Уманський гуманітарно-педагогічний коледж ім.Т.Г.Шевченка

HISTORY, LITERATURE AND CULTURE

OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE USA

(посібник з країнознавства для студентів коледжу)

Умань 2012

Укладач: Мельничук Н.П.

Рецензент:

Гембарук А.С.- доц., кандидат педагогічних наук, викладач кафедри англійської

філології Уманського державного педагогічного університету

імені Павла Тичини

Рекомендовано до друку навчально-методичною радою коледжу

Протокол № від 2012 року

History, Literature, Culture of Great Britain and the USA: Notes on Country-Studies for college students (Посібник з країнознавства для студентів коледжу) / Уклад.Н.П.Мельничук. – Умань: Візаві, 2012. – 68с.

Навчальний посібник з країнознавства містить короткий виклад матеріалів з історії, літератури та культури Великої Британії І США, завдання для удосконалення лексичних і граматичних навичок, формування мовної та мовленнєвої компетенцій. В кінці посібника наводяться тести для перевірки рівня знань з курсу, додаткові матеріали, завдання для самостійної роботи. Мета посібника – дати базові знання про країни, мова яких вивчається, розширити лексичний діапазон студентів, удосконалити їх мовленнєві навички.

Призначається для студентів коледжів.

ЗМІСТ

ПЕРЕДМОВА……………………………… ..………………………..……………4

МЕТОДИЧНІ РЕКОМЕНДАЦІЇ……………………………… ….……………….5

I. ЛЕКЦІЇ

1. Historical peculiarities of the British development. The dawn of the British history………………………………………………………………….7

2. Great Britain from the Middle Ages up to nowadays………………..9

3. From the History of the USA………………………………………11

4. The Dawn of the English Literature. The English Renaissance ….13

5. The English Literature of the 18^th-19^thCenturies…………………15

6. English and American Literature for Children…………………....17

7. Culture of Great Britain and the USA……………………………..19

II. СЕМІНАРИ

1. Historical peculiarities of the British development………………..25

2. The USA: A Glimpse on History………………………………….27

3. English Literature…………………………………………………29

4. English and American Literature for Children……………………31

5. Culture of Great Britain and the USA…………………………….33

III. ХРОНОЛОГІЧНА ТАБЛИЦЯ НАЙВАЖЛИВІШИХ ПОДІЙ В ІСТОРІЇ ВЕЛИКОЇ БРИТАНІЇ………………………………………………………............................34

IV. ДОДАТКОВІ МАТЕРІАЛИ…………..……………………………………...35

V. ТЕСТИ…………………………………………………………………………51

VI. ЗАВДАННЯ ДЛЯ САМОСТІЙНОЇ РОБОТИ ……………………………55

VII. Список використаних джерел …………………………….58

PREFACE

Шановний студенте!

Формування соціокультурної компетенції - одна із складових формування твоєї професійної компетенції як майбутнього фахівця для дошкільної і початкової освіти. Майбутній учитель іноземної мови повинен не лише знати мову, а й історію, літературу, культуру, традиції і звичаї народів, мова яких вивчається. Прагнення до оволодіння іноземною мовою вимагає не тільки засвоєння відповідної іншомовної техніки, але й колосальної немовної інформації, необхідної для адекватного взаєморозуміння. Необхідність засвоєння іноземної мови в тісному зв’язку з культурою народу вже давно сприймається як аксіома. Необхідно навчитися не тільки мовним структурам, але й тому, що знаходиться «поза мовою», тобто культурі країни мови. Предмет «Історія, література, культура країни, мова якої вивчається» покликаний забезпечити твою потребу у тому чи іншому обсязі інформації з цих аспектів, забезпечити підвищення твоєї пізнавальної активності, розширити комунікативні можливості. Вивчення даного курсу дозволяє найбільш повно реалізувати ціннісний, виховний, освітній і розвивальний потенціал іноземної мови з метою формування всебічно розвинутої і креативної особистості майбутнього учителя англійської мови. Ти переконаєшся, що предмет «Історія, література культура країни, мова якої вивчається» є додатковим джерелом цікавої та корисної інформації. На думку Є.І.Пассова, «Тільки культура в різних її проявах здійснює формування особистості людини в цілому. Якщо будь-яка освіта є передача культури, то іншомовна освіта є передача іншомовної культури».

Проте обмежена кількість занять для вивчення навчального матеріалу, його високий рівень складності, великий обсяг інформації викликають певні труднощі у процесі навчання, якщо не використовувати ефективні прийоми і методи роботи над темами. Щоб полегшити процес засвоєння навчального матеріалу раджу тобі використовувати такі форми і методи, які б дозволили тобі відчути свою успішність, збагатити словниковий запас, розвинути мовленнєві навички і вміння. Прислухайся до наступних порад, і тоді робота над навчальним матеріалом принесе тобі задоволення і успіх.

МЕТОДИЧНІ РЕКОМЕНДАЦІЇ

ЯК ПРАЦЮВАТИ НАД МАТЕРІАЛАМИ ЛЕКЦІЇ?

Основою роботи над навчальним матеріалом повинно стати читання мовчки із безпосереднім розумінням прочитаного. Тому найбільш виправданим є пошукове читання із засвоєнням основної і суттєвої інформації. Працюючи над лекційним матеріалом слід:

• користуватися двомовним словником;

• виписувати незнайомі слова і вирази;

• бажано групувати їх за певними категоріями;

• використовуючи словотворчі елементи, будувати похідні слова (інші частини мови);

• закріплювати новий навчальний матеріал під час виконання завдань, що пропонуються на семінарські заняття.

В кінці кожної лекції даються питання для самоперевірки і короткий виклад основних положень, що допоможе систематизувати і узагальнити прочитане

ЯК ГОТУВАТИСЯ ДО СЕМІНАРСЬКИХ ЗАНЯТЬ?

Завдання з підготовки до семінарських занять передбачають активізацію лексичного матеріалу з тем, систематизацію фактичного матеріалу.

Тестові завдання є досить різноманітними залежно від об’єктів контролю:

• розташувати слова (географічні назви тощо) в алфавітному порядку;

• підібрати українські (англійські) еквіваленти до англійських (українських) слів та виразів;

• поєднати слова з різних колонок для утворення словосполучень;

• до кожного числівника (дати чи інш.) підібрати відповідну інформацію;

• поєднати частини речень за змістом тексту;

• розташувати твердження за текстом у правильній (хронологічній) послідовності;

• відновити текст, вставивши пропущені слова за змістом;

• заповнити таблицю детальною інформацією з тексту;

• підібрати відповідні прийменники (дієслівні форми);

• підібрати відповіді на запитання за текстом лекції; визначити, які твердження не відповідають змістові тексту;

• завершити речення відповідними словами.

За допомогою таких вправ розвиваються уміння порівнювати, аналізувати, узагальнювати інформацію, робити висновки. Усі ці завдання сприяють якісному засвоєнню країнознавчої інформації, а також розвивають навички письма, читання, вміння використовувати лексичні одиниці та лексико-граматичні структури в різних ситуаціях; формується досвід виконання тестових завдань, подолання труднощів у роботі над тестами, що позитивно позначиться на виконанні контрольних тематичних тестових завдань з предмету.

Вивчення та декламування віршів англійських поетів, спроби літературного перекладу стимулюватимуть твою творчу активність, сприятимуть удосконаленню фонетичних навичок, збагаченню лексичного запасу.

Окрім цього, пропоную тобі:

• самостійно скласти кросворди, розгадування яких проводитиметься на занятті;

• підготувати цікаві додаткові повідомлення за темами, використавши додаткову літературу чи матеріали Інтернету;

• підготувати комп’ютерну презентацію за питаннями семінарського заняття;

• в малій групі підготувати проектну роботу на залікове заняття.

Такі творчі завдання зроблять процес навчання змістовнішим і більш захоплюючим, розвиватимуть творчу активність і критичне мислення. А використання підготовлених тобою і твоїми товаришами форм роботи під час семінарського заняття додадуть навчальному процесу елементів розважальної гри, що, в свою чергу, зніме нервове напруження і втому, сприятиме мимовільному запам’ятовуванню навчального матеріалу.

ЯК ГОТУВАТИ ПРОЕКТНУ РОБОТУ З ТЕМИ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ?

Не вміти виражати свої думки – недолік;

але не мати самостійних думок – набагато більший.

Самостійні думки випливають

лише із самостійно набутих знань.

К.Ушинський

Проект – це самостійно спланована і реалізована студентами робота, в якій мовне спілкування введене в інтелектуально-емоційний контекст іншої діяльності. Іноземна мова використовується для виконання завдань, що характеризуються новизною результату і нових способів його досягнення.

Види проектних робіт:

• творча робота з малюнками, аплікацією, вирізками з періодичних видань;

• стіннівка;

• фотоколаж;

• плакат, буклет, проспект;

• радіо- чи телепрограма;

• сценарій вечора ( концерту, вистави чи свята);

• сценарій пресконференції;

• сценарій вікторини;

• інтерв’ю.

Типи проектних робіт:

• дослідницькі;

• творчі;

• інформаційні;

• з використанням комп’ютерних технологій та Інтернету;

• практичні.

Приблизна тематика проектних робіт:

1) Велика Британія : минуле і сьогодення.

2) Лондон: його легенди та реальність.

3) Видатні постаті Великої Британії.

4) Цей прекрасний світ мистецтва.

5) Старовинні англійські звичаї та традиції.

6) Це цікаво знати….Об’єднане Королівство Великої Британії та Північної Ірландії.

7) Становлення американської нації.

L E C T U R E 1

THE HISTORICAL PECULIARITIES OF BRITISH DEVELOPMENT. THE DAWN OF THE BRITISH HISTORY.

PLAN.

1. Primitive society on the territory of the British Isles.

2. The Roman conquest of Britain.

3. The Anglo-Saxon invasion.

4. The establishment of the Kingdom of England. Danish raids on England.

5. The Norman invasion.

RECOMMENDED LITERATURE:

1. Across Great Britain. N.F.Vovchenko.- К. Тов.-во «Знання», 2002.

2. Полупан А.П., Полупан В.Л., Махова В.В. English-speaking countries: A cultural reader.- Х: Країна мрій, 2002.

3. Письменная О.А. «Окна в англоязычный мир ( история, география, социальные аспекты, языковая ситуация). К.: ООО «ИП Логос», 2004.

4. Цегельська Марина. Great Britain:Geography, History< Language. – Тернопіль: Підручники і посібники, 2007.

Active Vocabulary:

Tribe, inhabitants, to cultivate crops, to worship, primitive society, common property, transition, a slave society, to conquer, to invade, to resist, to pay tributes, hostile, to introduce, to decay, the nobility, to defend, warriors, to consolidate, the clergy, medieval, to surrender, uprising

1. The first inhabitants of the British Isles were Celts. They were ancient people who lived in Central and Western Europe and moved to the British Isles during Iron Age. Tribes of Scots crossed over to Ireland and settled there. Later the Scots returned to the larger island and in time the name of Scotland was given to the country. Powerful Celtic tribes, the Britons, held most of the country and the southern half of the island was named Britain after them.

The Celts had no towns, they lived in villages. They used copper, tin, iron and they kept cattle and sheep. They also cultivated crops. Their clothes were made of wool, some other Celts wore skin. The Celts worshiped Nature, they lived under primitive society. The Celts believed in another life after death, they believed that their souls passed after death from one body to another. They worked collectively, owned common property and were all equal. In the last century B.C. and the first century A.D. the Celts were in the period of transition from primitive to class society.

2. While the Celts were living in tribes, the Roman society was a slave society divided into antagonistic classes. The Romans conquered a huge empire in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Led by Julius Caesar, Roman troops invaded the south of Britain in 55 B.C. and again the following year. The local tribes resisted Roman attacks but eventually submitted and agreed to pay tributes to Rome. Scotland remained hostile and unconquered. The Romans never tried to conquer Ireland.

The Romans brought writing and a sophisticated legal system into Britain. They introduced the Alphabet the British use today and almost half the words in modern English derive from Latin. They created new towns (some up to 50,000 people), and introduced drainage systems, houses with glass windows, and a form of central heating. One of the oldest buildings in Britain is the Roman light-house, or Pharos, at Dover. Also, long straight roads were built to move the troops rapidly through forest and swamp. And so trade and communication were improved. The sites of the old Roman camps became centres of trade. Roman influence is always evident in names of towns ending with –caster, -chister, because castrum in Latin denoted a fort, and castra – a camp. Introduced were new types of food and flowers. Once the Romans had departed, the civilization they left behind gradually fell into decay. Among the Celts inequality began to grow – the tribal chiefs and nobility became richer.

In the 3-4^th centuries the power of the Roman Empire began to weaken. Early in the 5^th century the Roman legions were recalled from Britain to defend the central provinces from the barbarian tribes – Germanic tribes.

3. After the Roman army left Britain the Celts were independent but not for long. From the middle of the 5^th century they had to defend the country against the attacks of Germanic tribes – the Saxons, the Angles and the Jutes. It took more than a hundred and fifty years for the Angles and Saxons to conquer the country. Many native Britons fled to Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The invaders brought changes with them. They did not like towns preferring to live in small villages. They destroyed the Roman towns, the roads were broken. They cultivated the land. They used the two-field system (the land was given the rest every second year). Their plough was made of wood covered with iron. They continued cattle-breeding, hunting and fishing. Gradually rich land-owners were given great power over the peasants. The king’s warriors and officials held more land and they ruled the country.

4. By the end of the 7^th century England consisted of seven kingdoms which competed for supremacy. The strong kingdoms controlled their weaker neighbours. In the 7^th century Northumbria was the strongest but Mercia then became dominant under King Offa (757-796). Offa was the first to call himself “King of the English”. At the beginning of the 8^th century various kingdoms were united under king Egberg. Later, Wessex became dominant under King Alfred the Great (871-899). In the 10^th century under the rule of Alfred the monarchy was consolidated.

At the end of the 8^th century another branch of Germanic people began to attack Britain. Danish Vikings reached Britain in 789 and began their control over a large territory. The Danes were armed with swords, spears, daggers, battle axes and bows. The Danes burnt houses, churches and monasteries. Their raids were successful because the inhabitants of the British Isles had neither a regular army nor a fleet to meet them. The Danes influenced the development of the country greatly. They were good sailors and traders. They were skillful ship-builders. But in 878 King Alfred defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington, he established a strong army, built fortified towns, built up a fleet of ships, began reviving learning. He captured London and was accepted as King. But great though Alfred’s military achievements were, his real greatness lay not in war, but in the arts of peace: he started a court school to educate the nobility in reading and writing English, he insisted that the clergy should learn Latin properly as this was the language of the Church, he invited craftsmen and scholars to his court, he translated the medieval books on history and philosophy thus giving the English their first literature. “The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle”, a yearly account of events, was probably begun during his reign.

The country was ruled by the Anglo-Saxons until 1013 when they finally surrendered to the King of Denmark. The Danish king Canute became king of Denmark, Norway and England. He divided the country into four parts and called them earldoms. After the death of Canute the Anglo-Saxon king Edward (1042-1066) came to the Throne. He was called “the Confessor” (проповідник). He had no children and when he died in 1066, three men claimed the throne, one of them being William, Duke of Normandy.

5. The Normans were descended from Vikings who had settled in northern France during the 9^th century. King Edward the Confessor of England was succeeded by Harold, Ear of Wessex. But William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. The Battle of Hastings was one of the most decisive battles in the English history and it brought victory to William who became the English king- William I (1066-1087), known as “the Conqueror”.

The Normans introduced a new social system into England which is known as feudalism. William I organized a strong central government in which Normans held most positions of power. William I ruled foe 21 years. There were several uprisings in the North and William who was a cruel man ruined the Anglo-Saxon villages, cottages, killed many people, destroyed crops. French became the language of the upper classes and administration until the 14^th century.

Questions for check-up:

1. Who were the first inhabitants of the British Isles? Where and how did they live?

2. What society did the Romans live in at that time?

3. When did the Roman troops led by Julius Caesar attack the British Isles?

4. Did the Romans conquer the whole territory of Britain? Why?

5. What was the effect of the Roman invasion on the development of Britain?

6. What changes in the life of Britons did the Germanic tribes bring?

7. What was the role of King Egberg and Alfred the Great in the development of Britain?

8. What was the role of “The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle”?

9. How long did the Anglo-Saxons rule the country?

10. Why was the Battle of Hastings one of the most decisive battles in the English history?

11. What kind of social system did the Normans introduce in England?

12. What is the origin of the names “England” and “Britain”?

SUMMARY

The first inhabitants of the British Isles were Celts. Powerful Celtic tribes, the Britons, held most of the country and the southern half of the island was named Britain after them. The Celts worshiped Nature, they lived under primitive society. The Romans brought writing and a sophisticated legal system into Britain. They introduced the Alphabet the British use today and almost half the words in modern English derive from Latin. They created new towns and introduced drainage systems, houses with glass windows, and a form of central heating. They introduced new types of food and flowers. Christianity was brought to the British Isles.

From the middle of the 5^th century the attacks of Germanic tribes – the Saxons, the Angle and the Jutes- began. It took more than a hundred and fifty years for the Angles and Saxons to conquer the country. By the end of the 7^th century England consisted of seven kingdoms which competed for supremacy. In the 10^th century under the rule of Alfred the monarchy was consolidated. Alfred the Great started a court school to educate the nobility in reading and writing English, he insisted that the clergy should learn Latin properly as this was the language of the Church, he invited craftsmen and scholars to his court, he translated the medieval books on history and philosophy thus giving the English their first literature. William, Duke of Normandy, known as “the Conqueror”invaded England in 1066 and had been ruling for 21 years. French became the language of the upper classes and administration until the 14^th century.

LECTURE 2

GREAT BRITAIN FROM THE MIDDLE AGES UP TO NOWADAYS

PLAN

1. England in the Middle Ages.

2. The English Bourgeois Revolution (1640-1660). The Commonwealth.

3. The Industrial Revolution (1760s-1850s).

4. The Rise and Fall of the British Empire.

RECOMMENDED LITERATURE:

1. Полупан А.П., Полупан В.Л., Махова В.В. English-speaking countries: A cultural reader–Х.: Країна мрій, 2002.

2. Полупан А.П., Полупан В.Л., Махова В.В. English-speaking countries: A work-book–Х.: Країна мрій, 2002

3. Письменная О.А. «Окна в англоязычный мир (история, география, социальные аспекты, языковая ситуация). К.: ООО «ИП Логос», 2004.

4. Тучина Н.В., Меркулова Т.К., Кузьміна В.С. Speak English with pleasure/За ред..Луїзи Грін.- К.: Майстер-клас, 2005

5. Цегельська Марина. Great Britain:Geography, History< Language. – Тернопіль: Підручники і посібники, 2007.

Active Vocabulary:

To revolt, to limit the power, to pay the tax, to put an end to, rural, decline, bourgeoisie, to execute, proclaim, to restore, industrialization, inventions, a steam engine, a threshing machine, establish, raw materials, to lose industrial supremacy, national liberation movement

1. The Middle Ages in England was a period of feudal wars, a period of struggle for power between the kings and the church, between the king and powerful barons. In 1215 the barons revolted and soon had a large army against the king. King John stood alone. He had signed the Great Charter (Magna Carta), a document where the rights of the Englishmen were written down. It didn’t mean freedom for the masses of the poor but later on (in the 17^th-19^th centuries) when the English people revolted against oppression, they took the Great Charter as the banner of the revolution. This document limited the power of the King. A council of 25 barons was organized to control the king. That was the beginning of the English Parliament.

THE PEASANTS’ REVOLT (1381). The war with France lasted for more than a hundred years (1337-1453). The people of England had to pay for the war. The peasants did not want to pay the tax. They gathered into two big armies and went to London. They surrounded the Tower where the King lived. Walt Tyler, one of the leaders of the revolt was sent to speak to the king, but the King’s soldiers killed him. The peasants had to leave London, but on their way home the King’s men attacked them and hundreds of peasants were killed. Thus the King put an end to the revolt. But this revolt showed that a serf wanted to be a free peasant farmer.

During the Middle Ages England was more rural than France, for example. But in the 16^th century the towns began to grow and England became one of the most powerful countries in the world. One of the most important factors was the early decline of feudalism and the rise of capitalism.

2. With the development of capitalism the English bourgeoisie was becoming richer. The first 40 years of the 17^th century was a period of growing conflict between the King and the Parliament. King Charles was at war with Spain and France and wanted money for it. The Parliament refused to give money. Then the King dismissed the Parliament. For about 11 years he ruled the country without the council of people. The Parliament opened again only in 1640 and opposed the King. The King was sitting in Oxford. The soldiers of the Parliament with Oliver Cromwell at the head were in London. The Civil war began. In the Civil War that lasted for 12 years the Parliament won the victory.

King Charles I was executed as enemy of the country (1649). The Commonwealth was proclaimed and Oliver Cromwell became the Protector of the new Republic.

The end of the Commonwealth came after Cromwell’s death (1658). England was at war with Spain. The Government was too weak and the Parliament decided to have a king. In 1660 the monarchy was restored and Charles II became the King.

3. In the period between 1760s and 1850s Britain became the first industrial country in the world, “the workshop of the world”. It was the period of the growth of large factories and using new machinery. Early industrialization in Britain was connected with many important technical inventions. The people learned to use coal for smelting iron.

In 1764 James Watt invented the steam engine. It could drive various machines. In 1807 Robert Fulton (an American) constructed the first steam ship and the first steam locomotive was constructed by George Stephenson in England in 1814.

Technical progress was also made in agriculture. The invention of the threshing machine “freed” a large number of people for work in industry. This period in Britain’s history is called the Industrial Revolution.

4. In the 17^th century Britain had a large fleet and established its first overseas colonies. Its ships carried the products of the British industries all over the world and brought back food and raw materials. Large territories in India, Australia, America and Africa became part of the British Empire. The English language became an official language in these countries. At that time the British Empire covered one fifth of the earth and had one quarter of the world’s population.

At the end of the 19^th century Britain began to lose industrial supremacy to the United States and Germany. The capitalists exported money to different countries where labour and raw materials were cheap but the home industry was not progressing. The peoples of the colonial countries began to struggle for independence. In the 20^th century national liberation movement was intensified and many countries became independent.

Now Britain is one of the 7 most developed countries of the world

Questions for check-up:

1. What are the peculiar features of the Middle Ages in Britain?

2. What kind of document was Great Charter (Magna Carta)? When and why was it signed by the King?

3. What year is considered to be the beginning of the British Parliament? Why?

4. When did the revolt under the leadership of Walt Tyler take place? What was the reason and the result of the revolt?

5. When was the Republic proclaimed in England? Who was its Protector?

6. When was the Monarchy restored again?

7. What was the reason of early industrialization in Britain? What important technical inventions caused it?

8. What do we call the period between 1760s and 1850s in Britain? Why?

9. When did Britain establish its first overseas colonies?

10. Why did Great Britain begin to lose its industrial supremacy to the United States and Germany at the end of the 19^th century?

SUMMARY

The Middle Ages in England was a period of feudal wars, a period of struggle for power between the kings and the church, between the king and powerful barons. A council of 25 barons was organized to control the king in 1215. That was the beginning of the English Parliament.

Great Charter (Magna Carta) was a document where the rights of the Englishmen were written down. The revolt of 1381 under the leadership of Walt Tyler showed that a serf wanted to be a free peasant farmer. The English Bourgeois Revolution took place in 1640-1660. The Republic was proclaimed in Britain. That was the only period in the history of Britain when there was no monarchy. In 1660 the monarchy was restored and Charles II became the King. In the period between 1760s and 1850s Britain became the first industrial country in the world, “the workshop of the world”. This period in Britain’s history is called the Industrial Revolution. In the 17^th century Britain had a large fleet and established its first overseas colonies. They became parts of the great British Empire. At that time the British Empire covered one fifth of the earth and had one quarter of the world’s population. At the end of the 19^th century Britain began to lose industrial supremacy to the United States and Germany. Now Britain is one of the 7 most developed countries of the world.

LECTURE 3

THE USA. A GLIMPSE ON HISTORY.

PLAN.

1. The first inhabitants of America. The discovery of America.

2. The War of Independence (1775-1783).

3. The Civil War between states (1861-1865).

4. Post-war development of the USA.

RECOMMENDED LITERATURE:

1. Полупан А.П., Полупан В.Л., Махова В.В. English-speaking countries: A cultural reader.- Х.: Країна мрій- 2002.

2. Цегельська М.В. The USA:Geography, History, Language. – Тернопіль: Підручники і посібники, 2010.

3. Газета “English”, #19, May, 2002,p.11/ American history in brief.

3. Газета “English”, #20, May, 2002, p.9/ Cradle of the Nation (History life).

Active Vocabulary:

To discover, to explore, an incident, a commander-in-chief, to adopt, to elect, to abolish slavery, a slave owner, a cold war, an arms race, powerful armaments, a widespread fear

I. The USA is a country with a 200 years history of big adventures, discoveries, wars and inventions. It’s a country of immigrants, different cultures and languages. The first inhabitants of America were people with red skin. They were called Indians. The Indian tribes were never united because their life was different in different parts of the continent. They were busy with hunting and fishing.

Three countries were interested in the discovery of America: Spain, France and England. Spain sent Christopher Columbus to discover a new way to east. With three ships he sailed for three months and in October ,12, 1492 he saw a land. He thought it was India and gave the name “Indians” to the red-skin men living there. But it was an island not far from the coast of North America.

Many other sailors went out to the new land. An Italian seaman Amerigo Vespucci was one of them. He and his men explored the coast of South America and discovered the Bay of river Rio de Janeiro (River of January). They named the place after the month in which they found the bay. In one of his letters to his friend Amerigo wrote that the new land he had seen might be a new world. After the publications of these letters the new land was named after him America, the land of Amerigo.

Spain, France, England sent many seamen to North America. That’s why there were English, Spanish and French colonies in America in the 16^th and 17^th centuries. England, Spain and France were always in war for ruling America. At last England won the victory and became the only owner of North America.

II. In the 18^th century England had 13 colonies in North America which were under the British rule. Britain exploited its colonies and laid heavy taxes on them. They had to pay taxes on sugar, wine, tea, coffee, and Americans were angry about it and wouldn’t stand it any more. 13 British colonies decided to unite their forces against Great Britain.

When British ships came into Boston port with tea in 1773 the Americans decided not to take this tea. They made a plan. Several men dressed as Indians went on board the ships , took the boxes of tea and dropped them into the water. This incident was named the Boston tea party. In answer to it the British government closed the Boston port and sent its ships to the colonies. Soon the war between Britain and American colonies began. It was the War of Independence of American colonies from the British rule.

The war lasted for 8 years (1775-1783). George Washington was commander-in-chief of the North American Army and he did much for the victory of the colonies.

In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and some other people. It was adopted on July the 4^th. That’s why the 4^th of July is a national holiday in the USA. It’s Independence Day and the birthday of American nation. After the end of the war in 1783, 16 states were formed and they elected George Washington to be their first President.

III. THE CIVIL WAR BETWEEN STATES (1861-1865)

In the 18^th and 19^th centuries the USA was divided into the North (where labour was free) and the South (where slaves worked). Slavery was abolished in the North in 1820. But it existed in the South. The life of slaves was very hard. They worked from morning till night, were beaten and starved. Sometimes their owners sold them, separating husbands and wives, parents and children. There were many revolts of the slaves. Sometimes white men helped them in their struggle but the revolts brought to nothing.

The Civil war began soon after Abraham Lincoln was elected the President in 1860. Lincoln, a progressive man, was against slavery. He wanted very much to free the Negro slaves. The slave owners in the South were angry that Lincoln was elected and very soon after that the southern states left the Union and formed their own Confederation. Then in 1861 the Civil war began.

The population of the North was 22 mln and that of the South was 9 mln. But the army of the South was well organized and ready for war. This could not be said of the army of the North. So at the beginning of the war the South won several victories. Only when General Grant became commander-in-chief of the Northern Army, the North began to win the war and in April 1865 it ended with the victory of the North. There was no slavery in the country since that time.

IV. POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT OF THE USA.

The Second World War ended in May 1945. While the United States had lost almost 300,000 members of its armed services, there had been no fighting or bombing in North America. So the US was in much better shape than the war-torn countries.

The United Nations organization had been formed at the end of the war. Most of the world nations joined.

A cold war started between the USA and the USSR almost as soon as WW II ended. The two countries had been allies in fighting Nazi Germany. But they bitterly disagreed over what should happen to the countries of Eastern Europe after Germany was defeated. After the war new types of weapons were invented and both the USA and the Soviet Union built up a tremendous supply of powerful armaments. This contest became known as the arms race. The widespread fear of Communism was one of the reasons behind the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in April 1945.

Questions for check-up:

1. Who were the first inhabitants of America? How did they live?

2. What discovery was made on October 12, 1492?

3. How did America get its name?

4. How many American colonies did Great Britain have in the 18^th century?

5. What incident was called Boston tea party?

6. What are years of the War for Independence?

7. What was the role of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln in the history of America?

8. What were the consequences of the Civil war in America?

9. Why did the “cold war” begin between the USA and the USSR as soon as WWII ended?

10. What do we call “the arms race”?

SUMMARY

The first inhabitants of America were people with red skin. In October,12, 1492 Christopher Columbus landed the island not far from the coast of North America. That was the discovery of North America. The new land was named America after Amerigo Vespucci, the land of Amerigo. In the 18^th century England had 13 colonies in North America which were under the British rule. Britain exploited its colonies and laid heavy taxes on them. In 1775 the war between Britain and American colonies began. It was the War of Independence of American colonies from the British rule. After the end of the war in 1783, 16 states were formed and they elected George Washington to be their first President. In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and some other people. It was adopted on July the 4^th. That’s why the 4^th of July is a national holiday in the USA. In 1861 the Civil war began. It lasted for 4 years. As a result slavery was abolished in America for ever. As soon as WW II ended in 1945 a cold war started between the USA and the USSR. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in April 1945. Soon the Warsaw Treaty Organization of socialist countries was formed to oppose the NATO.

LECTURE 4

THE DAWN OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. GEOFFREY CHAUSER. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

PLAN

1. Old English. “Beowulf” as the first major work of old English literature.

2. Middle English. Geoffrey Chaucer and his “Canterbury Tales”.

3. Renaissance. William Shakespeare as the central figure of the English Renaissance..

RECOMMENDED LITERATURE:

1) Англійська література : Навч.посібн./Укладач С.В.Гапонова – К.: Товариство «Знання», КОО, 1998.

2) Мансі Є.О. Тексти з англійської і американської художньої літератури. – К.:»Логос», !999.

Active Vocabulary:

Major work, an epic poem, to compose, a manuscript, heroic deeds, for the benefit, to be worthy, epithets and metaphors, embodiment, a merit, creative work, a pilgrimage, an innovator, the Renaissance ,psychological versified novel, an unsurpassed dramatist, to embody, playwright, playful manner, to occupy a unique place, poetic style, truly immortal, to acknowledge

English Literature is traditionally divided into:

• Old English (500-1100)

• Middle English (1100-1485)

• Renaissance (1485-1660)

• Literature of Restoration (1660-1700)

• Literature of Enlightenment (1700-1784)

• Romantic Literature (1784-1832)

• Victorian Literature (1832-1901)

• Modern Period (1901 till now)