Lesson3

Lesson Three Message of the LandBy Pira SudhamStep I Warm up & Preview:I. Warming up questions:1. What does “land” mean to you? What are the differences among “land”, “soil” and “earth”?2. What does the word “motherland” or “homeland” associate you r mind with?3. Do you think land is carry secret message? What are they?4. As a traditionally agriculture-centered country, China has long established its respect to land. Can you quote some sayings or idioms or folktales to illustrate this?5. “When peo ple lose their ties to the land they grow corrupt. Inevitably, they grow corrupt.” Do you think so? How to understand this quote?6．Do you know what these nicknames refer to? Try to match them.A BLand of the Rising Sun Scotland（蓟，多年生草本花紫色可入药）Land of the Rose JapanLand of the Shamrock U.S.ALand of Cakes Ireland（三叶草是爱尔兰的国花）Land of Golden Fleece EnglandLand of Thistle Australia（[希神]金羊毛）Land of the Stars and StripesII. Preview Works: Listening, reading and thinking:1. Listening: Try to understand the Style; General idea; Pronunciation andspelling;2. Reading: Try to understand the: Main idea; Structure and logic; Questions onthe text; Language and grammar;3. Thinking: Try to understand the Theme; Concepts; Questions for discussion。

Step II Background knowledge:1. The author: Pira Sudham is considered Thailand's leading English languagewriter, who was nominated for the 1990 Nobel Prize for Literature. His literary works are concerned with social-economic-political changes occurring in Thailand. Widely read and highly acclaimed, his books have given an expedient voice to the poor and the voiceless.2. Bangkok, population 8,538,610 (1990), is the capital and largest city ofThailand. The city is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River(湄南河), near the Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand.3. Thai Buddhism:Buddhism is Thailand's main religion. 94% of Thaipeople are Buddhist. The other are Muslim, Catholic or Chinese.4. Structure of the textPart I: the wife’s speech (Para1 – Para.7)(paras. 1—3) The wife tells us briefly about her family and how all her children left.(paras. 4—7)This part focuses on the changes that she finds she can’t adjust to.Part II the farmer’s speech (paras. 8—11)The farmer tells about what he thinks are the root of all evils and what joys he finds in life and farming.5. Theme of the story:The text tells about the deep regret of the old people over the loss of traditional values and the way of life.(What’s the message of the la nd?It’s our history, our culture, our tradition and our life. In a word, it is our root which we cannot live without.)Step III. Detailed AnalysisPart 1: the wife’s speech (Para1 – Para.7)Question1:Why does the wife start her conversation by talking about the land?The wife has already regarded the land as part of her life. This is the land where her parents and forefathers lived and it is bound with family history and tradition. It represents the root of her family.Question 2: What’s the main ide a of Paras. 1—3?The wife makes a brief introduction of her family and tells us how all her four children left for cities. She feels sorry about this and she also feels sorry about the land. The land is no longer fertile, like her and her husband, getting old and exhausted.Question3: What is the topic sentence of Para. 4? What are the supporting details?(Pay attention to paragraph organization)Topic sentence:“… we two haven’t changed much, but the village has.”Supporting details:•Cash instead of barter•Paid help•Plastic things instead of village crafts•The old alone on the land•Young peopl e’s different way of thinking, dressing and behaving Question 4: What is the main idea of Para. 5—6? What is the function of the first sentence in Para. 5?With the first sentence in Para. 5 serving as a transitional sentence, the wife shifts her talk to the things that should not change, which include people’s worship, and young people’s respect to their parents and the aged.Question 5: How does the wife present her speech? (Please find examples in the text.)What is her attitude toward the changes around her?By comparison /contrast and exemplification, the wife presents her idea of this changing world. She dislikes the changes around her. She won’t a ccept the changes and even refuses to change with the life.Part 2. the farmer’s speech (paras. 8—11)Question 1: What can be inferred from Para. 10?The farmer is very traditional. He still clings to the conventional idea of having a big family with children around him. Because of his strong attachment to the land, he wants his children to follow in his footsteps and be content with the farming life.Question 2: What can we learn from the last paragraph?The farmer nurses a strong love towards the land. He loves the feeling when tilling the land and the smell and sight when the rice on the land is ripening. He feels so close to the land that he can even read the message of the land. He strongly hopes that one day he can pass on the land’s secret mes sage to his grandchildren.Question4: What are the traits(显著的特点, 特性), as shown in the old couple, shared by other farmers?In the couple we find traits that are shared by many farmers who till the land: •love of land and physical labor, and love of family;•being honest and kind, and easy to be satisfied;•clinging to traditional values and the way of life;We can still find the common problems:•generation gap;•confusion of the old towards the changing world;•young people’s quitting of the farming life;Step IV. Language Points & Grammar:1. Language Points:1) bully: v.a. to threaten to hurt someone or frighten them, especially someone smaller or weakerb. to put pressure on someone in order to make them do what you wantThe child was bullied almost out of its life.Don't let them bully you into working on Saturdays.a local bully 土豪play the bully 横行霸道，恃强欺弱a bully idea 绝妙的主意a bully good dinner 极其丰盛的饭菜Bully for you!干得好！Bullyboy （受人雇佣且尤指与政治集团有关的）流氓，打手2) afford to: can / could be able + afford sth /to do sthThey walked because they couldn’t afford (to take) taxi.I mustn’t annoy my boss because I can’t afford to lose my job.3）now and then: now and again; occasionallyhere and there: everywhereups and downs: alternate good and bad luckthe ins and outs: the details and complexities (of sth)4）in spite (n. ) of: (used as a prep.) not being prevented by; regardless of; despite They went out in spite of the rain.regardless (adv.) of: (used as a prep.) (infml) paying no attention toShe carried on regardless of the danger.despite (prep.): without being affected byThey had a wonderful holiday, despite the bad weather.5）mind one’s own…mind one’s own business: not interfere in other p eople’s affairmind one’s own p’s and q’s: be careful and polite about what one says or does 6）bleed: v. (bled; bled) loose or emit bloodbleed to deathbleed for sth: suffer wounds or die (for a cause ,one’s country)bleed for revolutionbleed sb for sth: (infml) extort (money) from sbThe blackmailer bled him for every penny he had.7）barter: v./ n. exchange (goods, property, etc) for other goods, etc without using moneybarter sth for sth: barter wheat for machinerybarter with sb for sth:The prisoners tried to barter with the guards for their freedom.replace: v. ---put back in its placereplace the book on the shelf---take the place ofCan anything replace a mother’s love?---provide a substitute for sb / sthreplace a broken window with a new one8）litter: n. light rubbish(eg. bits of paper, wrappings, bottles)Please do not leave litter.v．make untidy with scattered rubbishNewspapers littered the floor.9）fashion: n.in / after the fashion of sb: (fml) like sbShe paints in the fashion of Picasso.come into / be in fashion: become or be populargo / be out of fashion: become outdatedfashionable: a.old-fashioned: a.10）hairdresser:n.beautician: n.barber: n.11）spring: v. jump from the ground in a single movemente.g. spring out of bedA cat sprang out of the bushes.spring to life: suddenly become activeOn hearing his name called, the sleeping dog sprang to life.come / spring to mind: present itself to one’s thoughtsNothing immediately springs to mind.spring from sth: have sth as a source or originHatred often springs from fear.spring up: appear, develop, grow, etc. quickly or suddenlyNew houses were springing up all over the town.12）condemnv. a. to disapprove sth. or sb., esp. because you think it is morally wrongb. to give judgment againste.g.Local authorities have been condemned for failing to tackle the problem of homelessness.The law has been condemned as an attack on personal liberty.He was found guilty and condemned to death.13）occur: v. come into being as an event or a process; happen Death occurred at midnight, the doctor says.occur to sb: come into (a person’s mind)An idea has occurred to me.Did it ever occur to you to think of him?It never occurred to her that she should be on time.occurrence: n. event; incident, happeningincident: n. unimportant or minor things happenedevent: n. a happening of importance14）a bag of bones: a very thin person or animalThe cat was just a bag of bones.bag and baggage: with all one’s belongings, often suddenly or secretlyHer tenant left, bag and baggage, without paying the rent.be in the bag: (of an result, outcome) be as desiredHer re-election is in the bag.pack one’s bags: (prepare to) leaveHe was told to pack his bags.15）rag: n. torn, frayed, odd clothI use an oily rag to clean my bike.rags: (pl.) old, worn or torn clothesHe gave five dollars to a tramp dressed in rags and tatters.16) scarcity n.a situation in which there is not enough of something Examples:The scarcity of medical supplies was becoming critical.The world is entering a period of protein scarcity, the report says.17) lust n. a very strong desire to have something, usu. power or moneyv. to want sth. very much, esp. sth. that you do not really need Examples:Her lust for money is insatiable.Throughout his career he was motivated by a lust for power.18) at peace within a situation in which there is no war or fighting; in harmony with Examples:The two countries are at peace with each other.19）tie sb down to sth: restrict sb to certain conditionsChildren do tie you down, don’t they?tie sb up: ---bind sb with rope, etc so that he cannot move or escape--- (use passive) occupy sb so that he has no time for other thingsI’m tied up in a meeting until 3 p.m..20）heal v.a. (esp. of wounds) ( to cause) to become healthy and soundb. to (help sb.) become mentally or emotionally strong again after a bad experience21) pass sth on to sb: hand or give sth to sb else, esp after receiving or using it oneselfI passed her message on to her mother.Pass the book on to me when you’ve finished with it.pass sth down: (esp passive) pass sth from one generation to the nextWe gained much knowledge which has been passed down over centuries.pass sth up: (infml) refuse to accept a chance, an opportunity, etc.Imagine passing up an offer like that!2. Grammar:My husband moved into our house as is the way with us in Esarn. (Para. 1)What is the use of “as” here?“A s” introduce s an attributive clause.The “as” in the as-clause is like “which” in a relative clause. Used in this way, it introduces a comment on what you are saying.e.g.He opposed the idea, as could be expected.“As” serves as subject, referring to the whole thing mentioned ahead.Such snobbish(势利的) people as you describe are very rare today.“As” serves as object, referring to ―snobbish people‖.I have the same trouble as you (have).“As” serves as object, referring to―trouble‖.I feel the same as you do.―As you do‖ modifies ―the same‖.Step IV．Sentence Paraphrase1. My husband moved into our house as is the way with us in Esarn.(When we got married) my husband came to live in our house. It was the tradition here in Esarn that the bridegroom should come to live with the bride’s family.2. … and tell us that they are doing well. I know this is not always true.… although they always tell us that everything is fine with them. I know they also have difficulties and problems. They just do not tell us because they don’t want us to worry.3. It’s easier for my husband . He has ears which don’t hear, a mouth which doesn’t speak, and eyes that don’t see.News about my children’s problems doesn’t make my husband as sad. He doesn’t bother about what is happening around us and to our children. He never says anything about them.4. All of them remain my children in spite of their long absence.Although they are often away for a long time, I love and care about them as always because they are my children.5. In my day, if I were to put on a pair of trousers like they do now, lightning would strike me.When I was young, I surely would be punished by God if I ever wore the kind of trousers they wear today.6. My eyes do see--- they see more than they should. My ears do hear---they hear more than is good for me.---I’m not what my wife says I am. I do see and hear--- I see and hear too much evil, too many ugly and terrible things, things that I wish I did not have to see and hear. And this is not good for me.7.Still the land could not tie them down or call them back.My children grew up and had happy days on this land. But this couldn’t prevent them from leaving or making them return.Step IV. Style:1. style:essay (in a very broad sense) or interviewThe interviewees: a farmer and his wife(note: Since the World War II it has become popular for writers tointerview people, record what they say and, after some, not too much, editing, publish these people’s stories in book form.)2. Stylistic featurecolloquialstraightforward languageshort sentencessmall and easy wordsStep V. Figures of Speech1. Simile(明喻): a simile is a brief comparison , usually introduced by the preposition “like” or the conjunction “as”, and etc.A simile consists of two parts: tenor and vehicle. The tenor is the primary subject; the vehicle is the thing to which the main subject is compared to.2. Metaphor(隐喻): A metaphor is also a comparison. The difference is that a simile compares things explicitly(明确地)--- that is , it states literally that X is like Y. A metaphor compares things implicitly. Read literally, it does not state that things are alike; it says that they are the same thing, that they are identical.Can you find some examples of the usage of simile in the text?1) Sometimes, they get bullied and insulted, and it is like knife piercing my heart. 2）It is no longer fertile, bleeding year after year, and like us getting old and exhausted.3）When each of them has a pair of jeans, they are off like birds on the wing.3. Personification(拟人):A figure of speech, in which inanimate(没生命的) objects or abstractions are endowed(赋予) with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form.e.g. Hunger sat shivering on the road.Flowers danced about the lawn.Can you find some examples of the usage of personification in the text?Our piece of land is small, and it is no longer fertile, bleeding year after year and, like us, getting old and exhausted. (Para.3)4. Zeugma(一语双叙法, 兼用法, 轭语法):A single word is made to modify or govern two or more words in the same sentencee.g. The senator(参议员) picked up his hat as well as his courage.He lost his coat and his temper.Can you find some examples of the usage of Zeugma in the text?The soil is not difficult to till when there is a lot of rain, but in a bad year, it’s not only the ploughs that break but our hearts, too. (Para. 3)Step VI．In--Class DiscussionQuestions:1）What is the wife’s philosophy of life?2) What is the husband’s philosophy of life?3) What is the massage of the land?4) List some facts that attract the young man away from countryside to cities.5) What are the typical characters of young people? What about the old ones? 6）What is th e message in the old couple’s mind? What do you think of the message?7）Is there the so-called generation gap between the old couple and their children?Why or why not?8）Do you find similar happening here in China today? Give examples.Step VII．Quiz1. Words dictation:forefather infancy afford bully insult pierce fertile litterfashionable condemn scarcity shimmer2. Paragraph:He just cared the dangers over our people, the honor of our motherland, the nuclear industry and the responsibility of his career. He just forgot one thing—his own life!!! Oh, maybe he didn’t forget himself; he was just willing to sacrifice himself for the people he loved so, the country he loved so and the nuclear career he loved so.T he E nd。