讲义高级英语上lesson

1、Lesson 6 Mark Twain Mirror of America (Excerpts)By Noel GroveBook 1 ContentsPart One: Warm-upPart Two: Background InformationPart Three: Text AppreciationPart Four: Language Study Part Five: ExtensionPart OneWarm-up . Video Watching . Brainstorming . Discussion . Learning Objectives. Video WatchingW

2、atch the video clip and describe it.About Mark Twain . BrainstormingMake some predictions about the text to be learned.“Mark Twain Mirror of America”Huck FinnTom SawyerRiver pilotConfederate guerrillaProspectorThe Mississippi River NovelistReporter. Discussion1. What do you know about Mark Twain? 2.

3、 Have you ever read Mark Twains novels? 3. Which novel impresses you most? Why?4. Do you like the naughty but clever boy Tom in Tom Sawyer? What attracts you most while reading the novel?5. What is Mark Twains writing style? . Learning Objectives1.To know the writing style of Mark Twain.2.To be acqu

4、ainted with some rhetorical devices.3.To learn to use words and expressions to describe a persons life and experience.4.To appreciate the language features.5.To learn to write a comment on a writer. Part TwoBackground Information. About Mark Twain. The Civil War . The Adventures of Tom Sawyer . The

5、Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . Gilded Age . Gold Rush VII. The Mysterious Stranger VIII. The Celebrated Jumping Frog . About Mark Twain Mark Twain Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (18351910), Americas most famous humorist and the author of popular and outstanding autobiograp

6、hical works, travel books and novels. . About Mark TwainThe first 36 years of Clemens life a boy in a little town in Missouri,a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi, a reporter on the far western frontier a traveler abroad All these supplied him with copious material which he used later for his best a

7、nd most successful writings. About Mark Twain. The American Civil WarThe American Civil War was a four-year armed conflict between the North and the South. . The American Civil WarThe war began on April 12, 1861 and went on for 4 bitter years, with ups and downs on both sides. The turning point of t

8、he war is the Battle of Gettysburg. Finally the Confederate army had to surrender, ending the war in 1865. As a result of the war, slavery was abolished and the Union was preserved. . The Adventures of Tom SawyerFrom playing pirates on a deserted island to attending his own “funeral”, from exploring

9、 a bat-filled underground cave to digging for treasure in a haunted house, Tom Sawyer is a genius at getting himself and his friends into and out of sometimes dangerous adventures. .The Adventures of Huckberry FinnConsidered as one of the great American novels, the work has been popular with readers

10、 since its publication and is taken as a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It is told in the first person by Huckleberry Finn, a friend of Tom Sawyer. The novel is noted for its colorful description of people and places along the Mississippi River. .The Adventures of Huckberry Finn. Gilded Age

11、In United States history, the Gilded Age refers to the era of rapid economic and population growth in the United States during the postCivil War and post-Reconstruction eras of the late 19th century. . Gilded AgeThe term “Gilded Age was coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in their book Th

12、e Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, a tale of corruption and failed land Deals土地交易失败 and a loss of innocence. 1st edition book cover. Gilded AgeIn this period, not only the role of women was being challenged. Industrialists, corporations, utilities, bankers, and brokers 经纪人were increasingly viewed as an

13、enemy by the working class, whose wages had stagnated while men who were already millionaires got richer. . Gilded AgeFailed land deals, speculation, and corruption were prevalent. Many workers went from being independent tradesmen to being wage laborers concentrated in large factories. Millions of

14、immigrants swelled the population of U.S. cities and began to compete for jobs. Labor unions were born to represent these angry and beleaguered bli:gd 】被困的workers. . Gold Rush A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold ru

15、shes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.VII. The Mysterious Stranger An unfinished work by Mark Twain who worked roughly from 1890 until his death in 1910A “complete” version was published p

16、osthumously pstjmsl in 1916 去世后by Twains biographer under the name The Mysterious Stranger, A Romance. VII. The Mysterious Stranger The published book version nonetheless maintains Twains sharp attack on the hypocrisy of organized religion that is the subject of much of Twains later writings. He vie

17、ws religion as a “moral” order to protect wealth, power, and oppression.VIII. The Celebrated Jumping Frog It is an 1865 short story by Mark Twain, his first great success as a writer, bringing him national attention. The story has also been published as “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” (its origina

18、l title) and “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. VIII. The Celebrated Jumping Frog The narrator retells a story he heard from a bartender, 酒吧招待Simon Wheeler, at the Angels Hotel in Angels Camp, California, about the gambler Jim Smiley. Part ThreeText Appreciation. Text Analysis Introdu

19、ction Theme Text Organization Further Understanding. Writing Devices Language Style Rhetorical Devices . Sentence Paraphrase . Text Analysis Introduction“Mark Twain Mirror of America” is an exemplification or biographical essay on Mark Twain written by Noel Grove. An essay is a piece of writing ofte

20、n written from an authors personal point of view. . Text Analysis An essay can consist of literary criticism, political manifestos, arguments, observations, recollections and reflections of the author. An exemplification essay is characterized by a generalization and relevant, representative and bel

21、ievable examples including anecdotes, personal experience. . Text Analysis Mark Twain is one of the greatest writer in the world whose personal experience and literary creation gives a true representation ofAmerica. ThemeYoung Twain Old TwainAdventurousPatrioticRomanticHumorousCynicalBitterSatirical

22、Miserable . Text AnalysisText OrganizationPart 1 (Para. 1): This part serves as a general introduction to the passage, through which the reader will get a glimpse of the great American writer, Mark Twain, who was not only adventurous, patriotic, romantic, and humorous, but also cynical, bitter and u

23、nhappy. Part 2 (Paras. 2-7): This part depicts Mark Twains life experiences before his writing career, which provided him with rich material for his later humorous writings. . Text Analysis . Text AnalysisPart 3 (Paras. 8-18): This part introduces Mark Twains writing career. Part 4 (Paras. 19-21): T

24、his part tells the reader the reason for his shift from a humorous writing style to a bitter and satirical one and the crumbling of his last illusions. Text Analysis Further Understanding1. The theme of “Mark TwainMirror of America” is _. A. Twains personal experience and literary creation gives a t

25、rue representation of America. B. Mark twain is one of Americas best-loved authors. C. Twains colorful personal experience exerted great impact on his writing. D. Twains novels are sure to be read and studied in America.2. How many years did Mark Twain range across the country? A. 10 B. 15 C. 20 D.

26、253. How long did Mark Twain try soldiering as a confederate guerrilla? A. One week B. Two weeks C. One month D. Two months. Text Analysis. Text Analysis4. What made Twain e bitter late in life? A. Age B. Money C. personal experience D. personal tragedy5. According to Twain, what was missing in Amer

27、ican ambition? A. Energy B. Health C. knowledge D. Thought. Writing DevicesLanguage Style1. Effective use of adjectivesThe effective use of adjectives is a way to focus on vivid description of a person, his characteristic and personality.e.g. Mark Twain Tom & Huck AdventurousPatrioticRomanticHumorou

28、scynicalIdyllicMischievousSweetEternal . Writing Devices2. Figurative use of specific words increase the vividnessstrengthen the impressione.g. remember Mark Twain as the father, main artery of transportation, delta country3. Nouns used as attributesto get more closely associated with a specific per

29、son or thinge.g. tramp printer, steamboat days4. words and phrases connected with boats and riversto indicate the influence of the authors early experiencee.g. idyllic cruise, waterside slum, steamboat, keelboats, Flatboats. Writing Devices5. Successful use of quotes1) to tell clearly the authors re

30、al opinion: e.g. “They vanish from a world where they of no consequence”2) to demonstrate Twains style of writing:e.g. the use of rich dialects in the novel: “Ive tried it, and it dont work”. Writing DevicesRhetorical Devices: PersonificationDefinition: Personification is a figure of speech which at

31、tributes human qualities and abilities to inanimate objects, animals, abstract ideas, etc. . Writing Devices. Writing Devicese.g. 1. Youth is wild, and age is tame. William Shakespeare 2. Dusk came stealthily.3. I watched the moonlight dancing on the ripples of the lake. 4. The ancient mansion spoke

32、 to me of bygone days. . Writing DevicesRhetorical Devices: HyperboleDefinition: Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used to emphasize a point, to create humor, or to achieve some similar effects. e.g. 1. She was scared to death. 2. Id give the world to see the Great Wall.3. I t

33、old you a thousand times that you shouldnt behave like that.4. Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay. 5. Her beauty made the bright world dim. . Writing DevicesRhetorical Devices: EuphemismDefinition: Euphemism is a figure of speech in which indirect words or phrases are used instead of those th

34、at are strictly required by truth?, or in which mild words and phrases are used instead of unpleasant ones. . Writing Devicese.g. 1. He is a bit off his head.2. He was now living at governments expense. 3. He is a bit slow for his age. 4.He passed away for a few years. . Writing DevicesRhetorical De

35、vices: Antithesis Definition: Antithesis is the deliberate arrangement of contrasting words or ideas in balanced structures to achieve force and emphasis. The form of the expression is very important for the effect, for the force of emphasis, whether for profundity of judgment, or humor or for satir

36、e, depends chiefly on the juxtaposition of glaring contrasts. Writing Devicese.g. 1. Crafty men condemn studies; simple men admire them; and wise men use them. 2. Speech is silver, silence is golden. 3. The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Writing Devices. Sente

37、nce Paraphrase1. Most Americans remember Mark Twain as the father.freedom and adventure. (Para. 1)Mark Twain is known to most Americans as the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which are generally acknowledged to be his greatest works.Huck Finn

38、s idyllic cruise through eternal boyhood: Huck Finns simple and pleasant journey through his boyhood which seems eternal2. .the colorful language that he soaked up with a memory that seemed phonographic. (Para. 4)The colorful language that he took in mentally with a good memory that seemed to be abl

39、e to record things like a phonograph. Sentence Paraphrase3. Steamboat decks teemed not only withthugs as well. (Para. 5)Steamboat decks were filled with people of pioneering spirit and also lawless people or social outcasts such as hustlers, gamblers and thugs. Sentence Paraphrase4. .he flirted with

40、 the colossal wealthand was rebuffed. (Para.7)He tried but not very hard or persistently enough to get the enormous wealth available to those lucky and persistent ones, and he failed. Sentence Paraphrase5. .take a distinctly American look at the Old World. (Para. 12)Take a typically American look; “

41、the Old World” is opposed to “the New World”, which is America. Sentence Paraphrase6. On the river, and especially with Huck Finn, Twain found the ultimate expression of escape. (Para. 18)By describing the river (the Mississippi), and especially Huck Finn, Twain best expressed the desire of escape.

42、Sentence Paraphrase8. Personal tragedy haunted his entire life. (Para. 20)Personal tragedies occurred repeatedly throughout his life. Sentence ParaphrasePart FourLanguage Study. Word Study . Phrases and Expressions. Word Study1. idyllic2. patriotic3. cynical4. frailty5. starry-eyed6. acid-tongued7.

43、feud8. savage9. teem10. acquaintanceship11. halt12. epidemic13. rebuff14. reckless15. tedious16. panorama17. deplore18. illusion19. crumble20. vanish. Word Study1. idyllic(adj.): an idyllic place or time is very beautiful, happy, and peaceful, with no problems or dangerse.g. If you want old-world tr

44、adition in an idyllic setting, this is the hotel for you. 2. patriotic(adj.): having or expressing a great love for ones countrye.g. At Llewellyns funeral service, she was remembered as a patriotic American who had served her country well. Word Study. Word Study3. cynical(adj.): unwilling to believe

45、 that people have good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing sth.e.g. He is a cynical intellectual who rivals Socrates as an educator of future leaders and statesmen.4. frailty(n.): the lack of strength or healthe.g. Frailty, thy name is woman!. Word Study5. starry-eyed(adj.): happy and hopeful abou

46、t things in a way that is silly or unrealistic e.g. Andrew fell in love with that starry-eyed young actresses.6. acid-tongued(adj.): an acid-tongued remark uses humor in an unkind way to criticize sb.e.g. I was expecting another of his acid-tongued remark, but Jack remained silent. Word Study. Word

47、Study7. feud(n.): an angry and often violent quarrel between two people or groups that continues for a long timee.g. The fight started a bitter feud over territory.8. savage(adj.): criticizing someone or something very severely e.g. Mark Twain lashed a savage attack on the state government. . Word S

48、tudy9. teem(v.): to teem with sb./sth.: to be very full of people or animals, all moving aboute.g. The small island was teeming with tourists.10. acquaintanceship(n.): experience or knowledge of a subjecte.g. Now this acquaintanceship has shown its deficiency though it prevailed at one time. Word St

49、udy11. halt(v.): to prevent sb. or sth. from continuing used especially in news reports e.g. The government has failed to halt economic decline. 12. epidemic(n.): a sudden increase in the number of times that sth. bad happense.g. Britain is suffering an epidemic of petty crime. . Word Study13. rebuf

50、f(v.): to make an unkind or unfriendly answer to a friendly suggestion or offer of helpe.g. He rebuffed all her suggestions. 14. reckless(adj.): not caring or worrying about the possible bad or dangerous results of your actionse.g. He was accused of causing death by reckless driving. . Word Study15.

51、 tedious(adj.): sth. that is tedious continues for a long time and is not interestinge.g. The work on the assembling line was really tiring and tedious.16. panorama(n.): a description or series of pictures that shows all the features of a subject, historical period etc.e.g. His novels provides a pan

52、orama of life in England 400 years ago. Word Study. Word Study17. deplore(v.): to disapprove of sth. very strongly and criticize it severely, especially publiclye.g. The U.N. deplored the invasion as a violation of international law.18. illusion(n.): an idea or opinion that is wrong, especially abou

53、t yourself e.g. Usually alcohol will give some people the illusion of being witty and confident. Word Study. Word Study19. crumble(v.): to break apart into lots of little pieces, or make sth. do thise.g. The red leaves crumbled in my fingers. 20. vanish(v.): to disappear suddenly, especially in a wa

54、y that cannot be easily explainede.g. The young soldier vanished without a trace one day and has never been found. Word Study. Phrases and Expressions1. soak up2. succumb to3. be accustomed to (doing) sth.4. settle in5. an escape from6. be obsessed with . Phrases and Expressions1. soak up:if sth. so

55、aks up a liquid, it takes the liquid into itself.e.g. The waiter used a towel to soak up the water on the table.2. succumb to:to give ine.g. Succumbing to pressure from the chemical industry, Governor Blakely amended the regulations. Phrases and Expressions3. be accustomed to (doing) sth.:to be familiar with sth. and accept it as normale.g. These minority groups were accustomed to working together in the forest. 4. settle in:to go to a place where no people have lived permanently before and start to live theree.g. This territory w