1、Lesson TenThe Trial That Rocked the WorldObjectivesvTo understand the textvTo learn the background about FundamentalismvTo learn the conflict between Fundamentalism and DarwinismTeaching Contentsv1. Introductionv2. Detailed study of the text v3. Structure analysis v4. Language appreciation v5. Summa
2、ry of words and phrasesv6. ExercisesBackground MaterialBackground Material1. About the author and the trialJohn Scopes, a high school science teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, who was accused of breaking the law by teaching evolution.He was the defendant in the case. After the trial, he decided to write
3、 a story describing the highlights of this famous trial. The name of John Scopes became synonymous with this trial, which is popularly known as the monkey trial (the Scopes trial) . A film, called Inherit the Wind, was made of the trial, with much of the dialogue coming directly from the transcripts
4、 of the court proceedings. John Scopes died in 1979.Background MaterialBackground Material2. The clash between the fundamentalists and the modernistsThe fundamentalist movement: a conservative and fanatically religious American Protestant movement that began in the early 20th century in opposition t
5、o modern scientific tendency. It was strong in parts of the U.S., especially the South, at the time.The fundamentalists adhered to a literal interpretation of everything in the Bible and regarded the beliefs as fundamental to Christian faith and morals. The modernists accepted the theory advanced by
6、 Charles Darwin that all animal life, including monkeys and men, had evolved from a common ancestor.Background MaterialBackground Material3. Main characters in the trial1) John Scopes2) The defendant counsels (counsels for the defense): Clarence Darrow; Dudley Field Malone 3) The prosecutor counsel
7、(counsel for the prosecution) William Jennings BryanBackground MaterialBackground MaterialnWhat do you know about Darwin and his On the Origin of Species?n1809-1882, English naturalist and biologistnoriginator of the theory of mans evolution by natural selectionnIn 1859, Charles Darwin published his
8、 great work, On the Origin of Species. He claimed that all organisms, including ourselves, are the products of a slow, natural process of development evolution.Social Background of DarwinsSocial Background of DarwinsnQueen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, when she was 18 years old. She ruled for
9、 63 years until 1901, longer than any other British King or queen had ever ruled. This period came to be known as the Victorian Age. During this period, great economic, social, and political changes took place and Great Britain became the strongest and richest country in the world. The British Empir
10、e, which included Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, and large parts of Africa, had about a quarter of the worlds land and about a quarter of the worlds people. Wealth poured into Britain from its colonies. Industry and trade expanded rapidly, and the country became known as the workshop of the
11、world, by the end of the age, Britain was becoming more the banker of the world. Science and technology made great advances. People were better educated. The middle class grew enormously. Literature flourished. In addition, the government introduced democratic reforms.Social Background of DarwinsSoc
12、ial Background of DarwinsnIn spite of the prosperity of the Victorian Age, workers in both factories and farms still lived in terrible poverty.Charles Dickens, the greatest novelist of the age, also described in his novels the miserable life and the cruel treatment of the poor.nToday , people usuall
13、y laugh at the middle class of the Victorian Age, because they always tried to behave in a way that was considered socially acceptable, they were too self-satisfied and unwilling to listen to others opinions. Many Victorians regarded pleasure as sin, and poverty as Gods punishment for laziness. Dail
14、y family prayer and Sunday Bible-reading reminded their children that obedience was the greatest virtue. The early Victorian father was like a king in the home, and he expected to be obeyed by all the other members of the family. His wife was supposed to be his faithful companion, her place was in t
15、he home, and she had no right to look for jobs outside the home. Even in the home, her interests and conversation were strictly controlled. The highest virtue of the Victorian women was sexual purity.Social Background of DarwinsSocial Background of DarwinsnThe Victorians were extremely religious. Th
16、ey believed every word of the Bible, so that when Charles Darwin published his scientific idea about the origin of man, it caused an angry protest. Bishops angrily resisted the suggestion that they were descended from monkeys; the scientists replied that they would rather be descended from monkeys t
17、han from bishops. Darwin was a good Christian, and he believed that a scientific study of Gods world could lead to better understanding of Gods purpose and mans duty.Yet the theories of Darwin and other scientists led many people to feel that traditional values could no longer guide their lives. Det
18、ailed Study of the Text:Detailed Study of the Text:1. About the title The Trial That Rocked the Worldrock : to cause great shock and surprise toThe trial that cause great shock and surprise to the world (in 1925)Detailed Study of the Text:Detailed Study of the Text:Para. 11. A buzz ran through the c
19、rowd . that sweltering July day in 1925:1) buzz：the vibrating sound of a bee；the sound of many people whispering or talking excitedly in low tones2) ran through the crowd: spread among the people who had come to watch the trial3) as I took my place in the packed court: as I went to my seat in the co
20、urt which was crowded with people 4) sweltering：oppressively hot and humid; very hot, causing unpleasantness Para.12. silver-tongued orator: persuasive, eloquent public speaker3. the fundamentalist movement that had brought about the trial: The trial was brought to court by Scopes and his lawyers. H
21、owever, it was the fundamentalist movement which made the trial necessary, because it was this movement that had created the religious atmosphere that was responsible for the law which prohibited the teaching of evolution in the schools, and it was the existence of that law which made it necessary t
22、o hold a trial to challenge the law. Para.2Para.21. Now I was involved in a trial reported the world over:Now I found myself in a trial reported all over the world.2. Seated in court, ready to testify on my behalf, . of Harvard University:1) ready to testify on my behalf: prepared to provide evidenc
23、e to support or help me / benefit me 2) on (in) somebodys behalf, on (in) behalf of somebody: to benefit, support, serve the interests of somebodyPara.2Para.23. Dont worry, son. Well show them a few tricks, . as we were waiting for the court to open:1) son: affectionate term2) Well show them a few t
24、ricks:Well do a few things to outwit them (the prosecution); we have some clever and unexpected tactics and we will surprise them in the trial.3) reassuring arm：Obviously the arm cant be reassuring! in a reassuring manner, a friendly gesture to put John at ease.transferred epithetPara. 3Para. 31.The
25、 case had erupted round my head . at the secondary school :1) erupt: emerge suddenly and violently; explode2) The case had come down upon me unexpectedly and violently; I was suddenly engulfed by the whole affair.2. A clash had been building up between the fundamentalists and the modernists:The conf
26、lict had become more and more intense Para. 9 1. When I was indicted on May 7, famous trials in U.S. history:1) indict: to charge (someone) formally with an offence in law2) when I was indicted: when a formal accusation was made against me of breaking this law3) least of all I: I, less than anyone e
27、lse4) snowball: metaphorgrow rapidly in size or significance Paraphrase:I was the last one to expect that my case would grow (or develop) into one of the most famous trials in U.S. history.ParaPara. 9. 92. assist the state in prosecuting me:Since the case revolves around a state law, the state of Te
28、nnessee is the offended party; it is the state which prosecutes Scopes. Thus the trial would be called the State of Tennessee vs. John Scopes.Bryan volunteered to be the lawyer on behalf of the State.3. ironically: refers to incongruity between what might have been expected and actually happened.One
29、 would have expected that he would have known Darrow who was going to defend him and not have known Bryan who was going to prosecute him.Para. 10 1. our town of 1500 people people had taken . a circus atmosphere:1) take on : begin to have (the look of)2) All kinds of activities were going on in the
30、town and there was a kind of noisy holiday spirit there.(Suddenly the town was transformed into a kind of circus with many people coming to hear the trial. The town people took advantage of the sudden influx of visitors to expand their business activities. ) Para. 102. The streets around the three-s
31、torey . and watermelons:1) sprout : grow or develop quickly2) rickety: easy to fall or break down because of weakness; shakyThese rickety stands, which appeared suddenly everywhere, sold hot dogs, religious books, watermelons, etc. . . This emphasize the towns circus atmosphere. Religious books were
32、 sold because many religious people attended this trial .3. Evangelists set up cents to exhort the passersby:1) evangelist: the person who preaches the Christian gospel, esp. a traveling preacher2) exhort: urge earnestly3) The traveling preachers erected tents to urge people passing by to believe in
33、 God. 4.Butler was a 49-year-old farmer . his native county:1) before his election: before he was elected to the Tennessee legislature2) had never been out of his native county:His experience and vision were limited. He was narrow-minded.Para. 11 1. Im jist a reglar mountaineer jedge.:Im just an ord
34、inary judge from the mountains. Uneducated false modesty southernPara. 11 2. Bryan, ageing arid paunchy . Tom Steward:attorney general: chief law officer and legal expert of the government at a state or the U. S.3. Besides the shrewd 68-year-old Darrow . . . steeped in the law:1) shrewd: astute, sha
35、rp, clever, not to be outwitted; implying negative qualitiescunning, tricky, dishonest2)magnetic: strongly attractive； said of a person, personality etc.3) steeped in the law: thoroughly familiar with the lawPara. 114. In a trial in which religion . . .a Catholic and Hays a Jew:1) in a trial in whic
36、h religion played a key role： Scopes was accused of violating the law which prohibited the teaching of any theory that denied the story of creation as taught in the Bible. And it was the fundamentalists who made the state legislature pass this law. Thats why the writer said religion played a key rol
37、e in the trial.2) agnostic： a person who questions, doubts the existence of God and claims that His existence cant be proved；many agnostics simply leave it at that and do not bother with the question of religion any futher 3) the religious and non-religious diversity of the defence counsel in contra
38、st to the prosecution, hinting that the defence counsels would be more broad-minded and objective.Para. 12Para. 121. Of the 12 jurors , three had never read any book except the Bible. One couldnt read.The jurors were ignorant, prejudiced and narrow-minded. There couldnt be a fair and impartial trial
39、.2. Thats one hell of a jury one hell of a jury (or a hell of a jury)：no jury at all; a completely inappropriate jury (because they are too partial)a common phrase meaning something unusual e.g.That was a hell of an exam. (unusually difficult)Its been one hell of a trip. Its a hell of a change.The w
40、hole paragraph shows the religious bias of the trial from the start, indicating the pro-fundamentalist atmosphere will pervade the trial. Para. 131. After the preliminary sparring over legalities, Darrow got up to his opening statement: 1) spar: (fig.) engage in argument; fight with words 2) legalit
41、ies: the requirements and procedure of the law 3) after the preliminary sparring over legalities: after the initial arguments over legal procedures2. My friend the attorney-general says that Darrow drawled:1) my friend used in a sarcastic way 2) The attorney general said that John Scopes was there b
42、ecause he had broken the law.3) drawl: speak slowly with vowels greatly lengthened4) Darrow drawled: Darrow was speaking slowly, deliberately and dramaticallyPara. 133. He is here because . a mighty strong combination:1) bigotry: obstinate narrow-mindedness; intolerance; prejudice.2) rampant: widesp
43、read and impossible to control; spreading widely.3) it the combination of ignorance and bigotryPara 14:1. Today it is the teachers ,” he . . . the newspapers:it the target of ignorant and bigoted persecutionImplied meaning: Today the teachers are put on trial because they teach scientific theory, so
44、on the newspapers and magazines will not be allowed to express new ideas, to spread knowledge of science. 2. After a while, it is the setting of man against man and creed against creed . and culture to the human mind:1) setting of man against man: making people fight each other, causing universal en
45、mity2) creed against creed: making one religion fight another religion, causing universal intolerance and widespread religious persecution3) marching backwards: marching usually implies going forward for a great cause; here marching is used ironically, meaning retrogress to the dark age of the 16th
46、century4) glorious: used ironically3. 16th century:The 16th century was the time of the Renaissance when new ideas of arts, science began flourish. The Church led a reactionary movement against the Renaissance which threatened old religious beliefs. They intimidated free-thinkers and even burned the
47、m to death at the stake i.e., tied them to a pole and ignited sticks piled up at their feet.Para 19:There is some doubt about that, Darrow snorted:1) that having reasoning power2) snort: say in a scornful, contemptuous way as if with a snort It is doubtful whether man has reasoning power. sarcastica
48、lly referring to the fundamentalists, implying that they dont have reasoning power.Para 20:1. The Christian believes that man came. . . must have come from below:Christians believe that God in heaven made human beings but evolutionists think human beings come from the earth (or from lowly animals).b
49、eing sarcastic There is nothing lofty, noble or great about human beings in the evolutionists view. came (a definite statement) must have come merely guessing They think that if people dont come from God, they must come from somewhere else, and coming from below is as good a guess as any2. The spect
50、ators chuckled and Bryan warmed to his work:Bryan was encouraged by the audiences appreciation of his sarcasm and became more enthusiastic. 3. In one hand he brandished a biology as he denounced . . for the defence.:Words brandish and denounce give a sense of Bryan behaving as if he had a sacred dut
