ERBzine 4965a: A Princess of Mars Study II

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Volume 4965a
A Princess of Mars Part Two
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Today, we begin a new series from a book by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. The book is called “A Princess of Mars.” It is the first book in a series that Burroughs wrote about a man who travels to Mars during the last years of the eighteen hundreds.
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Lesson Plan - A Princess of Mars, Part Two

12/04/2014 Editor's Note: Last week we brought you the first of four programs called “A Princess of Mars.” Our story is from a series of books by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. They are science fiction stories, a mix of imagination and science.
Last week, we met John Carter who begins the story. He enters a cave deep in the desert in the state of Arizona. There something happens. He does not know how, but he has been transported to the Red Planet, Mars.
He quickly learns that gravity on Mars is much less than on Earth. The lack of gravity makes him very strong. He can even jump very high without trying.
He finds a low wall that surrounds a group of eggs. The eggs are opening. Out come small, fierce-looking green creatures. When we left John Carter, a green adult creature carrying a long sharp spear was coming toward him.
And now, the second program in our series, “A Princess of Mars.”
JOHN CARTER: The creature with the spear was huge. There were many other similar creatures. They had ridden behind me on the backs of large animals. Each of them carried a collection of strange-looking weapons.
The one with the large spear got down from the back of his animal and began walking toward me. He was almost five meters tall and a dark green color. Huge teeth stuck out of his face, and his expression showed much hate and violence.
I immediately knew I was facing a terrible warrior. He began moving quickly toward me with the spear. I was completely unarmed. I could not fight. My only chance was to escape.
I used all my strength to jump away from him. I was able to jump almost thirty meters. The green Martian stopped and watched my effort. I would learn later that the look on his face showed complete surprise.
The creatures gathered and talked among themselves. While they talked, I thought about running away. However, I noticed several of them carried devices that looked very much like rifles. I could not run.
Soon, all but one of the creatures moved away. The one who had threatened me stayed. He slowly took off a metal band from his arm and held it out to me. He spoke in a strange language.
JOHN CARTER: Slowly, he laid down his weapons. I thought this would have been a sign of peace anywhere on Earth…why not on Mars, too? I walked toward him and in a normal voice announced my name and said I had come in peace. I knew he did not understand, but like me, he took it to mean that I meant no harm.
Slowly, we came together. He gave me the large metal band that had been around his arm. He turned and made signs with his hands that I should follow him. Soon we arrived at the large animal he had been riding.
He again made a sign with his hands that I should ride on the same animal behind him. The group turned and began riding across the land. We moved quickly toward mountains in the distance.
JOHN CARTER: The large animals we rode moved quickly across the land. I could tell from the surrounding mountains that we were on the bottom of a long dead sea.
In time we came to a huge city. At first I thought the city was empty. The buildings all were empty and in poor repair. But soon I saw hundreds of the green warriors. I also saw green women and children. I soon learned about many cities like this. The cities were built hundreds of years ago by a people that no longer existed. The green Martians used the cities. They moved from one empty city to another, never stopping for more than a day or two.
We got down from our animals and walked into a large building. We entered a room that was filled with fierce green warriors.
It was not difficult to tell that these were the leaders of the green Martians. One of them took hold of my arm. He shook me and lifted me off the ground. He laughed when he did so. I was to learn that green Martians only laugh at the pain or suffering of others.
This huge warrior threw me to the ground and then took hold of my arm again to pick me up. I did the only thing I could do. I hit him with my closed fist as hard as I could.
The green warrior fell to the floor and did not move. The others in the room grew silent. I had knocked down one of their warriors with only my hand.
I moved away from him and prepared to defend myself as best I could. But they did not move. The green Martian that had captured me walked toward me. He said in a clear voice:
TARS TARKAS: "TARS TARKAS -- TARS TARKAS.”
JOHN CARTER: As he spoke, he pointed to his own chest. He was telling me his name! I pointed to my chest and said my name, “John Carter.”
He turned and said the word, “Sola.” Immediately, a green Martian woman came close. He spoke to her. She led me to another building and into a large room. The room was filled with equipment carried by the green Martians. She prepared something for me to eat. I was very hungry.

I pointed to her and said the word “Sola.” She pointed at me and said my name. It was a beginning. Sola was my guard.

She also became my teacher. In time she would become a close and valued friend. As I ate my meal, my lessons in the language of the green Martians continued.
JOHN CARTER: Two days later, Tars Tarkas came to my room. He carried the weapons and the metal armbands the green warriors wear. He put them on the ground near my feet. Sola told him I now understood some of their language. He turned to me and spoke slowly.
TARS TARKAS: The warrior you hit is dead. His weapons and the metal of his rank are yours, John Carter. He was a leader of one small group among our people. Because you have killed him, you now are a leader.
You are still a captive and not free to leave. However you will be treated with the respect you have earned. You are now a warrior among our people.
JOHN CARTER: Tars Tarkas turned and spoke softly. From beyond the door a strange creature entered the room. It was bigger than a large dog and very ugly. It had rows of long teeth and ten very short legs. Tars Tarkas spoke to the creature and pointed at me. He left. The creature looked at me, watching closely. Then Sola spoke about the creature.
SOLA: His name is Woola. The men of our tribe use them in hunting and war. He has been told to guard and protect you. He has also been told to prevent your escape. There is no faster creature in our world. And in a fight they can kill very quickly. Do not try to escape, John Carter. Woola will tear you to small pieces.
JOHN CARTER: I continued to watch the creature named Woola. I had already seen how the green Martians treated other animals. They were very cruel.
I thought, perhaps this beast can be taught to be my friend…much like a dog on Earth. I walked close to the creature and began speaking in much the same way I would speak to a dog or other animal on Earth.
I sat down next to him while I talked softly. At first he seemed confused. I believe the creature Woola had never heard a kind word.
For the next several days I gained the trust and friendship of Woola. In a few short days Woola was my friend and fierce protector. He would remain my loyal friend as long as I was on Mars.
JOHN CARTER: Several days later, Sola came to me with a look of great concern.
SOLA: John Carter…come with me. A great battle is about to take place. An enemy is coming near this city. We must prepare to fight and we must be ready to flee.
JOHN CARTER: Sola, what enemy is this?
SOLA: A race of red men who travel our world in flying machines. A great number of their machines have come over the far mountain. Take your weapons with you and hurry.
JOHN CARTER: I collected my sword and a spear. I hurried out of the building and joined a group of warriors moving toward the end of the city. Far in the distance I could see the air ships.
They were firing large guns at the green warriors. I heard huge explosions. The green warriors were firing back with their deadly rifles. The air was filled with the sound of violent battle.
Suddenly a huge air ship exploded. It came down, crashing near me. Red Martians were falling from the side of the huge ship. And then it exploded!

This has been the second part of the story “A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burrows. Paul Thompson adapted this story was adapted for VOA Learning English. Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter produced it.
Shep O’Neal was the voice of John Carter. Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. And Barbara Klein was Sola. Join us again next week at this time as we continue “A Princess of Mars” in VOA Special English.
_____________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
spear - n. a weapon that has a long straight handle and a sharp point
warrior - n. a person who fights in battles and is known for having courage and skill
device - n. an object, machine, or piece of equipment that has been made for some special purpose
equipment - n. supplies or tools needed for a special purpose
armband - n. a band worn around the arm, esp. to show who you are
Quiz - A Princess of Mars, Part Two
See how well you understand the second part of this exciting story by taking a short quiz.

How did John Carter react to the Martians at first?
He ran away by riding on a large animal.
    Correct He jumped high up in the air to get away.
He grabbed one Martian's spear.
He surprised the Martians by firing a rifle.
I immediately knew I was facing a terrible warrior. He began moving quickly toward me with the spear. I was completely unarmed. I could not fight. My only chance was to escape.
Where did John Carter go with the Martian?
They went to a cave in the mountains.
John Carter followed the Martians to a beautiful city.
They went down from the mountains to the sea shore.
    Correct John Carter went to a nearly empty, rundown city.
He again made a sign with his hands that I should ride on the same animal behind him. The group turned and began riding across the land. We moved quickly toward mountains in the distance. JOHN CARTER: The large animals we rode moved quickly across the land. I could tell from the surrounding mountains that we were on the bottom of a long dead sea. In time we came to a huge city. At first I thought the city was empty. The buildings all were empty and in poor repair.
According to John Carter, why did the Martian laugh when he picked him up?
    Correct He was laughing because he was going to cause pain and suffering.
The Martian saw Carter knock down another warrier.
He thought Carter was funny because he was so small.
The Martian was telling the other leaders a funny story.
It was not difficult to tell that these were the leaders of the green Martians. One of them took hold of my arm. He shook me and lifted me off the ground. He laughed when he did so. I was to learn that green Martians only laugh at the pain or suffering of others.
How did John Carter learn to understand the Martian language?
He listened to the others talking at mealtimes.
The armband gave him the ability to speak Martian.
    Correct The female Martian taught him a little each day.
The green warriors taught him as they fought together.
I pointed to her and said the word “Sola.” She pointed at me and said my name. It was a beginning. Sola was my guard. She also became my teacher. In time she would become a close and valued friend. As I ate my meal, my lessons in the language of the green Martians continued.
Who were the men in flying machines?
    Correct The Red Martians, an enemy of the Green Martians.
They were the group whose leader Carter killed.
Earth men who had come to Mars years earlier.
The Martians who trained Woola to guard Carter.
JOHN CARTER: Sola, what enemy is this? SOLA: A race of red men who travel our world in flying machines. A great number of their machines have come over the far mountain. Take your weapons with you and hurry.

Quiz - A Princess of Mars, Part Two
See how well you understand the second part of this exciting story by taking a short quiz.

How did John Carter react to the Martians at first?
He ran away by riding on a large animal.
    Correct He jumped high up in the air to get away.
He grabbed one Martian's spear.
He surprised the Martians by firing a rifle.
I immediately knew I was facing a terrible warrior. He began moving quickly toward me with the spear. I was completely unarmed. I could not fight. My only chance was to escape.
Where did John Carter go with the Martian?
They went to a cave in the mountains.
John Carter followed the Martians to a beautiful city.
They went down from the mountains to the sea shore.
    Correct John Carter went to a nearly empty, rundown city.
He again made a sign with his hands that I should ride on the same animal behind him. The group turned and began riding across the land. We moved quickly toward mountains in the distance. JOHN CARTER: The large animals we rode moved quickly across the land. I could tell from the surrounding mountains that we were on the bottom of a long dead sea. In time we came to a huge city. At first I thought the city was empty. The buildings all were empty and in poor repair.
According to John Carter, why did the Martian laugh when he picked him up?
    Correct He was laughing because he was going to cause pain and suffering.
The Martian saw Carter knock down another warrier.
He thought Carter was funny because he was so small.
The Martian was telling the other leaders a funny story.
It was not difficult to tell that these were the leaders of the green Martians. One of them took hold of my arm. He shook me and lifted me off the ground. He laughed when he did so. I was to learn that green Martians only laugh at the pain or suffering of others.
How did John Carter learn to understand the Martian language?
He listened to the others talking at mealtimes.
The armband gave him the ability to speak Martian.
    Correct The female Martian taught him a little each day.
The green warriors taught him as they fought together.
I pointed to her and said the word “Sola.” She pointed at me and said my name. It was a beginning. Sola was my guard. She also became my teacher. In time she would become a close and valued friend. As I ate my meal, my lessons in the language of the green Martians continued.
Who were the men in flying machines?
    Correct The Red Martians, an enemy of the Green Martians.
They were the group whose leader Carter killed.
Earth men who had come to Mars years earlier.
The Martians who trained Woola to guard Carter.
JOHN CARTER: Sola, what enemy is this? SOLA: A race of red men who travel our world in flying machines. A great number of their machines have come over the far mountain. Take your weapons with you and hurry.

by: Dora from: Coluumbia Mo
12/08/2014 8:28 PM
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Reply
I don't know why Tars Tarkas and Sola can speak language which John Carter understand, From their equippment for house and for war , i suppose they are a humanbeing less evoluted.
second, i wonder the John carter apperents here is his spirit or himself own.
In Response
by: Dr. Jill Robbins from: Washington, DC, USA
12/08/2014 9:20 PM
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Reply
Dear Dora:
Great question. I think the original story explains the language learning process more in depth. But as a linguist, I also wonder how we would ever be able to communicate with an alien race.
I looked at the Project Gutenberg online version of the original text, and found that the Martians communicated with a simple language but also telepathically:
Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the
young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much
attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian
education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together.... The
Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple, and in a week I
could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything that was
said to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed my telepathic
powers so that I shortly could sense practically everything that went
on around me.
What surprised Sola most in me was that while I could catch telepathic
messages easily from others, and often when they were not intended for
me, no one could read a jot from my mind under any circumstances. At
first this vexed me, but later I was very glad of it, as it gave me an
undoubted advantage over the Martians.
Later, in the chapter called "I Learn the Language" Burroughs writes:
I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the
prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that
they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common
language. With this added incentive I nearly drove Sola distracted by
my importunities to hasten on my education and within a few more days I
had mastered the Martian tongue sufficiently well to enable me to carry
on a passable conversation and to fully understand practically all that
I heard.
Here's the link if you'd like to read the original text. http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/62/pg62.txt
Have a great day!
- Dr. Jill

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