MY GREATEST OLYMPIC PRIZEJESSE OWENS

I BA ECONOMICS14TH JULY 20112ND HOURSPIC HALLBYS. NEHRU

CONTEXT

1936 Berlin Olympics Hitler Aryan Supremacy

Theory Owens’ Resolve Owens’ Initial Hurdle Luz Long’s Friendship

THEME

FRIENDSHIP

About the Lesson 1

Jesse Owens shares his Olympic Experience He shares his ambition He shares his resolve He shares his trouble He shares his anger He shares his friendship

About the Lesson 2

Patriotic Feelings around Racial Superiority Feeling Owens has to overcome hostility Luz Long’s Cordiality Long’s Advice Owens’ Response

MAIN IDEAS 1

First Paragraph Summer of 1936 Berlin Olympic Games Nationalistic Feelings Running High Hitler’s Insistence of Master Race

MAIN IDEAS 2

Second Paragraph Owens’ Hardwork Not Worried About Hostility Eye on the Game Eye on Long Jump Previous Year Record 26 ft 8 and ¼ inches All Expected Owens to win

MAIN IDEAS 3

Third Paragraph Startled to see a tall boy He is Luz Long Hitler has hidden his talent

MAIN IDEAS 4

Fourth Paragraph Long winning- Aryan is superior Negro winning- Not inferior to German Owens resolve to show Hitler that he is not

inferior

MAIN IDEAS 5

Fifth Paragraph Owens making mistakes Off the three jumps he faulted twice Frustration

MAIN IDEAS 6

Sixth Paragraph Owens hits the ground Long pats on Owens shoulder Long gives him a firm handshake

MAIN IDEAS 7

Seventh Paragraph Long introduced himself He says they have not met before Long’s English is good. They Pick conversation

MAIN IDEAS 8

Eighth Paragraph They talked for long Long did not believe in Master race Long an inch taller than Owens He had a lean muscular frame Clear Blue Eyes Fair Hair Handsome Face

MAIN IDEAS 9

Ninth Paragraph Long advises him

"Jesse, the qualifying distance is only 23 feet. You've jumped 26 feet many times before. Just move your starting mark back three inches, that way you'll make sure to not cross the line and be disqualified."

MAIN IDEAS 10

Tenth Paragraph Owens is free from tension He follows Long’s advice He qualifies

MAIN IDEAS 11

Eleventh Paragraph Owen’s goes to Long’s room to thank him They speak for more than two hours About athletics About themselves World situations etc.

MAIN IDEAS 12

Twelfth Paragraph They leave New friendship has formed

MAIN IDEAS 13

Thirteenth Paragraph Luz breaks his past record Owens makes New Olympic Record Wins Luz congratulates him He shook his hand hard Hitler glaring at a distance

MAIN IDEAS 14

Fourteenth Paragraph All the gold medals cannot equal their

friendship thought Owens

MAIN IDEAS 15

Last Paragraph Important thing: taking part Fighting Well

NOTES

ONE MARK QUESTIONS1. Who is Jesse Owens?2. In what event did he set Olympic record?3. Who is the tall man Jesse Owens did meet

in the Olympics?4. In which year did Owens meet Luz Long?5. What was Owens’ new Olympic record?6. Why did Jesse Owens make fault?

NOTES

ONE MARK QUESTIONS

7. What was Owens new Olympic record?

8. Why did Jesse Owens make fault?

9. What shattered the confidence of Jesse Owens?

10. What is the spirit of Olympics?

NOTES

ANNOTATIONS1. You can melt down all the gold medals and cups I

have, and they wouldn't be a plating on the 24-carat friendship I felt for Luz Long at that moment.

A: This passage is taken from, “My Greatest Olympic Prize” written by Jesse Owens.

Jesse Owens shares his Olympic experience and the friendship he won.

Here he feels that his friendship with Luz Long is greater than that of all the medals he has won.

NOTES

ANNOTATIONS

2. Suddenly all the tension seemed to ebb out of my body as the truth of what he said hit me.

A: This passage is taken from, “My Greatest Olympic Prize” written by Jesse Owens.

Jesse Owens shares his Olympic experience and the friendship he won.

After Long’s advice of marking few inches behind board Owens felt relaxed and confident.

NOTES

ANNOTATIONS3. I was in for a surprise. When the time came for the

long jump trials, I was startled to see a tall boy hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps.

A: This passage is taken from, “My Greatest Olympic Prize” written by Jesse Owens.

Jesse Owens shares his Olympic experience and the friendship he won.

Here he refers to Luz Long. He was surprised by his performance

NOTES

ANNOTATIONS4. After all, I am a Negro. A little hot under the collar

about Hitler's ways, I determined to go out there and really show Der Führer and his master race who was superior and who wasn't.

A: This passage is taken from, “My Greatest Olympic Prize” written by Jesse Owens.

Jesse Owens shares his Olympic experience and the friendship he won.

Here Owens expresses his determination to win the medal and prove to the world.

NOTES

ANNOTATIONS5. An angry athlete is an athlete who will make

mistakes, as any coach will tell you. I was no exception.

A: This passage is taken from, “My Greatest Olympic Prize” written by Jesse Owens.

Jesse Owens shares his Olympic experience and the friendship he won.

Here Owens refers to his anger against Germans which made him to make faults in trials.

NOTES

ESSAY

Owens’ “My Greatest Olympic Prize” deals with friendship he had with Luz Long. While sharing his Olympic experience he also brings out the friendship he develops with Luz Long.

Owens mind is filled with Olympic gold. Nothing could shake the spirit of Owens. He is not bothered about hostile feeling among the Germans. Hitler’s men believed in his theory of master race.

NOTES

ESSAY In this backdrop Owens happens to meet Luz

Long. Luz Long is a German. But he is friendly with Owens.

When Owen’s anger is pointed towards Hitler his performance suffers. Out of three qualifying jumps he faults in two. At this crucial moment Luz Long gives a solution. Long asks him to draw a line few inches behind the take of board. Owens follows his advice and qualifies for the final.

NOTES

ESSAY On the same evening Owens meets Luz Long. They speak

for long. They speak about sports. They talk on world affairs. They also talk on several issues. Finally Owens departs.

The next day Owens wins gold in long jump. He sets a new Olympic record of 26 feet 5 and 1/16 inches.

Long is the first one to congratulate him. Hitler watched from a distance. At that moment Owens feels that all the gold medals he has won cannot equal his friendship with Luz Long.

Long embodies the Olympic spirit of taking part and fighting well.

My Greatest Olympic Prize is Concluded

Coming NextThe Glory Has DepartedJawaharlal Nehru

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