现代大学英语精读第一册 Lesson3

Lesson Three Message of the LandTeaching Objectives:A. To know the background information about the author, and the style of this text.B. To acquire the key words, important and difficult sentences and language pointsC. To understand and master the usage of the basic rhetorical devices: simile and metaphorD. To understand the connotation of the title and main idea of the text.Teaching Procedure:I. Pre-task1. Warm upIndividual questions:l The title “Message of the Land means that land can convey something to people. Then what does land convey to people, or what role does land play in peoples daily life in your mind?l What is peoples attitude to land nowadays?2. Background information:The author: Pira Sudham(1942)is an English writer in Thailand . He was born in a poor family in rural Esarn, in the northeast of the country. At the age of 14, he traveled to Bangkok to become a temple boy, a servant to the monks. He continued to study and won entrance to Thailands top University, Chulalongkorn. He later won a New Zealand government scholarship which allowed him to travel from New Zealand to Australia, Chinas Hong Kong and Europe. Pira Sudham never forgets Esarn, where he experienced poverty and injustices in his early years, and which became the background for many of his short stories and novels. His novel Monsoon Country made him a nominee for the 1990 Nobel Prize for the literature. This text is adapted from the farmer and his wife in guidebook to better reading series published in 1982.The city: BangkokBangkok, population 8,538,610 (1990), is the capital and largest city of Thailand. The city is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok is one of the fastest-growing, most economically dynamic and socially progressive cities in Southeast Asia. Local people like to think that it is emerging as a regional centre to rival Singapore and Hong Kong, but it suffers from major infrastructure and social problems as a result of its rapid growth. It is also one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations.Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand. The Chao Phraya River allows Bangkok to function as a port. The Stock Exchange of Thailand is located in Bangkok. Tourism is a major source of revenue. The city contains many Buddhist temples (known in Thai as Wats), among the best known being Wat Pho and Wat Arun.Thailand BuddhismBuddhism is Thailands main religion. 94% of Thai people are Buddhist. The other are Muslim, Catholic or Chinese. Buddhism was born 2,546 years ago (the official year in Thailand is the year 2003 and the traditional year is the year 2546). Buddhism is linked with the historical Indian prince, Siddharta Gautama, who became the Buddha and reached the enlightenment. Now his teachings are still followed. His teachings say that people suffer because they are attached to material things, to women or men by heart links. These links cause suffer, jealousy so pain. People are never satisfied, i.e. they want more money, more power. The aim of Buddhism is to get rid of these pains and of these links. There are several kinds of Buddhism. Thai Buddhism is called Theravada Buddhism.Quote from the author:The following is a part of the authors remarks, based on which we can have a glimpse of the poor of Tailand.“If I had not left my village then, I would have been subject like most villagers, to the mercy of nature: floods, drought, disease, ignorance and scarcity. With endurance, I would have accepted them as my own fate, as something I can not go against in this life.” II. Task cycle:Theme of the text:The text tells about the deep regret of the old people over the loss of traditional values and the way of life.Structure of the text:The text can be divided into two parts:Part I (paras 1-7): about the interview of wife.Part II: (paras. 811) about the farmers speech In-class discussion:Question: What kind of writing does this text belong to? Answer: This text is an essay in a very broad sense of the word, or rather an interview. It is written down by the writer who interviewed a farmer and his wife. (Since the World War II it has become popular for writers to interview people, record what they say and, after some, not too much, editing, publish these peoples stories in book form.)Question: What are stylistic features of essay?Answer: Generally speaking, the style of essay is colloquial. The language is straightforward. The sentences are short and words are small and easy, which help readers to understand whats going on.Questions in mind:l What do we learn from the old couple in the interview? What are their characteristics?l What problems does the old couple meet with?l What is the root of the problem?l Are there any effective ways to solve the problem?Detailed study of the Text:1). They belonged to my parents and forefathers. (para1)to belong to sb: to be owned by sb.“Yes, these are our rice fields. They belonged to my parents and forefathers. The land is more than three centuries old.”Question: In the first paragraph, why does the wife start her conversation with the talk about the land?Answer: The wife has already regarded the land as part of her life. This is the land where her parents and forefathers lived and it is bound with family history and tradition. It represents the root of her family.2). it was I who stayed with my parents till they died. (para1)Sentence structure: the emphatic structure.Pattern: it is was thatwhoFunction: to emphasize some parts in a sentence, e.g. the subject.It was the policeman that/who caught a pickpocket on No. 933 bus yesterday.e.g. the object.It was a pickpocket that the policeman caught on No. 933 bus yesterday.e.g. the adverbialIt was on No.933 bus that the policeman caught a pickpocket yesterday. (the adverbial of place)It was yesterday that the policeman caught a pickpocket on No. 933 bus. (the adverbial of time)Task: Make sentence according to each pattern3). My husband moved into my house as is the way with us in Esarn. (para 1) “As” introduces a defining relative clause, and functions as its subject, representing what is stated in the main clauses. More examples: n As is known to all, Taiwan belongs to China. (as-subject of the clause)n As is often the case, the boy was late for class. (as-subject of the clause)Question: What is the cultural connotation in this sentence?Answer: When we got married) my husband came to live in our house. It was the tradition here in Esarn that the bridegroom should come to live with the brides family.4). The rest, two boys and two girls, went away as soon as we could afford to buy jeans for them. ( para 1)the rest (of sth): the remaining people or things; the otherse.g. 其中一本书比较难，其他的简单。One of the books is quite difficult; the rest are easy.to afford sth.to do sth.: to have enough money to buy or to do sth.e.g. 目前，我负担不起去欧洲旅行。At the moment, I cant afford a trip to Europe.two boys and two girls: used as the appositive of “the rest”More examples:n Your father, a proud and unbending man, refused all help that was offered him.n Playing football, his only interest in life, brought him many friends.n A dry lightning storm, that is, a thunderstorm without rain, started a fire in a remote part of the forest in August.The whole sentence: Our other childrentwo boys and two girlsleft as soon as wehad the money to buy them jeans.5). They come to see us now and then, stay a few days, and then they are off again. (para 2)(every) now and then: from time to time; now and again; occasionallystay a few days: Here the phrase “a few days” is used adverbially.be off: be away from a place, 6). and tell us that they are doing well. I know this is not always true. (para 2)The whole sentence: although they always tell us that everything is fine with them,I know they also have difficulties and problems. They just do not tell us because theydo not want us to worry.7) it is like a knife piercing my heart. (para 2)The whole sentence: When I hear about their hardships, I feel very bad.8) Its easier for my husband. He has ears which dont hear, a mouth which doesnt speak, and eyes that dont see. (para2)Sentence structure: These three clauses are all restrictive relative clause and they are the parallel structure.The whole sentence: News about my childrens problems doesnt make my husbandas sad as me. He doesnt bother about what is happening around us and to ourchildren. He never says anything about them.9) He has always been patient and silent, minding his own life. (para2)mind: take care of; attend to“minding his own life”: this present participle phrase functioning as adverbial of accompanying circumstancesThe whole sentence Hes always been patient and talks little. He just does his dutyand carries on his life.Cf. “ mind ones own business” -“dont interfere”10) Our piece of land is small, and it is no longer fertile, bleeding year after year and, like us, getting old and exhausted. (para 3)year after year: every year for many yearsThe whole sentence: Our land is getting poorer with each passing year, like us who are getting old, weak and tired.“bleeding year after year”: this present participle phrases functions here as a cause.More example:n They sent us their statement, hoping to get our support.n They went on with their struggle, thinking theirs was a just cause.n Not having received an answer, he decided to write another letter to them.n The doctor, not wishing to make her nervous, did not fully explain the seriousness of her condition.“getting old and exhausted”: (rhetorical device) personificationPersonification:Definition: Referring to inanimate things or abstractions as if they were human. It is a kind of metaphor.More examples:n As London increased, however, rank and fashion rolled off to the west, and trade, creeping on at their heels took possession of their deserted abodes.n The youth were singing, laughing and playing the music instruments. The trees and flowers around them danced heartily as if touched by merry mood.n How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year!11) but in a bad year, its not only the ploughs that break but our hearts too. (para 3)its not only: a kind of emphatic structure.break: “break” in this sentence governs both “ploughs” and “hearts”, therefore we call this kind of rhetorical device as syllipsis.Syllipsis (一语双叙)Definition: a single word is made to modify or govern two or more words in the same sentence.More examples:n The senator picked up his hat as well as his courage.n COATTAILS: Clothes that fit the man and the times. (Advert. In New York Times Magazine, 1980)n Ten minutes later, the coffee and Commander Dana of Naval Intelligence arrived simultaneously.n 蜜蜂是在酿蜜，又是在酿造生活， -杨朔荔枝蜜n 水调数声持酒听，午醉醒来愁未醒。送春出去几时回？临晚镜，伤流景，往事后期空记省。n -张先天仙子n 第二位汪太太过了门没生孩子，只生病。在家养病反倒把这病养家了，不肯离开她，所以她终年娇弱得很 -钱钟书围城The whole sentence: but when there is a drought, the land is so hard that the ploughs break. And we become very, very sad.Question: Summarize these three paragraphs:Answer: The wife tells us briefly about her family and how all her children left.12) Only ten years ago, you could barter for things, but now its all cash. (para 4)The whole sentence: Just ten years ago, we cold exchange one thing for another, buttoday we have to use money to get everything we need. (In the past, we were more orless self-sufficient. But now, we have to buy everything in the market.)13) Men used to make things with fine bamboo pieces, but no longer. (para 4)used to do sth.but no longer: it is often used to show a changee.g. They used to come and see their parents every week, but no longer. 他们过去每周常来看他们父母，但现在不再了。The whole sentence: In the past men made fine bamboo crafts but they no longer do that.14) Shops have sprung up, filled with colorful plastic things and goods we have no use for. (para 4)to spring up: appear suddenly or develop quicklyto be filled with sth: to be made full of sth.This past participle phrase functioning as post-modifier to modify “shops”.More examples:n The men, soaked with sweat from an all-night march, immediately went into action.n The substance, discovered almost by accident, has revolutionized medicine.n The book, written in 1957, tells of the struggle of the miners.to have no use for sth: to not need sth.This is a relative clause.e.g 当他们的儿子开始上学，他就不再需要玩具了。When their son started school, he had no use of his toys.The whole sentence: Many shops appear in a short time. In these shops there are lots of colorful plastic things and things that are useless for us.15) Those rough fingers and toes are for working in the mud of our rice fields. (para 4)Question: What is good of painting the nails of my fingers and toes?Answer: Their place is in the paddy fields where I work, so there is no point of making them look pretty.16) In my day, if I were to lightning would strike me. (para 4)in somebodys day: when somebody was young The whole sentence: When I was young, I surely would be punished by God if I ever wore the kind of trousers they wear today.Cultural background: In Thailand, females wear wrap-around skirts. In some Asian countries, to be stuck dead by lightening is believed to be a punishment by God. Question: What is the topic sentence of Para. 4? What are the supporting details?Answer: Topic sentence: “ we two havent changed much, but the village has.”Supporting details: Cash instead of barter Paid help Plastic things instead of village crafts The old alone on the land Young peoples different way of thinking, dressing and behaving17) I know, times have changed, but certain things should not change. (para 5)The whole sentence: I know, times have changed, but we shouldnt give up orabandon certain things, for example, our duty to our parents, our religious beliefs, oursympathy for others, etc.18) Young people tend to leave, and thats a shame. (para 5)tend to do sth.: to be likely to do sth. (usually bad)e.g. It tends to rain. 要下雨。The whole sentence: It is shameful that young people dont do these things, thinking that they are only for the old.Question: What is the function of the first sentence in para. 5?Answer: The first sentence in para. 5 is a transitional sentence. The wife shifts her talk to the things that should not change, which include peoples worship, and young peoples respect to their parents and the aged.19) Why, only the other day I heard a boy shout and scream at his mother. (para 6)The whole sentence: Recently I heard a boy shout or yell rudely at his mother.Compare: “to shout at sb”. and “to shout to sb”. to shout at sb: to speak loudly, often angrily to sb.e.g. 他经常对妻子大喊大叫，这让她很伤心。He often shouted at his wife, and this upset her.to shout to sb: to speak loudlye.g. Tom 喊Jack 传球。 Tom shouted to Jack to pass the ball.20) If that kind of thing had happened when I was young, the whole village would have condemned such an ungrateful son, and his father would surely have given him a good beating. (para 6)had happened .would have condemned: subjunctive mood, opposite to the past.It is used in the unreal conditional clauses.e.g. If I had worked harder, I would have passed the exam. If you had come five minutes earlier, you would have caught the train.condemn: scold severelygiven him a good beating: hit him as a punishmentThe whole sentence: In my day if a boy had screamed at his mother, the wholevillage would have scolded him for his lack of gratitude, and his father wouldcertainly have punished him.21) As for me, I wouldnt change, couldnt change even if I wanted to. (para 7)as for sb./ sth.: used when you start to talk about something new that is connected with what you have been talking about., e.g. Labor is cheap. Land is available. As for money, we can borrow from the bank.劳动力便宜。土地可用。至于钱，我们从银行贷款。even if: in spite of the fact or belief that, e.g. 即便我有钱，我也不买那种东西。Even if I had money, I wouldnt buy a thing like that. The whole sentence: I dont think that I would change like that, and it would beimpossible for me to change even if I wanted to. Question: What characteristic of the old woman could we see from this sentence?Answer: This implies that it is not easy for her to change her ways and her beliefs of her lifetime.22）This question has never occurred to me. （para 7）to occur to sb.: (of an idea or thought) to come into sbs mind.e.g. 当我上网的时候，有了一个好想法。An happy thought occurred to me while I was surfing the Internet.The whole sentence: Ive never asked myself/ thought about this questionwhether or not I am happy.23) Yes, this bag of bones dressed in rags can still plant and reap rice from morning till dusk. (para 7)bag of bones: very thin. It is the use of metaphor, as thin as a bag of bones.Metaphor: 隐喻Definition: A metaphor is also a comparison. The difference is that a simile compares things explicitlythat is, it states literally that X is like Y. A metaphor compares things implicitly. Read literally, it does not state that things are alike; it says that they are the same thing, that they are identical.Pattern：subject / tenorreference/ vehicleCape Cod (is the bared and bended)arm of (Massachusetts.)He (is)a wolf (in sheeps clothing.)Task: Find more metaphors in this text.The whole sentence: Its true Im not strong and my clothes are full of holes, but I can still work in the rice fields all day.24) Disease, wounds, hardships .I dont