The Book That Saved the Earth

🌟 Welcome to "The Book That Saved the Earth"

This play takes us on a humorous journey to the future where Martians attempt to invade Earth, but are thwarted by a most unexpected discovery. It's a delightful comedy that explores themes of misunderstanding, the power of literature, and how our perceptions can be completely wrong.

In this interactive lesson, we'll explore Claire Boiko's vision of a Martian invasion that is stopped by something as simple as a book of nursery rhymes. We'll discover how the Martians misinterpret innocent children's poetry as military intelligence and flee in terror!

📝 Let's Begin

Mother Goose is a well-known book of nursery rhymes in English. Do you think such a book can save Planet Earth from a Martian invasion? Read this play, set four centuries in the future, and find out.

This play explores themes of misunderstanding, the power of literature, and how our perceptions can be completely wrong. It's a humorous look at how something as innocent as nursery rhymes could be misinterpreted as a threat.

Pre-Reading Activity: Books and Literature

In pairs, discuss what you think makes a book powerful. Can you think of any books that have changed the world or influenced people's thinking?

Have you ever read nursery rhymes or children's poetry? What do you think makes them special? Do you think they could be misunderstood by someone from a different culture or planet?

❓ Reading Comprehension Questions

🔍 Vocabulary and Grammar

Read the following words from the play and their meanings:

easel: wooden frame to support a blackboard or a picture
apprentice: learner of a trade who has agreed to work for a certain period of time in return for being taught
peevishly: irritably
riffling: quickly turning over the pages of a book
haberdashery: shop which sells clothing, small articles of dress, pins, cotton, etc.
squiggles: scrawls; illegible writing or markings
decipher: find the meaning of something which is puzzling or difficult to understand
transcribe: write in full form from short-hand
levity: tendency to treat serious matters without respect; lack of seriousness

Complete the following sentences using the words from the glossary:

1. The teacher used an to display the picture.

2. The young was learning the trade from his master.

3. She spoke when she was interrupted.

4. The detective tried to the mysterious code.

5. The secretary had to the notes from the meeting.

📚 Think About It

Answer the following questions based on your understanding of the play:

Answer these questions in your own words:

1. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?

2. If you were in Noodle's place, how would you handle Think-Tank's mistakes?

3. Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?

4. Why are books referred to as a man's best companion? Which is your favourite book and why? Write a paragraph about that book.