Zassan Sixtem. The Oyster and the Pearl by William Saroyan
The Oyster and the Pearl by William Saroyan
1.Introduction 2.Text 3.Language points 4.Work on the text 5.Grammar 6.Grammar Exercise
1. Introduction 2. Text 3. Language points 4. Work on the text 5. Grammar 6. Grammar Exercise
Introduction Introduction It is a sentimental little comedy which reveals the playwright's confidence in human goodness and his affection for ordinary people.The pearl in the play serves as a symbol. And it obviously exists not in the oyster,but in the hearts of the children,the children's father,the barber,the writer,and indeed everybody in the play.It refers to the simple virtues of poor laboring people in an out-of-the-way small town which remains relatively untouched by the money-oriented culture
Introduction Introduction It is a sentimental little comedy which reveals the playwright’s confidence in human goodness and his affection for ordinary people. The pearl in the play serves as a symbol. And it obviously exists not in the oyster, but in the hearts of the children, the children’s father, the barber, the writer, and indeed everybody in the play. It refers to the simple virtues of poor laboring people in an out-of-the-way small town which remains relatively untouched by the money-oriented culture. 导言
Introduction However,due to changing social standards,what was an entertaining comedy to an American audience in 1953 would appear oversimplified and somewhat stilted some forty-odd years later.First,by today's standards,the characters are stereotyped:for example,Harry is the generous- hearted,broad-spirited,open-minded,understanding working man,while Miss McCutcheon is just the opposite an"up- tight"school teacher.Both of these portrayals are stock images with a long tradition in American folklore. 导言
However, due to changing social standards, what was an entertaining comedy to an American audience in 1953 would appear oversimplified and somewhat stilted some forty-odd years later. First, by today’s standards, the characters are stereotyped: for example, Harry is the generoushearted, broad-spirited, open-minded, understanding working man, while Miss McCutcheon is just the opposite － an “uptight” school teacher. Both of these portrayals are stock images with a long tradition in American folklore. Introduction 导言
Introduction Second,the play would certainly be considered sexist by serious theater-goers today.As soon as Miss McCutcheon enters,Harry's first words to her are:"Miss America I presume."This is an extremely condescending and presumptuous remark,showing that he feels perfectly free to comment on her looks despite the fact that he has never even met the woman.The judge behaves no differently when he looks her over as if he is judging cattle at a fair("...he takes a good look at her knees,calves,ankles...").There are also frequent references by the men to her being pretty and little else 导言
Second, the play would certainly be considered sexist by serious theater-goers today. As soon as Miss McCutcheon enters, Harry’s first words to her are: “Miss America I presume.” This is an extremely condescending and presumptuous remark, showing that he feels perfectly free to comment on her looks despite the fact that he has never even met the woman. The judge behaves no differently when he looks her over as if he is judging cattle at a fair (“…he takes a good look at her knees, calves, ankles…”). There are also frequent references by the men to her being pretty and little else. Introduction 导言
Introduction Miss McCutcheon is right when she complains that Harry will not take her seriously.He is just toying with her when,for example,he keeps suggesting that she is looking for a husband (when,in fact,he has no evidence that this is the case),or when he refuses to cut her hair,and instead he decides how she should look.He himself makes it quite clear that he doesn't take her seriously when he says that he is "just having a little fun with the new teacher."Actually the fun he is having is not with her but rather at her expense. 导言
Miss McCutcheon is right when she complains that Harry will not take her seriously. He is just toying with her when, for example, he keeps suggesting that she is looking for a husband (when, in fact, he has no evidence that this is the case), or when he refuses to cut her hair, and instead he decides how she should look. He himself makes it quite clear that he doesn’t take her seriously when he says that he is “just having a little fun with the new teacher.” Actually the fun he is having is not with her but rather at her expense. Introduction 导言
Introduction Even the stage directions supplied by the author diminish the character of Miss McCutcheon by referring to her,a grown woman with a responsible job,asa“girl'. Finally,the mood of the play would be considered unrealistically optimistic and overly sentimental by many contemporary literary critics. (The end of the introduction) 导言
Even the stage directions supplied by the author diminish the character of Miss McCutcheon by referring to her, a grown woman with a responsible job, as a “girl”. Finally, the mood of the play would be considered unrealistically optimistic and overly sentimental by many contemporary literary critics. Introduction 导言 (The end of the introduction)
Text TEXT CHARACTERS: HARRY VAN DUSEN,a barber CLA LARRABEE,a boy on Saturday VIVIAN McCUTCHEON,the new schoolteacher CLARK LARRABEE,Clay's father MAN,a writer ROXANNA LARRABEE,Clay's sister GREELEY,Clay's pal JUDGE APPLEGARTH,a beachcomber (1 WOZZECK,a watch repairer
Text 课 文 TEXT CHARACTERS: HARRY VAN DUSEN, a barber CLA LARRABEE, a boy on Saturday VIVIAN McCUTCHEON, the new schoolteacher CLARK LARRABEE, Clay’s father MAN, a writer ROXANNA LARRABEE, Clay’s sister GREELEY, Clay’s pal JUDGE APPLEGARTH, a beachcomber (1) WOZZECK, a watch repairer
Text (SCENE)Harry Van Dusen's barber shop in O.K.-by-the-Sea 2),California,population 909. It's an old-fashioned shop,crowded with stuff not usually found in barber shops..Harry himself,for instance.(3 He has never been known to put on a barber's white jacket or to work without a hat of some sort on his head.(4 On the walls,on the shelves,are many odds and ends (5), some apparently washed up by the sea (6),which is a block down the street:shells,rocks,pieces of driftwood,a life jacket, rope,sea plants.There is one old-fashioned chair. When the play begins,Harry is seated in the chair.A boy of nine or ten named Clay Larrabee is giving him a haircut
Text 课 文 (SCENE) Harry Van Dusen’s barber shop in O.K.-by-the-Sea (2), California, population 909. It’s an old-fashioned shop, crowded with stuff not usually found in barber shops…Harry himself, for instance.(3) He has never been known to put on a barber’s white jacket or to work without a hat of some sort on his head.(4) On the walls, on the shelves, are many odds and ends (5), some apparently washed up by the sea (6), which is a block down the street: shells, rocks, pieces of driftwood, a life jacket, rope, sea plants. There is one old-fashioned chair. When the play begins, Harry is seated in the chair. A boy of nine or ten named Clay Larrabee is giving him a haircut
Text Harry is reading a book,one of many in the shop. CLAY:Well,I did what you told me,Mr.Van Dusen I hope it's all right.I'm no barber:though.(7 You want to look at it in the mirror?(He holds out a small mirror.) HARRY:No thanks.I remember the last one.(8) CLAY:I guess I'll never be a barber. HARRY:Maybe not.On the other hand,you may turn out to be the one man hidden away who will bring merriment to the tired old human heart.9 CLAY:Who?Me?(10) HARRY:Why not?
Text 课 文 Harry is reading a book, one of many in the shop. CLAY: Well, I did what you told me, Mr. Van Dusen. I hope it’s all right. I’m no barber, though.(7) You want to look at it in the mirror?(He holds out a small mirror.) HARRY: No thanks. I remember the last one.(8) CLAY: I guess I’ll never be a barber. HARRY: Maybe not. On the other hand, you may turn out to be the one man hidden away who will bring merriment to the tired old human heart.(9) CLAY: Who? Me?(10) HARRY: Why not?
