unit 4 text i a man from stratford – william shakespeare text ii william shakespeare

Unit 4

Text I A Man from Stratford – William Shakespeare Text II William Shakespeare

Text I

Text II

Oral Work

Guided Writing

Listening

Pre-reading Activity

Structure

Vocabulary Acquisition

Intensive Reading

Questions

Text 1: A Man from Stratford – William Shakespeare

1.In your opinion, what is Shakespeare famous

for?

2.Could you give me some names of

Shakespeare’s famous work/play?

1.In your opinion, what is Shakespeare famous

for?

2.Could you give me some names of

Shakespeare’s famous work/play?

Text I Pre-reading Activity

Pre-reading questions:

Text I Structure

1. Mysterious life

2. birthplace 3. Why mysterious?-evidence

6. Questions after death

4. Seven lost years

5. Certain: greatest playwright

7. Nothing remains but the signature

Text I Vocabulary Acquisition

Read the text once and Try to write down the meaning of following words that best fits the context.

1. legacy (L.2) _____________________________________

2. estate (L.3) _____________________________________

3. genius (L.7) _____________________________________

4. awe (L.8) ____________________________________

5. thriving (L. 14) ____________________________________

6. plot (L. 20) _____________________________________

7. clue (L.21) _____________________________________

8. conviction (L.30) _____________________________________

money or property left to someone by a will

privately owned land with a house on it

talented man

a mixed feeling of respect, fear and wonder

prosperous, successful

work out an outline for

something that helps to find an answer to a question

very firm belief

Text I Questions P43

Try to answer the questions orally.

2. How would you define a literary genius?

He is one who has an exceptional great creative and inventive

capacity in writing

4. What is meant by “To plot Shakespeare's life is to become involved

in a kind of detective story where there are plenty of clues but very

little else.”

Anyone who wants to make an outline of Shakespeare’s life finds

himself in a difficult situation. He is like a detective trying to solve

a case. He has only a lot of clues but hardly any facts or evidence.



5. What is meant by “he realized in a flash that this was the life for

him and talked one of the managers into giving him a job”?

After Shakespeare had seen some of the performances put on by

some of the theatrical companies, he come to see instantly that he

ought to take up theatre as his career, and he persuaded one of

the managers to give him a job.



6. What is the implied meaning of the sentence “we know that as well

as working on old plays he rapidly make a name for himself as an

author of entirely new ones and also performed as an actor at

court”?

He soon became famous by not only improving or revising the old

plays but also writing completely new plays and acting in the plays

for the queen.

the implied meaning is “Shakespeare was gifted both in creative

writing and in acting in the theatre”

A Man from Stratford – William Shakespeare

Text I

1 On March 25th, 1616, fifty-two-year-old Master William Shakespeare signed his will leaving the famous legacy of his “second best bed and furniture” to his wife and the greater part of his estate to his married daughter, Susanna Hall. It was the will of a comfortably off man, for the income from the estate probably amounted to about $200 a year, which was a lot of money over three hundred and sixty years ago. For historians, the most interesting part of the will was that signature, because it and other signatures are all we have left of the handwriting of the world's literary genius. There is no country where Shakespeare's work is not read with something very like awe because there is something fascinating about a man whose work was so much better than that of anyone else.

Yet in spite of the thousands of books that have been written about this amazing writer, almost every detail of his personal life is supposition rather than fact. Historically speaking, Shakespeare lived only yesterday but his activities, like those of nearly every playwright of his day, are so vague that he could have been born in Roman times. 2 Shakespeare's birthplace, the little town of Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, had made a thriving business out of its most famous citizen for a long time. It is a popular place for tourists from all over the world, even though many of them would have the greatest of difficulty in understanding Shakespeare's Elizabethan English. However, he has such a fine reputation that it is well worth the journey just to be able to look at the swans that swim on his river, and gaze at the cottage where Anne, his wife, lived before their marriage, and then to see his plays at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Text I

3 To plot Shakespeare's life is to become involved in a kind of

detective story where there are plenty of clues but very little else.

Nobody even knows the exact date of his birth, although the register

of the Parish Church confirms that William Shakespeare was

baptized there on April 26th, 1564. Nor can it be proved that he went

to the excellent local grammar school, although he probably did as

there was nowhere else for him to go. At the age of 18 he married

Anne Hathaway, a woman eight years older than himself, and they

had three children. Then in 1585 this young married man apparently

left Stratford and his family, for there is absolutely no record of him

for seven long years.

Text I

4 Exactly what happened to William Shakespeare during those

seven years has puzzled scholars ever since. There are different

theories, but of all the probabilities the most likely one is that he

travelled abroad, spending a good deal of time at sea. Shakespeare

wrote with great conviction about storms and shipwrecks and eating the

hard ship's biscuits "with aching teeth".

Text I

5 What is quite certain is that, during the time Shakespeare lived there, Stratford-upon-Avon was visited by a great number of theatrical companies. It can never be proved, but it seems quite possible that the young Shakespeare saw some of these performances, realized in a flash that this was the life for him and talked one of the managers into giving him a job. At least nobody questions the fact that he can next be traced in 1592 in London, earning his living as a dramatist and generally getting well known in the theatre. Whatever else had happened during the lost years, plays that followed, such as Richard III and The Taming of the Shrew, were proof that the greatest literary career of all time had begun. Shakespeare soon became sufficiently well known for managers and other influential people to refer to him in writing. We know that as well as working on old plays he rapidly made a name for himself as an author of entirely new ones and also performed as an actor at court. During his fifteen years as a working man of the theatre, Shakespeare wrote more than thirty plays as well as marvellous verse.

Text I

6 After his death on April 23rd, 1616, Shakespeare left behind a

mass of questions that experts have been trying to answer ever since.

What was the source of Shakespeare's amazingly detailed knowledge of

so many different subjects? Who was the beautiful but apparently

heartless "dark lady" who seemed to have first inspired him and then

caused him a lot of sadness? So far we do not know. There have

even been foolish attempts to prove that William Shakespeare's plays

were in fact written by someone else.

Text I

7 When one remembers that he lived in an age when printing was

still very expensive and that it was rare for anything written to be

thrown away, it seems astonishing that nothing remains of the busy

writer's own handwriting but the signature. Sooner or later someone

may discover a bundle of letters that will answer the question that

have puzzled so many people for so long.

Text I

From an article in the magazine Look and Learn

There is no country where Shakespeare's work is not read with something very like awe because there is something fascinating about a man…

Task: Paraphrase the sentence

People all over the world read Shakespeare’s work with a feeling of

profound respect and wonderment because there is something

about him which made people charmed….


We do not base every minute and particular detail of his personal

life so much on facts as on guesswork.

Task ： Translate

这扇门这么低，那个高个子进屋时无法挺直身子，只能低头猫腰进入 .

It was such a low doorway that the tall man had to bend his head

rather than keep upright when entering the room.

every detail of his personal life is supposition rather than fact

rather than here has the meaning of “instead of”

but his activities, like those of nearly every playwright of his day, are so vague that he could have been born in Roman times


The same as every playwright at that time, we are so uncertain

about his activities that we might as well say that he was born in

the ancient Roman times.

Because of its most famous citizen Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-

Avon has made a lot of money for a long time.

had made a thriving business out of its most famous citizen for a long time


Task ： Translate

令人难以置信的是他在两年内竟然把这些普通的女孩子训练成了世界一流的长跑运动员 .

It’s unbelievable/incredible that he made world-class long distance

runners out of these ordinary girls.

conviction

Task ： Translate

这位年轻学者专心致志地开发新型的电脑翻译软件，他深信在不久的将来自己会成名。

This young scholar devoted all his attention to the development of

a new type of computer translation software in the full conviction

that he would make a name in the near future.

a very strong belief or opinion

in a flash

in/like a flash / quick as a flashvery quicklye.g. Just wait here. I'll be back in a flash

Task ： Translate

他在餐厅享用美味的晚餐时，听到车子的警报声，猛然间他想起自己停在外面马路上的车子未上锁 .

While enjoying his delicious dinner in a restaurant, he heard the car

alarm and realized in a flash that he left his car unlocked in the

street.

talk…into / out of doing..

Task ： Translate 他们竭力说服她放弃诉讼，但都无济于事。

They tried their best to talk her into giving up the lawsuit, but in

vain.

E.g. They talk into taking part in the speech contest.

Judy talked her husband out of investing their money in

stocks and shares.

talked one of the managers into giving him a job

Task ： Paraphrase the sentence

…after that we know he was in London in 1592.

He can next be traced in 1592 in London…

Shakespeare soon became sufficiently well-known for managers and other influential people to refer to him in writing.

Soon Shakespeare became so famous that managers and other

powerful people often mentioned him in their writings.


ever since

from then till now

e.g. She went to the country in June to spend her summer

holidays and has remained there ever since.

Tom was down with a high fever a fortnight ago and has been

keeping to his bed ever since.

1. What was known about Shakespeare’s early schooling?2. What are the two legends about Shakespeare’s life between the

time he left school and his departure for London?3. Why is the world grateful that Shakespeare left the town of his

birth?4. What was known about Shakespeare towards the end of the

sixteenth century?5.What are some of the best-known plays Shakespeare wrote in

the early part of the seventeenth century?6.What curse was engraved on Shakespeare’s gravestone? Who

was it that wanted to have it engraved? Why did he want to have this done? What is the writer’s comment on this curse?

1. What was known about Shakespeare’s early schooling?2. What are the two legends about Shakespeare’s life between the

time he left school and his departure for London?3. Why is the world grateful that Shakespeare left the town of his

birth?4. What was known about Shakespeare towards the end of the

sixteenth century?5.What are some of the best-known plays Shakespeare wrote in

the early part of the seventeenth century?6.What curse was engraved on Shakespeare’s gravestone? Who

was it that wanted to have it engraved? Why did he want to have this done? What is the writer’s comment on this curse?

Text II Extensive Reading Questions

William Shakespeare

Text II Practice

Workbook, Page 50, Comprehension

Oral Work

Group work: Discuss the best film or play you have ever seen with your group members. Following information should be included:

The name of the film / play

The most impressive part

Why do you think it’s the best film / play?

Different features of Western movies / Hongkong movies /

mainland movies

The Best Film / Play I Have Seen

Précis Writing

Paragraph Writing

Letter Writing

Letter Writing

Practice: Now suppose you were Shakespeare, the

greatest writer ever in the world, now you are aged and

lived in Stratford. One day, you thinks it is necessary

to write a letter to your daughter, Susanna Hall, to tell

her your life experience …

Write a letter “to Susanna”, illusion, guess, deduction

is recommended.

Listening Comprehension

Dictation A

Dictation B

Listening

Key

Key

Listening

1. Lucentio wen to Padua to ______.

A. find a wife B. go on a trip C. visit Baptista D. Study

2. Which of the following was not suggested in the text? _____

A. Katharina was wealthy and beautiful

B. katharina was shrewd

C. Katharina was sharp-tongued

D. Katharina was bad-tempered

3. Who had never been in love with Bianca?

A. Lucentio B. Petruchio C. Gremio D. Hortensio

Workbook Page 56

Multiple choice questions

D

B

B

Listening

4. Baptista insisted that ______.

A. katharina should get married before Bianca

B. Bianca should get married before Katharina

C. Bianca and Katharina should get married at the same time

D. Katharina should never get married

5. Lucentio disguised himself as _____.

A. a servant B. a merchant C. a tutor D. Tranio

6. Which of the following is not suggested in the text? Petruchio’s

courtship to Baptista’s elder daughter is _____.

A. an unusual one B. a secret one

C. a battle of wits D. a battle of words and wills

Workbook Page 56

Multiple choice questionsA

C

B

Listening

7. Lucentio had his wedding in ______.

A. his country home B. Baptista’s house

C. the church D. Hortensio’s house

8. Lucentio disguised himself as _____.

A. indifferent B. surprised C. glad D. angry

Workbook Page 56

Multiple choice questions

C

D

Listening Dictation A

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein Was born in Germany in 1879. His father owned a factory that made electrical devices. His mother enjoyed music and books. His parents were Jewish but they did not observe many of the religion’s rules. Albert was a quiet child who spent much of his time alone. He was slow to talk and had difficulty learning to read. When Albert was five years old, his father gave him a compass. The child was filled with wonder when he discovered that the compass needle always pointed in the same direction to the north. He asked his father and his uncle what caused the needle to move. Their answers about magnetism and gravity were difficult for the boy to understand. Yet he spent a lot of time thinking about them. He said later that he felt something hidden had to be behind things. (143 words)

Listening Dictation B

Private Cars

With the increase in the general standard of living, some ordinary Chinese families begin to afford a car. Yet opinions of the development of private car vary from person to person. It gives a much greater degree of comfort and mobility. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport, and hence no irritation caused by waiting by buses or taxis. However, others strongly object to developing private cars. They maintain that as more and more cars are produced and run in the street, a large volume of poisonous gas will be given off, polluting the atmosphere and causing actual harm to the health of people. Whether private cars should be developed in China is a difficult question to answer, yet the desire for the comfort and independence a private car can bring will not be eliminated. (143 words)

unit 4 text i a man from stratford – william shakespeare text ii william shakespeare

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