《文学阅读与欣赏》课程教学辅导Unit 2
《文学阅读与欣赏》课程教学辅导Unit 2《文学阅读与欣赏》课程教学辅导Unit 2
Unit1 Unit2 Unit3 Unit4 Unit5 Unit6 Unit7 Unit8
Unit 2 The Heart of the Matter
• Focus:
• How shall we identify the themes of literary texts (poems, plays, novels)
Warm-up
• 1. What is theme?
• Theme is the implicit generality the literary work supports. It
indicates a general concept or doctrine which an imaginative work is designed to
incorporate（构成） and make persuasive to the reader.
• We express the theme not by summarizing the plot or main content of work
but by a sentence or two of generalization.
• 2. How should we identify the themes of literary works?
• direct statements by the author
• dramatic statements made by characters
• characters stand for ideas
• the whole work itself represents certain ideas
• Analysis
• a poem by Emerson: Fable
• an essay by Ruskin: Books
• an excerpt from Pride and Prejudice
Activity 1
Fable
• New words in the poem “Fable”
• 1. fable:
• a short story that teaches a lesson, in which animals or objects speak
• 2. prig:
• someone who is extremely pleased with himself ; an arrogant creature
• 3. Bun:
• a playful name for the squirrel
• 4. Sphere:
• a globe
• 5. spry:
• quick in movement, active, energetic
• Questions:
• 1. How does the mountain treat the squirrel?
• It despises the squirrel, and calls the squirrel “little prig”
contemptuously.
• 2. How do you understand the lines: “But all sorts of things and weather
must be taken in together to make up a year and a sphere”?
• The world is made up of all kinds of things, no matter it is small or
big.
• 3. Is the squirrel ashamed of being a small thing in the world?
• No, it does not think it is disgraceful to be a squirrel, because it
believes that it has its own advantages.
• 4. What are the things that the squirrel can do while the mountain cannot
do?
• The mountain can not be as spry as the squirrel, and the mountain can not
crack a nut.
• 5. Which lines tell you that the little squirrel admires the mountain
without being overpowered by its size?
• “If I’m not so large as you, you are not so small as I,And not half so
spry. I’ll not deny you make a very pretty squirrel tract; Talents differ; all
is well and wisely put.”
• 6. Read task 6, rewrite the poem “Fable” into a short story.
• One day, the mountain and the squirrel had a quarrel. The mountain
despised the little squirrel, and called it “little prig”. The squirr
el was a
clever and wise animal, it replied calmly:” it is true that you are big and I am
small, but the world is made up of all kinds of things, no matter it is small or
big. I don’t think it is disgraceful to be a small squirrel, because all have
their own advantages and disadvantages. I’m not as large as you are, but I am
small and animated; you make a very pretty squirrel tract, while I can crack a
nut. We are different in talents, but we are both valuable and precious.
• 7. What is the theme of the poem?
• People may differ in their talents and capability, but they all have
their own value and worth.
Tree
• 1. What does the poet compare the poem with?
• He compare the poem with a tree, and believes that a poem is not as
lovely as a tree.
• 2. What kind of writing technique is adopted in the poem?
• Metaphor is used. Nouns like “mouth”, “breast”, “arms”, “hair”, “bosom”,
and verbs like “press”, “look at”, “pray”, “wear”, “live” as well as some
adjectives, all indicate that the writer compares a tree to a person. To speak
more precisely, personification is adopted in this poem.
• 3. How lovely is a tree?
• It is animated for it lives on the breast of the earth (the 2nd stanza);
it is faithful for it prays all day long (the 3rd stanza); it is musical for
there are always birds in its branches (the 4th stanza); it is beautiful because
it lives with various hues of nature (the 5th stanza).
• 4. What is metaphor? What is the function of metaphor?
• Metaphor is a literary method used by a writer to denote one kind of
thing or action by referring to a distinctly different thing or action, without
asserting a comparison. The use of metaphor aims for making the literary works
more vivid and figurative.
• 5. What is the theme of the poem?
• Nature is more beautiful than any artistic works human beings can create.
• (A tree is more beautiful than anything a poet can create.)
Activity 2
Theme in Poetry
• Focus:
• 1. What is the theme of “A Red, Red, rose”?
• 2. Images in literary works.
• Bonnie: lovely, pretty lass: girl
• thou: you（主格） thee: you(宾格）
• a’: all gang: go
• wi’: with o’: of
• weel: well
• tho’: though
A Red, Red Rose(1)
• 1.Who wrote the poem?
• It was written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns.
• 2.How many stanzas are there in “A Red, Red Rose”?
• There are 4 stanzas.
• 3. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
• The rhyme scheme of the poem is abcb defe hihi gkgk.
• 4.what is the poetic form of the poem?
• The poem is written in the “ball
ad metre”(民歌体), that is, in each stanza the
odd-numbered lines are iambic （抑扬格）tetrameters（四音步） while the even-numbered
lines are iambic trimeters（三音步）.Traditionally, the popular poetic forms include
heroic couple(a poem contains a pair of rhymed lines in each stanza),sonnet (the
poem containing 14 lines with a fixed rhyming scheme), blank verse(unrhymed
poems), etc.
• 5. What does “rose” symbolize?
• It symbolizes “love”.
• 6. Can you point out the lines in which simile is used?
• The 1st, the third, and the 5th lines.
• 7. What is simile?
• Simile refers to a comparison between two distinctly different things,
which is indicated by the word “like” or “as”.
• 8. Why would the poet compare love to the red rose in June?
• Because the rose in June is in full blossom which is bright-colored,
fragrant and charming. Through this comparison, the poet accentuates the beauty
and the fervor of their love.
• 9. What is the poet’s purpose to compare love to “melody”?
• The poet stresses the harmony of their love.
• 10. Why would the poet compare love to art?
• The poet underlines the eternity of love.
• 11. How do you understand the 3rd stanza?
• The poet expresses his ardent and firm affection by comparing love to the
Great Nature. It will never disappear so long as the earth exists and time runs.
• 12. What is the theme of the poem?
• The poet eulogizes the beauty and eternity of love. It believes that the
separation of lovers could not separate love itself.
• 13. Please rewrite the poem in modern English.
• p69
Auld Lang Syne
• Auld: old lang syne: long since
• twa: two
• hae: have paidle:paddle
• burm: stream frae: from
• braid: broad
• A Chinese Version by 王佐良
老朋友哪能遗忘，
哪能不放在心上？
老朋友哪能遗忘，
还有往昔的时光？
我们曾赤脚淌过河流，
水声笑语里将时间忘，
如今大海的怒涛把我们隔开，
过去了往昔的时光。
Questions
1. What is image?
• Image is a picture made out of words. It is used to signify all the objects
and qualities of sense perception referred to in a poem or other work of
literature. Image signifies figurative language, especially the vehicles of
metaphors and similes. Image is used to make poetry concrete, as opposed to
abstract.
Excerpt from Wuthering Heights
• 2. What does Catherine compare her love for Linton to?
• She compares it to the foliage in the wood which is changeable and fragile.
• 3. What does Catherine compare her love for Heathcliff to?
• She compares it to the rock which is strong, hard and eternal.
Activity 3
Themes in Shakespeare
Extract from a Shakespeare’s play
Words
1. bubble: deceptive
2. instance: case
3. lean: skinny
4. shrunk: withered
5. treble: high in sound
6. pipe: speak in a high childish voice
Questions
1. What does Shakespeare compare the world and human beings to?
He compares the world to a stage in the theatre, and all the men and women to
the players on the stage.
2. What does “exits” “entrances” “acts” and “parts” in the 3rd and 4th lines
refer to? What does they symbolize?
In the theatre, “exits” refers to the actors leaving the stage, “entrances”
refers to the actors going onto the stage, “parts” refers to roles played by
actors, “acts” refers to one of the main divisions of a stage play.
(act 幕，scene 场) They symbolize deaths, births, roles and periods of life
separately.
3. What are the 7 periods of life indicated in the speech?
They are infancy, childhood, teens, youth, middle-aged period, old age and dying
age.
4. What do people usually do in different periods of life?
As an infant, it is likely to cry and vomit in the nurse’s arms; as a child, he
is naughty and energetic, and is unwilling to go to school; in the teens, he
suffers the turmoil of love, writing sad poems; as a youth, he is jealous,
rough, quarrelsome, and ambitious,
seeking for the deceptive fame; being a middle-aged man, he pretends to be a man
of justice and wisdom with severe eyes and formally cut beard, but has actually
been corrupted by evil of the world; as an old man, he looks skinny and casual,
acts ridiculously and speaks childishly; finally, as a dying man, he loses
everything, his teeth, taste, and his memory.
5. What is the tone of the speech?
From all the negative diction and remarks we know that the tone of the speaker
is negative, critical and sharp.
6. What is the main idea of the speech?
It is a severe and biting criticism of the defects of human beings.
Selection 1, Excerpt from Pride and Prejudice
Questions
1. How old is the lady described?
She is probably in her 50’s, because she has daughters ready to get married.
2. What is the tone of the description?
The character is portrayed satirically.
3. What much do you know about her personality?
She is an ordinary middle-aged mother, common and narrow-minded. With mean
understanding, little information and uncertain temper, she does not have any
personal ideas and ambitions. The greatest business of her life is to arrange
marriages for her daughters.
Selection 2, Excerpt from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Questions
1. How old is Tom?
He must be a child, because he prefers playing, quarrelling, fighting and
skylarking to working.
2. Does Tom resemble anyone in The seven ages of man?
Yes. He is just like the whining child, who is reluctant to go to school.
Selection 3
1. What kind of love is it?
It is a passionately devoted love, but seems to be
naive, innocent and immature.
2. Is this lover similar to the one in the seven ages of man?
Yes, he is. To some extent, they are all immature in perceiving the truth of
love.
Activity 4
Themes Developed by Comparison and Contrast
Focus:
How to identify themes through comparison and contrast
Class Procedure:
1. Excerpt by Antony Ward
2. Excerpt from Life on the Mississippi
Excerpt by Antony Ward
Decide whether the following statements are true or false according to the
excerpt:
1. The English are peculiar in that they prefer new things to old ones.
It is false. The English are peculiar because they prefer old houses to the new
ones.
2. They prefer old houses because they think more romantic stories took place in
them than in new ones.
It is false. They prefer old houses because they believe older houses possess
greater charm than the new ones, and the long history of the older houses could
increase an air of romance to the houses themselves.
3. Since the author was born in the country, it was only natural that he should
be delighted by the familiarity of a cottage.
It is false. The author was born and bred in a modern city, it was his
unfamiliarity with the country life and country cottage that delighted and
excited him.
4. It was after he moved into the cottage that the author began to find what a
wrong decision he had made.
It is true. As soon as the author began to live in the cottage, all the dreamy
and illusive advantages of the cottage turned out to be unbearable troubles and
sufferings to him.
5. One thing unpleasant, e.g. the dampness of the cottage, would result in a
chain reaction.
It is true. The dampness of the cottage made the cottage constantly wet which
forced him to make a whole year round heating; while the process of heating is
no enjoyment at all, it either burned the carpet or enveloped the room with
thick smoke.
6. Despite all the disadvantages the cottage had, it still haunts the author
sometimes now, even though many years have elapsed.
It is true. It is what peculiar to the English as well as to human beings. We
dream of living in the breast of the Great Nature, enjoying its simplicity and
picturesque landscapes, but few of us can really endure the shabby and rough
living style. Therefore, We can only enjoy it in our dreams.
7. What is the theme of the excerpt?
One could hardly accept and enjoy a dreamy and illusive world in reality.
Dream and reality are always inconsistent or incompatible.
Excerpt by Mark Twain
1. What could never be restored to me about the river, after I had mastered the
language of the river?
I had lost the sense of grace, beauty, poetry and majesty of the river which
impressed me most when I was an innocent and inexperienced child.
2. What did a certain wonderful sunset mean to me before and after I knew the
river?
When the river was new to me, I enjoyed it with rapture, viewing the s
unset
turning the river blood and gold; when I grew up, it only meant that it would be
windy the next day. The mysterious veil of the nature was ruthlessly torn down
by knowledge and experience.
3. What did the “floating log” mean to him before and after he knew the river?
The “floating log” in the middle distance where the red hue brightened into gold
meant to him a “black and conspicuous” natural scene before he knew the river,
but later he knew that it only indicated the fact the river was rising.
4. What did “the long slanting mark ” mean to him before and after he knew the
river?
It was simply a kind of mark laying sparkling on the water, but when he knew
much about the river, he understood that it referred to a bluff reef which might
collide with some steamboats and kill the unfortunate sailors at night.
5. What did the “boiling, tumbling rings” mean to him before and after he knew
the river?
It was to him something as colorful as an opal, but it turned out to be a
dissolving bar and a changing channel there when he knew the truth.
6. What did “a smooth spot” mean to him before and after he knew the river?
It was scene that was covered with graceful circles and radiating lines, but
later it turned out to be a warning that that troublesome place was shoaling up
dangerously.
7. What did the “sombre shadow” mean to him before and after he knew the river?
It was to him an attractive scene shining like silver when he was a child, but
later he knew that it was a hidden or unexpected danger for the passing boats.
8. What did “a clean-stemmed dead tree” mean to him before and after he knew
the river?
It waved a single leafy bough glowing like a flame in the unobstructed splendor
that was flowing from the sun, magnificent and beautiful; but it actually could
not last long, it could not be a useful landmark guiding the steamboats back at
night.
9. What is the difference between the author’s first impression and the
impression after his acquisition of the language of the river?
Before he really knew the truth of the river, he was absolutely enchanted by the
beauty, poetry, splendor, and glory of the river. All the scenes present were
romantic and aesthetic, all the scenes were accepted ostensibly. What
intoxicated him greatly was the river as a natural landscape.
Later , when he had to live on the river, and had to master the language of the
river to protect his safety, he penetrated into the nature of the river, and
understood the actual meaning of the scenes. To his disappointment, he
discovered that all the previous romantic and beautiful scenes were actually the
symbols of dangers. He suffered the disillusionment resulting from the
acquisition of the truth. It was a process of unbearable anguish, but it was an
unavoidable experience, many must suffer it.
10. What is the main idea of this excerpt?
It is knowledge which tears off the charmin
g ostensible veil of the object
created by our innocence.
We lose the beauty of the object gradually when we obtain the truth of the
world.
Maturity is always obtained at the sacrifice of one’s innocence.
Your assignment:
Select a special place you knew as a child, compare the two views of the same
place: the way it used to be and the way it is now. Write a 200 words essay.
Activity 5
Themes in Stories
•Focus:
•Identify the theme of a short story
•Class procedure
•1. Read the story Hearts and Hands carefully
•2. Discuss details of the story and make sure the theme of the story
Questions
•1. Where did the story happen?
•It happened in an eastbound coach from Denver to Boston and Maine in USA.
•2. Do you know the locations of these cities, Maine, Boston, Washington and
Denver?
•Maine, Boston and Washington are located in the east of the USA, while Denver
is considered to be in the west, though it is actually situated in the Midwest.
•3. What do you know about the west and the east of America?
•The east and the west have been defined generally according to the historical
locations of the states and cities. The east usually refers to the states along
the east coast, mostly, the original 13 colonies, while the west usually refers
to the neighboring states of those eastern states, which is known as Midwest
nowadays. As a fully developed land, the east has always been considered as a
place of enjoyment and stability, while the west, an uncultivated land till the
end of the 19th century, has been identified as a place of wildness, dangers
and hardships, as well as a place of hope, spirit, and freedom. Life in the west
is always described as dangerous, exciting and thrilling.
•Task 2 (p86)
•4. How many main characters are there in the story? Who are they?
•There are three main characters, a pretty young woman, a good-looking young man
with a bold, honest face and manner, and a large, sad-faced man.
•5. Whom did the lady converse with? Were they old friend?
•The lady talked to one of them named Mr. Eastern with a smile. It seemed that
they knew each other well before in Washington.
•6. Why was Easton a little bit embarrassed at the sound of the lady’s voice?
•Because his right hand was handcuffed with the left one of his partner. He did
not want to meet any acquaintance on that special occasion.
•7. When Miss Fairchild was shocked by the handcuff at the wrists of the two
men, Mr. Easton was about to say something. What do you think he would have said
if the other man did not stop him?
•He might explain why he was handcuffed.
•8. How did the sad-faced man interpret the handcuff?
•He told Miss Fairchild that Mr. Easton was a marshal, who was taking him to
Leavenworth Prison for counterfeiting.
•9. What was Miss Fairc
hild’s reaction when she heard what the sad-faced man
told her?
•She released herself from anxiety and worry, and rejoiced at the fact
immediately. Obviously, she had been worried that Mr. Easton was under arrest.
•10. What did Easton say he became a marshal for?
•He explained that he needed money to keep in step with the crowd in Washington,
while the West was an open land for money.
•11. Who was the Ambassador in their conversation? Why did Fairchild explain
warmly that the Ambassador did not call her anymore?
•The Ambassador might be one of the members in their crowd in Washington, who
was once interested in Fairchild. Fairchild was eager to inform Easton of the
truth, for she admired a western hero like Easton.
•12. When Fairchild looked at the handcuff again, was she still frightened?
•No, she wasn’t. She was actually proud of it, for it was a token of the western
hero’s bravery and courage.
•13. Why did Fairchild say that she loved the west, and would prefer to stay in
the west if it was possible?
•She revealed her feeling and wish through her simple and true utterances.
Maybe she was eager to let Easton know her love for him.
•14. Who was the criminal, the good-looking young man or the sad-faced man? How
do you know?
•The good-looking young man Easton must be the criminal, because his right hand
was handcuffed, while a marshal would never handcuff a prisoner to his right
hand.
•15. Why did the sad-faced man interrupt the dialogue between Easton and Miss
Fairchild twice whenever Easton was probably about to tell the truth?
•He did not want the lady to know the truth. While listening to their
conversation, he observed the young lady’s face carefully, and perceived worry
and horror in her eyes.
•He interrupted their conversation in a hurry so that the lady would not be hurt
by the cruel truth. And when Fairchild revealed her true feeling and thought,
the sad-faced man growled to leave their seats, for he was afraid that Easton
might say something unreasonable which might harm the young lady’s innocent and
romantic heart severely.
•16. What do you know about the personality and social background of Fairchild?
•She was a member of the upper society, beautiful, fashionable and rich. And she
was quiet sociable, active, charming and attractive in her circles.(“her voice
showed that she was used to speaking and being heart”, her graceful manner, her
relation with gentlemen around her)
•She was quiet innocent and romantic. She believed what the sad-faced man said
immediately, regardless of the two men’s strange facial expression and abrupt
behavior. And she was greatly excited by the fact that Easton was a marshal, and
revealed directly her longing for the illusive happy and exciting life with a
western hero.
•17. What do you know about Easton’s cha
racter?
•He was certainly an adventurous young man who hunted money by fair means or
foul(不择手段地）. As a member of the upper society, he was to some extent
self-indulgent(纵欲）or irresponsible, who could throw off his little embarrassment
instantly, and look at Fairchild‘s horror in amusement. He looked like a playboy
from upper class, who led a lavish life and would commit a crime out of vanity.
•18. How will you describe the sad-faced marshal’s character?
•He was a dutiful and responsible marshal, who was observing, compassionate and
kind-hearted. It was due to his kind deception, Easton’s dignity and face was
kept in front of his old friend.
•19. What kind of writing technique is adopted in the story?
•Comparison is adopted in the story. The contrast between left hand and right
hand reveals to readers who was the prisoner; the contrast between the west and
the east indicates two different life styles; and the contrast between the
criminal deception and the kind-hearted deception displays two distinct values,
the formal seeks for material gains and enjoyment only, while the later is more
humane, which cherishes moral and traditional principles.
•Irony is another technique adopted. A seemingly respectful dashing hero is
actually a prisoner, while the unnoticeable sad-faced man is the real hero; it
is in the west, the land of freedom and opportunity, many people lose their
freedom and opportunity. Counterfeiting does not bring Easton money but prison,
while a kind-hearted deception helps keep his dignity.
•20. What is the theme of the story?
•(1) The story contrasts the kind-hearted deception with the criminal deception.
•(2) The story reveals the author’s nostalgia for the simple and peaceful life
which had not been corrupted by money.
•(3) Humanity is eulogized. All could be humane in this pure land even law.
•
•Homework:
•Rewrite the story from the point of view of either Easton or the marshal. (200
words)