高级英语Mark Twain--Mirror of America

LessonSixMarkTwain—MirrorofAmericaTeachingObjectives1.Toacquaintstudentswiththewritingofbiography.2.TogettoknowMarkTwain’slifeexperienceandhisremarkableworks.3.Tolearnandmasterthenewwordsandexpressionsusedinthetext.4.Toidentifyandappreciaterhetoricdevicesemployedinthetext.5.Toanalyzethetextstructureandappreciateitswritingtechnequesandlanguagefeatures.IntroductintoMarkTwainIntroductintotextOrganizationalpatternoftextDetailedstudyofthetextSummarizingtheLanguagefeaturesMarkTwain–MirrorofAmerica1.WhowasMarkTwain?Wheredidhispennamecomefrom?2.Whathadhebeenbeforehebecameanauthor?TheNameofMarkTwain Twain'srealnamewasSamuelClemens."MarkTwain"means"watermarktwo",whichwasacallusedbysailorsontheMississippitowarnshipmatesthattheywerecomingintoshallowwater.EarlylifeexperienceMarkTwain BorninalittletowninMississippi At11,helosthisfather At13,hestoppedschooling Trampprinter SteamboatpilotontheMississippi Confederateguerrilla Prospector Reporteronthefarwesternfrontier TravelerabroadInHisMiddleAgesBy1900TwainhadbecomeAmerica’sforemostcelebrity.Hewasinvitedtoattendshiplaunchings,anniversarygatherings,politicalconventions,andcountlessdinners.Reportersmethim,anxioustoprintanewquip(俏皮话)fromthefamoushumorist.Toenhancehisimage,hetooktowearingwhitesuitsandlovedtostrolldownthestreetandseepeoplestaringathim. HisLaterLifeTherearemanytragiceventsinhislaterlife:thefailureofhisinvestments,hisfatiguingtravelsandlecturesinordertopayoffhisdebts,thedeathofhiswifeandtwodaughters.Somecriticslinkthesetragiceventswiththechangeofstyleinhislaterworks,fromanoptimistandhumoristtoapessimistandalmostdespairingdeterminist(决定论者).HisDeathMarkTwaindiedofillnessonApril21,1910.Whenhepassedaway,newspapersaroundthecountrydeclared,“Thewholeworldismourning.”Bythen,SamClemenshadlongsinceceasedtobeaprivatecitizen.HehadbecomeMarkTwain,aproudpossessionoftheAmericannation.MirrorofAmerica“Mirror”----Isapieceofglassorothershinny/polishedsurfacethatreflectsimages.Here,itisametaphor.Itmeansafaithfulrepresentationordescriptionofsomething(thecountry). WhydoestheauthorsaythatMarkTwainisthemirrorofAmerica?MarkTwain:SamuelLanghorneClemens(1835--1910)HisLifeexperience______HistoricEventsofUSATrampprinter--ProsperousageRiverpilot--MississippiRiverTranscontinentalRailroadsGuerrilla--TheCivilWarProspector--GoldRushReporter--WestwardExpansionCorrespondent--Europe,theHolyLandWriter--TomSawyer’sinnocenceHuckFinn’sexperienceThehistoricalbackgroundofMarkTwain'stimeTwainlivedinthestirring(动荡)yearsinAmericanhistory----theAmerican-MexicanWar,TheCivilWar,theGoldRush,theWesternExpansion,theAmericanSpanishWar,therapiddevelopmentofcapitalismandlatertheemergenceofimperialismalongwiththefirsteconomicdepressions,etc.MarkTwain---themirrorofAmericaismadeintwosenses. ★★MarkTwain’sexciting,adventurouslifestoriesmirrorapartoftrueAmericanhistory,andthelifeofordinaryAmericanpeople. ★★Second,hislifeexperiencefurnishedhimwithawideknowledgeofhumanity,aswellaswiththeperfectgraspoflocalcustomsandspeech,whichMarkTwainhasmanifestedsowellinhiswriting.Hisworksmirrortherealsocietyofhistime. Asaman,hegrewupwithAmericaasacountry(ayoungcountry) Asawriter,hegrewupwithAmerica,movedalongwithAmerica,frominnocencetoexperience.TextwritingstyleFromthetitleoftext,weknowthistextisrelatedtothelifeofMarkTwain.Whatwritingstyledoesthewritingonthelifeofsomeonebelongto?Especially,thewritingonlyfoucusesonacertainfeatureofaperson'slife,forexample,lifeofMarkTwainasmirrorofAmerica.Biography?IntroductintoabiographyPre-readingquestions1.Whatisabiography?2.Ifyouwereaskedtowriteabiographyofsb.,howareyougoingtoarrangeallthematerialavailable.Whatisthegeneralwayofwritingabiography?3.Whatkindoflanguagedoyouexpecttoencounterandwhy? Introductintoabiography Abiographyis,bydefinition,anaccountofsomeone'slifethathasbeenwrittenbysomeoneelse,orawrittenhistoryofsomeone'slife. Generally,abiographyisaboutsb.whoenjoyscertainreputation,whohasacquiredcertainfamebyhis/hersuccessincertainarea.Theprotagonistcanbeapositiveornegativecharacter.AbriefintroductiontothewholetextP1.Ashortsummaryofhislife;Anoverallestimation P2.HisearlylifeontheMississippi P3.Lifeinthewest P4.Howhebecameawriter P5.HowhelookedattheOldWorld P6.Howhecametowritehismasterpiece P7.HislastperiodPara.1Pre-readingquestions1.Whatisthemainideaandfunctionofparagraphone?2.WhywasTwainsaidtobeadventurous,patriotic,romantic,andhumorous?3.whatdidtheauthormeanby"IfoundanotherTwain..."?DetailedStudyofthetextP1.(Para.1)Ashortsummaryofhislife;Anoverallestimation ontheonehand,adventurous,patriotic,romantic,andhumorous,optimistic. ontheotherhand,grewcynical,bitter,saddenedbytheprofoundpersonaltragedies,obsessedwiththefrailtiesofthehumanrace,pessimistic..WordsandExpressions(para.1)1.remember…asthefather…father:creatore.g.MostChinesepeoplerememberLuxunasthefatherofAhQu.figureofspeech:metaphorDetailedStudyoftheText(para.1)2.HuckFinn’sidylliccruisethrougheternalboyhood:Ifyoudescribesomethingasidyllic,youmeanthatitisextremelypleasant,simple,andpeacefulwithoutanydifficultiesordangers....anidyllicsettingforasummerromance...适于夏日恋曲的质朴宜人的环境Marriedlifewasnotasidyllicashehadimagined.婚姻生活并不像他想象的那么浪漫美好。cruise:n.aseavoyageforpleasurev.sailortravelaboutasforpleasureHewasonaworldcruise.TheyspentthesummercruisingintheGreekislands.ThetaxicruisedoffdowntheChang'anAvenue.cruisemissile巡航导弹cruiser:alargefastwarship巡洋舰fj2.HuckFinn’sidylliccruisethrougheternalboyhood:Paraphrase:HuckFinn’ssimpleandpleasantjourneythroughhisboyhoodwhichseemseternal.3.TomSawyer’sendlesssummeroffreedomandadventure:endless:hyperbole；parallelismsummer:becausealltheadventuresofTomSawyerdescribedinthebookaresupposedtohavetakenplaceinoneparticularsummer. MarkTwain’sMasterpiecesParaphraseforthefirstsentence: MarkTwainwasknownasthewriterofTheAdventuresofTomSawyerandTheAdventuresofHuckberryFinn. Inthefirstbook,hedescribedTom'sfreeandadventurousactivitiesinalongsummerthatseemsendless. Inthelatter,hedepictedHuckFinn’ssimpleandpleasantvoyagethroughFinn'sboyhoodthatseemseternal.TheAdventuresofTomSawyer(1876)Astorywrittenforboys,fullofthehorror,joysandAdventuresofchildhood.Generationsaftergenerationsofyoungpeoplehavehelditdeartotheirhearts.TomSawyerissuretobestudiedinAmericanschoolsasTheDeclarationofIndependence.TomSawyer TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn,generallyconsideredTwain'sgreatestwork,waspublishedinGreatBritainin1884andintheUnitedStatesin1885.Twainhadbegunthebookin1876asasequeltoTomSawyer.Itdescribestheadventuresoftworunaways--theboyHuckFinnandtheblackslaveJim--andistoldfromthepointofviewofHuckhimself.TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnTwainusedrealisticlanguageinthenovel,makingHuck'sspeechsoundlikeactualconversationandimitatingavarietyofdialectstobringtheothercharacterstolife.TomSawyeralsoreappearsincertainchapters,andhismischievousbehaviorsprovidethefamiliarhumorforwhichTwainwasknown.ContributionofAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnOneofhisgreatestaccomplishmentswasthedevelopmentofawritingstylethatwasdistinctlyAmerican,ratherthananimitationofthestyleofEnglishwriters.TwainmadeamoreextensivecombinationofAmericanfolkhumorandseriousliteraturethanpreviouswritershaddone.ContributionofAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn (localcolorism,adominantfashionfrom1860s’—1900s’)Thelooserhythmsofthelanguageinhisbooksgivetheimpressionofrealspeech. Twain'srealisticprosestyle hasinfluencednumerous Americanwriters.ContributionofAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnAllmodernAmericanliteraturecomesfromonebookbyMarkTwaincalledHuckleberryFinn....Therewasnothingbefore.Therehasbeennothingasgoodsince.----ErnestHemingway 3.(everybit)as…asanyonehaseverimagined everybit:tothesamedegree,altogether,entirely(oftenfollowedby'as'),forexample: Heiseverybitascleverasyouare. I'meverybitassorryaboutitasyou. Sheiseverybitasbeautifulasanyonehaseverimagined. Luxun,oneofbest-lovedauthorsinChina,waseverybitaspatriotic,acid-tonguedandhumorousasanyonehaseverimagined. 4.…asadventurous,patriotic,romantic,andhumorousas…: a)adventurous:MarkTwainwasadventurousineverysenseoftheword.Hewasalwaystryingnewthings,andalwaysgoingtonewplaces.Eveninhisliterarycareer,hewasneversatisfiedwithwhatheachieved.4.…asadventurous,patriotic,romantic,andhumorousas…: b)patriotic:ItreferstoMarkTwain’sprofoundloveforhiscountrywithitsrobustpeopleandbeautifulsceneryanditsloftyideals.ItmayalsorefertohisprideintheAmericantraditionandtheAmericanlanguage. patriot→patriotic→patriotism4.…asadventurous,patriotic,romantic,andhumorousas…: c)romantic:(inart,literatureandmusic)markedbyfeelingratherthanbyintellect;preferringgreatness,passion,informalbeautytoorderandproportion. d)humorous:HisworksaresofullofhumorthatheisconsideredasAmerica’sgreatesthumorist.5.cynical cynic:n.apersonwhoseesnogoodnessinhumanbehaviorandhaslittlefaithinhumansincerityorgoodness. cynic→cynicalcynic→cynicism e.g.acynicalremark,attitude,smile They'vegrownrathercynicalaboutdemocracy,thatis,nolongerbelievethatitisanhonestsystem.6.bitterbitter:markedbystrongresentmentorcynicisme.g.Sheissaidtobeverybitteraboutthewayshewassacked.据说，她对自己被以如此方式解雇而感到愤愤不平。7.profoundadj.(here)profoundisusedtoemphasizethatsth.isverygreatandintensee.g.Hislove/feelingforhiscountrywasprofound.profoundanger/shock/disagreement.aprofoundidea,work,person---showsgreatintellectualdepthandunderstanding.Thisbookisfullofprofoundinsights深邃的见解.7.dealv.deal:givee.g.dealsb.ablow…tocausesb.greatdifficultiesHedealtmeahardblowonthechin.Thenewsdealtmeasevereblow.8.be/becomeobsessedwith(by)obssess:preoccupygreatlyorhaunted/troubledinmindtoanabnormaldegree:使着迷;困扰 Theideathathemightlosethepositionobsessedhim. Alotofyounggirlsareobsessedbytheirweight.9.frailty frailty:aweaknessofcharacterorbehavior.e.g.Oneofthefrailtiesofhumannatureislaziness.Frailty,thynameiswoman!(Hamlet)themetaphorinthelastsentence “Ablackwallofnight”,thecolor“black”or“dark”and“night”-impliessomethinghopeless. oppositeto“day”and“daybreak’and“light”--“hope”or“hopefulness”. “ablackwallofnight”--“despairandhopelessness”.Paraphrase:Hedidnotseeabrightfuturebutadarkoneandahopelessone.Para2Pre-readingquestions Whatisthemainideaofthesecondparagraph? WhatdidMarkTwaindobeforehebecameawriter?whatwashislifeattitudeatthattime? Whylaterhebecamemorecynicalandsarcastic? Howdidheadopthispenname?whatisthemeaningofhispenname?Para2GivesabriefaccountofTwain’sexperiencebeforehebecameawriter. Heusedtomovehereandthere,andhefirstworkedasaprinter,thenariverpilot,aConfederateguerrilla,agoldminer. Whenhewasyoung,heembodiedhopeandbeautifuldreams,sohewasquiteoptimistic. Butlaterhebecamemorecynicalandsarcastic.1.tramp:afoottravellertrampprinter:apersonwhogoesarounddoingoddjobsofprinting.2.pilot:apersonqualifiedtoguideshipsthroughdifficultwatersgoingintooroutofaharbour3.guerrilla:amemberofanirregulararmedforcePara2Wordsandexpressions4.prospector:onewhoexploresandsearchesforvaluableoressuchasgold,silver,oil,etc. Para2Wordsandexpressions 5.starry-eyed: starryadj.aboundingwithorresemblingstars. eg.abeautifulstarrynight繁星满天的美丽夜晚 starry-eyed:fullofunreasonableorsillyhopes,impractical,tooromantictoberealistic,blindlyoptimistic e.g.Wewereallstarry-eyedaboutvisitingLondon.Para.2Wordsandexpressions 6.acid-tongued: acid:harshintone e.g.Iwasexpectinganotherofhisacidremarks,butheremainedsilent. acid-tongued:sharp,sarcasticinspeech moreexamplesofthesameformation: empty-minded; kind-hearted Para2Wordsandexpressions 7.digest:thinkabout,understand,andremember Thereportcontainstoomuchtodigestatonereading. Hereadsrapidlybutdoesnotdigestverymuch.Para2Wordsandexpressions8.…thenewAmericanexperience:TwainlivedinthestirringyearsinAmericanhistory----theAmerican-MexicanWar,TheCivilWar,theGoldRush,thewesternexpansion,theAmericanSpanishWar,therapiddevelopmentofcapitalismandlatertheemergenceofimperialismalongwiththefirsteconomicdepressions,etc.Para2Wordsandexpressions 9.attest(to):tobeortogiveproofof Hisabilitywasattestedbyhisrapidpromotion. Thechild'sgoodhealthattestshismother'scare. Hissuccessattestshisability.Para2WordsandexpressionsPara.3-5pre-readingquestions:1.CanPara.3-5beregardedasaparagraphunit?HowdoestheauthororganizePara.3-5bytheMississippiRiver?2.WhatwasthemainchanneloftransportationinTwain'searlyyears?（para.3)3.Howdidhisexperienceasasteamboatpilotinfluencehislaterwriting?（para.4-5)Para.3-5:HisearlylifeontheMississippiMarkTwainandtheMississippi MarkTwainlovedthegreatriversomuchthathealwayswentinthedirectionofthenearbyMississippi.ManyofhisgreatworksaresetinthebackgroundoftheMississippiRiver,suchasTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn,TheAdventuresofTomSawyer,andLifeontheMississippi.Para3QuestionsforPara.3:1.WhatwasthemainchanneloftransportationinTwain’schildhood?2.DoestheRiverflownorthwardorsouthward?Howdoyouknow?3.Whatdoes“majorcommerce”referto?4.Whatdoyouknowaboutthewestwardexpansion?Para3A1:(theMississippiRiver)itplayedaveryimportantroleinlinkingthenorthandsouthintradeandtransportation.TheNativeAmericansofdifferenttribeswhooriginallylivedneartheMississippianduseditforcanoetransportation,Para3A2:“Downstream” ---flowssouthward. ItflowsintotheMexicoGulf.Para3Para3A3:majorcommerce:lumber,corn,tobacco,wheat,furs;sugar,molasses,cotton,whiskeycommerce:asanabstractnoun,commerceusu.meansthebuyingandsellingofgoods,trade;hereitisusedconcretely,referstovariouscommodities,merchandise.Para3languagePoints core:thecentralpart e.g.anapplecore Managerscanconcentrateontheircoreactivities. Theplanhastheinterestsofchildrenatitscore.Para3languagePoints arteryandheart:metaphor “artery”---“channelormeans”. “heart”----“thecentralpartorcenter”. Para3languagePoints lumber:timbersawedintobeams,planks,boards,etc.ofconvenientsizes. Cf.timber:Americanusage,woodsuitableforbuildinghouses,ships,etc.,whethercutorstillintheformoftrees.ButinBritishusage,timberandlumbermeanthesamething.Para3languagePoints furs:animalskinswithfuronit thedeltacountry:“delta”isthe4thletterofGreekalphabet,whoseshapedlikeatriangle.Thereforeanythingintheshapeofadelta,esp.adepositofsandandsoilformedatthemouthofsomeriversiscalledadelta.Para3languagePoints molasses:athickdarktolightbrownsyrupthatisseparatedfromrawsugar,generallyusedasasingularnoun.Para3languagePoints …drainedthree-quartersofthesettledU.S.: Drain:receivethewatersofthisareaandcarrythemtotheocean Herethemeaningisthattheriverdrainedavastbasin,andthebasinmadeup¾ofthepopulatedareaoftheU.S.ofthattime.Para3languagePoints basin: theYellowRiverBasin Thebasinmadeup3/4ofthepopulatedareaoftheUSofthattime. independent,13statesalongtheAtlanticOcean. By1850,U.S.hadexpandedtothePacificcoast. TheeventsincludetheLouisianaPurchase(1803),TexasAnnexation(1845),thepushintoOregon(1846),MexicanCession(1848),andtheGadsdenPurchaseWestwardExpansion In1848goldwasfoundinCalifornia.Thenewsspreadfarandwide.--arosetheGoldrush,--reacheditspeaksinthe1860s. DuringtheCivilWar,PresidentLincolnpassedHomesteadAct（美）移居法thatalsoenabledmanycourageousandhardworkingpeopletodevelopthewest. drivingandkillingthenativeIndians.WestwardExpansionPara4Questions Canyouexplainthemeaningof“thecastofcharacters”and“acosmos”andpointoutthefiguresofspeechusedhere? Whatdoesitmeanby“participatedabundantlyinthislife”? Whatarethestoriesheheardonthesteamboat?Para4languagePoints “Thecastofcharacters” ----alltheactorsinaplayormovie here“peopleofallsorts”. figuresofspeech:alliteration,metaphor paraphrase:Whenhewasworkingonthesteamboat,hemetpeopleofallkinds.Para4languagePoints“acosmos” ----“universe”, Usedfigurativelyhere,referstoaplacewhereonecanseealltypesofpeople paraphrase:Thesteamboatisaworldwherehecanperceiveandobservedifferenttypesofpeople.Para4languagePointsparticipatedabundantlyinthislife:Hespentmostofhistimeobservingpeopleandenjoyingthesteamboatlife.Para4languagePointsThestoriesTwainheardonthesteamboat: Feuds---howfamiliesorpersonsquarrelwitheachotherforalongperiod.feud:bitter,long-continueddeadlyquarrel thefeudbetweenRomeo'sfamilyandJuliet's piracies---howpiratesrobberpeopleontheseapiracy:robberyonthehighseas;takingashipawayfromthecontrolofthosewhoarelegallyentitledtoit.Para4languagePointsThestoriesTwainheardonthesteamboat: lynchings---howtheguiltywaskilledorhangedwithoutpublictrial medicineshows---howthequack(江湖医生)ormountebank(江湖骗子)triedtoselltheirpills.(curealls(通常无效的)万灵药)Para4languagePointsThestoriesTwainheardonthesteamboat: savagewatersideslums---howsomepeoplebuilttheirshabbyhouseontheriverbankwithoutpermission. Canyoufindthefigureofspeechusedinthelastsentence? “resurface” ---“cometosurfaceagain”. Metaphoricalmeaning.“reappearorberetold”.Para4languagePoints Canyoufindthefigureofspeechusedinthelastsentence? soakup:todrawinbyorasifbysuctionorabsorption Thesoilsoakedupahugevolumeofwaterveryrapidly. Para4languagePoints “Phonographic”:ofgramophone,phonograph(留声机) Hismemoryisasaccurateasaphonographorgramophone.Para4languagePoints “Phonographic”:ofgramophone,phonograph(留声机) …heabsorbedanddigestedthecolourfullanguagewithanastonishinggoodmemorywhichseemedtobeabletorecordthingslikeaphonograph/gramophone.Para4languagePoints “Phonographic”:ofgramophone,phonograph (留声机) Allthestorieswouldreappearinhisbooks,togetherwiththerichandcolorfullanguagethatheabsorbedortookinwithamemorythatwasasaccurateasaphonograph.Para4languagePoints WhateffectdoesTwain’sexperienceonthesteamboathaveonhiswriting? Whatkindofrhetoricaldeviceisusedinthisparagraph? Para.5Questions WhateffectdoesTwain’sexperienceonthesteamboathaveonhiswriting? --agoodchancetogettoknowdifferentpeopleandlistentodifferentstories ThoseacquaintanceshipsstrengthenedallhiswritingandattributedtohisvividdescriptionofthepeoplealongtheMississippiRiver. Para.5Questions 1.Steamboatdecksteemednotonlywith… teemwith:befullof,haveingreatnumbers,etc. 1)Hisheadteemswithcleverideas. 2)Fishteemsinthisriver. 3)Beforebeingpollutedthatriverteemedwithfishandshrimps.Para.5languagePoints 1.Steamboatdecksteemednotonlywith… “themaincurrent”---themainstream themajorityofthepassengersboardthesteamboat. “pioneeringhumanity”pioneersorpeoplewithpioneeringspirit.Para.5languagePoints 1.Steamboatdecksteemednotonlywith… humanity:humanbeingsingeneral “pioneeringhumanity”pioneersorpeoplewithpioneeringspirit.Para.5languagePoints 1.Steamboatdecksteemednotonlywith…Steamboatdeckswerefilledwithpeopleofpioneeringspiritorpeoplewhoexploredandpreparedthewayforothers,andalsolawlesspeopleorsocialoutcastssuchashustlers,gamblersandthugs(violentcriminals). Para.5languagePoints 1.Steamboatdecksteemednotonlywith… “Flotsam”----thewreckageofashiporitscargofoundfloatingonthesea浮货,废料 ----(here)referstopeoplewhodonothavehomesorjobsandperhapshavehadtoleavetheirowncountry,metaphoricallyused. hustlers(streetwalkers),gamblersandthugs(villain,blackguard,criminals)-----socialoutcasts. Para.5languagePoints 1.Steamboatdecksteemednotonlywith… thug:apersonwhoisveryviolentandrough,esp.acriminal,blackguard,hooliganorvillain Hustlers,gamblersandthugs -----socialoutcasts. Para.5languagePoints 1.Steamboatdecksteemednotonlywith…Steamboatdeckswerefilledwithpeopleofpioneeringspiritorpeoplewhoexploredandpreparedthewayforothers,andalsolawlesspeopleorsocialoutcastssuchashustlers,gamblersandthugs(violentcriminals). Para.5languagePoints 2.keenperception: keen--- a.sharp:keenobservation b.(withthe5senses,themind)good,strong,quickatunderstanding Myhearingisnotaskeenasitusedtobe. Hehasakeenbrain. Para.5languagePoints perception:natural