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1KeystoUnitOneLangstonHughes:EarlyAutumnTeachingobjectives:1.Tolearntheelementsoffiction/shortstory2.TextforReading3.InterpretationandDiscussionDifficulties:1.Tofindthemeaningunderthesurfaceofthewords2.TowriteashortstoryafterreadingTime:4periodsTeachingprocedures:1.theIntroductionofthetextbookaswellastheteachingaims2.theelementsoffiction/shortstoryFiction:thewordfictionisarathergeneraltermthatcanbedefinedasnarrativetoldinprose.Therefore,fictionreferstodifferenttypesofwritingsuchasfolktale,myth,legend,etc.,butitismostoftenassociatedwiththenovelandtheshortstory.Shortstory:theshortstoryisnecessarilylimitedinlengthandscope.Keywordsofshortstory:asingleincident;asinglecharacterorafewcharacters;compact;creativeandimaginative3.Exercisesandanalysis:1)OpinionsofUnderstanding:(1)WhatwasprobablyuntrueofMary?2A.Shemissedthedaysofthepast.B.ShestilllovedBill.C.Sheworkedtokeepafamilyofthreechildren.D.ShewassatisfiedwithherlifeandjobinNewYork.(2)WhichofthefollowingadjectivescanprobablybestdescribeBill’sattitude?A.Emotional.B.Indifferent.C.Puzzled.D.Hopeful.(3)Marydidn’tsayanythingwhenshegotonthebus.Why?A.Shehadnothingmoretosay.B.ShewasdisappointedinBill.C.Shewastooemotional.D.Sheknewthesituationwashopeless.(4)Thelastsentenceofthestory“shehadforgotten…totellhimthatheryoungestboywasnamedBill,too”showsthat________.A.MaryknewshewouldmeetBillagainsomeday.B.“Bill”isaverycommonname.C.MaryhadbeenthinkingaboutBillandstilllovedhim.D.Marywasproudofheryoungestson.(5)Thetitleoftheshortstory“EarlyAutumn”maysuggesttothereaderthat_______.A.thebitternessofanemotionallongwinterwasaheadB.itwasstillthebrighttimeofone’slife,likeearlyAutumnC.bothMaryandBillwerenowmiddle-agedpeopleD.thelovebetweenthemwasnotas“hot”assummerdays2)QuestionsforDiscussion(Suggestedanswersforreference):(1)CanyoupickoutwordsandsentencestoshowthatMaryandBillwerenowdifferentintheirattitudestowardeachother?1)Mary:…shesawhimforthefirsttimeinyears.(line5)Bill:Atfirsthedidnotrecognizeher…(line8)2)Mary:Unconsciously,sheliftedherfaceasthoughwantingakiss…(line11)Bill:…butheheldouthishand.(line12)3)Mary:“IliveinNewYorknow,”shesaid.(eagerlytellinghimheraddress)(line14)3Bill:“Oh”–smilingpolitely,thenalittlefrowncamequicklybetweenhiseyes.(havingnointerestedinherlivingplacenow.)(lines15-16)4)Mary:“Marriedyet?”(concerningkeenlyabouthismaritalstatus)(line21)Bill:“Sure.Twokids.”(beingsatisfiedwithhispresentsituationandshowingprideinmentioninghisfamily.)(line22)5)Bill:“Andyourhusband?”heaskedher.(notnoticinghersubtleemotionalchange.)(line27)Mary:“Wehavethreechildren.Iworkinthebursar’sofficeatColumbia”(avoidingmentioningherhusbandinherreply).(line28)6)Bill:“You’relookingvery…”(hewantedtosayold)“…well,”hesaid.(notbeingsensitivetohercondition.)(line29)Mary:Sheunderstood.(beingverysensitivetoherowncondition.)(line30)7)Mary:“WeliveonCentralParkWest,”shesaid.“Comeandseeussometime.”(offeringadirectinvitation.)(line33)Bill:“Sure,”hereplied.“Youandyourhusbandmusthavedinnerwithmyfamilysomenight.Anynight.LucilleandI’dlovetohaveyou.”(givingapoliteindirectrejection.)(lines34-35)8)Mary:“There’smybus,”shesaid.(line42)Bill:Heheldouthishand,“Good-by.”(readytopartwithMary.)(line43)Mary:“When…”shewantedtosay…(notreadytopartwithBill)(line44)(2)SeveraltimestheauthordescribesthesceneonWashingtonSquare:thedusk,thechillyweather,thefallingleaves,thepassingpeople.Doesheonlywanttotelluswhereandwhenthestorytakesplace?Whatothereffectsdosuchdescriptionsachieve?(Thedescriptionofthesettinggivesthereaderafeelingofsadnessanddepression.Itwasgettingdarkandgettingcoldwithleavesfalling.Thebrightdaytimewasoverandtheunpleasantdarknesswasahead,andthewarmandcomfortablesummerandearlyautumndayswerebeingreplacedbythecoldandlongwinter.ThesettingechoesandreinforcesMary’sfeelingsofregretandyearningandimpliestheemotionalcrisisthatshemighthavetoface.)3)ExplanationandInterpretation:(Explaintheimpliedmeaningofthefollowingsentences,andpointouttheirsignificanceinthecontextofthestory.)1)Impulsively,shehadmarriedamanshethoughtsheloved.(Noticethetwokeywords:“impulsively”and“thought.”ThishasdirectrelationtoherreactionsatWashingtonSquare,NewYork,yearslater.Shemadeanimpulsivedecisionandthemanshe“thought”shelovedwasnotthemanshewantedtobealifepartnerwith.)2)Unconsciously,sheliftedherfaceasthoughwantingakiss,butheheldouthishand.(HerunconsciousreactionrevealsthattheirsweetloveinthepasthadbeenkeptaliveinMary’smemoryforalltheseyears,butBillhadundergoneatotalchange,treatingherasanordinaryacquaintanceofthepast.)43)“Andyourhusband?”heaskedher.“Wehavethreechildren.Iworkinthebursar’sofficeatColumbia.”(ThisisthefirsttimeBillinitiatedtheconversation,buthehadfailedtonoticethesignsinMary’semotionalreactionandaskedaquestionheshouldhavenotasked.Maryavoidedthequestionbytalkingaboutsomethingelse.Whydidsheavoidmentioningherhusband?Thereismessageintheavoidance.)4)Thelightsontheavenueblurred,twinkled,blurred.(ThevisioncamefromMary’seyes.Obviously,hereyeswerenowfilledwithtears.)5)Thebusstarted.Peoplecamebetweenthemoutside,peoplecrossingthestreet,peopletheydidn’tknow.Spa