2. 1
Reading Skill Focus 2
Reading Comprehension 3
In-class Discussion

3. Reading Skill Focus
Read the following statements. Write F in the brackets if the statement is a fact; write O if it is an opinion.
( 　 ) 1) Van Gogh created The Starry Night in 1889, just thirteen months before his death when he was staying in an asylum at Saint-Remy.
( 　 ) 2) The town he depicts in The Starry Night is somewhat invented and the church spire brings to mind his homeland, the Netherlands.
( 　 ) 3) The cypress tree serves to connect earth and sky and this could reflect the artist’s own thoughts about death. F O O

4. Reading Skill Focus
Read the following statements. Write F in the brackets if the statement is a fact; write O if it is an opinion.
( 　) 4) The Starry Night is regarded by many critics as a painting created at the height of Van Gogh’s career.
( 　 ) 5) The night sky depicted in The Starry Night is brimming with whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon.
( 　) 6) The Starry Night was produced under the influence of the rise of modernism when scientists, writers, and artists were all pursuing new theories and ways of working.
( 　 ) 7) It seems that Van Gogh is contrasting life and death with luminous stars and a gloomy, peaceful village. O F F O

5. Reading Comprehension
Exercise 1
A. Read through the text and fill in the blanks with subtitles of the text, and then summarize its main idea.

6. Reading Comprehension
Parts
Subtitles
Main idea
Para. 1
Introductory Paragraph
The passage introduces The Starry Night from the theme, inspirations, details of the work and comments on it, helping readers understand why it is one of the most _________ _____________ ______ in the art world.
Paras. 2-8
______________
Paras. 9-11
_________________________
Paras
____________ ____________ ____________
___________
Para. 17
____________ ____________
__________
Story / Theme
Inspirations for the Work
Composition
Technical Analysis of the Work
Use of Color 
Lighting
Brushstroke
Initial Reception
Critical Reception
famous and reproduced images
After Death

7. Reading Comprehension
B. Reasonable opinions are those based on facts. Read the following excerpts and answer the questions. Give facts to support your answers.
1) Van Gogh also includes a cypress tree, which is usually found in cemeteries and associated with mourning. This tree serves to connect earth and sky and this could reflect the artist’s own thoughts about death — that death is the destination of life’s journey. (Para. 6)

8. (2) What fact(s) support this opinion?
Reading Comprehension
(1) What is the author’s opinion on the cypress tree in The Starry Night?
The tree serves to connect earth and sky and this could reflect the artist’s own thoughts about death — that death is the destination of life’s journey.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(2) What fact(s) support this opinion?
The cypress tree is usually found in cemeteries and associated with mourning.
______________________________________________________________________________

9. Reading Comprehension
2) With its unique style The Starry Night was to become a much-loved work of art that has been the focus of poetry, fiction and music, including the famous song “Vincent” or “Starry, Starry Night” by Don McLean. (Para. 8)

10. It has great influence on poetry, fiction and music.
Reading Comprehension
(1) What is the author’s opinion about the influence of The Starry Night on art?
It has great influence on poetry, fiction and music.
______________________________________________
(2) What fact(s) support this opinion?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
The famous song “Vincent” or “Starry, Starry Night” by Don McLean is focused on The Starry Night.

11. Reading Comprehension
3) Another inspiration for this work may have been Van Gogh’s close friend Paul Gauguin. When Gauguin left their home in Arles and moved to Paris, Van Gogh began painting more from memory, as Gauguin had done, and this resulted in his works becoming more decorative and less accurate. (Para. 11)

12. Van Gogh got inspiration from Paul Gauguin.
Reading Comprehension
(1) What is the author’s opinion about the relationship between Paul Gauguin and Van Gogh?
Van Gogh got inspiration from Paul Gauguin.
_______________________________________
(2) What fact(s) support this opinion?
Firstly, Van Gogh began painting more from memory, as Gauguin had done. Secondly, his works became more decorative and less accurate like Gauguin’s.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. Reading Comprehension
4) Van Gogh’s use of white and yellow creates a spiral effect and draws attention to the sky. Vertical lines such as the cypress tree and church tower softly break up the composition without retracting from the powerful night sky. Van Gogh uses color to convey emotion. (Para. 14)

14. (1) What is the author’s opinion about Van Gogh’s use of color?
Reading Comprehension
(1) What is the author’s opinion about Van Gogh’s use of color?
Van Gogh uses color to convey emotion.
_______________________________________
(2) What fact(s) support this opinion?
He used white and yellow to create a spiral effect and draw attention to the sky.
______________________________________________________________________________

15. Reading Comprehension
C. Fill in the blanks with words or expressions according to the text to understand the key information of the text.

16. Reading Comprehension
As Van Gogh’s greatest ______ achievement and one of the most produced images in the art world, The Starry Night manages to prove Van Gogh’s ______ as an artist and enables him to ______ Gauguin and Bernard. The painting is a much-loved work of art that has been the ______ of poetry, fiction and music because of its _______ style. In The Starry Night painting Van Gogh displays a contrast between the night sky and the village, one _________ with energy, and the other silent. The town ________ in the painting is invented and the cypress tree actually reminds people of _________.
artistic
worth
rival
focus
unique
brimming
depicted
mourning

17. Reading Comprehension
The Starry Night is therefore believed to be a reflection of Van Gogh’s _______ at this time and a ____________ of Van Gogh’s frame of mind and his search for hope, as a result of his bold brushwork and vivid colors __________ with the dark tones of the night sky. Van Gogh got the inspirations out of his _________ to the heavens and stars, and also his close friend Paul Gauguin, resulting in making his work more __________ and less accurate. Van Gogh __________ old techniques of painting and characterizes his painting with his individual style. Well-received, ________ a masterpiece, still ______________ from consumers and ___________ all around the world, The Starry Night painting ______ Van Gogh becoming a pioneer of Post-impressionism, and a pioneer of modern art.
torment
symbolization
contrasting
attraction
decorative
disregards
hailed as
in great demand
recognized
led to

18. Answer the following questions.
Reading Comprehension
Exercise 2
Answer the following questions.
1) What is the significance of The Starry Night?
It is considered Van Gogh’s greatest artistic achievement and is one of the most famous and reproduced works in the art world.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. Reading Comprehension
2) What is the theme of The Starry Night according to the text? Do you agree? Why?
According to the text, the painting has multifold themes, which include: (1) nighttime landscape featuring a contrast between the night sky brimming with energy and the silent village below; (2) the belief that even with darkness it is still possible to see light and hope; (3) an understanding of death.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) What does the cypress tree symbolize?
The cypress tree symbolizes mourning and a connection between life and death.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

20. 4) What do the bright stars and the quiet village symbolize?
Reading Comprehension
4) What do the bright stars and the quiet village symbolize?
They symbolize life and death.
______________________________________
5) What do the vivid colors contrasting with the dark tone of night sky symbolize?
They symbolize Van Gogh’s frame of mind and his search for hope during a time of great illness.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

21. Work in groups to discuss the following topics.
In-class Discussion
Exercise 4
Work in groups to discuss the following topics.

22. 1) How is Van Gogh’s experience reflected in The Starry Night?
In-class Discussion
1) How is Van Gogh’s experience reflected in The Starry Night?
Tips
Van Gogh once read Tolstoy’s book My Religion and was impressed by its lack of belief in resurrection, which was indicated in the night sky of the painting.
The artist’s own thoughts about death — that death is the destination of life’s journey — were reflected in the cypress tree in the painting.

23. 1) How is Van Gogh’s experience reflected in The Starry Night?
In-class Discussion
1) How is Van Gogh’s experience reflected in The Starry Night?
Tips
The theme of evening and nighttime landscapes was a popular one and it was heavily characterized within the Barbizon School that Van Gogh liked.
When Van Gogh’s close friend Paul Gauguin left their home in Arles and moved to Paris, Van Gogh began painting more from memory, as Gauguin had done, and this resulted in his works becoming more decorative and less accurate.

24. In-class Discussion
2) Select a masterpiece of another famous artist (Picasso, Michelangelo, Mozart …) and surf the Internet to find information about the appreciation and evaluation of it. Make a presentation about it in class.