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. Part 1
Words in This Story
palace – n. a very large and impressive house
signora – n. a title or form of address used of or to an Italian-speaking married woman, corresponding to Mrs. or madam
enormous – adj. very great in size or amount
lizard – n. a type of reptile that has four legs and a long body and tail
butterfly – n. a kind of insect that has a long thin body and brightly colored wings and that flies mostly during the day
- Study the American English vocabulary below. Part 2 of 2.
Words in This Story
sparkle – v. to be or become bright and lively
scream – v. to suddenly cry out in a loud and high voice because of pain, surprise, etc.
handsome – adj. pleasing to look at
glow – n. a pink color in your face from exercising, being excited, etc.
grab – v. to quickly take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms
crawl – v. to move with the body close to or on the ground
- Listen to the story. Part 1
- Listen to the story. Part 2 of 2
- Watch the video and read along. Part 1
- Watch the video and read along. Part 2 of 2
- Take the short story quiz.
Take the quiz: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/rappaccinis-daughter-nathaniel-hawthorne/2616819/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.
About the Author
Lesson 3.51.3: year 3
American Story.
” Rappaccini’s Daughter” written by Nathenial Hawthrone.
I took the quiz of this story and got 100% score.
Lesson 3.51.2: Year 3 .
American Story
” Rappaccini’s Daughter” written by Nathanial Hawthorne.
It is a heart wrenching story and it made extremely sad. Giovanni Gursconts leaves his home and arrives from Naples Southern Italy to study at the University pf Paduan. He rents a room in an ancient building. Signora Lissbet, an old lady, the owner of building. From his room’s window Giovanni looks at Beatrice, the beautiful, innocent and young daughter of Doctor Giacomis Rappaccini’s garden. Doctor Rappaccine is a suspicious doctor and scientist too. He uses the plants to make strange kinds of medicine. He cares more about science than he does about people. He has created many terrible poisons from the plants in his garden.
Havin falling in love Giovanni enters the garden by secrete way in the guidance of his owner lady and meets with Beatrice a number of times. Pietro Baglioni, a professor teaches medicine at the University, warns and advice that he should avoid Rappaccine and his daughter Beatrice. She is socially and physically isolated from the rest of the world due to her father Rappaccine’s mysterious scientific behaviors.
After some time, Giovanni notices Beatrice strangely relationship with the plants as well as she talks with the plants. When she wears a flower to put her hair and a drop falls down then a passing by lizard twists and dies. Giovanni realizes that Beatrice has developed an immunity and has become poisonous herself. In the end Giovanni becomes poisonous himself. Insects die when they come into connect with his breath. He blames Beatrice for all happens to him. But same time he feels sad about Beatrice. Giovanni visits his professor Baglioni, and he gives him a medicine to cure Beatrice and free from her father cruel experiments. However, when Beatrice drinks medicine, she becomes sick and dies. She dies for the sins of her father, because her father’s experiments aimed at interfering with the law of nature.