蒙大综合英语课件Unit11-3text appreciation

1、Part ThreeText AppreciationENTERText Appreciation Text Analysis 1. Theme 2. Structure 3. Further Discussion Writing Device Narration Sentence ParaphraseContentsText AnalysisWhat if you were told that you could make a fortune just by pushing a button on a box? But pressing this button will simultaneo

2、usly cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world someone you dont know. Would you still push the button? Button, Button delivers a one-two punch of story and character in Mathesons trademark unadorned prose, telling a chilling tale of greed and temptation. Theme of the TextThe end

3、of Theme. Part 1 (Paras. )Part 2 (Paras. )Part 3 (Paras. )Part 4 (Paras. )Text AnalysisStructure of the Text37 54 55 116A Mr. Steward called the Lewises in the evening, and a push-button unit was delivered to them.The couple reacted differently to what Mr. Steward said.Norma got deeply involved in t

4、he matter and this made her husband very unhappy.The end of Structure. 117 129Norma was to get the amount in the form of Arthurs insurance policy.1 36Text AnalysisIm rather busy.To be continued on the next page.Question: Why did Norma consider the tone and attitude of Mr. Steward offensive?Because h

5、e was insistent like a salesperson and kept speaking even after Normas excuse of being busy at home. Moreover, Norma felt his expressive style very odd and disrespectful./subjects/button-button-by-richard-matheson.htmlText AnalysisTo be continued on the next page. Question: Why did Arthur disagree w

6、ith his wife?Because he was not interested in the offer. He considered the death of some unidentified person a shameful and immoral act. His conscience could not allow him even to think of such heartlessness and selfishness. its immoralText AnalysisTo be continued on the next page.Question: Why did

7、Norma try to persuade her husband to agree with her?Because she was a greedy and desirous lady who wanted to accomplish her materialistic desires with the valuable amount of $50000. She wanted to take a trip to Europe with her husband, buy a cottage on the Island and spend a luxurious life. Text Ana

8、lysisTo be continued on the next page.some eccentric millionaire is playing gamesQuestion: What were the reasons Norma gave to her husband to accept the offer?She said that it might be a psychological research in order to study human reactions or a game played by some eccentric millionaire. Accordin

9、g to her they would not have any concern with the death of an unknown person and it was a golden chance for them to realize their dreams and improve their life style.Text AnalysisTo be continued on the next page. Question: Why did Mr. Steward continue persuading Norma?Because he had already perceive

10、d Normas greedy and selfish nature through her interest in the temptation of $50,000. He had gathered that she could go to every extent of immorality for the sake of money.Text AnalysisTo be continued on the next page.Question: What was the message Norma received on pushing the button?Norma received

11、 a message from Lenox Hill Hospital about her husbands death. A voice informed her of the subway accident. She remembered his life-insurance policy for $25,000 with double indemnity. Text AnalysisTo be continued on the next page.Question: How do you define Normas personality? Norma is an average wom

12、an. She is not particularly selfish, cruel, or greedy. She wants to have more money to buy a bigger house and travel. That is perfectly normal. When she is offered a large sum of money for a simple act of pressing the button, she cannot resist the temptation, although by doing so, she will cause som

13、ebody somewhere in the world to die. Norma is no murderer. She will never pick up a gun and shoot somebody for money. But when she is reassured that that person who dies will not be somebody she knows, she begins to waver. Text AnalysisTo be continued on the next page.In Para. 13Question: Is there a

14、nything allegorical about Norma and her behavior?The morals seem involved in the modern symbolic tale. There is increasing lamenting over the moral decay of our society, because people seem to be obsessed with money and ready to “push the button”, which sends innocent people to their early graves. T

15、hey actually know the consequences of what they are doing. But that does not stop them, because the monetary reward is too attractive. Besides, they dont know the victims personally and they dont have to watch them die. This is particularly true with modern wars. We must all be accountable for our a

16、ctions. Nobody can be excused for being indifferent to other peoples sufferings. In the long run, nobody can cause the death and suffering of others without getting hurt themselves either.Text AnalysisTo be continued on the next page.Question: What main style of writing is used in the story?Richard

17、Matheson uses situational irony to get readers interested, and did the same with Girl of My Dreams. Situational irony, also called irony of events, is most broadly defined as a situation where the outcome is incongruous with what was expected, but it is also more generally understood as a situation

18、that includes contradictions or sharp contrasts. Reaction of wife and husband to the button unitWife / NormaMr StewardHusband / Arthurfrown / starepsychological researchintriguingcuriousmake a scoffing soundcrazystiffened / angrilyof all the nerveeccentric gamesdisgustedinterrupt / shruggesture vagu

19、elydraw in a shaking breathhow ridiculousshuddereda chill of horrorcontemptuousfeel unrealstruggle to her feetnumbly / coldsmash / poundwhirl with a gaspstumblingshrieking voicepolitelyvaluablemonetarilysurprisedoffer is genuinepleasednaturalauthenticexactlycorrectpropositionhesitatea sick practical

20、 jokenot make sensethrust the button unittear the card in halfshrugshake his headimmoralstareastoundedcounterappalledface was whitevoice was guardednot get involveddraw back slightlyhands tremblingWriting DeviceNarrationTo be continued on the next page.There are four types of writing styles: Exposit

21、ory, Descriptive, Persuasive and Narrative.Often, the word narrative is synonymous with story. A narrative is the story (fiction or non-fiction) told in an order. Sometimes, there is a narrator, a character or series of characters, who tell the story. Sometimes, as with most non-fiction, the author

22、himself/herself in the narrator. You are narrators of your own lives all the time. Something happens in class. You go to lunch; then, you tell the details that are important. The story that you tell is a narrative, which is shaped by details. These details offer clues about the authors purpose. Writ

23、ing DeviceTo be continued on the next page.Types of Narrative ConflictEvery work of literature, and much nonfiction narrative, is based on the following conflicts. When you write a story or relate a true event, you should identify the conflicts inherent in your composition and apply them as you writ

24、e. 1. Person vs. Fate / God2. Person vs. Self3. Person vs. Person4. Person vs. Society5. Person vs. Nature6. Person vs. Supernatural7. Person vs. Technology(by Mark Nichol)Writing DeviceNarrative writingThe end of Writing Device. Three principles for narrative writing:To involve readers in the story

25、. It is more interesting to recreate an incident for readers than to simply tell about it.Find a generalization from the story, which is the only way the writers personal experience will take on meaning for readers. The generalization does not have to encompass humanity as a whole; it can concern th

26、e writer, men, women, or children of various ages and backgrounds.Although the main component of a narrative is the story, details must be carefully selected to support, explain, and enhance the story. Sentence Paraphrase 1The package was lying by the front door a cube-shaped carton sealed with tape

27、. (Para. 1)go to 2a carton having the shape of a cube, which was fastened or closed with (sticky) tapeTo be continued on the next page.a heart-shaped candya star-shaped fishSentence Paraphrase 2 Ill get it (para. 5)Ill go and see who the visitor isgo to 3*It is a commonly used expression in daily li

28、fe. “Get” here means “take” or “deal with”.To be continued on the next page.Ill get it. (=Ill answer the phone.)Sentence Paraphrase 3Norma repressed a smile. (para. 10)She wanted to smile but didnt, because it would not be polite. She thought the visitor was a salesman who had left the package by he

29、r door. She believed he was there to persuade her to buy the package.go to 4Sentence Paraphrase 4She was sure now that it was a sales pitch. (para. 10)a sales pitch: salesmens way ofpersuading people to buy thegoods they are trying to sellgo to 5Sentence Paraphrase 5Is this a practical joke? (para.

30、32)a practical joke: a trick played on somebody in order to make them appear ridiculous or to amuse othersgo to 6Sentence Paraphrase 6You arent making sense. (para. 34)Its hard to understand what you are talking about. / You are talking nonsense.go to 7Sentence Paraphrase 7 picked up the subject. (p

31、ara. 42)go to 8 started talking about the push-button unit againcf. to drop the subjectSentence Paraphrase 8 its a sick one. (para. 43)a sick joke: one in bad taste about a serious or important or highly valued thing and therefore extremely unpleasant and makes you feel upset (令人恶心的玩笑)go to 9Sentenc

32、e Paraphrase 9Impulsively, she dropped them into her purse. (para. 53)She suddenly picked up the torn card and dropped them into her purse without giving too much thought to it.*impulsively: acting on impulsego to 10Sentence Paraphrase 10Not that I believe a word of what you told us. (para. 61)I am

33、curious about the unit, but it does not mean that I believe what you told me.go to 11Sentence Paraphrase 11Well, of all the nerve, she thought. (para. 70)go to 12She is angry that Mr. Steward assumed that she would want the package.Here “nerve” means impudence. “Of all the nerve” is an elliptical se

34、ntence. The words left out are: “This is the limit / worst kind (of all impudence Ive ever seen)”.Sentence Paraphrase 12Maybe some eccentric millionaire is playing games with people, (para. 72)some eccentric millionaire: any strange-acting millionaire; a millionaire who behaves in peculiar waysNotic

35、e the use of “some” with singular nouns, which indicates that the person, place, etc. is unknown or not specific, e.g.Ive read the story before in some book.Some man is outside asking to see you.go to 13Sentence Paraphrase 13Are you saying what I think you are (saying)? (para. 79)Q: What is omitted

36、in the sentence? Why do you think Arthur said this? Is it because he didnt hear Norma clearly?Arthur was so shocked when he heard what Norma said that he simply could not believe it.go to 14Sentence Paraphrase 14Whats the occasion? (para. 92)Q: Why did Arthur ask?Because his wife got up earlier than

37、 usual and cooked a big breakfast. He wondered whether it was for a special occasion.go to 15Sentence Paraphrase 15His voice was guarded. (para. 98)He answered her cautiously.go to 16Sentence Paraphrase 16 to get so worked up over nothing. (para. 115)to become so upset for no reason.This may refer to her argument with her husband, her own conflict