Gone with the Wind: 3 4

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one with the Wind, first published in 1936, is one Atlanta, Georgia. Her great grandfather on her mother’s G of the most powerful historical novels ever written. side had owned a large plantation before the Civil War, but It is set against the background of the American Margaret’s own parents were relatively ordinary middle- Civil War of 1861–65, and the ‘reconstruction’ period in class Atlantans. the defeated southern states after it. In her teenage years and early twenties, Margaret was America’s Civil War, the most destructive war in its socially daring, wearing the short skirts and short history, was a battle between two ways of life. The hairstyles that had begun to symbolize the new, more economy of the southern states was largely based around independent woman. She drank, smoked, flirted with men cotton and an old colonial style of life. White families and told stories in colourful language - all of which was owned vast plantations, which were worked by black shocking behaviour for a southern middle-class woman of slaves, and lived life according to the old European, the time. aristocratic values. The northern states were much more She grew up listening to stories about the Old South industrial and democratic. Many had already made and the Civil War. Her grandmother was a fiery woman slavery illegal, but there was a growing move to abolish it who had been born on a plantation, and her husband had throughout the entire United States. The South felt this as fought for the southern ‘Cause’. Added to her a threat, and eleven states decided to withdraw from the grandmother’s stories were those of all her other relatives Union and create, in 1861, an independent country called and their friends who had survived the war, and these the Confederate States of America. This led to war when tales became the basis of Margaret’s life-long fascination the North decided to fight to keep the Union. with the Civil War and Georgia’s part in it. At first the war went well for the Confederacy (the She also loved writing and story-telling from a very early South), which won battles in Virginia through to 1863. But age, and began to dream of being a writer. However, her after the Battle of Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania, in July mother wanted her to train as a doctor, and she attended 1863, the much less powerful Southern forces had to college to prepare for this – but only until her mother’s retreat. The Union (the North) general William Sherman death in 1919. Feeling released from her mother’s plans, began his march through the South, deliberately she went home to look after her father, who had suffered destroying everything in his path. The Battle of Atlanta, in a nervous breakdown at the loss of his wife. But she Georgia, in 1864, was one of the hardest-fought battles of became bored at home and met and married, in 1922, the war, and resulted in a fire which destroyed a large part Red Upshaw, a dominating man with an air of danger of the city. In April 1865, the South surrendered. about him. The marriage only lasted a few months, as Margaret Mitchell’s novel follows the lives of four main Upshaw turned out to be violent and alcoholic, and soon characters through all these events. The heroine, Scarlett after their separation Margaret found a job with a local O’Hara, the fiery, irresistibly attractive child of a rich magazine. plantation family, is in love with gentlemanly, handsome By the time she left the magazine in 1926, she was Ashley Wilkes, and certain that he is in love with her. When writing historical articles for her editor. Meanwhile, she she learns that he is to marry Melanie Hamilton, a kind, had married John Marsh, a steady, quiet man who warm-hearted girl, she is shattered. She will try anything encouraged her to write. She had written short stories in to win him back, or at least get near him. The war begins, her spare time while working, but now she turned to a Ashley goes off to fight, and she must use all her strength novel. She made one attempt that she was not happy and intelligence simply to survive. But she can never with, and then had a car accident. Unable to walk while forget Ashley, even as her friendship with Melanie grows. her injuries healed, she began to write again. This time, in In the meantime, Rhett Butler steps on to the scene. Dark, 1927, she was writing the novel that was to become Gone hot-blooded and outrageous, Rhett seems to see right with the Wind. through her ... Eight years later, Mitchell had written 600,000 words, but did not consider that she had a finished novel. She ABOUT MARGARET MITCHELL had written it partly for her own amusement, and was very unsure about its suitability for publication. The author of Gone with the Wind was born in 1900, in In the 1930s, an editor from the publishing company

Macmillan came to Atlanta looking for manuscripts. A In their pairs, students then role-play the conversation friend told him about Marg a ret Mitchell’s novel in between Scarlett and Rhett after Rhett overhears Scarlett progress, and he went to see her. At first she denied that when she tells Ashley she loves him. she had a book at all, but finally gave him what she had Chapters 5–7 written. Macmillan knew that more work was needed, but Put students into small groups. Ask them to discuss the also knew that they had a unique book. A year later, it was similarities and differences between Rhett Butler and published, and became a bestseller overnight. It sold Ashley Wilkes. They should think about: their opinions of more than a million copies in its first year of publication, war; how they feel about Scarlett. and Margaret Mitchell, to her astonishment, was soon the Chapters 8–9 best-selling American novelist of all time. 1 Put students into pairs. Ask them to discuss how The authoress, however, was so unprep a r ed for the huge Scarlett feels throughout the day as she realizes that success of her novel that it brought her as much she may have to deliver the baby. Ask them to find unhappiness as satisfaction. She had to go into hiding to examples in Chapter 8 to support their opinions. escape all the people who wanted to meet her. The last 2 Put students into pairs. Ask them to role-play the few months before the publication of the novel had been conversation between Scarlett and Rhett as he tells exhausting for her – she had worked so hard that she had her he’s leaving to fight in the war. almost lost her sight. As a result she had sworn she would Chapters 10–12 never write another book. The effects of her sudden fame Put students into small groups. They imagine they are made her more sure of it, and Gone with the Win d Scarlett and have just arrived back at Tara. They think remained the only novel she ever wrote. She died tragically about the following questions: – she was hit by a speeding car in Atlanta, in 1949. How do you feel now? What are your hopes and fears? What are your feelings for Rhett, Ashley and Melanie? Communicative activities ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK Put students into small groups. Ask them to discuss the The following teacher-led activities cover the same changes at Tara between the beginning and end of the sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, war. They should discuss how things have changed for and supplement those exercises. Further supplementary both the O’Haras and for the servants. exercises, covering shorter sections of the book, can be Then have a whole-class discussion. found on the photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of this Factsheet. These are primarily for use with class readers, but with the exception of pair/groupwork questions, can also be used by students working alone in a self-access centre. G l o s s a r y It will be useful for your students to know the following new words. ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK They are practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections of exercises at 1 Put students into small groups. Ask them to discuss the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman the following: Active Study Dictionary.) (a) What do you know about the American Civil War? Chapters 1–2 Who was it between? What was it about? carriage (n) a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse charm (n) a special quality that someone has; it makes people like (b) How would it feel to be the following people at the them time of the Civil War: flirt (v) to behave in a way that makes somebody think you are a plantation worker? a plantation owner? sexually attracted to them, but not in a serious way Then have a whole-class feedback session. Write key negro (n) a black person notes about the Civil War on the board. If students do not plantation (n) a large farm, especially in a hot country, where one type of plant (such as cotton, tea) is grown know about the Civil War, give them information (see slave (n) someone who is owned by another person and must work Summary on page one of this Factsheet). for them without pay 2 Bring in a map of the USA. Point out where Atlanta, trash (n) rubbish Georgia (where the story is set) and Washington DC Chapters 3–4 are. Encourage students to use a map as they read. battle (n) when two armies fight each other in one place blockade (n) when an army surrounds a place to stop food, people ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION and guns from coming in or getting out Chapters 1–2 pray (v) to speak to God in order to ask for help or give thanks Put students into pairs. Ask them to read again Scarlett’s prostitute (n) someone who has sex to earn money typhoid (n) a serious disease which other people can catch conversation with her father (pages 5 to 6). They then wagon (n) a strong vehicle with four wheels, pulled by a horse role-play their conversation. widow (n) a woman whose husband has died and who has not Chapters 3–4 married again Put students into pairs. Ask them to discuss these Chapters 5–7 questions: missing (adj) if a person is missing, they are not where you expect them to be; nobody knows where they are (a) Are Scarlett and Rhett similar in any ways? If so, what sacred (adj) about God and believed to be extremely important ways? shell (n) this is fired from a gun and explodes (b) Do you think they will get to know each other better?

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Student’s activities 1

2 Photocopiable Gone with the Wind: Part 1 3 These activities can be done alone or with one or more other students. Pair/group-only activities are marked. 4

Activities before reading the book 5 1 Look at the front cover. Gone with the Wind is a story (b) Why doesn’t Rhett’s family speak to him? 6 about the American Civil War of 1861–65. Which of (c) Who does Scarlett flirt with? these words would you expect to see in the story? (d) Do you admire Scarlett? Why/Why not? (a) aeroplane (b) train (c) horse INTERMEDIATE (d) motor car (e) gun (f) telephone CHAPTERS 3–4 2 Read the introduction on the first page of the book. Chapter 3 Then see what you can remember about Gone with 1 Answer the following questions. the Wind and Margaret Mitchell, its author. (a) Does Rhett Butler think the South is in a good (a) Name two characters from the book. position to win the war? Why/Why not? (b) In what year was Margaret Mitchell born? (b) What happens in the library? (c) How long did it take her to write Gone with the (c) Do you think Ashley loves Scarlett? Why/Why Wind? not? (d) Why did she have to hide? (d) Why does Scarlett decide to marry Charles (e) How did she die? Hamilton? (e) What does Scarlett think of Melanie? Activities while reading the book 2 What do you think is going to happen to Scarlett in the rest of the story? Could it be any of these things? CHAPTERS 1–2 Why?/Why not? Chapter 1 (i) Scarlett marries Rhett Butler. 1 Match the names with the short descriptions on the (ii) She runs away with Ashley. right. (iii) She lives alone. (a) Scarlett O’Hara (i) Melanie’s brother Chapter 4 (b) Ashley Wilkes (ii) Scarlett’s father (c) Gerald O’Hara (iii) Scarlett’s mother Are the following statements true or false? (d) Melanie Hamilton (iv) the daughter of a (a) Scarlett likes being in Atlanta. (e) Charles Hamilton plantation owner (b) There’s fighting in Virginia. (f) Ellen O’Hara (the girl that most of (c) Rhett is doing nothing to help the South in its fight (g) Mammy the book is about) against the North. (h) Stuart and Brent (v) the O’Haras’ servant (d) Scarlett loved Charlie Hamilton. Tarleton (vi) friends of Scarlett (e) Scarlett wants to go to the sale. (vii) the girl Ashley marries (f) People think a widow should not dance with strange (viii) the man Scarlett loves men. (g) Scarlett is glad to dance with Rhett Butler. 2 Answer the following questions. (h) Everyone thinks Rhett is a good man and a (a) How does Scarlett feel about Ashley? gentleman. (b) What does Gerald O’Hara feel about Scarlett being in love with Ashley? CHAPTERS 5–7 Chapter 2 Chapter 5 1 Match the names with the short descriptions on the 1 Answer the following questions. right. (a) How does Scarlett spend the autumn of 1862? (a) John Wilkes (i) Scarlett’s servant (b) Why does Rhett say he’s nice to Mrs Wilkes? (b) Suellen and Careen (ii) John Wilkes’ daughters (c) Why does Mrs Elsing describe Rhett as a ‘snake- (c) Rhett Butler (iii) Scarlett’s sisters in-the-grass’? (d) Prissy (iv) Ashley’s father (d) Why is Scarlett shocked at what Melanie says to (e) Honey and India (v) Stuart and Brent’s Mrs Merriwether about Ashley? Wilkes brothers (e) Why does Scarlett think Rhett is sensible? (f) Boyd and Tom (vi) a tall strong man with a 2 Do you think Rhett is sensible not to fight? Discuss Tarleton black moustache with another student or write a paragraph. Write these names and the names from Chapter 1 in a Chapter 6 notebook, with a short note about who they are. Do this alphabetically. Add to the list as you read the story. 1 Who says the following? Why? 2 Answer the following questions. (a) Darcy won’t need those new boots now. (a) What are Scarlett’s first thoughts about Rhett (b) Will you look after Melanie for me? Butler? (c) Kiss me goodbye.

(d) Mrs Wilkes, you’re going to have a baby, aren’t (d) How much money is lost when the Yankees burn you? the cotton? (e) Wouldn’t you join the Yankees to get out of that 2 Write a letter from Scarlett to Ashley, telling him about place, and then run away? the journey home and the baby. 2 Discuss this question with a partner or write a Chapter 11 paragraph: What do you think of Rhett? Why? 1 Discuss with a partner: How does Scarlett stay strong Chapter 7 when she has so many pieces of bad news? What 1 Answer the following questions. does she think to herself? (a) Why do people begin leaving the city of Atlanta? 2 Close your books. Put these sentences in the right order. (b) Why does Scarlett stay and look after Melanie? (c) What does Gerald O’Hara write in his letters to (a) Scarlett and Melanie find money and jewellery in Scarlett? the soldier’s bag and clothes. (d) What worrying news is there on the last day of (b) Scarlett finds an old potato in the earth and August? eats it. 2 Join the halves of sentences (a)–(e) with the correct (c) Scarlett shoots the Yankee soldier. halves (i)–(v), using ‘because’, ‘so’ or ‘so that’. (d) One morning, Scarlett hears the sound of a horse. (a) The Confederate army tries to hold the Macon (e) Scarlett says ‘I’m never going to be hungry railway again!’ (b) Melanie cannot travel (f) Scarlett decides to go to Twelve Oaks to look for (c) Scarlett cannot go home food. (d) Scarlett is shocked 3 Answer the following questions. (e) Scarlett wants Melanie’s baby to come (a) Why does Scarlett think her father has lost his (i) there is typhoid at Tara. mind? (ii) Rhett asks her to be his lover. (b) What does Scarlett think about as she lies down (iii) Atlanta can stand against the Yankees. on the earth? (iv) she can go home. (c) What does she decide ? (v) Scarlett stays with her in Atlanta. Chapter 12 CHAPTERS 8–9 1 Join the two halves of these sentences: Chapter 8 (a) By May 1865 (b) A stream of confederate soldiers Scarlett goes to find Dr Meade to ask him to help with (c) A soldier called Will Benteen Melanie’s baby. What does she see in the streets? (d) When Ashley comes home, Describe the scene to another student or write a paragraph. (e) Scarlett calls Will a fool (f) Will understands and pities Chapter 9 1 Answer the following questions. (i) needed food and help. (a) Why do you think Rhett helps Scarlett and (ii) stayed at Tara to help them. Melanie? (iii) because he stops her running to meet Ashley. (b) Who travels in the wagon? (iv) Scarlett, because she loves Ashley. (c) How does Scarlett feel when Rhett kisses her? (v) the war was over. (d) Why does Scarlett hit Rhett? (vi) Melanie recognizes him first. 2 Rhett says: ‘Scarlett, anyone as selfish and strong- 2 What did Ashley say in his letter beginning ‘My love, minded as you is never helpless.’ I am coming home to you ...’ Write his letter. Do you agree with Rhett that Scarlett is selfish? Discuss with a partner or write a paragraph. 3 Scarlett ‘saw in his eyes how angry and confused he Activities after reading the book was’. Why is Rhett angry and confused? What do you think is going to happen in Part 2 of Gone CHAPTERS 10–12 with the Wind? Think about these questions: Chapter 10 1 Has Scarlett changed since the beginning of the 1 Answer the following questions. story? If so, how? (a) How is Gerald different when Scarlett gets back 2 Has Rhett or Melanie changed? If so, how? to Tara? 3 How does Scarlett feel about Rhett? Have her feelings (b) Who is left at Tara when Scarlett gets back? changed? What about Rhett’s feelings for Scarlett? (c) Why does Mammy say, ‘It was those Slattery 4 Have Scarlett’s feelings about Melanie changed? trash that killed Miss Ellen’?

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by David Penn and Tony Garside Factsheet series developed by Louise James © Pearson Education 2000