COLLEGE ENGLISH CONTEMPORARY 现代大学英语 主讲 : 庄玉芳

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN

Detailed Study of the Text Part II (para.9- para.11)

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN  “in some way, I saw the garden as a metaphor for certain aspects of my life.” what is being compared? (para.9)  Why does he have a mixture of feelings when he writes to Winnie? Discussion

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN  Leaders must also look after their gardens... the results. (Para9)  Note: Mandela is here comparing his gardening with his responsibility in the revolutionary cause. Like in gardening, in his struggle as a revolutionary leader, he also has to plant seeds, cultivate, take care of the fruit trees he has planted, until in the end he harvests the results.

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN  Like gardeners, leaders must... what can not succeed. (Para9)  to mind their work: to take care of their work  Note:... save what can be saved and eliminate what can not succeed: Mandela seems to be talking about his relations with his followers in general and his relations with his wife in particular. When differences occur, a leader should always try to resolve these differences. However, if these differences concern matters of principle and cannot be reconciled, a leader must resolutely part ways with those people, like one has to eliminate the weeds in one's garden.

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN ... either through some mistake or lack of care, the plant began to wither and decline, and nothing I did would bring it back to health.(para10)  Note: Mandela seems to feel that he is partly responsible for the way his relationship with his wife has deteriorated.  I do not know what she read into that letter. (Para11)  Paraphrase: I do not know how she understood that letter.

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN Language Understanding  endure v.  They vowed their love would endure for ever.  They had spent three days in the desert without water, and could not endure much longer.  Few of the runners endured to the finish.  She endures many discomforts without complaint.  endurance n.  Cheap cloth has little endurance.  His cruelty is beyond endurance.

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN  nourish  nourish hope in one’s heart  nourish the baby on healthy mother’s milk  nourish an infant with milk  The flowers have withered away/up.  Older people are complaining that the old ethical values are withering away.

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN  tender  The wound is still tender.  tender meat  a tender heart  a child of tender years  She has a tenderness for cats.  bar  The bar of soap slipped from his grasp.  Poor health may be a bar to success in life.  After finishing here legal studies she was called to the bar.  He opened a snack bar.  He barred all the doors and windows of his house.  My father barred smoking at the dinner-table.

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN  at length  After some time; eventually: ---At length we arrived at our destination.  For a considerable time; fully: ---He spoke at length about the court ruling.  More phrases about length  cannot see beyond the length of one's nose  find [have, get, know, take] the length of sb's foot  keep sb. at arm's span

Style & Language  Style: Autobiography  Difference between autobiography and biography Biography: An account of a person's life written, composed, or produced by another. Autobiography: The biography of a person written by that person  Language: Formal  Noun phrases are used rather than sentences. e.g. Sentence 1, paragraph 1  Long sentences, e.g. paragraph 3  Choice of words, e.g. fulfill,flourish, cultivate  Passive voice used, e.g. paragraph 8 LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN

Retell the Text  Describe what you have learned from the text about Mandela ‘s life in prison.  Try to use the following words :  Fulfill  Decline  Flourish  At length  eliminate

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN Discussion  What do you think made Mandela such a remarkable person? There are quite a few people who think that he should be considered the man of the 20 th century. Do you agree? Why or why not?  In the last paragraph, Mandela wrote, “Sometimes there is nothing one can do to save something that must die.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN Homework Do all the exercise after the text

LESSON SEVEN MANDELA’S GARDEN Thank you See you