Benvinguts al Vostre Blog

Hem pensat que era hora d’unir-nos tots els que ens dediquem a ensenyar ANGLÉS professionalment. L’objectiu és que puguem intercanviar experiències i materials i formar-nos. Volem convertir-nos en un punt de trobada dels professionals de l’anglés i organitzar jornades, xarrades i seminaris. Volem ser la veu dels professionals de l'anglés i col·laborar amb tots els relacionats amb l'anglés i amb l'administració educativa i que se’ns tinga en compte com a interlocutors a l'hora de prendre decisions.

An association to unite us all who teach English professionally has been created. The aim is to share experiences, exchange materials and encourage further training with conferences, lectures and debates and ultimately become the voice of teachers of English and liaise with all those involved and especially with our educational authority.

Wednesday 10 December 2014

APAVAC READING CLUB LATEST : The Elephant

Hiya All!

The Elephant by Slawomir Mrozek.
​​

In the world as we know it, where freedom of expression is taken for granted, used and abused, it's difficult to imagine a world where censorship once existed. A world where you looked over your shoulder constantly, where walls had ears. Where, if you were sufficiently outspoken, you obliged yourself to go into exile! It was into such a world that Slawomir Mrozek was born and later fled from, only to return after the fall of the communism he so ridiculed.

Better known as a playwright Mrozek, in The Elephant, demonstrates that he also excels in the genre of the short story. His use of sharp satire to critise the totalitarian practices of the time, is without bitterness. He writes with a certain detachment, almost as an observer, a bystander watching scenes and describing them. A third-person omniscient narrator.

Yet, there is one extreme aspect or other of this regime ridiculed in each of his tales. The over ambitious official in The Elephant wants his zoo to have more than just rabbits. However, he also wants to show the "powers that be" that a "rubber elephant" could be "cheaper". The importance of status, both military and political surfaces incessantly.
​​
 Why should you make do with a canary when, by virtue of who you are, in this case an influential lawyer, you could have
​ a​
 " tamed  progressive
​" ​
who sang? He recurrently personifies animals, the cautious lion, the giraffe whose existance is in question, the alcoholic swan, the horses. 

I, personally, enjoyed figuring out the issues behind Mrozek's little stories with all kinds of images forming in my mind's eye. I do have to admit though, that from time to time, I couldn't help wondering if I'd have enjoyed it in the quite same way, if I were to have lived through an era such as the one he writes about!

Well...For our next book we meet on the 16th of January 2015. It's " English Beauty" by Bob Yareham. It's a special session, we have Bob Yareham attending! How often is a reading group lucky enough to get to chat with the author himself about his book???

English Beauty will be followed by Buckingham Palace District Six by Richard Rive and Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Have a lovely Christmas and may the New Year bring you and your families health and much happiness!
Take care
Michelle Ann Prabhu

No comments:

Post a Comment

You are welcome to give your opinion here

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.