2ndQA-English

Page 1: The Soul of the Great Bell

  • EMPEROR YANG

    • Son of Heaven who commanded the construction of a bell.

    • The bell's sound was intended to be heard for one hundred li (a Chinese unit of distance).

  • LAFCADIO HEARN

    • Author of the story "The Soul of the Great Bell".

  • THEME OF DEATH

    • I DIE: Upon the death of Ko-ngai (the good daughter), a sobbing sound is heard between the bell's mighty strokes.

    • The sound of a woman murmuring "Hiai!", which Chinese mothers interpret as mourning.

  • KOUAN-YU

    • The individual who received the commission for the bell's construction.

    • He assembled master moulders and renowned bellsmiths for the project.

  • KO-NGAI

    • The good daughter; expressed deep love for her father, refusing numerous suitors.

  • PREDICTION

    • A prophecy stating: "Gold and brass will never meet in wedlock, silver and iron never will embrace, until the blood of a ___ be mixed with the metals in their fusion."

  • BEIJING

    • The city in China designated as the imperial capital, intended site for the great bell's suspension.

  • CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE

    • A penalty of DIE/BEHEADED awaited should the bell construction fail.

  • ASTROLOGER

    • Ko-ngai consulted an astrologer upon learning of the dangers facing her father.

  • SIGNIFICANT SYMBOLISM

    • The letter expressing the Son of Heaven's anger was sealed with GOLD.

Page 2: Positive and Negative Messages

  • Understanding Message Types

    • Importance of recognizing positive vs. negative messages to gauge audience impact.

    • Positive Messages: Convey good news, acceptance, congratulations.

    • Negative Messages: Convey unpleasant news, often leading to disappointment or anger.

Examples of Positive Messages

  1. "Roberts is the most creative romance writer the world has ever known."

  2. "The gifts Nathan gave to his workers were extravagant."

  3. "The temperature of water in Miranda's swimming pool was refreshing."

Examples of Negative Messages

  1. "My mom always checks on us because she is paranoid."

  2. "Our new classmate is a bit antisocial."

Comparative Statements

  • Contrast between positive and negative phrasing:

    • "He has to commute to work." vs. "He doesn't have to commute to work."

    • "They will not be joining us for dinner tonight." vs. "They will be joining us for dinner tonight."

    • "She won't be attending the Met Gala this year." vs. "She will be attending the Met Gala this year."

    • "These aren't hazel nuts. These are macadamia nuts."

    • "They weren't playing poker. They were playing gin rummy."