Job Discussion Forums

[Sinobear]

For a culture overview and comparrisons, try here: http://www.zompist.com/amercult.html



Cheers!

[sojourner]

A few more ideas.

Someone has mentioned Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. Both involved characters who could be regarded as somewhat "eccentric". It would appear that in British culture, through both literature and history, eccentrics are more widely accepted than they are in American culture ? One of the key differences between the two cultures ? Regarding the first Harry Potter movies, I have heard that originally some American film producers wanted to turn Harry into an American, attending an American school, etc. Rowling would have nothing to do with such a proposal ! Harry is uniquely English - his mannerisms, attitudes, approaches, etc, cannot be easily transferred to a different cultural setting - albeit one that is also English-speaking. (BTW, Sherlock Holmes' DVDs ( both the Basil Rathbone and the more recent BBC version) are available in Shanghai).

There has also been a reference to the Kray Twins - really nasty pieces of work ! Yet, they were supported by many ordinary people within their community (London's East End, I think). I believe that it was the same situation with respect to Al Capone. Maybe, such a phenomenon could stimulate class discussions - eg, why would people support criminals ? Maybe, the police/authorities were perceived to be "outsiders"; the Krays and Capone were generous towards the local people; the criminals were perceived to be "romantic", "persecuted victims", etc. Maybe, the class could be asked whether Chinese people ever romanticise criminals ?

Peter

[silvertonguedcavalier]

Get The Encyclopedia of Fairies and British Folktales and Legends by Katherine Briggs.

[Ms Bean]

It might be interesting to explain some of the improbable pub names and signage they'll encounter during their stay in the U.K.. (Ask a Brit about this. You'll undoubtedly get a better answer than I can give).

Other good ones:

Queen of May
Stories of hags like Jennie Greenteeth
The story behind "London Bridge is Falling Down".
The Green Children of Woolpit.
The story of Godiva.
Gog and Magog, the guardians of London.

Some of this stuff is pretty grim, I know, but it's a part of English lore, and most of it is based on historical fact, or was told for some social purpose.

I think that these are a pretty good start. I know about these because when I was a kid, my parents hired a British woman to mind the kids. She particularly enjoyed telling stories about hags to make us go to bed.

I was twenty-five before I could go to bed with the light off.

[Ahchoo]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Magna Carta. I think a Chinese class would love it.
An introduction from Wiki.
I always thought it was 1214 though.

[Ms Bean]

The Magna Carta would be great for history, but I believe that the OP asked for folklore.

I'd skip the Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. There's a difference between lore and literature.