Vanderbilt-Pakistan Lesson 8

1. Vanderbilt-Pakistan Lesson 8 April 2013

2. Curiosity by Alistair Reid Curiosity may have killed the cat; more likely the cat was just unlucky, or else curious to see what death was like, having no cause to go on licking paws, or fathering litter on litter of kittens, predictably. Face it. Curiosity will not cause us to die-- only lack of it will. Never to want to see the other side of the hill or that improbable country where living is an idyll (although a probable hell) would kill us all. Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling at all.

3. Curiosity by Alistair Reid Curiosity may have killed the cat; more likely the cat was just unlucky, or else curious to see what death was like, having no cause to go on licking paws, or fathering litter on litter of kittens, predictably. • Questions • The phrase “curiosity killed the cat” is common in English. It’s a phrase meant to discourage asking too many questions and tell people to mind your own business. • The author speaks of two kinds of death. What are these two kinds of death? Face it. Curiosity will not cause us to die-- only lack of it will. Never to want to see the other side of the hill or that improbable country where living is an idyll (although a probable hell) would kill us all. Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling at all.

4. Which would you prefer: a long life without curiosity or dying early from constantly pursuing your curiosity?(Curiosity = asking questions)

5. Ozymandius by Percy Shelley I met a traveller from an antique land, Who said— “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand, Half sunk a shattered visage lies…” And on the pedestal, these words appear: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains…”

6. Ozymandius by Percy Shelley • Questions • “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert… Near them, on the sand, half sunk a shattered visage lies.” What is this section describing? • Describe the contrast between the words “My name is Ozymandius, King of Kings” and “Nothing beside remains…” I met a traveller from an antique land, Who said— “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand, Half sunk a shattered visage lies…” And on the pedestal, these words appear: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains…”

7. How much influence do you think one ruler can have? Are all leaders and people meant to be forgotten someday?

9. How long can manmade creations survive? (These are the Easter Island statues, or the Maoi, which were made almost a thousand years ago).

10. Think of an ancient (old) manmade structure (a statue, building, sculpture, painting, etc.) that you are familiar with and write a few sentences about why it has lasted so long. How long in the future do you think it will last?