A Drink in the Passage

Alan Paton

A Drink in the
Passage

Unit
15

W arming up
B ackground
T ext Analysis
R einforcement

A Drink in the
Passage

Unit
15

Questions/Activities
Check-on Preview
Objectives

Warming
up

Warming
up

Questions /
Activities

Retell the story from van Rensburgs point of view.

Warming
up

Check-on
Preview

Give the implied meaning of the following sentences.

1.
2.
3.
4.

boys, Im a sculptor, not a demonstrator. (para. 4)

You know its by one of your own boys, dont you? (para. 12)
She knows it wont be an easy life. (para. 14)
Well honestly I didnt feel like a drink at that time of night
(para. 16)
5. I said unwillingly, Yes. (para. 27)
6. Our land is beautiful. But it breaks my heart. (para. 44)

Warming
up

Objectives

1. Content:

Know briefly South Africas apartheid history.

Learn about the plight of the blacks under apartheid laws
and
policies.
Understand the tragic psychological effect of racial
segregation on both races.

2. Language:

Understand the use of symbols.

Appreciate the beauty of simple, unadorned language style.

A Drink in the
Passage

Unit
15

Author

Backgro
und

History

Setting

Backgrou
nd

Autho
r

His Life

A science teacher in high school.

Principal of a reform school.
Drawn into the political arena, first
president of the Liberal Party of
South Africa.

Alan Paton
(1903-1988)

Backgrou
nd

Autho
r

His Works

First novel: Cry, the Beloved Country (1948), a success,

leading him to become a professional writer.
Second novel: Too Late the Phalarope (1953).
The present story is selected from Tales from a Troubled
Land (1961, a collection of his short stories).

His
Achievements

Backgrou
nd

Autho
r

An important South African novelist

and political activist.
Received numerous awards and
honorary degrees, accepted as an
authoritative and objective interpreter
of South Africa.
Cry, the Beloved Country has become
an international classic.

Backgrou
nd

Settin
g

The story is set against the background of apartheid South Africa.

apartheid: apartness, referring to the racial

segregation implemented in South African
history

Backgrou
nd

Histor
y
A Brief History of South Africa

Local people: Bantu-speaking tribes.

European settlers (1652): the Dutch, known as Boers or
Afrikaners, speaking Afrikaans.
British settlers (1820): discovery of gold and diamond the
Anglo-Boer wars.
Victory of the British the establishment of the Union of
South Africa (1910), dominated by the British.
The Afrikaners National Party gained majority in the
government (1940s) implemented Apartheid.

Backgrou
nd

Histor
y

In 1961, the Afrikaners gained final victory founded the

Republic of South Africa, withdrawing from the Common
Wealth.
Toward the end of the1980s, De Klerks reform, lifting the
ban on ANC, releasing Nelson Mandela.
In 1994, Mandela was elected President Apartheid came
to an end.

A Drink in the
Passage

Unit
15

Theme

Structure

Detailed
Analysis

Text
Analysis

Text
Analysis

Theme

Questions for thinking:

Why a drink?
Why in the passage?
What does that show?
Why couldnt they touch each other?

Text
Analysis

Structure

I. Introduction: the issue at the sculpture competition and

how the drink of cognac reminded the sculptor of his
story (paras. 1-6)
II. A drink in the passage and how both Simelane and van
Rensburg found it hard for blacks and whites to touch
each other (paras. 7-76)
A. (paras. 7-36): Simelanes meeting with van Rensburg and
his acceptance of van Rensburgs invitation to a drink
B. (paras. 37-65): A drink in the passage
C. (paras. 66-76): Simelanes departure and how they both
felt about not being able to touch each other

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part I: Discussion

1. What made Simelanes sculpture such a great success?

Whats about it that appealed not only to the blacks but to the
whites as well?
2. How come such an important honor was given to a black
sculptor in a country notorious for racial prejudice? How
was the decision received? What does this incident reveal
about the situation in the 1960s in South African society?
Pick up clues provided in the story.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part I: Discussion

3. What would have happened if Simelane had attended the

ceremony personally? How was the crisis averted? He said,
boys, Im a sculptor, not a demonstrator. Does that mean
that he was too coward or unconscious of the plight of the
blacks under the apartheid policies?
4. What do you think is the relationship between the narrator
and Simelane? Describe the occasion when Simelane related
the story to the narrator. Why did he say that it was the first
time he had had such a glass? What was so special about the
glass? Why did he say that it was also the first time he had
drunk cognac so slowly?

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis

Different
Wineglasses

cognac

champagn

wine

martini

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part I: Words & Expressions (1)

sensation (para. 1)

produce/cause/create sensation
The moon landing in 1969 caused a worldwide sensation.

Other meanings:
One sign of a heart attack is a tingling sensation in the left
arm.
Caroline had the sensation that she was being watched.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part I: Words & Expressions (2)

oversight (para. 2)
Cf. mistake, error, blunder, slip, lapse, oversight
Your essay was not marked due to my oversight.
Other meaning:
He has general oversight of all training courses.
reprimand (para. 2)
Cf. criticize, blame, scold, condemn, denounce, reprimand

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part I: Words & Expressions (3)

condition (para. 2)
condition for
They set/laid down strict conditions for using their
information.
condition of
The allies insisted on free elections as a condition of their
continued support.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part I: Words & Expressions (4)

personage (para. 2)
Cf. person, personage, personnel, personality
bringto a close (para. 2)
Similar expressions: draw/come to a close; draw/call sth to a
close
The event occurred at the time when the Stone Age was
drawing to a close.
Its time to call this meeting to a close.
At last I drew my visit to a close.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part I: Words & Expressions (5)

quarters (para. 3)
from quarters
Offers of financial help came from the most unexpected
quarters.
in (some) quarters
Concern has been expressed in some quarters about this
policy.
departure from (para. 3)
This approach represents a radical departure from the previous
policy.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part I: Exercise

Translation
1.
sensation
His unexpected appearance created a great sensation in the
town.
2.
oversight
By an unfortunate oversight, full instructions do not come
with the product.
3.
departure
Here we find a decided departure from the spirit and the
letter of the Declaration.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (A): Discussion

1. How did the bookshop exhibit Simelanes sculpture? How

do you understand his words with a white velvet backdrop,
if there is anything called white velvet?
2. Why do you think van Rensburg would like to invite
Simelane for a drink?
3. Was Simelane happy about the invitation? Why? What made
him accept the invitation?
4. Why did they have all the discussion about language? Why
didnt they speak Afrikaans in the first place?

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (A): Discussion

5. Simelane said, We didnt exactly walk abreast, but he didnt

exactly walk in front of me. Is there anything that he wanted
to convey by describing how they walked?
6. Why was van Rengsburg interested in Simelanes educational
background? Did Simelane tell him the truth? Why did he
say that he was a fool to leave the question open?
7. Was Simelane disappointed to find that van Rensburgs
building was not one of those luxurious places? Describe
how each of them felt at the moment.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (A): Words & Expressions (1)

indulge (para. 9)
vt. indulge sb
She did not believe in indulging the children with presents.
vi. indulge in
Eva had never been one to indulge in self-pity.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (A): Words & Expressions (2)

just round the corner (para. 18)

They lived in Chestnut Street round the corner.
The kids go to school just round the corner.
other meaning:
The fortune-teller told Jane that there was an adventure for
her just round the corner.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (A): Words & Expressions (3)

at ease (para. 34)

feel/look at (ones) ease
put/set sb at his/her ease
The joke that the interviewer cracked instantly put me at
ease.
feel/look ill at ease
You always look ill at ease in a suit.
Cf. with ease

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (A): Exercise

Translation
1.
indulge
The inheritance enabled him to indulge his passion for art.
2. just round the corner
Economic recovery is just round the corner.
3. at ease
She didnt feel completely at (her) ease in strange
surroundings.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (B): Discussion

1. How did Simelane feel when he realized that they were

going to drink in the passage? Was he afraid to drink in the
passage? Why (not)? Why did he say that anger could have
saved him from the whole embarrassing situation?
2. Simelane was afraid of breaking the liquor laws of the
country, what do you think the laws stipulated? Why do you
think there were such laws?

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (B): Discussion

3. How did van Rensburg and his family treat their guest on
the whole? Why did they keep him in the passage instead of
bringing him into their apartment? (If you invite someone to
your place, would you keep them in the passage?)
4. Why did he have so much difficulty in choosing a proper
expression to address the white woman?
5. What did van Rensburg mean by Our land is beautiful. But
it breaks my heart.?

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (B): Discussion

6. Why did Simelane say the whole thing was mad, and
getting beyond me? (para.51)
7. Why did Simelane keep referring to the impersonal
doors? What does it mean? He said he was waiting for the
opening of one of those impersonal doors. Was he no longer
afraid of being seen in a white building, breaking the
liquor laws?
8. How would you describe Simelanes feelings while drinking
in the passage?

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Sceneries
of South Africa

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (B): Words & Expressions

out of nowhere (para. 44)

Mr. Jones was driving too fast on the expressway when a
police patrol car appeared out of nowhere and stopped him.
Houses had sprung up out of nowhere on the hills.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (C): Discussion

1. When they drove up Eloff Street, van Rensburge said, Did

you know what I meant? What was he referring to? Did
Simelane know what he was referring to?
2. How do you interpret Simelanes words in para. 70, his
eyes had been blinded by years in the dark? Why is it that
if men never touch each other, theyll hurt each other one
day? And why is it that black men dont touch white men
any more?

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (C): Discussion

3. Why was Simelane inarticulate at the end of the story?

4. Why did Simelane say that van Rensburg was like a man
trying to run a race in iron shoes, and not understanding
why he cannot move?
5. Why did Simelanes wife weep when she heard the story?
6. Examine the role of liquor in the story and discuss its
function as a symbol.

Text
Analysis

Detailed
Analysis
Part II (C): Words & Expressions

weep (para. 75)

Cf. cry, blubber, sob, wail, whimper

A Drink in the
Passage

Unit
15

Summary

Reinforce
ment
Discussion

Reinforcem
ent

Summary
Literary Techniques

1. The use of symbols:

items being symbolizedthe sculpture, white velvet, the
way they walked, the drink, the blindness
2. Simile and metaphor:
his eyes had been blinded by years in the dark
he was like a man trying to run a race in iron shoes
3. Simple language:
unadorned, with an exotic flavor of African language and
Afrikanns

Reinforcem
ent

Discussio
n

1. Is it easy to detect the existence of racial (or religious)

prejudice? Why or why not?
2. Does racism only involve governments and politicians? Do
you find any racial or ethnic or regional prejudice in the
people around you?
3. What are the consequences of prejudice and discrimination?