Unit 18
A Life of Sound and Silence
Original: Over twenty-three million Americans suffer from deafness, and over seven million from tinnitus, a continual ringing or buzzing in the ears that is not objectively measurable.
Simple sentence: More than 23 million Americans cannot hear (deafness). Over 7 million have tinnitus. Tinnitus means a nonstop ringing or buzzing sound in the ears that doctors cannot measure directly.
Original: Man is a social being, and deafness is an isolating disease.
Simple sentence: People need to be with others, but deafness makes them feel alone. Isolating means making someone feel cut off from other people.
Original: The socially disabling nature of deafness was aptly summarized by Helen Keller, who noted that, whereas blindness separates people from things, deafness separates people from people.
Simple sentence: Helen Keller explained deafness well. She said blindness keeps people away from objects, but deafness keeps people away from other people. Aptly means in a perfect or suitable way. Whereas means "while" or "but."
Original: Despite the social cost, however, hearing problems often lack the public recognition that blindness receives.
Simple sentence: Even though hearing problems hurt people socially, most people don't pay as much attention to them as they do to blindness. Despite means "even though." Recognition means attention or understanding.
Original: One major creative figure whose life was profoundly affected by hearing problems was the composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
Simple sentence: Ludwig van Beethoven was a famous music composer whose life was deeply changed by hearing problems. Profoundly means very deeply or greatly.
Original: As with Milton's blindness, van Gogh's ear, and Toulouse-Lautrec's absinthism, the one thing everyone knows about Beethoven is his deafness.
Simple sentence: Just like other famous artists with health problems, everyone knows that Beethoven could not hear. Absinthism means addiction to a strong alcoholic drink called absinthe.
Original: Beethoven did not become suddenly deaf, however. His deafness was a slow process, occupying over twenty years from the first hearing problems to total deafness.
Simple sentence: Beethoven did not lose his hearing all at once. It took more than 20 years for him to become completely deaf. Occupying means taking up or lasting for.
Original: Ludwig van Beethoven was born into a musical family in Bonn, Germany, in December 1770.
Simple sentence: Ludwig van Beethoven was born in December 1770 in Bonn, Germany. His family was musical.
Original: With the example of the young Mozart in mind, Beethoven's father relentlessly drove his son as a musical performer.
Simple sentence: Beethoven's father wanted his son to be like the young Mozart, so he pushed Beethoven very hard to perform music. Relentlessly means without stopping or giving up.
Original: As a child, Beethoven learned to play the organ, piano, violin, and viola.
Simple sentence: When Beethoven was young, he learned to play the organ, piano, violin, and viola. A viola is a stringed instrument slightly larger than a violin.
Original: He gave his first public concert at the age of seven.
Simple sentence: Beethoven performed in front of people for the first time when he was seven years old.
Original: At twelve years, he published his first composition.
Simple sentence: When Beethoven was 12, he had his first piece of music printed and sold. Composition means a piece of music that someone wrote.
Original: Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 to take lessons from Joseph Haydn, and within a few years was renowned both as a composer and as a performer.
Simple sentence: Beethoven went to Vienna in 1792 to learn from Joseph Haydn. Soon he became famous for writing music and playing it. Renowned means very famous and respected.
Original: Beethoven claimed he had had exceptionally keen hearing in early life.
Simple sentence: Beethoven said he had very sharp hearing when he was young. Exceptionally means unusually or extremely. Keen means sharp or very good.
Original: A loss of ability to hear high-pitched sounds, an indication of nerve deafness, first became apparent at the age of twenty-seven.
Simple sentence: When Beethoven was 27, he started having trouble hearing high sounds. This showed his nerves were damaged. High-pitched means sounds that are high and sharp. Indication means a sign that shows something.
Original: By this age, he had written his First Symphony, the first two piano concertos, the piano trios of Opus 1 and Opus 11, the piano sonatas of Opus 13, the cello sonatas of Opus 5, and most of the work on the string quartets of Opus 18.
Simple sentence: By age 27, Beethoven had already written many important pieces of music, including his First Symphony and several concertos and sonatas. A concerto is music for a solo instrument with an orchestra. A sonata is a piece of music usually for one or two instruments. A quartet is music for four instruments.
Original: He did not admit to his deafness for another three years.
Simple sentence: Beethoven did not tell anyone about his hearing loss for three more years. Admit means to accept or tell the truth about something.
Original: On June 29, 1801, he writes to Dr. Franz Wegeler in Bonn, "My hearing has grown steadily worse for three years…I was often in despair."
Simple sentence: On June 29, 1801, Beethoven wrote to Dr. Franz Wegeler saying his hearing had been getting worse for three years and he often felt hopeless. Steadily means gradually and continuously. Despair means feeling hopeless.
Original: "To give you some idea of my extraordinary deafness, I must tell you that in the theater I am obliged to lean up close against the orchestra in order to understand the actors, and when a little way off I hear none of the high notes…"
Simple sentence: Beethoven explained his hearing problems by saying he had to sit very close to the orchestra in theaters to understand the actors, and he could not hear high notes from far away. Extraordinary means unusual or extreme. Obliged means forced or required.
Original: "Frequently, I can hear the sounds of a low conversation, but cannot make out the words."
Simple sentence: Beethoven often could hear people talking quietly but could not understand what they were saying. Frequently means often. Make out means to understand or figure out.
Original: Poor discrimination is classic for nerve deafness: Beethoven can hear, but not understand.
Simple sentence: People with nerve damage in their ears can hear sounds but cannot understand them clearly. This is what happened to Beethoven. Discrimination means the ability to tell the difference between sounds. Classic means typical or expected.
Original: In the same letter, Beethoven refers to another phenomenon: "As soon as anybody shouts, I can't bear it. Heaven alone knows what is to become of me."
Simple sentence: Beethoven also wrote that loud sounds were painful for him, and he was worried about his future. Phenomenon means something that happens or exists. Bear means to tolerate or stand.
Original: His response indicates that he is suffering from hyperacusis, or a painful sensitivity to sounds.
Simple sentence: This shows that Beethoven had hyperacusis, which means sounds hurt his ears. Indicates means shows or suggests. Sensitivity means being easily affected by something.
Original: In deafness, the lower threshold for hearing is raised; sounds must be louder to be perceived comfortably.
Simple sentence: When someone is deaf, sounds need to be louder for them to hear them easily. Threshold means the minimum level needed for something to happen. Perceived means heard or noticed.
Original: But the upper threshold for comfortable hearing for a person with hyperacusis may be lowered.
Simple sentence: But people with hyperacusis cannot handle sounds that are too loud - even normal sounds hurt them.
Original: Normal sounds ranging from beepers to coughs can be painful.
Simple sentence: Everyday sounds like beeps and coughs can cause pain. Ranging means going from one thing to another.
Original: For such a person, the sound intensity range in which hearing is clear and comfortable is compressed both at the upper end and at the lower.
Simple sentence: People with this condition have a very small range of sounds that they can hear clearly and comfortably. Intensity means strength or loudness. Compressed means squeezed or made smaller.
Original: Beethoven tells Wegeler that led a miserable life and for two years has avoided social functions because he finds it impossible to tell people that he is deaf.
Simple sentence: Beethoven told Wegeler that he was very unhappy and had stayed away from parties for two years because he could not tell people he was deaf. Miserable means very unhappy. Social functions means parties or gatherings.
Original: After all, he is a composer!
Simple sentence: Remember, he writes music for a living!
Original: Beethoven remarked on the general impercipience regarding hearing problems: "It is surprising that some people have never noticed my deafness."
Simple sentence: Beethoven said people generally don't understand hearing problems well. He was surprised some people had not noticed he was deaf. Remarked means commented or said. Impercipience means lack of understanding or awareness.
Original: A recent biographer writes that Beethoven's deafness led to fear, lack of self-esteem, emotional disarray, increasing isolation, and self-neglect.
Simple sentence: A person who wrote about Beethoven's life said his deafness caused him to be afraid, feel bad about himself, have messy emotions, be more alone, and not take care of himself. Biographer means someone who writes about another person's life. Self-esteem means how good you feel about yourself. Disarray means confusion or mess. Isolation means being alone. Self-neglect means not taking care of yourself.
Original: Two days later, he writes to another friend, Carl Amenda, in Latvia, "My most prized possession, my hearing, has greatly deteriorated."
Simple sentence: Two days later, Beethoven wrote to his friend Carl Amenda saying his hearing, which he valued most, had gotten much worse. Prized means valued highly. Deteriorated means became worse.
Original: "When you were still with me, I already felt the symptoms but kept silent."
Simple sentence: Beethoven said he already felt the signs of hearing loss when Carl was with him, but he did not tell anyone. Symptoms means signs of illness or problems.
Original: Thus, like many deaf people, he tried to hide the problem.
Simple sentence: Like many people with hearing problems, Beethoven tried to keep it secret. Thus means therefore or so.
Original: Hearing loss began in the left ear, and spread to the right.
Simple sentence: Beethoven first lost hearing in his left ear, then his right ear.
Original: Deafness and hyperacusis were not his only problems.
Simple sentence: Beethoven had other problems besides being deaf and having painful hearing.
Original: Beethoven also had tinnitus, complaining in 1801, "My ears whistle and buzz continually, day and night…such a condition is truly frightful."
Simple sentence: Beethoven also had tinnitus. In 1801, he said his ears made whistling and buzzing sounds all the time, and it was very scary. Continually means all the time without stopping. Frightful means very scary or terrible.
Original: In 1802, he moved from the noise of Vienna to the village of Heiligenstadt to help his hearing.
Simple sentence: In 1802, Beethoven moved from noisy Vienna to the quiet village of Heiligenstadt, hoping it would help his hearing.
Original: There, he wrote the Second Symphony.
Simple sentence: While living there, he wrote his Second Symphony.
Original: At the end of six months, however, it was clear that his last hope of an improvement was illusory.
Simple sentence: After six months, Beethoven realized that his hope of getting better was not real. Illusory means fake or not real.
Original: He then writes a testament in Heiligenstadt stating that his condition had driven him to despair and suicidal thoughts.
Simple sentence: Beethoven then wrote a letter saying his hearing condition made him feel hopeless and think about killing himself. Testament means a written statement of someone's beliefs or wishes. Suicidal thoughts means thinking about killing yourself.
Original: Only morality and music kept him from killing himself.
Simple sentence: Only his sense of right and wrong and his love of music stopped him from ending his life. Morality means knowing right from wrong.
Original: He complained that his hearing condition was hopeless, and although naturally sociable, that he had to withdraw from society.
Simple sentence: Beethoven said his hearing could not be fixed. Even though he normally liked being with people, he had to stay away from them. Naturally sociable means normally enjoying being with people. Withdraw means to pull back or stay away.
Original: "How could I possibly admit to an infirmity in that one sense which ought to be more perfect in me than in others, a sense which I once possessed in the highest perfection, a perfection such as few in my profession have or ever have had…"
Simple sentence: Beethoven asked how he could admit to having a problem with hearing when, as a musician, his hearing should be better than other people's, and it used to be nearly perfect. Infirmity means weakness or disability. Ought to means should. Possessed means had.
Original: "(The humiliation) drove me to despair…I would have ended my life. It was only my art that held me back."
Simple sentence: The shame of his hearing loss made Beethoven want to kill himself. Only his music kept him alive. Humiliation means deep shame or embarrassment.
Original: These early years of high anxiety for Beethoven were extremely productive musically.
Simple sentence: During these early years when Beethoven was very worried, he wrote a lot of music. Anxiety means worry or nervousness. Productive means creating a lot.
Original: In 1800, he completed, among other works, the six string quartets of Opus 18, the First Symphony, and the Third Piano Concerto.
Simple sentence: In 1800, Beethoven finished many pieces of music, including six string quartets, his First Symphony, and Third Piano Concerto.
Original: In 1801, he wrote The Creatures of Prometheus, a string quintet, two violin sonatas, and four piano sonatas.
Simple sentence: In 1801, Beethoven wrote several pieces including The Creatures of Prometheus and various sonatas. A quintet is music for five instruments.
Original: This productivity has led biographers to suggest that his hearing crisis was necessary for his creativity, allowing him to listen to inner sounds without distraction.
Simple sentence: Because Beethoven wrote so much music during this time, some writers think his hearing problems actually helped his creativity by letting him focus on sounds in his mind. Crisis means serious problem or emergency. Distraction means something that takes your attention away.
Original: One biographer surmises that "deafness may have heightened his abilities as a composer…by permitting a total concentration within a world of increasing auditory seclusion."
Simple sentence: One writer guesses that being deaf may have made Beethoven a better composer because he could focus completely in his own quiet world. Surmises means guesses or supposes. Heightened means increased or made stronger. Auditory seclusion means being cut off from sounds.
Original: He continues, "One begins to suspect that Beethoven's crisis and his extraordinary creativity were somehow related, and even that the former may have been the necessary precondition of the latter."
Simple sentence: The writer thinks Beethoven's hearing problems and his amazing creativity were connected, and that maybe the hearing problems were needed for the creativity. Suspect means to think something might be true. Former refers to the first thing mentioned (the crisis). Latter refers to the second thing mentioned (creativity). Precondition means something that must happen first.
Original: Another writes, "His deafness caused no tragic turn…it was, indeed, a definite aid that held him back from his worldly desires and kept his eye on his mission."
Simple sentence: Another writer said Beethoven's deafness was not tragic but actually helped him by keeping him focused on his music instead of other things he wanted. Tragic means very sad or unfortunate. Definite means certain or clear. Worldly desires means wanting things like money, fame, or pleasure. Mission means important purpose or goal.
Original: Such suggestions are impercipient: hearing loss, and the associated tinnitus and hyperacusis, are handicaps, pure and simple.
Simple sentence: These ideas show a lack of understanding. Hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis are simply disabilities, nothing more. Impercipient means not understanding clearly. Associated means connected or related. Handicaps means disabilities.
Original: Beethoven's own words attest to the affliction with which he had to struggle.
Simple sentence: Beethoven's own letters prove how much he suffered from his hearing problems. Attest means to prove or show. Affliction means suffering or pain.
Original: It is true, however, that Beethoven noted an alleviation of his affliction while he was composing, which may reflect a minimized consciousness of tinnitus during intense mental activity.
Simple sentence: However, Beethoven did say he felt better when he was writing music, probably because he was so focused that he didn't notice the ringing in his ears as much. Alleviation means relief or reduction. Minimized consciousness means being less aware of something. Intense means very strong or focused.
Original: One musical consequence of his deafness was a change in emphasis from performing and conducting to composing, to the cultural enrichment of subsequent generations.
Simple sentence: Because of his deafness, Beethoven stopped performing and conducting music in public and focused only on writing music, which gave future people great music to enjoy. Consequence means result. Emphasis means focus. Cultural enrichment means making culture better or richer. Subsequent generations means people who came after.
Original: In his mid-forties, following some embarrassing faux pas, Beethoven gave up attempting piano playing and conducting in public.
Simple sentence: When Beethoven was in his mid-40s, he made some embarrassing mistakes and stopped trying to play piano or conduct orchestras in public. Faux pas means embarrassing mistakes or social errors.
Original: For the last period of his life, his creative energies were expended solely in composing.
Simple sentence: For the rest of his life, Beethoven used all his creative energy only for writing music. Expended means used up or spent. Solely means only.
Original: However, it is doubtful that any deaf person could ever consider deafness "a blessing in disguise," as Newman claims for Beethoven.
Simple sentence: However, it's unlikely that any deaf person would think deafness was actually a good thing, even though Newman says this about Beethoven. Doubtful means unlikely. A blessing in disguise means something that seems bad but is actually good.
Original: Following his letters of 1801, Beethoven says little about his hearing for a number of years.
Simple sentence: After writing those letters in 1801, Beethoven did not talk much about his hearing for several years.
Original: In 1804, he had problems hearing the wind instruments during a rehearsal for the Eroica.
Simple sentence: In 1804, Beethoven could not hear the wind instruments when the orchestra was practicing the Eroica symphony. Wind instruments means instruments you blow into, like flutes and trumpets. Rehearsal means practice session. Eroica is the name of Beethoven's Third Symphony.
Original: In the same year, another friend, Stephan von Breuning, commented that Beethoven "has become withdrawn and often mistrusts his best friends."
Simple sentence: That same year, his friend Stephan von Breuning said Beethoven had become quiet and distant and didn't trust even his best friends. Withdrawn means quiet and keeping to yourself. Mistrusts means doesn't trust.
Original: Misanthropy and suspiciousness, like isolation, are not uncommon accompaniments of deafness, perhaps exacerbated by the tendency to think oneself the subject of conversation, or even that noise, such as the wind, is speech below the threshold for understanding.
Simple sentence: Hating people, being suspicious, and feeling alone are common problems for deaf people. This might get worse because deaf people sometimes think others are talking about them, or they might think random noises are people talking too quietly to understand. Misanthropy means disliking or hating people. Suspiciousness means not trusting others. Exacerbated means made worse. Threshold means the minimum level needed.
Original: It is natural for the brain to make patterns out of randomness in the world around us.
Simple sentence: Our brains naturally try to find meaning in random sounds and events around us.
Original: On sketches for the Razumovsky Quartets (1806), Beethoven notes, "Let your deafness be no longer a secret— even in art."
Simple sentence: While working on the Razumovsky Quartets in 1806, Beethoven wrote a note saying he should stop hiding his deafness, even in his music. Sketches means rough drafts or early versions.
Original: Such a comment is an indication that he is accepting his condition and its permanence—again, a not uncommon accommodation of the hearing impaired after several years of problems.
Simple sentence: This comment shows that Beethoven was starting to accept that his deafness was permanent. Many people with hearing problems do this after several years. Permanence means being permanent or lasting forever. Accommodation means accepting and adjusting to something.
Original: In May 1809, during Napoleon's siege and occupation of Vienna, there was fighting on the outskirts of the city.
Simple sentence: In May 1809, Napoleon's army surrounded and took over Vienna, and there was fighting around the edges of the city. Siege means surrounding a city to capture it. Occupation means taking control of a place. Outskirts means the outer areas.
Original: Beethoven hid in the cellar of his brother's house during the bombardment and covered his head with pillows, another suggestion of hyperacusis.
Simple sentence: During the bombing, Beethoven hid in his brother's basement and put pillows over his head, which again shows his ears were sensitive to loud sounds. Cellar means basement. Bombardment means heavy bombing or artillery fire.
Original: He comments in 1810 that a demon has "taken up his settled abode in [his] ears," and makes another reference to suicide: "If I had not read somewhere that a man should not voluntarily quit this life so long as he could still perform a good deed, I would have left this earth long ago—and what is more, by my own hand."
Simple sentence: In 1810, Beethoven said an evil spirit lived in his ears. He again talked about suicide, saying he would have killed himself already if he hadn't read that people should stay alive as long as they can do good things. Demon means evil spirit. Settled abode means permanent home. Voluntarily quit this life means choose to die or commit suicide.
Original: "This life is indeed beautiful, but for me it is poisoned forever."
Simple sentence: Beethoven said life is beautiful, but for him it was ruined forever. Poisoned means ruined or made bad.
Original: By 1814, he was using an ear trumpet.
Simple sentence: By 1814, Beethoven was using an ear trumpet to help him hear. An ear trumpet is a cone-shaped device that collects sound waves to help deaf people hear better.
Original: A selection of these was made for him by Johann Nepomuk Mälzel, the inventor of the metronome.
Simple sentence: Johann Nepomuk Mälzel, who invented the metronome, made several ear trumpets for Beethoven. A metronome is a device that keeps steady time for musicians.
Original: Beethoven found the trumpets of limited use, although he always carried a small one with him, as an ear trumpet magnifies all frequencies indiscriminately.
Simple sentence: The ear trumpets didn't help much, but Beethoven always carried a small one because ear trumpets make all sounds louder, not just the ones you want to hear. Limited use means not very helpful. Magnifies means makes louder or bigger. Frequencies means different types of sounds. Indiscriminately means without choosing which ones.
Original: In the same year, Beethoven's diary records another reference to suicide.
Simple sentence: That same year, Beethoven wrote in his diary about suicide again.
Original: January 1815 marks Beethoven's last public piano performance.
Simple sentence: In January 1815, Beethoven played piano in public for the last time.
Original: In 1816, he writes, "Live only for your art, for you are so limited by your senses."
Simple sentence: In 1816, Beethoven wrote that he should live only for his music because his senses were so damaged.
Original: By 1817, he could not hear music.
Simple sentence: By 1817, Beethoven could not hear music at all.
Original: He started to use conversation books, in which visitors would communicate with him by writing.
Simple sentence: Beethoven started using special books where visitors wrote down what they wanted to say to him.
Original: By age 50 (1821), he was totally deaf in terms of social functioning and speech comprehension, although he could detect low-frequency sounds in his left ear.
Simple sentence: When Beethoven was 50 years old (1821), he was completely deaf for talking with people and understanding speech, but he could still feel very low sounds in his left ear. Social functioning means being able to interact with people. Speech comprehension means understanding what people say. Low-frequency sounds means very deep sounds.
Original: He finally accepted that nothing could help him, and never again sought help for his deafness.
Simple sentence: Beethoven finally accepted that nothing could fix his hearing, and he stopped looking for help. Sought means looked for or tried to find.
Original: In his years of total deafness, he finished the Missa Solemnis, and he wrote the Ninth Symphony as well as his final six string quartets and piano sonatas.
Simple sentence: During his years of complete deafness, Beethoven finished the Missa Solemnis and wrote his Ninth Symphony and his last six string quartets and piano sonatas. Missa Solemnis is a famous piece of religious music.
Original: Beethoven died on March 26, 1827, at age fifty-six of liver (portal) cirrhosis or hepatitis.
Simple sentence: Beethoven died on March 26, 1827, when he was 56 years old from liver disease. Cirrhosis means scarring of the liver. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver.
Original: The cause of Beethoven's deafness is essentially unknown, as is the case with many instances of deafness today.
Simple sentence: No one really knows what caused Beethoven's deafness, just like many cases of deafness today. Essentially means basically. Instances means cases or examples.
Original: Lack of knowledge has not prevented the growth of an extensive literature in which various causes of Beethoven's condition have been advanced with varying degrees of certitude.
Simple sentence: Even though we don't know the real cause, many people have written a lot about what might have caused Beethoven's deafness, with different levels of confidence. Extensive literature means many books and articles. Advanced means suggested or proposed. Varying degrees of certitude means different levels of being sure.
Original: Putative diagnoses have ranged from syphilis, otosclerosis, neuronal atrophy, proliferative meningitis, labyrinthitis, chronic adhesive middle ear catarrh, Paget's disease of bone, otitis media, neuritis acoustica, and hyperparathyroidism.
Simple sentence: Doctors have guessed it could be many different diseases, including syphilis, bone diseases, ear infections, nerve problems, and gland disorders. Putative means supposed or believed to be. Diagnoses means medical explanations for illnesses. These are all different medical conditions that could cause deafness.
Original: On autopsy, his Eustachian tube was narrowed and the auditory nerves were atrophied.
Simple sentence: When doctors examined Beethoven's body after he died, they found that his ear tube was too narrow and his hearing nerves had shrunk. Autopsy means examining a dead body to find the cause of death. Eustachian tube connects the ear to the throat. Auditory nerves carry hearing signals to the brain. Atrophied means shrunk or wasted away.
Original: The latter finding confirms that he had nerve deafness, but does not indicate what caused it.
Simple sentence: The shrunken nerves proved that Beethoven had nerve deafness, but this didn't show what caused it. Latter finding means the second thing they found. Confirms means proves.
Original: Although the arteries to the ear were narrowed, vascular insufficiency would have produced middle ear deafness rather than nerve deafness (high tone loss).
Simple sentence: Even though the blood vessels to his ears were narrow, poor blood flow would have caused a different type of deafness than what Beethoven had. Arteries means blood vessels. Vascular insufficiency means not enough blood flow. Middle ear deafness and nerve deafness are different types of hearing loss.
Working with words
A. Find the single words for the following definitions. The words are given in the jumbled letters at the end.
a. A person who hates or distrusts mankind ………. imaseponrth
misanthropeb. A sensation of noise, such as a ringing or roaring ………. stiniunt
tinnitusc. An examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death….. osyaput
autopsyd. A musical composition or movement for five instruments or voices…..itqneut
quintete. A severe life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium. ….. simetining
f. An object that directs one's attention away from something else…. nodsitstarc
distractiong. The action or process of becoming impaired or inferior in quality, functioning, or condition………… nedotietraroi
deteriorationh. Failing to perceive something……… ntpimepcirepe
impercipienti. A hearing disorder that makes it hard to deal with everyday sounds………… sihpyraesuc
hyperacusisj. A bacterial infection usually spread by sexual contact………….. pysslihi
syphilisComprehension
A. Put the following events in the life of Beethoven in chronological order.
c. Beethoven was born into a musical family in Bonn, Germany.
e. He learned to play the organ, piano, violin, and viola.
a. He migrated to Vienna.
h. At the age of twenty-seven, he felt the deafness to high-pitched sound.
d. His deafness got gradually worse: He could hear but not understand.
b. He even made suicidal attempts.
g. He lived a life in seclusion.
f. He died of hepatitis at the age of fifty-six.
B. State whether the following statements are True or False.
b. Beethoven became blind in a gradual process over two decades.
Truec. He became a celebrity musician in his teenage.
Trued. He did not disclose his hearing problem for a long time.
Truee. He knew that he misunderstood the speakers and gave up his public performances.
Falsef. He tried to get his deafness treated until his death.
Trueg. Beethoven died in his early fifties.
Falseh. Doctors found the cause of his deafness after his death.
FalseC. Answer the following questions.
a. What does Hellen Keller think about deafness and blindness?
Hellen Keller thought blindness separates people from things, deafness separates people from people.b. Why does the author compare Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec?
The author compares Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec because Milton was blind, van Gogh’s ear, and Toulouse-Lautrec’s absinthism.d. When and how did Beethoven notice him being deaf?
At the age of twenty seven, he first became apparent about his loss of ability to hear high-pitched sounds, an indication of nerve deafness.e. What psychological effects did he have when he noticed that he was being deaf?
Beethoven’s deafness led to fear, lack of self-esteem, emotional disarray, increasing isolation, and self-neglect.f. How did he triumph over his suicidal thoughts?
He triumphed over his suicidal thoughts with his morality and music.g. How did he accept his deafness?
He accepted his deafness by noting his deafness should be no longer a secret, on the sketches for the Razumovsky Qurartets.h. How was his deafness ironically good for the world?
His deafness is ironically good for the world as it heightened his abilities as a composer by permitting a total concentration within a world of increasing auditory seclusion.i. When did Beethoven give up his musical performances forever?
Beethoven gave up his musical performances forever after his last public piano performance in January 1815.j. What did Stephen von Breeuning comment on Beethoven’s reactions?
Stephan von Breuning commented that Beethoven had become withdrawn and often mistrusted his best friends.k. How did Beethoven express the conflict in his mind?
Beethoven expressed the conflict in his mind composing the wonderful music, writing letters to his friends.Critical thinking
a. Suicidal thoughts came in Beethoven’s mind several times but he did not commit suicide and kept on composing music. Write a monologue in about 150 words from Beethoven’s perspectives describing his suicidal thoughts and his will to live.
I guess everyone thinks that I'm happy. My hearing has grown steadily worse for three years. I am in despair. I sit quiet and watch people smiling. But I am still wondering why I can't smile like them.
My extraordinary deafness obliges me to lean up close against the orchestra in order to understand the actors, and when a little way off I hear none of the high notes. Frequently, I can hear the sounds of a low conversation, but cannot make out the words. As soon as anybody shouts, I can’t bear it. Heaven alone knows what is to become of me.
It is surprising that some people have never noticed my deafness. My ears whistle and buzz continually, day and night. Such condition is truly frightful. This pain and humiliation are so unbearable. No one understands me, and they never will. I'm broken. I scream, but no sounds are coming out of my mouth. I think I should kill myself. I have to end my life. No..No, I have to live for my art. My infirmity can be my strength. This may allow myself to listen to inner sounds without distraction. My deafness may heighten my abilities as a composer.
b. Was it divine inspiration or rigorous practice that made Beethoven one of the world’s greatest musicians? Give the reasons.
Beethoven is widely considered to be one of the pre-eminent classical music figures of the Western world. He was born into a musical family. Music was in his family’s blood. His father and grandfather were musicians, but it became obvious that early that Beethoven was special. His father was a strict teacher who had to force him to practice. With the example of the young Mozart in mind, Beethoven’s father relentlessly drove his as a musical performer. As a child, Beethoven learned to play the organ, piano, violin, and viola. He gave his first public concert at the age of seven. At twelve years, he published his first composition. Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 to take lessons from Joseph Haydn, and within a few years was renowned both as a composer and as a performer.
Writing
Who is your favourite Nepali musician? Write his/her biography in about 300 words.
Arun Thapa was a Nepali singer and songwriter. As per an international poll conducted by BBC in 2003, more than half-a million people from 165 countries voted his composition 'Reetu haruma timi hariyali basant hau', his most famous romantic song, as the seventh in the world's top 10 most popular songs of all time.
Thapa was born in India on 6 January 1952. His father was Ganju Prasad Thapa. His parents moved back to Nepal when Arun was 3 months old. He studied and grew up in Kathmandu. He completed his high school education in Kathmandu. He later studied at Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara for an Intermediate in Arts, but soon dropped out to look for a career in music.
He started singing at his college where he was in love with a girl. Most of his songs were in memory of their relationship. Though he recorded many songs, his career started from his super hit song 'Jati Maya Laye Pani'. He had worked in Nepal Bank Limited before being a popular singer.
He suffered from lung and liver ailment. He died on 22 July 1999 in Kathmandu. He had a soulful voice. His magical voice made him immortal.
Grammar
Prepositions
B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions.
a. I was accompanied to the hospital ……………my friend. with
b. I have great respect ………………my teachers. for
c. The culprit was sentenced………………..death. to
d. His arguments are not based………………truth. on
e. He has not contributed ……………..the development of our nation. to
f. He died …………of Corona at the age of thirty-five. of
g. The young generation of Nepali people don’t take interest ………politics. in
h. Our village was not infected ………..Corona. with
i. Why do you sneer ………….me? at
C. Fill in the blanks with for, since, until, by or in.
a. The classes will be over ………………..5 PM. by
b. Karma Sherpa reached the top of Mt. Everest………..8 hours. in
c. We had met after five years. So we kept on talking…………three in the morning. until
d. She has been living in America…………………..she got married. since
e. He has been playing video game……………..ten hours. for
f. She practices the Sitar every day………….five hours. for
g. He lived in Jumla…………………..he passed high school examinations. since
h. There is no chance of dry weather even today. It has rained …….. last Saturday. since
i. I can type 120 words……………..a minute. in
j. We take an early breakfast. It’s generally ready …….. six in the morning. by
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