Fiche à imprimer : Oz, a political allegory? Une allégorie politique (Première)

Anglais	Français
an allegory	une allégorie
to stand for / to represent	symboliser, représenter
the gold standard	l'étalon-or
farmers / factory workers	les agriculteurs / les ouvriers
It has been argued that...	On a soutenu que...
There is little evidence that...	Peu de preuves montrent que...

En 1964, un professeur américain, Henry Littlefield, propose de lire le livre comme une allégorie de la politique américaine des années 1890 : la route de briques jaunes serait l'étalon-or, les souliers d'argent la proposition d'utiliser aussi l'argent comme monnaie, l'Épouvantail les agriculteurs, le Bûcheron de fer-blanc les ouvriers de l'industrie, et le Lion un homme politique de l'époque. Cette lecture est séduisante, mais la plupart des historiens doutent que Baum l'ait voulue. C'est un bon exercice pour apprendre à interpréter... avec prudence.

Mise en situation : le séminaire

Teacher : Some critics see The Wizard of Oz as a political allegory. What does that mean?

Certains critiques voient Le Magicien d'Oz comme une allégorie politique. Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?

Lucas : It means that each character stands for something real. The Scarecrow could represent farmers, and the Tin Woodman factory workers.

Ça veut dire que chaque personnage représente quelque chose de réel. L'Épouvantail pourrait représenter les agriculteurs, et le Bûcheron les ouvriers.

Jade : And it has been argued that the yellow brick road stands for the gold standard, while Dorothy's silver shoes represent silver money.

Et on a soutenu que la route de briques jaunes symbolise l'étalon-or, tandis que les souliers d'argent de Dorothy représentent la monnaie d'argent.

Teacher : Did Baum really mean all that?

Baum voulait-il vraiment dire tout ça ?

Lucas : There is little evidence that he did. He said he wanted to write a story to please children.

Peu de preuves montrent qu'il l'a voulu. Il a dit vouloir écrire une histoire pour faire plaisir aux enfants.

Jade : So it's an interesting reading, not a hidden truth. A text can mean more than its author intended.

Donc c'est une lecture intéressante, pas une vérité cachée. Un texte peut signifier plus que ce que son auteur avait prévu.

À retenir

an allegory, to stand for, to represent, the gold standard, silver, farmers, factory workers.
It has been argued that... ; There is little evidence that... ; could represent ; more than its author intended.

Exercice 1 : Une allégorie politique ? : exercice 1 (QCM)

« une allégorie »
1. an allergy
2. an alligator
3. an allegory
« symboliser »
1. to stand by
2. to stand up
3. to stand for
« l'étalon-or »
1. the gold standing
2. the gold standard
3. the golden stallion
« On a soutenu que... »
1. It is been argued that...
2. It has argued that...
3. It has been argued that...
« Peu de preuves montrent que... »
1. There is a little evidence of...
2. There are few evidences that...
3. There is little evidence that...
Cette lecture a été proposée en...
1. 1964
2. 2004
3. 1900
Dans cette lecture, l'Épouvantail représente...
1. les agriculteurs
2. les enfants
3. les banquiers
Dans cette lecture, la route jaune représente...
1. l'étalon-or
2. le pétrole
3. le blé
La plupart des historiens...
1. doutent que Baum l'ait voulue
2. en sont sûrs
3. ne connaissent pas le livre
« plus que ce que l'auteur avait prévu »
1. more than its author intended
2. more than its author pretended
3. more that its author intended

Exercice 2 : Une allégorie politique ? : exercice 2 (à compléter)

Each character .......................... for something real.
The Scarecrow could .......................... farmers.
It has been .......................... that the road stands for gold.
The gold .......................... .
There is little .......................... that he did.
It's an interesting .......................... , not a hidden truth.
A text can mean more than its author .......................... .
It's a political .......................... .
Did Baum really .......................... all that?
He wanted to write a story to .......................... children.

Exercice 3 : Une allégorie politique ? : mise en situation

Le prof présente la lecture allégorique.
1. Some critics see The Wizard of Oz as a political allegory.
2. Some critic sees The Wizard of Oz as a political allegory.
3. Some critics see The Wizard of Oz like a political allergy.
Chaque personnage représente quelque chose.
1. Each character stand for something real.
2. Each characters stands for something real.
3. Each character stands for something real.
L'Épouvantail pourrait représenter les agriculteurs.
1. The Scarecrow could represent farmers.
2. The Scarecrow could to represent farmers.
3. The Scarecrow could represents farmers.
On a soutenu que la route symbolise l'or.
1. It has been argued that the yellow brick road stands for the gold standard.
2. It has argued that the yellow brick road stands for the gold standard.
3. It has been argue that the road stand for gold.
Le prof demande si Baum le voulait.
1. Did Baum really meant all that?
2. Did Baum really mean all that?
3. Baum really meant all that?
Peu de preuves le montrent.
1. There is little evidence that he did.
2. There is a few evidence that he did.
3. There are few evidences that he did.
C'est une lecture, pas une vérité cachée.
1. It's an interesting lecture, not a hidden truth.
2. It's an interested reading, not a hiding truth.
3. It's an interesting reading, not a hidden truth.
Un texte peut signifier plus que prévu.
1. A text can means more than its author intended.
2. A text can mean more than it's author intended.
3. A text can mean more than its author intended.
Tu nuances.
1. However, this lecture should be treated with caution.
2. However, this reading should treated with caution.
3. However, this reading should be treated with caution.
Tu proposes une autre lecture.
1. Alternatively, the book can be readed as a story about growing up.
2. Alternatively, the book can be read as a story about growing up.
3. Alternatively, the book can read as a story about grow up.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. c) an allegory · 2. c) to stand for · 3. b) the gold standard · 4. c) It has been argued that... · 5. c) There is little evidence that... · 6. a) 1964 · 7. a) les agriculteurs · 8. a) l'étalon-or · 9. a) doutent que Baum l'ait voulue · 10. a) more than its author intended

Exercice 2

1. stands · 2. represent · 3. argued · 4. standard · 5. evidence · 6. reading · 7. intended · 8. allegory · 9. mean · 10. please

Exercice 3

1. a) Some critics see The Wizard of Oz as a political allegory. · 2. c) Each character stands for something real. · 3. a) The Scarecrow could represent farmers. · 4. a) It has been argued that the yellow brick road stands for the gold standard. · 5. b) Did Baum really mean all that? · 6. a) There is little evidence that he did. · 7. c) It's an interesting reading, not a hidden truth. · 8. c) A text can mean more than its author intended. · 9. c) However, this reading should be treated with caution. · 10. b) Alternatively, the book can be read as a story about growing up.