Unit 6 Unit 6 The Human The Human

TouchTouch

1. Leading-in2. Text Analysis3. Language Points4. Presentation and Exercises

Text A The Last Leaf

Lead-in

1. Background Information2. Discussion

O. Henry was the pseudonym (笔名 ) of William Sydney Porter, American writer of short stories, a master of surprise endings, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City. Typical for O. Henry’s stories is a twist of plot which turns on an ironic or coincidental circumstance.

Background Information

His approximately 300 stories are collected in Cabbages and Kings (1904), The Four Million (1906) (included The Gift of the Magi and The Furnished Room), The Trimmed Lamp (1907) (included The Last Leaf), Heart of the West (1907), The Voice of the City (1908), Options (1909), and others. He died on Jun. 5, 1910 in New York City at the age of 47. An alcoholic, he died virtually penniless.

Discussion

1. What is your understanding of “human touch”?

2. What do you think can support you in your moments of depression, despair or a setback?

Text Analysis

• Comprehension

• Part Division

Part DivisionParts Paras Characters Events

1 1-2 Sue, Jonsy Sue’s roommate Johnsy caught pneumonia.

2 3-8 the doctor, Sue

The doctor told Sue that Johnsy needed a strong will to live on.

3 9-17 Johnsy, Sue Johnsy decided that she would die when the last leaf fell.

4 18-21 Behrman, Sue

Sue told Behrman about Johnsy’s fancy.

5 22-23 Sue, Johnsy

As Johnsy was encouraged by the last leaf that wouldn’t give in to the weather, her will to live returned.

6 34-37 the doctor, Sue

The doctor told Sue that Johnsy would recover, but Behrman caught Pneumonia himself and his case was hopeless.

7 38-39 Sue, Jonsy

Sue told Johnsy that Behrman had performed a kind deed without and thought of self.

Comprehension1. What was, at first, Johnsy determined to do if the

last ivy leaf should fall?

2. What did she decide to do when she saw the last leaf still cling to the vine after two nights’ rain and wind?

3. How was it that the cold fierce wind did not blow away the last leaf?

4. Why did Sue call the painted leaf Behrman’s masterpiece?

Language Points

1. Vocabulary

2. Sentences

harmonious(ly) (often followed by with, the opposite: out of tune with)

His ideas are in tune with the times.

The price of gold coins fluctuates in tune with that of commodities.

Her character is quite out of tune with her beauty.

in tune (L4)

joint (L5)

a. held or done by two or more persons together

She had taken the money out of the joint account she had with her husband.

There are a number of different forms of business ownership, such as partnerships, corporations and joint ventures.

in a whisper (L35)in a low voice

He bent down and addressed her in a whisper.

I was awakened by hearing my own name spoken in a whisper.

.

look the part (L56)have an appearance for a

particular job, role, or position

I think he must be a captain — he certainly looks the part.

If he wasn’t actually a thief he certainly looked the part.

for the rest (L60)as regards other matters

The book contains some interesting passages about the author's childhood. For the rest, it is rather dull.

The working conditions in my new job are excellent, but for the rest, I am not impressed.

fierce (L60)1) a. violent and angry

A fierce police dog was chained to a wall.

It was estimated that the fierce storm killed at least several thousand people and left more than one million without homes

2) a. intense: strongThe world is becoming a global market, and the competition

is fierce.While Apple enjoyed brighter sales, competitors in the IBM

PC world fought a fierce battle for market share.

mock (L61)

v. ridicule; make fun of (used in the pattern: mock (at) sb./sth.)

They mocked him and called him a coward.

Don't mock at him just because he keeps falling off his bike.

wear away (L91)1) (of time) pass graduallyThey didn't reach an agreement. Instead they wore the

afternoon away in arguing.The day wore away, and we still couldn't find a solution to

the problem.2) (cause to) become thin or damaged by constant useThe steps have been worn away by the feet of thousands of

visitors.The pattern on the handle had completely worn away.

cling to (L92)

v. hold tight to The child is clinging to his mother's legs.Another man was rescued as he clung to the

riverbank.

acute (L112)1) a. (of diseases) coming quickly to the critical stage

She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis.

His disease is not acute but chronic.

2) a. severe

The company is said to be suffering from acute financial difficulties.

Food shortages in some African countries are becoming acute.

In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia, stalked about the district, touching one here and there with his icy fingers. Johnsy was among his victims. (L6)

1. What kind of rhetorical method is used here?

Personification

2. What does “touching one here and there with his icy fingers” mean?

It means the illness spread quickly from one to another.

“I will do all that science can accomplish. But whenever my patient begins to count the carriages in her funeral procession I subtract 50 per cent from the curative power of medicines.” (L21)

1. What can you infer from the sentence?

Johnsy was seriously ill. The doctor held out little hope for her because she seemed to lose the will to hang on to life.

2. Translate the sentence into Chinese? “只要是科学能做到的，我会尽一切努力的。可是，但凡病人开始计算她出殡的行列里有几辆马车的时候，我就要把医药的疗效减去一半。”

But, Lo! after the beating rain and fierce wind that had endured through the night, there yet stood out against the brick wall one ivy leaf. (L85)

1. What is the function of “that had endured through the night”?

It is an attributive clause used to modify “the beating rain and fierce wind”.

2. What is the subject of the whole sentence?

The subject is “one ivy leaf ”. The main sentence is in inversion due to the fronting ( 前置 ) of “there”.

Presentation and Exercises

Thank you!