“A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” by Mark Twain

Scuola Secondaria di 1° Grado Vittorio Emanuele Orlando

A. S. 2017/2018

POTENZIAMENTO DI INGLESE

Tutti gli alunni hanno partecipato al progetto di potenziamento di inglese “Reading is Fun”, che quest’anno li ha visti coinvolti nella lettura graduata in lingua inglese del classico: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (Un Americano alla Corte di Re Artù) di Mark Twain al fine di potenziare le abilità di lettura (comprende il contenuto di una lettura graduata in inglese)  e  parlato (sa leggere ad alta voce una lettura graduata con pronuncia comprensibile).

Immagine di pag. 2: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Simona Panzìca – 1G

Il testo utilizzato è stato: “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” by Mark Twain, retold and with activities by Jane Bowie, illustrated by Margherita Micheli, ELI Readers, 2012, Stage 1 Movers.

The Story

Hank Morgan is the boss of a factory in late 19th century in Connecticut. One day, while he is working, he has an accident, hits his head and wakes up in the year 513, in King Arthur’s Court. There he saves himself from death thanks to a solar eclipse and makes a friend, Clarence. Clarence is a page. Hank becomes the king’s prime minister. People call him The Boss. Merlin is his enemy. One day he goes on a journey with Sandy to save some ladies: the ladies are really pigs. He meets the cruel Morgan Le Fay and saves her prisoners. His second journey is with the king. They meet a poor woman who dies of smallpox and then stay with a couple. But there is an argument and the escape. A noble rescues them but sells them as slaves. The police almost shoot Hank and the king, but Sir Launcelot saves them. Many years later Hank marries Sandy and tries to start a revolution. He wins. He returns to his original world and dies.

La Storia

Hank Morgan è il padrone di una fabbrica nel tardo 19° secolo nel Connecticut. Un giorno, mentre lavora, ha un incidente, batte la testa e si risveglia nell’anno 513, alla Corte di Re Artù. Lì scampa alla morte grazie ad un’eclissi solare e fa amicizia con Clarence. Clarence è un paggio. Hank diventa primo ministro del re. la gente lo chiama The Boss. Merlino è suo nemico. Un giorno intraprende un viaggio con Sandy per salvare delle dame: le signore in realtà sono maiali. Incontra la crudele Fata Morgana e salva i suoi prigionieri. Il su secondo viaggio è con il re. Incontrano una povera donna che muore di vaiolo e trovano alloggio presso una coppia. Ma in seguito ad una discussione scappano. Un nobile li salva, ma li vende come schiavi. la polizia per poco non spara ad entrambi, ma Lancillotto li salva. Molti anni dopo Hank sposa Sandy and prova ad iniziare una rivoluzione. Vince. Torna nel suo mondo d’origine e muore.

Chapter 1

King Arthur’s Court

“I woke up under a tree and saw a strange man in armour on a horse“.

Carlotta Aiello – 1G

” Then go and tell the king that if he burns me the world will end in darkness. I’ll end light and warmth. Everyone will die. I knew from my studies that on 21st of June 513 there was a total solar eclipse. That was my magic: to make the sun disappear.”

Riccardo Amato  – 1G

“Then Alisande climbed onto the horse behind me.

She had to show me the way to the castle.

We started out and everyone waved goodbye to us”.

Sofia Amato – 1G

Chapter 2

Freemen

” We were immediately in the countryside.

It was lovely and pleasant, very green, there were a lot of trees, fields and rivers”.

Rita Merendino – 1G

“Sandy shouted: “Defend yourself! Danger!”.

Six armed knights were in the shade of a tree”.

Alessandra La Vardera – 1G

“Outside the castle I met one of my knights.

He was my soap missionary.

He went about selling soap because I wanted a cleaner country”.

Wyrd Arancio – 1G

“Morgan Le Fay had a terrible reputation, but at first she seemed very kind.

She invited us to have dinner. Then a page touched her and she stabbed him“.

Federica Pirrone – 1G

“We had another chance meeting, with the old man who had watched the funerals from Morgan’s prison.

He was with his whole family now”.

Mattia Camarda – 1G

“Sandy embraces the pigs, believing they are princesses.”

Wyrd Arancio – 1G

“He was my stove pipe hat missionary:

he wore armour with a hat instead of a helmet“.

Mattia Camarda – 1G

Chapter 3

The Holy Fountain

Giulia Daidone – 1L

“Merlin was there now,

he was trying to make the water come back with magic.”

Alessandro Schillaci – 1L

“I asked to see the well.

I made an inspection and realized that the well probably had a leak“.

Alessandra La Verdera – 1G

“When I returned to the monastery,

I had a terrible surprise:

a new giant magician!”

Riccardo Amato 1G

“I helped the king to dress himself as a peasant,

ready for our journey to his kingdom.

I cut his hair short.

I cut his hair like a peasant and gave him a long simple tunic“.

Riccardo Cappello – 1L

Chapter 4

The Yankee and the King

“The woman told us her story.

They were prosecuted by the lord and the church.

Then they got smallpox.

At midnight they were all dead“.

Samuele Di Maio – 1L

“A young girl of eighteen was sitting on a coffin in a cart.

She had a baby.”

Federica Pirrone – 1G

Chapter 5

War!

“I had a plan to escape.

Immediately things went wrong.

I couldn’t get the king’s chains off!”

Federica Pirrone 1G

“Suddenly a grand sight! five hundred knights in armour – on bicycles!

 Sir Launcelot and the knights saved the king.”

Giammarco Bua & Silvia Enea – 1L

“We started the fight.

Sir Sagramor was in full armour but I was wearing light clothes“.

Abines Ajithkumar 1 1L

” I shot him with a gun.”

Alessandro Silvia – 1L

“Postscript by Clarence

The Boss made a mistake.

He went to offer help to some injured knights but one of hem recognized him and stabbed him.

Merlin did some terrible magic and now The Boss is sleeping.

He will never awake again”.

Amedeo Nicotra – 1L

“Postscript by Mark Twain

At dawn I stopped reading.

I went to the stranger’s room and knocked on the door.

He was delirious.

He spoke.”

Eleonoramaria Scarpa – 1L

“Sandy, is that you?

At last now I can go back to you and our daughter!

It was terrible without you!

I am in the wrong century.

A trumpet!

It is the King! …

He never finished his sentence”.

Silvia Filizzola – 1L

Il progetto è stato realizzato nelle classi 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1F, 1G, 1H 1I, 1L.

Hanno svolto le attività in compresenza con la professoressa di inglese G. Cordovana le professoresse di inglese:

– D. Amato (1C – 1G),

– G. Azzimonti (1H, – 1I)

– A. Cucchara (1D – 1F)

– V. Guarnotta (1A)

– D. Piazza (1B – 1L)

Immagine di copertina di Sofia Amato – 1G