Unit 3
The Million Pound
Bank-note
Warming up and Reading I
What do you know about Mark Twain?
Warming up
Mark Twain
(1835—1910)
The greatest humorist of the 19th century
in American literature. Also one of the greatest
writer in the world.
Do you know any of his works?
Read the short passage quickly and fill in the chart.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens
November 30th, 1835
Florida
Fill in the blanks.
river
In Hannibal, Missoouri, along the Mississippi River.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
The greatest humorist of the 19th century American literature.
Novels:
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)(汤姆·索亚历险记）
The Prince and the Pauper (1882)(皇子与贫儿)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1894)(哈克贝利·费恩历险记)
Mark Twain:
(1835—1910)
The Adventures of
Tom Sawyer
《汤姆·索亚历险记》
He is good at writing about children’s adventures.
The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn《哈克贝利·弗恩历
险记》
his masterpieces
1876
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Summary of The adventures of Tom Sawyer
This is a story about a young boy named Tom Sawyer who is very mischievous and likes to go on adventures. He lives with his Aunt Polly and his halfbrother Sid. Tom also had two friends named Joe Harper and Huckleberry Fin. Becky Thatcher is Tom’s girlfriend and Injun Joe is the town’s thief and murder. This story takes place in the mid-1800s in a small village in Missouri along the Mississippi River.
his masterpieces
1881
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Summary of The adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Before the novel begins, Huck Finn has led a life of absolute freedom. His parents are either dead or absent and so Huck is not used to following any rules. The most important part of his character is his desire to save a black slave, Jim, and free him from slavery. He runs away with Jim whom he sees as a person and not property. They escape down the river giving Huckleberry time to think of the best thing to do.
1. Running for Governor
his short stories
his short stories
2. The £ 1,000,000 Bank-Note
Suppose a rich person gives you a million pound bank-note, what will you do with it? Give the reasons.
Discussion
Some new words
stare at: look at sb. / sth. for a long time
nightfall: the time in the evening when it becomes dark
spot: see or notice a person or thing
account for: to be the explanation or cause of sth.
charity: 施舍
by accident: by chance
We are going to study the play “The Million Pound Bank Note” by Mark Twain. First, let’s learn something about play.
戏剧包括哪些要素？
情感，欲望，争斗，妥协。
什么是戏剧冲突？
戏剧冲突表现在人物性格的冲突上，具体表现为一系列的动作。
Pre-reading
什么是戏剧语言？
戏剧语言包括人物语言和舞台说明。舞台说明是写在剧本每一幕的开端，结尾和对话中间的说明性的文字，内容包括人物表、时间、地点、服装、道具、布景、以及人物的表情、动作、上下场等，它具有增强舞台气氛，烘托人物心情，展示人物性格，推动情节展开等多种作用。
Listen to the tape and read the play, and find out the conflict in the play. After that, answer the questions.
How many characters are there in the scene? Who are they?
Characters （人物）：
Henry Adams:
a lost American businessman in London
“Roderick” and “Oliver”:
two brothers and rich Englishmen
Who is the main character? Where does he come from?
Henry, the hero of the story, comes from America.
When and where did the story happen?

Where are the characters in Scene 3?

What happened in Scene 3?
In London, the summer of 1903.
In the old brothers’ home.
The two old brothers gave Henrry a bank note.
ACT
1
SCENE
1&2
A brief introduction to the story
the bet
ACT
1
SCENE
3
The story began
Read the play carefully and answer the following questions:
1. Where does Henry Adams come from? Does he know much about London?
2. What did he do in America?
3. Why is Henry lost in London? How did he get there?
4. How many questions do the brothers ask Henry? What is the brothers’ concern?
5. Why do the brothers give Henry the
letter?
6. Can you find the examples of polite
requests?
7. Can you guess why the brothers do not
permit Henry to open the letter until 2
o’clock?
1. Where does Henry Adams come from? Does he know much about London?
2. What did he do in America?
Henry comes from San Francisco.
No, he doesn’t know London at all.
He worked for a mining company.
3. Why is Henry lost in London?
How did he get there?
He was sailing out the bay when he was carried out to sea by a strong wind and was survived by a ship for London.
4. How many questions do the brothers
ask Henry? What is the brothers’
concern?
Seven. They want to know whether or not Henry is penniless.
5. Why do the brothers give Henry the
letter?
It was his first visit to London so nobody knew him.
He had no money so he would have to rely on the bank note.
They thought he looked honest because he asked for a job and not charity.
6. Can you find the examples of polite
requests?
Would you step inside a moment, please?
Good morning, sir, would you please come in?
Permit me to lead the way, sir.
How do you do, Mr…er…?
I wonder, Mr Adams, if you’d mind...
May we ask what you’re doing in this country…?
Now if you’ll excuse me I’ll…
(1) Henry wandered in London streets.
(2) About a month ago Henry Adams was sailing out of the bay.
(3) The next morning he was spotted by a ship.
(4) Towards nightfall he found himself carried out to sea by a strong wind.
(5) On the ship he earned his passage by working as an unpaid hand.
Put the following events in correct order.
Key:
(2) About a month ago Henry Adams was sailing out of the bay.
(4) Towards nightfall he found himself carried out to sea by a strong wind.
(3) The next morning he was spotted by a ship.
(5) On the ship he earned his passage by working as an unpaid hand.
(1)Henry wandered in London streets.
F (fact) or O (Opinion)
1). Henry wants to find a job in London.( )
2). Henry is given an envelope by the two brothers. ( )
3). Henry is an unlucky young man. ( )
4). The servant is called James. ( )
5). Henry is foolish to go and meet the two brothers. ( )
F
F
O
F
O
passage
spotted
sailed
accounted for
Read Act one again, then fill in the following form.
pavement
wandering
by accident
embassy
seek
invited
wealthy
changed
Henry was an _________. One day he had an accident in a ___. Luckily he was survived by a ship for _______. He arrived in London by earning his passage without pay.
American
London
bay
Retell the story by filling the following passage.
He was ___ in the street in ____. To his surprise an _________ thing happened. Two rich brothers gave him a million pound bank-note because they had made a ____.
incredible
rags
lost
bet
What do you think of Henry?
Character Analysis
honest
Henry was?
Henry was?
Hard-working
Henry was?
Direct/Frank
What kind of persons you think Oliver and Roderick are?
Post reading
Oliver and Roderick:
rich (servants and not worrying about giving a stranger a million pound bank-note), mischievous (prepared to bet one million pounds just for a bit of fun), good judges of character (they see Henry is honest and proud)
What do you think will happen to Henry?
Will the bank-note help him or get him into trouble?
Give a possible development to the story.
Prediction