1、12Unit three Unit three Message of the LandMessage of the Land PiraPira SudhamSudham3Message of the LandMessage of the LandPiraPira SudhamSudham About the Author:background/works/comments/map About the Textfigures of speech/word study/understanding In-class Discussion After-class Activities4About th
2、e AuthorAbout the Author Pira Sudham spent his childhood in the rice fields on the Korat Plateau,helping his parents and tending a herd of buffaloes until he went to Bangkok(曼谷/泰国首都)at the age of fourteen to be a servant to monks in a Buddhist temple where he was also admitted to a school.To support
3、 himself through high school and the first year at the Faculty of Arts(文学院),Chulalongkorn University,he sold souvenirs to tourists until he won a New Zealand(新西兰大洋洲)government scholarship to study English literature at Auckland(奥克兰/新西兰港市)University and later at Victoria University,Wellington(惠灵顿/新西兰
4、）.5About the AuthorAbout the Author His writings began to appear in literary publications in New Zealand,Hong Kong and the United States before his first book,Tales of Thailand was published in 1983,followed by People of Esarn in 1987.He has lived for over ten years in Australia and the United Kingd
5、om,where he wrote Monsoon Country(1988),and its sequel,The Force of Karma(2002).Pira Sudham is the Thai author writing in English who was nominated for the 1990 Nobel Prize for Literature.His novel and short stories provide insights into Thai life,particularly that of rural northeast Thailand.67Abou
6、t the TextAbout the TextStructurePart 1:The wifes speech (para.1-)(para.-)Part 2:The farmers speech (para.-11)The wife tells us briefly about each member of her family and how all her children left.This part focuses on the changes that she finds she cant adjust to.The farmer tells us what he thinks
7、are the roots of all evils.He also tells us what joys he finds in life and in farming.34788About the TextAbout the Text Figures of SpeechA simile is a brief comparison,usually introduced by the preposition“like”or the conjunction“as”,and etc.Simile：A simile consists of two parts:tenor and vehicle.Th
8、e tenor is the primary subject;the vehicle is the thing to which the main subject is compared to.（明喻）（明喻）9About the TextAbout the Text Figures of SpeechRecords(fell)like ripe apples(on a windy day).The data processing(is going on)as(slow)as a snailsubject/tenorsimile markerreference/vehicleExamples:
9、10About the TextAbout the Text Figures of Speech A metaphor is also a comparison.The difference is that a simile compares things explicitly-that is,it states literally that X is like Y.A metaphor compares things implicitly.Read literally,it does not state that things are alike;it says that they are
10、the same thing,that they are identical.Metaphor:（隐喻，暗喻）（隐喻，暗喻）11About the TextAbout the Text Figures of Speechsubject/tenorreference/vehicleCape Cod(is the bared and bended)arm of(Massachusetts)He(is)a wolf(in sheeps clothing).Examples:12About the TextAbout the Text Figures of Speech Q:Can you find
11、some examples of the usage of simile in the text?1.Sometimes,they get bullied and insulted,and it is like knife piercing my heart.2.It is no longer fertile,bleeding year after year,and like us getting old and exhausted.3.When each of them has a pair of jeans,they are off like birds on the wing.13Abo
12、ut the TextAbout the TextSentence Paraphrase1.My husband moved into our house as is the way with us in Esarn.(When we got married)my husband came to live in our house.It was the tradition here in Esarn that the bridegroom should come to live with the brides family.2.Often they sent some money to us
13、and tell us that they are doing well.I know this is not always true.although they always tell us that everything is fine with them.I know they also have difficulties and problems.They just do not tell us because they dont want us to worry.14About the TextAbout the TextSentence Paraphrase3.Sometimes,
14、they get bullied and insulted,and it is like a knife piercing my heart.When I hear about their hardships,I feel very sad.4.Its easier for my husband.He has ears which dont hear,a mouth which doesnt speak,and eyes that dont see.News about my childrens problems doesnt make my husband as sad.He doesnt
15、bother about what is happening around us and to our children.He never says anything about them.15About the TextAbout the TextSentence Paraphrase5.All of them remain my children in spite of their long absence.Although they are often away for a long time,I love and care about them as always because th
16、ey are my children.6.Our piece of land is small,and it is no longer fertile,bleeding year after year,and like us,getting old and exhausted.Our land is getting poorer with each passing year,like us who are getting old,weak and tired.167.Only ten years ago,you could darter for things,but now its all c
17、ash.Just ten years ago,you could exchange one thing for another,but today we have to use money to get everything we need.8.In my day,if I were to put on a pair of trousers like they do now,lightning would strike me.When I was young,I surely would be punished by God if I ever wore the kind of trouser
18、s they wear today.About the TextAbout the TextSentence Paraphrase17About the TextAbout the TextSentence Paraphrase9.My eyes do see-they see more than they should.My ears do hear-they hear more than is good for me.Im not what my wife says I am.I do see and hear-I see and hear too much evil,too many u
19、gly and terrible things,things that I wish I did not have to see and hear.And this is not good for me.10.Still the land could not tie them down or call them back.My children grew up and had happy days on this land.But this couldnt prevent them from leaving or making them return.-end18About the TextA
20、bout the TextWord Studymarry:vt./vi.They married young.John is going to marry Jane.marry sb off He married his daughter off to a rich man.married:a.be married to sb.He is married to a famous writer.married to sth.:dedicated to sth He is married to his work.marriage:n.19About the TextAbout the TextWo
21、rd Studyafford to:can/could/be able+afford sth to do sth They walked because they couldnt afford(to take)taxi.I mustnt annoy my boss because I cant afford to lose my job.他告诉我公司无法支付如此巨额的工资。He told me that the firm could not afford to pay such large salaries.20About the TextAbout the TextWord Studynow
22、 and then:now and again;occasionallyhere and there:everywhereups and downs:alternate good and bad luck 盛衰,沉浮ins and outs:the details and complexities(of sth)详情、细节;底细,来龙去脉21in spite of:(used as a prep.)regardless of;despite 尽管下雨我还是出去了。despite(prep.):without being affected by 尽管天气不好，我们的假期仍过得很愉快。regard
23、less of:(used as a prep.)(infml)paying no attention to 他怎么想就怎么说，不考虑别人的情绪。About the TextAbout the TextWord StudyI went out in spite of the rain.Despite the bad weather we enjoyed our holiday.He says what he thinks,regardless of other peoples feelings.22About the TextAbout the TextWord Studymind ones
24、own:mind ones own business:not interfere in other peoples affairmind ones own ps and qs:be careful and polite about what one says or does23bleed:v.(bled;bled)loose or emit blood bleed to deathbleed for sth:suffer wounds or die(for a cause,ones country)我心里为这些挨饿的孩子感到悲痛。bleed sb for sth:(infml)extort(m
25、oney)from sb 勒索；老板力图从雇工们身上榨取出每一分钱。About the TextAbout the TextWord StudyMy heart bleeds for the starving children.The boss tried to bleed his employees for every penny.24About the TextAbout the TextWord Studybarter:v./n.exchange(goods,property,etc)for other goods,etc without using moneybarter sth fo
26、r sth:农民们用大米换机器。我们决不拿原则做交易。barter with sb for sth:The prisoners tried to barter with the guards for their freedom.Farmers bartered rice for machinery.We will never barter away principles.25About the TextAbout the TextWord Studyreplace:v.-put back in its place 杂志阅后放回原处。-take the place of 有什么东西能取代母亲的爱
27、和关怀吗?-provide a substitute for sb/sth replace a broken window with a new one Replace the magazines after reading.Can anything replace a mothers love and care?26About the TextAbout the TextWord Studyspring:v.jump from the ground in a single movement spring out of bed 从床上跳起来 spring to action 突然行动起来spr
28、ing from sth:have sth as a source or origin Hatred often springs from fear.spring up:appear,develop,grow,etc.quickly or suddenly 微风已开始吹拂。我的家乡建了许多工厂。A breeze has sprung up.Many new factories have sprung up in my home town.27About the TextAbout the TextWord Studyfashion:n.in/after the fashion of sb:(f
29、ml)like sb She paints in the fashion of Picasso.act after sb.s fashion 照某人的样子去做come into/be in fashion:become or be populargo/be out of fashion:become outdatedfashionable:a.barber:n.hairdresser:n.beautician:n.28About the TextAbout the TextWord Studyoccur:v.happen 事故发生在五点钟。occur to sb:come into(a per
30、sons mind)我想到一个主意。It never occurred to her that he might be cheating her.occurrence:n.event;incident,happeningincident:n.unimportant or minor things happenedevent:n.a happening of importanceThe accident occurred at five oclock.An idea has occurred to me.29About the TextAbout the Text Word Studya bag
31、 of bones:a very thin person or animal.骨瘦如柴的人 The cat was just a bag of bones.bag and baggage:with all ones belongings,often suddenly or secretly;adv带着全部财产 Her tenant left,bag and baggage,without paying the rent.be in the bag:(of an result,outcome)be as desired 俗确实无疑,稳操胜券Her re-election is in the ba
32、g.bag of moonshine 无稽之谈30About the TextAbout the TextWord Studyrag:n.torn,odd cloth I use a rag to clean my bike.rags:(pl.)old,worn or torn clothes 这件衬衫已穿得破烂不堪。The shirt was worn to rags.31tie sb down to sth:restrict sb to certain conditions Children do tie you down,dont they?tie sb up:-(use passive
33、)occupy sb so that he has no time for other things Im tied up in a meeting until 3 p.m.交通因意外事故而受阻。tie n.这场比赛打成平局。About the TextAbout the TextWord StudyThe traffic was tied up by the accident.The game ended in a tie.32About the TextAbout the TextWord Studypass sth on to sb:hand or give sth to sb else
34、,Pass the book on to me when youve finished with it.请把这句话传给你的老板。pass sth down:(esp passive)pass sth from one generation to the next 这些珠宝在我们家代代相传已有好几百年的历史了。pass sth up:(infml)refuse to accept a chance,an opportunity,永远不要放弃学习的机会Please pass the word to your boss.These jewels have been passed down in ou
35、r family from generation to generation for hundreds of years.Never pass up a chance to learn.33After-class After-class Discussion Discussion Questions:What is the style of writing adopted in the text?Colloquial.What is the message in the old couples mind?What do you think of the message?Love of land
36、,love of physical labor,and above all,love of family.3435Tales of Thailand Out of the relocation of millions of people in the path of dam constructions and eucalyptus(桉树)plantations,the suppression of wages and the price of agricultural produce,the forceful drive to gain more land to grow eucalyptus
37、 trees,the corruption,prostitution,child trade,slave labour,the horror of the Thailand-Burma(缅甸亚洲)Death Railway during the World War II,the economic crisis in July 1997,the war to win the people in impoverished Esarn in the seventies and the daily grind in the Mother of Gridlock Bangkok(曼谷)come tale
38、s of hope and tales of woe,tales of acceptance and tales of the struggle for survival that become Tales of Thailand.About the AuthorAbout the Author36About the AuthorAbout the AuthorPeople of EsarnPira Sudham conveys the inner voices of his subjects regardless of how illiterate,timid and insignifica
39、nt they seem in their daily lives.Their simplicity and sensitivity come through his direct and clear prose,yet moving and touching.He writes with understanding and compassion for his people.Foreign writers writing about the Thai people look at Thailand from the outside,but Pira Sudham writes about h
40、is people and country as seen from the inside.This is one of the things that makes them so fascinating.37About the AuthorAbout the AuthorMonsoon Country It depicts the problems of social transition in present day Thailand and gives insights into Thai life in the rural northeast.It is set in Thailand
41、,England and Germany to convey the cultural tension between the East and the West,the clashes between the new powers and the old values,covering the span of 25 years of the social-economic and political changes occurring in Thailand.38About the AuthorAbout the AuthorThe Force of KarmaThis sequel to
42、Monsoon Country covers the tumultuous（骚乱的）years of the economic crisis,the political upheavals and the massacre of May 1992,right up to the beginning of the year 2002.39About the AuthorAbout the AuthorOthers Comments:-“Pira Sudham has given a voice to the poor of Thailand.”-“Pira Sudham is undoubted
43、ly one of the foremost Thai writers of today,a formidable vivisector to reveal the hidden aspects of Thai society.”40About the AuthorAbout the AuthorPira Sudhams Own Words:If I had not left my village then,I would have been subject,like most villagers,to the mercy of nature:floods,drought,disease,ig
44、norance and scarcity.With endurance,I would have accepted them as my own fate,as something I cannot go against in this life.“In my mind I carry memories of childhood,of life in villages,much as a pregnant woman carrying a child.Every day these images grow,and I know that one day I shall have to give birth to them through the medium of writing.Besides,I dont want people in our villages,so far removed from other peoples because of distance and poverty,to be born,suffer and to die in vain.
