Answer:
Selected story: "Love"
1. The author: <u>Gibran Kahlil Gibran:</u> Born in Lebanon in 1883. He came to the United States in 1885 with his mother and brothers. He was a poet, novelist, essayist, philosopher, and painter. He founded and was president of the "Literary League" which was of enormous influence on Arabic literature.
He died in 1931.
2. The country: The country of origin is <u>Lebanon</u>. Most of its population professes Islam. Among the Muslims there are different types: Shiites, Sunnis and Alawites. The rest are Christians, mainly Maronites, and a minority are Druze.
The Lebanese use to go shopping in the city center and stroll with friends along the busy streets. Lebanese normally sit together and interact lively.
Manners are important in this culture. Both foreigners and acquaintances greet each other respectfully, generally using French words like bonjour, bonsoir and pardon.
Hospitality is very important. Travelers to Lebanon are warmly welcomed.
3. The context: The context of this story <u>shows us a wise prophet, Almustafa, who is found on Orphalese Island.</u> He is about to leave his city and the citizens, who loved him very much, ask him to tell stories of his life philosophy before leaving them.
4. Plot summary: The story Love talks about following love, even though it hurts a lot. Love has the power to destroy us, but each person must seek it anyway, since it helps us grow and learn many things that will serve us throughout life.
We cannot control love, just as love cannot control us.
5. Discuss the social issue that the prophet was addressing. What was the issue? : The prophet is giving <u>advice on specific topics</u> throughout the book: love, marriage, children, children, work, pain and joy, clothing, freedom, prayer, dialogue, beauty, pleasure, religion and, finally, death.
In general, the themes of this book are themes that affect most of us equally, but the way it is narrated simply by the prophet is what makes it special.
The issue treated in "Love" is that love will surely hurt us, but we must follow it anyway.
<em>"When love beckons to you, follow him,
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<em> Though his ways are hard and steep. "
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<em>"For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning."</em>
6. Cultural elements: The cultural elements in this story are:
Learning: <em>"All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart."
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Suffering:<em> </em><em>"So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
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<em>Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself
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<em>He threshes you to make your naked.
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<em>He sifts you to free you from your husks.
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<em>I've grinds you to whiteness. "
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Religion: <em>"He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast."</em>
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