4.2 Modern-day heroes

English first additional language

Grade 4

Heroes and heroines

Module 40

Modern-day heroes

Activity 1

To read fiction at an appropriate level [lo 3.5.1]

Modern-day heroes may be different to look at, but basically they still have the same qualities as ancient heroes: the hero blazes a trail for other less adventurous mortals to follow. Some such modern-day heroes are Superman, Spiderman and Luke Skywalker, to name but a few.

SUPERMAN: JUST A TYPICAL TEENAGER?

Once upon a time, in the peaceful little town of Smallville in Kansas, USA, there lived a sweet, elderly couple called Jonathan and Martha Kent. Life was uneventful until one day something happened that shattered the tranquillity the townsfolk had been used to: suddenly, a shower of meteorites rained down upon the town.

In one of these meteorites there was a little boy! The old couple came upon him where he stood trembling in his shabby, ragged clothes, and they immediately took pity on him. They decided to adopt him and bring him up as their own child.

Jonathan and Martha Kent had no idea what lay ahead. They certainly didn’t have a clue that this youngster, whom they named Clark, would become a super-hero who would one day go chasing after crooks in his blue and red Superman outfit.

That is how the story of Superman began.

There is a new television series called Smallville that differs from the usual Superman films and comics, because it focuses on Clark Kent as a young boy. It tells the story of the legendary character before he became famous. This was the time before he could fly; when he was still developing his powers, and when his best friend was just another boy called Lex Luthor, a lad who had lost all his hair as a result of the radiation during the meteorite rain.

Lex Luthor becomes a dreaded bald rogue later on, but at this stage he is just an ordinary boy who works in the struggling Smallville branch of his father’s factory. Lois Lane, later to become the love of Clark’s life, isn’t even in the picture yet. In fact, he is head over heels in love with Lana Lang, the tallest girl in Smallville. Unfortunately she has a boyfriend, so it’s the classic situation of “all the good girls are taken”. Clark is absolutely smitten, because she wears a piece of the meteor around her neck and this has an influence on him.

In this series the viewer gets a fresh new look on an old story. Just like any other teenager, Superman goes through difficult phases in his development. As time goes on, he becomes stronger and stronger.

Smallville isn’t simply a cute idea. It is an excellent adaptation of a well-known story that will keep both young and old fixed to the small screen.

Translated and adapted from JIP (Die Burger), Monday 11 November 2003

Activity 2

To read and solve puzzles [lo 3.5.3]

Using the clues below, complete the puzzle. The information is to be found in the passage above. You can also use a dictionary.

1. men who are brave and good.

2. calm, quiet, tranquil

3. two people ( a ……)

4. a young boy

5. stones or pieces of iron that fall to earth from the sky