LESSON 4
DESCRIPTION OF A STORM

Benjamin Disraeli, 1805-1881, was of Jewish descent. His ancestors were driven out of Spain by the Inquisition, and went to Venice. In 1748, his grandfather came to England. His father was Isaac Disraeli, well known as a literary man. Benjamin was born in London, and received his early education under his father. He afterwards studied for a lawyer, but soon gave up his profession for literature. His first novel, “Vivian Grey, ” appeared when the author was twenty-one years of age; it received much attention. After several defeats he succeeded in an election to Parliament, and took his seat in that body, in the first year of Victoria's reign. On his first attempt to speak in Parliament, the House refused to hear him. It is said that, as he sat down, he remarked that the time would come when they would hear him. In 1849, he became the leader of the Conservative party in the House. During the administration of W. E. Gladstone, Mr. Disraeli was leader of the opposition. In 1868, he became prime minister, holding the office for a short time. In 1874, he was again appointed to the same office, where he remained until 1880. His wife was made Viscountess of Beaconsfield in 1868. After her death, the title of Earl of Beaconsfield was conferred on Disraeli. He ranked among the most eminent statesmen of the age, but always devoted a portion of his time to literature. “Lothair, ”a novel, was published in 1870.

* * * They looked round on every side, and hope gave way before the scene of desolation. Immense branches were shivered from the largest trees; small ones were entirely stripped of their leaves; the long grass was bowed to the earth; the waters were whirled in eddies out of the little rivulets; birds, leaving their nests to seek shelter in the crevices of the rocks, unable to stem the driving air, flapped their wings and fell upon the earth; the frightened animals of the plain, almost suffocated by the impetuosity of the wind, sought safety and found destruction; some of the largest trees were torn up by the roots; the sluices of the mountains were filled, and innumerable torrents rushed down the before empty gullies. The heavens now open, and the lightning and thunder contend with the horrors of the wind.

In a moment, all was again hushed. Dead silence succeeded the bellow of the thunder, the roar of the wind, the rush of the waters, the moaning of the beasts, the screaming of the birds. Nothing was heard save the plash of the agitated lake, as it beat up against the black rocks which girt it in.

Again, greater darkness enveloped the trembling earth. Anon, the heavens were rent with lightning, which nothing could have quenched but the descending deluge. Cataracts poured down from the lowering firmament. For an instant, the horses dashed madly forward; beast and rider blinded and stifled by the gushing rain, and gasping for breath. Shelter was nowhere. The quivering beasts reared, and snorted, and sank upon their knees, dismounting their riders.

He had scarcely spoken, when there burst forth a terrific noise, they knew not what; a rush, they could not understand; a vibration which shook them on their horses. Every terror sank before the roar of the cataract. It seemed that the mighty mountain, unable to support its weight of waters, shook to the foundation. A lake had burst upon its summit, and the cataract became a falling ocean. The source of the great deep appeared to be discharging itself over the range of mountains; the great gray peak tottered on its foundation! —It shook! —it fell! and buried in its ruins the castle, the village, and the bridge!

STUDY GUIDE

A. Vocabulary Questions—Answer the following question. Each question contains a vocabulary word from the reading.

1. Something that is immense is very large. What are some things you have seen that are immense?

2. A shelter is a place that provides protection from weather such as wind, rain, and snow. Have you ever looked for shelter from the weather?

3. A crevice is a narrow opening in a rock. In the reading, birds look for shelter in crevices. What other animals might go into crevices?

4. It says in the first paragraph that the animals “... almost suffocated” because of the wind. This means it was very difficult for them to breathe. Have you ever had this feeling? Tell what happened.

5. This reading describes the destruction of the wind. Destruction is when something causes a lot of damage. What are some other things that can cause destruction?

6. Torrents are rapidly flowing streams of water caused by heavy rain. Why can torrents be dangerous?

7. In paragraph two, we are told of “... the bellow of the thunder”. A bellow is a very loud noise. What are some other things that bellow?

8. Trembling means shaking. What are some things that tremble?

9. A summit is the top of a mountain. What might you find at the summit of a mountain?

10. Ruins refers to things that have been destroyed. At the end of the reading, why are so many things in ruins?

B. Word Groups—Using the clues, fill in the words from the story.

1. things that trees have: br ______le ____r ____

2. weather words: r ___w ___l ________th _____

3. water words: t _______d _____ca ______

4. mountain words: s _____p ___fo ________

5. quiet words: h _____s ______

C. How do you feel? Answer these questions after reading.

1. What would you do if you were caught in a storm like the one in the reading?

2. What kind of weather is the most dangerous? Why do you think so?

3. Tell about a big storm that you remember well.

4. Do you think this “Description of a Storm” is real? Why or why not?

5. What kind of weather is your favourite? What kind of weather do you not like?