last time not a single person answered about Selma Lagerlöf :) I still console myself with the hope that we weren’t the only ones who read her classic work “The Amazing Journey of Nils Holgerson with Wild Geese in Sweden” (I don’t mean the adapted short story, but the thick unabridged volume). In addition to this most famous work in Russia, the writer has many fairy tales and stories, which, let’s say, are quite difficult reading for adults. But today I’ll talk a little about Nils. This is a geography textbook - the writer lovingly and very vividly described all the natural zones of her native country and many populated areas. But we are not going to study the geography of Sweden using this textbook, so we are interested in other reasons - why should modern children read this book? Reason one: despite the fact that the book was written more than a hundred years ago, it is surprisingly relevant in terms of cultivating environmental awareness. In addition to telling what the thoughtless use of resources leads to (this happens in children's literature), it also says what to do and why: a story about how children and adults began to plant small trees in the place of a destroyed forest. This is the most valuable thing, and not “scaremongers” about how bad and terrible everything will be. The child needs specific action, specific advice. Reason two: the main character himself, Nils, goes through a very long and difficult path and the metamorphoses that happened to him are not accidental. The cause-and-effect relationship between behavior and consequence is explained in great detail. And this is not like flat edifying stories, where “the boy behaved badly and ah-ay-ay.” This is told in sufficient depth and leads to awareness of many actions. Nils magically receives only punishment. He EARNS everything else. And even the threatening sentence of an angry gnome (that Nils will become a man only if his goose friend is slaughtered) no longer has power over him - Nils has become so spiritually strong, he deserves his miracle. Along the way, he accomplishes many amazing feats and arrives home as a truly different person. It's like a story about growing up, transforming from a selfish child into a caring and responsible adult. What is very important is that Nils does not find the golden key or the magic pike that fulfills all wishes. He goes through a very difficult path with his own labor and personal efforts. Reason three: the world in the work is imperfect. There are tears, grief, and loss. But what is important: a person always overcomes any challenge and life goes on.
Reason four: a very important motive for children is the ability to put oneself in the place of another and look at the situation from a different point of view. In the story, when people wanted to drain the lake, which could have killed many birds, a woman who lost her son suddenly imagines herself as such an orphaned bird, having lost her chicks, and asks the villagers to leave the lake in place.
Reason five: the book is full of interesting information about living and inanimate nature.
Reason six: from my point of view, one of the most important motives that must be included in children's literature is how a small detail (event, etc.) can completely change life. So often adults wait for “great achievements”, putting off their daily small tasks as “unimportant”! When we discuss issues of family life or education, some people wonder why this little effort or this insignificant information is needed, but I want changes suddenly and immediately, a new life from Monday! So that everything around you changes with the wave of a magic wand. One of the stories in the book tells how tiny invisible larvae of one butterfly slowly multiplied and destroyed an entire forest, and how much trouble this all brought later. I would highly recommend that adults read this story and take a different look at the “insignificant” things in our lives, be they good or bad! Small thoughts, just words, just one small action?
I think I have listed the main reasons, and those who like the writer’s work will find others! (regarding age: we read at the age of five, I didn’t think that my daughter could stand such a burdensome book - after all, the language is not very good for little ones - but she liked it and asks to re-read it).
The link to the works was given in the previous post with questions (Monday, tag children's reading).
Happy reading!
The writer Lagerlöf Selma, who gave the world an amazing story about the boy Nils, and in all her works tried to teach humanity from an early age to love nature, value friendship and respect the homeland. Unfortunately, the life of this wonderful woman was not easy and cloudless.
Noble blood
Selma Lagerlöf was born in 1858 in Sweden into a large family that belonged to an ancient noble family. The girl's father is a retired military man, her mother is a teacher. The birth of the baby became an unusually happy moment in the life of the whole family.
However, at the time when Selma Lagerlöf was born, only the old Morbakka estate and beautiful legends remained from the past family greatness. The girl was often told about them by her father, who doted on her. And she, in turn, really needed love, affection, support and constant care.
Difficult childhood
Selma needed care more than other children in the family. After all, when the girl was three years old, she was struck by paralysis. Fortunately, she survived, but became disabled. While the other children were walking outside, the girl was forced to stay in bed. In order to somehow drive away sad thoughts, Selma remade at her own discretion various real and fictitious stories she heard from her father and grandmother. So an unusually difficult six years passed. But her biography contains not only sad moments. Selma Lagerlöf and her family couldn't be happier when Stockholm doctors managed to get the girl back on her feet.
First steps into the big world
Making incredible efforts, the future writer learned to walk again, leaning on a stick, which forever became her faithful companion. But despite this, now the girl felt that the big world had opened its doors for her.
However, surviving in a huge society turned out to be very difficult. In addition to the fact that each movement required great physical effort, the people around were sometimes hostile. But could Selma Lagerlöf give in to difficulties? A short biography of the future writer repeatedly proves her perseverance, hard work and resilience. At twenty-three years old, far behind her peers, Selma enters the Stockholm Lyceum. And a year later, in spite of all those who called her overgrown and crippled, the girl was enrolled in the Higher Royal Teachers' Seminary.
School work
After successful studies, Lagerlöf successfully finds his first job. This is a teaching position in a girls' school located in a small town in southern Sweden. Unconventional and educated, she quickly finds a common language with her students. Her lessons are always interesting and exciting. Teacher Lagerlöf Selma does not force children to memorize familiar material, but turns lessons into entertaining performances. In such classes, numbers become not so boring, historical characters look like fairy-tale heroes, and geographical names are easier to remember in the form of unusual places on maps of magical worlds.
Sad realities
However, in the real life of a simple provincial teacher, not everything is so beautiful. After the death of the person closest to her - her father - Selma tries her best not to lose her composure. But trouble does not come alone. After his father's death, the Morbakka family estate, which had belonged to the family since the 16th century, was sold at auction due to huge debts. And then there was a zeal to preserve the old family legends at all costs. This is what the purposeful and accustomed to difficulties Selma Lagerlöf decided for herself. A short biography of this amazing girl constantly speaks of her incredible willpower and ability to overcome difficulties.
Creativity
Every evening, secretly from everyone, the young teacher Lagerlöf writes her first novel, “The Saga of Yeste Berling.” The hero of the work is a traveler who, having visited an ancient estate, gets acquainted with its real inhabitants and their ancient legends. Many of Lagerlöf’s colleagues considered such creativity irrelevant in times of rapid development of science. Despite such unflattering remarks, the young teacher still decided to send her manuscript to a competition in a famous newspaper. Much to the surprise of those around her, it was Lagerlöf Selma who became the winner! Members of the competition jury noted the extraordinary creative imagination of the writer. It is this fact that inspires the girl and helps her believe in her own strength.
Literary success
Over the next fourteen years, Lagerlöf became a widely known author of historical novels. The success of her works helps the writer receive a royal scholarship. However, every victory of a girl is perceived in society more as luck, and not as the result of hard work and great talent. It's not so easy to break old stereotypes that women can't be great writers.
The novels "Miracles of the Antichrist" and "Jerusalem" are becoming very popular in Sweden. Also, these works are imbued with deep religiosity, in which Selma Lagerlöf was brought up from childhood. “Holy Night”, “Baby of Bethlehem”, “Candle from the Holy Sepulcher” and other stories included in the collection “Legends of Christ” are clear confirmation of this.
The story of Nils
Despite the fact that Lagerlöf wrote many works, it was the fairy tale “Nils’s Wonderful Journey with the Wild Geese” that brought her world fame. Interestingly, it was originally intended as a textbook for schoolchildren. In such a fun way, children had to study the geography and history of Sweden, its culture and traditions. However, the appearance of such a book helped the children not only improve their knowledge of the school curriculum, but also, together with the main character, learn to sympathize with the unfortunate and enjoy good moments, protect the weak and help the poor. In the courtyards it became fashionable to play “goosenauts” - that’s how Nils was nicknamed. At the same time, Selma Lagerlöf felt great support from children, which could not be said about adults. Critics vied with each other to publish devastating articles sharply condemning the author. Despite all the ill-wishers, the book received recognition not only in the writer’s homeland, but throughout the world.
Nobel Prize
But the writer did not always have dark clouds hovering over her head. And her biography is filled with good moments. Selma Lagerlöf became the first woman to receive one of the highest international awards in literature in 1909. “For noble idealism and richness of imagination,” the writer was awarded the Nobel Prize. the diploma and cash check were presented to her by King Gustav V of Sweden himself. And this is not just an accident. After all, by this time Lagerlöf had already published more than thirty books and was loved far beyond the borders of her country. It should be noted that the most famous of her works was still the fairy tale about a boy who was able to see Sweden from a bird's eye view.
Creative heritage
Having received the Nobel Prize, Lagerlöf was able to buy out the family estate, in which she lived until the end of her days, because it was thanks to Morbakka that she had the idea of creating a fairy tale about Nils. Selma Lagerlöf's last greatest works were written from 1925 to 1928. These are three novels about the Levenskiolds - “The Levenskiold Ring”, “Anna Sverd” and “Charlotte Levenskiold”. They tell about the ups and downs of life of one family over several generations. The events in the novels take place from 1730 to 1860.
Religious works for children are still a tremendous success today. Some of them have been republished. The first updated edition of “Legends of Christ” was published in 1904 in Sweden. In Russia, this happened in 2001 thanks to the work of the ROSMEN-PRESS publishing house. The book includes stories about Christ that Selma Lagerlöf heard from her grandmother as a child: “Holy Night” and “Vision of the Emperor”, “In Nazareth” and “The Baby of Bethlehem”, “The Well of the Wise” and “The Flight into Egypt”, as well as other stories.
Skeleton in the closet
Selma Lagerlöf was not a particularly sociable person in ordinary life. Therefore, little is known about her personal life. Of course, she whiled away most of her time on the family estate, which she managed to buy back after being awarded a famous prize. By her appearance, one could immediately judge Selma Lagerlöf as an old maid. However, there were some secrets in this regard, and they were destined to be revealed only fifty years after the death of the famous writer. Unexpectedly, after so much time, letters were discovered revealing some unusual aspects of her intimate life. After such news about Lagerlöf, her mysterious person again interested many.
Social activities
Even at an advanced age and suffering from a serious illness, Selma Lagerlöf could not remain aloof from the troubles that plagued Europe. During the war between Finland and the Soviet Union, she donated her gold medal to the Swedish National Relief Fund for Finland.
In the thirties, the storyteller repeatedly took part in saving writers and various cultural figures from Nazi persecution. The charitable foundation organized through her efforts saved many talented people from prison and death. These were the last good deeds of the writer.
In March 1940, Selma Lagerlöf passed away. But even after many decades, millions of girls and boys still peer into the skies with bated breath. After all, perhaps, there, under the very clouds, rushing towards adventure, the fearless domestic goose Martin flies, carrying his little comrade Nils on his back.
Lessons 97-98. Selma Lagerlöf. "Holy Night"
Goals: introduce students to the life and work of S. Lagerlöf; reveal the content of the work by S. Lagerlöf; learnanalyze the character and actions of the heroes; enrich vocabularynal supply of students; practice fluent expressive skillsa lot of reading; develop memory, speech, thinking.
Lesson progress 1
I . Organizational moment
II . Checking homework
Retelling of M. Twain's text on behalf of Tom Sawyer.
III . Learning new material. Solving the crossword puzzle
(See appendix for crossword puzzle.)
Answers: 1. Prayer. 2. Angel. 3. Grief. 4. Christmas. 5. Sin.6. Psalter. 7. Christmas Eve. 8. Harp.
-What word came out vertically?
(Lagerlöf.)
IV . Introduction to the life and work of S. Lagerlöf
1. Introductory conversation.
-What works of Selma Lagerlöf have you read or know? eat?
(“Nils's Journey with the Wild Geese.”)
2. A teacher's story about a writer.
Swedish writer Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lager lef was born V province of Värmland, in southern Sweden. INfamily of Eric Gustav Lagerlöf, a retired officer, andLovisa Walroth had five children,M Selma was even a fidgety child. At the age of three, the girl suffered from infantile paralysis, after which she could not walk for a whole year.child and remained lame for the rest of her life. She was raised at homemainly under the supervision of the grandmother, whogave her fascinating tales and legends. As a child, Selmabut she read and wrote poetry.
Deciding to become a teacher, she entered the Royal High Schoolthe women's pedagogical academy in Stockholm and beyondshe graduated in 1882. In the same year her father died, and her familyMorbakka's estate is sold for debts. This double loss, fatherand the family home was a heavy blow for the girl. SoonSelma gets a teaching position at a girls' school inLandskrona in southern Sweden, where she gets very buttlyarny among his students. Impressed by the legends and colorfullandscapes of Värmland, she begins to write a novel and sendsthe first chapters for a literary competition organized by the journalcash "Idun". The editor of the magazine not only awarded Lager-Lef first prize, but also invited her to publish the entire novelentirely. Taking advantage of the financial support of her friendgi, Baroness Sophie Aldespare, Lagerlöf took a leave of absence from schooland finished the novel “The Saga of Yesta Berling”.
After the publication of her first novel, Lagerlöf returned toteaching activity, but soon quit towrite my second book, a collection of short stories “Invisible Chains”,which appeared in 1894. In the same year, Lagerlöf introducedwith writer Sophie Elkan, who becomes her boyfrienddearest friend. Thanks to a scholarship awarded by Koro Lem Oscar II, and financial assistance from the Swedish AcademyLagerlöf could now devote herself entirely to literature. InWhile traveling to Sicily, the writer collects material for her next book, “Miracles of the Antichrist.”
A trip to Palestine and Egypt provided Lagerlöf with material forcreation of the two-volume novel “Jerusalem”. This is the storymei Swedish farmers who emigrated to Palestine.The novel received high praise for spiritual psychologism indepicting phlegmatic-looking Swedish peasants, looking forspiritual ideal.
Lagerlöf's books were so popular that she was ablela in 1904 to buy the Morbakka estate. In the same year shereceived a gold medal from the Swedish Academy. Two years laterher famous children's novel “Wonderful” was publishedNils Holgersson's journey through Sweden", and in 1907another children's book by Lagerlöf was published - “The Girl from the Farm onswamps." Both books are written in the spirit of folk tales, in themcombines the dreaminess of fairy tales with peasant realism.
Lagerlöf was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1909"as a tribute to high idealism, vivid imagination and spiritsnew penetration that distinguish all her works."
After receiving the Nobel Prize, Lagerlöf continued to write about Värmland, its legends and the values that her home represents.
In 1914, Lagerlöf was elected a member of the Swedish Academy.In the early 20s. she becomes one of the leading Swedish pisastel. By this time, Lagerlöf had published several popular autobiographical books, including her memoirs about her childhood, Morbakka. Some of her novels have been filmed.
After a long illness, Lagerlöf died of peri.tonite in his home at the age of 81.
V . Physical education minute
VI . Work on the work “Holy Night”
Reading by teacher and students.
Primary perception of the text.
-What are your impressions of what you read? How did you feel while reading?
VIII. Lesson summary
What new have you learned about S. Lagerlöf?
What is the work we just read about?
What do you remember most?
Homework: reread the text, prepare an expression new reading.
Lesson progress 2
Organizational moment
P. Speech warm-up
1. Reading a poem with different intonations.
I know you are looking forward to the holiday!
On this holiday you will find
Laughter, games, fairy tales, magic!
After all, Christmas has come!
What is Christmas?
Of course it's magic!
Where does the word “Christmas” come from?
That is the day and hour of birth of a miracle!
Learn a poem in 2 minutes.
Checking a learned poem.
III . Working on the story “Holy Night”
1. Conversation.
-Why was the death of her grandmother the most important thing for the writer?
great grief? Support your opinion with quotes from
text.
What is the story that grandma told you?
What did she want to teach her granddaughter?
Why is the story divided into two parts? 2. Characteristics of the main characters.
What was the shepherd like? Describe him.
What changes took place in the shepherd's heart?(He realized that you need to be attentive to others, help those who need help.)
How the grandmother explained to the girl what happened to her rotten? (“What the shepherd saw then, we could also see children, because angels every Christmas night fly over the earth and praise the Savior, but if could deserve it.")
IV . Physical education minute
V . Outlining a Story
-A
Now you will work with the text yourself.
Plan your grandmother's Christmas story
nights for retelling.
(The guys work independently.
Then there is a check of the completed work.
The most successful points are written on the board.)
VI . Retelling the text according to plan
Listen to a retelling of a passage about Christmas night, *
VII . Lesson summary
-What impression did the Christmas tree make on the girl?
story? Why do you think so?
* Homework: prepare a retelling of the text on behalf of pas Tuha.
Lesson objectives:
- introduce students to the works of Selma Lagerlöf;
- development of students' vocabulary;
- cultivate love and kindness towards one's neighbor;
- cultivate a respectful attitude towards Orthodox culture.
Methodological literature used:
- Bible.
- Magazine "Education of Schoolchildren" No. 7, 2006
Equipment used: Laptop, textbooks.
Lesson progress
1. Organizational moment.
– Our lesson takes place on holidays, on the eve of the Holy Trinity.
I wish that the lesson was beneficial for you. Maybe you will be able to discover something for yourself.
2. Report the topic of the lesson.
– Today in the lesson we will meet the great wizard in the field of literature Selma Lagerlöf, who will tell us about the great mystery of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
– Let's mentally transport ourselves to Sweden. It was here that the writer Selma Luvisa Ottilie Lagerlöf was born and lived all her life.
The legends were born in the heart of Sweden - Värmland - and settled in the noble estate of Morbakka. They rustled in the attic, played with the branches of huge mountain ash trees that surrounded Morbakka in a dense ring, fluttered around the cradle where the daughter of a retired military man and a teacher, the owners of the estate, lay.
But, alas, the legends were not omnipotent. They failed to protect the child from a serious illness that left him unable to walk. The girl's only entertainment was the stories of her aunts and grandmother. And at the age of 5, the girl lost her beloved grandmother, whose death became a real tragedy for her.
The girl became addicted to reading very early. Her favorite writers were Andersen, Walter Scott, Mine Reid. Already at the age of 7, Selma decided to become a writer. Any sheet of paper that caught my eye was filled with poetry and prose, plays and novels.
When Selma was 10 years old, doctors restored her ability to move. But to become a writer, the girl had to study. She studied long and hard, later becoming one of the most remarkable writers in Sweden. Selma Lagerlöf is the author of 27 major works, including the fairy-tale epic “Nils Holgersson's Amazing Journey with Wild Geese in Sweden”, “The Saga of Yeste Berling”, and the Levenskiöld trilogy.
In the book “Tales of Christ,” the writer collected legends born in the East. And she began this book with a story about the Savior, heard from her grandmother on Christmas night.
4. Reading and analysis of the first part of the text.
(Children read in complete parts.)
– Read the title. What do you think the author will tell us about?
(About something mysterious. About angels who look at us from heaven. About a holy holiday.)
Part 1. “When I was...” to the words “There were no happier children...”
– On whose behalf is the story told?
– What was real happiness for children?
(It was real happiness for the children to listen to their grandmother’s stories.)
(Selective reading.)
Part 2. “I vaguely remember...” to the words “How cold the wind blows...”
– Read, what image of her grandmother did Selma Lagerlöf forever preserve in her memory?
(Selective reading.)
– Read the words that grandmother loved to say.
(Selective reading.)
– Why do you think she did this?
(I think my grandmother wanted the children to believe in miracles, to grow up kind and sympathetic. Maybe that’s why Selma Lagerlöf became a writer.)
Part 3. “I remember...” to the words “... when she died.”
– What did the writer remember from what her grandmother told her?
(She remembered small prayers, verses of a psalm, but most of all she remembered the story of the Nativity of Christ.)
Part 4 “I remember that morning...” to the end.
– What disappeared forever from the life of the heroine of this story with the death of her grandmother?
(The stories and songs left the house, as if the door to a wonderful magical world had closed.)
– Confirm your answer with text.
(Selective reading.)
– What would Selma Lagerlöf like to tell us?
(Selma Lagerlöf would like to tell us an amazing story she heard from her grandmother on Christmas Eve.)
Dictionary: psalm - religious chant.
5. Physical education minute.
And now we will stand together
You need to rest a little.
Turn right, left,
Finally, sit down boldly!
Work your legs
Use your hands!
Let's smile, it's a good day!
And let's clap our hands!
6. Dramatization.
I remember how, as a child, for the first time,
I heard a story about Christmas.
I was moved to tears
After all, little Christ was born.
Not in a rich eminent house
And he was not lying in a lush cradle,
And in a remote cave on straw...
– This happened two thousand years ago in the vicinity of the city of Bethlehem in the country of Judea. The born Savior was greeted by the shepherds.
1st shepherd: How dark it was - and suddenly such a bright light!
2nd shepherd: A new, big star lit up in the sky.
(A Bright Angel appears.)
Bright angel: The Savior of the world, whom the prophets foretold, was born!
This is Jesus Christ! You will find him in that cave!
1st shepherd: Look, that distant cave looks like it’s all on fire!
2nd shepherd:
To look at Christ,
To worship God
Let's hit the road
On a dangerous road.
1st shepherd:
We will bring it as a gift to the Baby
Honey, fragrant herbs.
We'll find the path using the star
Bright, silver.
(The cave in which Mary rocks the cradle and sings.)
Maria:
How the stars glow over the mountains,
Shepherds in the valleys roam with their flocks.
Shut up, bell, don't make noise, little sheep,
The Baby is sleeping in the manger, the candle is burning out.
Donkey: Wait a minute, maybe the Baby is a little cold?
Vol: We will warm him with our breath.
Donkey: Look, it seems like someone is coming?
Ox: The shepherds have arrived and are standing at the gate.
Maria: God help you, friends! Come quickly!
1st shepherd: Where is the newborn?
2nd shepherd: Yes, here he is!
1st shepherd:
Accept, Christ, simple gifts.
Here is bread and honey, and here is water,
We are poor people, but we believe -
Different times are coming.
(Reading by the teacher of A.A. Fet’s poem “Silent Night..”)
The night is quiet. In the unsteady firmament the manger quietly shines to the eye,
The southern stars are trembling. Mary's face is illuminated,
Mother's eyes with a smile Starry choir to another choir
Quiet people look into the manger. I listened with trembling ears.No ears, no extra glances, - And above Him it burns high
Here the roosters crow - That star of distant countries:
And after the angels on high the kings of the East carry her with her
The shepherds praise God. Gold, myrrh and frankincense.
7. Reading the second part of the text.
(Reading by roles: little girl, grandmother, shepherd, man.)
Dictionary: Christmas Eve - the eve of the church holiday of Christmas; a lamp is a small vessel lit in front of an icon.
8. Generalization.
- Let's try to answer the questions that worried the little girl. Why did animals and objects show mercy?
(Jesus Christ was born and all nature rejoiced at this. Even the evil shepherd took pity on the Mother and Child.)
– What do you guys think, why did the Lord come to people on earth?
(Loving people, caring for them, the Lord wanted to show the meaning of life and open the way to eternal happiness. Jesus means Savior. Christ is the anointed of God.)
– What do you think is happiness?
(Happiness is when people do not get sick. When there is no war on earth, this is also happiness. People should love each other and take care of each other. The Lord came to earth to cleanse people from sin.)
– Finishing her story, the grandmother said the following words:
“Neither candles, nor lamps, nor the sun, nor the moon will help a person: only a pure heart opens the eyes with which a person can enjoy seeing the beauty of heaven,” - how do you understand them?
– Think about how else you could title the story?
(“Christmas.” “The Night Before Christmas.” “The Birth of the Lord.”)
9. Homework:
– At home, to feel every artistic word and image, re-read the text again. Prepare the content of the questions you will ask each other.
10. Summing up.
– Every thoughtful reader, when getting acquainted with a work, discovers something for himself. What discoveries have you made?
(Children's statements.)
- Guys, help me evaluate our lesson. Should you take the sun or the cloud?
(Children choose the sun and explain their choice.)
– Let your good deeds enlighten our soul like rays of sunshine, and let sins and vices only darken it like clouds in the sky.
Our ancestors had a tradition: to “burn” all their troubles on Christmastide. And now I will light a candle, and you, looking at its fire, remember to yourself who you offended, deceived, who you said a bad word to. And may all your troubles burn in this flame and never happen again.