The document describes a story where the crew of a ship called The Rita Anne discover a strange stone that mesmerizes them and causes them to neglect their duties, until the captain intervenes by playing music and reading to them. The story is intended as a metaphor for the negative effects of excessive television watching and how activities like reading and music can counteract its influences.
The document describes a story where the crew of a ship called The Rita Anne discover a strange stone that mesmerizes them and causes them to neglect their duties, until the captain intervenes by playing music and reading to them. The story is intended as a metaphor for the negative effects of excessive television watching and how activities like reading and music can counteract its influences.
The document describes a story where the crew of a ship called The Rita Anne discover a strange stone that mesmerizes them and causes them to neglect their duties, until the captain intervenes by playing music and reading to them. The story is intended as a metaphor for the negative effects of excessive television watching and how activities like reading and music can counteract its influences.
The document describes a story where the crew of a ship called The Rita Anne discover a strange stone that mesmerizes them and causes them to neglect their duties, until the captain intervenes by playing music and reading to them. The story is intended as a metaphor for the negative effects of excessive television watching and how activities like reading and music can counteract its influences.
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THE WRETCHED STONE
Chris Van Allsburg, USA
# Characters: • Randall Ethan Hope: Captain of the Ship “The Rita Anne” • Mr. Howard: an assistant of the captain • Crew: members of the journey Key – Words • Rock/Stone: flat, smooth on one side that gives off beautiful light • Strange Island: bad smell in the air, even water tastes bitter • Piano • Books • Jokes/ stories Literal Comprehension “The Wretched Stone” is a metaphorical story written by Chris Van Allsburg, an American writer. This story describes a journey in a ship The Rita Anne from 8 May to 12 July. The captain, Randall Ethan Hope and his crew members started their journey in a ship called The Rita Anne on 8 May. They passed their leisure time by singing, dancing; reading books, telling stories and jokes. After a month on 6 June, they reached a strange Island. It was all covered by plants and trees. There was not a single animal, a bad smell was there. Water also tasted bitter. The crew members found a strange stone which was flat smooth on one side that sent out a beautiful light. The crew members were attracted by the stone and stopped doing their jobs. They did not follow the captain's order. They even locked themselves in a room. A big storm broke out but they didn't care. One day, the captain found the members like animals without tails. Then the captain kept stone and crew members in different rooms. He started reading books and playing piano for them. Due to influence of music and books, the crew members got normal and started performing their works properly. Finally, they saw another ship and moved there by sinking The Rita Anne into the sea. Interpretation This is a metaphorical story. So journey here refers to life and stone means TV. The writer may be trying to tell us that TV has many disadvantages. TV destroys the creativity of humans. It makes us passive. Students keep on watching television all the time and forget their homework. Therefore, we shouldn't watch TV a lot. Instead, we read books and spend time on music. Moreover, the story tells us more about the degeneration of human being after the introduction of TV cultures. Critical Thinking This story is beautiful and interesting. It gives us a good lesson that watching television creates many negative impacts on students and children. Title is suitable the sentences used in this story are short, simple and straightforward. Everybody can understand the story. However, I don't think that TV has only disadvantages. TV does have some positive sides as well. It is a good means of getting knowledge, information, news and entertainment. Assimilation I found this story very interesting and lesson able. After reading this story, I came to know that watching TV makes men like animals. Before reading this story I used to watch TV all the time. I even forgot to eat and do my homework. I hardly read books and listened to music. But Nowadays, I do not sit in front of television all the time. I select only good programs and watch them. Besides, I read important books and play the piano regularly. Every time I remember Roald Dahl’s suggestion: So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
