A REVIEW OF ' THIS IS GOING TO HURT A LITTLE BIT '

ANALYSIS  CREDITS TO http://www.kiddingtown.com

Short Summary 

The poet rants * at a certain dentist or at all the dentists. He blames these dentists for their unfeeling professionalism. He finds them making patients revisit their clinics for repeated follow-ups. It is the patient who undergoes pain and that pain is unbearable.

*rants - speaks angrily

THEME
This is going to hurt just a little bit is a humorous poem filled with exaggerations, puns and metaphors like Ogden Nash's other poems. It gives a graphic description of the whole experience of sitting on a dental chair which causes both mental and physical pain.The patient has no reason to believe as to how a dentist will not get messed up due to lateral inversion while using mirror to cure the dental problems .
The poet feels sitting on a dental chair is the worst experience one can have in his life. Sitting in that position deprives one of his dignity. He compares a dentist with a female bear, ursa because while treating the patient the dentist suffocates him in a similar manner as a bear suffocates its prey. 


COMMENTS

The poet begins with his dislike for being at a dentist’s. He hopes not to return to the dentist but he has to. For him a dentist’s torture is dental – both physical and mental. For one reason, one cannot be self possessed (calm) while lying down on a dentist’s chair. It is one of the most unfortunate thing to visit a dentist, especially with a teeth filling or drilling. It pains so much that one digs his finger-nails into his palm due to the pain caused by the dentist. In life we have a few awkward positions – sitting in the loo, for example – and sitting/lying down on a dentist’s chair also is an awkward position. Some people are unfortunate at the dentist’s clinic because the unfeeling dentist pushes his thumbs forcibly on the teeth in pulling and shaking them. The patient wants to get his teeth polished by the dentist but he experiences excruciating pain as if his teeth and mouth got demolished. The poet fears to be with a dentist chiefly because the latter examines and pulls the teeth with the help of a tiny mirror. Ursa is the Latin word for bear. Both the dentist and a bear have the nature to dig into – while the dentist digs the mouth for repair, the bear uses its forearms and pointed mouth to eat its preys. But all the same how can you be sure when he takes his crowbar In one hand and mirror in the other he won’t get mixed up, The way you do when you try to tie a bow tie with the aid of a mirror, And forget that left is right and vice versa? And then at last he says, “that will be all,” but it isn’t because He then coats your mouth from cellar to roof With something that I suspect is generally used to put a shine on a horse’s hoof. And you totter to your feet and think. Well it’s all over now and afterall it was only this once. And he says come back in three monce. And this, O Fate, is I think the most vicious circle that thou ever sentest, That Man has to go continually to the dentist to keep his teeth in good condition When the chief reason he wants his teeth in good condition is so That he won’t have to go to the dentist.
 Analysis – 
part 1 
 One thing I like less than most things is Sitting in a dentist chair with my mouth wide open. And that I will never have to do it again is A hope that I am against hope hopen.
Pick out an instance from the poem that already makes it an interesting poem.

 A painkiller poem written under extreme pain, This is Going to Hurt Just a Little Bit is a superb piece of work that makes the reader laugh at every turn. The expression, I am against hope hopen, though the poet has misused his poetic license, makes us wonder what it is in the first instance and makes us laugh in the next. “Hope hopen.”

What’s your stand about this poetic license?

 Though the poet has violated the ordinary rights under poetic license, ‘hope hopen’ makes admirable sense for its beauty and for its rhyming with the previous ‘open.’ What does the poet hate more than most things? The poet hates sitting in a dentist’s chair. Because some tortures are physical and some are mental, But the one that is both is dental. It is hard to be self-possessed With your jaw digging into your chest.


What is the beauty of the first and second lines?


 The poet’s choice of words is one that deserves extra attention and appreciation. Here, with physical and mental, he fits the word dental which is both perfectly conveying and amusing.

What is your opinion about dental pain?
 Dental pain is unbearable, in most cases. It is one of the most unfortunate thing to visit a dentist, especially with a teeth filling or drilling.

 How is dental torture unique?

 Dental torture is unique because while other pains are either physical or mental, dental pain brings both the pains in one go.

 Why is it hard to be self-possessed while sitting in a dentist’s chair?

In a dentist’s chair one cannot be self-possessed as here is no time to think of oneself, of past and future. It is a time to measure one’s pain with jaw digging into chest.​

A review of the play ,Post Early for Christmas

THE PLAN

Discussion points

1.What makes the play a humorous one ?(ITS CHARACTERS-THEIR TRAITS-THE INCIDENTS IN IT)( Summary-Message -Theme )

 a) Describe the events in the play- exposition,rising action,climax and falling action-and how humour is created at the cost of inconveniences and errors in judgement.( Answer to the  think and write question no.10 can be used.)-paragraph 1

b) Make  a list of characters and their special traits with the help of the given table. Write  paragraph 2

c) Comment on the the humour created by  characterisation - Answers to the  think and write questions(1-7,9) can be used.Write  paragraph 3

2.The relevance of the theme-( where,when,what,why )-paragraph 4

3.The aptness of dialogues-a few examples and comments-paragraph 5

4.The suitability of the title-explanation( the  think and write question no.8)-paragraph 6

5.Other features-effective use of  language-old english,grammar errors,rhyming words;dramatic settings;stock characters,BEGINNING AND ENDING- paragraph 7

Humorous anecdotes-literary or not

1. Tolstoy was a great pacifist and was once lecturing on the need to be nonresistant and nonviolent towards all creatures. Someone in the audience responded by asking what should be done if one was attacked in the woods by a tiger. Tolstoy responded, "Do the best you can. It doesn't happen very often."

2.In the fourth grade, I am accepted into the advanced and gifted program, and I am convinced life is going to be all Doogie Howser and Harvard from now on. As the only girl, I spend most of my year trying to win the approval of a dozen boys who think that an XX chromosome always indicates a terminal diagnosis of stupid with cooties.

Trying to be cool, I play a practical joke, slipping the leftovers from a salt rock crystal experiment into four milks at lunch. The boys really enjoy the disgusted looks on the faces of the drinkers as they recoil, and I am in.

An hour later, I am in the principal’s office.

He informs me that there are four boys in the hospital having their stomachs pumped. They are near death. There could be manslaughter charges. Little do I know, the boys have momentary tummy aches and go back to class.

The principal is trying to teach me a lesson.

Then my mother arrives, meets with the principal, calls him out on his total BS, and takes me out for ice cream and to see the The Aristocats.
3.Those three boys are in the schoolyard bragging of how great their fathers are. 

The first one says: "Well, my father runs the fastest. He can fire an arrow, and start to run, I tell you, he gets there before the arrow". 

The second one says: "Ha! You think that's fast! My father is a hunter. He can shoot his gun and be there before the bullet". 

The third one listens to the other two and shakes his head. He then says: "You two know nothing about fast. My father is a civil servant. He stops working at 4:30 and he is home by 3:45"!! 

4.An unemployed guy got a new job at the zoo. They offered him to dress up in a gorilla's skin and pretend to be a gorilla so people will keep coming to the zoo. 

On his first day on the job, the guy puts on the skin and goes into the cage. The people all cheer to see him. He starts really putting on a show, jumping around, beating his chest and roaring. 

During one acrobatic attempt, though, he loses his balance and crashes through some safety netting, landing square in the middle of the lion cage! As he lies there stunned, the lion roars. He's terrified and starts screaming, "Help, Help!" 

The lion races over to him, places his paws on his chest and hisses, "Shut up or we'll both lose our jobs!" 

3.News Stand
A newsboy was standing on the corner with a stack of papers, yelling, "Read all about it. Fifty people swindled! Fifty people swindled!" Curious, a man walked over, bought a paper, and checked the front page. What he saw was yesterday's paper. The man said, "Hey, this is an old paper, where's the story about the big swindle?" The newsboy ignored him and went on calling out, "Read all about it. Fifty-one people swindled!" 

4.School Question
Mother: "Why are you home from school so early?"
Son: "I was the only one who could answer a question."
Mother: "Oh, really? What was the question?"
Son: "Who threw the eraser at the principal?"  

A DISCUSSION OF THE PLAY -POST EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS

Period 2

1. A discussion of POST OFFICE JOKES

A lady bought a stamp at the post office and asked the clerk, 
"Shall I stick it on myself?"
  The clerk replied, "It'll get there faster if you stick it on 
the envelope."

*******************************************************************

I wrote a letter to the Postmaster General once on ways to
improve mail service.  It got lost.

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2.HERE IS A PLAY WHICH REVOLVES ROUND A POST OFFICE.LET US READ AND FIND OUT WHAT IT IS ABOUT  ?

a.  One day, about a week before Christmas, Percy has to deliver some special mail along the branch line.All goes well until he finds a deep snowdrift in the valley. Despite having a snowplough, Percy is unable to push his way through and ends up stuck there for the night. The next day, the clouds have cleared and Harold is able to take off and collect the mail to deliver on time. Percy, on the other hand, has to wait to be pulled out the
following afternoon!



b.One day, confusion breaks out in a small British post office about a few days before Christmas when funny people like Mrs.Smith and Mrs Jones visit there .The situation turns out to be grave and hilarious  , when a parcel is mistaken for a time bomb.



2. Is humour always completely innocent and harmless ? Is humour at the cost of creating inconvenience to others acceptable ? Which character in the play is creates unnecessary panic in the play ? Can you justify him ?



Make an assessment after  reading the play.( This can be given as home assignment )



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INTRODUCTION TO THE PLAY -Post Early for Christmas

INTRODUCTION TO THE PLAY ( POST EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS ): 1 hour

A.  USE THE CARTOONS AND INITIATE A DISCUSSION

cartoon

kɑːˈtuːn/

noun

1. 1.

   a simple drawing showing the features of its subjects in a humorously exaggerated way, especially a satirical one in a newspaper or magazine.

   "the minister faced a welter of hostile headlines and mocking cartoons"

   synonyms:

   caricature, parody, lampoon, satire, travesty

Group work 1.THE MESSAGE OF THE CARTOONS ?

Let the students select and match with the cartoons from the list supplied by the teacher in all the groups.( click here to download the list )

a).The cartoonist is saying goodbye advising the common man to take care of himself /  He says he was trying to take care of the common man and speak for him all his life as a cartoonist. / Those who work for the common man in India deserve the Heaven.(one of these,some of these,all of these )


b).Politicians are unaware of the miserable condition of the poor in India / In fact the politicians only act like supporting the poor../ The politicians are hypocrites and ambitious.(one of these,some of these,all of these )

c)The common man in India does not have the basic facilities and still he survives./ It is a miracle that poor people survive in India / Scientists should have thought about improving the conditions upon earth before planning to go to the Moon.(one of these,some of these,all of these )

d).We are crazy after the best things in life / The advertisements have a bad effect on children / When celebrities run after money and appear  as brand ambassadors, they lose their identity and exist only as  persons who like the so called best things in life.(one of these,some of these,all of these )

2.THE COMMON CHARACTER IN THE CARTOON ?-ROLE; REPRESENTS WHOM ?

Represents the ordinary people in India; their feelings / experiences / struggle to live or protest


3.Cartoons especially such as those by RK LAXMAN convey the pangs and anxieties of ordinary people-Discuss and write

( pang paŋ noun

plural noun: pangsa sudden sharp pain or painful emotion."Lindsey experienced a sharp pang of guilt"

1. synonyms:

   pain, sharp pain, shooting pain, twinge, stab, spasm, ache, cramp)

    )

Use the messages discussed above and write

more ideas....His "Common Man" character, featured in his pocket cartoons, is portrayed as a witness to the making of democracy.Anthropologist Ritu G. Khanduri notes, "R. K. Laxman structures his cartoon-news through a plot about corruption and a set of characters. This news is visualized and circulates through the recurring figures of the mantri (minister), the Common Man and the trope of modernity symbolized by the airplane 

B : What are cartoons for .......( humour + criticism +right to protest +the spirit of  democracy + thought provoking + a tool for change ........) Why do people draw cartoons ?




C.What do you know about R. K. Laxman

 additional reading

R. K. Laxman was born in Mysore in 1921.^[5] His father was a headmaster and Laxman was the youngest of six sons (he had a sister as well^[6]);^[7] an older brother is the famous novelist R. K. Narayan. Laxman was known as "Pied Piper of Delhi".^[8]

Laxman was engrossed by the illustrations in magazines such as The Strand, Punch, Bystander, Wide World and Tit-Bits, before he had even begun to read.^[9] Soon he was drawing on his own, on the floors, walls and doors of his house and doodling caricatures of his teachers at school; praised by a teacher for his drawing of a peepal leaf, he began to think of himself as an artist in the making.^[10]Another early influence on Laxman was the work of the world-renowned British cartoonist, Sir David Low (whose signature he misread as "cow" for a long time) that appeared now and then in The Hindu.^[11] Laxman notes in his autobiography, The Tunnel of Time:

I drew objects that caught my eye outside the window of my room – the dry twigs, leaves and lizard-like creatures crawling about, the servant chopping firewood and, of course, and number of crows in various postures on the rooftops of the buildings opposite

— R. K. Laxman^[12]

Laxman was the captain of his local "Rough and Tough and Jolly" cricket team and his antics inspired the stories "Dodu the Money Maker" and "The Regal Cricket Club" written by his brother, Narayan.^[13] Laxman's idyllic childhood was shaken for a while when his father suffered a paralytic stroke and died around a year later, but the elders at home bore most of the increased responsibility, while Laxman continued with his schooling.^[14]

After high school, Laxman applied to the J. J. School of Art, Bombay hoping to concentrate on his lifelong interests of drawing and painting, but the dean of the school wrote to him that his drawings lacked "the kind of talent to qualify for enrolment in our institution as a student", and refused admission.^[15] He finally graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mysore. In the meantime he continued his freelance artistic activities and contributed cartoons to Swarajya and an animated film based on the mythological characterNarada.

^{MORE IN.....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Laxman}

^{( from wiki pedia)}

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A SUMMARY OF THE PLAY “Post Early for Christmas”

 Summary

      “Post Early for Christmas” is a one act play which depicts the humorous incidents that take place inside a village post office during Christmas season. The theme of the play is centered on a parcel booked by a foreigner in the post office.

       The news paper reports about the finding of bombs in the parcels booked in some post offices in the nearby villages prompt the people who assemble there to suspect the presence of such a one in the post office. They confirm their suspicion on hearing a tickling sound from one of the parcels. Terrified by the notion of the presence of a bomb, the assistant calls the police.

       The police confirms the presence of bomb in the parcel booked by the foreigner and immerses it in a bucket of water to defuse the bomb. The foreigner who returns to the post office at this moment to take back his hat which he left there unknowingly, is astonished to see that the parcel he booked is immersed in water, suspecting it to be a time bomb.

      When questioned, the foreigner reveals that the parcel contains no bomb but a precious time piece, a gift meant for his dear one. The foreigner declares that he is going to meet the post master general to file a complaint. On hearing this, the assistant leaves the post office abandoning her job.

MESSAGE :

A sense of humour is essential to unload the resulting worries and

stresses. A human being with a sense of humour, who expresses his/her sparkle by way of jokes, can see and enjoy the lighter side of life. On the contrary, a person devoid of such sense of humour always remains tense and unhappy. So in order to

enjoy life, we should sport a good sense of humour. Life is not a matter of just

years of experience but of feelings which add a glow to our mind and a grace to

our personality.

(based on Teacher text by SCERT:edited,supplemented and modified-CKR)

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HAPPY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS .....-CKR 9447739033;seakeyare@gmail.com

TRANSACTING UNIT 5 THE LIGHTER SIDE-POST EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS - R H Wood

Unit Analysis

Introduction
This unit highlights the importance of mental alertness and activity in our fast and hectic life. A sense of humour is essential to unload the resulting worries and stresses. A man with a sense of humour, who expresses his sparkle by way of jokes, can see and enjoy the lighter side of life. On the contrary, a man devoid of such sense of humour always remains tense and unhappy. So in order to
enjoy life, we should sport a good sense of humour. Life is not a matter of just years of experience but of feelings which add a glow to our mind and a grace to our personality.

Time : 24 periods

Texts : ‘Post Early for Christmas’ (One Act Play)
‘
This is Going to Hurt Just a Little Bit’ (Poem)

‘Crime and Punishment’ (Short story)

Concept :Sense of humour in life

Portfolio :
Review
Write-up
Appreciation
Script writing
Learning outcomes :
The learner:
5.1. reads, understands and analyses short stories, one act plays and poems.
5.2. understands the depiction of humour in literature.
5.3. recognizes the language of humour and uses it in many situations.
5.4. identifies the various aspects and specialties of one act plays.
5.5. writes the scripts for a one-act play and enacts it.
5.6. reads and appreciates the different genres of literature.
5.7. understands the various components of a play.
5.8. identifies various poetic forms and devices.
5.9. analyzes the characters in one-act plays and short stories.

5.10 writes reviews of one-act plays.

POST EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS - R H Wood

Concept

• Depiction of humour in a one-act plays

Learning outcomes
The learner demonstrates the ability to
• analyze and evaluate a one act play.
• find out the humorous elements in plays.
• analyze the role of particular characters in the development of the plot.
• understand different aspects and stages in the development of the plot of a play.

About the play

“Post Early for Christmas” is a one act play which depicts the humorous incidents that take place inside a village post office during Christmas season. The theme of the play is centered on a parcel booked by a foreigner in the post office.

The news paper reports about the finding of bombs in the parcels booked in some post offices in the nearby villages prompt the people who assemble there to suspect the presence of such a one in the post office. They confirm their suspicion on hearing a tickling sound from one of the parcels. Terrified by the notion of the presence of a bomb, the assistant calls the police.

The police confirms the presence of bomb in the parcel booked by the foreigner and immerses it in a bucket of water to defuse the bomb. The foreigner who returns to the post office at this moment to take back his hat which he left there unknowingly, is astonished to see that the parcel he booked is immersed in water, suspecting it to be a time bomb.

When questioned, the foreigner reveals that the parcel contains no bomb but a precious time piece, a gift meant for his dear one. The foreigner declares that he is going to meet the post master general
to file a complaint. On hearing this, the assistant leaves the post office abandoning her job.

Process/Suggestions

Revisiting the play to identify the central theme.
 Teacher explains different types of plays.
• Talks about tragedy, comedy, tragic- comedy and melodrama.
• Discusses the role of characters in a play.
Assessment
Peer/ Teacher assessment
Indicators
• Group dynamics
• Command over language
• Analytical capacity
• Clarity of presentation
notes
Plot is a narrative (and, traditionally literary) term defined as the events that make up a story, particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern or in a sequence as they relate to each other
through cause and effect how the reader views the story or simply by coincidence.
Elements of Plot in a full-length play are:
1 Rising action
Exposition:-Everything the audience
needs to know to understand the play
2 Conflict:The clash of opposing
forces: man vs self, environment vs
natural forces, man vs God, etc.
3 Climax- The point at which one or
the other forces is favoured; the point
at which events must turn in one di-
rection or another, not necessarily the
'high point"
4. Falling Action
Resolution/denouement: Whatever comes after the climax

One Act Play

The one act play is to the full-length play what the short story is to the novel.
According to Percival Wilde a one-act play is "an orderly representation of
life, arousing emotion in an audience" (Wilde 41). Bernard Grebanier defines:
"A one act play is an elaboration of a single, significant incident" (Grebanier
172). As the one act play has only a limited canvas for character depiction and
thematic representation, the playwright has the challenge of creating an
engaging plot, enticing characters, and a resolution to the conflict in a
relatively short amount of time.

Tragedy
The term 'tragedy' is broadly applied to literary, especially dramatic
representations of serious and important actions which turn out
disastrously for the main character or a protogonist. The teacher my refer to
the definition of tragedy by Aristotle and also the modern concept of
tragedy.
Comedy
A comedy is a work in which the materials are selected and managed
primarily in order to interest and amuse the audience. The term "Comedy" is
customarily applied only to dramas: it should be noted, however, that the
comic form, so defined also occurs in prose fiction and narrative poetry.

Dramatic comedy can be broadly classified into romantic comedy, satiric comedy, comedy of manners, farce, high comedy and low comedy.

( based on Teacher text by SCERT:edited,supplemented and modified-CKR)

A video for transacting the poem STAMMER selected by JAYASREE.P.P

Jayasree P P has suggested this video as a material for transacting the poem   STAMMER .I have viewed the video and found it extremely  beautiful and useful.Friends,pls comment.

A Review of Pathemari-A MALAYALAM FILM

My rating- 3.5 / 5. Almost a documentary film; not an entertainer,lasts almost 120 minutes.You leave the theatre with a heavy heart.Life of Narayanettan played by Mammootty is revealing.His readiness to help others without expecting a reward reminded me of the character ,Hassan in the ship Ranaganji ,a story in plus one English reader. The story uses flashback technique to tell us more about the the trajic death of a man who spent more than 50 years in Gulf ,achieving not much.  As James Shirley says in "Death the leveller' ,the good deeds of the just smell sweet and blossom in the dust.It is also shocking to see the apathy of young generation.The mindset of the so called 'new gen' is deeply analysed in this film.

The young generation is represented by Satheesan and Ramesan,the sons of Narayanettan .Android phones,luxuries,profit oriented outlook and no  respect for elders.These young men lacked the presence of a mentor.I am reminded of some of my students who play the role of bad boys in the campus now.Some of them come from the families of gulf employees.Perhaps the love, care and presence of a loving father would have made a  difference.How can a teacher play a meaningful role in correcting these students ? This was one question I was pondering about while driving back home after having watched the film.  .Siddique plays a memorable character, Velayudhan who renders a philosophical ingredient to the story.What every one needs is the money of a gulf employee.Not him .No one cares about his mind and soul-even his wife.It is not simply about the life of a Pravasi.It is about living in exile even in our country.It is about the lack of understanding and empathy in our households.The character Moideen played by Sreenivasan somehow lacked life. .The sound recording rendered by Resool Pookkutty is excellent but the songs by Bijipal which are just commonplace take us back to the recently flopped malayalam film Loham which also opened with a traijc score KANAKA MAILANCHI...

There were about 10 people watching the film in the theatre today ,out of which two young men had lost their interest and were seen browsing their phones eagerly as they desperately tried to finish it off. Patience is one quality the new generation miss today.

HOW TO START A BLOG ( ACTIVITY ,UNIT 3 / LESSON 3 )

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THE WAY I DISCUSSED THE POEM -STAMMER

TEACHERS MANUAL(DRAFT)
INTRODUCTION(15 minutes)
BB :-
THREE WHEELED REVOLUTION- Irfan changing the lives of ricksha pullers in India

DIDI-Shaheen changing the lives of  the children in the slums of India

STAMMER-  ?
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DISCUSS-
What is the tool used for change ? education

What is education ? - drawing out the best in an individual

What are the best things in an individual to be drawn out ? What is good or bad ? How can we decide that something is good and something is bad ?


Is a rose plant bad as it has thorns ?
Is a thorn plant good  as it has roses ?

What we speak  depends on what we think.

Our opinions are formed on  our perspectives / view points /outlooks.
****************************************************************
BB : Perspectives can be different.
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eg- the story of an eagle and butterfly flying over a garden - the eagle always looks for the dead -the butterfly looks for the flowers

Our perspectives are defined by our attitudes.

What is your opinion about stammer- the difficulty we feel while  speaking ? Is it a difficulty at all ? is it a drawback ? Is it a handicap ?

Now there is a poem STAMMER in your text.what does the poem tell us ?
**************************************************************

BB  /slide
(a)stammer is a handicap.
(b)stammer is a kind of language.It is not a handicap.
(c)we may have different perspectives on life.

(d)stammer is like poetry

(e)none of the above

The students are asked to select a few ideas from the list or present new ideas other than what is given.
*******************************************************
development of the lesson(30 minutes)

individual presentation by some students
expected answers
b)stammer is a kind of language.It is not a handicap.
(c)we may have different perspectives on life.

(d)stammer is like poetry
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discuss :
1.which lines tell you that "stammer is a kind of language.It is not a handicap." ?

The first two line are quoted by the students.

2.                                                                (c)we may have different perspectives on life.
..................................................( may not get a good answer .)
3.                                                (d)stammer is like poetry  ( may not get a good answer .)

discussion
Well ,let us go deep into the poem and try to understand the lines in our perspectives !

Before that could you tell me  what is the most striking / innovative  idea enlisted by you.
stammer is like poetry

How can stammer be like poetry ? what is poetry ? Why does the poet write ?Could you present  a few lines of poetry ( group work ) ?

ACTIVITY

(tree diagram with names of poets;rendering of a few lines of poetry....)

what is poetry ? why does the poet write ?

Poetry is self expression.(discuss the concept - self ? qns like who are you in fact ? may be used )

Poets write to express their ideas /feelings / emotions/....

Can they express the emotions / ideas effectively..
Can words describe everything we feel ?

Is there a possibilty of ambiguity ?

A few lines of poetry( perhaps from mother tongue ) is presented to bring out the ambiguity /the possiblity of different meanings.

"god has given us no tools to reveal ouresleves"(തന്നതില്ല പരനുള്ളു  കാട്ടുവാനൊന്നുമേ ഉപായാമീശ്വരൻ ) 
ഇന്നു ഭാഷയപൂർ ണം വന്നു പോം പിഴയും അർത്ഥ ശങ്കയാൽ 


if poetry is rather ambiguous,can it be compared to stammering ?

let us have a second reading of the poem
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TEACHER READING-UNFAMILIAR WORDS EXPLAINED-concepts /figures of speech  brought in with the help of the comprehension questions in the text.-
note:
The line "just as it is with us now" is analysed- 'it 'for stammer;'us' for the poet and the society-the details about the poet -and the  issues in the society at the time of writing(2002) must be analysed
********************************************************************************
slides / bb
*********************************************************************************
The  important ideas-

1.Stammer is a kind of language.It is not a handicap.(Stammer is presented as something favourable -the use of irony is to be noted )

2.Stammer is the link-silence മൌനം ,- between word and meaning.This silence is not negative.It is meditative.( an attempt to glorify stammer and silence )comparisons-(1)stammer -lameness
(2) stammer- poetry

3.There is a touch of humour or irony in the comment that even the linguists stammer.Stammer is something that great people do !We don't know much about the history or origin of stammering.It is also not clear whether it is a dialect or language.

4. When we stammer we try sincerely and hardly to get close to the meaning.it is a respectful act like a sacrifice to God.(the metaphoric use of sacrifice can be discussed -the meaning of the word God in different religions can also be discussed )

5. Stammer has become a social phenomenon in India where people do not speak clearly against burning social issues( ...like globalisation-commercialisation-terrorism-intolerence ).There is ambiguity in the language people speak in.(mother tongue -the most favoured and accepted mode of speech-use of metaphor)

6.The reason for the ambiguity is that God stammered while creating man.( The ironic line of thought is evident now.).That is why the words of the  people are based on different perspectives as they now belong to different grous of caste ,creed and religion.Every thing man speaks now is as ambiguous as poetry is.Even poets have failed in engaging in creative dialogues.(The tone of hope and peace that the word poetry brings in can be discussed;comparison-
(2) stammer- poetry)
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click here for a work sheet with the above ideas in jumbled order
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group work after a topical discussion(15minutes)

1.Write the meaning of each stanza in simple English with the help of the work sheet (one each in a group)

2.Write answers to the first five questions  based on the above notes.

Home assignments-Day 1

3.Select a few favourite lines and explain why you like them.

4.The poem refers to the ambiguity in our responses to the burning social issues .Comment.

Home assignments-Day 2

5.Write an appreciation of the poem( REFER TO THE  REVIEWS AVAILABLE IN THE BLOG-http://plustwoenglishkasargod.blogspot.in/p/12-chapter-3.html)

6.Prepare a brief profile of the poet

Home assignments-Day 3.

http://ckrenglishclass.blogspot.in/2015/12/assgnment-to-students-compare-two-poems.html

CLICK HERE



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P.S : Dear teachers, how did you introduce / transact the poem ? Please write to me.
-Radhakrishnan C K, GHSS KAMBALLUR,9447739033;seakeyare@gmail.com

click here to download this lesson plan  in pdf

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more stories...................

HitenVyas

Written by Dr. Sachin

Tuesday, 18 December 2012 08:36

Sitting in a circle around the teacher, 10-year-old Hiten Vyas couldn't get the words out to ask questions. He struggled, but his speech was blocked. He went home confused, but soon he knew. He had a stammer. In fear and anxiety, he sealed his lips. Ashamed, he hid his stammer even from his family. He remembers how at fifteen, every morning he would list situations he would have to speak in and avoid them. He wouldn't pick up the phone, wouldn't attend parties. He believed no girl would accept him. He was labelled shy. When he had to speak, he resorted to long pauses, chose words he could speak without a struggle, or finished the sentence quickly. At the hint of stammering, he took a breath and forced the words out. But his anxiety stayed. Stammering wrecked his confidence, plunged him in low self-esteem. Hiten Vyas, PhD, is now a Life Coach and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner. And he definitely takes phone calls. His metamorphosis is a life lesson for all...  click here for the full story

www.stammer.in

People who stuttered / STAMMERED  -click this link


Abraham Lincoln, Adolf Hitler, Marilyn Monroe, Churchill, Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan, Dilip Vengsarkar, Dilip Kumar, Kishore Kumar

EMS  was well known for his stammer. When asked if he always stammered, he would reply, "No, only when I speak."

11 ,12 ENGLISH NOTES AVALABLE ON HSSLIVE.IN

TOPICS

Lesson

Title(Plus One XI)

XI
His First Flight- Liam O’ FlahertyXII Will Fly- Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam
XIIF-Rudyard Kipling
XIAnd then Gandhi Came
XIThe Price of Flowers-Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyaya
XIDeath the Leveller XISunrise on the hills(Unit 3)
XIThe Trip of LE HORLA
XIThe Sacred Turtles of Kadavu
XIPlus One Model Question Paper by SCERT 
XIPlus One Teacher Text by SCERT

Lesson

Title(Plus Two XII)

XIIThe 3 L's of Empowerment(Lesson 1) by Reena Mathai
XIICharacter Sketch of Nomitha(Lesson 2)-Prepared by Jeeja.R (HSST. English),Govt.HSS Oachira
XIICharacter Sketch of Baldwin (Unit 2-Lesson 3-The Hour of Truth) Prepared by Ananthi.M,GHSS,Perumpalam,Alappuzha
XIIModel Question Paper (Unit 1)
XIIUnit 3-Lesson 1-Activity 1-Email by Anathi.M
XIIUnit 3-Lesson 2-Activity 1-Job Application by Ananthi.M
XIIStammer-A reading by Abdul Rasheed DHOHSS ,Pookkarathara, Edappal
XIIStammer-Review(Radhakrishnan C.K)
XIIStammer-Review in Malayalam(Ummer,GHSS,Aroli,Kannur)

CLICK HERE TO READ AND DOWNLOAD

JOB INTERVIEWS

SAMPLE T.E QUESTIONS

SAMPLE T.E QUESTIONS

1. You have read the inspiring story of Shaheen Mistri. You would like to write an e-mail to her appreciating the activities of Akanksha that transformed the children in the slums of Mumbai. Write the e-mail explaining how Shaheen has inspired you. (4)

2. People have different hobbies. Some are passionate enough to make their hobbies their career. Think about one of your favourite hobbies and write a paragraph on it. (4)

3. Read the following passage. Pick out 1 fact and 1 opinion from the passage.
Indians are the world's biggest bookworms, reading on average 10.7 hours a week, twice as longs as Americans, according to a new survey. The NOP World Culture Score index surveyed 30,000 people in 30 countries from December, 2004 to February, 2006. Analysts said self- help and aspirational reading could explain India's high figures. Britons and Americans scored 50% lower than the Indians' hours and Japanese and Koreans were even lower at 4.1 and 3.1 respectively. R.Sriram, Chief Executive Officer of Crosswords Bookstores, a chain of 26 bookshops in India, says Indians are extremely entrepreneurial and reading is "a fundamental part of their being". The NOP survey of 30,000 consumers aged over 13 saw China and Philippines take second and third place respectively in average hours a week spent reading books, newspapers and magazines. (2)

4. The underlined phrases in the following sentences are idiomatic expressions.
Rewrite these sentences into plain English sentences. (2)
a. Seema felt like a fish out of water in her new class.
b. He was all ears when the teacher started talking.

5. A relief centre in your locality is planning to give English classes to the children below 10 years. They are looking for volunteers to help them in tutoring the children from economically and socially backward areas. You are applying for the job. Write an application and resume with necessary details. (8)
7. Irfan Alam says that entrepreneurship can solve the problem of unemployment. Do you agree with this? Write your thoughts in a paragraph. (4)
8. " Each time we stammer
we are offering a sacrifice
to the God of meanings

- What is stammer compared to in these lines? (1)
- How does stammer get a spiritual status through these words?  (3)

9. "God too must have stammered
when He created man
That is why all the words of man
carry different meanings.'
- What is the reason for different meanings in the poet's view? (2)
- Why do words carry different meanings in the poet's opinion? (2)

10. "That is why everything he utters
from his prayers to his commands
stammers,
like poetry"
- Who is referred to here as “he?” (1)
- What quality does the simile attribute to stammer in these lines? (3)

11. The use of 'silence', 'sacrifice' and 'poetry' make Stammer a different experience. Write a paragraph on the meaning conveyed by those terms in the poem. (4)

12. A person’s stammer is different from ‘a people's’ stammer. How does the poet tell us about it through his poem “Stammer”? Give your opinion in a paragraph. (4)

ANSWER KEYS - UNIT3 EDITING ACTIVITIES

1. E-mail :( EDITING ; ACTIVITY VIII / 1; PAGE 89, 12 READER)

Dear Sir,
      My name is Arjun. I am a Plus two student at a reputed school in Thrissur. I am in the Commerce stream, with Maths and Computer Science as my optional subjects. I have secured A grade in all subjects in the Plus one exam
and I expect to score the same or better in the Plus two exam.

       I am writing this mail because I can't decide on what course to choose for my higher education. I am good at computers and I like Statistics. I
also like English and read a lot. Could you tell me what kind of career suits me,
and which course I should choose for my graduation?

Please reply at the earliest as I am really anxious about my future.

Yours sincerely,
Arjun

2. Conversation:( EDITING ; ACTIVITY VIII / 2 ; PAGE 89, 12 READER)
 
Arjun : Hello, Robin.
Robin : Hi, Arjun! What's up?
Arjun : Nothing much, buddy. I'm a bit confused these days.
Robin : Confused? Why? What's the matter?
Arjun : You know that I'm completing my Plus Two this year. So I'm confused about what to do next.
Robin : Oh! I understand. So, have you come to some conclusions?
Arjun : Not yet. I'm not much aware of the different courses and
careers suitable for me.
Robin : Oh, really? Then, why don't you seek advice from some
career counsellors? They could give you suggestions based on
aptitude tests.
Arjun : Yeah. I've already sent an email to a counsellor. Hope he
would reply soon.
Robin : That's good. Even I joined this course after some counselling
sessions.
Arjun : Oh, is it so? Then I think I did the right thing. Ok Robin, bye
then.
Robin : Bye Arjun. See you and let me know your decision.
Arjun : Ok, see you.

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 2. Conversation:( EDITING ; ACTIVITY VI; PAGE 100, 12 READER)

Dear Sir,
I would like to apply for the post of Marketing Intern as advertised on
studentjob.co.in. I am a second year student studying M.Com at the University of Calicut. My specialization is in Marketing.
I always had a keen interest in marketing which influenced my decision to study marketing at the university and part-take in my extracurricular activities. I am an active member of the Marketing Society where I help arrange events, society meetings and talks from prospective employers. I was instrumental in establishing an effective marketing campaign for the launch of a new book store in the campus, using various methods such as social media. I therefore have a strong understanding of how
modern day marketing techniques can be used for busines opportunities and networking.
 
I have many skills which I am able to contribute to the job role. My excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) allow me to interact with members of an organization from all levels. I have
developed my public speaking and presentation skills through university
presentations to new and prospective students and to my department faculty.
 
I am organized, efficient and strive to complete any challenge given to me to the highest standard. Attached is a copy of my CV. I am able
to provide the names of referees who will support my claims.
 
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,
 
Priya Sekhar
*********************************************************************************

-BASED ON TEACHER TEXT,SCERT

AssIgnment to students-compare the two poems-CACTUS and STAMMER

Question :The poem CACTUS written by K.SATCHIDANAN is given below.

Thorns are my language.
I announce my existence
with a bleeding touch.
Once these thorns were flowers.
I loathe lovers who betray.
Poets have abandoned the deserts
to go back to the gardens.
Only camels remain here, and merchants,
who trample my blooms to dust.
One thorn for each rare drop of water.
I don’t tempt butterflies,
no bird sings my praise.
I don’t yield to droughts.
I create another beauty
beyond the moonlight,
this side of dreams,
a sharp, piercing,
parallel language. (2000)

compare it with the poem STAMMER and prepare an appreciation.


 you may use the following notes given


click here 1

Review 2 :Stammer- A contemplation on the Absence of Creative Dialogues

- Radhakrishnan C K

The poem presents  different perspectives on stammer . It presents stammer as a struggle to translate our  selves.It also justifies the presence of diversity in our life as evident in the line "thats why all the words of man carry different meanings ".In that sense the poem is about the different perceptions we have on life.Life is beautiful.Even stammer is no handicap.It is a different mode of speech.

Though there is an effort to  celebrate stammer as a  different mode of speech in the opening lines,slowly the poem becomes a slight to stammer ,especially in the lines exploring the history of the word,as evident in "these questions make the linguists stammer ". There begins  a streak of concealed humour in the poem which is sustained till the end .The references to 'the sacrifice we make to the God of meanings and 'a society with stammer as their mother tongue ' tell us about the the critical approach of the poet. Our response to the burning social issues are not good enough.  The poet then  proceeds to  remark that God stammered when He created man ,  that man stammers and even the poets do.The difference is that we call it poetry when the poets stammer ! . Even the poets  fail in engaging in creative dialogues as and when humanity is struggling to cope with the challenges like   intolerance ,violence,terrorism , globalisation and commercialisation.The ironical shift in the perspective is evident here

       Still the crisp ending with the words 'like poetry' brings back a tone of meditation,peace and hope. The poet seems to contemplate a hope that the times will change and the conversation will be resumed.At the end of all the stammers, we  begin to wonder ,whether the poet has been translating himself or exploring the self of others. As the poet himself has written once ,the poem conveys an apprehension about the fate that awaits humanity.A contemplation that begins in stammer may justly end in suffocation:

Our poetry is
the last dreamy song
sung in haste by
a head on the rails
listening to the rumble
of the approaching train
before the steel
crushes its thought. 

(Farewell, a poem addressed to Saleh, the Syrian poet from The Arabian Nights)

  download this file in pdf

 

Reference : Sachidnanadan on the poem ......(READ THE POST BELOW )