Wednesday, September 23, 2026

A quick list of the Romantic features in Frankenstein:

Here is a quick list of the Romantic features in Frankenstein:

Emotion and Imagination: Valuing raw human feelings and creativity over cold, rational science.
The Sublimity of Nature: Using massive, wild landscapes (like icy mountains and storms) to mirror characters' inner turmoil and evoke awe.
Critique of Science and Reason: Warning against unchecked ambition and the dangers of pure logic without empathy.
The Isolated Individual: Featuring the classic Romantic outcast archetype, where both creator and creature suffer in profound physical and emotional loneliness.

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Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Prepositions following superlatives and videos to recap comparatives and superlatives

Prepositions following superlatives -

1) SUPERLATIVE + preposition: in most cases :

OF is used witj plural nouns or when referring to a specific group of multiple items or people.

She is the smartest of all the students
She’s the fastest tennis player of them all
This is the best movie of the year.
the best moment of the film.
the biggest mistake of my life.
the best film of the year.
the best painter of the century.

2) SUPERLATIVE + IN :

in front of a noun in the singular, representing a place, organization, or group of people

The best beer in the world

He is the tallest man in the world.
She is the best student in her class.
the most learned one in the family

3) SUPERLATIVE + On: Use with specific surfaces or contexts like the earth or a team.

Example: He is the fastest player on the team.
Example: She is the richest person on earth.

La vita di Mary Shelley

Watch the following video and answer the questions

What was the primary profession and area of intellectual work of Mary Shelley's father, William Godwin?
How many days after Mary Shelley's birth did her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, pass away?
Where did Mary Shelley frequently go as a child to read, write stories, and feel close to her mother?
How old was Mary Shelley when she first met the 21-year-old poet Percy Bysshe Shelley?
What primary reason led Mary Shelley's father to forbid Percy Shelley from visiting their household?
Who accompanied Mary Shelley and Percy when they fled England for mainland Europe in July 1814?
What tragic event deeply impacted Mary Shelley in February 1815?
What dream did Mary Shelley record in her journal shortly after losing her first child?
Which geological event caused the global climate disturbance known as the 'Year Without a Summer' in 1816?
At which Swiss location did Lord Byron reside when Mary and Percy visited him in May 1816?
Which scientist's electrical experiments on dead frogs were discussed by the literary group at Villa Diodati?
Who officially proposed the ghost story writing challenge during the rainy nights at Villa Diodati?
Which iconic monster figure was later developed from Lord Byron's story draft started during the contest?
How did Mary Shelley describe the mental state in which she conceived the central vision for Frankenstein?
What advice did Percy Shelley give Mary after reading the initial pages of her story concept?
According to the video analysis of the novel, why does Victor Frankenstein's creation ultimately become violent?
How was Frankenstein initially presented when it was published on January 1, 1818?
In what year was Frankenstein republished with Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's name officially printed on the title page?
How did Percy Bysshe Shelley die in July 1822?
Which literary genre is Mary Shelley widely credited with inventing through Frankenstein?

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Superlatives

The UK

What are the names of 4 countries making up the UK?

Which is the capital city of Wales?

Have those countries got the same anthem?

Who's the patron saint of Northern Ireland and when do people celebrate him?

What does Great Britain include?

What about the Commonwealth of nations?

Vocabulary to talk about festivities and festivals in the UK and in the USA

Sostantivi (Nouns)

Tipi di Festività e Giorni Speciali

Festivity / Celebration: Festività / Celebrazione.
Holiday: Giorno festivo o vacanza.
Bank holiday / Public holiday: Festa nazionale (uffici e banche chiusi).
Festival: Festival o festa popolare (spesso culturale o musicale).
Anniversary: Anniversario.
Tradition: Tradizione.
Atmosfera, Cibo e Decorazioni
- Atmosphere / Vibe: Atmosfera o clima festivo.
- Feast / Banquet: Banchetto o grande cena festiva.
- Delicacy: Specialità culinaria tipica.
- Decorations / Ornaments: Decorazioni / Addobbi.
- Parade: Sfilata o parata.
- Custom: Usanza o costume tradizionale.
- Colourful banners striscioni
- Verbi (Verbs)
  Celebrare e Partecipare
  - To celebrate: Festeggiare.
  - To commemorate: Commemorare (ricordare un evento storico o solenne).
  - To observe: Osservare (rispettare una festività o una tradizione religiosa).
  - To attend: Partecipare a (un evento, una parata, una messa).
  - To gather: Radunarsi / Riunirsi (con amici o famiglia).
  - Azioni Tipiche delle FesteTo decorate: Addobbare / Decorare.
  - To exchange gifts: Scambiarsi i regali.
    To feast: Banchettare / Mangiare in abbondanza.
    To raise a toast: Fare un brindisi.
    To pass down: Tramandare (una tradizione di generazione in generazione).
    Phrasal Verbs (Verbi Frasali)
    Prepararsi ed Entrare nel Vivo
    To look forward to: Non vedere l'ora di (aspettare con ansia un evento).
    To deck out: Addobbare a festa / Decorare riccamente.
    To dress up: Vestirsi eleganti o mascherarsi per l'occasione.
    To kick off: Dare il via / Iniziare (es. la festa o il festival).
    Partecipare e Festeggiare
    To join in: Unirsi ai festeggiamenti / Partecipare insieme agli altri.
    To turn up: Presentarsi / Arrivare (riferito anche all'affluenza di pubblico).
    To soak up: Assorbire / Immergersi completamente (es. soak up the atmosphere).
    To wrap up: Concludere / Volgere al termine.
- BANK HOLIDAYS
- FEDERAL HOLIDAYS
United States (USA)
Negli Stati Uniti ci sono 11 festività federali ufficiali. Ecco le più note:
- New Year's Day (1° Gennaio) - Il primo giorno dell'anno.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Terzo lunedì di Gennaio) - Per celebrare la nascita del leader dei diritti civili.
- Memorial Day (Ultimo lunedì di Maggio) - Giornata in memoria dei militari americani caduti in guerra.
- Independence Day (4 Luglio) - Il celebre Fourth of July, che commemora l'adozione della Dichiarazione d'Indipendenza.
- Labor Day (Primo lunedì di Settembre) - La festa dei lavoratori americani, che segna anche la fine ufficiosa dell'estate.
- Thanksgiving Day (Quarto giovedì di Novembre) - Il Giorno del Ringraziamento, una delle feste più sentite negli USA.
- Christmas Day (25 Dicembre) - Il giorno di Natale.
WHAT ABOUT LABOUR DAY IN THE UK????
The Date: The UK celebrates workers' rights as part of International Workers' Day (often called Labour Day) on May 1st.
The Holiday: May 1st itself is not a public holiday. Instead, the official day off is always moved to the Early May Bank Holiday, which falls on the first Monday of May.

englishmajorana

Hello! My name's Liliana. I'm a teacher of English (Language and Literature) to Italian teenage stu