Module 3 Love in a Strange Place Mrs. Ria Christine N. Egenias Subject Teacher
Answer the following questions O What do you think of the concept of
love at first sight?
O Was there ever a time when you got
attracted to someone at the first meeting? Describe how you felt at that time.
SILK By Alessandro Baricco
About the author and his work O A popular Italian director, performer and O O O
O
writer of the 1996 novel, Silk (Seta) The book has 65 chapters It was translated into English by Guido Waldman in 1997 A new English translation by Ann Goldstein was published in 2006 Another example of an EXCERPT for classroom discussion
Background Knowledge O There was a time when Japan was cleared
off from the world which lasted for 200 years (17th Century to the year 1854) O This policy was called SAKOKU (isolation) O Reasons for the policy: mistrusted foreign traders and suspicious of Christian missionaries
Background Knowledge O Commodore Matthew Perry forced Japan to
open their shores to foreign trade and diplomacy in 1854 O SILK became one of most important exports of the nation after the policy of isolationism in 1854 was dropped; O Demand for Japanese silk surged after European silkworm stocks were ravaged by disease and Chinese silk exports were crimped by political instability in China O The story takes place in Japan when they had just opened the country to foreigners
Japanese Tea Cups
Japanese Silk
Silkworm and silkworm eggs
Samurai
Japanese women in traditional dress
Japanese house with rice-paper panel
Bow in Japanese
Characters
Herve Joncour O is a French adventurer who travels the world buying silkworm eggs and travelled as far as Japan O In the excerpt, he was trying to buy eggs from Hara Kei O He fell in love with the concubine of Hara Kei Details not found in the excerpt: 1. the son of the mayor of Lavilledieu 2. has a wife, Helene 3. He travels four months out of the year trading for silkworm eggs and rests during the rest of it.
Characters
Hara Kei O the host who is a French speaking nobleman O Japanese silkworm egg trader O beside him was a woman lying and her head resting on his lap The Girl / Woman O the concubine of Hara Kei O her eyes did not have an Oriental shape
Plot O a verbal conversation between Herve and
Hara. O a non-verbal conversation between Herve
and the concubine of Hara Kei
Guide Questions O 1. What does the protagonist feel? Why does he feel this way?
O O O
O O O
What specific parts in the text tell you this? 2. What does the girl feel? Why do you think so? 3. What do you think are the characters experiencing? Is it love or lust? Explain. 4. There seems to be a different conversation between Herve and the girl, and yet not a word is spoken. How are they able to communicate with each other? 5. Why does not Hara Kei know what is going on? 6. What does the cup symbolize? 7. What is the significance of the glance between Herve and the girl?
Activity With your group, discuss what are the non verbal ways to show that you love someone. Present ways you think people can show romantic love even without saying I love you. Be ready to present through a song, dance number, and a dramatization of what you have listed and discuss to the class whether the group believes that when it comes to love, words are important than actions, or is it the other way around?
Rubric for the Presentation Criteria
Points
Content
10
Creativity
10
Impact of the Language / Dialogue used
10
Total
30
Example
Reflect on the following questions. Write your answers in a ½ crosswise. O 1. Is it possible to fall in love with someone
even if you do not share a common language or culture? O 2. What are the complications involved and what obstacles can you predict in the relationship O 3. What do you think of romantic relationships between people from different countries? Do you think they are doomed to fail? Explain.
Assignment O Find out about body language and their meanings across cultures. With your group create a PowerPoint presentation showing how different cultures show politeness, greetings, love etc. Also, include a presentation on how there would be misunderstandings between cultures. The following are the suggested cultures that you may research on: 1. French Culture 2. American Culture 3. Arabian Culture