Цель.
Приобщение учащихся к истории, культуре и традициям страны изучаемого языка через знакомство с легендами о короле Артуре, леди Годиве, Робине Гуде.
Задачи.
- Развитие умений собирать, систематизировать и обобщать культуроведческую информацию, представляющую интерес для учащихся.
- Развитие умений работать с компьютером и Интернетом.
- Совершенствование навыков устной речи.
- Обучение учащихся проектной технологии.
Оборудование.
Компьютер и мультимедийный проектор, фильм в формате DVD “King Arthur”, карта Великобритании, таблица для заполнения данных учащимися.
Ход урока
- Организационный момент.
- Речевая зарядка
- Основная часть урока – представление результатов исследований, проведённых учащимися.
- Контроль усвоения материала учащимися класса.
- Беседа с учащимися.
- Подведение итогов урока.
Teacher: Dear friends! Today we are going to have a very interesting lesson-exploration of ancient British legends and traditions connected with them. To do this we’ll have a tour round Britain with the help of the map and sites on it, we want to talk about. I know all of you have worked hard and are ready to present the results of your exploration activity. Mind the task- during our lesson you are to fill in a special table to see what new things we’ve managed to learn about legendary personalities of Old Britain.
Teacher: Try to name your associations to show what ancient Britain is for us.
/Учащиеся называют слова, ассоциирующиеся с древней Британией, которые записываются на доску: traditions, legends, kings and queens, robbers, knights, castles, tournaments, mysteries etc/.
Almost all of these things are the objects of our exploration. Well, let’s start our journey. The floor is given to Group1.
Group1. Pupil 1:
We are in the central England in Nottingham. /На карте Англии устанавливается флажок/. We’d like to present you an exploration about the most famous English noble outlaw Robin Hood. Our task was to find out if such a fellow really existed or it was an imaginary literature character. We studied some Internet sites and special literature and came to a definite conclusion… But it is a bit later. And now we present you some information.
Pupil 2: "Lythe and listin, gentilmen,
That be of frebore blode;
I shall you tel of a gode yeman,
His name was Robyn Hode."
A Gest of Robyn Hode
(An early printed Hood Hood ballad)
Robin Hood is a folk hero who lived in Sherwood Forest in Nottingham, situated in the heart of England, surrounded by countryside. Stories about his adventures originate from medieval times. Maybe you first encountered Robin in books in your childhood, I did. Perhaps that daring adventurer in green was rescuing a poacher from cruel foresters. Maybe Robin was ambushing the evil Sheriff of Nottingham or sword fighting with Sir Guy of Gisborne. Maybe it was the tale of Robin's charity, giving money to the poor. There's a lot to like in this legend.
Pupil 3: The earliest surviving text of a Robin Hood ballad is “Robin Hood and
the Monk”.
This manuscript held in Cambridge University was written shortly after 1450. But it is
believed that Robin appeared in 1160 at time of many robbers living in the woods.
Pupil 4: Robin fights for justice against the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham, who
abuses his power and takes money from the people who need it. Robin Hood uses his archery
skills and his wits to steal the money back and return it to the poor. Sir Guy of Gisborne
is Robin Hood’s archenemy, and will be until his death. Robin Hood is not a lone outlaw
but the leader of a trained band of fighters. And it's a good thing too. Robin's a
reckless lad sometimes. He'll sneak into Nottingham once too often and get caught by the
sheriff. Or he'll pick a fight with the wrong traveller. And when the going gets rough,
Robin blows three great blasts on his horn. That's when his Merry Men appear. Some say
they are a small group of outlaws. Others say there were 140 or 150 Merry Men in Robin's
band. Some tales even say there were 300 stout fellows in the band. Whatever the case, but
for these sturdy yeomen (and yeo-women), Robin wouldn't last a week. The most recognized
of his Merry band include Little John (Robin’s lieutenant), Much the Miller’s son (the
youngest of the Merry Men), Will Scarlet (a skilled swordsman), Friar Tuck (the resident
clergyman of the band) and Alan a Dale (a roving minstrel). Maid Marion usually named Lady
Marian Fitzwalter of Leaford (first mentioned c. 1200-1400) is a female companion to the
legendary Robin Hood.
The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion. She became
associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.
Pupil 5: It’s time to answer the question if the legend of Robin Hood is reality or а myth? Arthur Briant, the British medievalist, writes “Any historical legendry has 80% of folk invention, 15% of ideology and only 5% of truth”. We are ready to support him.
In popular culture Robin Hood is typically seen as a contemporary and a supporter of the late-12th century King Richard the Lion Heart. Robin was driven to outlawry during the misrule of Richard’s evil brother John while Richard was away at the Third Crusade. By the way, this version is not supported by the earliest ballads calling the King as “Edward”.
Pupil 6: The professor of the Cambridge University John Holt declines to another version, even more original one. He considers Robin and his wood company bandits who held in fear all Nottinghamshire. According to the professor, there are no certificates, that Robin plundered the rich to give money to the poor. The legend has acquired these fabrications in two hundred and more years after his death. And during his lifetime the green marksman had a reputation of a gangster who with surprising success managed in thirty miles from Nottingham, in the well-known Sherwood forest.
Was it really so? Do Robin Hood and his friends - Small John, brother Tuck, William Stately and all the others appear simply the ordinary bandits absolutely deprived of a heroic aura? Wasn’t there the noble robber who started up gold arrows into the house of the Nottingham sheriff, forced the greedy monk to dance an Irish jig under a branchy oak, and rescued from the gallows the illegally condemned? Really is it necessary to believe to the certain English officials asserting, that supposedly it is not known, who created more for the blessing of Britain – the gang of wood robbers or the sheriff who was keeping order in a county?
The city council of Nottingham has joined the opinion of the professor and, apparently, just about to replace a monument to Robin with a bust of its sworn enemy - the Nottingham sheriff. We have something to disagree with them.
Pupil 1:Let's begin with that Robin would have hardly become such a legend in England and in all Europe if he had been an ordinary robber. The popularity of the green marksman in medieval England at times was improbable especially on the first Sunday of May when the ordinary people marked “Robin Hood’s day”. On this day temples and workshops were empty, peasants directed to the wood where archers in green clothes competed in well-aimed shooting. King Arthur, Alfred the Great and an admiral Nelson taken together could envy the glory of the legendary robber.
Though some scientists prove that Robin Hood was a real outlaw and a cruel robber, common people prefer to see in him a defender of the poor and oppressed, a brave and funny chief of the Merry Men. Robin-like character is present in any culture in all times. And nevertheless Robin Hood is our favourite folk hero as well.
Literature made Robin Hood Europe famous, while the cinema brought him the world-wide fame. (
English people try to protect places connected with the legend. Sherwood Forest now is a national park. Its territory is only 4 square kilometers; it’s much smaller than it used to be in Robin Hood’s times. It is famous for its ancient oak trees. Major Oak is one of the four living giant oaks which average age is about 1500 years. It was the headquarters of Robin Hood. The bishop’s oak tree is another landmark of Sherwood Forest. According to the legend the captured bishop had to dance jig round it. The Visitors’ Complex is also located in Sherwood Forest. You can find there the oldest pub where Robin is said to have been, see some Robin Hood’s items from the 1980s TV series at the display.
You can also visit the Nottingham Castle. It was founded in 1068. A statue to Robin Hood now stands on Robin Hood’s Green at the foot of Nottingham Castle.
Grop2. Pupil 1: We continue our exploration and we’ll make a tour round an old famous English city of Coventry. / На карте Англии устанавливается флажок/. Some 900 years ago an extraordinary event took place on Market Day in the English midlands town of Coventry. Two monks at St. Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire first recorded this amazing story in Latin. Roger of Wendover wrote of it in the twelfth century and Mathew Paris in the early thirteenth century. As the Abbey stood at an important road junction, it would seem that the monks may have heard the story from travellers who were on their way from the Midlands to London. We were to study this ancient legend.
Pupil 2: The astonishing tale that has come down to us through the centuries is that sometime in the eleventh-century a proud, pious lady rode through Coventry on Market Day completely naked, covered by nothing but her long hair. Was this true? Apparently so! Who was this medieval woman? Having studied the special literature we got the following information: It was Lady Godiva, wife of Leofric, the Earl of Mercia. Earl Leofric was one of the all-powerful lords who ruled England under the Danish King Canute. He mercilessly demanded from the people of Coventry an oppressive tax called the Heregeld. This tax was paid for King Canute's bodyguard and Leofric made sure that the people of Coventry paid it! The people suffered, they even starved. Godiva was very unhappy about this. We invite you to listen to the 17th century legend by Alfred Tennyson telling about what she has done. /Учащиеся пересказывают легенду А. Теннисона “Леди Годива”/ ( Приложение )
Leofric appears to have undergone a religious conversion after this incident and he and Godiva fоunded a Benedictine monastery in Coventry where they were both buried. Unfortunately all traces of this monastery have long since disappeared. In 1067 Lady Godiva was buried but not forgotten. Today a handsome statue of the Lady stands outside the splendid Leofric Hotel. Our conclusion is the following: Lady Godiva is a real historic personality.
Group 3. Pupil 1: Let’s travel to the county of Cornwall former Tintagel where King Arthur is considered to have been born. /На карте устанавливают флажок/ We conducted a study of the King Arthur story and the legend of Excalibur based on a Celtic leader of the 6th century who defended his country against Saxon invasion. These legends are probably more than 1,500 years old. In the legend, Arthur was considered an extremely wise king in medieval Briton who ruled over many people well, conquered a vast empire, and eventually went to war with the Romans. Though it is not known whether King Arthur was a historical figure or simply a myth, his story has fascinated people throughout the ages. /Просмотр фрагмента из художественного фильма “Король Артур” режиссёра А.Фукуа, США/.
Pupil 2: The King Arthur history is a long and varied one, involving his wife Guinevere, his favorite knight Lancelot, and a series of struggles, victories, and betrayals.
King Arthur first appeared in a Welsh poem in 594 but his name appears in many texts over the following centuries. His story became highly popular in the Middle Ages after being written by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Not long after Malory wrote "Le Morte D'Arthur" which became the standard story of Arthur.
The legend says Arthur was the hidden son of Uther Pendragon, king of England. When Uther died there was no heir to the crown. The wizard, Merlin, placed a sword in a stone, stating that whoever could pull the sword was the rightful king. Arthur pulled it out as a young man and was crowned by Merlin. Many nobles rebelled against this claim and were beaten in battles by Arthur. He later married Guinevere and received a round table from her father. He gathered knights from all over the land to live with him at Camelot and reigned over a golden age of Britain. Sometime later, his best knight, Lancelot, ran away with Guinevere. Arthur followed them, leaving Mordred in charge. Mordred betrayed Arthur, which led to the final battle on Salisbury Plain where both Arthur and Mordred died. Arthur is said to have been taken to Avalon where he waits to return at Britain's hour of greatest need.
Pupil 3: The historical existence of King Arthur is disputed. But truthful or not, the stories and legends surrounding his life have only become more widespread.
Arthur represents a man who was the epitome of good against evil, light against darkness, and that eternal, never-ending struggle between that which is right and that which is wrong. The name King Arthur conjures up a very specific image, thanks to his enduring presence in stories, novels, plays, movies and songs. In these, Arthur is a legendary hero and visionary leader who took control of Britain during a troubled time. The fictional king unites various regional British kings against common enemies and fights off countless invaders. He also goes on a quest for the Holy Grail, a chalice Jesus used at the Last Supper that's said to contain the secret of immortality.
Pupil 4: Many scholars trace the first mention of Arthur to a Welsh poem called the "Gododdin," which elegizes Scottish warriors. The "Gododdin" has been attributed to a sixth-century poet named Aneirin and is often considered Britain's earliest surviving poem.
The beginnings of King Arthur as we recognize him can be traced to Geoffrey of Monmouth. This priest and author wrote the "Historia Regum Britannae" (History of British Kings) in the early 1100s.
The legend says that Camelot was the legendary location of King Arthur's court where the Knights of the Round Table gathered. Where is the real Camelot? Although it's impossible to fully substantiate the mystical and Christian elements of the Arthurian legends, there are several names and locations that have been associated with King Arthur. Let's start with the places. In the "Historia Regum Britannae," Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote that Arthur was born in Cornwall at Tintagel Castle. A stone was found at Tintagel in the late 1980s with an inscription containing the phrase "Artognou [descendant of Arthur], father of a descendant of Coll." Geoffrey of Monmouth names King Coel as one of Arthur's ancestors. However, the castle was actually built in the early 1100s -- centuries after Arthur was supposed to have lived.
Pupil 1:. So there's no substantiated birthplace for Arthur. But what about the fabled Camelot? Malory stated that Camelot was Winchester Castle. For hundreds of years, a wooden round tabletop has hung there. It's painted like a dartboard with the names of King Arthur and 24 knights to indicate their places at the table. However, Winchester Castle was actually built in the late 11th century. The round table was carbon-dated to around 1340 and was probably painted during the reign of Henry VIII in the early 1500s to coincide with medieval interest in chivalry. Nevertheless we think that King Arthur was a real person who committed glorious deeds for his motherland. And the tradition to sit at round tables during meetings as a sign of equality of all the present is said to be taken from Arthur’s times. Though the question of King Arthur’s existence is disputable we must say that people are always admired by brave, noble, heroic personalities. So King Arthur was named 51 in the opinion poll in 2003 in the UK.
Teacher: Let’s check up if you have remembered the main facts. Fill in the table with the necessary information.
| Name | Legend | Time | Site | Sight | Tradition |
| Robin Hood | Robin Hood and Merry Men | 1160 AD | Nottingham | Statue to Robin Hood at Nottingham Castle; Visitors’ Complex at Sherwood forest |
Robin Hood’s annual festival |
| Lady Godiva | Lady Godiva | 1040 AD | Coventry | Statue to Lady Godiva outside the Leofric Hotel | |
| King Arthur | King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table | 515 AD | Cornwall | The Round table at Winchester castle | Round tables at meetings |
Teacher: So, can we say for sure if Robin Hood, Lady Godiva and King Arthur were real people or literary characters? Why do people need such characters? Can you name similar heroes in our culture?
Teacher: We’ve seen the work of 3 groups. You have shown yourselves as good explorers who can study and analyze facts. I’m pleased with your work. I hope you have learnt a lot of useful and interesting things. Your work deserves only excellent marks. Well-done!