Héritage et mémoire

Axe culturel 3 — Art et pouvoir : comment l'art transmet-il la mémoire collective ? (programme LVA 1re)

À propos de cette page

Cette activité de compréhension sur « Héritage et mémoire » en première entraîne à lire, analyser et répondre à des questions en anglais (LVA). Elle suit le programme officiel de première. Au programme : L'axe 'Art et pouvoir' : cadrage notionnel, La mémoire collective et ses vecteurs culturels, Les monuments et mémoriaux dans le monde anglophone, Art, contestation et réécriture du passé. Lis le document, réponds puis vérifie immédiatement tes réponses pour progresser. Un bon moyen de travailler la méthode, d'enrichir son vocabulaire et de préparer les contrôles. Ressource gratuite proposée par un professeur particulier à Marseille pour réussir en anglais (LVA) en première.

1Lis attentivement ce discours et l'extrait suivants, puis réponds aux questions en anglais.

The following is an adapted excerpt from a speech given at the unveiling of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Washington D.C., September 2016.

« This museum tells the story of America. Because the story of black America is the story of America — it is not a separate story, a minority story, a sidebar. It is a central chapter in the story of this nation. For too long, that chapter was written by those who wished to forget it or distort it. Today, we open a place where the truth can be told — where the artefacts, the photographs, the letters and the music bear witness to a journey from bondage to freedom, from exclusion to inclusion, from silence to voice.

We do not build this museum to reopen old wounds. We build it because healing requires acknowledgement. You cannot reconcile what you refuse to remember. This is a place of memory, yes — but above all, it is a place of pride, of resilience, and of hope for those who come after us. »

2Questions

Q1 According to the speaker, why is the story of Black America also the story of America?

Q2 What does the speaker mean by 'healing requires acknowledgement'? (Answer in English)

Q3 Identify and explain the rhetorical device used in 'from bondage to freedom, from exclusion to inclusion, from silence to voice'.

Q4 What three purposes does the speaker give for building the museum? List them in order.

Q5 How does this speech relate to the concept of 'counter-memory' studied in the course? Develop your answer.

Voir le corrigé

because it is a central chapter in the history of the nation
Réponse libre — exemple : The speaker means that you cannot overcome a painful past by ignoring it. Before wounds can heal, society must first recognise and admit what happened — in this case, the history of slavery and racial exclusion. The museum is therefore an act of acknowledgement, not just commemoration.
Réponse libre — exemple : The speaker uses anaphora (the repetition of 'from… to…') and antithesis (contrasting pairs of opposites: bondage/freedom, exclusion/inclusion, silence/voice). This creates a powerful rhythm and highlights the journey from oppression to dignity, making the argument emotionally compelling and easy to remember.
to tell the truth / bear witness, to heal through acknowledgement, to build pride resilience and hope
Réponse libre — exemple : This speech exemplifies counter-memory because it seeks to restore a history that was deliberately distorted or suppressed by dominant narratives. The speaker explicitly states that the story of Black America was 'written by those who wished to forget it or distort it.' The NMAAHC is positioned as an institution that challenges this erasure and gives voice to silenced communities — a classic function of counter-memory as studied in class.

Bloqué sur ce chapitre ?

Moi c'est Ben, j'ai créé ce site pour aider le plus d'élèves possible, partout en France. Je peux aussi reprendre avec toi ce qui coince en cours particulier : en visio, ou à domicile si tu es à Marseille.

Réserver un 1^er cours → Voir les tarifs

Prof d'anglais à Marseille · Cours particuliers au lycée · Aide aux devoirs