Hello students. I’m proud of you for completing years 1 and 2 of our American English course. In order for you to become a strong intermediate American English learner, you need to be able to read, understand, and discuss abridged American English short stories. In this lesson, throughout Year 3 of your studies, you will read, listen to, and write about popular American English short stories. Please follow the directions below closely.
- Study the American English vocabulary below.
Words in This Story
gigantic – adj. extremely large
trigger – n. a lever on a gun that you pull to fire the gun
fantasy – n. something that is produced by the imagination : an idea about doing something that is far removed from normal reality
ambush – n. an act of hiding, waiting for others to appear, and then suddenly attacking them : a surprise attack
dizzy – adj. feeling that you are turning around in circles and are going to fall even though you are standing still
reins – n. a strap that is fastened to a device (called a bridle) placed on the head of an animal (such as a horse) and that is used to guide and control the animal — usually plural
- Listen to the story.
- Watch the video and read along.
- Take the short story quiz.
Take the quiz: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-horsemen-in-the-sky-ambrose-bierce/2927349/p1.html?isEmbedded=True
- Write a summary of the short story you just read and listened to in the comments section below. Click here to read an article that teaches you how to summarize a story. Remember to let us know who the characters of the story are, what they do, and what the story is about.
Lesson 3.18.2 Year 3
American stories.
” A Horseman in the Sky” by Ambrose Bierce”
” A Horseman in the Sky,” is a civil war story by Ambrose Bierce. It tells the story of Carter Druce, a young Union solder from a wealthy Virigina family. The main characters of the story are Carter Druse, Druse’s father, the wandering officer. When Carter Druse decides to join the Union Army Druse’s father says to him, be loyal with your duty. Carter druses find himself unavoidably having to kill a Confederate horseman spy, who is his father. As I understand the theme of the story is duty and family. Carter Druse claims a strong sense of duty to his chosen cause but seems to focus more on his rebellion against his father. The real massage is about the relationship between a father and a son.
Actually, I got confused to read the story and could not understand the story properly.
Dear teacher,
Lesson 3.18.2 Year 3
American stories.
” A Horseman in the Sky” by Ambrose Bierce”
” A Horseman in the Sky,” is a civil war story by Ambrose Bierce. It tells the story of Carter Druce, a young Union solder from a wealthy Virigina family.
Carter Druse was born in Virginia. He loved his parents, his home and the south.
But he loved his country, too. And in the autumn of 1861, when the United States was divided by a terrible civil war, Carter Druse, a southerner, decided to join the Union Army of the north.
The main characters of the story are Carter Druse, and Druse’s father.
When Carter Druse decides to join the Union Army Druse’s father agreed but he prohibited him to tell to his mother because she was getting sick. His father advised, be loyal with your duty. Carter Druses find himself unavoidably having to kill a Confederate horseman spy, but he suppose that person who is his father.
he saw a man on horseback standing on the huge rocky cliff that looked down into the valley.
Carter could not see the man’s face, because the rider was looking down into the valley, But the man and his horse seemed to be of heroic, almost gigantic size, standing there motionless against the sky. Carter discovered he was very much afraid, even though he knew the enemy soldier could not see him hiding in the bushes. Suddenly the horse moved, pulling back its head from the edge of the cliff. Carter was completely awake now. He raised his gun, pushing its barrel through the bushes. And he aimed for the horseman’s heart. A small squeeze of the trigger, and Carter Druse would have done his duty. And then the officer saw something that filled his heart with horror. A man on a horse was riding down into the valley through the air! The rider sat straight in his saddle. His hair streamed back, waving in the wind.
As the frightened Union officer watched this horseman in the sky, he almost believed he was witnessing a messenger from heaven. A messenger who had come to announce the end of the world, but he didn’t tell anyone.
Thank you.