Unit 8 Mr.Preble Gets Rid of His Wife By James Thurber Waiter Mitfy
Mr. Preble Gets Rid of His Wife —By James Thurber Unit 8
Additional information about the author James Thurber,one of the outstanding American humorists of the twentieth century,is known for his distinctively funny cartoons and short stories.His concise,witty prose spanned a breadth of genres, including autobiography,fiction,children's fantasy,and modern commentary,and two of his short stories,"The Catbird Seat"and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"are among the best-known classics of American literature
Additional information about the author James Thurber, one of the outstanding American humorists of the twentieth century, is known for his distinctively funny cartoons and short stories. His concise, witty prose spanned a breadth of genres, including autobiography, fiction, children's fantasy, and modern commentary, and two of his short stories, "The Catbird Seat" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" are among the best-known classics of American literature
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"(1939)is a short story by James Thurber.The most famous of Thurber's stories.It first appeared in The New Yorker on March 18,1939,and was first collected in his book My World and Welcome to It (Harcourt,Brace and Company 1942).It has since been reprinted in James Thurber:Writings and Drawings (The Library of America,1996),and is one of the most frequently anthologized short stories in American literature.The story is considered one of Thurber's "acknowledged masterpieces.It was made into a 1947 movie of the same name,with Danny Kaye in the title role,though the movie is very different from the original story. The name Walter Mitty and the derivative word "Mittyesque"have entered the English language,denoting an ineffectual person who spends more time in heroic daydreams than paying attention to the real world,or more seriously,one who intentionally attempts to mislead or convince others that he is something that he is not.In military circles,this usually refers to people who try and fake an impressive career.The story had an influence on other humorists. notably Mad founder Harvey Kurtzman,playwright George Axelrod (who employed Mitty-like fantasies in The Seven Year /tch)
❖ The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (1939) is a short story by James Thurber. The most famous of Thurber's stories. It first appeared in The New Yorker on March 18, 1939, and was first collected in his book My World and Welcome to It (Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1942).It has since been reprinted in James Thurber: Writings and Drawings (The Library of America, 1996), and is one of the most frequently anthologized short stories in American literature. The story is considered one of Thurber's "acknowledged masterpieces“. It was made into a 1947 movie of the same name, with Danny Kaye in the title role, though the movie is very different from the original story. ❖ The name Walter Mitty and the derivative word "Mittyesque" have entered the English language, denoting an ineffectual person who spends more time in heroic daydreams than paying attention to the real world, or more seriously, one who intentionally attempts to mislead or convince others that he is something that he is not. In military circles, this usually refers to people who try and fake an impressive career. The story had an influence on other humorists, notably Mad founder Harvey Kurtzman, playwright George Axelrod (who employed Mitty-like fantasies in The Seven Year Itch)
Detailed Study of the Text A:Questions on the content 1.Why did the stenographer laugh when Mr.Preble said,I don't suppose so'?(Para.7) 2.Why was Mr.Preble unusually silent at dinner one night? 3.Why did Mr.Preble tell his wife the truth that he would like to get rid of her in the cellar? 4.What does he mean when Mr.Preble said. You're never within a mile of what I'm thinking'"?
Detailed Study of the Text 1. Why did the stenographer laugh when Mr. Preble said, ‘I don’t suppose so’? (Para.7) 2.Why was Mr. Preble unusually silent at dinner one night? 3.Why did Mr. Preble tell his wife the truth that he would like to get rid of her in the cellar? 4.What does he mean when Mr. Preble said, “You’re never within a mile of what I’m thinking”? A: Questions on the content
5.What did Mr.Preble mean by saying "Women always expect to pick up a piece of iron anywhere"? 6.How do understand the conversation at the end of the story?(-"All right,"said Mr.Preble."ll hurry,”-“And shut that door behind you!"she screamed after him."Where were you born-in a barn?" 7.What is the author's purpose of telling this story?
5. What did Mr. Preble mean by saying “Women always expect to pick up a piece of iron anywhere”? 6. How do understand the conversation at the end of the story? (- “All right,” said Mr. Preble. “I’ll hurry.” - “And shut that door behind you!” she screamed after him. “Where were you born—in a barn?”) 7. What is the author’s purpose of telling this story?
B.Questions on appreciation 1.What kind of life does Mrs.Preble live? 2.Is the story a tragedy or comedy? 3.What details are given to show that Mr.Preble is a very weak character?; 4.How do you understand the implication in Mrs. Preble's agreeing to go down to the cellar? 5.Why would Mrs.Preble rather be buried in the cellar than get divorced?
B. Questions on appreciation 1. What kind of life does Mrs. Preble live? 2. Is the story a tragedy or comedy? 3. What details are given to show that Mr. Preble is a very weak character?; 4. How do you understand the implication in Mrs. Preble’s agreeing to go down to the cellar? 5. Why would Mrs. Preble rather be buried in the cellar than get divorced?
C.Words and expressions in the text (1) harp on(imfl and derog)to talk about sth repeatedly or continually唠叨 e.g.She continued to harp on the theme of her wasted life beat around the bush:delay talking about the most important part of a subject说话拐弯抹角， e.g.He beat around the bush for a half hour without coming to the point. What did Robert mean by beating around the bush? e.g.A fit of dizziness came over me,so I had to lie down. A great change came over his life他的生活突然发生
C. Words and expressions in the text (1) harp on (imfl and derog) to talk about sth. repeatedly or continually 唠叨 e.g. She continued to harp on the theme of her wasted life. ❖ beat around the bush: delay talking about the most important part of a subject 说话拐弯抹角， e.g. He beat around the bush for a half hour without coming to the point. What did Robert mean by beating around the bush? e.g. A fit of dizziness came over me, so I had to lie down. A great change came over his life.他的生活突然发生 了巨大变化
(sth.)come over sb.(what's come over you?Para.15)(of a sudden strong feeling )to take hold of sb.strongly and strangely. get up sth.:arrange,organize (Para.16) put sb.up to (Para.33)if you put sb.up to sth.wrong or foolish or sth.that they would not normally do,you suggest that they do it and you encourage them to do it used showing disapproval.唆使某人做. e.g.How do you know he asked me out?You put him up to it. The big boy put the little ones up to the mischief in the class. &be in on(informal:take part in,参加，在.中 e.g.She expressed her hope to the effect that she wanted to be in on the committee too
❖ (sth.) come over sb. (what’s come over you? Para.15) (of a sudden strong feeling ) to take hold of sb. strongly and strangely. ❖ get up sth.: arrange, organize （Para.16） ❖ put sb. up to (Para.33) if you put sb. up to sth. wrong or foolish or sth. that they would not normally do, you suggest that they do it and you encourage them to do it, used showing disapproval. 唆使某人做. e.g. How do you know he asked me out? You put him up to it. The big boy put the little ones up to the mischief in the class. ❖ be in on (informal): take part in, 参加， 在.中 e.g. She expressed her hope to the effect that she wanted to be in on the committee too
The racket from outside the window made her unable to sleep,but she didn't know that her son was also in on it. blab:(imfl)tell a secret e.g.Tom blabbed my confidences to everyone,I hate him. Don't confide in him,because he blabs
The racket from outside the window made her unable to sleep, but she didn’t know that her son was also in on it. ❖blab: (imfl) tell a secret e.g. Tom blabbed my confidences to everyone, I hate him. Don't confide in him, because he blabs
D.About the arrangement of plot in the story Plot is the causal arrangement of events and actions within a story.Therefore,when a reader describes the plot of a novel,he should describe both what happens to the characters and the meaning of these events
D. About the arrangement of plot in the story ❖ Plot is the causal arrangement of events and actions within a story. Therefore, when a reader describes the plot of a novel, he should describe both what happens to the characters and the meaning of these events