Читать книгу Best Books Study Work Guide: Cry, the Beloved Country - Lucille Smuts - Страница 4

Dear Grade 12 Learner

What is the message of Paton’s novel Cry, the Beloved Country? What does this message mean to you, today? Who is Alan Paton and when, where and why did he write the novel? You can only answer these questions when you build your own knowledge and understanding of Cry, the Beloved Country. This you will do before and while you are reading the novel and when you think and write about what you have read.

Making meaning of the message in Cry, the Beloved Country

Your study work guide

The purpose of this study work guide is to guide you in making meaning of the novel and to write what it means to you in your own words; it should deepen your own understanding of the novel’s message. When you do the pre-reading, reading and post-reading activities, you will gain confidence in forming and communicating your understanding and interpretation of its message. You will also discover and appreciate how the author uses the art of novel-writing to communicate the central ideas of his message.

This study work guide uses explanatory notes, activities and questions to sharpen your reasoning, reading and writing skills. When you do the activities, please practise your writing skills by writing your answers in full sentences. Write your thoughts in clear sentences so that your communication makes perfect sense. Reread your answers to check whether they make sense to you. If they do not, edit your writing so that the meaning of the sentences is clearer. Also check your spelling and punctuation.

Your study work guide is divided into four main sections: A, B, C and D. Section A guides your understanding of the whole text of Cry, the Beloved Country, its purpose and structure. It helps you to see the “big picture”.

Section B guides your in-depth reading of Books One, Two and Three in the novel. This section will help you to trace connections (links) between the novel’s big picture outlined in Section A and the supporting detail in the text. The contextual questions guide your thinking in, about and beyond the text.

Section C asks you to explain and reflect on what the novel Cry, the Beloved Country means to you. This section provides three examples of examination questions; one per book.

Section D provides suggestions for enrichment activities. It is important to note that because Cry, the Beloved Country is a work of art, there is not only one “correct” way of interpreting and understanding its message. The interpretation offered in this study work guide is based on an intensive reading of the text and on extensive reading about the text.

The author and publisher