Activity 1:
Throughout the plot, both George Stoyonovich and Mr. Cattanzara try to escape from reality .
Listen to and watch another character, who wishes to escape from reality, in the song Bohemian Rhapsody performed by Queen (while reading the lyrics.)
How do they escape from their reality?
Drag the correct answer to each of the characters.
George Stoyonovich
Goes to the park to day-dream.
Mr. Cattanzara
Drinks alcohol.
The Queen singer
Commits a crime.
Now that you understand how different people escape from reality, what do you recommend they should do instead?
I recommend them, even though it's hard – to face the reality. People that face the reality can overcome it well, and in the future it will affect their reaction to other difficult situations in life. People that don't face their reality can become unconfident with low self-esteem.(20)
Activity 2: Cause and Effect
We have read in the book that things that happen make more sense when we understand why they have happened (the cause) and what the result is (the effect)
Explain the following line from the story. Say what has happened to make George feel this way. Use the thinking skill of Explaining Cause and Effect to help you: "George knew he looked passable on the outside, but inside he was crumbling apart."
George is not able to face the reality, which is why he is crumbling apart. His confidence is very low, and he didn't wanted people to see that. From the outside George looked confident and stiff but on the inside he was miserable.
(14)
2. Another issue to discuss here is the effect George's lie had on his life:
How did the lie George told affect his life? Consider both the short term and possible long term effects of the lie.
George's life has changed when he told his lie. George's life before the lie was simple, quite, and boring. After that lie, George kept thinking about the lie, and tried to avoid discovering it. He was busy escaping from the truth (Mr. C.). The short term effect was that he felt bad with himself, he shut himself in his room. The possible long term was that, he started to read, which can change his life.(15)
Activity 3: The author
Find and tick all the autobiographic details reflected in the story.
Bernard Malamud wrote about famous people.
How is the information you have just read about the author reflected in "A Summer's Reading"?
How does reading this information about Bernard Malamud add to or change your understanding of the story?
Bernard Malamud wrote his main characters as simple people, who worked at odd jobs (George's father, Mr. C, George's sister…). George's mother also died when he was young, just as Malamud's mother. From this information I can understand that Malamud's mother was important to him, and her death was tragic to him. That is why he wrote that about George's mother. I can infer that Malamud was a simple guy, who was interested in simple people, and wrote about them.(18)
Activity 4: Compare and Contrast
How would you define the character of George Stoyonovich?
George is lazy, irresponsible, doesn't care about his life. He has big dreams. He knows that he can achieve them only by effort, struggle and endeavor, but he doesn't do anything to make his dreams come true. Even though he doesn't want to disappoint Mr.C, he still doesn't read as Mr. C wants him to.
Luckily for George, he is still young and able to change his situation, unlike Mr. Cattanzara.
The meaning of Stoyonovich in Polish is "Staying in one place".
The meaning of Cattanzara in Italian is "Chained to a place".
What is true about Mr. Cattanzara?
Mr.C. is chained to his own life. He can't do anything about it, it's too hard to change his life at such an old age, after so long in this situation. He is fixated to his own place, his own neighborhood, his job and his addiction to alcohol.
2. Compare and contrast George and Mr. Cattanzara. How are they similar? How are they different?
George and Mr. C are both lazy (Mr.C was lazy in the past, we can guess that is he deteriorated to alcoholism) and they are characterless. They also can't deal with problems in their lives, and can't face the reality. George, unlike Mr.C, absolutely can change his own life. He is young and his whole life is in front of him. In addition, George has someone that helps him change his life – Mr.C . He has the first push towards his change. Mr.C is too old and too addicted to change his life, he is already desperate. (17)
Activity 5:
The story brings up general themes through some specific examples.
Write the number of the theme next to its matching example:
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| עמודה ראשונה | עמודה שנייה |
| <!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]--> | <!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]--> |
| Living in a multicultural society. 2 | 1. Growing up. |
| <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> | <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> |
| Coping with difficulties. 3 | 2. Being an immigrant. |
| <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> | <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> |
| Taking responsibility. 1 | 3. Proper Education |
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Why is the story titled "A Summer's Reading"?
The story is called "A Summer's Reading" because the story takes place in the summer, and the whole story deals with George's reading. I think that there's a contrast in that title, because summer's reading is usually mentioned when we talk about school work for the summer's vacation, but George dropped out of school.
(15)
(79)
Daphna
