Unit- 8 Humour and Satire
Now read the following article about superstition.
In grave discussions of “the renaissance of the irrational” in our time, superstition
does not figure largely as a serious
challenge to reason or science.
Parapsychology, UFOs, miracle
cures, transcendental meditation,
and all the paths to instant
enlightenment are condemned, but
superstition is merely deplored. Is it
because it has an unacknowledged
hold on so many of us?
Few people will admit to being
superstitious; it implies naiveté or ignorance. But I live in the middle of a large
university, and I see superstition in its four manifestations, alive and flourishing among
people who are indisputably rational and learned.
You did not know that superstition takes four forms? Theologians assure us that it
does. First is what they call Vain Observances, such as not walking under a ladder,
and that kind of thing. Yet I saw a deeply learned professor of anthropology, who had
spilled some salt, throwing a pinch of it over his left shoulder; when I asked him why,
he replied, with a wink, that it was “to hit the Devil in the eye.” I did not question him
further about his belief in the Devil: But I noticed that he did not smile until I asked
him what he was doing.
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The second form is Divination, or consulting oracles. Another learned professor I
know, who would scorn to settle a problem by tossing a coin (which is a humble appeal
to Fate to declare itself), told me quite seriously that he has resolved a matter related
to university affairs by consulting the I Ching. And why not? There are thousands of
people on this continent who appeal to the I Ching, and their general level of education
seems to absolve them of superstition. Almost, but not quite. The I Ching, to the
embarrassment of rationalists, often gives excellent advice.
The third form is Idolatry, and universities can show plenty of that. If you have ever
supervised a large examination room, you know how many jujus, lucky coins, and
other bringers of luck are placed on the desks of the candidates. Modest idolatry, but
what else can you call it?
The fourth form is Improper Worship of the True God. A while ago, I learned that
every day, for several days, a $2 bill (in Canada we have $2 bills, regarded by some
people as unlucky) had been tucked under a candlestick on the altar of a college chapel.
Investigation revealed that an engineering student, worried about a girl, thought that
bribery of the Deity might help. When I talked with him, he did not think he was pricing
God cheap because he could afford no more. A reasonable argument, but perhaps God
was proud that week, for the scientific oracle went against him.
Superstition seems to run, a submerged river of crude religion, below the surface of
human consciousness. It has done so for as long as we have any chronicle of human
behaviour, and although I cannot prove it, I doubt if it is more prevalent today than it
has always been. Superstition, the theologians tell us, comes from the Latin supersisto,
meaning to stand in terror of the Deity. Most people keep their terror within bounds,
but they cannot root it out, nor do they seem to want to do so.
The more the teaching of formal religion declines, or takes a sociological form, the
less God appears to great numbers of people as a God of Love, resuming his older
form of a watchful, minatory power, to be placated and cajoled. Superstition makes its
appearance, apparently unbidden, very early in life, when children fear that stepping
on cracks in the sidewalk will bring ill fortune. It may persist even among the greatly
learned and devout, as in the case of Dr. Samuel Johnson, who felt it necessary to
touch posts that he passed in the street. The psychoanalysts have their explanation, but
calling a superstition a compulsion neurosis does not banish it.
Many superstitions are so widespread and so old that they must have risen from a depth
of the human mind that is indifferent to race or creed. Orthodox Jews place a charm
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on their doorposts; so do (or did) the Chinese. Some peoples of Middle Europe believe
that when a man sneezes, his soul, for that moment, is absent from his body, and they
hasten to bless him, lest the soul be seized by the Devil. How did the Melanesians
come by the same idea? Superstition seems to have a link with some body of belief that
far antedates the religions we know religions which have no place for such comforting
little ceremonies and charities.
People who like disagreeable historical ceremonies recall that when Rome was
in decline, superstition proliferated wildly, and that something of the same sort is
happening in our Western world today. They point to the popularity of astrology, and it
is true that sober newspapers that would scorn to deal in love philters carry astrology
columns and the fashion magazines count them among their most popular features.
But when has astrology not been popular? No use saying science discredits it. When
has the heart of man given a damn for science?
Superstition in general is linked to man’s yearning to know his fate, and to have some
hand in deciding it. When my mother was a child, she innocently joined her Roman
Catholic friends in killing spiders on July 11, until she learned that this was done to
ensure heavy rain the day following, the anniversary of the Battle of Boyne, when the
Orangemen would hold their parade. I knew an Italian, a good scientist, who watched
every morning before leaving his house, so that the first person he met would not be a
priest or a nun, as this would certainly bring bad luck.
I am not one to stand aloof from the rest of humanity in this matter, for when I was a
university student, a gypsy woman with a child in her arms used to appear every year
at examination time, and ask a shilling of anyone who touched the Lucky Baby; that
swarthy infant cost me four shillings altogether, and I never failed an examination. Of
course, I did it merely for the joke or so I thought then. Now, I am humbler.
Robertson Davies
NOTES
UFO (unidentified flying object): any unusual apparent object in the sky whose cause
cannot be identified by the observer; it more loosely refers to alien spacecraft.
I Ching (known as Yi Jing): an ancient Chinese oracle based on a 3000-year-old
manuscript of Chinese wisdom called The Book of Changes with interpretations
inspired by the elements of nature
Gypsy: a member of a tribe with dark skin and hair speaking Romany and originally from
74 English: Grade 11
northern India who typically used to travel from place to place, and now live especially in
Europe and North America
Ways with words
A. Match the following.
- transcendental - iv. spiritual, nonphysical or mystical
- deplore - i. to feel or express strong disapproval of (something)
- absolve- vi. set free from blame, guilt, or responsibility; release
- juju- ii. a charm or fetish used by some West African people
- crude- iii. natural state
- chronicle- v. a written record of historical events
B. Find the contextual meanings of the following words from the text and
then use them in sentences of your own.
condemn, terror, unbidden, persist, devout, banish, creed, hasten, sober, scorn,
yearning, aloof, swarthy, humbler
to express disapproval – He has publicly condemned the deal.
a feeling of extreme fear – People fled from the explosion in terror.
without being asked, invited or expected- She walked into the room unbidden.
to continue to exist- Consult your doctor if the symptoms persist.
having or showing strong religious feeling/ religious- One of my friends is a devout Muslim.
to make somebody/something go away – The sight of food banished all other thoughts from my mind.
a system of principles or religious beliefs- We welcome people of all races, colors and creeds.
to make something happen more quickly - The treatment she received may have hastened her death.
serious and sensible- We need to make a calm, sober assessment of the situation
to feel or show that you think somebody/something is stupid and you do not respect them or it- My sister scorned my view as old-fashioned.
a strong and emotional desire- They had a deep yearning for their homeland
not friendly/ disinterested in other people- She stayed aloof while the argument went on around her.
having dark skin- My friend is skinny, with a swarthy complexion.
having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's importance. He served at the pleasure of a humbler master.
C. One of the ways to understand words and their meanings is to learn the
origin of the word. For example, the word 'expand', which means 'to
spread out or extend', comes from Middle English expanden, derived
from the Latin word expandere: ex-(out)+ pandere (to spread). Trace
the origins of each of the following words finding such explanations in
a dictionary or the Internet. Then make sentences by using each word.
minatory, placated, cajoled, antedates, proliferated, philter
C. List any five words found in an English dictionary beginning with the
prefix 'super-.' What common meaning do all of these words share?
How do the words in your list change meaning if you eliminate the
prefix?
Comprehension
Answer these questions.
a. According to the author, what are the four types of superstition?
According to the author, the four types of superstition are Vain Observances, Divination, Idolatry and Improper Worship of the True God.
b. Which language is the word 'superstition' derived from? What does it mean?
The word 'superstition' is derived from the Latin supersisto. It means to stand in terror of the Deity.
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c. How do psychologists understand superstition?
Psychologists understand superstition as a compulsion that neurosis does not banish.
d. How does superstition differ from religion?
Superstition is a belief in the magical and supernatural powers that are mostly based on myths or pseudo confusing expectations, whereas religion is an integrated system of beliefs in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief.
e. What is the belief of some people in the Middle Europe about sneezing?
Some people of Middle Europe believe that when a man sneezes, his soul, for that moment, is absent from his body, and they hasten to bless him, lest the soul will be seized by the Devil.
f. In the author’s view, why are people so fascinated about superstition?
In the author’s view, people are so fascinated about superstition because it in general is linked to people’s desire to know their fate, and to have some hand in deciding it.
Critical thinking
a. What is the key takeaway of this essay? Do you think that this essay is satirical?
Why?
The essay aims to change the usual view that superstition is only harbored by the uneducated and irrational people and introduce a different perspective towards superstition. Every individual, no matter how logical or rational, carries superstitions, and that is a normal and natural trait, although this is not indicated directly. The essayist does not make any precise or obvious points about what the essay will be about, except that it will revolve around superstition.
The essayist believes that many superstitions are so widespread and so old that must have been risen from a depth of human mind that is indifferent to any race or creed. For him, superstition is associated with a human interest to know his fate and to have its role in deciding it.
The essay is satirical. It makes fun of learned and educated people who have nothing to do with superstition, but believe in it. The essayist uses several examples associated with superstition, from his personal life at the University he lives in, his surroundings, and religious studies. These illogical happenings in the essay strongly ridicule the scientific and modern human civilization. Throwing salt over the left shoulder after spilling it, or avoiding walking under a ladder, resolving a matter related to university affairs by consulting the I Ching, placing jujus, lucky coins, and other bringers of luck on the desks of the candidates in an examination hall, etc. are some of the superstitious activities rational persons believe in.
The essayist mocks at his own superstitious behavior: giving four shillings to touch a Lucky Baby before taking exams in college, revealing that he did it for the joke.
b. Can education bring change in the belief of superstition? Present your arguments
to support your answer.
Education can bring change in the belief of superstition. It improves cognition and the ability of reasoning. Educated people are less likely to be superstitious and can make others aware of the evil practice. At least educated people send the sick to the hospital, rather than to call witch doctors to cast out demons in order to cure the sick. Education provides an understanding of the diseases, the cause and the cure of the diseases.
Superstitions befall when someone fears the unknown. Once the unknown becomes familiar, there is not superstition any longer. If a person comes to know about the actual truth behind various meaningless things, their fear from the mind will be abolished.
It is true that the paranormal things are deep rooted in people’s mind The reason behind this is the impact of society where they grow and cultural practices they involve in. It is difficult to eradicate them, but not impossible. Only educated people can make it possible.
a. Write an essay on superstitions that exists in your community in about 250
words.
b. “Superstition is prevalent in every walk of life.'' Argue for or against this
statement.
Grammar
Present simple or present continuous/progressive
A. Study the following examples of present simple and present continuous.
Present simple Present continuous
Present Simple or Present Continuous/Progressive (Grammar)
| Present simple | Present continuous |
|---|---|
| a. Water boils at100º Celsius. | a. The water is boiling. Can you turn it off? |
| b. Jenisha lives in Jumla. | b. Jenisha is living in Tokyo for a few months. |
| c. I drink coffee every morning. | c. I am drinking too much coffee these days because I’m so busy at work. |
| d. He always tells lies. | d. You are always telling lies. |
| e. My plane leaves at six this evening. | e. I'm leaving for Pokhara tomorrow. |
| f. I know her very well. | f. I am reading a novel by Paulo Coelho. |
| g. At the end of the story, the protagonist catches the killer. | g. In this photo, my mother is wearing a blue sari. |
B. Put the verb into the correct form, present simple or present continuous.
C. Are the underlined verbs in the correct form? Correct them where necessary.
a. Water boils at 100° C.
b. The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?
c. I must go now. It is getting late.
d. This sauce tastes really good.
e. I think this is your key.
f. Do you believe in God?
g. I usually go to school on foot
h. Look! That man is trying to open the door of her car.
i. The moon goes round the earth.
j. I'm getting hungry. Let's go and eat.
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