THE RIVER- POET’S BACKGROUND

Valerie Bloom was born in Jamaica and came to England in 1979. She studied English with African and Caribbean Studies at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

She writes poetry in English and Jamaican patois for all ages, and has performed her work throughout the world, with many television and radio appearances. Her poetry is included in a number of anthologies and she tutors regularly for schools and colleges.

Her books include the Jamaican poetry collections Touch mi! Tell mi! (1983); and Duppy Jamboree and other Jamaican Poems (1991); Hot Like Fire (2002), a collection of poems in English and Jamaican patois; and more recently, Whoop an'Shout! (2003).

She has edited several collections of poetry such as On a Camel to the Moon and other poems about journeys (2001) and One River, Many Creeks: poems from all around the world (2003). Her children's novel, Surprising Joy, was published in 2003.

Valerie Bloom has been awarded an Honorary Masters Degree from the University of Kent, and lives in Kent. Her latest books are The Tribe and A Soh Life Goh, both published in 2008.

Journey to the centre of the Earth- Worksheet 1

Let's Play Detective!!!

1.    Title            :

2.    Author            :

3.    Retelling Authors    :

4.    Illustrator        :

5.    Where can you find the table of contents?

6.    On which pages can you find an introduction of the characters?

No	Chapter	Title	Page
7	1
8	2
9	3
10	4
11	5
12	6

    

13.     Under which heading can you find the meaning of words?

14.     Under which heading can you find more information about the Earth's center.

15.     What website can provide you with more information about this story?

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH- SETTING/CHARACTERS/THEMES/VALUES

SETTING

This adventure story is set in 1862 when there were no modern facilities. The story starts in Hamburg, Germany and the journey takes Lidenbrock and Axel to Iceland where they meet Hans and together they go below the earth's surface. After four months, they get blown out of the center earth in Sicily before they finally make their way back to Hamburg, Germany.


 
CHARACTERS

Professor Otto Lidenbrock     -     An intelligent, determined and adventurous scientist

Axel Lidenbrock         -    A faithful and loyal nephew. He is young and easily scared.

Hans Bjelke             -    A brave Danish guide. He is very quiet but is always on hand to save the other two explorers.

Gretchen             -     A young woman who loves Axel.


 
THEMES

1. Seeking knowledge

Professor Otto Lidenbrock went on a journey to the center of the earth to seek knowledge.

2. The spirit of adventure

The trio went on an adventure and experienced wondrous sights.

3. Explorations

To explore unknown places where humans have not gone before.

4. The wonders of the human mind

The human mind is forever seeking new knowledge and the mind of Professor Lidenbrock is a good example of this.

5. The wonders of Science

There is still so much that we do not know. We have to be brave to discover new wonders of Science.


 

 
VALUES

Some values found in this graphic novel are:

1. When we really want something, we should persevere.

Uncle Lidenbrock refused to listen to Axel's excuses on why they should not go on the journey.

2. We should not endanger others because of our passion for something.

Otto Lidenbrock put Axel, Hans and himself in danger by going to the center of the earth.

3. We must dare to take risks.

Otto Lidenbrock dared to go on an adventure to the center of the earth.

4. We should take the opportunity to discover the wonders of Science.

The trio were willing to go down into the center of the earth to find out more about the earth beneath their feet

5. It is important to be courageous.

It took a lot of courage on their part to go into the enter of the earth

Journey to the Centre of the Earth- PLOT SUMMARY

Chapter 1 – A Great Discovery

Hamburg, Germany, May 1862, Professor Lidenbrock and his nephew, Axel, decoded a message written 300 years ago by a famous Icelandic explorer, Arne Saknussemm. In his coded message, Arne Saknussem wrote that he had been to the center of the earth and he went on to describe how he did it. Brushing aside the concerns of his nephew, the Professor insists that Axel accompany him on the expedition. Sadly, Axel takes his leave from his beloved Gretchen.

Chapter 2 – Our Journey Begins

Professor Lindenbrock and Axel travel for ten days by ship before reaching Iceland. Professor Lidenbrock employs, Hans Bjelke, as their guide on their adventure. Gathering supplies, the trio depart for Mt. Sneffels, the point through which they can gain access to the core of the earth. Ten days later, on Monday, June 29th, they reach the top of Mount Sneffel. The shadow of the afternoon sun shows which crater they should descend.

Chapter 3 – Into the Earth

The trio descend into the crater and they travel downward until they reach the bottom of the pit. There are two tunnels and the Professor chooses the one on the right. After several days trekking underground and almost out of water, they have to retrace their steps because the path leads to a dead end. Finally returning to the beginning of the two tunnels, Axel collapses and assumes they will return to the surface. Although the Professor shows concern for Axel, he asks for one more day to find water before they abandon the journey. On Wednesday, July 8, they descend into the second tunnel and emerge into a chamber of clear white mica. The chamber resembles a giant diamond cavern.

Chapter 4 – Lost

Hans finds an underground river and they quench their thirst. On Thursday, July 9, they continue on with their journey. By the next evening the professor estimates their position to be 90 miles southeast of Mount Sneffels and eight miles deep. They come to an abyss and make their way down a naturally formed staircase. On Sunday, July 12, they climb down about 20 miles. Over the next two weeks they climb down deeper and deeper into the earth. On Thursday, August 6, Axel finds himself alone. In desperation he retraces his steps but becomes hopelessly lost.

Chapter 5 – The Great Sea

It is only after much suffering that Axel is reunited with his uncle and Hans. They can hear the sound of waves. In fact, the three have arrived at a vast underground body of water which is given the name Lidenbrock Sea. Exploring the area around the sea, the travellers find what looks like a forest of giant mushrooms. They also see ferns as tall as trees and a mastodon skeleton. On Tuesday, August 11, the Professor decides that they must cross the ocean. Hans builds a raft from giant reeds and a sail from a sleeping rug. On Thursday, August 13, they push out to sea leaving behind the shore which they named Port Gretchen. The raft moves quickly and they travel about 75 miles in 24 hours. On Friday, August 14, Hans drops a hook and soon a fish is caught. It is an ancient species long extinct in the world above and they cook it for their meal. The professor wants to learn the depth of the sea so Hans attaches a pickaxe to a long rope and throws it overboard. When Hans retrieves the pickaxe it bears marks that look like teeth. On Tuesday, August 18, two huge sea monsters surface, battle, and almost swamp the raft. On Friday, August 21, a storm hits them. The raft is eventually cast up on a rocky shore in the midst of the storm and Hans carries Axel to safety. As the storm dies down they find, to their dismay, that they have been carried back to the same shore from which they left.

Chapter 6 – The Boiling Tunnel

Exploring an area which is farther along the shore than their starting point, the Professor and Axel find a huge field of bones. The Professor is delighted when they find a human skull. Continuing their exploration they come across a vast forest of prehistoric plants. They spot gigantic mastodons and in the distance see a twelve-foot tall human being. Afraid of confrontation, they leave the area. Going back to the shore they find a huge rock, with the initials A. S. carved on it, beside the entrance to a dark tunnel. With evidence that Arne Saknussemm has traveled this way, they enter the passage only to discover that it is blocked by a big boulder. They decide to blast the boulder using gunpowder. They set the charge and retreat to the raft. The explosion opens a deep hole that lets in the underground sea. They and their raft are swept along with the rushing waters. They head up the tunnel at an amazing speed. They ascend swiftly as the waters push up the raft along a narrow shaft. Axel worries about the rising temperature. The trio soon discover that the water beneath the raft is boiling hot. Finally Axel sees a tiny circle of light above. The professor realizes that they are inside an erupting volcano which leads out to the earth's surface. They land outside the volcano. While making their way down, they learn from a young shepherd that they are on the island of Stromboli in Italy. They have entered the earth by one volcano and come out by another, over 3,000 miles apart. Four months after discovering Arne Saknussemm's coded message they return to Hamburg where the trio are treated like heroes and the Professor's achievements are recognized.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth-author’s background

 

Jules Verne was born in 1828 in France and died in 1905. He wrote over eighty books. His passion was Geography. He learned everything from reading and kept up with the emerging knowledge in many fields of Science. He was considered the "Father of Science Fiction". Verne's adventures and inventions were based on the then current Science knowledge which makes his work unique. He forecast with remarkable accuracy many scientific achievements of the 20^th century. He anticipated flights into outer space, submarines, helicopters, air conditioning, guided missiles and motion pictures long before they were developed in his novel The Time Machine.

 

 

 

 

Journey to the Centre of The Earth-Synopsis

Journey to the Centre of The Earth is an adventurous science fiction. Professor Lidenbrock discovers a coded message in an ancient  manuscript about a way to get into the centre of the Earth through a mountain in Iceland. After decoding the message , Lidenbrock and Axel set off to Iceland to begin their journey to the centre of the Earth. There they hire an Icelandic guide, Hans Bjelke to help them on their journey.

Professor Lidenbrock, Axel and Hans Bjelke find and enter the volcanic crater that marks the entrance to the centre of the Earth. Inside they face several difficulties and see a  lot of strange things, including prehistoric life. They reach a vast underground cavern filled with a deep ocean, surrounded by a coastline.

The travelers build a raft and set sail on the ocean and reach a coastline. They enter a passage that they assume is the way ahead but discover that it is blocked by cave-in. They blast the rock but the explosion causes the sea to rush in. They are swept into a large vent filling with water and magma and are ejected onto the surface.

When they regain consciousness, they find out that they are on the island of Stromboli in Italy. The travelers return home to Germany. In Germany they are treated like heroes and Professor Lidenbrock's achievements are recognised. Axel marries Gretchen, and Hans eventually returns to Iceland.

Nature by HD Carberry- Glossary

Theme	: A unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work.
Tone	: 1. The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people; : 2. Manner in which written words might be said (for example, sarcastic, mild, witty, angry). In general the tone of a work can gradually shift (perhaps from sarcastic to ironic or from angry to remorseful)
Mood	: Feelings that you get while your reading a book or a feeling that a work of literature evokes. In general mood describes the feeling of the entire piece.
Lush	: 1. Produced or growing in extreme abundance; : 2. Being rich, fertile, opulent, plentiful or affluent.
Beat	: 1. A regular rate of repetition; : 2. The sound of stroke or blow.
Swish:	: Move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound
Gullies	: Deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
Struggling	: 1. Strenuous effort; : 2. An energetic attempt to achieve something
Guango tree	: Guango is a large, wide spreading tree, beautifully proportioned. The black pods are sticky and sweet, caramel coloured on the inside.
Reaped	: To have accumulated, amassed or garnered.
Fallow	: Left unplowed and unseeded during a growing season.
Logwood	: Spiny shrub or small tree of Central America and West Indies having bipinnate leaves and racemes of small bright yellow flowers and yielding a hard brown or brownish-red heartwood used in preparing a black dye.
Shiver	: 1. Tremble; : 2. A reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement.
Buttercups	: A plant of the genus Ranunculus, or crowfoot, particularly R. bulbosus, with bright yellow flowers; called also butterflower, golden cup, and kingcup. It

Nature-Worksheet 3- What Have I Understood?

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BASED ON THE POEM 'NATURE'

1.    Read the poem 'Nature' and state what the poem reveals about the poet's

    homeland.

2.    Which line in the poem 'Nature' suggests the sense of smell?

3.    Which line in the poem 'Nature' suggests the sense of hearing?

4.    Based on your knowledge of the poem 'Nature', describe a theme in the poem.

 

5.    Write (T) for TRUE and (F) for FALSE in the boxes next to these sentences.

 

A	The country that is portrayed in the poem has only two seasons.
B	Bamboo crop is mentioned in the poem.
C	The strength and power of the wind is mentioned in the poem.
D	Bullets are mentioned as flying around in the poem.
E	Summer and roofs are nouns mentioned in the poem Nature
F	Examples of adjectives from the poem are swish and reaped.
G	One of the themes of the poem is about survival against the elements of nature.
H	Line 8 of the poem Nature envisions a gentle gush of breeze.
I	The image suggested in line 9-10 is death and inactivity.
J	The tone of the poem as a whole is more upbeat than melancholy.

 

6.     From the poem, we know that the poet lives in a __________ country.

    A. windy            C. tropical

B. hot            D. temperate

 

7.     Which of the following phrase suggests a 'crop-free' land?

    A. …the reaped canefield lie bare and fallow to the sun.

    B. …the bush are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey

    C. …the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields

    D. …the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars.

 

8.     With reference to the last line of the poem, what is the colour of the buttercups that paved the earth?

    A. Blue            C. Red

    B. Green            D. Yellow

Nature- worksheet 2-The Weather

Literal

 

With reference to the poem, answer the questions.

1.    "What seasons did the poet say that they did not have?"

2.    Complete these sentences

a)    The days have both _____ that ______ magnificently on the green canefields and _____ that ______ on the roofs.

b)    The mango and logwood ________.

3.    List out the verbs found in the poem 'Nature'.

 

Inferential

 

1.    Why do you think the poet chose to use the words he had chosen?

2.    List words that describe the following in the poem.

a)    sunny days

b)    rainy days

 

Applied

1.    Do you agree that the sunny days are "the best days" as compared to rainy days? Explain why or why not?

NATURE- worksheet 1 -ELEMENTS

Fill in the blanks with words or phrases provided
1. Nature
2. swish of water in the gullies
3. God’s gift
4. colours and light
5. natural cycle of life
6. phases in life
7. sound of bees
8. personification
9. buttercups
10. H.D. Carberry
11. hot sunny days
12. metaphor
13. appreciate
14. beauty of nature
15. cold wet windy
16. experience
17. yellow stars
18. rainy days
19. similes
20. visualize
21. contrast
22. magnificent beauty
23. sound of bees
24. scent of honey
25. mango and logwood blossom



In the poem entitled “_____________” by _____________ the themes of the _________________________ and the many _________________________ are explored. The poet’s central message is the ____________________________. Through the use of poetic devices such as ____________, onomatopoeia and _______________, the poet allows the reader to ___________ the beauty of his homeland.

Among the dominant elements, is ________________. In the poem, imagery of sight such as “__________ have paved the earth with _________________” allows us to visualise the colourful side of nature. The poet has used words related to _________________________ to help the reader ________________ the beauty of nature. Imagery of sound is shown through “the ______________________________, the rain fall on the roof tops and the _______________________”. The “____________________” is an example of the imagery of taste. “________________________________” exemplify the imagery of smell.
______________________ is also used effectively and this is shown through “the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air”. There is also _____________ in the poem, for example “the gold sun shines” and the magnificent “lush green cane fields”.

The poem highlights the beauty of nature during _________________, ___________________ days and _________________ and the harvest season. Each season has its ___________________. The poet has shown why we should ____________ and preserve ___________________ to us.

Nature by H.D Carberry

We have neither Summer nor Winter

Neither Autumn nor Spring.

We have instead the days

When the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields-

Magnificently.

The days when the rain beats like bullet on the roofs

And there is no sound but thee swish of water in the gullies

And trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.

Also there are the days when leaves fade from off guango trees'

And the reaped canefields lie bare and fallow to the sun.

But best of all there are the days when the mango and the logwood blossom

When bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey,

When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air,

When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars

And beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.

Nature by H.D. Carberry –the poem

 

We have neither Summer nor Winter

Neither Autumn nor Spring.

We have instead the days

When the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields-

Magnificently.

The days when the rain beats like bullet on the roofs

And there is no sound but thee swish of water in the gullies

And trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.

Also there are the days when leaves fade from off guango trees'

And the reaped canefields lie bare and fallow to the sun.

But best of all there are the days when the mango and the logwood blossom

When bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey,

When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air,

When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars

And beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.

Nature by H.D Carberry-UNDERSTANDING THE POEM

Lines 1 to 10

The poet tells about his homeland, Jamaica and rejoices the beauty of this island. Jamaica has no seasonal changes. It has a tropical climate which is hot and wet throughout the year. The days of golden sunshine are glorious and magnificent. The are many canefields in Jamaica as sugar is one of the main exports in this country.

Lines 11 to 15

In the ending of the poem, the poet tells us his favourite time – days when the flowers of mango trees and logwood blossom. He uses imagery of sound and smell to illustrate abundant life and activity in the bushes when the ‘sound of bees and the scent of honey’ add to the charm and beauty if Jamaica. He describes the fields filled with lovely yellow buttercups. All this happens when the rains have stopped and the beauty if nature emerges once again.

THEMES

• Beauty of nature
• Appreciation of one own country
• Appreciate nature

MORAL VALUES
• We should appreciate what we have in our own country
• We should not long for what we do not have.
• We should appreciate our homeland.
• We should appreciate the beauty of nature.

TONE,MOOD, ATMOSPHERE

• Appreciative and happy
• Carefree and light-hearted
• Sense of beauty

POINT OF VIEW

• Third person point of view

LANGUAGE AND STYLE

• Simple and easy to understand the language
• Clear and descriptive
• Simple style with no rhyming scheme

POETIC DEVICES


• Imagery – e.g. ‘gold sun’, ‘lush green fields’, ‘trees struggling’
• Alliteration – e.g. ‘sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air’
• Symbols – e.g. ‘gold sun’ – symbol of summer, ‘rains’ – symbol of winter
• Contrast – e.g. ‘beauty’ or summer is compared with ‘rains’ or winter
• Figurative Language – Simile – ‘rain beats like bullets’
• Metaphor – e.g. ‘the buttercups paved the earth with yellow stars’
• Personification – ‘buttercups have paved the earth’ … buttercups have been personified as having laid tiles

Nature by H.D Carberry -Biodata

Biodata of H. D. Carberry, 1921-1989



Hugh Doston (“Dossie”) Carberry was born July 12, 1921, the son of sir John Carberry, a former Chief Justice of Jamaica, and Lady Georgina Carberry, in Montreal, Canada. He came to Jamaica in infancy and spent most of his life there. He had his primary education at Decarteret school in Mandeville, Jamaica and then attended Jamaica College. After working with the Civil Service, to which he qualified as second out of over 100 applicants, Carberry went to St. Catherrine College, Oxford University, where he obtained his B. A. and B. C. L.. He read Law at Middle Temple and was called to the Bar in 1951, then returning to Jamaica to engage in private practice.
In 1954, Carberry married Dorothea, and they had two sons, Martin and John, and a daughter, Christine. In addition to his career in law, Carberry was a poet and gave outstanding service in the cultural field, being a member of the Managing Committee of the Little Theatre since 1951. A devout Christian, he was also a pillar of the Providence Methodist church as Class Co-leader. Carberry was Clerk to the Houses of Parliament from 1969-1978 and a member of the commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He was appointed Judge of the Jamaican court of appeal in 1978 and served for a decade. H. D. Carberry died on June 28, 1989.