Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton What

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

What I Know About South Africa What did you learn from your reading on Apartheid? What do you still want to know? We will later explore some of the features of South Africa as they relate to Paton's work and as they give a context for contemporary South Africa.

Alan Paton - Born on January 11, 1903, on the east coast of southern Africa (formerly Natal) to evangelical Christians - South Africa did not yet exist; it was established in 1910 following the Anglo. Boer War.

Johannesburg In 1886, gold mines were discovered and gave rise to the creation of this city. The setting for Cry, The Beloved Country, it provides a realistic stage for the unfortunate racially based tension that mounted at the end of World War II due to the increasing number of people moving to Johannesburg from nearby outlying rural areas in Africa.

Johannesburg, a major setting in Cry, the Beloved Country Current Population: 1, 675, 200

Johannesburg - 1931

English vs. Afrikaner vs. Zulu The tension between British imperialists and the Afrikaans, or white South African inhabitants descendant of the Boers, pales in comparison to the struggles between the Afrikaans and native black Africans. The respective languages of these two groups, Afrikaner and Zulu represent a pronounced difference in culture and perspective.

Jan Hofmeyr helped Paton to make possible the Diepkloof Reformatory, an institution that approached the issue of juvenile delinquency in terms of education rather than imprisonment.

Cry, the Beloved Country Published in February 1948 in New York, Paton's masterpiece has been translated into some twenty different languages since. The work captures the ethnic, political, and spiritual essence of the setting in which it is based. It also brings to surface universal considerations, such as love, retribution, and justice.

Cry, the Beloved Country The London publication of this work included the subtitle, “A Story of Comfort in Desolation, ” which makes reference to the underlying tone of hope in the midst of desperate events of which the main character becomes aware throughout the work.

Preconceived Concept Associations For the following terms, work with your partner to write a two-sentence response to what each means to you. Avoid clichés. Justice Prejudice Love Family Progress Home

Title Inference Looking only at the title, Cry, the Beloved Country, what might you assume is a central theme to the novel? Consider questions like the following: Is “Cry” the name of the country? Is there irony in the title? Is this an imperative statement? Is “beloved” being used in the present or past tense?

The Work's Acclaim Cry, the Beloved Country is noted for its ability to make others aware of South Africa and the ills of apartheid. Paton provides a combination of despair and hope that helps to enlighten the reader who is ignorant to the unjust events that occur in this part of the world that is often unrevealed to Americans.

Nelson Mandela (1918 -2013) • • • The South African activist and former president helped bring an end to apartheid and has been a global advocate for human rights. • A member of the African National Congress party beginning in the 1940 s, he was a leader of both peaceful protests and armed resistance against the white minority’s oppressive regime in a racially divided South Africa. His actions landed him in prison for nearly three decades and made him the face of the antiapartheid movement both within his country and internationally. Released in 1990, he participated in the eradication of apartheid and in 1994 became the first black president of South Africa, forming a multiethnic government to oversee the country’s transition. 02/16/08

South Africa's Acclaim Population: 54, 000 (2014 est. ) Total Area: 471, 008 sq mi Today, eleven languages are recognized as the official language. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma Isi. Zulu 23. 8%, Isi. Xhosa 17. 6%, Afrikaans 13. 3%, Sepedi 9. 4%, English 8. 2%, Setswana 8. 2%, Sesotho 7. 9%, Xitsonga 4. 4%, other 7. 2% (2001)

Works Cited http: //www. infoplease. com/ipa/A 0107983. html http: //news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1069402. stm