Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Sylvia

Sylvia

Date: Mar 30 2004

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

The new movie Sylvia (2003) is the story of celebrated American poet Sylvia Plath and her turbulent marriage to a future poet laureate of England, Ted Hughes. Ted and Sylvia were a sensuous, volatile and brilliant couple who became two of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Sylvia committed suicide in 1963, at the age of thirty, after being left by Ted.  
Beth recently watched Sylvia. Listen in to her conversation with Miguel to hear what she thinks about it.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Miguel

Miguel

Beth

Beth

Miguel:  Beth, I almost rented this film last night, but I wasn’t sure about it, so I was gonna ask you if you saw it. Have, have you seen Sylvia with Gwyneth Paltrow?

Beth:  Yes. I actually just rented that movie and it was an intense film. It’s a very sad story. Do you know much about Sylvia Plath?

Miguel:  Not really. I mean, I have a basic idea that she was a poet and she was married to some other poet or something. But that’s about all I know.

Beth:  Well, she was married to a poet and the story covers their relationship and both of their professional careers and some of their work. And it’s, it’s incredibly sad, I mean… The cool thing about the film was that it gave a really good background and Gwyneth Paltrow played the role of Sylvia Plath really well and her portrayal was moving.

Miguel:  So, it sounds like you’re giving it kind of a mixed review. Do you recommend that I see it or not?

Beth:  No. I’m not recommending it. I just was impressed with Gwyneth Paltrow’s performance, although the film itself wasn’t one of my favorites.

 

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

I haven’t seen Sylvia yet, but I am an admirer of her poetry. I had a friend in college who was really into her writing and she turned me on to it. My favorite poem of hers is called “Southern Sunrise.” Check out the first part of it:
Color of lemon, mango, peach,
These storybook villas
Still dream behind
Shutters, thier balconies
Fine as hand-
Made lace, or a leaf-and-flower pen-sketch.

To read more of Sylvia’s poetry, check out this website:
plathonline.com
See you at the movies!
Zach

 

Likes (0):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast