lesson 8 psychologically speaking. introduction to the text 1. situational comedy: 1. situational...

Lesson 8 Psychologically Lesson 8 Psychologically Speaking Speaking

Introduction to the TextIntroduction to the Text

1. Situational Comedy:1. Situational Comedy: Feature:Feature: 1) It does not have a particular 1) It does not have a particular

significant social or moral message significant social or moral message 2) It can’t be regarded as a great 2) It can’t be regarded as a great

work of art,work of art, 3) The main merit is its amusing 3) The main merit is its amusing

story.story.


2. Conflict of the story:2. Conflict of the story: Chief Conflict: Chief Conflict: mother & daughter: The traditional mother & daughter: The traditional

way of life and life for change and way of life and life for change and freedomfreedom

love & marriagelove & marriage Minor Conflict:Minor Conflict: The fight over Mrs Kent between Mr The fight over Mrs Kent between Mr

Kent and the psychologistKent and the psychologist


3. Discussion3. Discussion 1) Do you like the conventional way of 1) Do you like the conventional way of

life, love and marriage?life, love and marriage? 2) What’s your view about “experimental 2) What’s your view about “experimental

marriage” and co-habitation before marriage” and co-habitation before marriage? Will it cause many problems marriage? Will it cause many problems and hurts? How to solve these problems?and hurts? How to solve these problems?

3) Do you believe life-long love and 3) Do you believe life-long love and marriage?marriage?

4) What is generation gap? Do you have 4) What is generation gap? Do you have this problem?this problem?

New Words and PhrasesNew Words and Phrases

1. fuss1. fuss 1) v. to worry over small things1) v. to worry over small things eg. She is always fussing with her clothes.eg. She is always fussing with her clothes. fuss aboutfuss about If you keep on fussing about, If you keep on fussing about,

we’re sure to be late.we’re sure to be late. fuss over sb.fuss over sb. :pay excessive attention to :pay excessive attention to

sb. sb. 过于注意某人过于注意某人 eg. He’s always fussing over his eg. He’s always fussing over his

grandchildren. grandchildren. 过于操心过于操心


2) n. unnecessary nervous excitement or 2) n. unnecessary nervous excitement or activityactivity

make/ kick up a fuss ( about/ over sth )make/ kick up a fuss ( about/ over sth ) complain stronglycomplain strongly

eg. She’s kicking up an awful fuss about the eg. She’s kicking up an awful fuss about the high rent.high rent. 大喊大叫抱怨房租太高大喊大叫抱怨房租太高

make a fuss of/ over sb/ sthmake a fuss of/ over sb/ sth: pay excessive : pay excessive attention to sb./sth.attention to sb./sth.

Eg. Don’t make so much fuss over the Eg. Don’t make so much fuss over the children.children.


2. behave v.2. behave v. behave well/ badly, etc. ( towards sb. )behave well/ badly, etc. ( towards sb. ): :

act or conduct oneself in the specified way.act or conduct oneself in the specified way. Eg: She behaves ( towards me ) more like a Eg: She behaves ( towards me ) more like a

friend than a mother.friend than a mother. He has behaved shamefully towards his He has behaved shamefully towards his

wife.wife. behave ( oneself ):behave ( oneself ): show good manners; show good manners;

conduct oneself well.conduct oneself well. Eg: Children, please behave yourself! Eg: Children, please behave yourself! 放规矩放规矩

点儿点儿 behavior n.behavior n.


3. Puritans:3. Puritans: org: members of the party of English org: members of the party of English

Protestants (Protestants ( 基督教新教徒基督教新教徒 )in the 16th )in the 16th and 17th centuries who wanted simpler and 17th centuries who wanted simpler forms of church ceremony.forms of church ceremony. 清教徒清教徒

Usu. derog: persons who are extremely Usu. derog: persons who are extremely strict in morals and who tend to regard strict in morals and who tend to regard pieasure as sinful. pieasure as sinful. 禁欲者；苦行者禁欲者；苦行者


4. Quakers: are considered even more 4. Quakers: are considered even more severe than the Puritans.severe than the Puritans.

5. crusade: 5. crusade: Originally it referred to one of a series of Originally it referred to one of a series of

wars fought in the 11th, 12th,and 13th wars fought in the 11th, 12th,and 13th centuries by Christian armies trying to centuries by Christian armies trying to take Palestine from the Muslims. take Palestine from the Muslims.

Here: a determined attempt to change Here: a determined attempt to change sth. Because you think you are morally sth. Because you think you are morally right.right.


6. in some measure:6. in some measure: to some degree.to some degree. Eg: We hope that the completion of Eg: We hope that the completion of

this railway will in some measure this railway will in some measure help to narrow down the gap help to narrow down the gap between the East and West of between the East and West of China.China.


7. clue:7. clue: n. n. clue to sthclue to sth: facts or piece of evidence : facts or piece of evidence

that helps to solve a problem or reveal the that helps to solve a problem or reveal the truth.truth.

Eg: The only clue to the identity of the Eg: The only clue to the identity of the murderer was a half-smoked cigarette.murderer was a half-smoked cigarette.

Idm: not have a clue ( infm ) not know Idm: not have a clue ( infm ) not know anything about sthanything about sth

Eg: ----- When does the train leave?Eg: ----- When does the train leave? ----- I haven’t a clue.----- I haven’t a clue.


8. claim v.8. claim v. demand or request sth because it is one’s demand or request sth because it is one’s

right.right. Eg: After the Duke’s death, his eldest Eg: After the Duke’s death, his eldest

son claimed the title.son claimed the title. claim for sth. : demand (the money )under claim for sth. : demand (the money )under

an insurance policy.an insurance policy. Eg: Have you claimed the insurance for Eg: Have you claimed the insurance for

damage yet?damage yet? claim sth back: ask for sth. To be returned.claim sth back: ask for sth. To be returned.

Eg: You can claim you money back if Eg: You can claim you money back if the goods are damaged.the goods are damaged.

claim n.claim n.


9. go through with9. go through with to do sth you have promised or planned to do sth you have promised or planned

to do even though it causes problems.to do even though it causes problems. Eg: Just before the curtain rose she got Eg: Just before the curtain rose she got

a stage fright. She felt she could not go a stage fright. She felt she could not go through with it.through with it.

Since we have started, we must go Since we have started, we must go through with it. There is no backing out.through with it. There is no backing out.


10. beat about the bush:10. beat about the bush: talk about sth without coming to the main talk about sth without coming to the main

point point 拐弯抹角地说；东拉西扯拐弯抹角地说；东拉西扯 eg: Stop beating about the bush and tell eg: Stop beating about the bush and tell

us the truth.us the truth. 11. bid11. bid v. v. bid (sth.) for sthbid (sth.) for sth.: offer ( a price ) to .: offer ( a price ) to

buy sth.buy sth. Eg:Eg: She bid $5,000 fot the painting.She bid $5,000 fot the painting. Several firms have bid for the contract Several firms have bid for the contract

to build the new concert hall. to build the new concert hall. 竞标竞标

bid sth to sbbid sth to sb.: say sth as a greeting..: say sth as a greeting. Eg: He bade farewell to his Eg: He bade farewell to his

sweetheart and left for the battlefield.sweetheart and left for the battlefield. n. eg: She made a bid of $5,000 for n. eg: She made a bid of $5,000 for

the painting.the painting. Any higher/ further bids?Any higher/ further bids?

1. I wouldn’t go out with him, unless he was—not when I’m working for you. (Para. 10)

I wouldn’t go out with him unless he was a decent guy. I wouldn’t do that so long as I’m working for you because I don’t want to bring shame to such a respectable family.

Text AnalysisText Analysis

2. Why, her mother wouldn’t have dreamed of marrying her father, it would simply have seemed childish to her! (Para. 15)

Her mother probably didn’t think of marrying her father at home or in the church. This social convention was silly and childish for them.


3. That’s the whole trouble, our stupid, small-town way of doing things, always under cover. (Para. 21)

That is the problem of our way of life. People in our small town are usually ill-informed, narrow-minded, and ridiculously conservative, and always like to cover things up.


4. And the final uncertainty as to just where he was buried? (Para. 46)

With regard to the place where he was buried, we didn’t find out for sure in the end.


5. Partially recovering, I wandered all over the world, hunting some clue to my identity—hoping to establish some connection with my past. (Para. 50)

When I got a little better, I began to go from one country to another, trying to find out who I was and to get back my lost memory.


7. I was not killed in action in France, but circumstances over which I had no control kept me abroad all there years. (Para. 57) I was not killed in the war in France. As I can’t control the things happening around me, I was abroad for so many years.


6. Finally, one night, I had a shock, it all came back—my former life—and I am here to claim you, Bessie! (Para. 50)

Finally, one night, suddenly the memory all came back, and I come here to take you away.


lesson 8 psychologically speaking. introduction to the text 1. situational comedy: 1. situational...

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