Vincent (Starry, Starry Night ) Don Mc Lean

Listen to the song and fill in the gaps with these words:

pain /  hope / suffered / eyes / bloody / brightly / 

china / daffodils / gray / still /  know /  fields / 

snowy / now /  world / empty /  strangers

Starry, starry night

Paint your palette blue and …...............

Look out on a summer's day

With …................ that know the darkness in my soul

Shadows on the hills

Sketch the trees and the ….............

Catch the breeze and the winter chills

In colors on the ….................. linen land

CHORUS

…....... I understand

What you tried to say to me

How you ….................. for your sanity

How you tried to set them free

They did not listen, They did not …....... how

Perhaps they'll listen now

Starry, starry night

Flaming flowers that ….................... blaze

Swirling clouds in violet haze

Reflect in Vincent's eyes of …............... blue

Colors changing hue

Morning …............. of amber grain

Weathered faces lined in …...............

Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

CHORUS

For they could not love you

But still your love was true

And when no ….................. was left inside

On that starry, starry night

You took your life as lovers often do

But I could have told you Vincent

This ….................. was never meant for one as

beautiful as you

Starry, starry night

Portraits hung in …............. halls

Frameless heads on nameless walls

With eyes that watch the world and can't forget

Like the …............. that you've met

The ragged men in ragged clothes

The silver thorn of …................... rose

Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know

What you tried to say to me

How you suffered for your sanity

How you tried to set them free

They would not listen they're not listening …..........

Perhaps they never will

KEY 

 gray / eyes / daffodils / snowy / Now / suffered / know / brightly / 

 china / fields / pain / hope / world / empty / strangers / bloody / still

More on the song

Now answer these question about the song. 

(This could be used as a discussion / speaking  activity after listening to the song.)

1. What feelings do the lyrics show?
   
2. What do you think this line means “This world was never meant for one
   as beautiful as you.”?
   
3. What about this one “They would not listen, they're not listening still
   Perhaps they never will”?
   
4. Which words refer to art and painting?
5. Which words refer to nature?

KEY

1. The lyrics show the feelings Van Gogh had struggling with his depression: loneliness, sadness, frustration.
2. The song writer reflects how the painter felt when nobody would understand him or appreciate his work.
3. This line suggests that, although Van Gogh is one of the most appreciated artists now and his works are some of the most expensive ones, we still do not understand how he felt and what he wanted to express through his paintings
4. Words connected with art and painting:
   paint, sketch, palette, artist,portraits, blue, gray, violet, colors, hue, amber, silver
5. Words and phrases that refer to nature:
   starry night, summer´s day, hills,trees,daffodils,breeze, winter chills, snowy land, snow, flowers, haze, clouds, fields, amber grain, (silver) thorn of (bloody) rose

 

Watching for pleasure...

Sometimes, we do not need an activity following a video; we can always watch and listen to it for pleasure...

Vincent van Gogh: Starry Night (EBAU question 1 and question 3)

 

     'Starry Night' is one of the most recognized pieces of art in the world and it is absolutely everywhere. It can be seen on coffee mugs, t-shirts, towels, magnets, etc. Honestly, it sometimes feels as if the painting’s fame has exceeded that of its creator. It is a magnificent piece of art. That 'Starry Night' resonates with so many people is a testament to how its beauty is timeless and universal.

     Vincent van Gogh painted Starry Night in 1889 during his stay at the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. He lived well in the hospital; he was allowed more freedoms than any of the other patients. If attended, he could leave the hospital grounds; he was allowed to paint, read, and withdraw into his own room. He was even given a studio. While he suffered from the occasional relapse into paranoia and fits - officially he had been diagnosed with epileptic fits - it seemed his mental health was recovering.

     Unfortunately he began to suffer hallucination and have thoughts of suicide as he plunged into depression and that influenced his work. He returned to incorporating the darker colours from the beginning of his career and Starry Night is a wonderful example of that shift. Blue dominates the painting, blending hills into the sky. The little village lays at the base in the painting in browns, greys, and blues. Even though each building is clearly outlined in black, the yellow and white of the stars and the moon stand out against the sky, drawing the eyes to the sky. They are the big attention grabber of the painting.

     One of the biggest points of interest about this painting is that it came entirely from Van Gogh’s imagination. None of the scenery matches the area surrounding Saint-Paul or the view from his window. As a man who religiously paints what he sees, it’s a remarkable break from Van Gogh’s normal work.

     The contrast in styles plays on the natural versus the unnatural, dreams versus reality. Nature could even be attributed to the divine in this work. It could be that Van Gogh simply wanted to breathe in the higher power into his art, as he grew up in a religious household.   

Question 1. Indicate whether the following statements are True or False and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

1. 'Starry Night' hasn´t always been regarded as beautiful.
2. Everybody in the asylum could go to his room any time.
3. His mental health is reflected in his work.
4. Vincent's early colours were not as light as those he used when his mind was more at ease.
5. There's a black line around the buildings.
6. Van Gogh didn't use to invent the topic of his paintings.
7.  He belonged to a religious family.

Question 3. Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

1. truly,really (par.1)
2. seem (par.1)
3. accompany (par.2)
4. attack (par.2)
5. change (par.3)
6. be noticed easily (par.3)
7. be located (par.3)

KEY

Question 1

1.     False. “That 'Starry Night' resonates with so many people is a testament to how its beauty is timeless and universal. “
2.     False. “He lived well in the hospital; he was allowed more freedoms than any of the other patients. If attended, he could leave the hospital grounds; he was allowed to paint, read, and withdraw into his own room.”
3.     True. “Unfortunately he began to suffer hallucination and have thoughts of suicide as he plunged into depression and that influenced his work.”
4.     True. “ Unfortunately he began to suffer hallucination and have thoughts of suicide as he plunged into depression and that influenced his work.”
5.     True. “ Even though each building is clearly outlined in black”
6.     True. “One of the biggest points of interest about this painting is that it came entirely from Van Gogh’s imagination. None of the scenery matches the area surrounding Saint-Paul or the view from his window. As a man who religiously paints what he sees, it’s a remarkable break from Van Gogh’s normal work.”
7.     True. “It could be that Van Gogh simply wanted to breathe in the higher power into his art, as he grew up in a religious household.”

Question 2

1.     honestly
2.     feels / to feel
3.     attended / to attend
4.     fits
5.     shift
6.     to stand out
7.     to lay

TRANSLATION: SOME QUOTES BY VAN GOGH.

1. “There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” 

2. “I don't know anything with certainty, but seeing the stars makes me dream.” 

3. “If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” 

4. “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” 

5. “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” 

6. “I try more and more to be myself, caring relatively little whether people approve or disapprove.” 

7. “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” 

8. “I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.” 

Key

1. No hay nada más verdaderamente artístico que amar a las personas.
2. Yo no sé nada con certeza pero ver las estrellas me hace soñar.
3. Si oyes una voz dentro de ti diciéndote "no sabes pintar", pinta, ¡Faltaría más! y la voz se callará.
4. La normalidad es un camino pavimentado: Es cómodo para caminar pero las flores no crecen en él.
5. ¿Qué sería de la vida, si no tuviéramos el valor de intentar algo nuevo?
6. Intento cada vez más ser yo mismo, preopcupándome relativamente poco si la gente está o no de acuerdo.
7. Si realmente amas la naturaleza, encontrarás la belleza en todas partes.
8. Siempre creo que la mejor forma de conocer a Dios es amar muchas cosas

Witch-hunt EBAU questions 2 & 4

Witch-hunt to find partygoer*who betrayed Harry for 10,000 pounds

Prince Harry’s choice of fancy-dress costume caused hardly a stir among his fellow partygoers. The real scandal for them was that one of them had chosen to sell the pictures.

Perhaps testimony to the lack of surprise that Harry should wear a Nazi costume is that the partygoer who approached The Sun* is said to have thought the most saleable picture was of Prince William dressed as a lion. The question posed by many of the partygoers yesterday was who had “betrayed” Harry for 10,000 pounds?

Those who were at the party, given by Richard Meade, the former Olympic showjumper*, for his children James 23, Harry 22, and Lucy 21, are reluctant to speak of the events of last Saturday. However, sources said that a “witch-hunt” had started to find the person. One said:  “Somebody has behaved very badly. Everyone at the party was unaware that Harry’s costume was going to be a big issue. The shock is that someone would act as they have.”

There were at least 250 people at the party, most of them not part of William and Harry’s close set, so finding the culprit will not be easy. As with most fancy-dress parties, several guests had cameras, and someone taking photos of Princes William and Harry would not have attracted undue attention. According to Ken Lennox, a former picture editor of The Sun, there is no shortage of “friends” willing to make money by embarrassing someone in the public eye.

However, the money made by the guest who sold the picture is nothing compared to the profit made by the newspaper from syndicating it around the world. Mr. Lennox said: “The Sun should have made 100,000 pounds quite easily because this picture will sell and sell. The boy [Prince Harry] doesn’t need to be punished any further because that picture is going to dog his life. It will be used again and again. These photos are rare because it’s a private look into a private occasion, which shows up the world of the royals.”

He said that because of the secrecy of the dealings, the identity of the photographer would probably never be known. “I remember buying a photograph from someone who refused to take off his motorcycle helmet and visor. He turned up at the offices, sold me the picture and disappeared.”

                                                                The Daily Telegraph, January 15^th 2005

NOTES

Partygoer = person who enjoys going to a party and having fun.

The Sun = a British newspaper (famous for its reports on the Royal Family)

Showjumper = horse rider competing in a special race of jumps and obstacles.

Question 2: [2 POINTS] Answer the following questions in your own words.

a.  How did Harry and William dress up to go to the fancy-dress party and how many guests were there?

b. According to Mr. Lennox, why is a sensational newspaper like The Sun interested in buying a picture of this sort?

Question 4 [1,5 POINTS] Choose and write the most suitable answer (a, b, c or d) according to the text.

1.    If Prince William and his brother have been betrayed by a friend who went to the party, …

a)    iIt was difficult to find out who it is.

b)    iIt will be difficult to find out who it is.

c)    iIt would be difficult to find out who it is.

d)    it is difficult to find out who it is.

2.    Lots of photos will be taken by partygoers and some of them …

a)    may be sold by an unscrupulous friend.

b)    may to be sold by an unscrupulous friend.

c)    may sell by an unscrupulous friend.

d)    might to be sold by an unscrupulous friend.

3.    These photos are rare because it’s a private look into a private occasion,

a)    that shows up the world of the royals.

b)    who shows up the world of the royals.

c)    which shows up the world of the royals.

d)    whom shows up the world of the royals.

KEY

Question 2

a. Possible answers:

Harry dressed up as a Nazi and Prince William dressed up as a lion to go to the party.

To go to the fancy-dress party, William chose a costume of a lion, and Harry chose a Nazi costume.

There were about 250 guests there.

b.  Possible answers:

Mr. Lennox said that this newspaper is always interested in buying pictures of people who are famous or public figures. He says that the paper can make profits on selling the photos to other newspapers and charging the rights. He said The Sun would earn a lot of money with these photos in all the different countries.

Question 4

1.  b) it will be difficult to find out who it is.

2. a) may be sold by an unscrupulous friend.

3. c) which shows up the world of the royals.