COMMENTAIRE DIRIGE

COMMENTAIRE DIRIGE

Texte VICTORY ? by Geoffrey DUTTON

1 THE TITLE

Underline the important element, then try and analyze its meaning thanks to

YP 2 PRESENTATION CLUES 16 ANTICIPATING

Voc : a question mark (?) / To question : to express or feel doubt about sthg / to influence sbdy into doing sthg : to arrange things in such a way as to persuade sbdy to share your viewpoint.

...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................………………………………………...

2 TECHNIQUE. (down to motionless in the air )

Try to visualize what is being described then say which phrase conveys an impression of

a) downward view ..................................................................................................................…………….

b) upward view.......................................................................................................................……………..

Who is looking down in a) ..........................................................................................................…………………..

up in b) ...............................................................................................................…………………

Using the vocabulary below, make a statement about the reader's point of view.

YP 23 AUTHOR'S INTENTIONS

Voc : to adopt a point of view / the scene is seen through ......'s eyes

3 IMPRESSIONS

Lines 2/6 : pick out all the adjectives related to the eagle's flight

Lines 2/6 : read the definitions below then tick the most relevant to the passage you've just been reading.

* ubiquity : the quality of being everywhere at the same time.

* haughtiness : arrogant, snobbish attitude.

* aloofness : reserved, indifferent attitude.

Write a statement about the impressions and the words they are conveyed by in that passage using

YP 22 FURTHER IMPRESSIONS.

4 SYMBOLS

Think of five words pertaining to the domain geometric figures, then interpret the author's intentions.

YP 23 AUTHOR'S INTENTIONS 33 ANALYZING SYMBOLS.

Voc : domain of time.

5 TENSES

Tenses throughout the text. Pick out phrases exemplifying the following values

Prediction		Present stocktaking (bilan dans le présent)
Chararcteristic behavior of the subject in past circumstances (caractéristiques du sujet)		Rendering of past circumstances (évocation de circonstances passées)
Focus on gap present/past (contraste passé/present)		Hypothesis
Retrospective stocktaking (bilan rétrospectif)

6 IRONY . It is exhibited in the organization or structure of either language or literary material. It indirectly presents a contradiction between an action or expression and the context in which it occurs.

From “ When an AF station ….. engine”. There are several self-contradicting elements in this paragraph. Find out which ones and fill in the grid.

	1941
	*Australia*	*Europe*
*Pilots?*	…………………………………………	…………………………………………
*Activities ?*	…………………………………………	…………………………………………
*Planes ?*	…………………………………………	…………………………………………
*Intruders ?*	…………………………………………	…………………………………………
*Eagle symbol ?*	…………………………………………	…………………………………………

From “ The delay … its engine” ? Which words are associated with the eagle and which to the planes ?

THE EAGLE THE PLANE

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.......................................... ..........................................

Read the lines aloud and study the rhythm of the sentence. Here are some key words :

* alliteration : repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of a word or of a stressed syllable.

* assonance : rhyme in which the same vowel sounds are used with different consonants

RECAP . Write a paragraph about what is ironic in the passage using

YP 13 CONTRASTING 15 QUOTING 22 FURTHER IMPRESSIONS 23 AUTHOR'S IMPRESSIONS 31 FROM APPEARANCE TO REALITY.

7 VICTORY ?

From “ Not a mark … to earth”.

a) Pick out two contradicting words related to the death of the eagle 1.......................... 2.......................

b) Tick the world relevant to the passage

*awe : an overwhelming feeling of reverence, of admiration, fear or wonder produced by that which is grand, sublime or extremely powerful. One can be awe-struck by what is awe-inspiring.

*foreboding : a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune . To have a ~ that.....

*predicament : an unpleasantly difficult, perplexing or dangerous situation.

c) Write a short paragraph about the two men's feelings using

YP 15 QUOTING 31/7 FROM APPEARANCE TO REALITY 32 PARADOX.

8 FEELINGS

List as many words as possible pertaining to the domain guilt / remorse then use them to write a few lines about the two men's frame of mind using

YP 47 WISHING / REGRETTING

9 THE BURIAL

Study the symbolic value of the two pilots' act. Pick out useful words or expressions below :

* to redeem oneself : to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

* to condone : to give tacit approval to, to pardon or forgive an offense.

Now write a short paragraph about the symbolic value of the burial using

YP 25/1 SO THAT/SO AS TO 33 ANALYZING SYMBOLS.

Draw the position of the eagle in its grave. Does it ring a bell?

10 ALLUSIONS.

The end. Peruse this :

* Narcissus : a youth who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool; after his death, he was transformed into the narcissus flower.

* Icarus : a youth of Greek myth, the son of Daedalus who attempting to escape from Crete with his father on wings of wax flew so close to the sun that his wings melted and he plunged to his death.

* The Phoenix : a fabulous bird that after a life of five or six centuries immolates himself on a pyre and rises from the ashes to begin a new cycle of years.

Select the one myth relevant to the end of the text, then study the author's intentions and conclude.

YP 5 ALLUDING 23 AUTHOR'S INTENTIONS 34 CONCLUDING.

Voc : domain : ghosts.

When you’re done, send it to via e-mail

GO!

Hypothesis