Notes of Lessons: French Literature, Class IV

[We have thought that it might be of use to our readers (in their own families) to publish from month to month during the current year, Notes of Lessons prepared by students of the House of Education for the pupils of the Practising School. We should like to say, however, that such a Lesson is never given as a tour de force, but is always an illustration or an expansion of some part of the children’s regular studies (in the Parents’ Review School), some passage in one or other of their school books.—Ed.]

Subject: French Literature (Victor Hugo) • Group: Languages • Class IV • Time: Half-an-hour

By L. Stainton
The Parents’ Review, 1905, pp. 467-468

Objects

I. To increase the girls’ knowledge of French literature.

II. To interest them in Victor Hugo by giving a short sketch of his life, and a portion of one of his poems.

III. To give them an idea of the beauty and simplicity of style in his poetry.

IV. To increase their vocabulary and to exercise their knowledge of French grammar.

Lesson

(To be given entirely in French, to give the girls practice in hearing and speaking French.)

Step I.—Draw from the girls what they already know of Victor Hugo, supplementing their knowledge by a short sketch of his life, naming his chief works.

Step II.—Take a portion of one of his short poems, entitled “Les enfants pauvres,” teaching the girls about two verses.

Step III.—Take the verbs first, drawing them from the girls with the help of description.

Step IV.—Verbs to be written on the blackboard by the girls.

Step V.—The other words contained in the verses to be taken in the same way as the verbs.

Step VI.—Repetition of verses learnt.

Step VII.—Show the girls a photograph of Victor Hugo and also of the Panthéon in Paris where he was buried.

Les Enfants Pauvres.

“Prenez garde à ce petit être,
Il est bien grand, il contient Dieu
Les enfants sont, avant de naître,
Des lumières dans le ciel bleu.

Dieu nous les offreen sa largesse;
Ils viennent; Dieu nous en fait don.
Dans leur rire il met sa sagesse
Et dans leur baiser son pardon.

Leur douce clarté nous effleure,
Hélas! le bonheurest leur droit.
S’ils ont faim, le paradis pleure
Et le ciel tremble s’ils ont froid.

La misère de l’innocence
Accuse l’homme vicieux;
L’homme tient l’ange en sa puissance.
Oh! queltonnerre au fond des cieux.

Quand Dieu, cherchant ces êtres frêles
Que dans l’ombre où nous sommeillons
Il nous envoie avec des ailes,
Les retrouve avec des haillons.”

(“L’art d’êtreGrand-pêre.”)