DEATH

1. Read this dialogue

Q: I havent seen Harry for months. How is he?

A: Dead! He died just before Christmas.

-Do you find this conversation offensive? Is it strange at some point?

Death. It's hardly the go-to topic of conversation with your partner after a hard day at the
office. But most of us go to such lengths to avoid talking about it ever with our loved
ones that we may as well hand-on-heart believe that dying doesn't actually happen.
Ironically, death is thrust in our faces almost every day we hear about it on the news, we
see it regularly in the movies or read about it in crime thrillers. But when it comes to the
'everydayness' of death, most of us would rather run a mile than confront the topic. At the
same time, we are obsessed with prolonging life eating healthier, exercising harder and
doing things to reduce stress anything to put off the inevitability of death. We will all die at
some stage. All of us. Nobody is immune. Death is as much a fact of life as breathing air is
to survive. So why are we so at pains to ignore it?

What does it mean?

1. its hardly the go-to topic of conversation

2. most of us go to such lengths to avoid talking about it
3. we may as well hand-on-heart believe that dying doesn't actually happen
4. Ironically, death is thrust in our faces almost every day
5. of us would rather run a mile than confront the topic
6. to put off the inevitability of death
7. why are we so at pains to ignore it?

Discussion

1. How do you feel when the subject of death comes into the conversation?
2. Is it OK to joke about death?
3. If the only work available was working with dead bodies for example an undertaker or a
pathologist what would you do?

In your country:
1. When someone dies, what happens to their body?
2. Where do you funeral ceremonies take place?
3. Who usually attends funerals? What do people usually do at funerals?
4. What color do people wear to signify death?
 More reading

A. SURPRISING HONESTY AT FUNERAL

Family and friends at the funeral of George in West Yorkshire were stunned when his brother,
Frank, stood up in the church and told everyone that his brother would not be missed.
Describing his brother as the meanest man he had ever met, he went on to list all the
people who would be glad to know that George had died, and gave the reasons why. He
claimed that George was a liar, a cheat, a womanizer and a drunkard. He owed money to
half the people in the village; he had ruined a number of marriages; and he was often
incredibly rude for no good reason. No one will be sad that he has gone, said Frank.
Franks unexpected speech was followed by complete silence. Eventually the minister in
charge of the service stood to say, Let us give thanks for Georges life with our final song.
She then sang on her own while everyone else stood in silence. The service ended shortly
afterwards.

Questions

1. Was Frank right to make the speech?

2. You should never speak ill of the dead. Do you agree?
3. Why nobody sang the final song at the funeral of George?

2. HOME BURIAL CAUSES ANGER

A family who buried a relative in their back garden has angered neighbors. Residents of a
care home were shocked to see the coffin of Daniel Stevens lowered into a grave in
Chesterfield Road. The staff at the Adamson care home, which overlooks the garden, wants
the body re-buried in a cemetery. The manager of the care home said: Someone sent me a
letter last week to say the funeral would happen on Thursday. I thought it was a joke. There
were about 200 people in the garden for the service. When I called the police they said they
couldnt do anything to stop it because it wasnt illegal. The local council said it was not
able to prevent a burial on private land as long as certain rules were followed.

Questions

1. What do you think of the familys actions?

2. Can this be possible in your country? How about scattering the ashes wherever the
family like?
3. How would you feel if your next-door neighbor buried their grandmother in their back
garden?

RELATED WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS TO DEATH

1. Im just going to the cafe. Im dying for Americano

2. Im a big fan of that group and Im dying to meet them.
3. The train doesnt leave till 4, so weve got nearly an hour to kill.
4. Ive been out shopping all day. My feet are killing me.
5. Just keep quiet. Whenever you sing, you just murder the song!
6. Joey screamed bloody murder when his sister ate his dessert.
7. When is it going to be cool again? Im sick to death of this weather!
8. You look like a death warmed up! Are you ill?