B2 – Upper Intermediate
In the 15th century, a man would shake the foundations of Europe’s history by virtue of prophecy while remaining untouched by the many powerful forces who disregarded his visions. And depending on how you read his predictions, the chaos and turmoil we encountered today may have been long foretold by this French astrologer, apothecary, physician, and renowned seer, known for his book Les Prophéties, more commonly recognized around the world as Nostradamus.
Watch the video below to learn more about how Nostradamus predicted about a war.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What is a “splintered off”? “The soldier’s lance shattered, and a piece of wood splintered off and pierced Henry’s eye and brain ” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “word on the street” mean? “What started as targeted assassinations of Huguenot quickly spiraled into a mas slaughter. And word on street was that Queen Catherine was behind it all” Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “to swell into slums” mean? “The poor suffered, and the rich grew colder toward the new working class. Cities swelled into slums, and unrest followed.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Have you heard of Nostradamus before? What have you heard about him?
- What are your thoughts on his prophecies?
- How can prophecies be helpful and harmful?
- Are prophecies real? Share your stand.
- Is foreseeing the future a gift or a curse? Share your thoughts.