1. Half a Day
Naguib Mahfouz

2. Objectives Know something about the author
Understand the structure and the general idea of the story
Think about how to interpret the story
Solve your own questions about the story

3. Naguib Mahfouz 1911-2006 Born in 1911, educated at Cairo University
Wrote short stories and historical novels before WWII
Turned to write novels of social realism after WWII
Later works combined realism & symbolism
A prolific writer: no fewer than 30 novels, more than 100 short stories, and more than 200 articles.

4. Naguib Mahfouz 纳吉布•马福兹

5. Naguib Mahfouz —Education & Background
Naguib Mahfouz was born on the 11th Dec in an old quarter of Cairo, the youngest son of a merchant. He studied philosophy（哲学）at King Faud I (now Cairo) University, graduating in He worked in university administration（行政部门） and then in 1939 he worked for the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. He was later Head of the State Cinema Organization at the Ministry of Culture(文化部）. He also worked as a journalist（记者）.

6. Naguib Mahfouz —Education & Background
Although widely translated, his works are not available in most Middle Eastern countries because of his support of Sadat’s Camp David initiative. In 1994 he survived an assassination（暗杀） attempt by Islamic extremists（极端主义分子）.
He is married, has two daughters and lives in Cairo.

7. Naguib Mahfouz —— important works
Naguib Mahfouz was the first Arab to win the Nobel prize for literature, in He has been described as “a Dickens(迪更斯 , 英国著名现实主义小说家)of the Cairo cafés” and “the Balzac(巴尔扎克 , 法国小说家) of Egypt".
He is now the author of no fewer than 30 novels, more than 100 short stories, and more than 200 articles. Half of his novels have been made into films which have circulated （流通；传播）throughout the Arabic-speaking world.

8. Naguib Mahfouz —— how he pictures the world
The picture of the world as it emerges（出现） from the bulk (大量） of Mahfouz’s work is very gloomy（暗淡的；阴沉的；令人沮丧的） indeed, though not completely disappointing. It shows that the author’s social utopia (乌托邦；理想国）is far from being realized.
Mahfouz seems to conceive o f（构思；想象） time as a force of oppression. His novels have consistently shown time as the carrier of change, and change as a very painful process, and very often time is not content until it has dealt his heroes the final blow of death.

9. Warm up
First day of school …

10. Is this your first time to leave home in your life?
Who went to see you off at the railway station?
Who came to school with you?
What did he /she say to you on the way?
What do you expect to learn in university?

11. Did you feel you were a stranger the first day you arrived?
Did you find the university just as you had imagined?
In what way it was, and in what way it wasn’t?
Do you find life at college rich and colorful or boring?

12. Do you have trouble adjusting to life here?
What do you think you should do to get most out of university?

13. A five-minute writing task
My First Day at JXUFE
Try to write as much as possible about your first impressions and feelings of JXUFE

14. Work in groups of 4
Compare your notes with your classmates’ and find out the similar impressions and feelings that you all have
Representatives from each group will report to the whole class

15. Is this a story about magic?
the meaning of the story at 2 levels:
Superficial meaning
Underlying implications

16. Setting: on the way to school at school on the way home
Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Plot: a little boy’s first time to go to school
Setting: on the way to school
at school
on the way home
Protagonist/Narrator: “I” –the boy in the story

17. Superficial Meaning 1 2 3 Para. 1-7
The boy’s reluctance to go to school
His misgivings about school
Para. 8-16
The Boy’s life at school:
Rich and colorful
Requiring discipline and hard work
Para
At the end of school day:
Everything has changed!

18. List the father’s comments about school. What do you think of them?
--School is a place that makes useful men out of boys.
--Don’t you want to be useful like your brothers?
--Put a smile on your face and be a good example to others.
--Be a man.
--Today you truly begin life.

19. Rivalries Pain Hatred Punishment Joyful Exertion Enjoyable
But …
Rivalries
Pain
Hatred
Punishment
Exertion
Perseverance
Then …
At first …
Joyful
Enjoyable
Beneficial
Socializing
Learning
Friendship
Love
Sweet
unclouded
Reluctant
Frightened
A stranger
Imprisoned
Confused
At a loss
Overwhelmed

20. From the description between Para. 8 and Para
From the description between Para.8 and Para.16, we can see different aspects of school life. Try to list as many aspects as possible in the following table.

21. In the last part of the text, the boy walked out of the school to find that the outside world had changed beyond measure. How might he feel about the changes? List exact words that support your choice.
He was _____
 frightened  surprised  angry  puzzled excited
 satisfied  delighted  sad  indifferent critical
Supporting words
startled, … …

22. Underlying Implications
Time?
Life?
Education?
Change?

23. Underlying Implications
Do you think the boy’s first day at school symbolizes something?
Do you think the sudden change of the boy’s age symbolizes something?

24. Half a Day Life is like a day in school. Compromise Enlightenment
Growth
Half a Day
Adaptation
Orientation

25. Time and tide wait for no man.
There is nothing permanent in life but change.
Life is short and time is precious.
Education can never keep up with changes in society.

26. Detailed Analysis
Para. 1-7

27. Language and Details Sentence Pattern Words Phrases Grammar throw into
make out of
tear from
cling to
clutch
convince
The day + that clause
There is no/any good in doing
I was to be thrown into
clutching his right hand
street lined with gardens

28. Language and Details clutch
hold tightly, usu. in fear, anxiety, or pain
Silent and pale, the girl clutched (to/onto) her mother’s chest.
这个苍白安静的小女孩紧紧地靠在母亲胸前
A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
他紧紧地抓着钱，匆忙走向银行
Clutching the money in his hand, he hurried to the bank.

29. Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time.
“As” introduces an adverbial clause of reason.
Noun phrase usu. followed by a relative clause is used as an adverbial of time.
Be to do sth: future tense indicating intention or plan
But my new clothes did not bring any happiness to me, because it was the day I was forced to go to school for the first time.

30. Language and Details More examples: 我出生在中国开始改革开放的那一年。
I was born in the year China began its opening-up and reform policy.
救护车到的时候，已经太晚了。
By the time the ambulance arrived, it was too late.
The moment I saw him, I recognized he was the criminal wanted by the police.

31. force to go to
The burglar was thrown into prison.
The joke threw her into a fit of laughter.
The news of an international war threw the whole nation into panic.
cause to be in a state of

32. Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
“Why school?” I asked my father. “What have I done?”
rhetorical question
elliptical question
Why do I have to go to school? I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong to be punished like this.

33. Language and Details make … out of cause to become
他手艺高超，能把最普通的材料做成美丽的艺术品。
He is such an adept craftsman that he can make art out of the most common material.
多年来的艰苦生活养成了他坚韧的性格。
Years of hardship has made a tough man out of him.
The four brothers all made a success of their lives.
He said the Government were frightened of nothing. The real trouble was that we were making a mountain out of a molehill.
Cf. Exercise 5, p14.

34. to (make sb.) leave a place unwillingly because one has to
Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from my home and throwing me into the huge, high-walled building.
to (make sb.) leave a place unwillingly because one has to
gerund as the object of the preposition
I didn’t think it was useful to take me away from home and put me into that building with high walls.

35. Language and Details there is no good to be had in doing sth.
it is no good/use doing sth.
覆水难收
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
把自己弄得在班上那么不受欢迎对你而言没什么好处。
There is no good to be had in making yourself so unpopular among your fellow classmates.

36. Language and Details it is no (not much) good
it is no (not any, hardly any, little) use
it is useless
it is not the slightest use
it is worth (worthwhile)
there is no (good, use)
+doing

37. Language and Details cling to Cf. cling to the belief
cling to the hope
cling to one’s own view
cling to the habit
cling to one’s possessions
Cf.
固守信念
抱着一线希望
坚持己见
固守着某种习惯
坚守财产不肯放弃

38. Detailed Analysis
Para. 8-16

39. Language and Details Sentence Pattern Words Phrases Grammar
Come into view
Burst into
A matter of
Fool around
Bring about
Give rise to
Resort to
Take advantage of
Misgiving
perseverance
There was no question of doing
Nothing but
I had never imagined school would have …
She would often yell and scold

40. Language and Details Burst into … laughter/guffaw/tears
applause/cheers/song
flame/fume/a rage
bloom/blossom
Burst with
joy/anger/happiness/grief, etc.
Burst out
laughing/crying, etc.

41. Language and Details Misgiving
a feeling of doubt or worry over a future event
Many teachers expressed serious misgivings on the new form of exam.
我唯一的担心是我们来不及完成这个设计来参加比赛。
My only misgiving is that we might not finish this design in time for the coming competition.

42. Language and Details
I had never imagined school would have this variety of experiences. (para. 13)
possibility
And while the lady would smile, she would often yell and scold. (para. 15)
frequent actions in the past
I would find the answer at home with my father. (para. 18)
past future tense
… but the stream of cars would not let up. (para. 18)
willingness

43. Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. (15)
completely
to waste time instead of doing sth. that you should be doing
What we did at school wasn’t just playing and wasting time doing nothing useful.

44. Language and Details simply; of a certain quality a matter of
Some people think Super Girls is a great program, while others think it is only vulgar entertainment. It is simply a matter of opinion/taste.
他被迫辞职只是个时间问题。
It is only a matter of time before he is forced to resign.
Wisdom is a matter of when to speak your mind and when to mind your speech.

45. Language and Details
Safety precautions are observed as a matter of course.
a matter of course: sth done as a routine, nothing specia
It is not a matter of life and death to have failed the exam.
a matter of life and death: a very serious matter
It is a matter of record that Paris is a romantic city.
a matter of record: sth generally believed to be true

46. fml to be the reason that sth. happened, esp. sth. Bad and unpleasant
Language and Details
Fill in the blanks:
How can we _________ a change in attitudes?
A huge amount of environmental damage has been ___________ by the destruction of the rainforests.
His speech _____________a bitter argument.
The President's absence has _____________ speculation about his health.
make sth. happen
bring about
brought about
fml to be the reason that sth. happened,
esp. sth. Bad and unpleasant
gave rise to
given rise to

47. Language and Details resort to
to turn to sth (usu. bad) as a solution because there is no other way
There is no right to resort to violence when you don’t get your way.
Differences and disputes should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation rather than by resorting to force or terrorist actions.
Vets had to resort to killing the dogs to prevent an outbreak of rabies.

48. Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
In addition, the time for changing one’s mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the paradise of home. (16)
there is no possibility of
Besides, it was impossible for us to quit school and return to the good old days when we stayed home playing and fooling around all day. Our childhood was gone, never to come back.

49. Language and Details Cf: out of question out of the question
There is no question of allowing the students to go home before the holiday starts.
There is no question of our losing the competition; we will win.
Cf: out of question
out of the question

50. Language and Details make use of take advantage of sth
I took advantage of the weather to paint the roof.
We should take advantage of our youth and live a full life.
take advantage of sb
treat sb. unfairly to get sth
The swindler took advantage of the old man the old man’s kindness and cheated him of all his savings.

51. Detailed Analysis
Para

52. Language and Details Grammar Phrases Words in vain
on my own come to a halt
find one’s way to
take over
show off
let up
Here and there stood conjurers …
… with clowns and weight lifters walking in front
trace
invade
daze

53. Language and Details b. very small amount
Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
9. trace (n)
a. a small sign that shows that sb. or sth. was present or existed
b. very small amount
 It vanished/disappeared/without trace.
 Petra’s lost all trace of her German accent.
 Age has left its traces on his face.
 There are traces of poison in the man’s blood.
 A mere trace of smile passed over her face. a a a b b

54. Language and Details in vain uselessly; without a successful result
他想劝说父亲戒酒,却没有成功.
He tried in vain to persuade his father to quit drinking.
多年来他的努力都白费了.
His efforts all these years were in vain.
In vain did he try to convince the jury of his innocence.

55. Language and Details find one’s way to arrive or get to a place
I had a map, but I still couldn't find my way back to the hotel.
这些劣质产品是不可能进入我们的市场的.
There is no question that these shoddy products will find their way to our market

56. Language and Details Translate the following phrases
1.make one’s way to/towards the door
2. bow her way out of the room
3. push her way out of the hall
4. shoulder her way through the crowd
5. worm his way into the organization
6. beg her way back home
7. inch one’s way up the mountain
1. 艰难地向门走去
2. 边鞠躬边退出房间
3. 挤出大厅
4. 推攘着挤出人群
5. 混入组织
6. 一路乞讨回家
7. 一步一步挪上山

57. Language and Details take over
get control of; start to be responsible fore
她两周前继任了经理.
She took over as manager two weeks ago.
在北京,摩天大楼取代了大部分的传统中式建筑.
Skyscrapers have taken over most of the traditional Chinese buildings in Beijing.

58. Language and Details Compare:
Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
Here and there stood conjurers showing off their tricks or making snakes appear from baskets. (17)
an inverted sentence due to long subject
Compare:
1. Were there no air on the earth, there would
be no life on it.
2. In no case should we waste our time.
3. There goes the bell.
4. Away hurried the customers.

59. Language and Details show off
Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
show off
a. to attract attention to
b. to try to impress people and make them admire your abilities, achievements or possession
It was said that Mrs. Perkins only went to church to show off her new clothes.
She was always at any function or gathering where her accomplishments could be shown off.
Pay no attention to Susan—she’s just showing off.

60. Lesson 1 – Half a Day
Language and Details
Then there was a band announcing the opening of a circus, with clowns and weight lifters walking in front.
“With+n.+doing” construction is used adverbially modifying “announcing”.
1. He stood there with a stick in his hand.
(with + n. + prep.)
2. Paul soon fell asleep with the light still burning.
(with + n. + participle)
3. She can’t go out with all these dishes to wash.
(with + n. + to do)
4. He was lying on the bed with all his clothes on.
(with + n. + adv.)

61. daze v. to make (sb.) feel stupid or unable to think clearly
Lesson 1 – Half a Day
daze
n. a confused state of mind
v. to make (sb.) feel stupid or unable to think clearly
I’ve been wandering around in a daze all day.
If someone gave you a heavy blow on the
head, you would probably feel dazed.
Dazed survivors staggered from the
wreckage.

62. Language and Details Observe and summarize
When the rain lets up we’ll go for a walk.
If my financial situation lets up, I’ll buy myself a car.
(weather or unpleasant situation) stop or improve
He spent the entire evening complaining about his job – he just wouldn’t let up.
The police insist they are not letting up their campaign against drugs.
stop doing sth. one has been doing continuously or very determinedly

63. Possible Themes There is nothing permanent in life but change.
Allegory
a day at school stands for a whole life
Coming-of-age
transition from childhood to adulthood
Father & son
the son makes the father’s life his own
Others…

64. Thank You !