
Unit 7 The Call of the Wildppt课件.ppt
53页Extensive readingUnit 7 Book 1 The Call of the Wildby Jack LondonLearning objectivesIn this unit you will: ube familiar with Jack London and his worksuget some knowledge of the Klondike Gold Rush uappreciate the language and writing skill in this novelutake a test on fast readingulearn to guess meanings of words from context Unit overviewu u u u u u u Pre-reading discussionBackground informationText analysisPost-reading discussionExercises Reading skillsRelated informationPre-reading discussion1.How do you understand the word “call” in the title?2.How does The Call of the Wild present the human-dog relationship?Background informationJack London (1876—1916) Jack London was the most popular novelist and short story writer of his day. He wrote passionately and prolifically about the great questions of life and death, the struggle to survive with dignity and integrity.Jack London In 1898, Jack London went to Klondike for gold mining. After suffering the Sepsis(败败血血症症), his dream of being a gold miner broken. At the same time, he got plenty of writing materials. He wove these elemental ideas into stories of high adventure based on his own firsthand experiences. Jack’s life experiencesBeing a laborer, factory worker, oyster pirate on the San Francisco Bay, member of the California Fish Patrol, sailor, railroad hobo (流流浪浪汉汉), and gold prospector, his life experiences contributed a lot to his prolific writings. The Sailor The Gold Prospector the Rancher Jack London’s belief“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”The Call of the WildThe Call of the Wild (1903) is a world famous animal story. Set in Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s, The story records the “decivilization” of Buck as he answers “the call of the wild”, an inherent memory of primitive origins to which he instinctively responds. The Call of the WildThe Call of the Wild is the first and foremost story about a dog, it displays a philosophical depth absent in most animal adventures.“Old longings nomadic leap, “野野性性沉沉入入长长眠眠,, Chafing at custom‘s chain; 希希望望终终难难泯泯灭灭,, Again from its brumal sleep 挣挣脱脱习习惯惯锁锁链链,,Wakens the ferine strain.” 踏踏入入冰冰雪雪荒荒野野间间。
The Klondike Gold RushThe Klondike Gold Rush (克克朗朗 代代 克克 淘淘 金金 热热 )) was a migration by an estimated 100,000 prospectors to the Klondike region of the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1896 and 1899 after gold was discovered there by local miners on August 16, 1896. Prespecters ascending the Chilkoot Pass, 1898 The Klondike Gold RushKlondike could only be reached by the Yukon River either upstream from its delta, downstream from its head or from somewhere in the middle through its tributaries. Travel in general was made difficult by both the geography and climate. The Klondike Gold RushAids for the travelers to carry their supplies varied; some had brought dogs, horses, mules or oxen, whereas others had to rely on carrying their equipment on their backs or on sleds pulled by hand.The Klondike Gold RushThe events of the Klondike gold rush rapidly became embedded in North American culture, being captured in poems, stories, photographs and promotional campaigns long after the end of the stampede. The writer Jack London incorporated scenes from the gold rush into his novels set in the Klondike, including The Call of the Wild, a novel about a sledge dog.Text analysisDetermining the main ideaThe main idea of the text is that ______. a.it was not easy for Buck, a dog from the south, to live in the northb.Buck, a dog from the south, began to learn lesson from the hard life in the northc.some people were evil enough to steal dogs and sell them for moneyd.Buck the dog was exposed to harsh experiences in the northWhile-reading questions1.How many parts can the text be divided into? What’s the main idea of each part? 2.In what aspect was Buck different from the dogs in Judge Miller’s place?3.What is the function of the detailed description of Buck’s comfortable life in Mr. Miller’s house? 4.What is the “law of club and fang”? What does it represent? How is Buck introduced to it?Text structureParts ContentsMain ideas11Buck’s happy life before he went to the north22—19On the long journey, Buck experienced a lot of things.320—31Buck’s first day at Dyea BeachPart 1 Happy life in the south1.What kind of life does Buck live?2.In what aspect was Buck different from the dogs in Judge Miller’s place?3.What is the function of the detailed description of Buck’s comfortable life in Mr. Miller’s house? Part 1 Happy life in the south1.What kind of life does Buck live?The opening of the novel sets in the sunny, comfortable world of Judge Miller’s estate, where Buck lives in spoiled, lordly contentment.Part 1 Happy life in the south2.In what aspect was Buck different from the dogs in Judge Miller’s place?•Buck was chief dog.•Buck was born here and has been lived here.•Buck has been regarded as one family member and enjoyed the life with the Judge Miller family. Part 1 Happy life in the south3.What is the function of the detailed description of Buck’s comfortable life in Mr. Miller’s house?To form a sharp contrast between two worlds: the sunny, comfortable world of Judge Miller’s estate, and the harsh, frigid world of the Klondike, where he is dragged against his will.Part 2 On the journey1.How could Manuel lead Buck away from the estate? 2.What did the man in a red coat taught Buck?3.How do you understand the sentence “Buck was beaten but he was not broken”?Part 2 On the journey1.How could Manuel lead Buck away from the estate? When Buck was led out by Manuel, the gardener, who needed money for his big family, he thought it was just a normal evening walk. Part 2 On the journey2.What did the man in a red coat taught Buck?Buck learned that he stood no chance against a man with a club.Part 2 On the journey3.How do you understand the sentence “Buck was beaten but he was not broken”?Outwardly Buck was now in a miserable shape and condition, but inwardly he maintained his firmness and steadiness. Part 3 Life in the north1.Why did Buck hate Spitz?2.What is the “law of club and fang”? What does it represent? 3.How is Buck introduced to it? 4.Can you use some words to describe Buck?Part 3 Life in the north1.Why did Buck hate Spitz?•Stole Buck’s food•Kept laughing when Curly diedPart 3 Life in the north 2.What is the “law of club and fang”? What does it represent? •It refers to that man, having the greater force, is the master. The weak must submit and serve the will of the conqueror or be killed•Strength, not justice, is the central value.Part 3 Life in the north 3.How is Buck introduced to it?•Buck learns this lesson from two events. The first one teaches him about the power of violence and about the need to give in when threatened by a superior force.•Buck learns the law of the fang when he arrives in Canada and watches one of his fellow dogs, a female dog named Curly, torn to pieces by a pack of huskies. Part 3 Life in the north4.Can you use some words to describe Buck?•Intelligent — understand to obey a man with a club; learn to sled well quickly•Rebellious — reacting to the kidnap•Hardworking — enjoyed his work•Strong Related informationMajor themes The following themes are evident in the story:•Adaption•Adventure•Conflict•Courage and determination•Death •Interdependence•Leadership •Survival•Nature’s unpredictabilityInfluence of Charles Darwin’s and Friedrich Nietzsche’s theories Darwin, the founding father of evolution theory, taught that life in the natural world consisted of a constant struggle for survival, in which only the strong could thrive and produce offspring. This “survival of the fittest,” as Herbert Spencer, an English philosopher, termed it, was the engine that drove evolution. The world that London creates in The Call of the Wild operates strictly according to Darwinist principles in its brutality and amorality—only the fit survive in the cruel landscape of the Klondike.influence of Charles Darwin’s and Friedrich Nietzsche’s theories Nietzsche was a German philosopher who preached the doctrine of the “will to power” as the driving force behind society. Moral considerations were meaningless, he declared, and all members of humanity were either masters, driven to dominate others, or slaves, driven to submit. London transposes this scheme to the animal world, using Nietzschean language repeatedly to describe Buck's quest to achieve mastery and dominion over his enemies.Post-reading discussion1.What role do Mercedes, Hal, and Charles play in the novel? How do they function as embodiments of the worst side of civilization?2.Compare the roles of John Thornton and Judge Miller. Who, from the novel’s point of view, is the better master? Defend your answer.3.What is the “call of the wild”? How does it affect Buck's behavior throughout the novel?Reading skillsGuessing Meanings of Words from Context (I)•Concept •Synonym clues •Antonym cluesConceptContext here means words, phrases, or sentencessurrounding a word and the situation in which it is used. When you come across a new word in your reading, before looking it up in a dictionary, very often you can guess its meaning from its context. There are often specific words (context clues) in a sentence or paragraph that can help you determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word.Synonym clues Synonyms are words or phrases that are similar in meaning to other words. A sentence with a difficult word often contains a more familiar word to make it easy to understand. You may recognize some synonyms because they are set apart by commas, dashes, or parentheses. Usually, a synonym context clue appears to be of the same part of speech as the new word.Synonym clues For example: The hullabaloo expresses people's high spirits at holiday time. Many years ago, however, the loud noises were meant to scare away the evil spirits, thus giving the new year a fresh start.“Hullabaloo” is a noun in the sentence. The phrase that has the same meaning and part of speech is “loud noises”. So “loud noises” is a synonym context clue to “hullabaloo”. Antonym clues Antonyms are words or phrases that have opposite meanings to other words or phrases. Recognizing that certain words which often signal an antonym clue can help you understand new words. Words or phrases like “or”, “but”, “while”, “as opposed to”, and “on the other hand” often signal antonym clues. Antonym clues For example: Linda manages money judiciously while I manage money unwisely.The word “while” signals the antonym “unwisely” you can reason that “unwisely” is the opposite of “judiciously.” thus, “judiciously” means “unwisely”.PracticeA.Determine the meaning of each italicized word by identifying its part of speech and locating its synonym.B. Locate the word or phrase that signals the antonym clue and underline it. Then underline the antonym clue. Finally, select the best meaning for the italicized word.Practice A1. New Year’s Day is thought of as a good time to make New Year’s resolutions — the decisions to do better in the year just beginning than you did in the year that just ended. • resolutions is a (an) _____. • It means ________.noun decisionsPractice A2. Make sure, too, that the cost of your hobby does not go beyond your budget or your estimated income and expense.• budget is a (an) _____.• It means _________________________.nounestimated income and expensePractice A3. Before the Crusades, kings had existed, but their role was more or less that of a figurehead, a chief in name only, in the complicated feudal system.• figurehead is a (an) _____.• It means _________________.nouna chief in name onlyPractice BB. Locate the word or phrase that signals the antonym clue and underline it. Then underline the antonym clue. Finally, select the best meaning for the italicized word. Practice B1.The Oveges method of teaching made science and mathematics fun instead of a chore.chore means ______. a. attraction b. tiring task c. dutyPractice B2.Though he was often shy in social settings, science brought out the showman in him.showman means ______. a. personality attracting public attention b. timid characterc. quick temper Practice B3.Although the Greeks were said to be democratic, slaves and women had few right. democratic means ______. a. respecting people's rightsb. warlikec. peace-lovingExercises Text A. b B. 1—4 c d a a5—8 d c c d C. 1—5 d a a c d 6—10 b d a b a Fast reading 1—5 d a b d d 6—10 b a c b d 11—15 d a a b aHome reading 1—4 b d c b 5—8 b b d b。