Цели: Расширять диапазон чтения, развивать интерес к классической литературе, воспитывать чувство доброты, сострадания к ближнему.
Задачи: Развивать способность фокусировать внимание на элементах романа: время и место действия, герои, сюжет, формировать умение и навыки анализа литературного произведения, активизировать в речи лексику романа, обучать написанию эссе по предложенному плану.
Оборудование: на доске: иллюстрации к рассказу, магнитофон, записи негритянских spirituals.
Ход урока
Учитель говорит о том, что сегодня обобщающий урок по теме “Творчество Г.Б.Стоу”, который пройдет в форме panel-discussion, представляет chairman и его assistant (рисунок 1-3).
Chairman: Dear Friends, we are glad to see You again in our studio. This time our panel looks at the problems of a person on the background of historic events. Today we shall discuss the creative activity of H.B.Stowe & the role she has played in the abolition of slavery.
Assistant: Oh, I do remember that once I’ve read the following: in the midst of the Civil war A.Lincoln had remarked that Mrs. Stowe was “the little lady who wrote the book that made this Great War”.
Chairman: So today we have invited the people with different opinions on this question. Let me introduce our guests:
- a distant relative of H.B.Stowe
- Natalia Hutchison – an investigator of M.Mitchel’s literary work
- Wendy Wainright – a journalist
- Helen Meyers – a scientist
- Larry Atkinson – a politician (a senator from the state of Georgia)
- Christie Moore – a lawyer
- Mary Broedel – a writer
- Simon Campbell – an activist of the movement “For Equal Rights”
- Elizabeth Carson – a critic
- Victoria Green – a historian
- Emely Smith – a sociologist
I consider that it would be better for the distant relative of H.B.Stowe to refresh some moments connected with this book.
A distant relative of H.B.Stowe: Well, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” or “The Life among the Lowly” – is an anti-slavery novel, published by my great-grandmother, serially in the National Era between the years of 1851-52 & in the book from 1852. It became the best-selling novel of the 19th century. The reasons, which inspired H.B.Stowe to write this work, were the reaction to the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, which roused general indignation in the Northern States.
Simon Campbell – an activist: Yes, surely, I consider that this problem – the problem of slavery was very popular at that time & so it made this book extremely actual. Slavery penetrates deep into the soul of a man. And it turns future generations into slaves from the very beginning of their lives, from the moment of their birth & so slavery stops to be a kind of discrimination of their rights & turns into their usual way of thinking, living. That is why slaves consider it an ordinary thing to fulfil their masters’ orders without defining the fact that both of them: the slave & the master are human beings possessing the same equal rights.
Victoria Green – a historian: I would like to reject to Mr. Campbell’s opinion. We are not to see the dark side of the picture. Then we shall notice that slavery has its pluses too. For example, the Catholic Church proves the value of slavery as well as the Orthodox does conformably to serfdom. Besides slavery is the natural stage in the development of society. We do remember that in Russia the serfdom lasted for about 200 years. Surely, peasants have already got accustomed to this system. When they were given freedom popular uprisings didn’t stop. The fact that the reform was unprofitable for peasants as practically they had to pay both for their freedom & land. As I specialize in Russian history I can’t tell you for sure about the situation in the USA, but judging by the book it was similar to ours. So while speaking about the abolition of slavery we must think about the consequences of this reform.
Natalia Hutchison – an investigator: As for me – I wish to support Miss Green’s opinion. As an investigator of Margaret Mitchel’s literary work I want to remind you that the same things take place in her book “Gone with a Wind”. The composition of a novel, seizing the period of 1861-1873 corresponds to the main stages of the War & Reconstruction in Georgia. Events are revealed exclusively from the point of view of the supporters of slave property, loosing their privileges. The main character Scarlett O’Hara is also a slave owner. But in this case the slaves are the members of the family and Tara – the estate is the native home for them. Their masters understand that Negroes are not things, but people & they have their own souls, thoughts and feelings. Scarlett’s kindness is responded by the devotion of slaves. And even when they were given liberty, they didn’t want to leave the plantation. I think this is a very important thing about the relation with the slaves. As for the Russian history I wish to say that sometimes when servants lived with their masters all their life and were treated well, they didn’t want to be free. When they got liberty, they often said: “Father, for what?” So, sometimes it’s difficult for slaves to become free – they don’t know how to behave themselves.
Chairman: It sounds rather strange to be happy being a slave. What is your opinion Ms. Helen?
Helen Meyers – a scientist: As for me I can’t agree with the opinion. Let’s return back to H.B.Stowe’s book. A theme that she impresses strongly upon the reader is the degenerative effect of slavery upon both the slave & the owner. This issue is often raised in the novel. Even Mrs. Shelby recognizes the depravity & admits that slavery is bitter, bitter most accused thing – a curse to the master & a curse to the slave. The injustice of slavery is frequently identified in the novel, but of course the practice is continued. Many of those involved in keeping slaves are sensitive to the problem. Mr. Shelby, for instance, is not contented by the idea, but enjoys the benefit out of what he deems necessity. The inherent problem of slavery is again staled when John van Trompe is being described. His worn appearance is attributed to the “workings of a system equally bad for oppressor & oppressed”.
Assistant: Are there any other opinions on this issue?
Elizabeth Carson – a critic: I completely agree with Helen Meyers’ opinion. The novel dexterously demonstrates the absurdities & contradictions of slavery. For instance, Mr. Shelby’s actions are strongly contradictory to his statements. He believes himself to be a good Christian man with a genuine respect for his slaves. Yet the fact that he keeps slaves opposes all that he says & although his treatment of slaves is better than of the majority of masters, he doesn’t respect them. For example, in the first chapter, when Shelby & Haily are discussing the ensuing trade, Harry enters the room & Shelby makes him dance around like a clown & then – tosses raisins to him. Also, Mr. Marris, a slave-owner in defence of his relocating George asserts that “it’s a free country, sir, the man is mine”. It is also ironic that after George invents a machine to clean hemp the employer congratulates George’s master owning such a fine slave but not George.
Emely Smith – a sociologist: I want to add that all slave system is based on the anti-humanist statement that a slave is some kind of property, he is a thing which can be sold, bought or presented to anyone the master wishes. The difference between an efficient, virtuous slave & good-for-nothing is that the former has a higher market value & price. From my point of view once & for all the book “Uncle’s Tom Cabin” did away with the idea that a slave could be happy with a “kind” master. The story from its very beginning shows that when the “kind” master has fallen into debts he will not stop at the prospect of selling his “property”. He sells his good slave although he has intended to set him free; and the more valuable the slave is the more surely the creditors would seize him.
Assistant: Sorry for interrupting you but let me remind you the poem “The Quadron” by H.Longfellow in which the father being a planter sells his daughter when he finds himself in financial straits. He immediately forgets about their relation, all ethical principles have been neglected. The only thing he keeps in mind is he has a beautiful slave and can get a good reward for that.
Emely Smith – a sociologist: Yes, I completely agree that slavery gradually deprives a human being of elementary humanitarian feelings by developing the worst in human nature. But let me continue the story about Mr. Shelby. I don’t want to say that he is cruel in the attitude towards Tom. He parts with his devoted slave reluctantly but that doesn’t make Tom’s life easier. He is separated with his wife and children. So in one word, the circumstances of life make Mr. Shelby sell Tom. And then later another character George identifies the inequality and asks: “Who made this man my master?” And I think that it is the main question of the book.
Chairman: That’s correct, Ms. Smith. But don’t forget about the ambivalent nature of the man. So, Mrs. Wendy, what is your opinion on this question?
Wendy Wainright – a journalist: In this concern I wish us to remember the fact that in contrast to Tom’s noble attitude the author portrays two Negro overseers Sambo and Quimbo, who were wild and cruel. An American proverb says: “The worst of overseers is the former slave”. Legree has trained them in savageness and brutality. Beecher Stowe doesn’t conceal that the institution of slavery gradually deprives human beings of elementary humanitarian feelings, by developing the worse in human nature. Sambo and Quimbo hate Tom fearing he may take their privileges on the plantation and because of this fact they become beastly cruel to him. I consider that by showing these characters, Beecher Stowe did all that she could at that period to keep the slaves from insurrection. She thought that the only way to freedom was to earn it by Christian meekness in the meantime the abolitionists would by agitation make the slave-holders liberate their slaves themselves.
Assistant: Today we speak about the problem of abolition. Was it prepared by the time or was it a case of urgent necessity. Was it really provoked by H.B.Stowe’s book?
Christie Moore – a lawyer: Indeed the problem of abolition was dictated by the time. People got used to the fact that all must be divided into masters and slaves, that even when the slave commits a noble deed the other man thanks him by ransoming from slavery. And I want you to remember the moment when Uncle Tom during the voyage down the Mississippi saves Eva St. Claire’s life (known as little Eva) with the result that her father buys him out of gratitude. Tom is happy to have such friends as Eva and Jepsy. But after two years Eva died from a weakened constitution in a highly sentimental death scene. Her father is then killed in the accident and Tom is sold at auction to the villainous Simon Legree, a cruel drunken Yankee. So when the abolitionists appeared, not only slave owners were against them but also people who didn’t derive any profit from slavery, but since childhood they were brought up with hatred to black people. They were convinced of the fact that the color of the skin determines the dignity of man. So the abolitionists projected in the situation of hostility and persecutions, but they fought and helped the slaves of Southern States. And the novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” proves once again that Negroes were strong people and didn’t want to reconcile with their fate.
Chairman: Let us investigate some problems which we face while reading this novel. To my mind the most exciting and the most dramatic one is that connected with the separation of families when mothers are ready to fulfill a heroic deed to save their nestling.
Victoria Green – a historian: Frankly speaking I was deeply impressed by Eliza’s heroic deed when she had to cross the swollen river on foot in order to save her child. It’s because the Ohio River was on her way to freedom. It is impressive to read these lines without a sinking heart. Eliza was so afraid of the thought that her baby would be sold to another master that she was ready to die but not to doom her child to torture.
Assistant: Well let’s recall together these lines. “To get to Canada Eliza had to cross the Ohio River. So when she heard men’s voices and saw Haley she caught up the boy, left the inn and ran down to the river. In a moment Eliza jumped on to a large piece of ice in the river. It was a dangerous jump. Haley and the men cried something to her and lifted with their hands. The piece of ice creaked as Eliza jumped on to it, but she didn’t stay there. She jumped to another and to another piece falling and jumping again. She lost her shoes, her stockings were cut from her feet, blood marked her every step on the ice but Eliza saw nothing, felt nothing till as in a dream she saw the other bank of the Ohio”.
Chairman: Yes, in this story we see the apotheosis of a great love, the feat of the Mother with a capital letter.
Mary Broedel – a writer: I want to remark that to my mind there was no big necessity to separate families from each other. They could live together as Negroes of Mr. Shelby did at the beginning of the novel. To sell the slaves one at a time was the whimsy of their owners, the desire to earn much money.
Natalia Hutchison – an investigator: Everything is OK, but don’t forget that slaves are the property of their masters. So they can manipulate them as they like. Sometimes masters simply don’t have money to pay for both a child and a mother. In such a way he buys the slave he needs. Such a thing happened on the auction with Emily and her mother when Legree bought the daughter while the other man hadn’t got the opportunity to buy them together. I agree that separation of the child from his mother is inhuman at core, but in the times of slavery it suited to be done.
Chairman: Today among our guests we have a senator Larry Atkinson (a politician from the state of Georgia). As we can notice the plot of the book and the stories described in it are closely connected with your state. Could you be so kind to comment this point?
Larry Atkinson – a politician: I would like to quote the leader of Kuklus Klan of that time: “What about these Negroes. They are not so proud and clever to be among us among the highest race - the white race. You can’t understand what evil we must let in our life to permit these wild animals to eat with us, to work with us, to educate with us”. The same words are being repeated even today by the leaders of the racial groups. As you see these organizations are the echoes of the past. It seems that in our time, the time of civilized people such organizations can’t disturb the basis of the society. But nevertheless it faces this problem and we can’t deny the fact that many people of our state discriminate black people. These organizations want to persuade people to kill the others for the purity of the nation. But government is against racial discrimination, against Kuklus Klan, against racial wars, because we are a country of freedom, of independence. And as a representative of law I’m a guaranty of keeping freedom.
Mary Broedel – a writer: In this connection let’s recall in our memory the episode, when Mrs. Berd the wife of the senator gave refuge to Eliza, despite the fact that the new law prohibited to shelter the fugitive Negroes of Kentucky. Her talk with Mr. Berd is rather exciting. Mary tries to persuade her husband that the new law is unfair. She is firm in her decision as she listens to the voice of her conscience. The senator wants to prove Mrs. Berd that the law is right from the side of common sense, but at last he agrees with his wife and helps Eliza and her baby. To my mind this little family argument touches the question of slave-owning as a whole, in its world scale. So my question to the senator is: “What is right, to listen to your heart or to fulfill your duty?”
Larry Atkinson – a politician: Without any doubt you must remain a human being, but not to turn into a beast.
Chairman: Let’s sum up our today’s panel discussion.
Natalia Hutchison – an investigator: Today we had a chance to discuss the problem of slavery in two novels: “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and “Gone with a Wind”. In spite of the fact that the authors’ point of view on the problem differ the idea and the time described are similar. We can see the fates of poor Negroes in both novels and it will be just to say that they greatly depend on the slave master. Today with good fortune we don’t face such problem but some questions of such kind disturb our minds. I think it is good that the problems of humanism are urgent in modern time, when people in many more cases try to stay indifferent to the others.
H.B.Stowe’s relative: At the end of our conversation I would like to underline the fact that both books had the intention to struggle the institution of slavery and to affect the minds, the hearts and the conscience of the compatriots. The novels were of great success and influenced the situation that had taken place at that time, the best way.
Simon Campbell – an activist: We can’t but mention the peculiarities of the essence of contemporary world and we can’t neglect our history. For example Aristotle was not against slavery and his theory of the society was based on the difference between slaves, people of low social layers and masters who owned those poor people. But later on this theory was applied in Germany when people named themselves the representatives of Aria race named after Aristotle, the higher privilege race which was able to discriminate other nations, even to kill people. Such way of living could exist then, long-long ago, but not nowadays in the epoch of equality of all people.
Chairman: So we have run out of time. That’s why I would like to proceed with the summary of our panel discussion. Possibly someone in this auditorium has changed his opinion, possibly someone has stayed with his own. In fact such a humanistic question doesn’t need to be voted upon, but it has been a tradition in our game to summarize a final decision on the topic discussed with making votes. Please raise hands those who are against slavery. (The pupils vote)
Thank you very much for attending our discussion and sharing your opinions with us.
Учитель подводит итог урока, выставляет оценки, объясняет домашнее задание.
Домашнее задание: написать эссе на тему “My Vision of the Problems of Race Discrimination Today”.
