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The King of the Humorists, Mark Twain, his own name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, born on November 30, 1835, in a small village of Florida, and spent his boyhood in Hannibal, Missouri,along the Mississippi River, died in 1910.Indeed, he loves the river so much that evenhis pen name is about it coming from his years working on Mississippi riverboats. Twain is an old word for "two". So to "mark twain" is to say that the water is two [fathoms deep, that is, the water is 12 feet (3.7 m) deep and it is safe to pass.Twain left school at the age of twelve. Over the next two decades, he was a printer, a riverboat pilot, a soldier, a gold miner, a business man and a newspaper reporter. But finally he became one of the most famous American writers and lecturers. He was lauded asthe greatest American humorist of his age and was called the "Father of American Literature", and also “mirror of America” in this lesson’s article.Mark Twain wrote 28 books and also published collections of short stories. Most of his books describe people on the Mississippi River. The best ones are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer published in 1876, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1885, which was called the Great American Novel, and Life on the Mississippi. Though Twain made a substantial amount of money through his writing, but he lost a great deal through investments, mostly in new inventions and technology.As we all know that mark twain was famous for his humorous writing style, his humor is remarkable, which is not only of witty remarks mocking at small things or of farcical elements making people laugh, but a kind of artistic style used to criticize the social injustice and satirize the decayed romanticism. But we may barely know that actually personal tragedy haunted his entire life, in the death of loved ones..Twain was born two weeks after the closest approach to Earth of Halley’s Comet.（哈雷彗星）He was born in a local lawyer‘s family in Missouri, America. His father died when he was 12 years old. He was the sixth of seven children but only three of his siblings survived childhood.In February 1870, Twain and Langdon were married in Elmira, New York, but their son Langdon died of diphtheria(白喉，一种严重的传染病) at 19 months. They had three daughters:Susy , Claraand Jean. Except Clara, the other two both had shot life. Twain passed through a period of deep depression that began in 1896 when his daughter, Susy, died of meningitis. His wife Olivia's death in 1904 and Jean's on December 24, 1909, deepened his gloom.Then on May 20, 1909, his close friend Henry Rogers died suddenly.He died the day following the comet’s subsequent return, goingout with it.Because of loneliness and loss of much money, his writingin the last years of his life lost most of its humor and became sad like him. Yet he is still one of the most popular writers in the world today.。
我最喜欢的作家马克吐温英语作文The Mark Twain in my eyesTo most Americans, Mark Twain is a great writer of exploration, patriotism, romance and humor, but I see him as a cynical, bitter man struck by the depths of life's tragedy.Mark Twain spent more than a third of his life wandering around the country, and then traveling around the world as a writer and a public speaker.Mark Twain, born Samuel Long Herne Clemens, took his pen name from the signal language he heard while working on a steamship.In Mark Twain's youth, the Mississippi Valley was the geographic center of the United States and the transportation artery of the central United States, where large amounts of goods dispersed.In 1857, young Mark Twain stepped into the Mississippi River basin as a small steam ship navigator.In this job, he came into a variety of characters and saw a colorful world.All of this has had a profound influence on his later work.After the civil war, Mark Twain left the Mississippi Valley andjoined the Confederate guerrillas.But the team tried to avoid fighting the enemy forces.Mark Twain left the team angrily.He came west again, lured by the gold rush in Nevada, but was eventually frustrated by his failure.After bankruptcy and frustration, he accepted his job as a reporter for the Virginia City Territory Development Newspaper, and then went into literature.Mark Twain began experimenting, but was forced to leave the city and flee to the gold mines in the Sacramento Valley.His depiction of the pioneers there made him accepted in the West Coast region.Mark Twain spent the winter of 1864 at the Angels mines.In boredom, he recorded a account of a story he heard that day that determines the course of his career:。
关于马克吐温英语作文Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is one of the most renowned figures in American literature. His works are celebrated for their humor, satire, and keen observations of human nature. In this essay, we will explore the life and contributions of Mark Twain, as well as analyze some of his most famous works.Early Life and BackgroundMark Twain was born in 1835 in Florida, Missouri, and grew up in Hannibal, a town on the Mississippi River. His experiences along the river would later serve as inspiration for his most famous novel, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Twain's early life was marked by hardship, including the death of hisfather when he was just 11 years old.Literary CareerTwain's career as a writer began with his work as a journalist. He later turned to writing fiction and gained national fame with "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." His writing style was characterized by its authenticity and colloquialism, which was a departure from the more formal prose of his contemporaries.Major Works1. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1876) - This novel is often considered a classic of American literature. It tells the story of Tom Sawyer, a mischievous boy growing up along the Mississippi River.2. "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1884) - Often called "The Great American Novel," this work is a sequel to "Tom Sawyer" and follows the adventures of Huck Finn and Jim, a runaway slave, as they travel down the Mississippi River.3. "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1889) - This novel is a satirical look at society and politics, as a modern man is transported back in time to the court of King Arthur.Themes and StyleMark Twain's works often explore themes of innocence, identity, and the human condition. His use of satire to critique societal norms and his exploration of the moral complexities of life have made his works timeless.Influence and LegacyTwain's influence on American literature is immense. He is known for his wit and for his ability to capture the voice of the American people. His works continue to be studied and enjoyed around the world.ConclusionMark Twain was more than just a writer; he was a social critic, a humorist, and a keen observer of the human experience. His works have left an indelible mark on literature and continue to be celebrated for their humor, wisdom, and insight into the American spirit.In conclusion, Mark Twain's contributions to literature are vast and varied. His novels, short stories, and essays have not only entertained but also enlightened and provoked thought. As an English student, exploring Twain's works can offer a rich understanding of American literature and the societal context in which it was created.。
幻灯片1Mark TwainSamuel Langhorne Clemens(1835—1910)幻灯片2Pre-text questions●What do you know about Mark Twain?●How did the name “Mark Twain”come from?● 3. Have you read any works of Mark Twain? What do you●know about his writing?幻灯片3●Suggested answer 1Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.每个人都像月亮，有着从来不让任何人看见的黑暗面。
幻灯片4Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.善良是一种聋子能听见、盲人能看见的语言。
幻灯片5The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. 同不能读书的人相比，不读好书的人没有一点优势。
幻灯片6A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.真理还在穿鞋的时候，谎言已经走遍了半个世界。
幻灯片7●In my opinion, Mark Twain was the first truly American●writer, and all of us since are his heirs.●—William Faulkner●All modern American literature comes after his works.●—Hemingway●“the Lincoln of our literature.”●—W. D. Howells●Mark Twain gave pleasure –real intellectual enjoyment –●to millions, and his works will continue to give such pleasure●to millions yet to come... His humor was American, but he was●nearly as much appreciated by Englishmen and people of●other countries as by his own countrymen. He has made an●enduring part of American literature.—President William Howard Taft幻灯片8The Chinese people are familiar with this writer because he was merciless in depicting the dark side of the Americansociety and because he stood firmly on the side of the Chinesein their struggle against foreign invasions.Which essay?Their essay “To the Person Sitting in Darkness” (1901) is a response to the Boxer rebellion in China. It is a scathingpolitical attack against imperialism.幻灯片9Suggested answer 2 &3●Twain's real name was Samuel Clemens. "Mark Twain",●which Means “watermark two", was a call used by sailors on●the Mississippi to warn shipmates that they were coming into●shallow water.●Running for Governor●The Adventures of Tom Sawyer●The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County●The Million Pound Note●The Prince and the PauperThe Gilded Age幻灯片10Mark Twain and the Mississippi Mark Twain loved the great river so much that he alwayswent in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. Many of hisgreat works are set in the background of the MississippiRiver, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Life on the Mississippi.幻灯片11幻灯片12幻灯片13幻灯片14Twain with His Wife●我是爱你的,倘使我失去你,那我的热情将追随着你而去,我的心灵将永远成为一片毫无生气的废墟。
Mark Twain and the MississippiRiverPart One: The Mississippi1.Show maps and scenery of the river2.Brief IntroductionThe Mississippi River, 3,779 km (2,348 mi) long, is the second longest river, after the Missouri, in the United States. Its triangular drainage area, covering about 40% of the country and including all or part of 31 states, is approximately 3,250,000 sq km (1,250,000 sq mi), the third largest in the world. The Mississippi rises in Minnesota and then flows south, following the boundaries between the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana on the west, and Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi on the east. The river, whose name means "father of waters" in the Algonquian language, has long been an important transportation artery of North America.3.The River and Life(1)the effect of the Mississippi :Throughout its history, the Mississippi has always been a major navigation route through the center of North America.It has served as the border for New France, New Spain, and the early United States，Even today, the river serves as partial boundaries for ten states, and most of its course can easily be seen on a political map.Just as its name “The Father of Waters”says, the Mississippi River washes the center plain and provides the richest soil for his people.As the body of a nation, the Old Blue influences the country a lot with its natural and spiritual power.(2)both sides of the Mississippiformed the nation but brought into disasterflowing right through the heart of America, bringing great wealth to the country but great suffering and hardship as well.The river dominates almost the whole American land, but its south part that dominates the whole nation’s culture and life.4.The Mississippi River, the Symbol of American SpiritsThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, plays a very brilliant and predominant role in American literature. It is a novel of freedom and integrity. The story is about Huck Finnand Jim‟s adventures journey down the Mississippi River on a raft. Huck is a white boy with a good heart, who escapes from being “civilized”and the maltreatment of his drunkard father. Jim is a runaway nigger, who is afraid of being sold. They are both forced to flee from the human society in order to be free. During the journey down the Mississippi River, they reveal their kindness by nature and establishes a profound relationship, but their isolating “society”is constantly disturbed and suffering the wicked acts from the banks of the “civilization society”. Relying on their wisdom and courage, they obtain freedom in the end. By contrasting the two kinds of societies, Twain thoroughly disclosed the hypocrisy of freedom and democracy in American society of his age. On the other hand, he showed his admiration to the people, both whites and blacks, with the spirit of bravely fighting for freedom and integrity. The theme in this novel, indeed, is that all of men, whites or blacks, should live in a truly democratic country.Beneath that theme, Mark Twain also succeeds in portraying the Great Mississippi River which carries Huck and Jim to beautiful, but sometimes it is so violent ferocious and terrible. It seems to be an embodiment of some spirits.“Some critics, notably T. S. Eliot and Lionel Trilling, have gone so far as to see in the River a kind of symbolic deity, a power sufficient to itself. The River …is not ethical or good,‟Trilling says, but it helps goodness grow in those people who make it an important element in their lives.”While T. S. Eliot has a more profound understanding of the Mississippi River in this novel.“Eliot maintains that the River dominates the structural form of the novel. The River is used metaphorically, structurally and thematically. Huck sees the big River gliding by and is suffused with a sense of awe and majestic calm. All adventures begin and end on the River. Jim‟s freedom------the central point of the novel------involves a journey down the River.”Question:What happened between Mark Twain and the Mississippi ??Part Two:Mark Twain1.Mark Twain and the MississippiMark Twain was born in Florida. The Mississippi River , flowing though the state,exerts a tremendouus influence on him.The beautiful sight and the colorful life as well as cast of characters are all quite familiar to Mark Twain.Therefore the Mississippi River produces great regional impact on Mark Twain’s literary creation .Mark Twain takes the Mississippi River as the carrier of his classic words,shapes his unique writing style and at the same time bestows specific meaning on the river.Mark Twain loved the great river so much that he always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. Many of his great works are set in the background of the Mississippi River, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Life on the Mississippi.2.Mark Twain –Mirror of America(1)Who was Mark Twain ? Where did his pen name come from?Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835–1910.He was an American author,a humorist, narrator, and social observer.Twain is unsurpassed in American literature.His novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a masterpiece of humor, characterization, and realism, has been called the first (and sometimes the best) modern American novel.After the death of his father in 1847, young Clemens was apprenticed to a printer in Hannibal, Mo., the Mississippi River town where he spent most of his boyhood.He first began writing for his brother’s newspaper there, and later he worked as a printer in several major Eastern cities.In 1857, Clemens went to New Orleans on his way to make his fortune in South America, but instead he became a Mississippi River pilot—hence his pseudonym, “Mark Twain,”which was the river call for a depth of water of two fathoms.two fathoms deep a boatman’s signal called up from the bow where the leadsman was sounding the river’s channel with his line. “Mark Twain”meant the second mark, or 12 feet deep, enough water to float any steamboatFor most people, the name "Mark Twain" is virtually synonymous with the life along the Mississippi River immortalized in the author's writing. Clemens first signed his writing with the name in February 1863, as a newspaper reporter in Nevada.(2)His Life PrinterPilotSoldierMinerReporterWriterMark Twain had led an active life,in the very center ofthe American experience.(3)His Major Works1.The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (1865)2.Innocents Abroad (1869)3.Roughing It (1872)4.The Gilded Age (with Charles Dudley waenner,1873)5.The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)6. A Tramp Abroad (1880)7. The Prince and the Pauper (1882)8.Life on the Mississippi (1883)9.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)10.The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson (1894)11. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1889)12. The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg (1900)13.What Is Man? (1906)14. The Mysterious Stranger (1916)15. Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc (1896)16. Following the Equator (1897)(4)Life on the Mississippi0riginally published in 1883, Life on the Mississippi is Mark Twain's memoir of his youthful years as a cub pilot on a steamboat paddling up and down the Mississippi River.Twain used his childhood experiences growing up along the Mississippi in a number of works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but nowhere is the river and the pilot's life more thoroughly described than in this work.Told with insight, humor, and candor, Life on the Mississippi is an American classic.(5)Book ReviewLife On the Mississippi is perhaps his middle-aged, nostalgic look-back to the long gone days of his youth.Twain looks back from a distance of twenty years, back to his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River.From 1857 to 1861 Twain learned and worked and lived on steamboats traveling the river from St. Louis to New Orleans.Yet a mere twenty years later, he must have surely recognized that the 'glory days' of the steamboat on the Mississippi were already gone, for him and for his countryLife on the Mississippi is full of stories.Stories of the geological history and the discovery and exploration of the river by man.Stories of Twain's early days as a boy on the river and the characters known and admired or censured from those early days.Stories from his days living and working on the river, as a 'cub pilot', as a respected working pilot, and—returning twenty years later—as a visitor seeing for himself the changes wrought on the river.Stories of the changes produced by the hand of man, straightening and deepening and channeling the river; changes forced by the development of tow-boats and railroads; changes perhaps best seen from the distance of time.That’s all.Thank you.。
