Annales gratuites Bac ES : Books bartering

The story is set in the nineteenth century, before the American Civil War.

           When she saw the books the tall slave named Grace straightened and asked if I would like a
     ewer¹ of warm water for my toilet before she showed me to the master's room. I had shaved by
     the river that morning before I'd made my crossing, but I was pleased at the chance for a hot
     wash. When Grace returned, she said the master bade me to bring the books and leave the
  5  rest. She led the way through the narrow hail that joined the kitchen, warming room, and
     buttery to the cool expanse of the main house. The house was not especially large, nor by any
     means the grandest I had been in-some of the plantation homes along the James² were more
     like palaces-but it was perfect in proportion and exquisite in appointments.
          Grace gestured with her long-fingered hand - not hands that appeared much accustomed to
 10  heavy chores, I noted-indicating I should sit upon a marble bench. "That is the master's library.
     He will be with you presently," Grace said, and swept away to her duties.
          The home's, massive entrance was to my right, the wide door surrounded by lights of
     beveled glass, and I sat there, watching the golden morning sunshine fracture into tiny
     rainbows. Because I had been staring into the bright light, I could not see him well when he at
 15  last opened the library door, for he stood in its shadow. There was an impression only; of great
     height, very erect bearing, and a mellow voice.
         "Good day to you, sir. Would you kindly come in?"
          I entered and I stopped and twirled as if I were on a pivot. It was a double-height room, with
     a narrow gallery at the midpoint. Books lined every inch of it. A very large, plain, and beautiful
 20  rosewood desk stood in the center.
          "Augustus Clement", he said, holding out his hand. I shifted the weight of the books into the
     crook of my left arm and shook his hand absently, for I was transfixed by the magnitude of his
     collection. "I've always imagined paradise as something like a library. Now I know what it looks
     like." I barely realized I had spoken aloud, but Mr. Clement laughed, and clapped me on the
 25  shoulder.
          "We get a few of you men through here, or we used to, before my daughter married. I think
     she just liked to talk to young men, actually. But I've never come across one of you with an
     interest in books: Set them down there, would you?"
          I placed them on the rosewood desk, and he worked briskly through the pile. Now that I had
 30  seen the magnitude of his library, I doubted he would find anything of interest to him. But the
     Lavater Physiognomy caught his eye. "This is a later edition than the one I have; I am curious
     to see his revisions. Tell Grace what you require for it and she will see to your payment,"
          "Sir, I don't sell the books for cash."
          "Oh?"
 35       "I trade for them-barter³-a book for a book, you know. That way I keep myself in something
          fresh to read along the journey."
          "Do you so! Capital idea!" he said, "Though no way to make a profit."
          "I am interested in money, of course sir; it is necessary for a young man in my circumstances
     to be so. But I trust you will not think me irresponsible if I tell you I am more interested in laying
 40  up the riches of the mind⁴."
          "Well said, young Mr.—March, was it? Well, as it happens I have business elsewhere this day,
     so why don't you make yourself free of the library. Do us the honor of taking dinner here, and
     you can tell me then what volume you would consider in barter for the Lavater."
          "Sir, I could not impose upon you-"
 45       "Mr. March, you would be doing me a great kindness. My household is reduced, at present.
          My son is away with my manager on business. Solitude is no friend to science. You must know
     that we in the South suffer from a certain malnourishment of the mind: we value the art of
     conversation over literary pursuits, so that when we gather together it is all for gallantries and
     pleasure parties. There is much to be said for our agrarian way of life. But sometimes I envy
 50  your bustling⁵ Northern cities, where men of genius are thrown together thick as bees, and the
     honey of intellectual accomplishment is produced. I would like to talk about books with you; do
     be kind enough to spare me an evening."
          "Mr. Clement, sir, it would be my very great pleasure."
          "Very good, then. I shall look forward."
 55       By afternoon, I could say I was ready to love Mr. Clement. For to know a man's library is, in
     some measure, to know his mind.

1 ewer : container of liquids
2 the James : river
3 barter : exchange merchandise for merchandise without using money
4 laying up the riches of the mind : accumulating cultural knowledge
5 bustling : noisy and busy

Abridged and adapted from March, Geraldine Brooks, 2005

Choose subject 1 or 2.

Subject 1:
a) lines 28-29: "But I've never come across one of you with an interest in books."
For some people, books are the only possible form of culture. Do you agree with them? (150 words)
b) lines 56-57: "To know a man's library is to know his mind." Discuss. (150 words)

Subject 2:
Could bartering be chosen as an interesting alternative to commerce? (300 words)

I - L'ANALYSE ET LES DIFFICULTES DU SUJET

Deux sujets d'argumentation dont le 1^er est davantage destiné aux plus littéraires d'entre vous. Il permet de mettre en lumière votre culture et votre capacité à problématiser.
Le second sujet offre également la possibilité de présenter une thèse/antithèse sur le troc et le commerce en général. Ces sujets exigent une pensée structurée et de bonnes connaissances linguistiques pour paraître le plus convaincant possible.

II - LES PISTES DE REPONSES

Subject I

a) L'introduction : Vous devez introduire le sujet de façon générale.

● There's no denying that we all have been taught through books at school.
● It is a well-known fact that books are the basis for our culture.
● People tend to believe that, ...
● For most of us...

Puis exposer deux approches.

● It is questionable whether books are the only source of knowledge.
● However, we may wonder about the limits of books and other possible sources.

Vous pouvez présenter la thèse en vous appuyant sur votre expérience scolaire (manuels et livres imposés) et lectures personnelles.
Dans un second temps, vous pouvez élargir votre propos vers d'autres formes d'épanouissement culturel : voyages, rencontres, cinéma et musique, musées, internet, ...

Par exemple :
● An important aspect of... is...
● It is worth mentioning that ...
● It is interesting to consider ...

Pensez aux mots de liaison ; moreover, in addition, on top of that, ...

Pensez à conclure en élargissant votre point de vue afin d'harmoniser plutôt que d'opposer les différentes sources de culture.

b) Sujet qui semble similaire, toutefois veillez à ne pas dire les mêmes choses. "Dis moi ce qu'il y a dans ta bibliothèque, je te dirais qui tu es". Effectivement, une bibliothèque reflète une culture et une personnalité. Cependant, les apparences sont parfois trompeuses. Certaines personnes peuvent acheter des livres non parce qu'ils les apprécient mais plutôt dans un souci de paraître. Il est important de donner son point de vue en conclusion :
● I approve of / I disapprove of ...
● I must disagree with ...
● I agree (wholeheartedly) with ...

Subject II

Dans un premier temps, il faut définir les termes sans oublier que le troc est une pratique ancestrale.

● It can't be denied that ...
● It is generally acknowledged that ...

Vous pouvez également introduire votre réflexion sur une analyse du commerce actuel : capitalism, globalization (mondialisation).

A nouveau, vous devez développer vos arguments par le biais d'outils  linguistiques appropriés :

● It is reasonable to assume that bartering is an alternative to profit-making.
● It should be stressed that ...
● Few will argue with the principle that ...
● Yet we must keep in mind that bartering already exists on the net.
● There already exists a golden mean in the name of fair trade (commerce équitable).