Lesson SEVEN INVISIBLE MAN Time Allocationand Teaching Procedure:Four sessions (8classes)are needed for thistext 1"session:The students'presentations The teacher's comment on the presentations and brief additional introduction of the author and the social background of the novel The stock of vocabulary difficult to understand The students answer some pre-reading questions to of the main theme fe text 2session:Study of the text The teacher's interpretation of the meaning of some difficul sentences,language points and rhetorical devices Assignment *Review the part of the text having already discussed Preview the undiscussed part of the text Consider over some questions on the contents on page 116 3session:Continuation of the study of the text The teacher continues to interpret the *Review the whole text *Do the exercises from page 116 to page 119 4h session:Allow the students some time to ask questions on the text The students answer some questions after the text Explain some useful words and expressions in the text Do some explanation on the exercises after the text Assignment Supplemental exercises:A. Cloze B.Translatio L.Objectives A.Content To understand the main theme of the text.that is.the modern man's search for sf-identity 。T acquaint the students with the language points and help them master them B.Style and Strategies To analvze some rhetorical devices such as simile.metaphor.transferred epithet used in the text and help the students understand their functions in the sentences Toexplain the term"symbolism"and its function in the literary works To analyze the n re of the text To analyze the writer's choice of language and words and their functions in developiong the story Il.Topic for Presentations (based pre-groupdiscusion) 1.Introduction of the writer Ralph Ellison and his position in American literature 2.The social background of the story and the black people's experience in white-oriented society 3.Some comments Ralph Ellison 5.Something about the battle royal IIL.Division of the Text According to the development of the meaning and the organization of the text the text can be roughly divided into five parts: 1
1 Lesson SEVEN INVISIBLE MAN Time Allocation and Teaching Procedure : Four sessions (8 classes) are needed for this text 1 st session: The students’ presentations The teacher’s comment on the presentations and brief additional introduction of the author and the social background of the novel The stock of vocabulary difficult to understand The students answer some pre-reading questions to get a brief idea of the main theme of the text. 2 nd session: Study of the text The teacher’s interpretation of the meaning of some difficult sentences, language points and rhetorical devices Assignment *Review the part of the text having already discussed *Preview the undiscussed part of the text *Consider over some questions on the contents on page 116 3 rd session: Continuation of the study of the text The teacher continues to interpret the meaning of some difficult sentences and language points of the left part of the text Assignment *Review the whole text *Do the exercises from page 116 to page 119 4 th session: Allow the students some time to ask questions on the text The students answer some questions after the text Explain some useful words and expressions in the text Do some explanation on the exercises after the text Assignment *Supplemental exercises: A. Cloze B. Translation I. Objectives A. Content ⚫ To understand the main theme of the text, that is, the modern man’s search for self-identity ⚫ To acquaint the students with the language points and help them master them B. Style and Strategies ⚫ To analyze some rhetorical devices such as simile, metaphor, transferred epithet used in the text and help the students understand their functions in the sentences ⚫ To explain the term “symbolism” and its function in the literary works ⚫ To analyze the narrative structure of the text ⚫ To analyze the writer’s choice of language and words and their functions in developiong the story II. Topic for Presentations (based on pre-class group discussion) 1. Introduction of the writer Ralph Ellison and his position in American literature 2. The social background of the story and the black people’s experience in white-oriented society 3. Some comments from some critics on Ralph Ellison 4. The American civil war and Reconstruction 5. Something about the battle royal III. Division of the Text According to the development of the meaning and the organization of the text,the text can be roughly divided into five parts:
1.Para.1 the beginning of the story 2.Para.2 toPara3:grandfather's deathbed curse Para.4 to Para47 the description of the batte royal Para.48 to Para.90:the narrator's speech 5.Para.91 to Para94:the narrator's dream which implies the influence of the grandfather's curse IV.Teaching points 1.What is the function pf para.one? By saying"It goes a long way back,some twenty years""the author tells us that the story took place in the past:The"1"here is the narrator and the author is using the firs inin telling the Wordswas looking for "point out the central idea of the novel searching for self-identity. 2.But first I had to discover that I am an invisible man:Invisible Man is the title of the novel.and invisibility is one of the central motifs of this work.The word"invisible"is used figuratively,meaning not being recognized by society 3 What i is para.tw It tells us a bit about the historical background against which the story took place.It also introduces the narrator's grandfather. 4.And yet I am no freak of nature,nor of history. He indicates thatphysically,he is normal and he product of history.The sentence implics that I a ble hecause I am abnormal t h use the people ignore me. 5.Live with your head in the lion's mouth.or bust wide open Live with your head in the lion's mouth”is similar toaChinese phrase虎口拔牙. 6.When I was praised for my conduct.because they didn't like that at all(para.three) This is a dile ma facing the blacks.If they acted as desired by the white men,the were u wishes men.But if they acted any other way,trying to be sulky and mean,the white men certainly would not like it at all. 7.What is the function of para.four? It tells us about the setting of the battleroya it was on the occasion of a smoker. “smoker here is an old-fashioned word used in American English,meaning an informal social gathering only for men. 9 What is para 5 about? ed bubin incident.All these nosphere in which the narrator was to find himself 10.What are para6 to para.9 about? One of the main body of the battle royal incident:the white girl'sdance. 11.stark naked:not wearing any clothes at all
2 1. Para.1 : the beginning of the story 2. Para.2 to Para.3 : grandfather’s deathbed curse 3. Para.4 to Para.47 : the description of the battle royal 4. Para.48 to Para.90 : the narrator’s speech 5. Para.91 to Para.94: the narrator’s dream which implies the influence of the grandfather’s curse IV. Teaching points 1. What is the function pf para.one? By saying “It goes a long way back,some twenty years’” the author tells us that the story took place in the past; The “ I ” here is the narrator,and the author is using the first-person narration in telling the story; Words “I was looking for myself” and “I am nobody but myself” point out the central idea of the novel - searching for self-identity. 2. But first I had to discover that I am an invisible man: Invisible Man is the title of the novel,and invisibility is one of the central motifs of this work.The word “invisible” is used figuratively,meaning not being recognized by society. 3. What is para.two about? It tells us a bit about the historical background against which the story took place.It also introduces the narrator’s grandfather. 4. And yet I am no freak of nature, nor of history. He indicates that ,physically, he is normal, and he is a natural product of history. The sentence implies that I am invisible not because I am abnormal but because the other people ignore me. 5. Live with your head in the lion’s mouth . or bust wide open “Live with your head in the lion’s mouth ” is similar to a Chinese phrase 虎口拔牙. 6. When I was praised for my conduct . because they didn’t like that at all (para.three) This is a dilemma facing the blacks. If they acted as desired by the white men, they were undermining them with their submission. That is against the wishes of the white men. But if they acted any other way, trying to be sulky and mean, the white men certainly would not like it at all. 7. What is the function of para. four? It tells us about the setting of the battle royal. 8. it was on the occasion of a smoker. “smoker” here is an old-fashioned word used in American English, meaning an informal social gathering only for men. 9. What is para.5 about? Besides giving more details about the place, it introduces the people involved in the incident. All these details contribute to building confrontational atmosphere in which the narrator was to find himself in later on. 10. What are para.6 to para.9 about? One of the main body of the battle royal incident: the white girl’s dance. 11. stark naked: not wearing any clothes at all
12.the domes of the East Indian temples:East Indies refer to India Indonesia and the America and South America.A dome is a round roof on the base like a circle 13.To love her and murder her:There is a phrase in English:to mamry her or murder her. The author changed the word"marry"to"love"to suit the situation.This implies mixed and conflicting feelings of the narrator. There is a symbolic meaning We can see the girl was not regarded as a human being with dignity,the same to the boys in the battle royal. Para.10-Para.28 15.These paragraphs describe the violent and brutal fight itself 16 sonabitch'(slang)son ofa bitch 17.Ihad nodignity:Ilos dignity as a human being 18.to the rapid drum-like thuds of blow."to"is used to mean along with,accompanied by as an accompaniment for.A thud is the low dull sound made by a heavy object hitting something else Para 21-Para 24 19 These the hysterical,chaotic and anarchic of the figh ”means to feel ab out with the hands 21.I had begun to worry about my speech again.How would it go?Would they recognize my ability?What would they give me?Now we see the narrator was worrying about his speech again because he wanted to deliver his speech and get recognition from the leading white men. Paras.25.-Para 22.Paras.25 to 28 describe the final moment of the fight in which only two fighters were left in the ring. 22.knock the guts out:打得七窍生烟 23.Hearing this,Iamost dropped my guard,I was confused At this a los towhether he should try his best to winor not. 24.When the voice drawled TEN I was lifted up and dragged toa chair. TEN:In a bowing match.if a player is knocked down by his opponent,the referee will count one to ten.If the one on the floor can get up before ten is counted,the match will go on.Otherwise,the match is over,and then the referee will announce the Paras 29Paras.46 25.These paragraphs describe how the white men further humiliated the black boys ever after the battle royal was over.Instead of giving the money the boys were supposed to get for their performance.the white men made fun of them by making them scramble for the money on the rug This part adds to the general chaos of the whole 26.let go:to stop holdingon to something. 27.I could contain the electricity:我居然能抑制电流e Contain:to check the power,expansion,and influence of something 28.Irolled away as a fumbled football rollsoff the receiver's fingertips 3
3 12. the domes of the East Indian temples: East Indies refer to India, Indonesia, and the Malay Archipelago while West Indies refer to a large group of islands between North America and South America.A dome is a round roof on the base like a circle 13. To love her and murder her: There is a phrase in English: to marry her or murder her. The author changed the word “marry” to “love” to suit the situation. This implies mixed and conflicting feelings of the narrator. 14. What is the purpose of describing the dancing of the naked white girl ? There is a symbolic meaning .We can see the girl was not regarded as a human being with dignity, the same to the boys in the battle royal. Para.10 – Para.28 15. These paragraphs describe the violent and brutal fight itself 16. sonabitch:(slang) son of a bitch 17. I had no dignity : I lost dignity as a human being 18. to the rapid drum-like thuds of blow: “to” is used to mean along with, accompanied by as an accompaniment for. A thud is the low dull sound made by a heavy object hitting something else. Para.21 - Para.24 19. These paragraphs stress the hysterical, chaotic and anarchic aspect of the fight 20. The boys groped about like blind: “grope about” means to feel about with the hands 21. I had begun to worry about my speech again. How would it go? Would they recognize my ability? What would they give me? Now we see the narrator was worrying about his speech again because he wanted to deliver his speech and get recognition from the leading white men. Paras.25 -Paras.28 22．Paras. 25 to 28 describe the final moment of the fight in which only two fighters were left in the ring. 22. knock the guts out : 打得七窍生烟 23. Hearing this,I almost dropped my guard,I was confused . At this point the narrator was at a loss to whether he should try his best to win or not. 24. When the voice drawled TEN I was lifted up and dragged to a chair. TEN: In a bowing match, if a player is knocked down by his opponent, the referee will count one to ten. If the one on the floor can get up before ten is counted, the match will go on. Otherwise, the match is over, and then the referee will announce the winner. Paras. 29 - Paras.46 25. These paragraphs describe how the white men further humiliated the black boys even after the battle royal was over. Instead of giving the money the boys were supposed to get for their performance, the white men made fun of them by making them scramble for the money on the electrified rug. This part adds to the general chaos of the whole scene. 26. let go: to stop holding on to something. 27. I could contain the electricity : 我居然能抑制电流。 Contain: to check the power, expansion, and influence of something 28. I rolled away as a fumbled football rolls off the receiver’s fingertips
Fumble:(Ame.E)to dropa ball after catching it Paras.47-Paras.90 29.These paragraphs form the last subsection of the whole battle royal incident.In this part the narrator finally got his chance to deliver his well-prepared speech. 30.闪烁智慧之光的话 31."Cast down your bucket where you are":Make full use of what you have and do the best you can. 32.You weren't being smart ,weren't you,boy:Here "smart"implies being saucy, 33.My eyes filled with tears and I ran awkwardly off the floor:He was so excited that tears came to his eyes,and embarrassed by this display of emotion.he ran off the floor Paras.91-Paras.94 34.These paragraphs bring the story to a final end.Pay attention to how the end of the story is related with the beginning where his grandfather's last words were regarded as a curse 35.them's years:(ungrammatical)They are years.What the old man meant was thos endless envelopes represented history in general and the years that would go be in the narrator's life in particular. 36.I awoke with od man's aughter in my ears:Earlier the had smiled triumphant into his grandfather's face in the photograph but in the end his grandfather was laughing triumphantly.The ending of the story tells us that it was impossible for the narrator to get rid of the influence of his grandfather's deathbed's words. V.Useful Words and Expression boomerang,be in the cards,detract from,take effect,sensuously,pick up.snatch,extol,sulky, hypnotic,contortion,pertain to,exult,know one's place,have insight into sth
4 Fumble: ( Ame.E) to drop a ball after catching it Paras. 47 - Paras. 90 29. These paragraphs form the last subsection of the whole battle royal incident. In this part the narrator finally got his chance to deliver his well-prepared speech. 30. flaming words of wisdom :闪烁智慧之光的话 31. “Cast down your bucket where you are”: Make full use of what you have and do the best you can. 32. You weren’t being smart ,weren’t you, boy: Here “smart” implies being saucy, impertinent, trying to seem clever in a disrespectful way. 33. My eyes filled with tears and I ran awkwardly off the floor: He was so excited that tears came to his eyes, and embarrassed by this display of emotion, he ran off the floor. Paras.91 - Paras. 94 34. These paragraphs bring the story to a final end. Pay attention to how the end of the story is related with the beginning where his grandfather’s last words were regarded as a curse. 35. them’s years : (ungrammatical) They are years. What the old man meant was those endless envelopes represented history in general and the years that would go be in the narrator’s life in particular. 36. I awoke with old man’s laughter in my ears: Earlier the narrator had smiled triumphant into his grandfather’s face in the photograph, but in the end his grandfather was laughing triumphantly. The ending of the story tells us that it was impossible for the narrator to get rid of the influence of his grandfather’s deathbed’s words. V. Useful Words and Expressions boomerang, be in the cards, detract from, take effect ,sensuously, pick up, snatch, extol, sulky, hypnotic, contortion, pertain to, exult, know one’s place, have insight into sth