THE STORY BEHIND THE PICTURE

Every picture tells a story and now I am thinking about the terrible story which is represented in ¨The third of May 1808¨painted by Francisco de Goya y Lucientes between 1814 and 1815.

On the second of May 1808, the people of Madrid attacked a group of the mounted Egyptian soldiers (mamelukes) of the French Army. The participants and the witnesses of the attack were punished by arrests and executions continuing throughout the night and the following morning of 3 May. The reality is that hundred of Spaniards were rounded up and shot.

The subject is a scene where French soldiers execute Spanish patriots at Príncipe Pío hill in Madrid. It is recognizable because of the palace on the right-hand side.

There are two diagonal lines: the individualized patriots and the soldiers. The French soldiers are identical, with the same uniforms, swords, hats. They are an inhuman group of men. The central figure, a man with his arms outstretched, reflects the desperation and the terror of the situation which is evident on his face. The brightness of this figure highlights the tragic moment.

This painting is not so much a protest against the French Imperialism. It is a cry against the inhuman brutality in all wars.

STONEHENGE

Stonehenge is a mysterious place. Nobody knows exactly who built the monument on Salisbury Plain. The construction was begun about 5000 years ago, so it is one of the oldest buildings in existence.

There are three circles of stones and some of the stones are very heavy. The extraordinary thing is that a lot of them were brought from places far away. People didn´t have transport in those days, so how did they move them? It is a mystery.

The legend says that Stonehenge was built for sunworshipping but there are different theories as to why Stonehenge was built. Some people think it was a castle, others an observatory from which to watch the stars, and still others a calendar in stone. Speculation on the reason it was built range from human sacrifice to astronomy.

Stonehenge has many visitors every year. It is very popular in the Summer. On June the 21st of every year, the longest day of the year, the sun rises directly above a line drawn between two of the most important stones, and there is a ceremony of sunworshipping at sunrise on Midsummer´s day. People stand inside the sacred circle and there is an amazing excitement at the solstice sunrise.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/stonehenge-decoded-3372

EXAMS, EXAMS.

Selectivity exam for thousands of students is in the horizon and they are all getting quite nervous. As many teachers know, it is a very important exam for them. It is a period of hard work and study. I know that pieces of advice here can be a bit funny but the only thing I am going to say to all my students is to do their best!

Before the exam:

- Check your equipment, make sure it is in order.

- Don´t cheat or break any rules. Don´t take mobile phones in.

- Make sure you get enough sleep and have a healthy breakfast or lunch.

- Keep your thoughts to yourself and concentrate on the exam.

- Relax and think positively to grow your confidence.

In the exam:

- Take a short breath in through your nose and then let it out long through your mouth.

- Concentrate on what you have to do.

- Have a glucose sweet to give energy to your brain.

- Read the instructions on the exam papers carefully.

- Read the questions before you write anything.

- Use time to choose your questions and write notes to help you remember later.

After the exam:

- Don´t worry about the exam you have just taken.

- Concentrate instead on the next exam.

GOOD LUCK, GUYS!!!

LITERATURE: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD

The age of Romanticism brought about a new type of emotional literature. The scientific and rational thought of the previous century gave way to the most violent emotions: enthusiasm, melancholy, passion, emotion. The coming of the 19th century brought a period of cultural change which was notable in many aspects of life.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF ROMANTICISM.

- Individualism and the triumph of subjectivity.
- Interest in Nature as inspiration for Art.
- Fascination with magic, dreams, fantasy and mystery.
- Spirit of rebellion.
- Idealism.
- Renewed interest in the past and exotic cultures.
- A feeling of personal liberty.

Romanticism dominated English Literature through 19th century. In Britain, it is represented by two generations of poets:

- The Lake Poets: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The most important elements of their works are: solitary meditation, a deep emotion produced by the contemplation of nature, the presence of a mysterious atmosphere...

- The Rebel Poets: Lord Byron, John Keats, Percy Shelley. The poetry of all three is full of romantic emotion, revolutionary ideas and notable perfection.

Romantic novels were also popular. Some well-known examples are Mary Shelley´s "Frankenstein" (1818), Emily Bronte´s "Wuthering Heights" (1847), Charlotte Bronte´s "Jane Eyre" (1847) and Walter Scott´s "Ivanhoe" (1819).

OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD MENU

One good reason to visit Galicia is to enjoy the excellent food, available in many restaurants, shops and markets.
Seafood is its speciality, due to the province´s long shoreline and traditional fishing economy.

- Octopus with olive oil and Spanish paprika

- Mussels

- Lobsters

- Squid

- Prawns

- Crabs

- Oysters

- Barnacles

- Sardines and mackerel

Seafood is also used in soups, stews, paellas and pies. Galician pie is a meat or fish pie with a bread-like base. "Caldo gallego" is a soup made from cabbage or turnips tops, potato and a small piece of meat. There are many varieties of this Galician speciality.

Galicia also produces a number of high-quality wines, including Albariño, Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras.

To round off this brief look at Galician cuisine, let me not forget its fresh cheeses, pastries and "filloas"(a type of crepe), the most original and delightful dessert that Galicia can offer.

A feast for stomach and eyes!