There have been many interesting quotations throughout the book. Do you have any that you want to explain?
The ending of this piece does conform to the fairly tale ending "and they lived happily ever after..." Explain why this is so in your own way.
Is this a good choice of reading for SLI? Consider the reading level, content and length of the piece.
If you read Of Mice and Men, did you think it was a good choice for SLI?Consider the reading level, content and length of the piece.
47 comments:
The ending of this book indicates that people after the war can finally start their normal life. They don't have to hide. Now it's the time to fix everything what has been destroyed by the war. People have hard work to do, but then there will be normal world. Because there aren't many fairy tales which tell about normal life so that is the end.
Iwona
I think this book about Hansel and Gretel is a good choice. This book is not boring, I could easily read her. It's good that this book includes things that are happening during the World War II because you can read an interesting book in english, improve this language skills and also know something more about history. The length of each piece could be shorter but actually each person can choose individualy how much he wants to read. So, I think that SLI made a good decision by choosing this book to read for adavnced students.
I think this book is a great choice!!! As for me I like reading books about the victims of wars, because while reading them we can how much they suffered. It's a way to make yourself to appreciate your life more. It's very exciting and useful, esspecially for young people...This book gave me an opportunity to think over my life and their lives, to compare them.
Ekaterina
Since the story is half fairy tale and half novel, the end is right, to my mind.Hansel and Gretel has experienced awful things(for example- raping), therefore they are worth the happynes that they get by finding their father and remembering the past.
In my point of view, a little bit harder book should have been chosen for SLI students , because Hansel and Gretel was a little bit too easy to improve English,perhaps except for the vocabulary.
Justina
I think, that it is a great way to end this book, because even if it's not a fairy tale it's still have something from it. Ending book which talks about such a serious topic with words that give hope is an wonderful idea. Agata
Wel i think that the book was good it was bloody, interesnig and a bit true.The meaning "They live hapaly ever after" is a bit exagerating becouse you have good days and bad days.
The plot of the book is quite unusual, but attractive.What about the lenght? It was much shorter than Hansel and Gretel. The slang, which was used in that book a lot, gave me an impression that I live with the charecters of book. It was like an empathy for me. If you asked about the reading level I would say that it was easy enough. I am glad that I had an opportunity to read this kind of book. Simona
I am gald I could read this book. when I started to read it occupied my attention from the first page. I read it not for my studies but for pleasure. So, it was a good choice because of intruiging story. Also, reading level was ok and it didn't take much time to read it.
In my opinion, this book is sutable for reading in SLI, becouse it improves not only reading skills, but gives us more information about living during the Second World War and enriches historical knowledge. Moreover, it is intresting, piquant story, which almost denies the farytale of 'Hansel and Gretel' and shows the right way of story. Great, that the author leaves for us to think about each characters : which is negative and which is positive.
In adition, easy reading book whith simple words helps to understand everything in this story.
Greta
The happy ending is unexpected in such a story like this, so it makes a novel even more original. It reminds us to come back to the main point- a story is based on a fairy-tale, where a sentence "...and they lived happily ever after" is a must. It shocks a bit, too, because after reading a whole novel you kinda expect something more realistic and sad, but it's different in this one.
I guess, 'Hansel and Gretal' is a good, almost perfect choise for advanced readers like we are/pretend to be :D it is worth to be read, everything's OK. Marija
Iliked reading this book and if i come here next year i'd like to read something like this.
It was interesting to read this book, it was interesting, somtimes a bit no to interesting, but the style of the book was good.
Andris.
Is this a good choice of reading for SLI? Consider the reading level, content and length of the piece.
In my point of view, this book is a really useful one. The reading level is appropriate. Although there are some unfamiliar words, the book is still easy to understand, and new words expand our vocabulary. The length of the story is good too. In addition I can say that this book not only improves our English reading skills, but extends our knowledge about World War II and how people lived during that terrible period of time.
Urte
"...and they lived happily ever after." That's true, they lived. But maybe not really so happily, because many people died. Children met their father, but they lost the Stepmother and Magda, which became as a family member to them. They saw the war and had to breath to the face of death. They all suffered a lot, but they went through it. And that's the happy ending : they were together again, alive and healthy.
I think this story is quite proper for SLI students, considering their age and level of English.
On the other hand, some reading of more advanced level and modern thematics should be included too.
- Igor.
At first, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read "The True Story of Hansel and Gretel". I am interested in Wold War II and it's events, so this seemed like a new way to get familiar with Poland and the Jews during the war.
In my opinion, this book is definitely appropriate and suitable for advanced students. Vocabulary's fine (words can be understanded from the context), the plot's interesting. This book was easy to read, not too long and, of course, not boring.
My favourite quotation was "God packed up and left Poland in 1939". It expressed Magda's sarcastic point of view even though her brother was a priest.
So thank you for introducing this book. I'm sure that I'll remember it every time I read "Hansel and Gretel" to little children, but I'm not sure if I would re-tell it as the author Louise Murphy did.
Deimante
I think it's a good book for SLI students, it's not hard to understand, it's not very long and most important - it's very interesting to know the real story of Hansel and Gretel. K.
In my opinion, "The true story of Hansel and Gretel" is a great choice for SLI students. Reading such a piece of writing is a great way to get familiar with that part of polish history. Personally, I'm from Poland and I'm really glad that we picked this book. I think, many foreign students were surprised by a lot of things, so that I'm even more proud of my country.
If it is about its length and reading level, I think it was perfect for three week camp.
Reading Hansel and Gretel was really good choice. Reading level was ok and it was interesting to read. It is probably strange when you know Hansel and Gretel as a simple fairytale and then you read a long difficult story. Book was a bit too long, but i liked unexpectedness of things happening.
"<...> a day during a war was like a month of real time. A month of war was a year..."
I think, the time is very important in this story. Children, Magda, Nelka and other are waiting something but the time is going very slowly. Why?
E.B.
"We can never let the world take our memories of love away, and if there are no memories, we must invent love all over again". Love is what makes our life beautiful and it doesn't matter what do you love - your child, your friend, your parients, your grandparients...The circle of life is always the same and love makes it turning all over again and again.
This was a realy interesting book for me. It helped me to come back to reality - I understood what is realy difficult and what is just being spoiled. People often worry about trifles, small details of their life and they forget what is realy uneasy life.
VILMA
"<...> a day during a war was like a month of real time. A month of war was a year..."
I think, the time is very important in this story. Children, Magda, Nelka and other are waiting something but the time is going very slowly. Why?
E.B.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The author created a great connection between fairytale, magic and true historical background.
I liked the end of the book most. Last sentences were so unusual, but they were like a clear sign that the story ends. That's it. I'm leaving.
I think reading in SLI is a really good choice. As for me I would never have been read this book in 3 weeks. Also I learned a lot of new words... It was very interesting story... I had never thought that "Hansel and Gretel" can be a story like this...
Justina
If you read Of Mice and Men, did you think it was a good choice for SLI?Consider the reading level, content and length of the piece.
Well, i reckon that this book is a good one and pretty easy to read.
No doubt, that it's a good choice for SLI.
There are so many American reductions and they will be useful in future for those,who will study abroad.
This book is short enough. The most important in this is its plot. Through this characters we can see us (or some our habits, wiich we loathe).Especially fascinating to observe after relationships between Lennie and George.
Personally I was carried away with this book.
When i come to my country I'll highly recommended my friends to read this book.
Thank you
Question:Is this a good choice of reading for SLI? Consider the reading level, content and length of the piece.
Yes, I think that it is a very good choise. Firstly, because of topic of this story. I hate to read books and watch films about the war. When I first started reading "Hansel and Gretel" I thought that I would not like it, but as I was reading more and more I was surprised that I found this story to be very interesting. Secondly, it is interesting how this story has some similarities to the farytale. For example, witch and stepmother dies and reunion of kids and their father. What is more it is easy to read, majority of words are familiar. What about the length, it is perfect, because we did not have to read too many pages each day and I was able to do my other homework. Also, we managed to finish untill the end of the courses and do some other things.
In my opinion, it is an appriopriate book for advanced class. It is intersting and real. This book can improve your language skills. It develops your vocabulary and, of course, reading. The content is ideal, especially for young people who are here, because they would find out more about the World War II. It is not very long, and iyou read it very fast. It is a good choice of reading for SLI. :)
"Is this a good choice of reading for SLI? Consider the reading level, content and length of the piece."
I think that it was really impresive book. Before coming to SLI I hadn't been read any English books so it was quite good experience not only for reading English book but also for historical knowledge. All in all it was perfect choise of book. Thank you.
I don't know why but I have two quotations in my head...
"This is Poland. This is Germany. But the rest of it, look now, the rest of it is the world", "God packed up and left Poland in 1939" it is cruel but it is true. God could never let theese things to happen. So if it is happening, God is not here... Theese quotations will remind my this book. Will remind me the true story of Hansel and gretel.
I think it's a very good choice to read this book during SLI, but it should be given only one book, because it's imposible to read 2 or 3 books at the same time( teachers of other subjects ask to read too ahd we should have some time for ourselves:)). To my mind, level is suitable, it wasn't too hard to read and the story is very interesting, so it's a good choice!!!
I finished this book yesterday, and the ending was really powerful. The length of the book was just perfect, no too small, not too much, although most of my friends couldn't keep pace to read almost everyday. It was fascinating to read, to follow the story. I expected that Hansel and Gretel would be rejoined with their father. I was especially happy when I read that part when Gretel came back to her mind. Some scenes are quite cruel, but despite that I would recommend this book to everyone.
This book is a good choice, I think. It is not too difficult to understand, although you have to concentrate on some things you don't want to miss. I'd really like to read this book one more time, because I had no time to think all over it as I had much other homework!
"Of mice and Men" is astonishing book. i think I made the best choice when I picked it. I can't even say how i liked the book. Yesterday when I finished it, I was very disappointed that it ended. I felt really sad about Lennie. It was very ... hard to read it ;(
If you read Of Mice and Men, did you think it was a good choice for SLI?Consider the reading level, content and length of the piece.
Definitely a good choice.For me reading it wasn't dificult, the content was easy to understand and follow, also, the legth was just perfect.
I would recommend the book to everyone.
It was intresting to read this book and it was a great choice for SLI because book wasn't boring, there wasn't too many descriptions and vocabulary wasn't hard. Some things shocked me (raping, Magda's death), but it is all true about war. I liked how author used fairy tail elements in the book. The end was strange and I didn't like that we didn't know what happend to Telek and Nelka. But probably author left a space for our imagination. So, I think, they survived and lived happily like the kids. Great book. Giedre
Nevertheless good, beautiful endings give a possibility to take a deep breathe and calm yourself. After bad, horrible things always come the good ones. Plots with such a moral, make us to believe sincerely, that whatever happens it's a vital importance to have and grow hope in your heart. This book is formed by familiar events, understandable words and useful wisdom. So these things prove, that it's a very good choice, I can say a good gift from SLI.
I liked that book. It was very interesting to read and also it was easy to read. I liked it because it was telling about what was happening in the World war II. This book could help you not only improve your language (English) skills but also and let you know something more about history.
I think it's a good book for the SLI. really useful.
I think that this book is good choise, because it is unusual. I realy liked the elements of fairy tale, and how they acted. acording to a fairy tale i expected differnt thigs to hapen.
I also liked that this book has historical elements that makes it interesting and atractive.
The book is just a wonderful book to read here in SLI. I'm reading it for the second time already and it is interesting, again! The book makes me think about relationship between different people and the problems, that so many people had to face in the past...
So, I really like it :) it is not hard to read, I understand everything and I get the chance to experience the war while reading. Great choice!
I think that is that it was a good choice to pick this book to read.It's educates us,tells about the things we couldn't even imagen before we'd read this.It's not borring at all.When i read the name of the book it seemed to me that it's gonna be some kind of fairy tale,rewritten to more modern way,but it's not.
In my opinion, this book is a good choice. It isn't just a stupid fairy tail without any real, serious message. It is about very severe, harsh times in occupied territory, where people weren't treated like people and if you weren't german you would be probably dead soon. This story isn't hard to read, I find the vocabulary quite easy. I like it even more, since the plot takes place in my homeland.
In my opinion, this book good choice for reading in SLI because in SLI come a lot of students from different countries, and as you know Second World War conserned almost every country. So, I think for everyone is interesting to know more about victims of war. Thus, to know more about people actions, reactions and their emotions.
Also, I read the book Of Mice and Men, it was really very interesting book for me. That book was more easier than Hansel and Gretel but also has many points which you never find in other books. The book Of Mice and Men was very emotional for me.
I think that this book is very good choice for SLI because the plot is very interesting. There is so many words from history that you haven't heard before and it's good because you can learn many new words and phrases. It's also interesting because there is a lot of action, so you won't get bored. SLI is for people from any country of the world, so this book is good because characters in this story are from many diffrent countries: Russia, Lithuania, Poland and there are some Jews, so while you are reading you can see that the World War II was a huge problem in many countries.
In my opinion, this book is interesting and a good choice for SLI advanced students. I gained knowledge about World War II from peoples` experience, adventures, memories, also from their lifestyle and relationship during this war. By all means, it is much more inetersting to read this book than some other tedious history books where are only facts and dates. There are good vocabulary words but it is not too difficult to understand. Also you can compare this book with fairy tale `Hansel and Gretel`, and you can see that something is similar in real life, but reality is much more difficult and complicated. Therefore everyone should try to emphatize to those people life and understand what is the main meaning of this book.
The quotation about which I want to speak is: "Wasting a little shows you believe in tomorrow". In my opinion, when people loosing something, not much, they beginning to hope that another time it will be better, that they will be luckier. And the main plus of it, that they are trying to do all their best to reach it! It gives them such kind of an inspiration. If you lost something, you will keep going at least for your enemies angry.
I think that this book about Hansel and Gretel is a good choice. There are many new words to improve vocabulary. It's not just facts, it's an interesting story. But maybe it's a little bit long for three weeks, but it doesn't matter. Anyway, this book is worthy to read and I'm not disappointed.
Konstantin
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