French Cultural Icons:
La Marseillaise
Assignment Overview
This assignment, based on
the Symboles
de la République web site, will give you cultural and historical
insights on the famous French national anthem, La Marseillaise. The whole world
knows the tune whether by hearing it at Olympic award ceremonies or by recalling
the famous scene where it is sung in the movie Casablanca.
However,
you may not know why it is called the Marseillaise to begin with or
why it has been the subject of fame and even controversy throughout the years.
This exercise will increase your factual knowledge as well as challenge you
to think more deeply of the role of national anthems. It will also help you
practice your French.
Part One
This part of the
assignment will give you some historical background. Follow the directions below.
1.
On the Symboles
de la République page, click on the Marseillaise graphic.
2. Read the accompanying text. (Need
a dictionary?)
3. Listen to the Marseillaise by
clicking on the link at the end of the Symboles web page.
4. Read the lyrics of the Marseillaise.
Look up unfamiliar vocabulary.
5.Answer the following questions
and send/deliver them to your instructor.
a. Avant d'etre l'hymne national,
quel etait le role de la Marseillaise?
b. De nos jours, ou peut-on entendre
la Marseillaise?
c. Qui a compose la Marseillaise
et quelle etait sa profession a l'epoque?
d. Quel grand compositeur a fait
une orchestration de la Marseillaise en 1830?
e. Quand la Marseillaise a-t-elle
ete adoptee comme l'hymne national de la France?Quelle est l'importance de cette
date?
f. Quand la Marseillaise a-t-elle
ete interdite et quand a-t-elle ete remise a l'honneur comme l'hymne national
de la France?
Part Two
These questions may be
the subject of an online discussion forum or may be used in class:
1. Analysez les verbes et les adjectifs
de la première strophe. Quel est le ton de la Marseillaise?
2. Comparez la Marseillaise à
l'hymne national de votre pays. Ont-ils des idées en commun?
3. Pourquoi joue-t-on les hymnes
nationaux aux événements sportifs? Quel est le rapport entre les
chants militaires et patriotiques et le sport?
Pour en savoir plus
Visit this comprehensive site
on the Marseillaise.
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