IMPARA LE LINGUE CON I FILM AL CLA

UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA - CENTRO LINGUISTICO DI ATENEO
IMPARA LE LINGUE CON I FILM AL CLA
Vedere film in lingua straniera è un modo utile e divertente per
imparare o perfezionare una lingua straniera.
La scheda didattica ti propone delle attività da svolgere prima, durante o
dopo la visione del film. Qui sotto sono specificati la lingua e il livello a cui
si rivolgono le attività contenute nella scheda.
TITOLO
DEL
FILM
IN
LINGUA
ORIGINALE:
An Ideal
Husband
TITOLO DEL FILM IN ITALIANO: Un Marito Ideale
LINGUA: inglese
LIVELLO: C1 (avanzato)
LEGENDA DEI SIMBOLI:
= attività che richiede l’uso di carta e penna
= attività con domande a risposta chiusa
= attività con domande a risposta aperta senza
correzione
= attività che richiede un collegamento ad Internet
= consigli per la visione del film e per le attività didattiche
SCHEDA DIDATTICA SUL FILM: An Ideal Husband
ATTIVITÀ PER IL LIVELLO: C1 (avanzato)
ATTIVITÀ PRIMA DELLA VISIONE DEL FILM
Esercizio 1: What do you know about Britain at the end of the 19th
century. Answer these questions:
1. The film An Ideal Husband is an adaptation of a 19th century play of the same name.
Who wrote it?
a. Oscar Wilde
b. Charles Dickens
c. Jane Austin
2. The film is set in London in 1895. Who was the reigning monarch?
a. King William IV
b. King Edward VII
c. Queen Victoria
3. One of the film’s central themes is politics (and corruption) in turn-of-the-century
England. But who could actually vote in England in 1895?
a. Only men who owned property, and no women
b. Most men over 21, and no women.
c. All men over 21 and women over 30 with property
4. When you watch the film, you will see a scene in which Lady Markby, Mrs Chevely and
Mrs Chiltern talk about higher education for women. What were women’s educational
possibilities in 1895 in Britain?
a. They were able to attend university but not receive a degree
b. They were able to receive a degree from university
c. Only upper-class women were able to attend university
Esercizio 2: An Ideal Husband satirizes upper-class society at the turn of the
20th century and its social rituals. Complete this description of upper-class life
with the words from the box to find out about some of the customs you will see
represented in the film.
match
recreated
balls
cementing
circumstances
estates
social
parliamentary
exhibition
titles
guardian
The events of the story take place during “The Season” in London. This was a period
from May to July when upper-class families with __________ in the country would move
to a townhouse in the city. The main purpose of the season was __________: people
went shopping, attended cultural and sporting events and had parties. One of the most
important cultural events was the opening of the __________ at the Royal Academy of
Arts. One strange form of entertainment during this period was the ‘tableau vivant’, in
which a group of people __________ a painting, standing perfectly still. The parties and
__________ which took place were designed to introduce young men and women to
each other who were considered a good __________. A man would usually propose
directly to the woman who he was interested in, but then had to speak to her father or
__________ to obtain final permission for their marriage. During the season, while many
society men were involved in __________ business in the House of Lords, their wives
occupied themselves by ‘paying calls’ on other women. These were rather formal social
visits which usually lasted only 15 to 30 minutes, and, rather than being about real
friendship, were more about extending and __________ contacts in upper-class society.
A lady could not, however, pay a call on a gentleman under any __________, which
would be considered very scandalous. Relationships between people were in general
formal: generally __________ and family names were always used, or, for young
women, if the first name was used it would be preceeded by ‘Miss’.
Watch the film in English without the Italian subtitles. To switch off the
subtitles, use the subtitles button on the remote control of your DVD player.
Or, if you are watching the film on a computer, when the film has begun,
click on the audio menu at the top of the screen and go to traccia audio >
traccia 1 (English)
ATTIVITÀ DURANTE LA VISIONE DEL FILM
Esercizio 1: Read through the scenes from the film (in order) and the
quotes. Can you guess which quote goes with which scene. As you watch the
film, listen out for these quotes to check.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Arthur Goring gets dressed for the Chilterns’ party with his butler
Laura Chevely tries to convince Robert Chiltern to support the Argentine Canal Scheme
Arthur Goring talks to Gertrude at the Chilterns’ party
Arthur and Robert talk together in the sauna
Laura Chevely talks to Arthur at Claridges Hotel
Robert has a flashback to his dealings with Baron Arnheim
Robert makes his speech in Parliament
Arthur gives Gertrude Robert’s letter
a.
- It has a certain ring, don't you agree? We were quite well suited I remember.
- Well, you were poor, I was rich. It must have suited you very well. Until you met the
Baron, of course, who was richer, and that suited you much better.
b.
- I didn't think you liked political parties.
- I adore political parties. They're the only place left to us where people don't talk
politics.
c.
There's a rather popular saying about frying pans and fires. Only this time it is you and I
who are to be roasted.
d.
You are a man of the world and you have your price I suppose. Everybody has
nowadays.
e.
Fashion is what one wears oneself. What is unfashionable is what other people wear.
Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself. To love oneself is
the beginning of a lifelong romance.
f.
- What's that saying about the sea and there being plenty of fish in it?
- Mmm, yes, but I couldn't possibly marry a fish. I'd be sure to land an old trout.
g.
Information is the modern commodity that can shake the world. And I happen to know
it's well within your grasp.
h.
As we stand at the end of this most eventful century, it seems that we do, after all,have
a genuine opportunity, one honest chance to shed our sometimes imperfect past, to start
again, to step unshackled into the next century and to look our future squarely and
proudly in the face.
Esercizio 2: During the film, the characters go to the theatre (at 21 mins).
They watch another famous play written by the original author of An Ideal
Husband. You will hear the title of that play. Write it here:
_______________________________________________________________________
ATTIVITÀ DOPO LA VISIONE DEL FILM
Esercizio 1: Look again at the above quotes and answer these questions (they
refer to the quotes in order). For some of them you may need to use a
Learner’s Dictionary. You can find a free one online at:
http://www.oup.com/elt/catalogue/teachersites/oald7/?cc=global
(The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
1. Arthur uses the pronouns ‘one’ and ‘oneself’ instead of ‘you’ and ‘yourself’. Why?
2. What adjective means ‘lasting all of your life’?
3. A man of the world means:
a. A man who has travelled a lot and is comfortable with various people
b. A man who has a lot of experience of life and is not shocked easily
4. What word means ‘remaining’?
5. What does the proverb ‘there are plenty more fish in the sea’ mean?
6. What is ‘an old trout’ in this context?
7. What does ‘it has a ring’ mean?
8. Which verb can you use to say that something is true ‘by chance’?
9. What does ‘within your grasp’ mean?
10. What does the phrase ‘to look something in the face’ mean?
11. What does the proverb ‘out of the frying pan and into the fire’ mean?
Esercizio 2: Conditionals, hypothetical situations and other ‘if’ sentences used
in the film.
1. In these sentences (in bold), part of the ‘full’ conditional structure is missing. Which
conditional are they: 1st, 2nd or 3rd?
a.
Mabel: If you knew anything about anything, which you don't, you'd know that I
absolutely adore you.
Arthur: Well, why didn't you mention it before?
Mabel: Because, dear boy, you never would've believed me. ……………………
b.
Lady Markby: if I had a jewel for every staring eye! ………………
Laura Chevely: I'm glad to say, Lady Markby, you evidently do!
c.
Lady Markby: With regard to women, dear Gertrude, modern women understand
everything.
Laura Chevely: Except their husbands. That is the one thing the modern woman never
understands.
Lady Markby: A very good thing too, dear, I dare say. It might break up many a happy
home if they did. ……………
2. Which conditional is this sentence?
Robert Chiltern: If I were to tell her, Arthur, I would lose the love of the one woman I
worship. ……………
What structure is used instead of the past simple? ……………
3. Look at the following 2 quotes. Which 2 words can be used to introduce a hypothetical
situation? ………………………… …………………………
Quote a
Arthur Goring: Supposing a public figure, any public figure, my father or Robert even,
had, years ago, written some foolish letter to someone…
Quote b
Laura Chevely: Suppose I were to pay a visit to a newspaper office and give them this
scandal and the proof of it.
Which partial conditional structure (1st, 2nd or 3rd) do each of the 2 sentences above
correspond to?
quote a. ……………
quote b. ……………
4. The following 2 quotes use ‘if’, but they are not conditionals (note the verb
structures). What is their function?
a. giving an order
b. asking for help
c. asking permission
d. making a request
Robert Chiltern: If you will allow me, I will call your carriage for you.
Gertrude Chiltern: You don't mind, do you, if Arthur escorts you in my place?
Mabel Chiltern: As long as he promises not to be too serious.
In the second quote, which phrase is used with the meaning of ‘if’ to introduce a strong
condition? ………………
5. What does ‘should’ mean in the following quotes. It has a different function in each
one:
Laura Chevely: Should you wish to avoid me entirely, it is well to know that I’ll be
staying at Claridges Hotel until Friday. ……………………
Arthur Goring: My dear father, if we men married the women we deserved, we should
have a very bad time of it. ……………………
SOLUZIONI
PRIMA DELLA VISIONE DEL FILM
Esercizio 1: 1a; 2c; 3b; 4a.
Esercizio 2: The events of the story take place during “The Season” in London. This
was a period from May to July when upper-class families with estates in the country
would move to a townhouse in the city. The main purpose of the season was social:
people went shopping, attended cultural and sporting events and had parties. One of the
most important cultural events was the opening of the exhibition at the Royal Academy
of Arts. One strange form of entertainment during this period was the ‘tabeau vivant’, in
which a group of people recreated a painting, standing perfectly still. The parties and
balls which took place were designed to introduce young men and women to each other
who were considered a good match. A man would usually propose directly to the woman
who he was interested in, but then had to speak to her father or guardian to obtain final
permission for their marriage. During the season, while many society men were involved
in parliamentary business in the House of Lords, their wives occupied themselves by
‘paying calls’ on other women. These were rather formal social visits which usually lasted
only 15 to 30 minutes, and, rather than being about real friendship, were more about
extending and cementing contacts in upper-class society. A lady could not, however,
pay a call on a gentleman under any circumstances, which would be considered very
scandalous. Relationships between people were in general formal: generally titles and
family names were always used, or, for young women, if the first name was used it
would be preceeded by ‘Miss’.
DURANTE LA VISIONE DEL FILM
Esercizio 1: 1e; 2d; 3b; 4f; 5a; 6g; 7h; 8c.
Esercizio 2
The Oscar Wilde play which the characters go to see at the theatre is The Importance of
Being Earnest.
DOPO LA VISIONE DEL FILM
Esercizio 1:
1. The pronoun ‘one’ is more formal and therefore more likely to be used in Arthur’s
upper-class speech.
2. lifelong
3. b
4. left
5. used for telling someone whose boyfriend or girlfriend has left them that they will soon
have another relationship.
6. an ugly old woman.
7. it sounds good.
8. happen + to + infinitive
9. able to achieve something
10. look directly at a person or situation without fear or shame.
11. used for saying that someone who was in a bad situation is now in a worse situation
Esercizio 2:
1. 3rd; 2nd; 2nd
2. 2nd. Were to + infinitive
3. supposing; suppose
quote a: 3rd
quote b: 2nd
4. c; as long as
5. if; would