大学思辨英语教程-精读2课件Unit-3

1、 Unit 3 Bereavement and Grief War Luigi PirandelloLearning ObjectivesLiterary Elements Critical ThinkingReading StrategiesIntercultural CompetenceLiterary ElementsReading Strategies IronyInternal conflictDramatic plot twistLearning ObjectivesLook up background information against the setting of the

2、storyAnalyze arguments in the storyExamine the narrative structureCritical Thinking Learning Objectives Examine and evaluate characters arguments about war Interpret the figurative meaning of the storys title Understand and evaluate the concept of patriotismUnderstand similarities and differences re

3、garding expressions of emotions across culturesCompare the representations of theme of grief in Western and Chinese poemsDiscern core values of a culture in its cultural productsIntercultural CompetenceLead inLosing someone you love or care deeply about is very painful. Have you ever experienced or

4、witnessed the tragedy of losing a beloved family member or friend? How do people react to such loss and cope with the grief in its wake? Lead inDo you think the symptoms of grief are more or less common regardless of differences in times, culture, race, and gender? Can you think of some special circ

5、umstances in which people might respond unusually to such emotions?Text A is a “war” story in which you see not the soldiers but their parents. You dont hear the sound of battle, but these parents arguments about how they feel about their sons fighting in the war. In Text B, along with Prince Rassel

6、as you meet an eloquent speaker preaching powerfully that anyone can be the master of their own emotions and achieve absolute happiness. As you read the stories in Texts A and B, pay special attention to how the characters respond to bereavement both in words and behavior.Lead inAccording to Britann

7、ica, Luigi Pirandello was winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize for Literature. With his invention of the “theatre within the theatre” in the play Seipersonaggi in cercadautore (1921; Six Characters in Search of an Author), he became an important innovator in modern drama. Influenced by his catastrophic pe

8、rsonal experiences, he developed a literary style characterized by “the exploration of the tightly closed world of the forever changeable human personality” (Britannica). “War” reflects this style of psychological realism, for instead of depicting external circumstances of the Great War, it chooses

9、to underline the cruelty of war from the perspective of the soldiers anxious, grieving parents.Background Knowledge1. About the Author2. World War I (19141918)Background KnowledgeThe World War I was an international conflict that resulted from clashes of interest among the worlds economic great powe

10、rs assembled in two opposing alliances, the Allies (including the United Kingdom/British Empire, France and the Russian Empire) versus the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary, though it did not join the Centra

11、l Powers (Willmott 15). It is generally believed by historians that World War I was “virtually unprecedented in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused” (Britannica). It led to the fall of four great imperial dynasties (Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey), resulted in the Bolshev

12、ik Revolution in Russia, and, in its destabilization of European society, laid the groundwork for World War II.Background Knowledge3. symptoms of grief caused by bereavement Common symptoms of grief caused by bereavement include wistfulness, lethargy, hysteria, depression and so forth. According to

13、the psychologist Elisabeth Kbler-Ross, people who have lost someone close usually go through five emotional stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.Background Knowledge 1. Text StructureText AnalysisDetailed AnalysisRhetoric and styleText StructurePart Para(s)Main idea I1-14The

14、passengers are arguing about who have suered the most as parents in the war. II 15-23 A fat man joined in and argues about what attitude parents should take towards their children going to war and killed in action. III24-29The fat man is brought into painful awareness of his sons death and reduced t

15、o sobs by an inquiry of his son.1. The story is entitled “War”, yet there is no direct description of any war action. (Note also that there is no article in the title to go with the word “War”.) What part of the war do you think the story is really about? Is it possible that “war” could also take on

16、 a figurative meaning of something like internal conflict? What do you think is the message the author intends to convey in this story?Part I Comprehension CheckPart I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis Instead of giving direct description of war action, the sto

17、ry depicts the emotional turmoil on the part of the soldiers parents. The author intends to send a message about the cruelty of war, by showing that war imposes great suffering in more ways than one, not only on the soldiers who go to the battlefield, but also on their parents who are extremely worr

18、ied about their safety and may have to endure the pain of loss.2. Why did the womans husband felt it his duty to explain to the other passengers that his wife was to be pitied at? (Para. 7)Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis The husband did not want the other passengers to take his wifes act of

19、pulling up her collar to hide her face as an unfriendly gesture.3. Why did the woman feel certain that her husbands explanations about her misery would not have aroused even a shadow of sympathy from their fellow passengers? (Para. 8)Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis She had a hunch that those

20、 people were in no better situation than hers.4. What were the characters arguing about at the beginningof their conversation? Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis At the beginning of the conversation, the characters were arguing about who had suered the most as a parent in the war. Part I Word S

21、tudyPart I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 1. local (Para. 1, line 3)noun 1) usually plural someone who lives in the place where you are or the place that you are talking about 当地人e.g. We asked one of the locals to recommend a restaurant.2) British English a pub near where you live, especially one

22、where you often drink 附近的小酒馆e.g. I usually have a pint or two at my local on Friday nights.3) American English a bus, train etc. that stops at all regular stopping places 慢车4) American English a branch of a trade union 当地的分支机构 Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 2. stuffy (Para. 2, line 1)adject

23、ive 1) a room or building that is stuffy does not have enough fresh air in it 通风不好的，闷的e.g. Its getting stuffy in heredo you mind if I open the window? 2) people, occasions, or places that are stuffy are too formal and old-fashioned used to show disapproval 古板的，拘谨的 e.g. Their wedding was stuffy and f

24、ormal. e.g. a stuffy old familyDerivation：stuffiness nounPart I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 3. hoist (Para. 2, line 2) verb1) to raise, lift, or pull something up, especially using ropes 升起，吊起，向上推 e.g. The crew hurried to hoist the flag.2) be hoisted by your own petard 搬起石头砸自己的脚，作茧自缚，害人反害己3) ho

25、ist a glass 举杯（祝酒） Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 4. inquire (Para. 3, line 3) verbto ask someone for information询问，打听 e.g. “Why are you doing that?” the boy inquired.Collocation：inquire aboute.g. I am writing to inquire about your advertisement in “The Times”.inquire whether/why/how etc.e.

26、g. The waiter inquired whether we would like to sit near the window.inquire something of somebody e.g. “Wheres the station?” she inquired of a passer-by.inquire into e.g. Inspectors also inquire into nursing home residents quality of life.continuedPart III Part IIPart IDetailed Analysis Part I Part

27、IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 5. mutter (Para. 6, line 1)verb1 )to speak in a low voice, especially because you are annoyed about something, or you do not want people to hear you 嘀咕；悄声说e.g. Elsie muttered something I couldnt catch and walked off.e.g. What are you two muttering about?2 ) to complain ab

28、out something or express doubts about it, but without saying clearly and openly what you think 小声质疑；私下抱怨e.g. Some senators muttered darkly about the threat to national security. Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 6. due (Para. 7, line 7) adjective 1) not before noun expected to happen or arrive

29、 at a particular time 预期发生，预期到达Collocation：due to do somethinge.g. His new book is due to be published next year.due in/on/at e.g. Shes pregnant and the babys due in April. e.g. The final results of the experiment are due on December 9. due for e.g. The car is due for its annual service again.due ba

30、ck e.g. When are the library books due back? 2) owed to someone either as a debt or because they have a right to it 欠下的；应给的 e.g. Any money due you will be sent by check through the post.Collocation：due to e.g. Thanks are due to all those who took part.continuedDetailed Analysis Part I Part IIPart II

31、I3) because of 因为 e.g. Her success is due to her hard work.4) only before noun formal proper or suitable 适当的 e.g. He was banned for six months for driving without due care and attention.Collocation：in due course 在适当的时候with (all) due respect 恕我冒昧（用以礼貌地反对或批评某人）continuedDetailed Analysis Part I Part II

32、Part III Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 7. wriggle (Para. 8, line 1) verb 1) intransitive to twist your body from side to side with small quick movements 扭动，蠕动 e.g. Stop wriggling and let me put your T-shirt on.2) transitive to move a part of your body backwards and forwards with small move

33、ments 使扭动 e.g. She took off her shoes and wriggled her toes.Derivation: wriggly adjective e.g. a wriggly wormCollocation：wriggle under/through/into e.g. He wriggled through the window.get a wriggle on: British Englishinformalused totellsomeone tohurry;get a move oncontinuedDetailed Analysis Part I P

34、art IIPart III Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 8. growl (Para. 8, line 1) 1) intransitive if an animal growls, it makes a long deep angry sound 吼叫，咆哮e.g. The dog growled at me.2) intransitive, transitive to say something in a low angry voice snarl 怒气冲冲地低声说 e.g. “Get out of my way,” he growle

35、d. e.g. “Who are you?” he growled at me.3) noun countable 咆哮e.g. He heard a low growl behind him. Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 9. plight (Para. 8, line 4)nouna very bad situation that someone is in 困境，苦境e.g. the desperate plight of the flood victimse.g. the countrys economic plight Part I

36、 Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 10. venture (Para. 11, line 1)verb 1) intransitive always + adverb/prepositionto go somewhere that could be dangerous冒险去某处 e.g. When darkness fell, he would venture out.2) transitive to say or do something in an uncertain way because you are afraid it is wrong or wi

37、ll seem stupid敢于说，大胆表示 e.g. “Youre on holiday here?” he ventured.3) noun e.g. a new business activity that involves taking risks风险项目e.g. a real-estate venture房地产项目 Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis Collocation：venture to do something e.g. I ventured to ask him what he was writing.venture an op

38、inion/question/word etc. e.g. If we had more information, it would be easier to venture a firm opinion. e.g. Roy ventured a tentative smile.venture that e.g. I ventured that the experiment was not conclusive.nothing ventured, nothing gained 不入虎穴，焉得虎子。continuedPart I Sentence AnalysisPart I Part IIPa

39、rt IIIDetailed Analysis 1. Behind her, puffing and moaning, followed her husbanda tiny man, thin and weakly, his face death-white, his eyes small and bright and looking shy and uneasy. (Para. 2)This is an inverted sentence. An inverted sentence is a sentence in which the predicate (verb) comes befor

40、e the subject (noun). It keeps the sentence structurally balanced and allows for development regarding the subject.Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 2. And he felt it his duty to explain to his traveling companions that the Poor woman was to be pitied, for the war was taking away from her only

41、 son, a boy of twenty to whom both had devoted their entire life, even breaking up their home at Sulmona to follow him to Rome, where he had to go as a student, then allowing him to volunteer for war with an assurance, however, that at least for six months he would not be sent to the front and now,

42、all of a sudden, receiving a wire saying that he was due to leave in three days time and asking them to go and see him o. (Para. 7)Translate the sentence他觉得有义务要向同车厢的乘客解释，这个可怜的女人需要同情，因为这场战争把她唯一的儿子从她身边带走了，他们老夫妇俩对这个二十岁的儿子倾尽了一生的心血，甚至不惜放弃他们在苏尔莫纳的家，跟着他来到他的求学所在地罗马，后来又允许他报名参军，但条件是至少在六个月内他不会被送往前线，而现在他们突然收到电报

43、，说他将于三天后出发上前线，希望他们过来为他送行。Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis 3. The woman under the big coat was twisting and wriggling, at times growling like a wild animal, feeling certain that all those explanations would not have aroused even a shadow of sympathy from those people whomost likelywere in the

44、same plight as herself. (Para. 8)Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis The woman in the big coat moved her body frequently, and occasionally made a low voice of displeasure. She was sure none of the passengers would understand her sorrow despite her husbands explanations, since those people were i

45、n no better situation than hers.Paraphrase the sentence4. You may spoil your only son by excessive attention, but you cannot love him more than you would all your other children if you had any. (Para. 12)Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis If you had only one son you could indulge and love him a

46、ll you can, but if you had other children as well you simply could not give your attention and love exclusively to that son and ignore the other children.Paraphrase the sentence5. A father gives all his love to each one of his children without discrimination, whether it be one or ten,(Para. 12)A fat

47、her gives all his children equal love, no matter how many children he has Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis Paraphrase the sentencee.g. Whenever he buys something, whether it be drinks or snacks, he remembers to share with his buddies. Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis whether it be：不论 c

48、ontinued1. Find in the text the descriptions of the physical appearance of the fat man. What do you think they might suggest about his character and his life? Part II Comprehension CheckPart I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis In Paragraphs 15 and 16, he is described as a “fat, red-faced man with blo

49、od-shot eyes of the palest gray”, who was “panting”, and “from whose bulging eyes seemed to spurt inner violence of an uncontrolled vitality which his weakened body could hardly contain”.In Paragraph 17, it is revealed that his two front teeth are missing. His eyes are once again mentioned in Paragr

50、aph 29, described to be “bulging, horribly watery light grey”.These physical traits might suggest that the fat man was in poor health, and was grief-stricken by his sons death.Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis continued2. The passengers in the second-class carriage seemed to be having an argum

51、ent. What was their argument about? Which of the passengers seemed to have the strongest argument over others? Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis Their argument was about what attitude parents should take towards their children going to war and killed in action. Of the passengers, the fat man a

52、ppeared to have the strongest argument, who suggested that parents should withhold their own grief and feel proud and happy about their children who laid down their lives for the Country.3. How did the fat, red-faced man start his part of theargument? Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis The fat,

53、 red-faced man started his part of the argument by putting a stop to the other passengers debate over the correlation between the intensity of the parents anxiety and the number of children they have on the battlefield. He insisted that parents gave life to their children not for their own benefit,

54、and that they should respect their childrens wish to go to the front.4. “Our sons are born becausewell, because they must be born,” do you think the reason he gave was convincing? What do you make of his pause and hesitation here? (Para. 19)Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis His pause and hesit

55、ation in the middle of the sentence “Our sons are born becausewell, because they must be born” might be seen as a revelation of his checked impulse to articulate his paternal affection. It is as if he were to blurt out “Our sons are born because we love them”. He refrained from saying something like

56、 this probably for fear that he could not check his emotion once letting it out.5. When the fat man mentioned “girls, cigarettes, illusions, new ties,” what exactly do you think he was trying to say? (Para. 19)Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis When he mentioned “girls, cigarettes, illusions, n

57、ew ties”, he was referring to the elements of youthful life that were more alluring to young people than their parents affection. He was trying to say that young people had so much to enjoy that their lives would never be centered around their parents.6. Do you think the fat mans thoughts about bein

58、g young eectively support his subsequent view that there should be no mourning for someone who died young and happy? (Para. 19)Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis His thoughts about being young can barely support his subsequent view that there should be no mourning for someone who died young and

59、 happy. On the contrary, the fact that young people have many good things in store for them makes their death all the more lamentable.7. What would the fat man do if he were at his sons age? (Para. 19)Part I Part IIPart IIIDetailed Analysis The fat man indicated that he would have done the samething

60、 as his sonfighting to death for his Country.8. What do you think of the fat mans feeling for the “Country”? When he spoke of the Country as “a natural necessity like bread of which each of us must eat in order not to die of hunger”? Do you think he was expressing his true feeling about the Country