Approaches and Techniques to the Teaching of Literature

Open Ended

​What is the greatest decision you ever made?

THE GREAT DECISION

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Approaches and Techniques to the Teaching of Literature (GS)

​Fulton Oursler

Fulton Oursler

(1893–1952).

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Charles Fulton Oursler was born on Jan. 22, 1893, in Baltimore, Md. He studied law but turned to journalism, working as a reporter and then as an arts critic for the Baltimore American while also contributing to magazines. In 1923 he became editor of Metropolitan magazine, and from 1931 to 1942 he edited Liberty magazine. He accepted the position of senior editor at Reader’s Digest in 1944.​

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The U.S. writer and editor Fulton Oursler is remembered especially for his popular books on Christian themes. His best-known work is The Greatest Story Ever Told, a fictional account of the life of Jesus.

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THE GREAT DECISION

Fulton Oursler

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In deciding the problems of life something more than reason is needed: if we are to find wisdom, one must also listen to the counsels of the heart.

 

            Which makes me think of the story of Stella and Ralph.

 

            Stella was dark and slim and young, and her flashing black eyes were full of questions; she was very eager about people and the world. One Thanksgiving Day, at a football game, she met Ralph. He was a student from John Hopkins University, a blond, thoughtful, intellectual lad from the Deep South. As the story books used to say, they fell madly in love, and in their courtship days they were so happy that they were almost afraid of each glory.

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Open Ended

Who are the characters in the story?

​ Often, in moonlit walks through the whispering groves of Druid Hill Park, they swore to each other that nothing, nothing- nothing whatever should part them.

 

             Ralph, a medical student, came from an old colonial family, his father and grandfather having been doctors before him. In spite of his precise, logical way of reasoning everything out, he seemed to Stella the kindest, most romantic man she had ever known. I say man instead of youth, because, while Stella was nineteen, Ralph was nearly thirty. It never occurred to Stella to wonder why her fiancé was so late in reaching his graduation year. They were too full of plans for their future to think of such details…

 

Open Ended

When/Where did the story take place?

Within two months of their first meeting they decided to be married; the ceremony would be held right after he passed his state medical board examination. Then one day, while they were waiting for the results, Stella had a visitor. Sitting stiffly in her living room, an elderly woman was waiting for her, tears glittering like melting ices in her eyes. She was Ralph’s mother, and this is what she had come to say…

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“I know you love my son. I am sure that you will be good wife to him, and I am certain your marriage will be a success. However, there is something about Ralph that you have a right to know, and he is afraid to tell you. I have urged him to let you know and he has refused. That is why he has always put off our meeting. Against his wishes, therefore, I consider it my duty to come and tell you myself, even though it may end everything.”

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Open Ended

What could probably be the secret of Ralph according to his mother.

“My son spent three years of his life in a mental asylum.”

 

“Oh, the doctors regard him as completely cured. They all feel sure his trouble will never return. But if you are going to be his wife, and that means until death, you should go into marriage knowing the truth.”

 

 

            What was the right thing to do?

 

Open Ended

​If you were in Stella's shoes what would be your reaction towards the claim of Ralph's Mother?​

For days and nights Stella wrestled with her soul. When she thought of the long years ahead and of the responsibility of children, horrors thronged her mind. Even though it broke her own heart as well as his, her common sense told her she must break the engagement and try to forget him.

But another part of her pleaded for love. In her heart, where she had treasured so much of eager devotion, there welled up a passionate rebuttal.

 

“At the altar you would promise to love him in sickness and in health, for better or for worse. You would do that even if this sad thing about him were not true. Yet afterwards he might be crippled in an accident, and then you would stand by him. Why not stand by him now? Take the chance for him, not against. If you love him, pray for better, but take him for better or worse.”

Open Ended

What happen to Stella upon hearing the news of Ralph's Mother?

The other logical part of her replied:

 

“If he had told you about this himself, you might feel differently. How can you trust him?”

 

To which her heart replied: “He loved me so much he was afraid to risk losing our happiness.”

 

The end of it was that Stella’s mind, her sensible arguments won over her heart’s entreaties. The logical conclusion was that the engagement be broken, and so it was. Ralph left Baltimore and went to California. For a long time after his going, Stella was inconsolable. Indeed, ten years passed before she was able to become interested in another man. That time did come, however, and in her young thirties she became the wife of a lawyer in Trenton, New Jersey.

Open Ended

Do you think the decision of Stella is the right choice to make?

Then, only a few years after the marriage… she awoke one night and found the bed beside her empty. She began searching through the house, only to find her husband in the cellar, swinging: “I am Samson and I am going to tear down this place.”

 

Quite mad he was – and incurable so. Today he is ending his life in an asylum.

After the commitment Stella took a long trip west. One night, in a small city in California, she came by chance, face to face with Ralph again. He was the most distinguished surgeon in the whole region. With him were his wife, his son and his daughter—ALL SANE, ALL HAPPY.

 

Of course, in making our decisions, we must use the brains that God has given to us. But we must also use our heart, which He also gave us—as part of Himself.

 

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Poll

In choosing the best decision, which should be given the most importance? Your heart or mind?

• HEART

• MIND

​​Activity:

The students will create mini vlog focus on giving advice specifically in decision making.

S​uggested Topics:

-School

-Course

-Strand​

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