed in Sussex. Harold hurried south and the two armies fought at the Battle of Hastings (14 October 1066). The Normans won, Harold was killed, and William became king.

 

 

This brought an end to Anglo-Saxon and Viking rule. A new age of Norman rule in England had started.

      Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings

   Test 1

Decide whether it’s true or false

1.     The Anglo-Saxons were a mix of tribes from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.

2.     The Anglo-Saxon age in Britain was from around AD410 to 1166.

3.     The Anglo-Saxons lived in big towns.

4.     The Anglo-Saxons had big armies and fought all the time.

5.     The most famous of all the Anglo-Saxon kings was Alfred the Great who protected his land from the Vikings.

6.     Vikings left their homelands in Scandinavia and travelled by longboat to other countries, like Britain and Ireland.

7.     There was a long struggle between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings for control of Britain.

8.     Vikings settled down to live in their own area of eastern England, called the Danelaw.

9.     The Anglo-Saxons and Vikings became neighbours in Britain and they  always get along peacefully.

10. Very few Anglo-Saxons could read or write so on dark winter days, people gathered in the great hall around a log fire. They listened to stories and poems about brave warriors and their adventures.

11.  A favourite story told how Beowulf, a heroic prince, battled the fierce man-eating monster Grendel.

12. The story of Beowulf was first written down around the 6th century.