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You will learn

you will find the information you need in the literary text
you will gather vocabulary to express your own opinion in the discussion
you will choose quotes matching the discussion
you will gather arguments for discussing cultural and ideological differences

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Nagranie dostępne na portalu epodreczniki.pl

nagranie abstraktu

Exercise 1

Read the following information on the Wit Szostak novel Wichry Smoczogór, then read the fragment from e‑podrecznik.

About the novel

Wichry Smoczogór (Winds of the DragonmountainsdragonsDragonmountains) is a story about songs, about winds, about deathdeathdeath. About rugged mountains where a man can meet creatures from myths and legends. But also, about people, who are trying to understand the ongoing changes, and save the order of their highlanders world in the face of the traditional order of things upheaval. Dragonmountains highlandershighlandershighlanders are being harassed by the strong winds. They believe that the strong winds are caused by the anger of the Windmaster. So they gathered together to decide how the Windmaster can be appeased. Apparently, one of the highlanders – Smyk – during his lone journey met the Death, and he managed to trap her inside his bagpipesbagpipesbagpipes. The highlanders are convinced that it was the Smyk’s brash act that made the Windmaster so mad, and as the punishment he has sent the strong winds. The Old Lynx – who was always respected by the highlanders for his great wisdom – orders his successor, the young Berda, to go and free the Death. Berda will be accompanied by the lowland newcomer, Wrzosiec, the scholar from the Laceret Academy. The scholar behaves in a scholar way, he believes only in those things that he can see and touch, not the Death trapped in the bagpipesbagpipesbagpipes. During their journey it appears that the scholarly rationalism is not always enough to understand all the secrets and mysteries of the Dragonmountains.

Cultural differences are always a challenge requiring an effort to understand what is different from our standards. Only by taking this challenge up we may achieve the agreement. And we also gain in a different way: such an attempt to understand others allows us to better understand our own world. Looking towards the differences is an opportunity to look deep inside yourself.

bagpipes

Exercise 2

Read the fragment of the novel by Wit Szostak Wichry Smoczogór and do the following exercises:

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Answer the questions. Use the quotations from the text.

Why is the Old Lynx convinced that Smyk has not made up the story about meeting the Death?

Why, in your opinion, Wrzosiec doesn’t decide to open the sack?

Why does Wrzosiec want to know and study the culture of the Dragonmountains people?

Why does Wrzosiec want to accompany Berda in his expedition?

Is Wrzosiec sure that the dragons in the Dragonmountains do not exist?

How, in the context of the conversation between the characters, do you understand the sentence that “we are only dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants”?

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Exercise 3

Match the terms with their definitions.

conviction, certainty that something is true, that it is right and valuable, trusting that something will come true, a view that reason and experience rather than the faith and emotion are the fundamental criteria in the solution of problems, the views on the nature of the world, the man in the world, the sense of existence, through which people try to understand the purpose and meaning of life, a judgment, an opinion based on the conviction that something is true and right, knowledge resulting from the study of things and phenomena

worldview
belief
faith
science
rationalism

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Exercise 4

This fragment is a conversation between representatives of different world‑views and cultures. Using the information from the dialogue, characterize in as many details as possible:

the world‑view and the attitude presented by Berda and the Old Lynx;
the world‑view and the attitude presented by Wrzosiec.

Explain with which of the presented world‑views do you identify yourself and why?

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Exercise 5

Differences in world-views are very often revealed during discussions. People may discuss in a friendly or a hostile atmosphere. Look at the following expressions. Which of them express respect for the recipient and which are disregardful.

I’ve listened to your arguments carefully, but I have to think them over., It is very interesting what you’ve just said, however I have different opinion on this subject., I respect your opinion, however I do not agree with it., Say what you want, I don’t care., I don’t feel like listening to your far-fetched theories., You think you know everything, but you're wrong.

respect
disregard

Exercise 6

Read the statements of the characters and list as many as possible:

phrases and expressions that indicate the objection to the other party views;
phrases and expressions that prove the mutual respect of the conversation participants, and that cause the discussion to proceed in a friendly atmosphere.

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Choose one thread from the characters’ conversation and pay attention to the differences between the faith and the science.
Use the arguments from the text and indicate the similarities and differences between these two ways of perceiving the world.
Characterise the relation between them. Take into the account your opinion on the issue if the science and faith complement one another or if they are mutually exclusive. Justify your opinion.

Exercise 7

Imagine that you are in the situation of the highlanders from the novel and you have to decide if the death should be released, or should be kept trapped inside the bagpipes? In class hold a debate on this subject, consider arguments and make a common decision.