Focus on Britain today (cultural studies for the language classroom), Clare Lavery, Prentice Hall Elt, chapter 1, 13 (p. 104)

Any other book available.

SEMINAR 3

Constituents of Present-day Britain

I. British Unity in Diversity

1. Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles, the largest island in Europe and the eighth-largest island in the world. It lies to the northwest of Continental Europe, with Ireland to the west, and makes up the largest part of the territory of the state known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Four countries constitute the UK: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.

What are the sources of the following names: Britain, England, Albion, Wales?

country	symbol	plant	flag	patron saint
England	three lions	red rose	St George’s cross	St George (23 April)
Scotland	lion rampant	thistle	St Andrew’s Flag	St Andrew (30 November)
Wales		daffodil	Dragon of Cadwallader	St David (1 March)
Northern Ireland		shamrock	The Ulster Banner	St Patrick (17 March)

PROJECT WORK: The Four Nations

Speak about the four nations that comprise the UK: geographical position, capital cities, official data, etc.

Give a characteristic study of historical and cultural relationships between these countries:

- when did they become a part of the UK?

- what is their political status nowadays?

- do they have their own state language, system of education, church, parliament, presidents, etc?

- can we speak about “English domination”?

“double identity”: British or Irish/ Scottish/ Welsh? How do these people treat each other? What are the stereotypes concerning these nationalities?

PROJECT WORK: Ireland being separated + Irish terrorists: what is their “problem”? what do they strive for?

The main problem of Northern Ireland consists in terrorism. To understand the Irish situation, the historical facts must be weighed together with the prejudices, fears and beliefs of the Irish people. The very different perspectives of the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland evolved over many generations.

2. The core and the periphery

There is another way of looking at the country. Throughout history the centre of economic and political power, and therefore the largest population concentration, has been in the south of the country. By the seventeenth century London already contained at least 10 per cent of England's population. The only partial exception was in the two centuries following Britain's industrial revolution, approximately 1775-1975, when the availability of water and coal led to the growth of large industrial towns and cities in the north and Midlands of England. But as Britain leaves its industrial age behind, it is possible to recognise the older dominance of the south - a result of climate, agricultural wealth, and proximity to the European mainland.

One may draw a series of arcs outwards from London, marking an inner and outer 'core' to the country, and an inner and outer 'periphery' (see map). The pattern may seem crude, but it roughly describes the measure of authority and prosperity radiating from London since the days of Roman Britain. The periphery, particularly Scotland, Wales and the north of England, has always resented the power of the south and periodically has challenged it.

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