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Liaoning Institute of Technology Liaoning Institute of Technology 2005 Edition2005 Edition Book I

Mark TwainMark Twain ——Mirror Mirror of Americaof America 　　　　　　　　

Noel Noel GroveGrove

1. 1. Research WorkResearch Work

2. 2. Title of the TextTitle of the Text

3. 3. Background Background

4. 4. Aims of TeachingAims of Teaching

5. 5. StructureStructure

6. Detailed Study6. Detailed Study

7. 7. SummarySummary

8. 8. FigurationFiguration

9. 9. ExerciseExercise

10. 10. QuizQuiz

11. 11. ReadingsReadings

12. Homework12. Homework

Information searched before classInformation searched before class

Ideas about the textIdeas about the text

Mark TwainMark Twain —Mirror of America—Mirror of America

Mark Twain:Mark Twain: Samuel Langhorne Clemens Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835--1910). (1835--1910). two fathoms deeptwo fathoms deep..

MirrorMirror:: a faithful representation or description a faithful representation or description of his countryof his country

National Geographic Magazine:National Geographic Magazine:

Mark Twain: Mark Twain:

LifeLife

WorksWorks

EvaluationsEvaluations

His LifeHis Life::

PrinterPrinter

PilotPilot

SoldierSoldier

MinerMiner

ReporterReporter

WriterWriterHannibalHannibal

Main Works:Main Works:The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras

CountyCounty (1864) (1864)

The Adventures of Tom SawyerThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) (1876)

Life on the MississippiLife on the Mississippi (1883) (1883)

The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) (1884)

EvaluationsEvaluationsRemarks: Remarks: Mark Twain is a part of America. His personal Mark Twain is a part of America. His personal

success and failure were those of America. He moved, success and failure were those of America. He moved,

along with America, from innocence to experience.along with America, from innocence to experience.

Ernest Hemingway : Ernest Hemingway : All modern American literature comes All modern American literature comes

from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry

Finn. ... There was nothing before. There has beenFinn. ... There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since.nothing as good since.

Comprehension of the text Comprehension of the text

Mastery of important language pointsMastery of important language points

Enlargement of the students' vocabularyEnlargement of the students' vocabulary

Devices of figurationDevices of figuration

Mark TwainMark Twain —Mirror of America—Mirror of America

Part I (Para.1): It serves as an introduction of the whole text.

Part II(Para2-18): It provides his early life, his success and comments on his works.

Part III (Para.19-21): It devotes to his personal tragedy and conclusion.

Most Americans remember Mark Twain as the father

of Huck Finn's idyllic cruise through eternal boyhood and of Huck Finn's idyllic cruise through eternal boyhood and

Tom Sawyer's endless summer of freedom and adventure. Tom Sawyer's endless summer of freedom and adventure.

In-deed, this nation's best-loved author was every bit as In-deed, this nation's best-loved author was every bit as

adventurous, patriotic, romantic, and humorous as anyone adventurous, patriotic, romantic, and humorous as anyone

has ever imagined. I found another Twain as well – one has ever imagined. I found another Twain as well – one

who grew cynical, bitter, saddened by the profound who grew cynical, bitter, saddened by the profound

personal tragedies life dealt him, a man who became personal tragedies life dealt him, a man who became

obsessed with the frailties of the human race, who saw obsessed with the frailties of the human race, who saw

clearly ahead a black wall of night.clearly ahead a black wall of night.

Part IPart I

Paraphrase: Paraphrase: Mark Twain is famous to most Mark Twain is famous to most

Americans as the creator of Hack Finn and Tom Americans as the creator of Hack Finn and Tom

Sawyer. Hack's sailing / voyage / journey / travel Sawyer. Hack's sailing / voyage / journey / travel

on the river was so pleasant, lighthearted, carefree, on the river was so pleasant, lighthearted, carefree,

simple and peaceful that it made his boyhood seem simple and peaceful that it made his boyhood seem

to be infinite, while Tom's independent mind and to be infinite, while Tom's independent mind and

his exciting and dangerous activities made the his exciting and dangerous activities made the

summer seem everlasting.summer seem everlasting.

Part IPart I

Father: Father: metaphor.metaphor.

Endless: Endless: hyperbolehyperbole..

idyllic: idyllic: [i / ai] adj. of idyll, a simple happy [i / ai] adj. of idyll, a simple happy

period of life, often in the country, or a period of life, often in the country, or a

scene from such a time, a description of scene from such a time, a description of

this, esp. a poem.this, esp. a poem.

Part IPart I

cruise: cruise: A cruise is a holiday during which A cruise is a holiday during which one travels on a ship and visits lots of one travels on a ship and visits lots of places. When it is used as a verb, it places. When it is used as a verb, it means to move at a constant speed that means to move at a constant speed that is comfortable and unhurried.is comfortable and unhurried.

eg. He was on a world cruise. eg. He was on a world cruise.

Part IPart I

cynical: cynical: A cynical person believes that all A cynical person believes that all men are selfish. He sees little or no good men are selfish. He sees little or no good in anything and shows this by making in anything and shows this by making unkind and unfair remarks about people unkind and unfair remarks about people and things.and things.

Part IPart I

obsess: obsess: fill the mind continuously, to worry fill the mind continuously, to worry continuously and unnecessarily. If sth continuously and unnecessarily. If sth obsesses you or if you are obsessed with it obsesses you or if you are obsessed with it or by it, you keep thinking about it over a or by it, you keep thinking about it over a long period of time, and find it difficult to long period of time, and find it difficult to think about anything else. think about anything else.

eg. She is obsessed by the desire to eg. She is obsessed by the desire to become a great scientist.become a great scientist.

Part IPart I

frailty: frailty: a weakness of character or behavior.a weakness of character or behavior.

eg. One of the frailties of human nature is eg. One of the frailties of human nature is laziness.laziness.

Part IPart I

Why is Mark Twain one of America's best-loved Why is Mark Twain one of America's best-loved

authors?authors?

Because His literary works such as two novels Because His literary works such as two novels

about Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are loved about Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are loved

by Americans, who imagine he was by Americans, who imagine he was

adventurous, patriotic, romantic, and adventurous, patriotic, romantic, and

humorous.humorous.

Part IPart I

Tramp printer, river pilot , Confederate guerrilla, prospector,

starry-eyed optimist, acid-tongued cynic: The man who became

Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens and he ranged

across the nation for more than a third of his life, digesting the new

American experience before sharing it with the world as writer and

lecturer. He adopted his pen name from the cry heard in his

steamboat days, signaling two fathoms (12 feet) of water -- a

navigable depth. His popularity is attested by the fact that more

than a score of his books remain in print, and translations are still

read around the world.

Part IIPart II

Personal tragedy haunted his entire life, in the deaths of loved Personal tragedy haunted his entire life, in the deaths of loved

ones: his father, dying of pneumonia when Sam was 12; his brother ones: his father, dying of pneumonia when Sam was 12; his brother

Henry, killed by a steamboat explosion; the death of his son, Henry, killed by a steamboat explosion; the death of his son,

Langdon, at 19 months. His eldest daughter, Susy, died of spinal Langdon, at 19 months. His eldest daughter, Susy, died of spinal

meningitis , Mrs. Clemens succumbed to a heart attack in Florence, meningitis , Mrs. Clemens succumbed to a heart attack in Florence,

and youngest daughter., Jean, an epileptic, drowned in an upstairs and youngest daughter., Jean, an epileptic, drowned in an upstairs

bathtub .bathtub .

Bitterness fed on the man who had made the world laugh. The Bitterness fed on the man who had made the world laugh. The

moralizing of his earlier writing had been well padded with humor. moralizing of his earlier writing had been well padded with humor.

Now the gloves came off with biting satire. He pretended to praise Now the gloves came off with biting satire. He pretended to praise

the U. S. military for the massacre of 600 Philippine Moros in the the U. S. military for the massacre of 600 Philippine Moros in the

bowl of a volcanic, crater . bowl of a volcanic, crater .

Part IIIPart III

This excerpt is a brief yet impressive introduction of Mark This excerpt is a brief yet impressive introduction of Mark

twain, one of the greatest writers in America. His adventurous, twain, one of the greatest writers in America. His adventurous,

patriotic, romantic and humorous characteristics are known by most patriotic, romantic and humorous characteristics are known by most

people. Before becoming a writer, he had done various kinds of jobs people. Before becoming a writer, he had done various kinds of jobs

which greatly enriched his writings. His experience on the which greatly enriched his writings. His experience on the

Mississippi River left such a profound and permanent influence on Mississippi River left such a profound and permanent influence on

him that his beat when he wrote about this river. He came to fame him that his beat when he wrote about this river. He came to fame

with a short novel about the Calaveras jumping frog, and then with a short novel about the Calaveras jumping frog, and then

reached the peak of his career by Tom Sawyer and Huk Finn. reached the peak of his career by Tom Sawyer and Huk Finn.

However, the bitterness of his life, especially the successive However, the bitterness of his life, especially the successive

deaths of his family members, is seldom made known to the public. deaths of his family members, is seldom made known to the public.

And it is this dark side of his life that makes his later works filled And it is this dark side of his life that makes his later works filled

with a satiric tone. Ironically, the man who makes the world laugh with a satiric tone. Ironically, the man who makes the world laugh

is made bitter by his all misfortunes. Thus his bitter life experience is made bitter by his all misfortunes. Thus his bitter life experience

seems to be in contradiction with his own humorous works. And by seems to be in contradiction with his own humorous works. And by

presenting both sides of his life, the author presents to his readers a presenting both sides of his life, the author presents to his readers a

fuller picture of Mark Twain that will help them understand his fuller picture of Mark Twain that will help them understand his

works much better.works much better.

1. Metaphor:1. Metaphor: Mark Twain -- Mirror of AmericaMark Twain -- Mirror of America

saw clearly ahead a black wall of night...saw clearly ahead a black wall of night...

main artery of transportation in the young nation's heartmain artery of transportation in the young nation's heart

the vast basin drained three-quarters of the settled United States the vast basin drained three-quarters of the settled United States

All would resurface in his books...that he soaked up...All would resurface in his books...that he soaked up...

Steamboat decks teemed...main current of...but its flotsamSteamboat decks teemed...main current of...but its flotsam

When railroads began drying up the demand...When railroads began drying up the demand...

...the epidemic of gold and silver fever......the epidemic of gold and silver fever...

2. Simile:2. Simile: Most American remember M. T. as the father of...Most American remember M. T. as the father of...

...a memory that seemed phonographic...a memory that seemed phonographic

3. Hyperbole:3. Hyperbole: ...cruise through eternal boyhood and ...endless summer of freedom......cruise through eternal boyhood and ...endless summer of freedom...

The cast of characters... - a cosmos.The cast of characters... - a cosmos.

4. Parallelism:4. Parallelism: Most Americans remember ... the father of Huck Finn's idyllic cruise Most Americans remember ... the father of Huck Finn's idyllic cruise

through eternal boyhood and Tom Sawyer's endless summer of through eternal boyhood and Tom Sawyer's endless summer of

freedom and adventure.freedom and adventure.

5. Personification:5. Personification: life dealt him profound personal tragedies...life dealt him profound personal tragedies...

the river had acquainted him with ...the river had acquainted him with ...

...to literature's enduring gratitude......to literature's enduring gratitude...

...an entry that will determine his course forever......an entry that will determine his course forever...

the grave world smiles as usual...the grave world smiles as usual...

Bitterness fed on the man...Bitterness fed on the man...

America laughed with him.America laughed with him.

Personal tragedy haunted his entire life.Personal tragedy haunted his entire life.

6. Antithesis:6. Antithesis: ...between what people claim to be and what they really are......between what people claim to be and what they really are...

...took unholy verbal shots at the Holy Land......took unholy verbal shots at the Holy Land...

...a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever...a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever

7. Euphemism:7. Euphemism: ...men's final release from earthly struggle...men's final release from earthly struggle

8. Alliteration:8. Alliteration: ...the slow, sleepy, sluggish-brained sloths stayed at home...the slow, sleepy, sluggish-brained sloths stayed at home

...with a dash and daring......with a dash and daring...

...a recklessness of cost or consequences... ...a recklessness of cost or consequences...

9. Metonymy:9. Metonymy: ...his pen would prove mightier than his pickaxe...his pen would prove mightier than his pickaxe

10. Synecdoche10. SynecdocheKeelboats,...carried the first major commerceKeelboats,...carried the first major commerce

Exercise II: (P158)Exercise II: (P158)

Exercise III: (P159)Exercise III: (P159)

Exercise IX: (P161)Exercise IX: (P161)

Exercise X: (P162)Exercise X: (P162)

Exercise XIV: (P164)Exercise XIV: (P164)

These tablets make me feel rather-------.These tablets make me feel rather-------. a. ill b. comfortable a. ill b. comfortable c. sluggish d. tediousc. sluggish d. tediousFootball hooliganism is now reaching ------Football hooliganism is now reaching ------

proportion.proportion. a. hot b. popular a. hot b. popular c. epidemic d. consideratec. epidemic d. considerateThat child --------new facts like a sponge!That child --------new facts like a sponge! a. takes up b. soaks with a. takes up b. soaks with c. soaks up d. takes overc. soaks up d. takes over

That sounds like my sister --------.That sounds like my sister --------.

a. all over b. over all a. all over b. over all

c. over d. to overc. over d. to over

Her kindness to him was met with a cruel --------.Her kindness to him was met with a cruel --------.

a. refusal b. rebuff a. refusal b. rebuff

c. silent d. astonishmentc. silent d. astonishment

Key

C C

CC

BB

AA

BB

1.1. Oral Work: Why does the writer consider Oral Work: Why does the writer consider

Mark Twain a mirror of America?Mark Twain a mirror of America?

2. Written Work: Write a summery of the text 2. Written Work: Write a summery of the text

within 200 words. within 200 words.

3. Research Work:3. Research Work: Information about Lesson Information about Lesson

Ten: The Trial That Rocked the WorldTen: The Trial That Rocked the World