The Rabbits Who Caused All the Trouble Within the memory of the youngest child there was

a family of rabbits who lived near a pack

of wolves. The wolves announced that they did not like the way the rabbits were living. (The wolves were crazy about the way they themselves were living, because it was the only way to live.) One night several wolves were killed in an earthquake and this was blamed on the rabbits, for it is well known that rabbits pound on the ground with their hind legs and cause earthquakes. On another night one of the wolves was killed by a bolt of lightning and this was also blamed on the rabbits, for it is well known that lettuce-eaters cause lightning. The wolves threatened to civilize the rabbits if they didn't behave, and the rabbits decided to run away to a desert island. But the other animals, who lived at a great distance, shamed them saying, "You must stay where you are and be brave. This is no world for escapists. If the wolves attack you, we will come to your aid in all probability." So the rabbits continued to live near the wolves and one day there was a terrible flood which drowned a great many wolves. This was blamed on the rabbits, for it is well known that carrot-nibblers with long ears cause floods. The wolves descended on the rabbits, for their own good, and imprisoned them in a dark cave, for their own protection. When nothing was heard about the rabbits for some weeks, the other animals demanded to know what had happened to them. The wolves replied that the rabbits had been eaten and since they had been eaten the affair was a purely internal matter. But the other animals warned that they might possibly unite against the wolves unless some reason was given for the destruction of the rabbits. So the wolves gave them one. "They were trying to escape," said the wolves, "and, as you know, this is no world for escapists." Moral: Run, don't walk, to the nearest desert island. Fables of Our Times, James Thurber ANNOTATIONS - to pound : to move with noisy steps = to stomp, to stamp - bolt of lightning : a sudden flash of lightning in the sky, appearing as a line - hind leg : back leg - nibble (v) : to take

10

15

20

small bites of something, especially food

- to descend on : to attack

GLOBAL COMPREHENSION 1. What type of story is it ? Justify your answer. a fairy tale a short story a fable an allegory 2. What were the three events that triggered everything out ? 3. Say in your own words what eventually happened to the rabbits. 4. Which of the following characteristics would you associate with the wolves, the rabbits, the other animals ? intolerant reproachful menacing cowardly reassuring carnivorous - hypocritical 5. What do the following words refer to ? they l. 2 : themselves l. 3 : this l .6 : this l.12 : their l.14 : them l.16 they l.17 them l.19 : DETAILED COMPREHENSION 6. Pick out two nicknames given to the rabbits by the wolves. What does it reveal about their relationship ? 7. Comment on the other animals' attitude during the conflict. 8. How do you think the wolves could have been stopped?

9. What kind of narrative is it ? From whose point of view is the story told ? Justify your answer. 10. Explain the play on words in the sentence Since they had been eaten the affair was a purely internal matter. l 24-25 11. Explain the moral of the story. 12. Bearing in mind that this text was written in 1940, find one historical event that would fit the same story pattern. PROVERBS : A friend in need is a friend indeed. - It's no use crying over spilt milk. - When there's a will, there's a way. - Give your dog a bad name and hang it. - When the cat is away, the mice will play. 1. Find two proverbs which apply to the story and justify your answer. 2. Find one proverb which contradicts the story and justify your answer. TRANSLATION Translate into French from When nothing was heard about the rabbits () to This is no word for escapists. WRITTEN EXPRESSION Chose between those subjects : 1. Explain how scapegoats are chosen and why they are victimized. 2. Chose an example of scapegoat in history and write a short text about it. 3. Find an example of scapegoat in fiction (film or book) and present it in a short text. 4. Find an example of scapegoat in your personal experience and relate it. 5. Write a fable of yours on the theme of scapegoat. First, submit your draft. Don't forget to give your text a title ! Correct your paper. Pay attention to the presentation, illustrate your text, all of them will be gathered in an anthology.

Active/ passive sentences Complete putting the verbs into the active or passive form. Be careful with the tense and S/V appropriateness. Years ago, a series of disasters __________________ (strike) a pack of wolves. Many of them _______________ (kill) . They immediately __________________ (accuse) their peaceful neighbours, the rabbits, of all their troubles and the poor animals ____________________ (face) with a dilemma : staying or going. They ________________ (decide) to go away, but the other animals _____________ (meet) them and very soon, the rabbits __________________ (talk) into staying. Unfortunately, the wolves ________________ (attack) the rabbits they disdainfully called lettuce eaters and ______________ (make) them prisoners. The rabbits ________________ (lock) inside a dark cave and they ____________________ (soon / eat) by their voracious neighbours. When the other animals came to get news about the rabbits, they __________________ (tell) it was none of their business by the wolves. Phrasal verbs Choose a verb from the list below to complete the following sentences : talk sb out of V-ing make sth up come up with sth get rid of sb do away with sb regard sb as - look down upon 1. The wolves wanted to .................................the rabbits, that's why they accused them. 2. They clearly ................................. the rabbits and called them carrot-nibblers. 3. The rabbits wanted to run away but the other animals ........................... them ........... it. 4. The rabbits were ................................. pests by the wolves. 5. They ................................. an excuse to imprison the rabbits. 6. They ................................. a terrible plan to ................................. the rabbits. One of the verbs from the list is not a phrasal verb, which one ? .................................... Link words Complete the following sentences using a correct link word. Choose from : however contrary to as soon as despite the fact that despite - instead of if otherwise 1. ................................. the wolves, the rabbits were peaceful. 2. The wolves attacked the rabbits ................................. they were innocent. 3. ........................... peaceful the rabbits may have been, the wolves declared war upon them. 4. The rabbits should have run away ................................. listening to the other animals. 5. The other animals didn't help the rabbits ................................. the obvious danger. 6. The other animals were cowards, ......................... they would have supported the rabbits. 7. ................................. the opportunity arose, the wolves attacked the rabbits. had stuck together. Language Tools TYPE OF STORY 8. The wolves would have left the rabbits alone ................................. the other animals

A fairy tale is a story about magic or fairies, usually for children. A fable is a literary genre that points at human defects and criticizes human society through animals which characterize these defects : the ant is stingy, the frog vain, the fox sly The most famous fable writers are Aesop and Jean de Lafontaine. An allegory is a story or a picture in which the characters and events are symbols of something else. Allegory usually make some religious or political point. CATASTROPHE a series of natural disasters hardship drought flood earthquake BLAME/ACCUSE blame sb for sth accuse sb of reproach sb for hold sb responsible for / be held responsible for charge sb with /be charged with DESPITE / INSULT bear a grudge against sb look down upon them call them names use pejorative / derogative / debasing words make sb one's laughing stock (an object of
humiliating ridicule)

tidal wave famine plague nuclear meltdown

bear the blame for others irrational, far-fetched, malevolent accusations pick out (select) a characteristic single sb out / be singled out

make sb the butt of one's jokes

PREJUDICE discriminate against be prejudiced against be biased against a prejudice reliable / unreliable (adj.) rely upon sb trustworthy / untrustworthy SCAPEGOAT a convenient scapegoat an easy scapegoat people we love to hate sb. become find make a scapegoat FOR ... use sb as a bias be blinded by a bigot a fanatic PROMISES fulfil one's promises honour one's promises

PERSUADE manipulate stock-phrase : it is well-known that... a logical demonstration give their reasoning a scientific varnish a glib talker a cunning man forge evidence a trumped up trial CAUSE be due to cause generate bring about ESCAPE flee from run away from NARRATION external/ internal point of view first/third person narrative the narrator makes us stand with them take to your heels a piece of summary justice convince (v) talk sb out of V-ing advise to should would rather would better