1、The Greatest InventionI.Introduction of AuthorII.Text Analysis 1.General Analysis 2.Structure of the Text 3.Further DiscussionIII.Sentence ParaphraseIV.Word StudyLord Dunsany(July 24,1878October 25,1957)was an Irish writer and dramatist.His full name was Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett,18th Baron
2、Dunsany.nLord Dunsany was educated at Eton College and Sandhurst.He served as an officer during the Boer War and World War I.He was a keen huntsman,and sportsman,and was at one time the chess and pistol champion of Ireland.nHis fame arose,however,from his prolific writings of short stories,novels,pl
3、ays and poetry,reportedly mostly written with a quill pen.The Book of WonderAt the Edge of the World The Fourth Book of JorkensBooks of the authoru Genre of the storyu Plot of the storyu Setting of the storyu Protagonists of the storyu Theme of the storyHave you got the key elements in the story?Gen
4、eral Analysisu Genre:modern fableu Plot:the development of the conflict between au scientist driven by his scientific curiosityu and the government which wants to forceu the scientist to serve their political purpose u Setting:Caribbean areau Protagonists:the man in the Ministry of Warfareu and the
5、scientist To be continued on the next page.Through the story,the author makes us think about the purpose of science and the driving force of scientific development.u Theme:Part 1(Paras.1 ):Part 2(Paras.):Part 3(Para.):Structure of the Text454445the story itselfthe concluding paragraphWhy did Jorkens
6、 tell the story?Question:“Happen”to what?What were people talking about?Who were they?They might be the members of the club.They were talking about the world affairs.They were asking what was going to happen in the world.“What do you think is going to happen,Jorkens?”In Para.1Further DiscussionWhen
7、the bottle had been uncorked and the wine poured out,like liquid tropical sunlight,I watched it go down under that black mustache.(Para.5)Simile:It suggests that the wine was pretty strong,like hot liquid sunlight.omission of“had been”The wine had been poured out.The bottle was opened and the wine w
8、as poured out.The man with black mustache drank it up although it was pretty strong,like hot liquid sunlight.“And we had a scientist who,as I have since seen proved,had no rival west of the Atlantic.”(Para.6)And we had the very best scientist in Latin American countries as I have seen him proved wit
9、hout rival.to be the very bestrelative pronoun as the object of“seen”And I had not thought it,for he was not at all what one would regard as the figure of a soldier.(Para.11)the kind of person one would expect to see as a soldierI had not thought that he had served in the military authority,for his
10、shape of body was not like that of a soldier at all.“He thought of war simply as an opportunity for cavalry charges and fine uniforms and glory.”(Para.12)beautiful uniforms and impressive appearanceOur minister only regarded war as charges on horseback,beautiful uniforms and impressive appearance.ch
11、arges on horseback“Once,if a nation had twelve battleships it was a Great Power,and we could only obey.”(Para.16)It refers to the 19th century when colonialists and imperialists pursuedgunboat diplomacy.Gunboat diplomacy:the use of a threat of show of armed force by a country to support a claim,dema
12、nd,complaint,etc.against another.at one timeBut what if we know how to let loose a plague capable of destroying whole nations?(Para.16)to let sb.or sth.freeWhat would happen if we know how to release a plague that can destroy whole nations?adjective phrase as modifier“We knew that we had marvelous p
13、owers within our grasp,if only Carasierra could be kept at his work.”(Para.18)If we could keep Carasierra at his work,we would be able to attain great power.to force someone to continue to do sth.to be able to achieve or attain sth.“Always spurred on by a fierce ambition.His very life was devoted to
14、 making inventions.”(Para.20)He was always driven by a strong ambition.He had given his whole life to making inventions.to urge sb.to try harderused to emphasize a noun“But nothing would turn him from his project.The splendor of his new inspiration gripped him,and he was like a man drugged.”(Para.23
15、)Nothing could divert his attention from his work.The impressive beauty of his new inspiration interested him greatly and he was like a man who had bee drugged.to divert his attention from his project“We were so nearly one of the Great Powers but for a fancy that came to this mans mind.”(Para.24)If
16、a fancy had not gripped this man,we would have become one of the Great Powers.if not for“he fell then to silent brooding,gazing,as it seemed,into the past at the grip that his country had lost on the Caribbean,perhaps on the world.”(Para.45)He fell then to silent thinking.He looked intently into the
17、 past when his country had lost the power on the Carribbean,even the world.IV.Word StudyIV.Word Study1.appeal:make a serious and urgent request to sb for sth E.g.He earnestly ed to his friends for help.for mercy They are ing for funds to build a new hospital.2.aspiration:an earnest desire E.g.have s
18、 for/after fame His entire life,with its small triumphs and disasters,its boundless hopes and s for the future She had/cherished s to become an actressaspire:desire and seek to attain E.g.after truth/knowledge It is no wonder that human beings after a standard pronunciation which will reduce as far
19、as possible the chances of misunderstanding.He s at the character of a good man.to the leadership of the partybribe(briber,bribery)bribe(briber,bribery):n.a sum of money or another reward offered or demanded in order to procure an action or decision in favor of the giver pay/give/offer/accept/take a
20、 The judge rejected a from the defendants family.v.offer or give a to The traffic offender d the policeman to overlook the violation.grip:v.to take very tight hold of;to take hold of the attention or feelings of e.g.Walking in the dark,my little child ped my hand in fear.Her description gripped my i
21、magination.in the of sth e.g.The whole country is in the grip of a serious economic e to/get to grips with sth/sb e.g.The government has yet to get to grips with the problem of homelessness.His of the rope weakened as he became tired.get/take a on oneself:e.g.I know you are nervous,but you must get
22、a grip on yourself.Youre due to go on stage in five minutes.lose ones at sIdle e.g.hours lie/stand:if they are used for a month,they must stand idle for eleven.His words were just threats;he cant hurt us.Stop worrying about rumors.away the hours watching TV Rivaln.encounter/defy/defeat/beat/outdo/su
23、rpass ones e.g.a powerful/formidable/worthy As a book of reference for English students,this dictionary is without a.In the whole Elizabethan age there is no to Shakespeare as a tragic dramatist.v.The two teams ed each other for the championship.soothe:bring or restore to a peaceful or tranquil cond
24、ition;calm;pacify;comfort The coffee seemed to have d her headache.The nurse d the crying child with sweets.splendor:great brightness;magnificence;impressive character;magnificent feature E.g.His bright blue eyes shone with uncommon keenness and.The sun rises with a different in America.The chateau
25、had been built in imitation of Versailles,but all its had long since been lost.P182 Ex.7.1)alive,living,live alive:used only as a predicative living:used as a predicative or attributive live:1)that is alive or living,as opposed to dead;chiefly used as an attributive;2)(of performance)heard or watche
26、d at the time of its occurrence,seen or heard as it happens,as opposed to recorded on film or tape etc.;or given in front of a public audience,as opposed to in a recording studio etc.able:suggests ability above the average as revealed in actual performance:proved that she is an able Shakespeare actr
27、ess capable:stresses the having of qualities fitting one for work but does not imply outstanding ability:capable of doing simple tasks under supervision competent and qualified imply having the experience or training for adequate performance:a leap that any competent ballet dancer can execute;seek help from a qualified medical professional
