CANTERBURY
DAY 1
⊳Discover Canterbury Cathedral
⊳Discover the Canterbury tales
1.
The Cathedral of Canterbury
The town of Canterbury grew in Roman times because of its position on one of the trade routes to London.
The Romans built a wall around the town in the 3rd century to defend it against attacks by Saxons The Romans brought Christianity to the area
in the 4th century, but paganism (a type of religion which worships many different gods) became established in the region after the Romans left.
In 597 Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine and 40 monks to England to try to convert the people to Christianity. St Augustine's Abbey
was founded in 598. Canterbury became the centre of the Church in England: the most important religious leader in England still has the title of
the Archbishop of Canterbury. Augustine created a cathedral in Canterbury. This burned down in 1067, but the Normans soon built a new one
on the same site.
Use your map to take a tour of the cathedral and answer the questions:
1. What's the ' Nave' in French? ……………………………….....................................................................................................................
2. Who was murdered in the ' Martyrdom' By whom?…………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. What was the Chapter House used for? ….................................................................................................................................................
4. What can you find in the Crypt? What type of architecture are the arches? …....................................................................................................
5. What type of architecture are the arches here? Which stories are told on the stained
windows?….......................................................................................................
Geoffrey Chaucer was a poet, a diplomat and a courtier. He lived from 1343 to 1400 and is buried at Westminster Abbey, in ‘Poet’s Corner’.
During this period in history, Canterbury was a destination for many pilgrims from all over the world. But why was Canterbury so important?
Discover the reason during your visit of the Cathedral of Canterbury.
Activity 1
There was a murder in the cathedral. You are a highly qualified detective. Find out who, how, when, where in the cathedral, who did it
and what became of the victim.
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2. The Canterbury Tales is recognized as one of the great works of English literature. It is one of the few works from the Middle Ages that has
been in continuous publication. An unfinished poem of about 17,000 lines, we understand that the plan had been for each of the pilgrims to tell
four tales, which would have resulted in over one hundred stories. In fact only twenty-four tales were completed. The story is about a group 29
pilgrims who are on their way from London to Canterbury.
1/ Who wrote The Canterbury Tales?: _____________________________________________
2/Why is it an important book? ___________________________________________________
3/What century was the book written?_____________________________________________
4/Was the book ever completed? __________________________________________________
5/ How many tales are told in the book? ______________________________________________
Activity 2 Experience the sights, sounds and smells of medieval life. Discover 3 of the 24 tales.
The Knight’s Tale The Knight tells a story of love, rivalry and chivalry set in ancient Greece.
In this tale, set in Ancient Greece, two cousins are taken prisoner by a Duke. From the window of their prison tower,
they see and both fall in love with the beautiful Emily in the gardens as she picks flowers. The two cousins become enemies,
one of them is released and banished but he returns to work for the Duke in disguise so that he can be near Emily.
The other cousin escapes. After drugging the guard, the two cousins meet in the woods and fight. The Duke, when he discovers the fight, tells
them to compete for Emily’s hand in a tournament. They do, but when one beats the other, the winner is struck down by the Gods and dies.He
tells Emily to love his cousin, who is the one who truly loves her. What would you have done to decide who was to marry Emily?
Answer………….………………………………………………………………………….
The Miller’s Tale The Miller tells a comic, vulgar tale
John, the old carpenter, is married to the young and pretty Alison. Nicholas also lives in the same house. Nicholas is in love with Alison. Also
in love with Alison, is Absalom, a clerk who plays the guitar. Both of Nicholas and Absalom want to be alone with Alison,the carpenter’s pretty
wife, but she prefers Nicholas. So, they plan to fool her husband into believing a flood is coming. They tell her husband that he must build some
barrels to escape the flood. While he sleeps, exhausted, Alison and Nicholas are in bed, when Absalom serenades Alison and asks for a kiss.
She puts out her bottom for him to kiss, thinking this is a great joke. Absalom asks again and Nicholas puts out his bottom but rather than kiss it,
Absalom pokes it with a red hot iron. Ouch!
How many barrels must John make? Answer………...………………………………………………
The Wife of Bath’s Tale Her tale is a fairy story, set in the time of King Arthur.
A knight is set a riddle (énigme) to save his life by Queen Guinevere of Camelot. ‘ What is it that a woman most desires?’
He travels the land, asking every woman he meets the answer.No one can agree.
His time is almost up when he comes across an ugly, poor old lady who says she has the answer if
he will grant her one favour. He agrees and takes her back to Camelot to answer the Queen’s riddle and receive his pardon.
What is the answer to the riddle?........…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Day 2
WINCHESTER
 Discover Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton
 Explore the city of Winchester
I/ Learn about famous Jane Austen’s characters.
Read this short passage from Pride and Prejudice. The scene takes place at a social event; a Ball.
Underline the characters present in this passage.
Words
Opposition:
*contrary to, whereas, however, on
the other hand, although
Calm and collected:
*composed, unruffled
*phlegmatic, detached, aloof
Companionship:
*friendship, partnership, affinity
Admiration:
*marvel at, praise, look up to
*astounded, mystified, baffled
Self-confidence:
*sure of one’s self, self-assured, cocky
Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance and easy,
unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-inlaw, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of
the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report which was in
general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The
gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much
handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the
evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was
discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large
estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance,
and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.
Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice
III/ Using the Words above, explain what seems to be the
difference between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy in this passage.
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II/ Fill in the following grid with the appropriate characters’ name.
Names can be used more than once.
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Name of character
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Description
a wealthy proud man.
married to a Bingley
has a big house in Derbyshire
at first admired by the ladies and the men
at the Ball
a man of gentle behavior
At the end, disliked by everyone
Visiting Jane Austen’s House in Chawton: Write about Jane Austen’s family: What was your favorite room? Explain.
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Interview a Museum worker: Write down your question and their answer.
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DAY 3
OXFORD
⊳ discover some of Oxford’s famous people
⊳ discover Christ Church College and the City of Oxford
Here are some of the famous people that once lived and studied in Oxford. Associate each picture with
his/her biography and name.
1…………………………………… 2……………………………….. 3…………………………………. 4……………………………………….
1. NAMES:
Margaret Thatcher
Lewis Carroll
Sir Christopher Wren
Oscar Wilde
2. BIOGRAPHIES (adapted from BBC co.UK)
A. ………………………………………… graduated with top honors in 1878 with a bachelor's degree in classical studies. He was born in Dublin
on 16 October 1854. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford. While at Oxford, and became involved in the
aesthetic movement. After he graduated, he moved to London to pursue a literary career. He wrote fairy stories and published a novel 'The
Picture of Dorian Gray' (1891). He married Constance Lloyd in 1884 and they had two sons, but in 1891 he began an affair with Lord Alfred
Douglas. He was arrested and tried for gross indecency. He was sentenced to two years of hard labour. He was released with his health
irrevocably damaged and his reputation ruined. He spent the rest of his life in Europe and died in Paris on 30 November 1900.
B. ...................................................... earned a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) in chemistry in 1947 and graduated with Second Class Honors at
Oxford University. She was born on 13 October 1925. First stood for Parliament in the 1950 election.Her father, a Methodist lay preacher and
local councillor, had an immense influence on her life and the policies she would adopt. She studied chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford,
and became only the third female president of the Oxford University Conservative Association. In 1951 she married a divorced businessman,
Denis Thatcher, and began studying for the Bar exams. She qualified as a barrister in 1953, the year in which her twins Mark and Carol were
born. She entered Downing St in 1979 with a mission to shrink the state and repair the country's finances and resigned after facing leadership
challenge in 1990.Few politicians have exercised such dominance during their term in office and few politicians have attracted such strength of
feeling, both for and against.
C. ……………………………………….. received a B.A. in mathematics with first-class honors in 1854. The pen name of Charles Lutwidge
Dodgson was born in 1832. Even as a young child he was writing short stories and poetry for a family magazine. He arrived at Oxford University
in 1850 to study Mathematics and it was while he was there that he chose his pseudonym ……………………………………………….
It was also here, during a rowing trip with the three young daughters of the Dean of Christ Church, that he shared his imaginary "Wonderland"
with the outside world. Having told the children about the adventures of his "little heroine", one of them, the sister called Alice, asked him to write
them down, finishing the manuscript on 10 February 1863. The book proved so enormously popular that he wrote a sequel, while he was
staying at the family home in Guildford, called "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There". In later life, he confounded popular
opinion, by denying Alice Liddell, the child who begged him to write the stories down, was ever the inspiration for the character "Alice" in his
books.
D. ................................................... was born on 20 October 1632 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, where his father was rector. His father later moved
to Windsor and he was educated at Westminster School and then Oxford University. He showed an early talent for mathematics and enjoyed
inventing things, including an instrument for writing in the dark and a pneumatic machine. In 1657, he was appointed professor of astronomy at
Gresham College in London and four years later, professor of astronomy at Oxford. In 1662, he was one of the founding members of the Royal
Society, along with other mathematicians, scientists and scholars, many of whom were his friends.His interest in architecture developed from his
study of physics and engineering. In 1664 and 1665, he was commissioned to design the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and a chapel for
Pembroke College, Cambridge and from then on, architecture was his main focus. He designed the new St Paul's Cathedral. In 1669, he was
appointed surveyor of the royal works which effectively gave him control of all government building in the country. He was knighted in 1673. He
died on 25 February 1723. His gravestone in St Paul's Cathedral features the Latin inscription which translates as: 'If you seek his memorial,
look about you.'
3. FIND MORE ABOUT FAMOUS CHARACTERS IN OXFORD
J.R.R. Tolkien
Rowan Atkinson
David Cameron
Hugh Grant
DAY 4
LONDON
⊳discover Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
⊳visit the Tate Modern
THE GLOBE THEATRE
Can you locate the Globe Theatre on the map?
Why was it built there?..................................................................................................................................................................
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, a market town in a farming area of the Midlands. Shakespeare
was baptised on 26th April 1564, but we don’t know his exact date of birth. From about 1590 to 1613, Shakespeare lived mainly
in London and by 1592 was a well-known actor there. He was also a playwright. And Shakespeare was a businessman too. He
was a sharer (part-owner) of a theatre company called The Lord Chamberlain’s Men.And from 1599, he was part-owner of the
Globe Theatre.
Listen to the guide and find out the answers to these questions:
1) What did Shakespeare call the Globe? …....................................................................................................................................
2) Each theatre had a flag. Why? …...............................................................................................................................................
3) What were wooden pegs used for?...........................................................................................................................................
4) Who went to the theatre? …......................................................................................................................................................
5) What's the English for the latin word ' proscaenium' ? …..........................................................................................................
Choose one of Shakespeare's famous character and present him or her in a few sentences:
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Day 5
ROCHESTER
⊳discover Victorian times
⊳learn about Charles Dickens
1. Read about Charles Dickens and then answer the quiz (the answers may not be in the short biography)
THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS
Charles Dickens (1812-70) is widely considered to be one of the greatest writers in the history of the English
language.
His novels provide a vivid description of life in nineteenth-century England, full of memorable characters. Many
of the people in his books have exaggerated characteristics, often being either extremely benevolent or
extremely unpleasant, and some of his most famous works are ‘morality tales’ in which good people end up
being rewarded and bad people punished.
Another feature of Dickens’ work is his social conscience, particularly his awareness of the poverty and bad
working conditions suffered by the urban working-class population of nineteenth-century England. At a time
when Britain was the world’s richest and most powerful country, he focused on the people who didn’t seem to
be receiving any of the benefits.
This sympathy came from personal experience, as at the age of twelve he had to support his family by working
ten hours a day in a filthy London factory, sticking labels on jars of polish. During this period his parents and
brothers and sisters were in a special prison for debtors, because his father had spent too much money.
In his twenties Dickens started a career as a political journalist, and his special talent for storytelling soon
became obvious. In his spare time he started to do other kinds of writing, including his first novel, The Pickwick
Papers, which became a great success as soon as it was published in 1836-7.
Over the next twenty-five years he wrote masterpieces such as David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A
Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist. Oliver Twist is the story of a kind-hearted young orphan who gets tricked
into joining a gang of pickpockets on the streets of London before eventually being rescued from his life of
crime. In the 1960s it was made into a much-loved musical, first for the theatre and then later as a film.
1.
Dickens is known as a Victorian novelist. But who was on the throne when he was born?
2.
At the age of 12, Dickens was sent out to work because of his father's bankruptcy. Where did he work? ?
3.
What was his first job after leaving school in 1827?
4.
How many children did Dickens and his wife have?
5.
In later years, Dickens wrote in a chalet in his garden in Rochester. Which country did the chalet come from?
Visit The Dickens World Tour
Listen carefully what will be said during the visit and answer :
1) Which period is represented here? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2) Who’s Collard? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3) Give the names of two London prisons.
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4) In which novel is the schoolroom mentioned?
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5) Which rule is written on the wall?
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6) What’s a pawnbroker?
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7) Where did C. Dickens start his first job?
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8) Why did he have to work?
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9) Which countries did he visit in 1842? 1846? 1853?
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RECAP WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT DURING THIS TRIP
A. Relate your discoveries to the 4 notions studied in class. Answer in about 40 words each.
Day 1 Canterbury (notion Space and Exchanges)
Choose one of the tales to illustrate the notion Space and Exchanges.
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Day 2 Winchester (notion The idea of Progress)
How did Jane Austen’s description of women help change mentalities?
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Day 3 Oxford (notion Places and forms of Power)
To what extent can studying at Oxford University be a way to power?
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Day 4 London and day 5 Rochester (notion Myths and Heroes)
Would you say that William Shakespeare (16th century) and Charles Dickens (19th century) are mythical figures?
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Which day did you prefer and why?
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A
few photographs
Our Dickens guide in Rochester
group photo in front of Buckingham Palace
a few pupils in front of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
Waiting for Mister Dionne at Canterbury’s Cathedral shop
our guide at Christ Church College in Oxford
Playing Jane Austen’s times
from left to right : Mr Trad , Mrs Benard-Poy , Mrs Do Marcolino, Mr Dionne
Check what you know about London!
Un quiz sur Londres pour nos élèves et professeurs du lycée Flaubert
1. Traditionally what color are most London cabs?
2. In which park is Speaker's Corner?
3. On what street are many government buildings?
4. By what other name are the Yeomen of the Guard, or Queen's Bodyguards, who can be seen at the Tower of
London, known?
5. Selfridges department store is located on one of London's main shopping streets. What is it called?
6. Which 3 airports serve London?
7. When was the 'Great Fire of London’?
8. What would you see if you visited Madam Tussauds?
9. A replica of the theatre where Shakespeare's plays were performed has recently been built. What is the
name of this theatre?
10. By what name is statue is in the middle of Piccadilly Circus known?