Embarrassment of Riches

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

Embarrassment of Riches

Embarrassment of Riches by George Monbiot, published in The Guardian, September 2019

Do you agree with the following statements: 'For the sake of life on Earth, we should set an upper limit on the money any person can amass.' & ' Life on earth depends on moderation.'

What is then the meaning of Monbiot's text? Did the text change your opinion (compared with the opinion you had before you had started your reading).

Identify the tone and mood conveyed in the text. Support your choice with relevant examples.

TONE

rebuking, reprimanding 

admonishing

reflecting 

self-reflecting

resentful 

MOOD

foreboding 

self-reflecting

intriguing 

resentful

affirmative

rebuke: express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behaviour or action

admonish: warn or reprimand someone firmly

affirmative: agreeing with or consenting to a statement or request.

resentful: feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly

Which textual features does Monbiot use in his essay, and how do these features help shape the meaning which the author intends to convey? 

neologism

alliteration

rhetorical appeals (pathos, ethos, logos)

rhetorical questions or hypophora (choose a correct one)

a sentence structure pattern: subject + verb + object

personification

simple sentence / a one word sentence

conditional sentences (realistic & unrealistic)

paradox

oxymoron

How does the film call for action? 

What techniques / features does the author of the film use to enhance its message and call for action? 

Conditional sentences

Realistic conditional sentence: 

'If we succeed in this task, we inevitably demolish our life support system. '

'If everyone is to flourish, we cannot offer rich.'

Unrealistic conditional sentence: 

'Were the poor to live like the rich, and the rich to live like the oligarchs, we would destroy everything.'

Vocabulary

amass                                oligarch 

ecocide                             limitarianism 

convene                           blasphemous 

surplus                             flourish 

conquer                            moderation 

suppress                         moderate

anathema 

demolish 

IB portfolio: Embarrassment of Riches

2 IB portfolio assignments (further information in Google IB portfolio classroom) 

Include the analysis of the text: Embarrassment of Riches in your IB portfolio. Your analyses will be supported with concrete examples from the text. 

Write two short paragraphs in which your analyse:

1.  Conceptual understanding of perspective. 

2. Global issues conveyed in the text.