Unit2 现代大学英语精读2精讲

SayYesTobiasWolff•Whatkindsofpersonyouwouldliketomarry?Haveyoueverthoughtofmarryingaforeignerorablackperson?Questions/Activities•Workinpairsanddiscussthefollowingtwoquestions.Keeparecordofyouropinionstoseewhethertheywillchangeasthetextisanalyzedindetail.1.Isthemanagoodhusband?Citetextualevidencetosupportyourview.2.Isthemanaracist?Citetextualevidencetosupportyourview.Check-onPreviewpitchinonpinchresorttomopspraysnapthroughdemonstratebluroutcomeupwiththistrickthehouseworkthesilverwarethefloorherbrowsherindifferencethepagestherightanswerthestarsMatchtheverbswiththenouns.MarkthefollowingstatementsT,fortrueandFforfalse.1.Thestoryissetinthe1960sintheUSwhenracialissueswerehotoneverybody’smindandlips.2.Thestoryhappenedbetweentwomiddle-agedpeoplewhohadbeenmarriedforabout30years.3.Themanhadneverthoughtthathewasaracistandfeltgreatlywrongedbyhiswifewhoimpliedthis.4.Themanwasconsiderate,rationalandforgivingwhilehiswifewasselfish,emotionalandridiculous.5.Thehusbandhadknownallalongwhathiswifewantedfromhim,butsimplydidn’twanttogiveintoher.6.Afterthehusbandturnedoffthelight,someonebrokeintotheirhouseandmadesomestrangenoise.FTTFTFCheck-onPreviewObjectives•Knowsomethingabouttheauthorandhisworks.•GathersomebackgroundinformationaboutracismandsexismintheUS.•Learntoappreciatetheshortstory.•Masterthelanguageitemslisted.•Understandthestoryandappreciateitssubtletyasmuchaspossible.•Thinkaboutthethemesofthestoryandformyourownopinions.HisLifeTobiasWolff(1945-)•BorninAlabamaUSAin1945.•Parentsdivorcedwhenhewasaboy;traveledwidelywithhismother;soonforcedtoendurelifeunderhisstrictandcruelstepfather.•From1964to1968,lieutenantwiththeU.S.ArmySpecialForces(GreenBerets)inVietnam.•B.A.(1972)andM.A.(1975)fromOxfordUniversitywithFirstClassHonorsinEnglish,asecondM.A.fromStanford.•Areveredwriter&teacherofcreativewritingandliteratureinStanfordandelsewhere.TheAuthorHisWorksShortstories(OHenryAward):•“IntheGardenoftheNorthAmericanMartyrs”(1981)•“NextDoor”(1982)•“Sister”(1985)•OurStoryBegins(shortstorycollectionin2003,TheStoryPrizein2004)Memoirs:•ThisBoy’sLife:AMemoir(1989)•InPharaoh'sArmy:MemoriesoftheLostWar(1994)Novels:•TheBarrack'sThief(1984,PEN/FauknerAwardforFiction)•OldSchool(2003)ThisBoy’sLifeFilmPosterHisStyle•Adirectwritingstyle,obeyingthe“show,don’ttell”maxim,leavingmuchtothereader’sintuition•Non-dramatic,focusingmoreonthepsychologicaldimensionsofacharacterindilemmasthanonplotdevelopment•Oftenunderstated,forcingreaderstobecomeengagedinthecollectionofstrandsthatwillresultinthefullcomprehensionofastory.•Exploringalienation,thenatureoflying,andtheessentialfoundationsofrelationships•HopingtoinstructandinspirepeopletotriumphovertheirsituationsthroughcharacterchangeanddevelopmentCultureTips•Definition:Racismisprejudiceordiscriminationbasedonthebeliefthatraceistheprimaryfactordetermininghumantraitsandabilities.Racismincludesthebeliefthatgeneticorinheriteddifferencesproducetheinherentsuperiorityorinferiorityofoneraceoveranother.•Institutionalracism:e.g.theJimCrowlawsintheUSfrom1876to1965mandatingsegregationinallpublicfacilitiesinthesouthernstatesoftheformerConfederacywithasupposedly“separatebutequal”statusfortheblackAmericans;officiallyoverruledwiththeCivilRightsActof1964andtheVotingRightsActof1965.•Overtandsubtleracism:TheCivilRightsMovementdidawaymuchovertracism,butracismpersistsinmanysubtleforms,inmanyaspectsandonmanylevels.RacismKuKluxKlan•KuKluxKlanalsoknownasKKK:asecretwhitesupremacistorganizationatvarioustimesinAmericanhistoryterrorizedblacksandwhitesympathizerswithviolentactsoflynching,shootingsandwhippings.•Founded:1866•Founder:ConfederateCivilWarveterans•Headquarters:Powderly,Kentucky;Butler,Indiana;Jasper,Texas•Background:TheKlanhasfragmentedintoscoresofcompetingfactions.Mostofthesearenominallyindependent.•Estimatedsize:nomorethanafewthousand,organizedintoslightlymorethan100units•Media:massmailings,leafletsandtheInternet•Strategy:publicralliesandprotestsIdeology:someChristianfundamentalistbeliefs,ChristianIdentity,whitesupremacy•Financialsupport:little•TargetingthosesetfreeaftertheAmericanCivilWar—theAfricanAmericans,KKKdesignedtospreadfearthroughouttheBlackpopulationthatstilllivedinthesouthernstates.Themosthatredwasdirectedagainstthepoorblackfamiliesinthesouthwhowereveryvulnerabletoattack.•WiththeenactmentofCongressionallegislationandenforcementofthelawbythefederalgovernment,theKlanwasextinguishedin1871—1872.CultureTipsRace&Marriage•Despitethepublicoppositiontointerracialmarriage,in1948,theCaliforniaSupremeCourtbecamethefirststatehighcourttodeclareabanoninterracialmarriageunconstitutional.•Thedecisionwascontroversial,courageousandcorrect.Atthattime,38statesstillforbadeinterracialmarriage,andsixdidsobystateconstitutionalprovision.•Then,in1967,theU.S.SupremeCourtstruckdowntheremaininginterracialmarriagelawsnation-wide.CultureTipsSexismAswithracism,overtsexismisnotverymuchondisplaynowinmuchoftheworld.Butsubtlesexismpersistsandcanbefoundeverywhereatalltime.Itisaclusterofsocialexpectationsandpracticesthatreinforcesex-basedinequality.Forexample: