英文经典短篇小说阅读与赏析(教学开放日推荐课)教学课件(共张)

1、 “二中应元英才特色课程”英文经典短篇小说阅读与赏析 The Gift of the Magi By LillyLee Dec. 3rd, 2015Part 1 Comprehension and appreciation About the title: The Gift of the MagiThe word Magi /meda/ is the plural form of magus /megs/ 占星家.According to the bible, Magi refers to the three wise men, who brought gifts to the Baby Je

2、sus. 东方三贤人 According to Bible, when a new King of the Jews was to be born, there came three wise men, thought to be astrologers (/strld/占星家), from the east to Jerusalem (/dru:slm/耶路撒冷) to find the child. They started their journey by following a star. Adoration of the Magi (三贤人朝拜）When king Herod(希律王

3、) heard of their search, he viewed the child as his future competitor and required the three wise men to report their findings to him.The star guided the three men to a manger ( /mend/马槽) where they discovered the child. The men offered the child their gifts: gold（黄金）, incense（乳香） and myrrh（/ m/殁药）.

4、 This event is known as the Adoration of the Magi. That night, God told them in their dreams to ignore Herods orders. The next day the Magi left secretly.When Herod learned that the wise men had cheated him, he saw no other option than to have all children there under the age of 3 murdered.Massacre

5、of the Innocents/msk(r) / /nsnt / （屠杀无辜者）The Flight into EgyptLuckily, Jesus father Joseph (/duzif/约瑟夫) had been warned of the danger by an angel. So they had successfully escaped to Egypt. Therefore, the magi not only brought gifts, but also helped to save the child. They are believed to be the one

6、s who invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Part I Comprehension and appreciationTime: On Christmas EveEvent: Buying gifts Characters: Della and Jim (Magi)About the plot Logic: Beginning-Development-ResultBeing Poor, Della decides to sell her hair to buy a Christmas gift for her husband Jim

7、.After selling her precious hair, she buys Jim a chain for his gold watch. But later Jim gives Della a beautiful set of combs, which proves to be of no use for her now. Then, Della gives the chain to Jim, but is told that Jim has sold his gold watch to get the money to buy the combs for her hair. Ab

8、out the characters: Della Scene 1 1. She stood by the window and looked out at a grey cat walking along a grey fence in a grey backyard.Scene 2 2. Her eyes were shining, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. 3. She stood still while a few tears fell on the floor. 4. With a quick mot

9、ion and brightness still in her eyes, she danced out the door and down the street.Scene 3 5. Then she heard his step and she turned white for just a minute.Scene 4 6. White fingers quickly tore at the string and paper. 7. There was a scream of joy and then, alas! 8. A change to tears and cries, requ

10、iring the man of the house to use all his skill to calm his wife.Scene 5 9. Then Della jumped up like a little burned cat and cried, Oh, oh! 10. She happily held it out to him in her open hands.Dissuss from these two aspects: What happens at that time?What do we know about Della from the vivid descr

11、iptions of her actions or facial expressions? E.g. Scene 1 1. She stood by the window and looked out at a grey cat walking along a grey fence in a grey backyard. 1). What happens? 2) Why greygreygrey?About the characters: Della Scene 1 1. She stood by the window and looked out at a grey cat walking

12、along a grey fence in a grey backyard.Scene 2 2. Her eyes were shining, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. 3. She stood still while a few tears fell on the floor. 4. With a quick motion and brightness still in her eyes, she danced out the door and down the street.Scene 3 5. Then

13、she heard his step and she turned white for just a minute.Scene 4 6. White fingers quickly tore at the string and paper. 7. There was a scream of joy and then, alas! 8. A change to tears and cries, requiring the man of the house to use all his skill to calm his wife.Scene 5 9. Then Della jumped up l

14、ike a little burned cat and cried, Oh, oh! 10. She happily held it out to him in her open hands.About the characters: Della Scene 1 1. She stood by the window and looked out at a grey cat walking along a grey fence in a grey backyard.She was in a very negative mood (sad, disappointed, worried, upset

15、, desperate, helpless) because she did not have enough money to buy her husband a nice gift. Scene 2 2. Her eyes were shining, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. 3. She stood still while a few tears fell on the floor. 4. With a quick motion and brightness still in her eyes, she d

16、anced out the door and down the street. She was in a complicated mood, half sad and half delighted. She was sad that she had to let go of her precious hair. She was delighted that she was able to get enough money to buy Jim a nice present.Scene 3 5. Then she heard his step and she turned white for j

17、ust a minute.She was nervous and worried that Jim would think she was not as pretty as before without the long hair.Scene 46. White fingers quickly tore at the string and paper. 7. There was a scream of joy and then, alas! 8. A change to tears and cries, requiring the man of the house to use all his

18、 skill to calm his wife.She was eager to see what gift Jim gave to her. She was very surprised and happy to see the beautiful combs that she had longed for. But as her hair was gone, the combs were of no use to her now. She felt sad for the fact but was deeply moved at the same time.Scene 59. Then D

19、ella jumped up like a little burned cat and cried, Oh, oh!10. She happily held it out to him in her open hands.Though she herself received a gift that had proved useless, she was hopeful that her husband would like the gift that she gave him. About the characters: JimScene 11. He looked very thin an

20、d very serious.2. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a dog smelling a bird. 3. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor fear, nor any of the feelings that she had been prepared for.4. He simply looked at her with a strange expression on his face.5. You have cut off your hair? asked Jim, slowly,

21、 as if he had not accepted the information even after his mind worked very hard.6. Jim looked about the room as if he were looking for something.Scene 27. Jim seemed to awaken quickly and put his arms around Della.8. Then he took a package form his coat and threw it on the table.Scene 39. Instead of

22、 obeying, Jim fell on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled.Scene 11. He looked very thin and very serious.2. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a dog smelling a bird. 3. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor fear, nor any of the feelings that she had been prepare

23、d for.4. He simply looked at her with a strange expression on his face.5. You have cut off your hair? asked Jim, slowly, as if he had not accepted the information even after his mind worked very hard.6. Jim looked about the room as if he were looking for something.Being thin and serious indicates th

24、at he was somewhat under financial pressure. He was very surprised and found it hard to believe that Della had had her hair cut, for he had bought a set of combs for her.Scene 27. Jim seemed to awaken quickly and put his arms around Della.8. Then he took a package from his coat and threw it on the table.After the shock, Jim began to accept the fact the the gift he had bought was useless now. He threw it to let Della have a look at it