Goodbye EU, and Goodbye the United Kingdom (722 Words)

Questions for analysing a text by Amy Hardy

Goodbye EU, and goodbye the United Kingdom (722 words)

World and Press • 1st August issue 2019 • page 2 page 1 of 6

Questions for analysing a text

The following exercises analyse the content, structure, and language of the article.

Pre-reading

1. Form groups of three or four people and brainstorm the things you associate with “Britishness”. Make a list of these things.

2. Explain in your own words what “Brexit” is. Why is it such a hot topic right now?

3. Research the following individuals: Margaret Thatcher, Kenneth Clarke, Mervyn King, and Winston Churchill. What are they known for?

Questions

1. What does the expression “sick man of Europe” (para. 1) mean? Explain it in your own words and say what figure of speech it is.

2. The article starts with a flashback to the 1970s and then moves to today’s Brexit crisis. How does the author compare the past with the present in the opening of the article from the headline to paragraph 3?

3. Answer the following questions on “Brexiters”.

a) Which people support leaving the EU according to the article? Collect key points that describe Brexit supporters.

b) How did English nationalism play a part in the decision to leave the EU? Look at how the author describes Brexiters to explain his view on this.

4. How is the article structured? Subdivide the article into four or five parts and summarise the content of each part in one concise sentence.

5. The author argues that the decision to leave the EU has started to dissolve “Britishness” as a shared identity of the citizens of the four UK nations. Brexit, therefore, changes the UK as we know it (headline, subhead, paras. 3, 7–9, 11).

a) Define what the author means by “Britishness”.

b) Do you agree with the author? Comment on his opinion and give reasons.

Additional task (optional) The article is rich in metaphors. For example, each of the paragraphs 2, 3, 6, 9, and 11 include one. Choose two of these metaphors and explain their meaning. Underline the metaphorical expression in each phrase.

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Answer key

Pre-reading

1. Answers will vary, but some possibilities are: Queen Elizabeth, Buckingham Palace, the monarchy, the royal family, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, red telephone booths, double-decker buses, tea, scones, crumpets, high tea, London, pubs, fish and chips, the Commonwealth, driving on the left side of the road, rain, politeness, humour, comedy, football, …

2. Answers will vary. A possible answer is: “Brexit” refers to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union (British + Exit). The decision was voted upon in a referendum in June 2016 with almost 52 per cent voting to leave. It is such a hot topic because it has many economic and political repercussions for all of Europe concerning trade agreements, imports, border controls (Northern Ireland, Dover, Calais), work permits, residence permits, travelling, etc.

Further background information: • www.bbc.com/news/politics/eu_referendum/results • www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47470864 • www.gov.uk/government/news/government-outlines-no-deal-arrangements-for-eu-citizens • www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-14/why-ireland-s-border-commands-its-own- brexit-backstop-quicktake

3. Possible Answers • Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013): British Conservative Party politician and prime minister (1979–90); won three consecutive terms; her politics pushed the change of the UK’s economy from being more state-controlled (statism) to being more liberal • Kenneth Clarke (1940– ): British conservative politician; served as cabinet official under the prime ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major, and David Cameron; ran for leadership of the Conservative Party several times but didn’t win • Mervyn King (1948– ): British economist; governor of the Bank of England (2003–13) • Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965): British statesman, orator, author; led the UK through World War II; he was prime minister twice (1940–45 and 1951–55) Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica (www.britannica.com)

Questions

1. Sample answer The expression “sick man of Europe” is a personification that refers to the UK’s poor economic status in the mid-1970s. It describes the country as a person suffering from a disease because its economic and industrial situation was extremely weak compared to the rest of Europe. Parallels to a disease are also drawn in the paragraph when the text describes how investors reacted at the time. They did not want to do business with the UK anymore and were “taking flight” (para. 1) from the “sick man”. In the midst of the British economic decline, investors were

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acting as if they had to protect themselves from an individual with a contagious disease who may infect them. Furthermore, the word “endemic” (para. 1) is used in this paragraph to describe the “industrial strife” (para. 1). The word has connotations with a disease found within a particular area and thus emphasises the link between the British economy and disease.

2. Sample answer The author compares the economic crisis in the 1970s to today’s Brexit crisis because he thinks that they are both “existential moment(s)” (para. 3) for the UK. This means that both crises have in common that they can change the country fundamentally. Both involve some form of loss or departure as expressed in the headlines used in the passage. The article quotes a headline by the Wall Street Journal in 1975, “Goodbye Great Britain” (para. 1). The author explains this headline by saying that the country had lost its “Greatness” because of the economic crisis (para. 1). The headline of the article (“Goodbye EU, and goodbye the United Kingdom”) adapts the 1975 headline to today’s Brexit crisis. However, the headline suggests that the UK has more to lose today than in 1975. The headline contains two “goodbyes” and the author sees Brexit as a “two- part drama” in two acts (para. 3). The first one is “Goodbye EU” (headline) or “Goodbye to Brussels” (para. 3), where the UK will cut its institutional, economic, and political ties with the EU (para. 3). The second act is “goodbye the United Kingdom” (headline, para. 3). The author does not give much information as to what this would mean. The subhead suggests, however, that it has to do with “Britishness” being replaced by English nationalism. Overall, the passage shows that the Brexit crisis has many dimensions, and it is left unclear if there could be a solution or what this solution could look like. In contrast to that, the crisis of 1975 is described as only an economic one that was ultimately solved in an economic way (para. 2).

3. a) Sample collection of key points Brexit supporters are … • … Conservative Party members who belong to the “rightwing English nationalist wing of the party”. (para. 5) • … Conservative Party members and people in general who find it hard to accept that the British Empire came to an end. This is a source of pain for them, and they feel nostalgic about the UK’s powerful status in the past, for example, during World War II. This is why they dream of a “Global Britain” (para. 6) and think that leaving the EU and standing alone (like Winston Churchill was ready to do during World War II) is the way to achieve this. They look forward to Brexit as the UK’s “Independence Day” (para. 6) because this would mark a return to the UK’s former significance. (paras. 5, 6) • … mainly people from provincial England who live in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas as well as people from Wales. (para. 7) • … angry populists who revolt against outsiders and British elites. (para. 6) • … politicians who focussed the Leave campaign before the referendum on anti-migrant feelings and the understanding that being English (as opposed to British) means being white. Their promise to invest in the National Health Service while keeping foreigners out is seen as dangerously close to the views of overtly racist extremists. (paras. 9, 10)

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b) Sample answer The voting results that the author mentions show that voting Leave was more of an English decision and not a British one. An explanation for this can be found in the descriptions of the Brexiters. Their support of Brexit is linked to English nationalism. Brexiters of the Conservative Party are directly associated with the English nationalist wing within the party. This nationalism shows in their nostalgic pride in the UK’s former, powerful status as an empire. They think that the UK would regain this feeling of power by separating from the EU. English nationalism among Brexiters is indirectly shown in the description of populists that revolt against outsiders and in the xenophobia and underlying racism that shaped the Leave campaign. The campaigners capitalised on the view that Englishness is about being white and won voters by making the rejection of foreigners a central part of their promise. (paras. 5–7, 9, 10)

4. Sample structure Part 1: headline to paragraph 3 • Like the economic crisis in the 1970s, the Brexit crisis has the power to change the United Kingdom fundamentally.

Part 2: paragraphs 4 to 6 • Brexit is about identity, culture, and historical politics, especially in relation to England.

Part 3: paragraphs 7 to 8 • Voters’ divisions in the UK show that the decision to leave the EU is more driven by England.

Part 4: paragraphs 9-11 • Brexit and English nationalism threaten “Britishness” as a shared identity of UK citizens.

5. a) Sample definition of “Britishness” According to the author, “Britishness” is an identity shared by the citizens of the United Kingdom. It is seen as an “invented identity” (para. 9), a product of the 19th century when the British Empire expanded. “Britishness” was invented to promote the empire as a joint project of the four nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland). The concept of “Britishness” has been inclusive or “expansive” (para. 9) so that British citizens of overseas heritage also overwhelmingly identify as British. Before Brexit, the concept of “Britishness” joined UK citizens together and allowed them to identify as Europeans, too. After the referendum, this is no longer possible because of the countries’ different outlooks regarding the EU – England and Wales voted for Brexit while Northern Ireland and Scotland wanted to remain in the EU. (paras. 7–9, 11) b) Sample comments

• Agree Yes, I agree with the author’s point of view. The decision to leave the EU makes it very hard for the citizens of the UK’s four nations to find a common ground because of their different positions regarding EU membership. This changes the UK as we know it because “Britishness” as an identity can no longer join the nations together as it did in the past. After the referendum, “Britishness” excludes the other identities they have, including the identity of being European. Furthermore, English nationalism is shown to be a dividing force that made Brexit possible and works against Britishness (paras. 5, 9–11). It divides the nations of the UK instead of strengthening the link between them.

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• Disagree Even though I understand the author’s viewpoint, I don’t actually agree with it. Yes, it’s true that Brexit has caused a divide between the nations of the United Kingdom and that their relations have suffered. Still, I think it is too early to say that “Britishness”, an identity that has existed for centuries now (para. 11), is disappearing as a shared identity. I think it depends on how the UK will actually leave the EU. As of now, this is not clear. If a deal can be reached that is more European-friendly (e.g., no hard border in Northern Ireland, easy trade regulations with the EU), then the UK may overcome the identity crisis described in the article.

Additional task (optional)

Background information: metaphors

Definition: Metaphors are expressions used to describe something as if it was something else. It is a figure of speech in which a word or a phrase is used in another context. In the new context, the meaning of the word or phrase changes from a literal meaning to another one.

Example 1: “to have a heart of gold” This metaphor means that someone is very kind and generous. The word “gold” is not meant literally here but is used to describe the high value of the person’s character, represented by the “heart”.

Example 2: “to have a heart of stone” This metaphor is used to express that someone is not kind or generous towards other people. Again, the words “stone” and “heart” are not meant literally. The person’s character is only compared to a hard stone because he or she can be harsh and cruel even if other people are suffering or need help.

Metaphors and their meanings (paras. 2, 3, 6, 9, and 11)

Para. 2: “ … Thatcher was dancing on the world stage with US president Ronald Reagan.” • The metaphor refers to an actual dance of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in 1988 (www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-30/margaret-thatcher-dances-with-ronald-reagan/3980626). However, in this context the meaning is that the UK has regained its economic power and works together with the most powerful nations.

Para. 3: “The forces driving Brexit look set to sweep away much more than the institutional machinery, economic relationships and political ties … ” • The metaphor emphasises the power and speed of the forces that drive Brexit. They can end complex relations, formed over decades, in an instant, just like a sweep with a broom.

Para. 6: “The bluster conceals a cry of pain.” • This metaphor expresses the sadness and frustration that the Brexiters feel over the loss of the British Empire and the UK’s powerful, global position. They are not literally crying out in pain, but this describes how deeply hurt they are.

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Para. 9: “ … (Britishness) has provided a welcoming mantle for immigrants from former imperial outposts.” • “Mantle” means “cover”, something that keeps someone safe and protected. It is used here to say that the “Britishness” provided a common ground and shared identity for all UK citizens. It created a way for British immigrants from overseas to feel included in British society and therefore safe and protected.

Para. 11: “ … the threads of Britishness, woven over centuries, unravel … The tears in the fabric run alongside borders and within them. It is hard to imagine how they can be repaired.” • This metaphor compares the British identity that connects all citizens of the UK to a fabric that has been woven over centuries. This emphasises how closely British people are joined together through their shared identity. The developments in the UK today have so much force that they are damaging or destroying the bonds between British people. “Britishness” is not only coming apart gradually (like threads of a fabric that unravel at the edges) but is actually damaged with force, breaking from within (“tears” show “in the fabric”). It is hard to see how the bond between British people and their shared identity could be re-established (“repaired”).

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