Exploring the Legacy of John Franklin: “Unraveling the Mystery of the Slowness”

John Franklin (1786-1847) was the most renowned explorer of the Victorian era. He began his naval career at 14, participating in battles at Copenhagen and Trafalgar. After peace was established with France, he focused on solving the puzzle of the Northwest Passage, a hypothetical sea route linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans above North America's northern coast. His initial Arctic expedition involved a grueling overland trek from Hudson Bay to the shores east of the Coppermine River, covering 5550 miles on foot between 1819 and 1822. The expedition was a triumph in surveying, mapping previously unknown coastlines.

B

Following his Arctic expeditions and a controversial term as Governor of Van Diemen’s Land, Franklin embarked on his ill-fated final voyage in May 1845 with two ships—the Erebus and the Terror—and 129 men. The convoy was last sighted entering Lancaster Sound in July, disappearing without a trace for 14 years. The fate of the ships and crew—whether sunk, ice-bound, or exploring the fabled open polar sea beyond the ice barrier—remained a mystery.

C

In personal letters and memoirs, Franklin appears as a dedicated military and exploration figure, with minimal introspection. His unassuming nature made him an adaptable subject for novelists, with Sten Nadolny notably attributing Franklin with the fictional trait of 'slowness' or 'calmness,' a quality not historically documented.

D

Franklin's 'slowness' not only shapes his behavior but also influences his perception, thoughts, and speech. The initial scene of 'The Discovery of Slowness' by Sten Nadolny portrays Franklin as a young boy struggling to catch a ball due to his delayed reaction time. Despite being mocked by his peers, Franklin resolves not to conform to 'their way of doing things'. According to Nadolny, Franklin's lifelong fascination with the Arctic arises from his quest to find a place suitable for his unique slowness.

E

Nadolny describes Franklin as a boy dreaming of the 'endless waters and timeless days' of the far north, seeking a sanctuary 'where no one would find him too slow'. Ice moves slowly, demanding patience from those who venture onto it. Historically, explorers thriving in polar and high-altitude environments have not been known for their speed, but rather for their stoicism, endurance of boredom, and resilience, qualities known as 'tholing' in Scottish dialect.

F

These attributes were abundant in the historical Franklin, allowing Nadolny to focus on and exaggerate them without contradiction. As an adult, Franklin's deliberate thought process often leads to speech hesitancy, compelling him to memorize extensive vocabulary and rehearse responses. Initially ridiculed in the Navy for his methodical approach, Franklin persists in doing things his own way, gradually earning the respect of his peers. When urged by a commodore to expedite a report, Franklin replies, 'When I speak, sir, I maintain my own rhythm.' A lieutenant approvingly comments, 'Because Franklin is deliberate, he never wastes time.'

G

Since its first publication in Germany in 1983, 'The Discovery of Slowness' has sold over a million copies and been translated into 13 languages. It has been recognized as one of contemporary German literature's twenty 'classics', and has been used as a guide by various European organizations and groups advocating causes such as sustainable development, the Protestant Church, management theory, automotive policy, and pacifism.

H

The novel has garnered interest from diverse groups united by a shared aversion to the high-speed culture of postmodernity. Nadolny's portrayal of Franklin resonates with them due to his immunity to 'the compulsion to always be occupied' and the belief that 'being faster makes one better'. German churches have cited him as an example of tranquility, piety, and self-assurance in their conferences and focus groups. Inspired by the novel, a movement advocating 'slowness' has emerged, including events like the 'march of the slow'. Nadolny has been invited as a guest speaker by RIO, an organization in Lucerne promoting harmony between management principles and environmental sustainability. The novel has even influenced debates on speed limits on German autobahns, where roadside signs now champion 'unhurriedness', a deliberate play on the novel's title.

I

A leading American management journal hailed The Discovery of Slowness as a ‘significant event not only for aficionados of exquisite historical fiction but also for those concerned with leadership, communication, and systems-thinking. This novel abounds with references to time-efficiency, precision, and profitability: ‘Generally, there are always three points in time: the right one, the missed one, and the premature one’. ‘What did ‘too late’ mean? They hadn’t waited long enough for it; that’s what it meant.’

Questions 1-6

Reading Passage 3 has seven paragraphs A-H.

Which section contains the following details?

Write the correct letter A-H, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

NB  You may use any letter more than once.

1 What was Sir John Franklin’s occupation before he went on a career of the arctic exploration?

2 A story John Franklin reacted strangely when he met bullies by other children.

3 Reason of popularity for the book The Discovery of Slowness.

4 A depiction that Sten Nadolny’s biography on John Franklin is not much based on facts.

5 The particular career Sir John Franklin took after his expedition unmatched before.

6 What is the central scheme and environment conveyed by the book The Discovery of Slowness.

Questions 7-10

Complete the following summary paragraph.

In boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet

Write the correct answer with ONE WORD chosen from the box below

In his personal correspondence to and in his published memoirs by Sten Nadolny, John Franklin was depicted as a man dedicated to the exploration, and the word of “slowness” was used to define his 7…  when Franklin was in his childhood, his determination to the 8… of the schoolboys was too slow for him to fall into step. And Franklin was said to be a boy dreaming of finding in a place he could enjoy the 9… in the Arctic. Later in the 20th, His biography of the discovery of slowness has been adopted as a 10… as for the movement such as sustainable development, or management science, motoring policy.

A   exploration            B   blandness   C   personality           D   policy

E   pressure             F   guidebook   G   management

H   timelessness          I   sports           J   bully                    K   evidence

Questions 11-14

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write your answers in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet

11. Why does the author mention “the ice is a slow mover” in the geological arctic, to demonstrate the idea

• A of the difficulties Franklin conquered
• B that Franklin had a dream since his childhood
• C of fascination with the Arctic exploration
• D that explorer like Franklin should possess the quality of being patient

12. When Franklin was on board with sailors, how did he speak to his follow sailors

• A he spoke in a way mocking his followers
• B he spoke a bric-a-brac language to show his languish attitude
• C he spoke in the words and phrases he previously memorized 
• D he spoke in a rhythmical tune to save chatting time

13. His effort to overcome his slowness in marine time life had finally won the

• A understanding of his personality better
• B capacity for coping with boredom
• C respect for him as he insisted to overcome his difficulties
• D valuable time he can use to finish a report

14. Why is the book The Discovery of Slowness sold more than a million copies

• A it contains aspects of the life people would like to enjoy
• B it contains the information for the flag language applied in ships
• C it induces a debate about speed limits German
• D it contains the technique for symposia German churches

Answers:

1. A (Đoạn A, “John Franklin (1786-1847) was the most famous vanisher of the Victorian era. He joined the Navy as a midshipman at the age of 14 and fought in the battles of Copenhagen and Trafalgar…”)

2. D (Đoạn D, “Despite the bullying of his peers, Franklin resolves not to fall into step with ‘their way of doing things’”)

3. H (Đoạn H, “Nadolny has appeared as a guest speaker for RIO, a Lucerne-based organisation which aims to reconcile management principles with ideas of environmental sustainability.”)

4. C (Đoạn C, “Most important, he has endowed his John Franklin with a defining character trait for which there is no historical evidence: (‘slowness’, or ‘calmness’).”)

5. B (Đoạn B, “There followed a career as a travel writer and salon-goer {‘the man who ate his boots’ was Franklin’s tag-line)…”)

6. H (Đoạn H, “A centre scheme (a ‘march of slowness’ or ‘of the slow’), inspired by the novel.”)

7. C (Đoạn C , “he has endowed his John Franklin with a defining character trait for which there is no historical evidence: (‘slowness’, or ‘calmness’).”)

8. J (Đoạn D, “Despite the bullying of his peers, Franklin resolves not to fall into step with ‘their way of doing things’.”)

9. H (Đoạn D, “Franklin’s fated fascination with the Arctic stems from his desire to find an environment suited to his peculiar slowness.”)

10. F (Đoạn G, “…and it has been as a manual and by European pressure groups and institutions representing causes as diverse as sustainable development,…”)

11. D (Đoạn E, “Ice demands a corresponding patience from those who venture onto it.”)

12. C (Đoạn F, “Even as an adult, his slowness of thought means that he is unable to speak fluently, so he memorises ‘entire fleets of words and batteries of response’, and speaks a languid, bric-a-brac language.”)

13. C (Đoạn F, “But Franklin persists in doing things his way. and gradually earns the respect of those around him. “)