I.Warming up

Retell the story from van Rensburg’s point of view.

II. Background

Author: Alan Paton (1903-1988)

1.His life:

A science teacher in high school.

Principal of a reform school.

Drawn into the political arena, first president of the Liberal Party of South Africa.

2.His Works

First novel: Cry, the Beloved Country (1948), a success, leading him to become a professional writer.

Second novel: Too Late the Phalarope (1953).

The present story is selected from Tales from a Troubled Land (1961, a collection of his short stories).

3.His Achievements

An important South African novelist and political activist.

Received numerous awards and honorary degrees, accepted as an authoritative and objective interpreter of South Africa.

Cry, the Beloved Country has become an international classic.

Setting

History: A Brief History of South Africa

Local people: Bantu-speaking tribes.

European settlers (1652): the Dutch, known as Boers or Afrikaners, speaking Afrikaans.

British settlers (1820): discovery of gold and diamond → the Anglo-Boer wars.

Victory of the British → the establishment of the Union of South Africa (1910), dominated by the British.

The Afrikaners National Party gained majority in the government (1940s) → implemented Apartheid.

In 1961, the Afrikaners gained final victory → founded the Republic of South Africa, withdrawing from the Common Wealth.

Toward the end of the1980s, De Klerk’s reform, lifting the ban on ANC, releasing Nelson Mandela.15

In 1994, Mandela was elected President → Apartheid came to an end.

III. Text analysis

Theme

Questions for thinking:

(1)Why a drink?

(2)Why in the passage?

(3)What does that show?

(4)Why couldn’t they touch each other?

Structure

Detailed Analysis

Part I: Discussion

1.What made Simelane’s sculpture such a great success? What’s about it that appealed not only to the blacks but to the whites as well?

2.How come such an important honor was given to a black sculptor in a country notorious for racial prejudice? How was the decision received? What does this incident reveal about the situation in the 1960s in South African society? Pick up clues provided in the story.

3.What would have happened if Simelane had attended the ceremony personally? How was the crisis averted? He said, “boys, I’m a sculptor, not a demonstrator.” Does that mean that he was too coward or unconscious of the plight of the blacks under the apartheid policies?

4.What do you think is the relationship between the narrator and Simelane? Describe the occasion when Simelane related the story to the narrator. Why did he say that it was the first time he had had such a glass? What was so special about the glass? Why did he say that it was also the first time he had drunk cognac so slowly?

Part II (A): Discussion

1.How did the bookshop exhibit Simelane’s sculpture? How do you understand his words “with a white velvet backdrop, if there is anything called white velvet…”?

2.Why do you think van Rensburg would like to invite Simelane for a drink?

3.Was Simelane happy about the invitation? Why? What made him accept the invitation?

4.Why did they have all the discussion about language? Why didn’t they speak Afrikaans in the first place?

5.Simelane said, “We didn’t exactly walk abreast, but he didn’t exactly walk in front of me.” Is there anything that he wanted to convey by describing how they walked?

6.Why was van Rengsburg interested in Simelane’s educational background? Did Simelane tell him the truth? Why did he say that he was a fool to leave the question open?

7.Was Simelane disappointed to find that van Rensburg’s building was not one of those luxurious places? Describe how each of them felt at the moment.

Part II (B): Discussion

1.How did Simelane feel when he realized that they were going to drink in the passage? Was he afraid to drink in the passage? Why (not)? Why did he say that anger could have saved him from the whole embarrassing situation?

2.Simelane was afraid of breaking the liquor laws of the country, what do you think the laws stipulated? Why do you think there were such laws?

3.How did van Rensburg and his family treat their guest on the whole? Why did they keep him in the passage instead of bringing him into their apartment? (If you invite someone to your place, would you keep them in the passage?)

4.Why did he have so much difficulty in choosing a proper expression to address the white woman?

5.What did van Rensburg mean by “Our land is beautiful. But it breaks my heart.”?

6.Why did Simelane say “the whole thing was mad, and getting beyond me”? (para.51)

7.Why did Simelane keep referring to the “impersonal doors”? What does it mean? He said he was waiting for the opening of one of those impersonal doors. Was he no longer afraid of being seen in a “white” building, breaking the liquor laws?

8.How would you describe Simelane’s feelings while drinking in the passage?

Part II (C): Discussion

1.When they drove up Eloff Street, van Rensburge said, “Did you know what I meant?” What was he referring to? Did Simelane know what he was referring to?

2.How do you interpret Simelane’s words in para. 70, “his eyes had been blinded by years in the dark”? Why is it that “if men never touch each other, they’ll hurt each other one day”? And why is it that “black men don’t touch white men any more”?

3.Why did he have so much difficulty in choosing a proper expression to address the white woman?

4.What did van Rensburg mean by “Our land is beautiful. But it breaks my heart.”?

5.Why did Simelane say “the whole thing was mad, and getting beyond me”? (para.51)

6.Why did Simelane keep referring to the “impersonal doors”? What does it mean? He said he was waiting for the opening of one of those impersonal doors. Was he no longer afraid of being seen in a “white” building, breaking the liquor laws?

7.How would you describe Simelane’s feelings while drinking in the passage?

IV. Reinforcement:

Literary Techniques

(1)The use of symbols:

items being symbolized—the sculpture, white velvet, the way they walked, the drink, the blindness

(2)Simile and metaphor:

his eyes had been blinded by years in the dark

he was like a man trying to run a race in iron shoes

(3)Simple language:

unadorned, with an exotic flavor of African language and Afrikanns

Discussion

(1)Is it easy to detect the existence of racial (or religious) prejudice? Why or why not?

(2)Does racism only involve governments and politicians? Do you find any racial or ethnic or regional prejudice in the people around you?

(3)What are the consequences of prejudice and discrimination?