SLA Junior Seminar 15: The Prisoner of Zenda

'Rudolf! He has my name,' said the red-haired man. (p.24) 

I wonder if I had another sister who looks like me. Rudolf Rassendyll has connected with Prince Rudolf since their great-grandfather's era. Mr. Rassendyll's adventure starts with his journey in Europe. 

Mr. Rassendyll is unemployment despite that he is fluent at several foreign languages. He decides to go on a trip to Europe for a while, and then comes across Prince Rudolf. They become close soon after first meeting, therefore had a nice supper at that day. After a few days, Mr. Rassendyll knows that Mr. Prince Rudolf is unconscious because he is taken poison by The Duke of Strelsau. At that time, Prince Rudolf has an argue with The Duke of Strelsau regarding the next throne. Since before the very coronation ceremony, Mr. Rudolf plays the king's role instead of Prince Rudolf and confesses his love for his princess. The Princess swears to become a queen in the future, so Mr. Rudolf thinks he has to wake the true king up and solve the problem...

This is a book recommended by one of my friends in class. While giving a book speech, we have different perspectives and appealing points. Therefore, it is more intriguing to read after listening to your classmate's review and keeping what they said in your mind than just reading on your own. In addition, if you can not understand some parts in the book, why don't you reflect their book blog? 

Hope, Anthony. The Prisoner of Zenda. (1893). Oxford, UK: Macmillan Publishers.

SLA Junior Seminar 14: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

'Stories of about the Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the hunchback of and the priest passes from person to person through Paris.' (p.52) 

 This is a story of an ugly man who rings a bell in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. 

Quasimodo is the man who has the job. When he was a infant, he was left on a road and adopted by the priest of the cathedral. As time passes, a beautiful gypsy dancer, Esmeralda appears in Paris, and then the priest feels passion for her. The priest let the hideous Quasimodo abduct on purpose, and plans to become a hero to help her. However, Esmeralda has a lovely husband. Above all, she learns that  Quasimodo just follows the priest's. Soon after the priest knows that Esmeralda hates the priest, he tries to kill her husband... By using the power of the church to obtain inquired love, he is getting insane. What is going to happen to them? 

The ending of the original story is totally different from a movie produced by Disney animation. Although the Disney version is got rid of scenes and settings relevant to religion and brutality, actually there are a lot of strange points in the traditional version. For instance, the whole story centers the authority of the church in the 15th century, however the characters appears not to have faith in God, rather the priest abuses his status and trust from citizens for his sided-love. In addition, at that time, the court indicates the present one as we can imagine. That is witch hunt. When I read this part of the court, this did not come to mind and considered it just a punishment. However, the witch hunt was meaningful to keep the society peaceful and ordered. If you would like to compare the two stories, please take a look at the website on the bottom.   

Hugo, Victor. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. (2004). Oxford, UK: Penguin Readers. 

👉15 points of the differences between two 

https://ciatr.jp/topics/190530

SLA Junior Seminar 13: Bites of Britain, Tastes of Japan

'It is easy enough to blame the change on British food.' (p.100)

The author, who lives in Japan, get a job, has a family described just what he wanted to say to someone. He tells Britain and Japan have good points and weak points as well, so he takes some samples, some bites of Britain, some tastes of Japan. Today I am sharing with you a stories that I chuckled while imagining what he wants to deliver.

What do you have in your mind when it comes to traditional British bites? Fish and chips, English breakfast, meat pie, scones... any else? The native English man was shocked to read that the British people are now the fattest in Europe on account of the greasy, sugary and over-roasted food. Why do they have such dishes normally? Actually, it derives from the cold weather. In old England, they needed the fat and starch to keep them warm. Then, the typical eating habit became natural and common even people afford to have heating system and rich houses. Needless to say, it is no doubt they are getting soft and flabby. 

However, from other perspective, it is no trouble if they do workout and move more actively to consume calories they take. Or else, they are supposed to reconsider the process of cooking. At the end of the short story, he added that British people will never give up their food, because even if the rest of the world mocks. Like this, he gives us trivial topic that are so funny and common in Japan. If you want to bite the culture, why don't you open the page? 

Cheetham, Dominic. (2003). Bites of Britain, Tastes of Japan. Tokyo: NHK Publishing.