★☆☆Words and Their Stories: Swan Song

Read and understand the article. If you may have any difficult words to pronounce and words you cannot understand, always ask your teacher.

*Teachers will divide the article into 2-3 paragraphs to help you understand and check the pronunciation of the difficult words.

Vocabulary

*Read the words carefully.

1. graceful /ˈgrāsfəl/ (adj.) having or showing grace or elegance
2. philosopher /fəˈläsəfər/ (n.) a person engaged or learned in philosophy, especially as an academic discipline
3. hurrah /ho͝oˈrä/ (exclamation) used to express joy or approval
4. campaign /kamˈpān/ (n.) the organized actions that a political candidate undertakes in order to win an election
5. candidate /ˈkandiˌdāt/ (n.) a person who applies for a job or is nominated for election

Article

Words and Their Stories: Swan Song

* Read the text below

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(1) The white swan – with its long, graceful neck – is among the most beautiful of birds. The swan is mostly silent through its life. It floats quietly on the water, unable to sing sweet songs like most other birds.

(2) In ancient times, however, people believed that the swan was given a special gift of song at the end of its life. They believed a swan sings a most beautiful song just before it dies.

(3) The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates talked of this two thousand three hundred years ago. Socrates explained that the swan was singing because it was happy. The bird was happy because it was going to serve the Greek God Apollo. Swans were holy to Apollo, the god of poetry and song.

(4) The story of the swan’s last song found a place in the works of other writers, including the early English writers Chaucer and Shakespeare.

(5) And, the expression swan song has long been a part of the English language. At first, swan song meant the last work of a poet, musician or writer. Now, it means the final effort of any person. Someone’s swan song usually is also considered that person’s finest work.

(6) A political expression with a similar meaning is the last hurrah. The expression may be used to describe a politician’s last campaign, his final attempt to win the cheers and votes of the people. The last hurrah also can mean the last acts of a politician, before his term in office ends.

(7) Writer Edwin O’Connor made the expression popular in nineteen fifty-six. He wrote a book about the final years in the political life of a long-time mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. He called his book, The Last Hurrah.

(8) Some language experts say the expression came from a name given to noisy supporters of Andrew Jackson…America’s seventh president. They cheered hurrah so loudly for Andy Jackson during his presidential campaign that they became known as the hurrah boys.

(9) Jackson’s hurrah boys also played a part in the election to choose the next president. Jackson’s choice was his vice president, Martin VanBuren.

(10) A newspaper of the time reported that VanBuren was elected president, in its words: “…by the hurrah boys, and those who knew just enough to shout hurrah for Jackson.” So, President Jackson really heard his last hurrahs in the campaign of another candidate, the man who would replace him in the White House.

Discussion

*Let’s talk about the article based on the questions below

1. Do you like studying literature? If yes, who is your favorite writer? If no, what subject do you like the most and why?
2. What favorite fairy tale or story can you still remember when you were still a child? Why is it your favorite?
3. What achievement in your life have you done that you are most proud of? Please explain.

 

English Compositions

*Let’s make English compositions using the words from the article.

(1) graceful

EX) The white swan – with its long, graceful neck – is among the most beautiful of birds.

(2) candidate

EX) So, President Jackson really heard his last hurrahs in the campaign of another candidate, the man who would replace him in the White House.