The radzivills

 

5.  Read out these.phrasal verbs and expressions several times till you remember them:

cannot but - нельзя не

to jut out - выдаваться

to cut down - рубить

to take place - иметь место, происходить

to blow up - взрываться

to be completed with - быть дополненным ч.-л.

to be under the auspices of sb/sth - быть под покровительством к.-л., ч.-л.

 

6. Match the English words and their Russian equivalents:

1. feudal                                    2. volumetric                             3. cannon                                   4. tile                                               5. notorious                                        6. gunpowder                                      7. artificial                                       8. weed                                              9. to overgrow                                    10. surroundings

а. ядро b. печально известный c.nopox d. искусственный е. зарастать f. окрестности g. объемный h. феодальный i. плитка, изразец, кафель  j. сорняк

 

7. Combine the words with the help of the preposition of:

1. the outlines                                     2. the time                                          3. arow                                                4. a representative                              5. the fire                                            6. under the auspices                           7. the basis                                          8. the traces                                        10. the Patriotic War                            9. the territory

a. its composition b. loop-holes .   с. 1914 d. UNESCO e. a family f. a castle g. the foundation h. the park i. 1812 j. history

 

8. Give the comparative and superlative of the following adjectives:

Great, tall, early, heavy, high, long, short, hard, nice, large.

 

9. Give the three forms of the following verbs:

To look, to tell, to found, to build, to finish, to order, to cut, to sink, to see, to take, to burn, to destroy, to store, to begin, to plan, to continue.

 

10. Give the plural of:

Family, porch, balcony, facility, means, pond.

 

11. Write the derivatives of the following words:

To found, a fact, wood, to defend, an origin, to decorate, a character, to divide, to vary, to build, to own, care, danger, to signify, similar, a structure, to bury, a construction, to destruct, successful.

 

12. These words can be used both as verbs and nouns. Make up your own sentences to show the difference in their usage:

Notice, structure, revenge, storm, store, plan.

 

13. Read these expressions and find their English equivalents in the text:

Приближаясь к Миру; нельзя' не заметить очертания замка; никоим образом ранее; быть хорошо приспособленным к огнестрельной обороне; четырехгранная основная часть с восьмигранным верхом; первоначальная декоративная ценность; поливные печные изразцы с растительным и геометрическим орнаментом; печальная слава; чистое совпадение; главный прогулочный маршрут; усыпальница; обитатели развалин.

 

14. Read the text and get ready to speak about the Mir Castle

 

THE MIR CASTLE

Approaching Mir (in Grodno region) today, one cannot but notice the outlines of a castle at a distance. It's the Mir Castle which great towers, tall walls and a three-storied palace look majestic even now.

Though it is difficult to teil the exact time of its foundation, due to many factual proves we can say that the castle was founded by Jury Iljinich, a representative of a notable feudal family, in no way earlier than in 1510. The castle was mentioned in the so-called 'Litovskaya metrica' in 1531 for the first time.

The castle was built instead of a wooden feudal farmstead and now it looks as a square-planned building with towers at the corners. The fifth tower4iad a drawbridge and a forged grille-'chersa' which could urgently stop a sudden attack. The castle was well adapted for gunshot defense. Its walls had two rows of loopholes, and its towers were intended for heavy cannon shooting from them. The basis of its volumetric composition is the high towers which jut out beyond the wall-line. All of them have the same structure — tetrahedral core with octahedral top, but they are differently decorated and it gives original decorative value and beauty to the castle. Some architectural means, characteristic of the Belarusian Gothic, were used in the Mir Castle: Gothic bricklaying (alternation of long and short sides of bricks), division of walls with plastered niches of various forms, ornamental brick belts.

Since 1568 the Mir Castle was owned by the Radzivills, who finished its building in the Renaissance style. A three-storied palace was built along the eastern and northern walls. Its plastered facades were decorated with limestone portals, plates, balconies and porches: During excavations they collected a lot of glazed tiles with vegetable and geometrical ornaments, and coats of arms of the castle's owners. Earth walls were made around the castle, with bastions at the corners; a water moat surrounded them. To the north of the walls an Italian garden was laid, to the south — an artificial lake.

This lake has a notorious glory. The thing is that the last owner ordered to cut down the apple garden which was where now the lake is. The garden was blossoming at that time. Since then the cut-down trees revenge people — each year a man sinks in the lake.

The castle saw very hard times. A long-time Swedish siege took place in 1655, and in 1705 the Swedish troops stormed the palace and burnt all the buildings and facilities that had been so carefully restored some twenty years earlier. Then there followed Souvorov's troops storm. The most dangerous ordeal was the Patriotic War of 1812 with its severe battles between the Russian and French troops in July and November. That year the north-eastern tower was blown up just right in the place where the gunpowder was stored. The palace was burnt again and the fortifications destroyed.

After the Patriotic War of 1812 no significant events took place at the Mir Castle and in its surroundings. However, the harder the castle was destroyed overgrowing with weeds, the more attractive it grew for those who admired ancient beauty. Beginning from 1891 the Svyatopolk-Mirskies took possession of the castle, though the similarity in names is a mere coincidence. New owners began to form a new palace-park ensemble. The landscape part of the park was situated between the castle and the palace and was planned so that various kinds of trees interchanged with open glades in a nice way. The main structural and picturesque component of the landscape was a large water reservoir with an island made in 1896-1898. It came inplace of a former chain of five ponds. This pivot element defined the main promenade route which led from the main gate along the pond to the castle. The ensemble was completed with the burial chapel of the Svyatopolk-Mirskies built in 1904. An original structure featured a bell-tower and a colourful mosaic panel fixed on the main facade. After the fire of 19 И the castle was not restored and the last prince from the family lived in it till 1939.

During World War II there was a ghetto, and after many refugees made it their home. The last of the ruin-dwellers left the Mir Castle in the early 1960s. On June 25, 1983, the first reconstruction work started, and ten years later the first displays in the restored south-west tower were opened for me public. At present the reconstruction work is being continued.

Despite numerous destructions (the heaviest ones were during 1812 war) the Mir Castle survived till now; and at present it is being successfully restored. This monument is under the auspices of UNESCO.

 

15. Answer the following questions:

1. Why is the town Mir so famous nowadays? 2. Is there an exact date of the foundation of the Mir Castle? 3. When and where was it mentioned for the first time? 4. Who was the first owner of the castle? 5. What kinds of fortifications did the castle originally have? 6. What was the shape of the towers? 7. What architectural styles were combined in the Mir Castle? 8. Who finished the building of the castle? 9. What changes were added to the decotof the castle during the Radzivills' times? 10. What was the 'caprice' of one of the owners which has transformed into a legend nowadays? 11. №nV many wars did the castle survive? 12. What happened with the castle during the Patriotic War of 1812? 13. Who were the last owners of the castle? 14. What things were added by the last owners of the castle to the whole composition? 15. When was the reconstruction work started? 16. Is it allowed for the public to see the interior of the Mir Castle nowadays?

 

16. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. The Mir Castle is situated in Minsk region. 2. The Mir Castle was founded in the 16^th century. 3. The. castle was built on the place of a former church. 4. It had a great variety of fortjfications characteristic of its time. 5. The Mir Castle has a volumetric composition thanks to the position and the shape of its towers. 6. All the five towers of the castle are the same. 7. The Radzivills finished the building of the castle. 8. Along the eastern and northern walls there was a five-storied palace. 9. There was an Italian garden and an artificial lake at the territory of the castle in the 17 ^th century. 10. The most dangerous ordeal for the castle was the Patriotic War of 1812. 11. The last owners of the castle completely destroyed the building and constructed a new castle. 12. The last prince from the Svyatopolk-Mirskies lived in the burial chapel till 1939 because the main building of the castle had been burnt. 13. During World War II there was a ghetto, and after that many refugees made it their home. 14. The reconstruction work of the Mir Castle is stopped at the moment. 15. The Mir-Castle is one of the monuments which are under protection of UNESCO.

 

17. Put in the right preposition where necessary:

1. The castle was mentioned ... the so-called 'Litovskaya metrica ... 1531 ... the first time. 2. The castle was built … a wooden feudal farmstead. 3. The castle was well adapted ... gunshot defense. 4. Some architectural means, characteristic ... the Belarusian Gothic, were used ... the Mir Castle. 5. A three-storied palace was built.:. the eastern and northern walls. 6. ... the north of the walls an Italian garden was laid,... the south — an artificial lake. 7. After the Patriotic War of 1812 no significant events took place ... the Mir Castle and ... its surroundings. 8. This pivot element defined the main promenade-route which led ... the main gate ... the pond to the castle. 9. This monument is ... the auspices of UNESCO.

 

18. Choose a word from the box to put into each gap:

1. There are many factual ... that the castle was built at the beginning of the 16th century. 2. The first owner was a representative of a ... feudal family. 3. The fortifications of the castle could urgently stop a ... attack. 4. The ... of long and short sides of bricks in building is characteristic of Belarusian Gothic. 5. During . its history the castle was destroyed, burnt and ... several times. 6. The last owners of the castle added new elements to the palace-park ... .

 

ensemble, proves, restored, notable, alternation, sudden

 

19. Fill in the table:

1510
1531
1568
1655
1705
1812
1891
1896-1898
1904
1914
1941-1945
1983

 

20. Work in groups. Find out from your partners:

— what they know about the first owners of the Mir Castle;

— what they know about its ancient fortifications;

— what historical event the Mir Castle survived;

— what the most significant event was;

— whether it was always a castle.

 

21. Prove that:

— the Mir Castle is a great cultural and historical monument for Belarus;

— everyone in Belarus should visit the Mir Castle.

 

22. Comment on:

— different periods in the foundation and building of the Mir Castle;

— the life of the Mir Castle during piece and wartimes;

the value of the Mir Castle for the Belarusian people.

 

23. Imagine that:

— You work at a travel agency. You recommend your client to make a tour to Mir. Role-play a dialogue with your partner.

— You have just turned from the Mir Castle. Your friend asks about your impression. Role-play a dialogue with your partner.

— Your class wants to visit some interesting places of Belarus. You are sure thatjt is the Mir Castle. Role-play a dialogue with your partners.

 

24. Comprehension check. Choose the best alternative according to the text:

1.  The first information about the Mir Castle dates back to the

a)  13th century;

b)  15th century;

c) 16th century.

 

2.  The surname of the first owner was a) Iljinich;

b)Radzivill;

c) Svyatopolk-Mirsky.

 

3. The castle was built instead of

a) an old church

b) a farmstead;

c) a monastery.                                                            

 

4.  The towers are                             

a) shorter that the palace itself;   

b) higher than the palace;

c) of the same height,

 

5.  For the protection against sudden attacks the fifth tower had

a) a drawbridge;

b) a forged grille-'chersa'and a drawbridge;

c) two rows of loopholes.

 

6.  The style of the castle can be defined as

a) the Belarusian Gothic;

b) the Renaissance style;

c) a combination of the two.

 

7.  The Radzivills added some more elements to the fortifications of the Mir Castle. They are

a) earth walls;

b) a water moat and earth walls:

c) several towers.

 

8.  The artificial lake at the territory of the castle has a notorious glory because

a) one of the owners sank in it;

b) many military men were killed there in 1812;

c) a blossoming garden was cut down to make it.

 

9.  In the 17^th-19 ^th centuries the Mir Castle was attacked by

a) two armies;

b) three armies;

c) five armies.

 

10.  The Swedish siege was really destructive for the castle because

a) it took more than 20 years;

b) it took 10 years and after that the buildings and facilities were burnt;

c) the troops destroyed it by canon shooting.

 

11. The Svyatopolk-Mirskies took possession of the castle because

a) they were the only heirs;

b) they wanted to transform the castle into a resort;

c) they just bought it and wanted to settle there.

 

12.  The Svyatopolk-Mirskies used the form of a bell-tower

a) to build the entrance into the whole ensemble;

b) to build a burial chapel for the family;

c) to restore one of the towers.

 

13. During World War 11 the Mir Castle was converted into

a) a hospital;

b) a ghetto;

c) a storehouse.

14. The reconstruction work of the Mir Castle started

a) more than 20 years ago;

b) more than 40 years ago;

c) 25 years ago.

 

15. The Mir Castle is on the list of

a) monuments of the regional value;

b) monuments of the republican value;

c) monuments of the world value.

 

 

THE SPIRITUAL RELIC OF THE BELARUSIANS

 

1. Pay attention to the following words. Pick out sentences with these words from the-text and read them:

The art of enameling — эмальерное искусство (техника, в которой были выполнены изображения на Кресте Евфросинии Полоцкой);

square housings — кзадратные отверстия, называемые "ковчежцы", для хранения христианских реликвий: кусочек Креста, на котором был распят Христос, с каплями его крови; камешек от могилы Богородицы; мощи святых великомучеников Стефана, Пантелеймона и кровь святого великомученика Димитрия;

the Transfiguration—Преображение (православный праздник, отмечаемый 6 августа);

the fathers of the church — традиционное название виднейших деятелей церкви II-VIII вв., создавших ее догматику и организацию: Афанасий Александрийский, Василий Великий, Григорий Назианзин (Богослов), Иоанн Златоуст, Иоанн Дамаскин.

 

2. Practise saying the following proper names:

Jesus Christ	[,cfei:z9s "kraist]	Иисус Христос
St. Virgin Mary	[snt ,v3:d5in чтеэп]	Дева Мария
John the Baptist	[cfeon Зэ-.'baeptist]	Иоанн Креститель
St. Sophia	[snt savfi,-9]	Св. София
St John Chrysostom	[snt фогтч knsastam]	Иоанн Златоуст
St. Basil the Great	[snt " baezl 5э greit]	Василий Великий
St. Gregory Nazianzin	[snt "дгедэп naztsn'zm]	Григорий Богослов
St. Pantheleimone	[snt рэп,9г1эчтоп]	Св. Пантелеймон
Byzantium	[bafzaentiam]	Византия
St. Simon's cathedral of Brest	[snt   saimanz   ka4Gi:   [dral av brest]	Симеоновская церковь в Бресте
the Church of the Lord's Transfiguration	[бэ tf3:tf sv бэ b:dz [tra3nsfig94reifn]	Церковь    Преображе- ния Господня
the       Saviour       and Evfrosinya's monastery of Polotsk	[бэ "seiviar and "ev- frasmjaz ч nrrjnastn av   "pnlatsk]	Полоцкий Спасо-Ев- фросиниевский мо настырь