A University Stands and Shines

Pre-reading Questions summary of the other two texts What is the role of the university in a society? What changes have taken place in universities today?

About the Author John Masefield, (1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967), was an English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate from 1930 until his death in 1967. He is remembered as the author of the classic children's novels The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delights, and a great deal of memorable poetry. The text was a speech delivered at the University of Sheffield on June 25, 1946, in response to a toast in his honor.

Sea Fever I MUST go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.  wheel's kick: Sudden left or right jerk of the wheel (steering apparatus) spume: Sea foam; froth. long trick: (1) Seaman's job on a given day, such as steering the ship; (2) life  sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone  yarn/奇谈，故事 rover /wanderer The theme is obvious: wanderlust. irresistible impulse to travel. The poem’s speaker hears the call of the sea—an irresistible invitation to adventure, exploration, and independent living. Most people experience wanderlust from time to time. Some may wish only to hike through woods or drive a car in the country. Others may wish to cruise the Caribbean, fly to Tahiti, or rocket into outer space. Maysfield's poem sums up the allure and excitement of traveling in a yawing ship on rolling, wind-blown seas. 

Four main points There are few earthly things more splendid than a University. There are few earthly things more beautiful than a university. There are few things more enduring than a University. To be a member of one of these great Societies must ever be a glad distinction.

Key to vocabulary quiz 1. earthly 2. uphold 3. exact 4. bond 5 alike 6. conferred 7. gifted 8. lofty 9. frontiers 10. strive

…exact standards in these things Exact: to demand and obtain by or as if by force or authority: a harsh leader who exacts obedience I finally managed to exact a promise from them.

Words and expressions Earthly things Terrestrial; not heavenly or divine: earthly existence. earthly beings Worldly: earthly delights; one's earthly possessions.

Broken frontiers and collapsing values  a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country;  an undeveloped field of study; a topic inviting research and development; "he worked at the frontier of brain science"  What does these refer to?

…ancient foothold has become something of a quagmire Foothold: a place providing support for the foot in standing or climbing   an initial accomplishment that opens the way for further developments; Quagmire/a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot [syn: mire]  'kwægmaɪə

Impressionable years The years when the young are learning in a University and when they are most apt to learn and shape their personality

…a great corporate life…  done by or characteristic of individuals acting together; "a corporate (joint) identity"; "the corporate (collective) mind";

supplant Supplant often suggests the use of intrigue or underhanded tactics to take another's place: e.g. She's been supplanted in her aunt's affections by her brother. 她在她姑母心中的地位已被她兄弟取代了。

Rhetorical devices repetition There are few earthly things more splendid than a University. There are few earthly things more beautiful than a University. There are few earthly things more enduring than a University.

metaphor Para. 1 broken frontiers and collapsing values Para. 3 the stream of life …

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