Brooklyn (évaluation intermédiaire)
🅰️NSWERS
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- repérer = citer le texte
- expliciter = clarifier le texte (en reformulant/ paraphrase ou en apportant des informations complémentaires)
- analyser = interpréter / dire l’effet produit et comment il est produit
2- a. Explain what Father Flood has come to offer. List (and explain) the arguments he uses to convince the family.
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 + |
| 0 – 1 | 2 – 3 | 4 | 5 |
Father Flood has come to offer Eilis the opportunity to move to America, specifically to his parish in Brooklyn. He presents several arguments to convince Eilis and her family of the benefits of such a move:
→ Father Flood suggests that there are job opportunities available in Brooklyn for someone who is hard-working, educated, and honest like Eilis.
→ Father Flood points out that parts of Brooklyn are just like Ireland and are filled with Irish people. This is meant to assure Eilis and her family that she can find a sense of belonging in the new environment, mitigating concerns about cultural disconnection.
→ In response to concerns about the potential danger of going to America, Father Flood assures the family that his parish in Brooklyn is safe and filled with lovely people.
→ Father Flood presents America as a more favorable destination (compared to England). There are more opportunities in Brooklyn than in England.
→ Father Flood paints a positive picture of the social and cultural aspects of living in Brooklyn. He says life in his parish is vibrant and community-centered.
b. What is his role in this scene? Develop 2 or 3 ideas.
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 + |
| 0 – 1 | 2 – 3 | 4 | 5 |
Father Flood serves as a symbolic bridge between two worlds: the old world (Ireland) and the new world (America). -B2-
→ He introduces the prospect of opportunity, change, and improvement: start a new (and better) life in America. -A2-
→ He reassures Eilis and her mother by highlighting the positive aspects of his parish and the potential for a fulfilling life in America. -B1-
→ His presence and the silence that comes with it enable the characters to reflect on the proposed opportunity, creating a moment of tension and introspection. -B2-
→ He functions as an instrument for Rose’s plan (i.e. the possibility for Eilis to move to America) -B2-
→ His presence is a turning point in the narrative as well as a turning point in Eilis’s life. -B2-
3- Pick out all the references to silences present in the scene. What do they convey?
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 + |
| 0 – 1 | 2 – 3 | 4 | 5 |
- Repérage de citations pertinentes A2 (2 points)
- Analyse B2
“He crossed his legs and sipped his tea from the china cup and said nothing for a while.”
This silence follows Father Flood’s statement about Brooklyn and its opportunities. It creates a contemplative atmosphere, indicating that the characters, particularly Eilis, her mother, and Rose, are processing the information and considering the (serious) implications.
“Rose, normally so good at moving the conversation along if they had a visitor, also said nothing.”
This silence from Rose, who is typically active in steering conversations, suggests that the topic of Eilis potentially going to America is weighty and possibly sensitive. Rose’s strange/ unexpected silence contributes to the overall tension in the room.
“In the silence that had lingered, she realized it had somehow been tacitly arranged that Eilis would go to America.”
The lingering silence is significant, indicating that the family’s contemplation has been ongoing. The realisation that it had been tacitly arranged for Eilis to go to America adds another layer of complexity to the silence, suggesting unspoken agreements or understanding among the characters.
“In the days that followed no mention was made of Father Flood’s visit or his raising the possibility of her going to Brooklyn.”
The absence of discussion after Father Flood’s visit is another form of silence. It implies that the family has engaged in unspoken deliberation, and the decision or inclination toward Eilis going to America is being silently acknowledged.
Conclusion: Overall, the references to silence in the extract convey a sense of tension, contemplation, and unspoken communication within the family. The silence becomes a powerful tool for expressing the weight of the decision and the complexity of the emotions surrounding the possibility of Eilis moving to America.
4- a. Comment on Rose’s attitude. Pick out one sentence providing an insight into her thoughts and feelings. Explain (analyse).
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 + |
| 0 – 1 | 2 – 3 | 4 | 5 |
- Repérage de la citation (une seule) – A1 (1 point)
- Analyse : développement d’une idée (A2) – deux idées (B1) – trois idées (B2)
In this extract, Rose’s attitude provides some insight into her complex and possibly conflicted opinion and feelings (B2). It also unveils her role concerning Eilis’s potential move to America.
“she twisted her ring and then her bracelet” (l. 11) – A1
→ Rose’s silence during the conversation with Father Flood and her apparent nervousness (twisting her jewelry) seem to imply that she may have (secretly) orchestrated or at least anticipated the priest’s visit in order to convince Eilis and her mother.
→ Besides, she doesn’t overtly object to the idea, contributing to the impression that she may see the move as a positive development for her sister.
→ The act of twisting her ring and then her bracelet, while remaining silent serves as a form of non-verbal communication. It reveals Rose’s emotional discomfort or tension in her sister’s future.
→ Last but not least, her silence may also indicate that she is internally processing the information presented by Father Flood and considering its implications for Eilis and the family.
b. How does Rose’s attitude contrast with her mother’s (attitude)? Explain in one or two sentences.
- A1 – A2 – B1 (sur 2 points)
Contrary to Rose who doesn’t speak a word and seems uneasy, Eilis’s mother expresses concern (about the distance, stating, “It’s very far away, though.”)
4- Comment on Eillis’s vision of emigration and of America.
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 + |
| 0 – 1 | 2 – 3 | 4 | 5 |
At the beginning of the passage, Eilis seems to have limited exposure to the idea of emigrating to America. She doesn’t know much about this new distant country but has heard of it. Therefore, she sees this remote country as an idealised place, a land of opportunity. Her vision echoes the notion of the American dream which conveys the idea that everyone in the US has the chance to be successful and happy.
Eilis draws a comparison between going to America and the more common practice of people from the town going to England. There is a perception that those who go to America could become rich, successful, happy, and even proud, which contrasts with the notion of ordinary (even dull) work for ordinary money in England.
Nevertheless, Eilis recognises the practical challenges associated with emigrating to America. She acknowledges the long journey across the Atlantic, estimating it to be at least a week on a ship.
LANGUE
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 + |
| 0 – 1 | 2 – 3 | 4 – 5 | 6 – 7 |
