Comprehension Exercise 4
Please view The Emperor's Club from the DVD and post your answers to all the questions that follow.
Mistakes in spelling, punctuation and grammar may be penalised in any part of the paper.
1. Why was Mr Hundert especially perturbed by Sedgewick? [2]
2. Why, despite Sedgewick’s negative attributes, was he still so popular with his classmates? [2]
3. During Mr Hundert’s meeting with Sedgewick’s father, the senator insisted that Mr Hundert would not mould his son. He asserted that Mr Hundert's job as a teacher was purely to "teach him his timestables" and "why the Earth was round". Do you agree with the senator's view? Why or why not? [3]
4. Why did Mr Hundert decide to help Sedgewick, despite all his mischief? [2]
5. Do you think Mr Hundert should have done so? Why or why not? [3]
6. Years later, during the reunion Mr Hundert confronted the older Sedgewick about his dishonesty, in the bathroom scene. Sedgewick argued with Mr Hundert about how his traditional views of morality have no place in the real world, where one has to lie and cheat to rise to the top. Evaluate both Mr Hundert’s and Sedgewick’s arguments and state whose views you support and why. [3]
Semantics [7]
14. For each of the following words or phrase, give one one or short phrase (of not more than seven words) which has the same meaning that the word or phrase has in the movie.
a) Visigoth (Mr Hundert: "Well, he might be an important senator, but I'm afraid his son, Sedgewick, is a bit of a Visigoth!")
b) reprobate (Mr Hundert to students: "I regret being in the company of drunken reprobates!")
c) a beacon of light (Sedgewick to Mr Hundert: " Your virtue is our beacon of light.")
d) virtue
e) oligarchy (The emperor set up an oligarchy under which the people suffered terribly.)
f) tyranny (Hundert to students: "A ‘tyranny‘ is what we have in this classroom!” Sedgewick nevertheless refused to give in to the tyranny of the draconian Mr Hundert.)
g) bravado (Sedgewick decided to show his bravado by challenging Mr Hundert incessantly.)
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Memorable Quotes from The Emperor's Club (2002)
from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283530/quotes
William Hundert: It's not living that is important, but living RIGHTLY.
William Hundert: Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. What will your contribution be? How will history remember you?
William Hundert: Aristophanes once wrote, roughly translated; "Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, and drunkenness sobered, but STUPID lasts forever."
William Hundert: Well... Senator... The Greeks and the Romans provided a model of democracy, which I don't need to tell you, the framers of our own constitution, used as their inspiration. But more to the point I would think when the boys read Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Julius Caesar even, they're put in direct contact with men, who in their own age, exemplified the highest standards of statesmanship, of civic virtue, character, conviction.
William Hundert: Sir, it's my job to mold your son's character, and I think if...
Senator Bell: Mold him? Jesus God in heaven, son. You're not gonna mold my boy. Your job is to teach my son. You teach him his times tables. Teach him why the world is round. Teach him who killed who and when and where. That is your job. You, sir, will not mold by son. I will mold him.
Older Deepak Mehta: A great teacher has little external history to record. His life goes over into other lives. These men are pillars in the intimate structure of our schools. They are more essential than its stones or beams, and they will continue to be a kindling force and a revealing power in our lives.
William Hundert: The worth of a life is not determined by a single failure or a solitary success.
William Hundert: However much we stumble, it is a teacher's burden always to hope, that with learning, a boys' character might be changed. And, so, the destiny of a man.
William Hundert: As I've gotten older, I realize I'm certain of only two things. Days that begin with rowing on a lake are better than days that do not. Second, a man's character is his fate.
William Hundert: Excuse me?
Louis Masoudi: Huh? What me?
William Hundert: Yes, sir. What is your name?
Louis Masoudi: Uh, Louis.
William Hundert: Just Louis?
Louis Masoudi: Louis Masoudi, sir.
William Hundert: Mr. Masoudi, could you define the word "path" for me?
Louis Masoudi: Well, there are several definitions, I suppose.
William Hundert: Would "a route along which someone or something moves" be among them?
Louis Masoudi: Yeah. Oh, yeah. No. Yeah. I'm s-sorry, sir.
William Hundert: Follow the path, Mr. Masoudi. Walk where the great men before you have walked.
Louis Masoudi: Yes, sir. It's, uh - It's better for the grass.
William Hundert: It's better for you.
William Hundert: The end depends upon the beginning.
posted by AL @ 1:00 AM
8 Comments:
1. Honesty
2. Yes. Honesty will help one to gain the trust of others.
3. Honesty. …..
4. Sedgewick constantly disturbs the class and challenges his opinions
5. Cheating in the contest and flirting with girls
6. Sedgewick often crack jokes and made life more interesting for them.
7. Challenging the teacher and
8. Yes.
9. Both their fathers did not care much about them.
10. Mr Hundert saw that Sedgewick began to put his heart in his work and thus wanted to help him achieve milestone in his academic
11. Mr Hundert changed the grade of Sedgewick’s exam scipt so that he will be in the top three scorers and be able to enter the competition.
12. I think he should not have done that. It is not fair of him to give other’s chance to Sedgewick who did not deserve it
13. I support Mr Hundert’s argument. One should live a decent and upright life. Fame gained through lies and cheats are meaningless.
2 awnsers first... to be continued
1) Mr. Hundret was especially disturbed by Sedgewick because Sedgewick was defiant and was the son of a senator. Sedgewick influenced the class badly and Mr. Hundret was especially unhappy over it. Also, Mr. Hundret thought Sedgewick could be changed as he was very a clever boy. But Sedgewick always proved Mr. Hundret’s efforts worthless. Also, before the introduction of Sedgewick into his class, his class was especially hardworking and cooperative with the teacher there was not much obstruction.
2) Sedgewick’s class found Sedgewick amusing. Sedgewick also enjoyed breaking the school rules and having fun in the process, therefore his friends enjoyed his accompaniment.
The next 4 answers... after that the senmatics.
3. I agree with Mr. Hundert that the learning of History can benefit us. We learn about the mistakes our forefathers have made in the past and learn not to repeat it, we learn their way of living and living with virtue, with morality, living rightly like them. For example, Shutruk Nahunte King of Anshand and Sussa, Sovereign of the land of Elam. In the movie, William Hundert mentioned that Shutruk Nahunte had great ambitions but was not recognized, he was not recognized because Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. And we all learn a lesson from just another nameless person. This is why the learning of History can mold us with values and aspiration and much more. This was we benefit a lot from History.
4. Mr. Hundert helped Sedgewick although his mischief because Mr. Hundert realized that Sedgewick was very much like him, He and Sedgewick had fathers that had no time for them, no love from their parents and no one to mold their character. Mr. Hundert knew how it was to have no one to mold you or guide you, allowing you to go astray and the feeling of loneliness where by no one will care about you whether you become good or bad and no one to care what happens to you.
5. Yes. I think Mr. Hundert should have done so. This way, Sedgewick will know that someone is trying to help him and if he falls one day he would not blame Mr. Hundert but he himself, he would have to answer to himself for not making the best of the chance he has been given. And also, Mr. Hundert can give Sedgewick what he had missing that the other boys in school all had to give his an equal chance as everyone to be as moral as them and learn to live rightly like the other boys’ fathers would have thought them but Sedgewick’s father would not have done so.
6. I think Sedgewick has a point, that if it has to be lying or cheating to succeed, “so be it”. Yet again, how does the lies you make or the way you cheat affect others is the question. By cheating, Sedgewick has disallowed an honest person to enter the competition and stand his chance to win the competition honorably. Also, Mr. Hundert mentioned that it is not how you live that matters, but living rightly. Yes, living rightly for not others to know you lived rightly but for yourself to know. Still, I think whether you lived rightly, nobody knows unless then saw you live unjustly, cheating and lying. Once you do something bad and get caught, you have not lived rightly but if you never did anything bad you would have definitely lived rightly. They both have an exact opposite way of thinking. Sedgewick thinks “if no one finds out, I am fine” but Mr. Hundert thinks “I have done nothing wrong; I have no fear of being blamed” this is why they disagree largely.
a) An uncivilized man
b) Men without principles
c) Path leading to success
d) Conformity of life with moral principles
e) A state under a government
f) Defiance
g) Boastful behavior
1. This was because Sedgewick often made uncalled for comments during his lessons, and played pranks such as having all his classmates to slam their textbooks while Mr Hundert was concentrating on writing notes on the board. Sedgewick also loved to talk back to Mr Hundert. Futhermore, Sedgewick had wilful ignorance which was intolerable to Mr Hundert.
2. Sedgewick often made ironic comments, corny jokes and played pranks before, during, and after lesson time. This brought fun and laughter among his friends, and it also made the class livelier.
3. I agree that Mr Hundert’s assertions about the usefulness of learning History to a far extent. This is because we can learn many lessons just by looking at the things our forefathers have done. We can learn mistakes made by them, also, we can pick up moral values which involve all the people around us. As learnt from the movie, great ambition and conquest with contribution is without significance. From history, we can learn how to contribute to the society and people around us. As quoted from the movie “Not to know whatever happened before we were born is to forever be a child.”
4. Mr Hundert believed in Sedgewick, and thought that Sedgewick was an intelligent boy who used his intelligence in the wrong way. Thus he wanted to prove himself that he was right about Sedgewick and show that Sedgewick had a lot of potential.
5. I think Mr Hundert should have done so. This was because he would be able to learn how Sedgewick really was like, and furthermore, he felt that he was similar to Sedgewick, in a sense that he was also neglected by his father. However, I disagree with the idea that Mr Hundert "helped" Sedgewick by cheating, by correcting his grade to an A+ from an A-. This only shows that Mr Hundert had put his moral values aside and become dishonest, like Sedgewick had always been. If Sedgewick were to find out that Mr Hundert had "helped" him, he would think that there is nothing wrong with cheating and lying.
6. I agree with Mr Hundert’s way of living honestly, and with high moral values. This is because we would be able to live a guilt free life, and also be able to live up with our conscience. The only point of Sedgewick’s argument that i agree with is about living our way of life is that we live in a world filled with many dishonest liars who are successful.
Semantics:
7. Visigoth – some one who lacks of civilization.
8. Reprobates – Trouble makers
9. A beacon of light – ray of hope
10. Virtue – Good quality
11. Oligarchy – A state governed by several people.
12. Tyranny – Oppression
13. Bravado – Bravery
1. Why was Mr Hundert especially perturbed by Sedgewick? [2]
Sedgewick did not pay attention in his lessons and he even influenced the other good classmates which was opposing Mr Hundert who was trying to teach all his best to his students.
2. Why, despite Sedgewick’s negative attributes, was he still so popular with his classmates? [2]
His classmates were frightened of his father who was a senator because if they opposed him, Sedgewick might tell his father upon them and punish them for opposing his son.
3. During Mr Hundert’s meeting with Sedgewick’s father, the senator insisted that Mr Hundert would not mould his son. He asserted that Mr Hundert's job as a teacher was purely to "teach him his timestables" and "why the Earth was round". Do you agree with the senator's view? Why or why not? [3]
I do not agree with the senator’s views because as a teacher, Mr Hundert not only teaches his students from the books but also the principles of life so that when they grow older, they can become a good person who follows their principles.
4. Why did Mr Hundert decide to help Sedgewick, despite all his mischief? [2]
After visiting Sedgewick’s father, Mr Hundert felt that the senator was a father who did not pay much attention to his son which he found that Sedgewick was very much like him.
5. Do you think Mr Hundert should have done so? Why or why not? [3]
I don’t think so. Though Sedgewick might be similar to Mr Hundert, nevertheless he was still an arrogant boy. I think Mr Hundert should have instead, be more fair and help Sedgewick to be not so arrogant so that Sedgewick can be the one who help himself alone.
6. Years later, during the reunion Mr Hundert confronted the older Sedgewick about his dishonesty, in the bathroom scene. rase, Sedgewick argued with Mr Hundert about how his traditional views of morality have no place in the real world, where one has to lie and cheat to rise to the top. Evaluate both Mr Hundert’s and Sedgewick’s arguments and state whose views you support and why. [3]
I think both their views are right but it would be better to be a person with principles but not rising to the top than to be one who cheats and rise to the top.
Semantics [7]
14. For each of the following words or phgive one one or short phrase (of not more than seven words) which has the same meaning that the word or phrase has in the movie.
a) Visigoth (Mr Hundert: "Well, he might be an important senator, but I'm afraid his son, Sedgewick, is a bit of a Visigoth!")
A person who lives off his father.
b) reprobate (Mr Hundert to students: "I regret being in the company of drunken reprobates!")
An unprincipled person.
c) a beacon of light (Sedgewick to Mr Hundert: " Your virtue is our beacon of light.")
Good example
d) virtue
Ways of acting as a person.
e) oligarchy (The emperor set up an oligarchy under which the people suffered terribly.)
A rule which makes people suffer.
f) tyranny (Hundert to students: "A ‘tyranny‘ is what we have in this classroom!” Sedgewick nevertheless refused to give in to the tyranny of the draconian Mr Hundert.)
A person of high reputation but do not gives in to others.
g) bravado (Sedgewick decided to show his bravado by challenging Mr Hundert incessantly.)
Bravery.
1. Why was Mr Hundert especially perturbed by Sedgewick? [2]
Sedgewick was not doing well in his studies and he wasn’t interested in studying but Mr Hundert wants to make sure that he teaches each of his students well and that Sedgewick won’t influence the rest with his behaviour.
2. Why, despite Sedgewick’s negative attributes, was he still so popular with his classmates? [2]
His classmates thought what he was doing is fun so they wanted to join him and go against the rules of the school and also his classmates think that they would get something hanging around with him because his is the senator’s son.
3. During Mr Hundert’s meeting with Sedgewick’s father, the senator insisted that Mr
Hundert would not mould his son. He asserted that Mr Hundert's job as a teacher
was purely to "teach him his timestables" and "why the Earth was round". Do you
agree with the senator's view? Why or why not? [3]
I agree with the senator’s view that Mr Hundert will not mould his son but I do not agree with him saying that a teacher’s job is to teach timestables and why the earth is round.Mr Hundert’s job is to mould his student’s character not to mould the senator’s son.
4. Why did Mr Hundert decide to help Sedgewick, despite all his mischief? [2]
After meeting Sedgewick’s father,he realised that Sedgewick and his father his a same point.When Mr Hundert meet Sedgewick’s father,his father didn’t really bother what Mr Hundert says just like Sedgewick so he knew that Sedgewick’s character was like that not because he did it out of mischief.
5. Do you think Mr Hundert should have done so? Why or why not? [3]
I think Mr Hundert shouldn’t have done it because Sedgewick does not deserve it because only after Mr Hundert met his father and his father spoke to him then he start studying.
6. Years later, during the reunion Mr Hundert confronted the older Sedgewick about his dishonesty, in the bathroom scene. Sedgewick argued with Mr Hundert about how his traditional views of morality have no place in the real world, where one has to lie and cheat to rise to the top. Evaluate both Mr Hundert’s and Sedgewick’s arguments and state whose views you support and why. [3]
I support Mr Hundert’s views as I think a person’s moral is very important.If you are dishonest, cheating will be very common when you grow up and you will start doing sinful things.
Semantics [7]
a) Visigoth (Mr Hundert: "Well, he might be an important senator, but I'm afraid his son, Sedgewick, is a bit of a Visigoth!")
A person who do naughter things.
b) reprobate (Mr Hundert to students: "I regret being in the company of drunken reprobates!")
A morally unprincipled person.
c) a beacon of light (Sedgewick to Mr Hundert: " Your virtue is our beacon of light.")
A sign of light.
d) virtue
A kind of moral excellence
e) oligarchy (The emperor set up an oligarchy under which the people suffered terribly.)
Governed by a small group of people.
f) tyranny (Hundert to students: "A ‘tyranny‘ is what we have in this classroom!” Sedgewick nevertheless refused to give in to the tyranny of the draconian Mr Hundert.)
A person with his authority.
g) bravado (Sedgewick decided to show his bravado by challenging Mr Hundert incessantly.)
Boastful or threatening behaviour.
Jeremy
1. Why was Mr Hundert especially perturbed by Sedgewick? [2]
Sedgewick was not paying attention when Mr Hundert was teaching and he always like to play a fool during Mr Hundert lesson and disturbing.
2. Why, despite Sedgewick’s negative attributes, was he still so popular with his classmates? [2]
Sedgewick was a brave person by going against the rules of the school a lot which attracted a lot of people’s attention
3. During Mr Hundert’s meeting with Sedgewick’s father, the senator insisted that Mr Hundert would not mould his son. He asserted that Mr Hundert's job as a teacher was purely to "teach him his timestables" and "why the Earth was round". Do you agree with the senator's view? Why or why not? [3]
Yes. It is because it is the father’s job to mould his own son and it is the teacher’s job to teach the student not to mould him.
4. Why did Mr Hundert decide to help Sedgewick, despite all his mischief? [2]
Sedgewick changed and he started to become more hardworking so Mr Hundert decided to give him a chance and let him participate in the contest
5. Do you think Mr Hundert should have done so? Why or why not? [3]
No. It is because Mr Hundert help Sedgewick get into the contest which he was not allowed as Sedgwick did not finish the test and he still got high grades.
6. Years later, during the reunion Mr Hundert confronted the older Sedgewick about his dishonesty, in the bathroom scene. Sedgewick argued with Mr Hundert about how his traditional views of morality have no place in the real world, where one has to lie and cheat to rise to the top. Evaluate both Mr Hundert’s and Sedgewick’s arguments and state whose views you support and why. [3]
I agree with Mr Hundert because if you cheat and become a successful person and later if somebody finds out, you will become a loser in the end as people will start mocking you.
Semantics [7]
14. For each of the following words or phrase, give one one or short phrase (of not more than seven words) which has the same meaning that the word or phrase has in the movie.
a) Visigoth (Mr Hundert: "Well, he might be an important senator, but I'm afraid his son, Sedgewick, is a bit of a Visigoth!")
Visigoth- a naughty person
b) reprobate (Mr Hundert to students: "I regret being in the company of drunken reprobates!")
reprobate- a bad person
c) a beacon of light (Sedgewick to Mr Hundert: " Your virtue is our beacon of light.")
a beacon of light- hope
d) virtue
virtue- righteousness
e) oligarchy (The emperor set up an oligarchy under which the people suffered terribly.)
oligarchy- a strict law
f) tyranny (Hundert to students: "A ‘tyranny‘ is what we have in this classroom!” Sedgewick nevertheless refused to give in to the tyranny of the draconian Mr Hundert.)
tyranny- hardship
g) bravado (Sedgewick decided to show his bravado by challenging Mr Hundert incessantly.)
bravado- courage
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