A Dill Pickle,Katherine Mansfield,I. Introduction to the author,Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923) born in Wellington, New Zealand, was an outstanding short story writer.,,She once studied at Queens College, London, where she met D. H. Lawrence and John Middleton Murry, a famous critic, whom she later married. After years of ill-health and struggle as a freelance writer and reviewer, she achieved success with Bliss and Other Stories (1920) and The Garden Party (1922).,,Critics praised her for her capturing the essence of Chekhov's art for stories emphasizing atmosphere and actual life rather than exciting plot, and for her “refreshing originality” and “sensitiveness to beauty”. However, just as she won world fame, her health grew worse. She died of tuberculosis in 1923, when she was 35 years old.,II. Theme of the text,This is a story about a young man and a young woman who had been lovers once and who came across six years later after they had separated. As they recall their past, the author artfully points up Vera, the heroine’s sensitivity and the man’s insensitivity to others – their feelings, attitudes and motivations – and the man’s self-involvement.,III. Structure of the text,Part 1 (1-12), coming across of the two people Part 2 (13-22), recalling of Kew Garden Part 3 (23-44), recalling of the trip to Russia Part 4 (45-52), recalling of the man’s childhood Part 5 (53-66), ending of the story,IV. Text comprehension & appreciation,Part 1 (1-12) – comprehension What was the man doing when he met the woman? What was the man’s reaction to the recognition in the women? What can you tell from the words the man spoke when he met the woman? What was the woman wearing? What can you infer about the characteristics of the man and the woman from their speech and behaviors?,,Part 1 (1-12) – appreciation decorated with sth peel an orange opposite The bank is opposite the supermarket. (prep.) Answers are given on the opposite page. (adj.) raise the veil unbutton the collar loathe (infml. not used in progressive = detest) I loathe listening to lectures. The two brothers have loathed each other from an early age.,,Part 1 (1-12) – appreciation (cont’d) shudder (v. / n.) I shuddered at/with the thought of all the trouble I’d caused. I shudder to think what my parents will say when I tell them that I failed the exam. The economy has shuddered to a halt because of the civil war. When I think of what might have happened in the accident, it sends shudders down my spine. exasperate (vt.) [ be annoyed with sth. (suggesting a final and complete breaking down of patience after repeated annoyance) ] He’s becoming increasingly exasperated with the situation.,,Part 2 (13-22) – comprehension Did Vera enjoyed the afternoon at Kew Garden? Why or why not? How do you understand paragraph 15? What does “that” refer to? And what does “his” refer to? From paragraph 21 and paragraph 22, what conclusion can you draw about Vera’s views on the man?,,Part 2 (13-22) – appreciation haunt (vt. / n.) a haunting memory 让人魂牵梦绕的回忆 Thirty years after the fire he is still haunted by images of death and destruction. (被困扰) A ghostly lady is said to haunt the stairway looking for her children. (（鬼魂等）出没) This pub used to be one of my old haunts.(常去的地方) ignorant (adj.) Many teenagers are surprisingly ignorant about current politics. (对某事一无所知) All the time his business was failing, he kept his wife and family in blissful ignorance.(出于关爱而隐瞒真相),Geranium (天竺葵),,Marigold（万寿菊）,,Verbena （美人樱）,,absurd (adj./n.) [stupid or unreasonable; silly in a humorous way] What an absurd idea! Don’t be so absurd! Of course I want you to come. She has a keen sense of the absurd. [things that are stupid or unreasonable] (荒唐的事情) It was only later that she could see the absurdity (n.) of the situation. (荒唐（之处）) [Syn.] ridiculous (adj.) Do I look ridiculous (absurd) in that hat? It’s ridiculous to expect a two-year-old to be able to read! The dresses in the fashion show went from the sublime to the ridiculous. (从天堂掉进地狱；从极好变为极差) Her plans were held up to ridicule.(受到公众嘲讽) You lay yourself open to ridicule wearing clothes like that.(容易招致嘲讽),maniac (n.) [a person who behaves in a uncontrolled way, not worrying about risks or danger] Some maniac was running down the street waving a massive metal bar. (疯子；不知深浅的家伙) maniac (n.) [(informal) a person who has a very strong interest in a particular activity] = fanatic (n.) He is a football maniac.(狂热追随者；球迷) maniac (n.) [(psychology) a person suffering from mania] He is a homicidal maniac.(杀人狂) [Syn.] lunatic (n./adj.) He drives like a lunatic (maniac). a lunatic asylum (疯人院；精神病院) the lunatic fringe (政治极端分子（贬义、嘲讽）),Wasp （黄蜂）,,out of all proportion to sth [not in line with sth] They earn salaries out of all proportion to their ability. The media have blown up the incident out of all proportion. linger (v.) [to take a long time to leave or disappear] Her eyes lingered on/over the diamond ring on her finger. It’s impossible to forget such horrific eve。