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1、Lesson Seven Spring Sowing Liam OFlaherty,About the author Liam OFlaherty is one of the most significant and important modern Anglo-Irish authors. His novels have not been met with much critical analysis over the last forty years because he stopped publishing work in 1956. Both his novels and his sh
2、ort stories define Anglo-Irish literature in that his themes stem from his experiences growing up in a poverty-stricken society on the island of Aran; his naturalistic, mystical, romantic, and realistic styles were also defined by his experiences in his native Ireland.,Liam OFlaherty,Liam OFlaherty
3、was born in Ireland in 1896. He wrote in English and Irish. His main works include the novels: Thy Neighbours Wife The Black Soul The Informer The Assassin Shame the Devil Famine,Liam OFlaherty,Pre-class work Do you know how spring sowing is done against the background of a traditional agricultural
4、country in Ireland? 2. Do you know how spring sowing is done in our country?,About the story: “Spring Sowing” is taken from the authors first collection of short stories which bears the same title published in 1924. The story describes the first day of the first spring planting of a newly-wedded cou
5、ple against the background of a traditional agricultural country.,Detailed Discussion of the Text Para 1 rake out sth: remove ashes from ( a fire, kiln, etc) live coals live: still burning or glowing; not extinct eg: a live spark; a live volcano hearth: the area around a fire place or the area of fl
6、oor in front of it streak: a streak is a long thin mark, line or band of a different substance or color. Here in the text, it refers to the ray of early sunlight which was white against the dark sky. eg: There are streaks of gray appearing in her black hair.,streak (v.): 1) to cover with lines eg: T
7、he woman finished her moving story, our faces were streaked with tears. 2) to move very fast eg: The cat streaked across the road with the dog behind it. (idm.) 1) like a streak of lightning: very quickly 2) a winning/losing streak: refers to the repeated success/failure during a time of good or bad
8、 luck as it were: seemingly; in a way; so to speak ( used to comment on the speakers own choice of words, which may give only an approximate meaning) eg: She seemed very relaxed- in her natural setting as it were.,Para 2 His freckled face and his little fair moustache freckled: covered with small li
9、ght-brown spots on the human skin light in color; blond. Westerners hold the notion that light coloring is desirable. P: The mans fair moustache and freckled face suggest that he I still quite young Her black hair piled at the rear of her head with a large comb gleaming in the middle of the pile, Sp
10、anish fashion. P: her black hair piled into a mass at the back of her head with a comb shining in the middle of the pile,in the way Spanish do. Comb is used here to keep her hair back and for decoration.,Para 3 They ate in silence, sleepy and yet on fire with excitement, for it was the first day of
11、their spring sowing as man and wife. P: They had their breakfast, keeping silent, although still not fully awake, the young couple was already greatly excited, because that day was the first day of their first planting after they got married. on fire: (fig.) burning with emotion, passion or sensatio
12、n; greatly excited; full of ardor; very enthusiastic, excited, or passionate eg: He was on fire with excitement at this marvelous sight. man and wife: husband and wife,open up: (cause sth to) be available for development, production, etc eg: open up undeveloped land, new territory, etc But somehow t
13、he imminence of an event that had been long expected, loved, feared and prepared for made them dejected. P: The couple had been looking forward to and preparing for this spring planting for a long time. But now that the day had finally arrived, strangely, they felt somehow a bit sad. We do not know
14、why the young couple felt that way. Probably the first day of their first spring planting seemed to indicate to them that their honeymoon was over, and now was the time for them to be prepared for the endless toil ahead. the imminence of an event: the fact that sth (usu unpleasant) is now about to t
15、ake place.,“Event” here refers to the spring planting dejected: irritated; in low spirits; depressed; disheartened; sad Para 4 Martin fell over a basket in the half-darkness of the barn, he hwore and said that a man would be better off dead than P: In the barn, it was still very dark as it was very
16、early in the morning. So Martin tripped over a basket. He cursed and said that it would be better for him to die than ( to have to get up at such an early hour and begin the days toil- probably for the rest of his life). be better off (doing sth): be wiser ( to do sth specified ); in a more favorable position or financial circumstances,This phrase is the comparative form of “ well off”. eg: Hed be better off going to the police about it. They would be better off flying than dr
