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Films, a royal wedding, cupcakes, grrrr … grammar
The Other Guys, Saint Andrews, Scotland
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAlnM7RUDcA[/youtube]
How to make the perfect Royal Wedding cupcake April, 28, 2011
adapted from : http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/ and Jean Sabiron’s site
Eric Lanlard’s cupcakes are perfect for street parties, birthdays, weddings or seasonal festivities
Makes 12 cupcakes
Preparation time: 15 minutes, + cooling
Cooking time: 18 minutes
Ingredients
175g (6oz) self-raising flour
150g (5oz) plain flour
125g (41/2oz) unsalted butter, softened
250g (9oz) caster sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
125ml (4fl oz) milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Choose the right word in context : Beware of explosions !!
Preheat the (fridge-oven-microwave) to 180.C (fan 160.C)/350.F/gas mark 4. Line a 12-cup (muffin-coffin-boffin) tin with cupcake papers. In a small (barrel-bowl-bottle), combine the (flowers- flours-floors) and then (sit-set-spit) aside. In a large bowl, using an electric hand whisk-at medium (heat -speed-length), cream the butter until (smooth-rude-black). Add the (tar-sugar-mortar) gradually and continue beating until (grumpy-fluffy-filthy), about 3 minutes. Add the (Nick Clegg- a keg- eggs), one at a time, beating well after each (addition-multiplication-inflation). Add the flour in three (stages-rages-crates), alternating with the milk and (mozilla-vanilla-gorilla). With each addition, beat until the ingredients are (evaporated-incorporated-saturated), but do not over-beat. Using a rubber (spatula-ferula-band), scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well (inflated-vanished-blended).
Carefully spoon the (splitter-butter-batter into the cupcake papers, filling them about three-quarters full. (Bathe-Bake-Dive) in the preheated oven for 18 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the (bins-tins-sins) for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a (wire-fire-wine) rack before (icing-rinsing-freezing).
The KEY
Preheat the oven to 180.C (fan 160.C)/350.F/gas mark 4. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake papers. In a small bowl, combine the flours and then set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric hand whisk at medium speed, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and continue beating until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour in three stages, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not over-beat. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended.
Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake papers, filling them about three-quarters full. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the tins for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.
Welcome to the Firm: The Middletons share the public’s acclaim on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Kate’s parents Mike and Carole are on the left, next to Prince Charles holding the Duchess of Cornwall’s granddaughter Eliza Lopes. The bride’s sister Pippa stands between Princes Philip and Harry
I Dreamed I SThe playlist
aw St. Augustine by Bob Dylan
I dreamed I saw St. Augustine
Alive as you or me
Tearing through these quarters
In the utmost misery
With a blanket underneath his arm
And a coat of solid gold
Searching for the very souls
Whom already have been sold
“Arise, arise,” he cried so loud
In a voice without restraint
“Come out, ye gifted kings and queens
And hear my sad complaint
No martyr is among ye now
Whom you can call your own
So go on your way accordingly
But know you’re not alone”
I dreamed I saw St. Augustine
Alive with fiery breath
And I dreamed I was amongst the ones
That put him out to death
Oh, I awoke in anger
So alone and terrified
I put my fingers against the glass
And bowed my head and cried
Written comprehension:
Vous êtes rédacteur, rédacteure ou encore rédactrice d’ un site culturel sur l’Australie.On vous demande d’écrire quelque chose sur ce pays qui fasse rêver vos lecteurs. L’importance de la nature doit être présente. Les contes étudiés en cours faisant partie du programme de 4° “Ici et ailleurs” sont une référence qui ne doit PAS être recopiée mais qui peut servir d’exemple ou tout du moins vous donner des idées.
Commencer le conte par “Once upon a time, there was…”
Inclure des références géographiques précises:
Inclure le vocabulaire lié à la nature:
Inclure First, Then, Afterwards, Eventually, Finally:
Inclure 5 adjectifs contruits avec le comparatif d’égalité ou de supériorité
Prise de risques: idées et vocabulaire personnels
Le respect de consignes est important car il permet de valider la note finale.
Si deux copies présentent des similarités, la note du travail effectué est divisé en deux
Les comparatifs de supériorité: plus…que
James DeInclure dix verbes au passéan was cuter than Marlo Brando and Marlon Brando was a better actor.
The music was more provocative than the movie.
The TV serial Happy Days was more popular than the movie American Graffiti.
Disco clothes were flashier than punk clothes.
Le superlatif
New York City is the biggest and the most populated city in the Untied States.
Washington DC is the most visited city in the United States.
Los Angeles is one of the sunniest city in the United States.
Alaska is the largest and the coldest state in the United States.
The Mississipi river is the longest river in the United States.
Fracture: Simple Past
This is a great movie, but a bit farfetched. If you like police stories, you will love it. I used the crime scene to practice the simple past tense.
Vous devez imaginer les scènes avant le crime. Vous écrirez les verbes à la forme affirmtive et à la forme négative pour CHAQUE phrase.
1) Ted’s wife, Sally, __________________________________ home (drive).
2) She ___________________________________________ the front door (unlock).
3) She ________________ ____________________________her jacket (take off).
4) She _________________________________________ her husband was in the house (notice).
5) They _________________________________________________ each other (hug).
6) They _________________________________________________ each other (kiss).
7) Ted __________________________________________ his wife in the head (shoot).
8) Gardeners ____________________________________________ a gunshot (hear).
9) Ted_______________________________________ the bullet cases on the floor. (pick up).
10) One of the gardeners ____________________________________ on the door (knock).
11) Ted ______________________________________ the door for the gardener (open).
12) Ted ________________________________________ the windows a few times (shoot).
13) Ted ___________________________________________________ his wife (drag).
14) He ____________________________________________________ his shirt (take off).
15) He _____________________________________________________ his shirt (burn).
16) He __________________________________________________________ his face (wash).
17) He ____________________________________________________ the police (call).
18) The gardener ______________________________________ Ted clean the house (help).
Elizabethtown: “Simple Past”
One of the best romantic comedies ever. The soundtrack is fantastic. I love this scene and girls think it is sooooo romantic… In this scene, the main characters spend the whole night talking to each other over the phone and they perform several activities while doing it. It is perfect for the students to practice of the simple past tense.
Make a list of the things you usually do while you are talking over the cell phone:
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
Watch the movie segment. Pay attention to the activities the main characters performed while they were talking to each other over the phone. Write ( D ) if Drew was the one who performed the following tasks and ( C ) if it was Claire. Write ( B ) if both of them did it.
1 .( ) Open the gate
2. ( ) Make dinner
3. ( ) Change clothes
4. ( ) Go to the bathroom
5. ( ) Polish one’s nails
6. ( ) Do the laundry
7. ( ) Look at pictures
8. ( ) Listen to music
9. ( ) Dance
10.( ) Drink beer
11.( ) Turn off the lights
12.( ) Drive a car
13.( ) Put on some lipstick
14.( ) See the sunrise
I. Work in groups. Read the activities below and guess which activities the character in the movie did NOT do while smoking cigarettes BEFORE VIEWING THE SEGMENT. You have to choose 4 activities. The winner is the group who guesses most activities.
1. ( ) Vacuum the house
2. ( ) Drink whiskey
3. ( ) Water the plants
4. ( ) Sweep the flo0r
5. ( ) Put a mask on someone’s face
6. ( ) Break some eggs on someone’s hair.
7. ( ) Do the laundry
8. ( ) Sleep
9. ( ) Kick the dog
10. ( ) Read a book
11. ( ) Dance
12. ( ) Talk on the phone
13. ( ) Kiss the children
Up in the Air: Simple Present x Simple Past
This movie is really nice and the scene is perfect to contrast the uses of the simple present and simple past tenses.
I. Work in small groups. Make a list of activities you do every time you travel by
pla
ne. Think about what you do during the day until the plane takes off. Make sure you mention the steps you take at home and at the airport too.
Ex:
I make my bags.
I shave.
II. Watch the movie segment and check which of the activities you listed in Exercise I George Clooney’s character did that day.
III. Now write 5 sentences saying what he did in the segment that you did not list in exercise II.
Ex: He took off his shoes at the airport.
IV. Now write sentences saying 5 things from your list that he didn’t do before traveling.
Ex: He didn’t shave.
Hachiko – A Dog’s Story: Passive Voice with Simple Past
A – Talk to a partner.
1. Do you have a pet? Talk about it.
2. Do you prefer dogs or cats? Why?
3. Is it important to have pets? Why?
4. When are pets helpful in a person’s life? Explain it.
5. When are pets harmful to a person?
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having pets?
I. Watch the movie segment and check the alternatives with the actions that you managed to see during the scene.
1. ( ) A Japanese monk put the collar around Hachi’s neck.
2. ( ) He put Hachi in a cage.
3. ( ) He took Hachi to a train station.
4. ( ) He fed Hachi.
5. ( ) A couple of guys picked Hachi up at the airport.
6. ( ) The baggage carrier accidentally dropped Hachi’s cage on the station platform.
7. ( ) Someone found the broken cage.
8. ( ) Parker found and carried Hachi home.
The Shawshank Redemption: Simple Past
This is a classic. Perfect for the simple past tense practice.
A. You will see the trial of Mr. Dufresne, accused of murdering his wife and her lover. Read parts of the judge’s and Mr. Dufresne’s speeches and fill in the blanks with the past tense form of the verbs in parentheses.
J: Judge
D: Mr. Dufresne
J: Describe the confrontation you _______ (have) with your wife.
D: It _______ (be) very bitter. She _______ (say) she ___________ (be) glad I _____ (know) that she ________ (hate) all the sneaking around.
J: And she ______ (say) she ________ (want) a divorce in Reno. What _______ (happen) after you ________ (argue) with your wife?
D: She ____ (pack) her bag.
J: ______ you _______ (follow) her?
D: I _______ (go) to a few bars first. Later, I ______ (drive) to his house to confront them. They ________ (be – neg) home. I __________ (park) in the turnout… and _______ (wait).
J: When they _________ (arrive), you ________ (go) up to the house and _____ (murder) them.
D: I ________ (get) back to the car and ________ (drive) home to sleep it off. Along the way, I __________ (throw) my gun into the Royal River.
J: The police _______ (drag) that river for 3 days and a gun was not found.
A. Take a look at the pair of sentences below. Write 1 next to the action that took place first and 2 next to the one that took place later.
___ Coraline went through a purple tunnel.
___ She entered a beautiful, neat living room.
___ She smelled something good.
___ She saw her other mother cooking in the kitchen.
___ Coraline talked to her other mother in the kitchen.
___ Her father sang her a song.
___ Coraline ate some chicken.
___ She drank some mango milk shake.
___ She went to bed in a comfortable bedroom.
___ She saw and talked to her friends in the picture.
What Women Want: Simple Past
This is a great scene. The students usually like it, especially because it is unconventional and unexpected.
Ask a partner if he / she did the following things before going to work or school 
this morning.
Ex: Did you drink wine?
No, I didn’t.
Talk to a partner and decide if Nick (Mel Gibson) performed the following activities before going to work by checking the items.
1. Drink wine
2. Smoke a cigarette
3. Have breakfast
4. Polish the nails
5. Put on some makeup
6. Shave
7. Wax the leg
8. Wear pantyhose
9. Wear socks
10. Dry the hair
11. Trip on the floor
12. Have an accident
13. Take a shower
14. Watch TV
Little Miss Sunshine: Tag Questions
This is a lovely scene from this wonderful film. I love the acting and the intelligent s
tory. This
scene is remarkable. I took advantage of the scene to practice asking tag questions. With this activity, the students can practice the grammar point based on contextualized evidence, which is great. I only used sentences in the past tense, though.
A. Talk to a partner
1. Have you ever participated in a pageant? Talk about it. What is your opinion about beauty pageants?
2. Is it OK for young children to participate in pageants?
3. What’s your opinion about pageants like Miss Brazil, Miss Universe, Model of the Year, etc?
B. Watch the segment, fill in the blanks with affirmative and negative forms of the given verbs, and complete the sentences with a tag question. Make sure the sentences are according to the information presented in the segment.
1 – Olive ……………………………. (be) wearing a suit, a hat and a tie, ……………… ?
2 – She ……….…………. (dedicate) her presentation to her grandfather, ………………..?
3 – Olive …………………. (be) intimidated by the audience, ……………?
4 – The audience …………… (be) shocked with Olive’s sexy dancing, ……………..?
5 – Many spectators …………….. (leave) the hall during her presentation, …………….?
6 – The dance ………………. (be) appropriate for the situation, ……………… ?
7 – Her family ……………………. (support) Olive by dancing with her, ……………….?
8 – The host …………………. (try) to remove her from the stage, …………………. ?
9 – Her father …………………… (dance) with her on the stage, ……………. ?
10 – The DJ …………….. (be) the only person to clap the presentation, ………………. ?
11 – Nobody …………………. (like) the presentation, ………….?
12 – They ………………………… (be) ashamed of Olive, ……….?
Gran Torino: Modal Verb – Should (Advice)
You and your partner will make a list of everything you know about China and its culture. Each piece of information scores 1 point. Your teacher will check which pair of students scored most points.
B. Write P (Polite) or I (Impolite) after the statements below. Make a guess! Which of the actions below are considered polite/impolite during a barbecue lunch according to the Hmong culture, an Asian ethnic group in the mountainous regions of southern China.
1- To eat cat meat (I)
2- To eat dog meat (I)
3 – To drink alcoholic beverages (P)
4 – To look at someone in the eyes (I)
5 – To touch the head of a person(I)
6 – To listen to the elderly (P)
7 – To eat very much (P)
Take a look at Po and Tai Lung. Then write next to the characters the qualities that best describe them, according to your impressions from the pictures. Make sure you write different adjectives for each of the characters.
This is Po:
Ex:
FAT
FUNNY
This is Tai Lung
Ex:
STRONG
INTELLIGENT
FAT STRONG FRIENDLY HEAVY SMART
FUNNY INTELLIGENT TIRED FAST CONFIDENT
LAZY AGGRESSIVE DANGEROUS UGLY QUIET
From the film Australia
Pay attention to Nullah’s words.Because Nullah is an aboriginal who doesn’t have much contact with white people, he doesn’t speak English correctly. Watch the segment, underline the verbs that are incorrect in each of the sentences below and correct them.
1 – My grandfather, King George, he take me to walkabouts.
2 – My grandfather teach me the most important lesson of all.
3 – That day, I see them, the white fellas, pushing bulls across the river.
4 – King George get angry at white fellas.
5 – The coppers come here to take me away.
6 – This story not begin that day.
7 – This story begin a little while ago in a land far, far away.
I. Watch the movie segment, which shows two queens, White and Red. Place the adjectives below under the column that you think is more appropriate for each of the queens.
BEAUTIFUL – ARROGANT – TALL – OLD – YOUNG – THIN – FUNNY – POWERFUL – FRIENDLY – UGLY – AGGRESSIVE – CALM
1. The White Queen (The Red Queen) is more beautiful than The Red Queen (The White Queen).
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
- _____________________________________
source
claudioazevedo@thomas.org.br
A. Work in small groups. make a list of 5 things a young teen can do to help the elderly. Make sure you use the modal verb for suggestion – could – to express your ideas.
1 ………………………………………..
2………………………………………..
3………………………………………..
4………………………………………..
5………………………………………..
B. Now watch the segment and write down 3 suggestions the boy gives to help the old man in the scene.
1……………………………………
2…………………………………..
3…………………………………..
C. Work in small groups again. Make a list of 3 things people could do in the following situations.
I. To protect the environment.
1……………………………………
2…………………………………..
3…………………………………..
II. To help needy people at Christmas time.
1…………………………………..
2………………………………….
3………………………………….
III. To become more popular at school.
1…………………………………..
2………………………………….
3………………………………….
A. Ask a partner if he/she can do the following activities.
Model:
S1: Can you…?
S2: Yes, I can / No, I can’t
1.Play a musical instrument?
2. Practice karate?
3.Turn somersaults?
4. Skate?
5. Play badminton?
6. Play table tennis?
7. Juggle with balls?
8. Juggle with chainsaws?
9. Jet ski?
10. Mix music at parties?
11. Make origami?
12. Speak Chinese?
A. Work in small groups. Make a list of 5 qualities or characteristics a good teacher must (has to) have and which ones he can’t have. 
He / She MUST:
1 …………………………………………
2 …………………………………………
3………………………………………….
4 …………………………………………
5 …………………………………………
He / She CAN’T:
1 …………………………………………
2 ………………………………………..
3 ………………………………………..
4 ………………………………………..
5 ………………………………………..
B. Now watch the movie segment. Which of the characteristics you have listed before apply to Mr. Woodcock?
C. Imagine you are talking to Mr. Woodcock now. Tell him what he must (has to) do and what he can’t do to become a better teacher.
1 ……………………………………………..
2 …………………………………………….
3 …………………………………………….
4 ……………………………………………
5 ……………………………………………
The Hitcher: Modal Verb SHOULD – Advice
This movie is a classic that has changed many people’s opinions about giving rides to strangers on roads. I took advantage of the opening scene to have student practice modal verbs for advice – SHOULD – OUGHT TO.
Make a list of what drivers should and should not do when th
ey travel by car alone during the night.
What drivers should (ought to) do:
1 – ………………………………………………..
2 – ………………………………………………..
3 – ………………………………………………..
4 – ………………………………………………..
What drivers shouldn’t (oughtn’t to) do:
1 – …………………………………………………
2 – ………………………………………………..
3 – ………………………………………………..
4 – ………………………………………………..
Twilight: Modal Verb for Ability – CAN
Although this movie is apparently attractive just to teenagers, this scene is fun and exciting for everybody. This scene is excellent for teens, though. They like the movie and it suits the grammar goal well. Students can practice the modal verb CAN for ability. They can also learn some new vocabulary about baseball, especially if they are in a country where the sport is not so popular, like here in Brazil.
Talk to a partner about these questions: 
1- What do you know about vampires? 
2- What can they do?
3- What’s good and bad about being a vampire?
A. Vocabulary Collocation:
Match both columns .
1 – Pitch
2 – Hit
3 – Run
4 – Handle
5 – Jump
6 – smell
( ) the baseball precisely
( ) the baseball hard
( ) fast
( ) the bat with agility
( ) high
( ) different perfumes easily
– . The Cullens
Observe the movie segment below. There you will see The Cullens, the group of vampires playing baseball, and the Nomads, the group of vampires who arrive later. Then write down sentences saying what the Cullens and the Nomads can do that we, humans, can’t. Use the matching exercise items and others.
1 ………………………………………………………………………………
2 …………………………………………………………………………….
3 ……………………………………………………………………………..
4 ……………………………………………………………………………..
5 ……………………………………………………………………………..
6 …………………………………………………………………………….
Talk to a partner and decide:
What super powers would you like to have?
I can …………………….., ……………………………, and ………………………………..
Answer Key – Matching may vary:
1. Pitch the ball precisely
2. Hit the ball hard
3. Run extremely fast
4. Handle the bat with agility
5. Jump high
6. smell different perfumes easily
How to prepare your own video activity:
– Select a scene in which the characters can perform different activities, like skills or sports.
– Ask students to write about what they see and what activities they can (not) perform.
A. Watch the movie segment. 
B. In column 1, write YES if you believe it is a possible explanation for the mystery, and NO if you believe it is an impossible explanation.
In column 2, check the items that the characters in the movie believe are possible explanations for what is in the mist.
WHAT IS (IN) THE MIST?
MY OPINION / THE CHARACTERS’ OPINIONS
( ) ( ) A military operation
( ) ( ) A pollution cloud
( ) ( ) A terrorist attack
( ) ( ) Some kind of chemical explosion
( ) ( ) Death
( ) ( ) Just their imagination
( ) ( ) An earthquake
( ) ( ) Aliens
( ) ( ) The end of days
( ) ( ) A poisonous gas cloud
( ) ( ) A nuclear explosion
( ) ( ) A war simulation
C. Now write sentences with might, could or can’t to express possibility or impossibility, speculating about what is in the mist.
Might
1 ………………………………………………………………………………..
2 ……………………………………………………………………………….
Could
1 ………………………………………………………………………………..
2 ………………………………………………………………………………..
Can’t
1.…………………………………………………………………………………..
2 ………………………………………………………………………………….
A2-B1 Enjoy Australia with music !
The biggest, I wonder?
Look on the link and give an answer:
Is Australia bigger than France?
Is France bigger than Australia?
Is Australia the same size as France?
Is Australia the same size as the United States of America?
Is Europe the same size as Australia?
Is it more difficult to live on the coast than in the middle of the country?
Is it easier to live in the city or in the countryside?
Is it more dangerous to play on the beach than on the land? (sharks)
Is it safer to swim near the Australian coast than close to the French southern coast?
Which country is the biggest?
Is Ayers Rock the highest mountain in Australia?
Is the nuclear accident in Japan the most frightening event at the moment?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T20Twjiu9Y4&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_QKPleYeGo&feature=related[/youtube]
New York …
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqlJl1LfDP4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjsXo9l6I8[/youtube]
A1-A2-B1 Kina Grannis Valentine Lyrics
Underline the [ai] sounds in red, circle the [i:] sound in red and draw a rectangular shape for [au]
Are there any more sounds you recognized?
Love, it’s a special day
We should celebrate and appreciate
That you and me found something pretty neat
And I know some say this day is arbitrary
But it’s a good excuse to put our love to use
Baby, I know what to do
Baby, I will love you
I’ll love you, I’ll love you
Love, I don’t need those things
I don’t need no ring
I don’t need anything
But you with me
‘Cause in your company
I feel happy, oh so happy and complete
And it’s a good excuse to put our love to use
Baby, I know what to do
Baby, I will love you
I’ll love you, I’ll love you
So won’t you be my honey bee?
Giving me kisses all the time
Be mine, be my Valentine
So won’t you be my honey bee?
Giving sweet kisses all the time
Be mine, be my Valentine
BOOK of K E L L S Collège et cinéma Brendan and the Secret of Kells
Long ago, when the Vikings crossed the seas to raid Ireland, a boy called Brendan lived in a village not far from
the great monastery of Kells.
One terrible day, the Vikings attacked Brendan’s village
and left no one alive- except little Brendan!
click http://LearningApps.org/view3131279 and watch!
http://LearningApps.org/view1361649 about King Arthur, a very famous Celtic King
a forest spirit named Aisling.
the Eye of Collum-Cille
Crom Cruach, a Celtic pagan deity
Opening scene:
-“Catch him, Brendan! Don’t let him go!” The goose is running very fast.
-“We’ve got him!”
The walls of the Abbot’s room are full of drawings!
-“We are artists, not builders!” said Brother leonardo crossly.
A stranger arrives with a white cat!
From Brother Aidan’ s study room to the forest:
Brendan took down the stachel (bag) and opened it!
-“Oh! Brother Aidan! I… mean no harm. I just wanted to look at the Book.”
The “Chi Ro” page is the most glorious page in the entire book.
The monks use ink, the deepest emerald green ink! They grow an old oak trees in the forest.”
Brendan’s face: ‘I am not allowed in the forest. It is too dangerous.’
-“Oh, Pangur, I really want to help Brother Aidan. Maybe I could go into the forest.
The two friends crept through the passage between the stones. They hurried into the dark forest.
Finally, they reached a clearing (woods with trees) and stopped to catch their breath.
Wolves! Brendan picked up a stick and swung it around like a sword. The wolves started making noises.
Brendan closed his eyes and begun to pray.
http://LearningApps.org/view3188048
-“Is this your cat?”
A small white-haired girl, about eight years old, stood in front of the stone, holding Pangu Ban.
-“You’re a… a fairy! What are you doing here?”
-“What are you doing here- in my forest? You’ve come to spoil it, haven’t you? Where are the rest of your family?
Cutting down trees or hunting the animals, I suppose?”
-‘I haven’t come to spoil anything! And I don’t have a family.’
-‘No mother?’
-“No?” Brendan said, “no mother, and no father either.”
-‘I’m alone too. My name is Aisling, what’s yours?”
-‘Brendan. And I’m jsut here to find berries to make ink. Do you know where these grow?”
-‘I could help you find them’ Aisling said, ‘but only if you and your cat promise never to come into my forest again!’
-‘We promise.’
-‘Come on, then.’
Aisling led Brendan and Pangur throught the forest, stopping to ask birds and animals for directions to the oak tree.
Finally she stopped under a huge tree and pointed straight up. It was a very long way to the top.
Aisling looked very strong. She managed to climb trees, all of them! Tall trees, thick trees, large trees, all of them!
But Brendan had difficulties climbing, he was trying to breathe.
Aisling was already at the bottom.
-‘Are you alright?’ Aisling asked anxiously.
-‘I’m fine. I just jumped the last bit.’
Pangur looked at him and shook her head.
Brendan left the path and found a cave.
-‘Careful! Be carefu! Evil ahead of you!’
-‘What do you mean?’
‘Crom Cruach? It is not a story … The Dark One is real. Run!’
‘It isn’t your world, Brendan? You must trust me! We need to go home!’
Back at the Abbey:
‘Brendan! Where have you been?’
‘I … I went into the forest. For brother Aidan, to get berries to make ink… for the BooK.’
‘I said it to you. You must not and shouldn’t leave the Abbey.’
‘Yes, Uncle. I’m sorry, I apologize.’
‘Now, come along. I have work for you in the tower.’
Later that night…
-‘Aidan! Wake up!
The next day refugees arrived at the abbey gates. The Vikings were getting closer! The monks worked even harder on the walls.
And Brendan worked on his drawing. Aidan was very pleased with his progress.
-‘Brendan, I have a confession. I cannot do the Chi Ro page. My old hands are too shaky and my eyes too dim. YOU must do it.’
-‘Me? No. I would ruin it. There must be someone else-‘
-‘You just have to trust in yourself and your imagination.’
For once (for the first time in his life), Brendan was glad to hear Abbot Cellach calling him.
Aidan drew a shape on a piece of paper and placed Brendan’s hand on it. The Eye of Crom Cruach was there!
-‘I cannot give up the Book, Uncle!’
Saved by Aisling:
-‘The only key to the Tower is in the Abbot’s room. ‘
-‘Now, Little Cat.’ said Aisling softly ‘You must go where I cannot.’
Aisling begun to croon softly into Pangur’s ear. Pangur’s shape slowly dissolved into thin white cloud.
The mist-cat turned and twisted inside the room, then reached out and lifted the key from the hook by the door.
-Where are you going?’
-‘The Eye of Crom!’
-‘No, Aisling. It’s a crystal and I think there’s one in the Dark One’s cave.’
Aisling is very sad and also frightened. She doesn’t want her friend to go to Crom Cruach’s place.
-‘Crom Cruach took my people. It took my mother. You will die!’
-‘The Book is Knowledge and Hope and Inspiration. it will be a treasure far beyond our time, a treasure forever.’
-‘This place is hurting you, Aisling. You must go back.’
The fight with the monster:
Again and again, the monster tried to consume Brendan; each time Brendan ducked out of its way( trying to escape).
The serpent raced towards Brendan. Brendan drew a big circle. The monster screamed in frustration.
Brendan reached for the monster’s eye. The eye came free. Pangur Ban was happy to see her her friend alive and well.
In the scriptorium and the arrival of the Vikings:
Brendan lay asleep on his desk, his hand covering a small piece of vellum. Aidan gently moved his hand and looked at Brendan’ s
creation throught the crystal. Very small creatures seemed alive under the glass, perfect in every detail. He called the other Brothers and they looked
at Brendan’s creation through the crystal. They were amazed at Brendan’s work.
They told Brendan to go in the tower because it was too dangerous to stay with the Northmen. They slammed the door and locked it behind
him.
The monks said to Brendan :
-‘ The Northmen killed everyone on Iona; they will leave no one in Kells. Your uncle lived to protect you. Now I must protect you, for Cellach and for the Book.’
The Northmen had destroyed part of the book, the vellum pages started floating gently to the ground.
Brendan started collecting them. The wolf had big blue eyes and was watching them. He suddenly disappeared.
Time passes by. Brendan is now a young adult and he is paying a visit to his Uncle who is old.
from wikipedia:
Brendan Gleeson as Abbot Cellach: A former illuminator himself, Abbot Cellach now uses his talents for the purposes of designing a wall to protect the Abbey of Kells from invasion. He is very concerned for everyone’s safety, especially that of his nephew Brendan, to the point where he thinks of little else but the completion of his wall. Eventually, this leads to his downfall.
Liam Hourican as Brother Tang and Brother Leonardo: Two illuminators, the former from Asia and the latter from Italy.
Mick Lally as Brother Aidan: As the Vikings attacked the Scottish island of Iona, master illuminator Brother Aidan fled with his cat, Pangur Bán. In Kells, he acquires Brendan as an assistant.
Evan McGuire as Brendan: The main character of the film, twelve-year-old Brendan is bright, imaginative and curious, but leads a sheltered life due to his uncle forbidding him from venturing outside the walls of Kells. Brendan is very interested in the art of illumination, and spends much of his time in the scriptorium with some of the Brothers in the abbey. He is recruited as Aidan’s assistant to help finish his great book. His uncle Abbot Cellach, an approaching Viking horde, a snake god and his own fears stand in the way of bringing the finished book to the people.
Michael McGrath as Adult Brendan
Christen Mooney as Aisling: Aisling is a fairy, related to the Tuatha De Danann, living in the woods outside of Kells. She is a protector of the forest, and doesn’t like unwelcomed guests. At this point her age is uncertain, but she is likely to be hundreds of years old. Despite being terrified of Crom Cruach, the evil god that dwells in a cave deep within her forest, she becomes loyal to Brendan and does whatever she can to help him. She has many magical abilities, and often takes the form of a white wolf.
Paul Tylack as Brother Assoua: An illuminator from Africa.
Paul Young as Brother Square: An illuminator from England.
The name Book of Kells is derived from the Abbey of Kells in Kells, County Meath, which was its home for much of the medieval period. The date and place of production of the manuscript have been the subject of considerable debate. Traditionally, the book was thought to have been created in the time of Columba,[4]paleographic and stylistic grounds: most evidence points to a composition date ca. 800,[5] long after St. Columba’s death in 597. The proposed dating in the 9th century coincides with Viking raids on Iona, which began in 794 and eventually dispersed the monks and their holy relics into Ireland and Scotland.[6] There is another tradition, with some traction among Irish scholars, that suggests the manuscript was created for the 200th anniversary of the saint’s death.[7] possibly even as the work of his own hands.
Rescued by his uncle, Cellach,
Brendan has lived ever since among the monks in the monsatery,
under strict instructions not to go beyond the walls!
Have a look at the maps!
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usaccomm/index.html
photos of Iona, July 2007 by Marie André-milesi
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Key words:
A stranger arrives with a white cat!
