HIGHLANDERS

by Mrs Foxy

What does the word "highlander" evoke to you ?

20

Menu

Introduction

How the Highlander hero came to be

Robert the Bruce's representations

Another hero

An old modern Highlander

Final Project

Introduction

20

Watch the video :

What type of document is it ?

This document is a commercial/ advertising campaign.

What strikes you ?

The soundtrack is lively. The landscapes are mesmerizing.

Why are people fascinated by this country, according to this video?

Scotland is promoted by its iconic places, its culture (history, music, art), enchanting colours. It explains why Scotland is so famous and attracting.

How the Highlander hero came to be

20

Read the text.

Picture in your mind's eye the Scottish Highlands: the gorgeous lochs, the dramatic landscapes... the fearsome, swoon-worthy¹, kilted men. From the 19th century popular fiction to Hollywood blockbusters. audiences of the world have been enraptured² by the rugged image of the highlander. But what are the true origins of this legendary man ? The birth of this hero can be traced back to 1296, when English forces invaded Scotland and sparked³ the Wars of Scottish Independence. The conflict went on until the early 14th century with neither side able to claim decisive victory. From this dark and bloody time, however, several brave Scots became renown for their bravery. One of the most famous Scots of that period was the patriotic knight⁴ William Wallace, who defeated the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge and later became the inspiration for the 1995 film Braveheart. [...] Finally in 1357, Scotland once again emerged as a sovereign nation, thanks to the heroic efforts of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. Robert was crowned king, and the Scots thus gained a reputation for being ferocious warriors. Unfortunately, by the 19th century, Scotland was once more a subject nation to England, and many of its cultural traditions were on the brink of extinction -until Sir Walter Scott stepped onto the scene. Born in Edinburgh, Scott was a respected historian and writer as well as a fierce⁵ advocate of Scottish culture. In 1814, he penned a historical romance titled Waverley, which became a huge success. Waverley and Scott's subsequent novels, such as Rob Roy and Ivanhoe, remain important works in the canon of Scottish literature, and did much to establish the legend of the fearsome, dashing highlander that continues to capture our imagination to this day.

1 5 10 15 20 25

Complete the timeline.

Complete the grid. (l.10-17)

Explain who Walter Scott was and how he helped shaping Highlanders' identity. (l.20 - the end)

Draw a conclusion about Highlanders' characteristics.

Throughout History, many conflicts between English and Scottish broke out. Indeed, they had to preserve their independence to keep Scotland a sovereign nation. So, their fight against the English invaders contributed to their reputation as fearsome warriors. Literature also fed highlanders' reputation.

1. ici, beau à défaillir 2. émerveiller 3. start 4. chevalier 5. ferocious

Deborah Chu, The Myth & Romance of the Highlander, 2019

20

robert the bruce's representations

Present the document (type, subject).

Source : https://stupidmonsters.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/new-direction-fo-national-geographic-kids-strip/

Read the speech bubbles. Comment upon them.

How is Robert the Bruce represented ?

20

robert the bruce's representations

Look at the film poster and describe it.

Analyse the title. What feature of this hero is enhanced ?

robert the bruce's representations

Watch the trailer a first time and take some notes :(characters, place(s), period, actions)

20

20

robert the bruce's representations

Watch it a second time. Comment upon Bruce's representation.

Compare this representation with the real Robert the Bruce.

Common points:

• violent, ruthless
• warrior " As long as you fight "
• ferocious, bloody

Differences:

• R. the Bruce became an outlaw and the triggering factor in the film is Wallace's execution. History is different. He truly became an outlaw after murdering John Comyn.

• The date of his marriage is inaccurate in the film.

20

Let's recap

Compare the different representations of Robert the Bruce.

20

Guess who...

Find the character

Solution

20

Guess who ...

William Wallace

20

Braveheart

Comment upon the title. What does it reveal about the orientation of the film ?

Look at the film poster and describe it.

20

Braveheart

Comment upon the quote : "Every man dies, not every man really lives".

The quote "Every man dies, but not every man really lives" challenges us to seize the day and make the most of our lives. It encourages us to pursue our passions, take risks, and embrace the unknown. It reminds us that life is short, and we should not waste it on things that do not matter. The quote is a powerful reminder of the importance of living life to the fullest.

Draw a conclusion about Wallace's representation.

All these elements put together show us that this film must depict a moment in Scottish history when the nation engaged in warfare, but rather than being realistic and sticking to the facts we can guess that it has been made into an romantic epic in which the love of the hero for a woman illustrates the warrior’s patriotic feelings.

20

An old modern highlander

Watch the trailer a first time. Explain what you understand.

20

An old modern highlander

Watch it again and find information about: who/what/where/when ?

20

An old modern highlander

Comment upon the quote: ''What if YOUR FUTURE was the PAST?''

What can you say about Claire's encounter with the young Highlander?

20

An old modern highlander

How can you relate the trailer with the focus "Fiction & Reality"?

Fictional and historical figures are blended: Redcoats (British army) are recognizable by their clothing style. Claire and Jamie (the protagonists= main characters are fictional). The plot mixes fiction & history: The scene is set during WWII (SECOND WORLD WAR). --> see the soldiers Claire is swept into the past during her honeymoon; which is technically impossible. (FICTION) However, she falls though time and is sent into the past, in the 18th century, in the middle of the Jacobite uprisings.

20

An old modern highlander

Read the introduction of the text.

Identify :- the characters: - the place: - the period of time: - the actions:

Claire, an English soldier, a Scottish citizen

Scotland

18th century

trapped/gets married to save her life

Trapped in the 18th century Scotland, Claire is threatened by an English soldier who wants to arrest her by spying. To save her life, she has to become a Scottish citizen by marrying a Scotsman, Jamie Fraser.

Comment upon the screenshot.

20

An old modern highlander

Read the whole text.

Trapped in the 18th century Scotland, Claire is threatened by an English soldier who wants to arrest her by spying. To save her life, she has to become a Scottish citizen by marrying a Scotsman, Jamie Fraser.

List the clothing items and the accessories.

Are you surprised by the description of this Highlander ? Explain.

"If I was a radiant bride, the groom was resplendent. My mouth fell open and stayed that way. A Highlander in full regalia¹ is an impressive sight [...]. A tall, straight-bodied, and by no means ill-favored young Highlander at close range is breath-taking. His tartan² was a brilliant crimson³ and black that blazed among the more sedate⁴ in their green and white. The flaming wool, fastened by a circular silver brooch, fell from his right shoulder in a graceful drape, caught by a silver-studded sword belt before continuing its sweep past neat calves clothed in woolen hose and stopping just short of the silver-buckled black leather boots. Sword, dirk⁵ and badger-skin sporran complete the ensemble.Well over six feet tall, broad in proportion and striking of feature, he was a far cry from the grubby horse-handler I was accustomed to - and he knew it. Making a leg in courtly fashion, he swept me a bow of impeccable grace, murmuring "Your servant, Ma'am", eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh", I said faintly.

The Highlander in Diana Gabaldon’s excerpt is quite different from the idea that one can have. Indeed, the clichéd image that comes to mind when talking about a Highlander is that of a sturdy, strong, ruthless/merciless man, whereas the Highlander who is described in this passage is quite the opposite. Jamie Fraser, the Highlander is getting married with Claire Beauchamp, so he has to look different from a warrior. He is impressive and looks quite strong. Unlike a warrior, he is also courtly, elegant, well-mannered and romantic.

Observe the green words. What are their common points ?

Phonology: Click on the link, listen and repeat.

1. in full formal dress 2. a Scottish woolen cloth 3. deep red 4. calm 5. dagger

Excerpt from Diana Gabaldon's novel, Outlander

20

Challenge time !

Listen to the audio.

Instructions : Step 1: Listen to the document and guess who I am. Step 2: Now circle the first, third and fourth letter of his first name and add the letter L and E to the mix. Put them in order to find the mystery word. The correct answer is the synonym of revolt. Did you accomplish your missions?

20

Final TEST

40:00

Instructions:

Look at the poster and watch the trailer. Then, write a short paragraph about this character. a) Comment upon the title. /1 b) Describe the film poster: see method /3 use 2 compound adjectives /2 c) How is this character linked to Highlanders? Describe her. /5 d) What are the common points and the differences with what we've already studied? /3 e) What is the underlying message? /3 Pay attention to the spelling and the syntax ! /3

Well done !

In the top left-hand corner

In the foreground

At the top

On the left

In the background

At the bottom

In the bottom left-hand corner

In the middle

In the top right-hand corner

On the right

In the bottom right-hand corner

Mel Gibson plays the role of the hero William Wallace, also nicknamed Braveheart, because of the courage he displayed in battle, putting himself at risk and lifting the spirits of his fellow warriors.

The hero is standing in the middle. He appears very tall and he is holding a sword and wearing a tartan kilt. A fire seems to be raging behind him, which must be representative of his passion for the causes he fights for. In the background, there are hundreds of men, probably warriors, since they all seem to be engaging into battle. This combat must be a representation of one of the battles of the Scottish war of independence. In the top left-hand corner, a couple is embracing, they are barely wearing anything, which sharply contrasts with the other characters on the film-poster.