Surprising Honesty at Funeral

Read the two articles below.

Read and translate the text in written.

The Matter of Death

Reproduce the context.

4) Now discuss the following questions:

1) What are your culture's rules about fidelity before and after marriage?

2) How are the rules different for men and for women?

3) Is there a crisis of infidelity in your culture? Why or why not?

4) Many cultures have a double standard for sexual behavior. For example, societies often excuse men's infidelity, but severely criticize women who are unfaithful. Is this true in your culture? What reasons are given for this double standard?

1) Discuss the following questions in groups:

Hen someone dies, what happens to their body?

Where do funeral ceremonies take place?

Who usually attends funerals?

What colour do people wear to signify death?

What do people usually do at funerals?

When you die, would you prefer to be buried or cremated?

How do you feel when the subject of death comes into conversation?

You have to tell a close friend that a mutual friend of yours has died. You know that they were very close. How would you start the conversation?

A friend of yours has just died, owing you a lot of money. After the funeral his sister comes to talk to you about the case. What will you say?

If the only work available was working with dead bodies – for example as an undertaker or a pathologist – what would you do?

Is it OK to joke about death?

I come from a ripe old age sort of family – I’m 70 now – and like the idea of living for a long time. I have an aunt, my late mother’s sister, who is 102. She lives in sheltered accommodation but has all her wits about her. Funerals used to be about people mourning; now they are more likely to be a celebration of the person’s life, which I think is much healthier. I haven’t mentioned my funeral in my will – I just want something absolutely plain and simple, a family-only cremation service. I would like my ashes scattered on likely Moor, near Leeds, where I spent a lot of time as a lad. I don’t want any memorial stones. As for obituaries, I would just like them to be large. I just hope I don’t die on the same day as a previous prime minister.

Family and friends at the funeral of George Ramsbottom in Honley, West Yorkshire, were stunned when his brother, Frank, stood up in the church and told everyone that his brother would not be missed.

Describing his brother as the meanest man he had ever met, he went on to list all the people who would be glad to know that George had died, and gave the reasons why. He claimed that George was a liar, a cheat, a womanizer and a drunk. “He owed money to half the people in the village; he had ruined a number of marriages; and he was often incredibly rude for no good reason. No one will be sad that he has gone”, said Frank Ramsbottom.

Mr. Ramsbottom’s unexpected speech was followed by complete silence. Eventually Margaret Dudley, the minister in charge of the service, stood to say, ‘Let us give thanks for George’s life with our final song.” She then sang on her own while everyone else stood in silence. The service ended shortly afterwards.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29