中國智慧-文化面面觀 課件 UNIT 7 Chinese Festivals and Heroes

ChineseFestivalsandHeroesUNIT7LearningObjectivesGiveaspeechonminority’sfestivalLearnaboutexpressionsonChineseFestivals1Talkaboutlocalbeliefandlegend23QuotationsLiveeverydayasifitisafestival.Turnyourlifeintoacelebration.--ShriRadheMaa

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingQuotationsAfterplayinglady's-maidtothenewcomer,andputtingmycakesintheoven,andmakingthehouseandkitchencheerfulwithgreatfires,befittingChristmaseve,Ipreparedtositdownandamusemyselfbysingingcarols,allalone;regardlessofJoseph'saffirmationsthatheconsideredthemerrytunesIchoseasnextdoortosongs.--EmilyBront?TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingLocalCustomandBelief

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingInadditiontothemajorfestivalscelebratedthroughoutChina,suchasChineseNewYear,theLanternFestival,theQingming(TombSweeping)Festival,andtheWinterSolstice,therearealsonumerousfestivalsthatshowcasetheuniqueculturesandtraditionsofdifferentregions.Thisarticlewillexploretwosuchfestivals-theMazuFestivalandtheWuFanFestival-andprovideinsightsintothelocalcustoms,delicacies,andactivitiesthatarepartofthesecelebrations.FujianprovinceandTaiwanIslandareknownfortheirfishingcommunities,whobravetheopenseaeverydayinsearchoftheirlivelihood.Toprotectthemduringtheirvoyages,thefishermencreatedaseagoddessknownas“Mazu,”whoisalsoreferredtoasthe“QueenofHeaven,”“PrincessofHeaven,”and“VirginofHeaven.”MazuwasbasedonarealwomanwhowasbornonMeizhouIslandinPutianCity,Fujianin960AD.HercompassionandcourageinrescuingsailorsfromshipwrecksearnedherthereputationofbeingtheGoddessoftheSea.Tohonorher,fishermencelebrateherbirthdayonMarch23rdofthelunarcalendarandherdeathdayonSeptember9thofthelunarcalendar,whicharecollectivelyknownasthe“MazuFestival.”Duringthisfestival,fishermenofferprayersandmakeofferingsatMazutemples,participateinculturaldiscussionsandhandicraftexhibitions,watchfolksongsanddances,andindulgeintheflavorsofFujiancuisine.ThelegendofMazu,theseagoddess,isbothmagicalandtouching.Accordingtothetale,MazuwasborninPutian,FujianProvinceduringtheearlyNorthernSongDynasty.Herfather,knownas“Linwell-doer,”wasanhonestandkindman.WhenMazu’smotherwaspregnantwithher,shehadadreaminwhichGuanyinBodhisattvagaveherapill.Afterswallowingthepill,adazzlingredlightshoneintotheroom.Afewdayslater,shegavebirthtoalittlegirlwhonevercried.Thus,herparentsnamedher“MoNiang,”whichmeans“silentgirl.”MoNiangwasabeautifulandintelligentchild,whoexcelledinreadingandhadakindheart.Shesawthatmanyfishermenwerelivinginhardshipandthatplaguesweredestroyingtheirfamilies.Shesaidtoherparents,“Iamdeterminedtolearnmedicinetosavetheafflicted.”And,shedidjustthat.Withherexcellentmedicalskills,MoNiangsavedmanyfishermenandgainedgreatrespectandhighreputation.Oneday,MoNiangandsomegirlswereplayinginthecourtyardnearanancientwell.Thewell’swaterwasasclearasamirror.Whiletheywereplaying,theysawamanrisingoutofthewell.Theothergirlswerescaredandranaway,butMoNiangkneltquietlytoworshipthedivineman.ThedivinemanstaredatMoNiangforawhile,gaveheracopperamulet,andheroseintothecolorfulclouds.Fromthatmoment,MoNiangbecameanimmortal.Shetravelsaroundthesea,oftenhelpingpeopleandfishermenindistress.Sometimeafter,localfishermenbuiltatempleonMeizhouIsland,herhometown,andsetthedaysofherbirthanddeathastheanniversary.Peoplerespectfullycallher“Tongxianlingnv,”meaning“spiritgirlthatcanreachgreatsage,”andgenerallyrefertoheras“Mazu.”ThesemythsandlegendsrevealthedeepreverenceandfaiththatfishermenhaveforMazu.DuringtheYuanDynasty,thedevelopmentofmaritimetradeledtomoreelaborateceremoniesandtheconstructionofMazutemplesnearthesea.Intimesoftrouble,fishermenwouldcallouttoMazuforprotection,andevenperformplaystohonorthegoddessandseekherblessings.TheimageofMazuisoneofbenevolence,withacrownonherheadandwearninganimperialrobe.DuringtheMazuFestival,elderlywomendressintraditionalclothing,WiththeirhairinaflatbunandcladinredclothesandblackpantsinthestyleofMazu.ThereasonforthisissaidthatMazuworethesamewhensheascendedtoheaven.DevoteesburnincenseandmakepilgrimagestoMazutemples,andfishermendonredclotheswithblackclouds,carryingcolorfulsedansforthegoddess,settingofffirecrackersandlightingupthenightwithlights.PutianCityinFujianProvinceisthebirthplaceofMazuandthesiteoftheearliestMazutemple.In1987,PutianCityhostedthe“MazuMillenniumFestival”whichattractedover100,000attendeesfromhomeandabroad.InMay1989,theQueenofHeavenTempleinNanfangao,IlanCounty,Taiwanorganizedagroupof225Taiwancompatriotsand20shipstosaildirectlytoMeizhou,markingthefirstdirectnavigationbetweenthetwosidesoftheTaiwanStraitaftera40-yearclosure.Mazu,agoddessreveredbymorethan200millionfollowersworldwide,hasinspiredtheconstructionoftemplesinvariouscountries,includingFujian,Taiwan,SoutheastAsia,andHonolulu.Taiwanalonehasover800Mazutemples,withmorethantwo-thirdsofitspopulationpracticingthefaith.Mazuworshipersworldwidehonorherthroughfestivals,rituals,andofferings,astheyseektoconnectwiththeirroots.WhiletheMazuFestivalhasawideinfluence,theWuFanFestivalisonlycelebratedincertainethnicminorityregionsinsouthernandsouthwesternChina.HeldonthethirddayofthelunarMarcheveryyear,itisatraditionalfestivalwithalonghistory,wherepeopleeatWuFanTuan(blackriceballs).OneofthemostfamouslegendsbehindthefestivalisthatitcommemoratesthevictoryoftheShepeople’snationalheroesintheirstruggleagainstthereactionaryrulingclass.Accordingtothelegend,duringtheTangDynasty,LeiWanxing,aherooftheShenationality,ledtheShearmytoresistthecorruptgovernment.Besiegedinthemountainsandforestsbytheimperialarmy,LeiWanxing’sShearmylostforeignaidandwascutofffromfoodandsupplies.Inlateautumn,withmosttreesinthemountainsfruitless,thesoldiersfoundonlyonekindoftreecalledWuren.Althoughitsleaveshadfallen,stringsoffruitslikepearlsstillhungonitsbranches.Thesoldierspickedthemandtookthembacktothecamp.LeiWanxingtastedthewildfruitandfounditsweetanddelicious.Heorderedhisarmytocollectthefruitstosatisfytheirhunger,andwiththeproblemoffoodshortagesolved,wentontoachievefinalvictoryagainstthecorruptedgovernment.Yearslater,onthethirddayoflunarMarch,LeiWanxingwantedtoeatWurenfruitbutitwasonlyspring,andtheWurentreehadonlygreenleaves–butnosweetfruit.So,ThevillagerspickedtheleavesoftheWurentreeandcookedthemwithglutinousrice.Theresultingdishwasblackincolorandhadastrongaroma,whichgreatlystimulatedLeiWanxing’sappetite.HewaspleasedandorderedhisShearmytocook“blackrice”onthisdayeveryyeartoremembertheirstruggleandsubsequentvictory.TocommemoratethevictoryoftheShearmyledbyLeiWanxingagainstthecorruptedgovernment,theShepeoplegoonan“outing”tocollectWurenleavesandcookWuFanathomeonthethirddayofthethirdlunarmontheveryyear.ThiscustomhasbeenpasseddownthroughthegenerationsandhasturnedintoafestivaloftheShenationality.Nowadays,ShepeopleallovertheworldcelebratethefestivalbycookingWuFan,sharingmealswiththeirfamilies,andgivinggiftstorelativesandfriends.Manyactivitiesareheldtocelebratethefestival,includingdancingpartiesandsinginginantiphonalstyle.Inrecentyears,thecelebrationofthisancientfestivalhasbecomemoreenthusiasticandcolorful.ThepreparationmethodforWuFaninvolvesselectingtheoldbranchesandleavesoftheWurentree,mashingthefreshones,pouringtheresultingblackleafjuiceintoabox,soakinganappropriateamountofglutinousriceinthejuiceuntilthericeturnslightblack,andthenmakingthericeintoblackriceballs,whichcanbesteamedinapot.Modernversionsofblackriceballsoftencontaindicedporkorduck,seasoning,andstarchtomakestuffingforthericeballs.Somepeopleevenmakedifferentvarietiesofriceballs,suchaspineappleblackriceballs.Despitetheirdarkandshinyappearance,thesefragrantblackriceballsaredeliciousandleavealastingimpression.Itisnotonlyafamousrecipeandrepresentsadishoflocalspecialtiesbutalsoaculturalheritagewithalonghistory.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationscompassion:n.astrongfeelingofsympathyforsomeonewhoissuffering,andadesiretohelpthemcompassionforcompassionforthesickfeel/show/havecompassionDidhefeelanycompassionforthevictimofhiscrime?magical:adj.veryenjoyable,exciting,orromantic,inastrangeorspecialway魔法的e.g.Somepeoplethinkgarlichasmagicalpowers.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsdazzle:v.ifaverybrightlightdazzlesyou,itstopsyoufromseeingproperlyforashorttime.使目眩e.g.Sheslowlyopenedhereyes,onlytobedazzledbyastrongshaftofsunlight.afflict:v.toaffectsomeoneorsomethinginanunpleasantway,andmakethemsuffer折磨beafflictedwith/bysomethinge.g.Manyareafflictedbyalcoholism,drugaddiction,anddepression.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsimmortal:adj.livingorcontinuingforever不死的e.g.Platobelievedthatthesoulisimmortal.distress:n.afeelingofextremeunhappiness;sufferingandproblemscausedbyalackofmoney,foodetc.憂慮e.g.Thegirlwascryingandclearlyindistress.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationselaborate:adj.havingalotofsmallpartsordetailsputtogetherinacomplicatedway精心制作的e.g.Shehadpreparedanelaborateexcuseforherabsence.construction:n.theprocessofbuildingthingssuchashouses,bridges,roadsetc.建設(shè)e.g.Thecompanyisdevelopingseveralnewconstructiontechniques.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsascend:v.toclimbsomethingormovetoahigherposition上升e.g.Withoutaword,hebegantoascendthestairs.devotee:n.someonewhoenjoysoradmiressomeoneorsomethingverymuch信徒e.g.He'sadevoteeofoldHollywoodmovies.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsnavigation:n.thescienceorjobofplanningwhichwayyouneedtogowhenyouaretravellingfromoneplacetoanother;whensomeonesailsashipalongariverorotherareaofwater航海e.g.There'samedicalofficer,anavigationofficer,acommunicationsofficer.revere:v.formaltorespectandadmiresomeoneorsomethingverymuch崇敬e.g.Heisreveredasanationalhero.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationscommemorate:v.todosomethingtoshowthatyourememberandrespectsomeoneimportantoranimportanteventinthepast紀(jì)念e.g.Whenafamouscitizendied,hewascommemoratedbyastatueoraplaque.reactionary:adj.verystronglyopposedtoanysocialorpoliticalchange反動(dòng)的e.g.Reactionarypoliticiansvotedagainsttheproposal.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsbesiege:v.tosurroundacityorcastlewithmilitaryforceuntilthepeopleinsideletyoutakecontrol;ifyouarebesiegedbypeople,youhavealotofthemaroundyou.包圍e.g.InApril655,Osman’spalacewasbesiegedbyrebels.stimulate:v.toencouragesomeonebymakingthemexcitedaboutandinterestedinsomething;tomakeaplantorpartofthebodybecomeactiveorstronger促進(jìn)stimulategrowth/demand/theeconomyetce.g.thepresident’splantostimulateeconomicgrowthe.g.Taxisapowerfulmechanismforstimulatingchange.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsReadingthetextanddecidewhetherthefollowingstatementsaretrue(T)orfalse(F).1.Mazu,theseagoddess,wascreatedbasedonarealwomanatMeizhouIsland,PutianCity,becausesheoftentriesherbesttoprotectshipsandsavepeoplefromshipwrecks.2.Mazu’sbirthdayisonSeptember9thofthelunarcalendar,andherdeathday,March23rd.3.Mazu’smothergavebirthtoheraftersheswallowedapeachgivenbyGuanyinBodhisattva.4.LittleMoNiangdeterminedtolearnmedicinetocureherparents’illness.5.TheworshipofMazushowsthefishermen’sdesireforpeaceandtheblessingofgods.6.Accordingtorelevantstatistics,followersofMazuaremostChineselivinginFujian,Taiwan,SoutheastAsia,Honoluluandsoon.7.WuFanFestivalisonlycelebratedbyShenationalityinthenorthandthenorthwestofChina.8.WuFaniscookedwiththeleavesofWurentreeandglutinousrice.9.WuFanFestivaliscelebratedonthethirddayofthethirdlunarmontheveryyear.UnderstandingthetextLanguageExercisesReadingTFFFTTFTTTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Givebriefanswertothefollowingquestions.PleasechooseoneofthethreemajorgoddessesinFujianProvince,GoddessMazu,GoddessChenJingguandGoddessMaxian,andgiveabriefintroductiontotheclass.Doyouknowanysimilarlocalbeliefandlegend?Pleasesharewithyourpartner.Pleasedoresearchononeminority’sfestivalandsharetotheclass.UnderstandingthetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsI.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReading問題是，中國為何在經(jīng)歷了周期性的政治災(zāi)難后仍能幸存下來，而不是像古羅馬被倫巴底人征服那樣被吞沒？這種種族的耐力和吸收外族血液的能力到底從何而來？只有深入研究這些問題，我們才能真正理解中國今天的情況。所謂的種族耐力和種族活力，盡管受到中國資產(chǎn)階級退化性質(zhì)的影響，但還是使中國人民能夠在政治災(zāi)難中生存下來，并通過吸收外族血液而獲重生。這種耐力和活力，部分是體質(zhì)的，部分是文化的。

ThequestionremainshowitwaspossibleforChinatosurvivetheseperiodicpoliticaldisastersandnotbesubmergedbythem,asoldRomewassubmergedundertheLombards.Whereindoesthatracialstaminaandcapacityforabsorbingforeignbloodconsist?OnlybygoingdeeperintotheseproblemscanonegainarealunderstandingofthesituationasChinastandstoday.Theso-calledracialstaminaandracialvitality,whichinspiteoftheretrogradecharacteroftheChinesebourgeoisclassenabledtheChinesepeopletosurvivepoliticaldisastersandregenerateitselfthroughforeignblood,ispartlyconstitutionalandpartlycultural.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsI.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReading而促進(jìn)種族穩(wěn)定的文化力量之一首先就是中國的家族制度。這種制度有明確的定義和組織，使得人們不可能忘記自己的血統(tǒng)。這種不朽的社會形式，是中國人最為看重的，比其他任何世俗的財(cái)產(chǎn)都珍貴，甚至具有某種宗教色彩，并通過祭祖儀式得到加強(qiáng)。這種意識已經(jīng)深入中國人的靈魂。AmongtheculturalforcesmakingforracialstabilitymustbecountedfirstofalltheChinesefamilysystem,whichwaswell-definedandorganizedastomakeitimpossibleforamantoforgetwherehislineagebelonged.Thisformofsocialimmortality,whichtheChineseprizeaboveallearthlypossessions,hassomethingofthecharacterofareligion,whichisenhancedbytheritualofancestorworship,andtheconsciousnessofithaspenetrateddeepintotheChinesesoul.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsI.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReading當(dāng)中國人與家庭意識不太明確的外國人接觸時(shí)，這樣一個(gè)組織良好而頗具宗教意味的家族制度，有著巨大的吸引力。野蠻部落或混血兒總是急于加入這樣一個(gè)家族中，并要求成為這個(gè)不朽家族的一部分。并為這樣一種想象而著迷：自己咽氣的時(shí)候，并不意味著真正的死亡，而是依然活在家族生活的長河中。Suchawell-organizedandreligiouslyconceivedfamilysystemwasoftremendousforcewhentheChineseracewasthrownintocontactwithaforeignpeoplewithalesswell-definedfamilyconsciousness.Barbarictribesorchildrenofmixedparentagewerealltooanxioustojointhefamilyandclaimpartofthefamilyimmortality,indulgingintheluxuriousfeelingthatwhenonedies,onedoesnotdie,butone’sselflivesoninthegreatstreamofthefamilylife.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessary.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingcarryouttypicalspreaddevelopbeginintangibleconferoverpublicizeincludeInFujianProvince,GoddessMazu,GoddessChenJingguandGoddessMaxianareregardedasthreemajorgoddesses.GoddessMaxianisalsoknownasHeavenlyGoddessMaandYuanjunMa.Thecustom______inthemiddleoftheTangDynastyfromthesouthofZhejiangProvince,prevailedinFujianandZhejiang,andinfluencedJiangxi,Guangdong,Taiwan,HongKong,MacauandeventheSoutheastAsiafor______1300yearswithmorethan10millionbelievers.EmperorsShuzongandTaizongoftheTangDynasty,aswellasEmperorZhenzongoftheSongDynastyandEmperorYingzongoftheYuanDynasty,andEmperorZhengdeoftheMingDynastyall______hertitlesas“ProtectiveMrs.Ma”,“TrueProtectiveGoddess”,and“TrueSpiritualGoddess”began

over

confer

1TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessary.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingcarryouttypicalspreaddevelopbeginintangibleconferoverpublicizeincludeandsoon.ZherongCountyhadbecomeacentraland______areaofthecustomofbeliefinGoddessMaxian.Itsbeliefactivitiesarethemost______,andthemostinfluential.AuniqueanddistinctiveGoddessMaxianCulturehasbeen______andthemosttypicalistheannualwelcomingactivitiesforGoddessMaxianinZherong.Theceremonies______welcomingGoddessMaxian,offeringsacrifice,parade,TaoistritualsandseeingoffGoddessMaxian.Duringthistimemanyfolkartisticperformancesare______foroveramonth,formingthemostsplendidfolkactivityofbeliefinGoddessMaxianaroundthebordersofFujianandZhejiang.SincethebeliefcustomwasintroducedtoZherongintheSongDynastyithasbecomeanimportantplatformspread

typicaldevelop

include

carriedout

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessary.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingcarryouttypicalspreaddevelopbeginintangibleconferoverpublicizeincludeto______filialspiritandtoprayforhealthandhappiness.Nowadays,thecustomofbeliefinGoddessMaxianinZherongCountyhasbecometheonlyfolkcustomlistedintothefourthbatchofthenational______culturalheritagesinFujianProvince.publicize

intangible

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessary.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingaswellas fallon asaying welcometobepreparedfor comeback teardown alongwith usedtobe theChineselunarcalendarAccordingcustomsinFuzhou,theKitchenGod’sDay______the24thofDecemberontheChineselunarcalendar.offeringasacrificetotheKitchenGod______aceremonyofmakinganofferingtotheGodofFireinsummer.ButtheposterityturnedthisintotheworshipoftheKitchenGodwith______thatthegodwasthe“householdenvoy”totheearthlyworldsentbytheSupremeGodofHeaven.Annually,onthe24thofDecemberon______,theKitchenGodwouldgototheheaventoreportthebehaviorofallearthlyhouseholdstotheSupremeGod.Thistripwouldtakehimtendaysandhewould______onthe4thofthefirstlunarmonthnextyear.Everyhouseholdwouldgivehimafarewelldinnerofallkindsofgoodiesbeforeheleft.Usuallychicken,duck,fish,pork,the“zaotangfallson

usedtobe

asaying

theChineselunarcalendar

comeback

2TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessary.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingaswellas fallon asaying welcometobepreparedfor comeback teardown alongwith usedtobe theChineselunarcalendarandzaobing”(KitchenGod’scandiesandpastries)______goodwinesandliquorswouldbeservedatatypicalmeatdinnerwhilesugarcane,waterchestnut,dates,peanuts,drieddaylilyandwoodearsaswellasthe“zaotangandzaobing”would______avegetariandinner.Beforetheceremonywasover,peoplewould______theoldpictureoftheKitchenGod,burnitandchangeforanewone,implyinggoodbyetotheoldyearand______thenew.Beforethestartoftheceremony,grandparentswouldgivethe“zaotangandzaobing”______amaskofthemostpopularstyles,includingthoseoffiguresfromAJourneytotheWestsuchasTheTangPriest(SanZang),MonkSha,TheMonkeyKingandPigsy(ZhuBajie)totheirgrandchildren.aswellas

bepreparedfor

teardown

welcometo

alongwith

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingIII.Retellthestorymentionedin“LocalCustomandBelief”.IV.SpeakonthefollowingtopicsinEnglish.PleaseintroduceoneChineseheroyouadmirethemost.ProvideyourcommentsonwhatkindofpeoplewereregardedasheroesinChinesehistoryandhowtheyweretreatedbypeople.PleasemakeacomparisonbetweenaChineseherofromhistoryandaforeignone.Analyzetheirsimilaritiesanddifferences.Discusstheimpactofheroesonsocietyandculture.Howhaveheroesinfluencedpeople’svalues,beliefs,andactions?ProvideconcreteexamplesandanalyzethelegacyofheroesinChineseandforeigncultures.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingV.CriticalthinkingTobeginwith,conductathoroughstudyofFujiangoddessworship,investigatingitsoriginsandcauses,andanalyzingitsimpactonsocialandculturalpracticesintheregion.Youarealsorequiredtoprovideyourthoughtsonwhatkindofpersoncanbecomeahero,whethertheyneedtobeasupermanorsuperwoman,andwhetheranordinarypersoncanbecomeahero.Additionally,youneedtoexaminethecharacteristicsofheroesandanalysisthefactorsthatinspireheroicactioninindividuals.Finally,explorehowsocietalcontextinfluencesthedefinitionofheroism.Thecompletedassignmentshoulddemonstrateawell-researchedandnuancedunderstandingofFujiangoddessworshipanditsimpactonlivesandvalues,aswellastheconceptofheroismingeneral.Yourthoughtsshouldbesupportedwithevidenceandanalysis,examininghowordinarypeopleandextraordinaryindividualscanbecomeheroesandthefactorsthatinspirethemtoactheroically.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingIntroductiontoO.Henry

O.Henry,(bornSeptember11,1862,Greensboro,NorthCarolina,U.S.—diedJune5,1910,NewYork,NewYork),Americanshort-storywriterwhosetalesromanticizedthecommonplace—inparticularthelifeofordinarypeopleinNewYorkCity.Hisstoriesexpressedtheeffectofcoincidenceoncharacterthroughhumour,grimorironic,andoftenhadsurpriseendings,adevicethatbecameidentifiedwithhisnameandcosthimcriticalfavourwhenitsvoguehadpassed.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTwoThanksgivingDayGentlemenAnindigentcharacternamedStuffyPetewaitsonabenchinUnionSquareinNewYorkCity,justashehasoneveryThanksgivingDayforthepastnineyears.Hehasjustcomefromanunexpectedfeast--providedforhimby"twooldladies"asanactofcharity--andhehaseatentothepointoffeelingsick.ButeveryyearonThanks