Advanced English Made by Yang Lin

Unit 3 Everyday Use by Alice Walker

Teaching Points I. Background information II. Introduction to the passage III. Text analysis IV. Rhetorical devices V. Questions for discussion

I. Background Information 1.Alice Walker 2. About “The Color Purple”

Alice Walker

Walker, Alice (1944- ), American author and poet, most of whose writing portrays the lives of poor, oppressed African American women in the early 1900s. Walker, Alice (1944- ), American author and poet, most of whose writing portrays the lives of poor, oppressed African American women in the early 1900s. She won the American Book Award (see National Book Awards) and the Pulitzer Prize for her best-known work, the novel The Color Purple (1982) She won the American Book Award (see National Book Awards) and the Pulitzer Prize for her best-known work, the novel The Color Purple (1982)

About “ The Color Purple ” About “ The Color Purple ” The Color Purple, Alice Walker's third novel, was published in The Color Purple, Alice Walker's third novel, was published in The novel brought fame and financial success to its author. It also won her considerable praise and much criticism for its controversial themes. The novel brought fame and financial success to its author. It also won her considerable praise and much criticism for its controversial themes.

II. Introduction to the Passage 1. Type of literature: 1. Type of literature: a short story a short story ---character, action, conflicts, climax and denouement ---character, action, conflicts, climax and denouement

Introduction to the Passage 2. Main idea 2. Main idea

Introduction to the Passage 3. Organization: 3. Organization: -- introduction -- introduction -- development -- development -- climax -- climax -- conclusion -- conclusion

III. Effective Writing Skills 1. Successful portrayal of characters 1. Successful portrayal of characters 2. Using many elliptical and short, simple sentences to achieve certain effect 2. Using many elliptical and short, simple sentences to achieve certain effect 3. Using languages which suit the background of characters 3. Using languages which suit the background of characters

IV. Rhetorical Devices 1.simile 1.simile 2.metaphor 2.metaphor 3.parallelism 3.parallelism 4. hyperbole 4. hyperbole

Simile direct comparison Two things are compared directly by using 'like' (A is like B.). Two things are compared directly by using 'like' (A is like B.). Other possibilities are for example: Other possibilities are for example: A is (not) like B A is (not) like B A is more/less than B A is more/less than B A is as … as B A is as … as B A is similar to B A is similar to B A is …, so is B A is …, so is B A does …, so does B A does …, so does B

Simile Examples: Examples: conrete box-style buildings are spreading like inkblots conrete box-style buildings are spreading like inkblots The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel Personality is to a man what perfume is to a flower. (Charles Schwab) Personality is to a man what perfume is to a flower. (Charles Schwab) My friend is as good as gold. My friend is as good as gold.

Examples: 1. He held his palms each side the spark His love had kindled in the dark. His two hands were curved apart In the semblance of a heart. 1. He held his palms each side the spark His love had kindled in the dark. His two hands were curved apart In the semblance of a heart. 2. A heart that gave out such a glow No son awake could bear to know. 2. A heart that gave out such a glow No son awake could bear to know.

Metaphor Metaphor compares two different things in a figurative sense. Unlike in a simile (A is like B.), “ like ” is not used in metaphor (A is B.). Metaphor compares two different things in a figurative sense. Unlike in a simile (A is like B.), “ like ” is not used in metaphor (A is B.). Example: Example: Truths are first clouds, then rain, then harvest and food. (Henry Ward Beecher) Truths are first clouds, then rain, then harvest and food. (Henry Ward Beecher) Through much of the last century, America's faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations. Through much of the last century, America's faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations.

Parallelism parallel sentence structure parallel sentence structure Successive clauses or sentences are similarly structured. This similarity makes it easier for the reader / listener to concentrate on the message. Successive clauses or sentences are similarly structured. This similarity makes it easier for the reader / listener to concentrate on the message.

Parallelism Example: Example: We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interest, and teach us what it means to be citizens. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interest, and teach us what it means to be citizens. The mediocre teacher tells, The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. (William A. Ward) The mediocre teacher tells, The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. (William A. Ward) The mistakes of the fool are known to the world, but not to himself. The mistakes of the wise man are known to himself, but not to the world. (Charles Caleb Colton) The mistakes of the fool are known to the world, but not to himself. The mistakes of the wise man are known to himself, but not to the world. (Charles Caleb Colton) Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I will learn. (Benjamin Franklin) Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I will learn. (Benjamin Franklin)

Parallelism Note: When writing, parallelism is a useful device for instructions. Due to the parallel structure, the reader can concentrate on the message and will immediately know what to do (see examples below). Note: When writing, parallelism is a useful device for instructions. Due to the parallel structure, the reader can concentrate on the message and will immediately know what to do (see examples below). Example 1 (no parallelism): Example 1 (no parallelism): Open the book first. Open the book first. You must read the text now. You must read the text now. There are pictures in the book – Look at them. There are pictures in the book – Look at them. The questions must be answered. The questions must be answered.

Parallelism Example 2 (parallelism): Example 2 (parallelism): Open the book. Open the book. Read the text. Read the text. Look at the pictures. Look at the pictures. Answer the questions. Answer the questions. You surely agree that the second instruction is easier to follow (and to remember) than the first one. The change of structure in the first example is confusing and distracts the reader from the actual message. It might be okay with simple messages like the ones we used here. But following more complex instructions is really hard if they are not in parallel structure. You surely agree that the second instruction is easier to follow (and to remember) than the first one. The change of structure in the first example is confusing and distracts the reader from the actual message. It might be okay with simple messages like the ones we used here. But following more complex instructions is really hard if they are not in parallel structure.

Examples: 1. The two sisters are different in a thousand and one ways. 1. The two sisters are different in a thousand and one ways. 2. (On the New England weather) In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four-and-twenty hours. 2. (On the New England weather) In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four-and-twenty hours.

Hyperbole Hyperbole is a figure of speech which deliberately exaggerates the truth. It is often used to express one ’ s strong feelings or violent emotions by remarkable imagination and literary extravagance for the effect of strong impression, humor, sarcasm, irony etc. rather than to state a fact in its right perspective. It is the opposite of understatement. Hyperbole is a figure of speech which deliberately exaggerates the truth. It is often used to express one ’ s strong feelings or violent emotions by remarkable imagination and literary extravagance for the effect of strong impression, humor, sarcasm, irony etc. rather than to state a fact in its right perspective. It is the opposite of understatement.

V. Text Analysis 分析本文作者怎样进行人物的对比刻画的； 分析本文作者怎样进行人物的对比刻画的； 对比描写所达到的刻画效果。 对比描写所达到的刻画效果。

VI. Special Difficulties 1. Understanding the underlying meaning conveyed by simple language 1. Understanding the underlying meaning conveyed by simple language 2. Understanding and paraphrasing the colloquial, non-standard English words or sentences 2. Understanding and paraphrasing the colloquial, non-standard English words or sentences

VII. Questions for Discussion 1. In real life what kind of woman is the mother? 1. In real life what kind of woman is the mother? 2. What kind of woman would Dee like her mother to be? 2. What kind of woman would Dee like her mother to be? 3. What kind of girl is Maggie? 3. What kind of girl is Maggie? 4. What is the mother ’ s feeling toward Dee? How is it changed in the course of the story? 4. What is the mother ’ s feeling toward Dee? How is it changed in the course of the story?

VIII. Exercises Paraphrase. Paraphrase. Write a short summary of the text. Write a short summary of the text.

Thank You