NEB Grade: 11 (English) Unit : 15 War and Peace Shall there be Peace? – by Hermann Hesse

Unit : 15  War and Peace  Shall there be Peace? – by Hermann Hesse

Unit : 15  War and Peace

Shall there be Peace? – by Hermann Hesse

Before You Read…

a. What is war?                                                                                             

An action of violence, conflict or fighting between two or more than two countries or group is known as war.

b.  What happens if there is war in country? Describe its consequences.

If there is war in country, there may take place following consequences:

Ø Loss of human lives,

Ø Economic losses due to destruction of capital as well as disruption of trade,

Ø Human suffering,

Ø The spread of diseases,

Ø Displacement of people

Ø Destruction of the environment, among others

Ø Sexual violence, malnutrition, illness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.

c. Describe a devastating war in the world history.

World War- I

•      World War I was started in July 1914 and officially ended on November 11, 1918. Conflicts emerged among the most powerful forces in the modern world with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany and the Ottoman Empire (and briefly Italy) on one side, and Britain, France, Russia, and later the United States on the other side during the war.

•      The cause of the war was a competition between countries to acquire weapons and build military powers. In 1914, Serbia aroused anger by assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir of Austria-Hungary throne. The Allied Powers, and the Central Powers fought against each other. The Central Powers include countries, such as Germany, Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Turkey where as the Allied Powers consist of Serbia, Russia, The United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, and Belgium.

•      The war took the lives of some 20 million people and the world’s great empires fell. Russia turned into reinstated as the communist Soviet Union.

Shall there be Peace?: Main Points

• Hermann Hesse’s essay “Shall There Be Peace?” focuses on the horrific suffering of World War I and  how the lack of nationalism and accountability have decayed peace from the world.

• In the opening of the essay, the author talk about Lloyd George and Wilson’s unswerving will to fight on  till the final victory. The Italian Socialist Mergari was treated like a madman because he had spoken a few natural, human words..Germany and its allies were not ready for peace proposal.

•  Hesse’s essay, as the title implies, hopes to bring peace in the world. He juxtaposes the peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk with the “bloodier” and “destructive” final battles. According to him,  everybody except “sanguine political orators and war profiteers” wants the war over and done with. The overwhelming majority of people don’t want to suffer any further.

•  Furthermore, Hesse acknowledges the hopelessness of the people in Europe. He draws attention to the gap between the desire for peace and the feeling that there’s nothing that the common person can do to halt the violence. No one is willing to shoulder the burden of bringing about peace, not even politicians and ministers who possess the official power to sign a peace treaty.

•  Hesse also seems to be under the impression that people want peace but only if it benefits the side that they’re on. They don’t want to support their enemies at any cost. Some countries do not have humanity at  all rather they only create  “obstacles” and “barriers” for others which forward the nature of inhumanity in the people . Hesse wants these hurdles should be removed society as well as from the world. He asks people to set aside “self-seeking national programs” and to act according to the “cry of mankind” and betterment of  humanity.

•  Hermann  Hesse’s essay “Shall There Be Peace?” was depicted in December of 1917—about a year before the conclusion of World War I and therefore, it makes clear that the world war was  a lethal, horrific war which ended  around 16 million people and huge mass  of property.

•  The essay,  “Shall There Be Peace?” warns about the dreadful and horrorful sufferings of world war-I to the  people of the world. It also forwards message that war is never good and it can be stopped through human efforts and peace is ever good.

NOTES

• Wilson and Lloyd George: Woodrow Wilson, the President of America, and David Lloyd George, the Prime Minister of Britain wanted to stop a war ever happening again to establish peace after the World War I, but they did not get on well

• Brest-Litovsk: The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed in 1918 between Russia and Germany that ended Russia's participation in World War I

• Herr Kühlmann: Herr Kühlmann (1873-1948) was a German diplomat and industrialist. From 6 August 1917 to 9 July 1918, he served as Germany's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Ways with words

A.   Match the words on the left side with their meanings on the right.

a.      proclaim                → v. declare

b.     unswerving            → iv. steady or constant

c.      magnanimous        → i. generous or forgiving

d.     trample                   → x. crush

e.      tremendous            → vii. Huge

f.       inevitable               → ix. Unavoidable

g.     dire                         → iii. Dreadful

h.     anguish                   → ii. Distress

i.       impending              → vi. Upcoming

j.       ruthless                   → viii. pitiless

B.   Fill in the blanks with the suitable word from the list given.

(appalling, sanguine, slaughter, absurdity, futility, reluctance, bestir )

a.      The soldiers suffer …… injuries during the attack. - appalling (horrific)

b.     She is …… about prospects for the economic development of the country. -sanguine (optimistic)

c.      Innocent people get unexpected …… in the war. –slaughter (ridiculousness)

d.     The crowd laughed at the …… of the singer’s behaviour.- absurdity

e.      The intellectuals should be worried about the horror and …… of war.

                                                                                             -futility (uselessness)

f.       He sensed her …… to continue the work. –reluctance (unwillingness)

g.     They …… themselves at the first light of morning. -bestir (make an effort)

Comprehension

Answer these questions.

a.  Why was the Italian Socialist Mergari treated like a madman?

The Italian Socialist Mergari was treated like a madman because he had spoken a few natural, human words.

b. Can political aims be attained by the criminal instrumentality of war? If yes, how?

 Yes, political aims can be attained by the criminal instrumentality of wars as it initiates the feelings of nationalism and deeply rooted concept for the state’s  fame in the troops and citizens  of the nation who become   ready to sacrifice the life for the nation.

c. Which hopes and plans were said to be mutually contradictory?

 A new massacre of inconceivable scope was said to be mutually contradictory hopes and plans.

d.  What can be the sacred duty of every man of good will on earth?

The sacred duty of every man of good will on earth can be not to sheathe ourselves in indifference and let things take their course, but to do our utmost to prevent the final catastrophe.

e. Is it good to tacitly accept war as an instrument of politics? If not, what else should be done?

No, it is not good to tacitly accept war as an instrument of politics rather most of them have contempt and the feelings of hatred in themselves for the war. Only few people think of so as they are interested in power politics.

f. How can we stop war in the world?

We can stop war through table talk, agreements, by developing the feelings of co-operation and understandings and standing against war and so on.

g.     What is the main message of this essay?

The essay warns dreadful and horrorful sufferings of world war-I to the  people of the world. It also forwards message that war is never good and it can be stopped through human efforts and peace is ever good.

Critical thinking

a. Are warmongers the greatest enemies for peace? What do you want to suggest to them?

§  A warmonger is someone strongly pro-war. Warmongers favor war above all other options. He is someone who instigates (bring about) war. (Warmonger- a person who encourages or advocates aggression towards other countries or groups.)

§  Obviously, they are the greatest enemies for peace as  Warmongerings typically include one or both of the following: a person who advocates war, and a person or group that stirs up war. The advocating of war can be considered a psychological process: attitudes, beliefs, thoughts and ideas about the desirability of promoting war.

§  North Korea was even more clearly in the president’s cross hairs. Mr. Trump warned that he would “totally destroy North Korea” to defend the United States and its allies, and he again disparaged North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, as “Rocket Man.” He said Mr. Kim was on a “suicide mission for himself and for his regime.” than simply to protect one's nation from invasion.

§  My suggestion to them is that they should their use their  creativity for constructive and productive purposes and for the welfare of the nation and its people, not for their aggressive and destructive purposes of the world.

b. The Nobel Prize Winner American novelist John Steinbeck (1902-1968) once said, “All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal.” Do you agree with the novelist? Why?

The Nobel Prize Winner American novelist John Steinbeck (1902-1968)  and one of the most famous and widely read American writers of the 20^th century once said, “All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal.”  Yes, I will make a strong statement: There is no conflict between and among  rational people. To be rational is choice and it is not an easy task rather it is very difficult to develop rational thinking and behaviour.

 If someone starts a violent conflict where no conflict was before, it means that they gave up on reason or they didn’t even try that. So yes, if there is conflict, i claim that at least one side failed to behave as a thinking animals  which proves irrational behaviours like animals.

Thus, until and unless people think of properly as a humans for betterment of other humans, there can never be war.

c. Does any war end all wars and bring lasting peace to the world? Discuss.

•"The war to end war" is also called "The war to end all wars” which definitely means to bring lasting peace to the world  is a popular catch up term for the First World War of 1914–1918. Originally an idealistic slogan, it is now mainly used sardonically/mockingly, since that war's aftermath directly contributed to the outbreak of the considerably more devastating World War II.

• During the First World War, the phrase met with some degree of skepticism. As it became apparent that the war had not succeeded in ending war.

• I think no one has a such a belief  on such saying whether “This war would end all other wars.” As we all know that it only and only brings death and devastations and never peace for the people. Therefore, we can not imagine such a war which will bring peace and welfare for the citizens of the world and end all other wars from the world rather such a war may end the life of living creatures from this planet.

d. Why do you think countries go in wars even though they have their own boundaries?

 Countries go in wars even though they have their own boundaries because of following potential reasons:

Ø Competition over territory and resources.

Ø Historical rivalries and grievances

Ø In self defense against an aggressor or a perceived potential aggressor

Ø Economic Gain and  extreme nationalism

Ø Revenge  and  Civil War

Ø Revolutionary War

Ø Defensive War

Ø Religious causes like Christianity, Islam

Ø Political causes like communism, fascism, socialism, capitalism, monarchism, anarchism etc

                                                                     

                                                                        Writing

Write essays in about 500 words on the following topics.

a.      War and peace

•  No doubt war is an evil, the greatest catastrophe that befalls human beings. It brings death and destruction, disease and starvation, poverty, and ruin in its wake.

•  One has only to look back to the havoc that was wrought in various countries not many years ago, in order to estimate the destructive effects of war. A particularly disturbing side of modern wars is that they tend to become global so that they may engulf the entire world.

•   But there are people who consider war as something grand and heroic and regard it as something that brings out the best in men, but this does not alter the fact that war is a terrible, dreadful calamity.

•  On the other hand, peace is essential factor we all need to live in this world. We have had advocates of non violence and peace like the Buddha, Christ and Mahatma Gandhi. But in spite of that, weapons have always been used, military force has always been employed, clashes of arms have always occurred; war has always been waged.

•  After the Great War of 1914-18, the League of Nations was founded as a safeguard against the outbreak of war but it was collapsed completely under the tensions and stresses created by Hitler. The United Nations Organization with all the good work that It has been doing in favour of peace.

• Large numbers of Wars, the most recent ones being the one in Vietnam, the other between India and Pakistan, or indo-china War, Iran-Iraq war or Arab Israel war, have been fought despite the UN. The fact of the matter is that fighting in a natural instinct in man. When individuals cannot live always in peace, it is, indeed, too much to expect so many nations to live in a state of Eternal peace.

b. Responsive youths for peace and prosperity

•  It is a well-known fact that the youths are the greatest assets of the nation. They are indeed the future of the country. The role of youths in nation-building is more important than one might think. In other words, the intelligence and work of the youth will take the country on the pathway of success.

•   The youths are the important for the future of the country. They are very energetic and enthusiastic. They have the ability to learn and adapt to the environment. Similarly, they are willing to learn and act on it as well to achieve their goals. They are the building blocks of a country.  Furthermore, the nation requires their participation to achieve the goals and help in taking the country towards progress.

• Likewise, we see how the development of any country requires active participation from the youth. It does not matter which field we want to progress in, whether it is the technical field or sports field, youth is needed. It is up to us how to help the youth in playing this role properly.

• We know that there are large number of youths missing the proper training and education for good productive jobs, very less jobs and too many nonproductive employments with poor payment and security. The world community should invest much money in applicable skills training, underlining training suited to the job market.

•  To wrap up, Youth are the pillars of peace and tranquility in the world. They are the future and they have the perspective which the older generations lack. Their zeal and enthusiasm must be channelized properly to help a nation prosper and flourish and finally annihilate the world.

                                                                                            

Grammar

Sentence functions

A.   Do you know the parts of a sentence? If not, look at this sentence.

The fat man painted the door green last week.

In this sentence,

            the fat man → Subject (S)

            painted → Verb (V)

            the door → Object (O)

            green → Complement (C)

            last week → Adverbial (A)/ adjunct

B.   Divide the following sentences into different parts. 

Example: The man will buy a pen next week.                   

The man – will buy – a pen – next week.    

Subject + Verb + Object + Adverbial

                                                                                            

                                                                                              

5 Important  components of  a Sentence

1.  Subject: a person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.

- Rock completed the project work well yesterday.

2. Verb:  a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, happen.

- Rock completed the project work well yesterday.

3. Object: an object is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase on which a verb performs an action. It falls at the end of a sentence, and is governed by a verb or a preposition.

- Rock completed the project work well yesterday.

4.  Complement: a thing that contributes extra features to something else in such a way as to improve or emphasize its quality.

 - Rock completed the project work well yesterday.

5. Adverbial/adjunct : a word or phrase functioning as a major clause constituent and typically expressing place ( in the garden ), time ( in May ), or manner ( in a strange way ).

- Rock completed the project work well yesterday.

B.   Divide the following sentences into different parts.

a.      The children are playing now.

      subject + verb + adverbial/adjunct

b.     Srijana will be reading a story.

      subject + verb + object

c.      Bimala is a very beautiful girl.

      subject + verb /be + complement

d.     She usually wears glasses.

      subject + adverbial + verb + object

e.      They elected him President.

      subject + verb + object + complement

f.       Rabin is laughing.

      subject + be/verb

g.     He has a big house in Butwal.

     subject +verb+ complement  + adverbial

h. The man who lives next door is a professor.

    subject + complement +verb/be

i. Her uncle has been living in Kathmandu for fifteen years.

    subject + verb + complement+ adverbial

j.   The girl with long hair asked me a question last week.

     subject + verb +indirect object +direct object + adverbial

Encouraging/discouraging

A.   Study these expressions of encouraging and discouraging.

Encouraging         

•      Come on!

•      Go on!

•      Keep it up!

•      You can do it!

•      Well done!/Great!

•       You’re doing great/fine!

•      That’s fine/good/all right.

•      You’re doing very well!

•      It’s a good idea.

Discouraging

•      Give up!

•      Don’t bother with it.

•       Don’t waste your time.

•      It’s not worth the effort.

•      Why do you want to do that?

•      It’s not a good idea