Spring-SowingSpring-Sowing I. I. I. I. Text AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisThemeThe simple life, honest nature and good wishes of the newly-married couple are presented through the descriptions of their spring planting in minute detail. It reveals the traditional virtues of a typical farmer: hard work, simple living, discipline, and above all, strong sense of responsibility for the happiness of his wife and family. The end of Theme. Text StructurePart 1 (Paras. 1—8):Part 2 (Paras. 9—33):Part 3 (Paras. 34—35):The young couple’s preparations for the first day of their first spring sowingA detailed description of the spring sowing.The young couple’s yearnings for the futureI. I. I. I. Text AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisText Analysis I. I.Text AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisFor the young couple, the first day of their first spring sowing was an extremely important day, because it not only would determine the crop they would harvest in autumn, but also would show what kind of wife and husband they would prove to each other and what kind of family they were going to have.Question: What is the importance of the first spring sowing for the newly-weds?General Analysis 1. What values and moral principles are being idealized here? Is it still the same today? Do you agree that the traditional work ethic (职业道德/伦理) is out of date? Are such qualities as hard work, diligence, thrift, responsibility, discipline, simple and honest living, rugged individualism （顽强的个人主义） and self-reliance, etc. still valued?2. What changes have taken place in social ethics since our grandfathers’ time? Is there anything that remains unchanged?I. I.Text AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisFurther Questions on Appreciation 3. Let’s pretend that you are Martin Delaney or Mary living in the 21st century. What kind of a person would you like to have as your wife or husband? What qualities would you like to find in your spouse? I. I.Text AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisText AnalysisFurther Questions on AppreciationThe end of Text Analysis. Paragraph 1Paragraph 1Paragraph 1Paragraph 1... While Mary raked out the live coals that had lain hidden in the ashes… (Para. 1)to remove (ashes or coals from a fire)had been buried under the ashesburning coals Paragraph 1Paragraph 1Paragraph 1Paragraph 1Live: still burning or glowing; not extinct / dead also: a live spark; a live volcano Pay attention to the different meanings of “live”: a live television / radio program; a live performance a live bomb; live wires as it were: seemingly; in a way; so to speak. Short form of “as if it were so” He was living in a dream world, as it were. He closed his eyes, trying to relive that happy moment, as it were. Paragraph 1Paragraph 1Paragraph 1Paragraph 1scatter: (cause people or animals to) move, usu quickly in different directions; throw sth. in different directions The crowd scattered. We scattered the plates of food around the room before the party. Don’t scatter your money around. 别到处挥霍 scatter sth. with sth.: scatter the fields with seeds (scatter the seeds on the fields) sprinkle: used with water, sand, salt, etc and indicates intentional scattering, usu. over a small area Sprinkle a little salt on the rice … sleepy and bad-humored and yet on fire with excitement, for it was the first day of their first spring sowing as man and wife. (Para. 3)burning with emotion; full of ardorAlthough still not fully awake, the young couple was already greatly excited, because that day was the first day of their first spring planting after they got married. Paragraph 3Paragraph 3Paragraph 3Paragraph 3 on fire a. burning b. (of passion) burning with emotion; greatly excited; full of ardor; very enthusiastic; excited or passionateExamples: The enemy could not but abandon the warship on fire. He was on fire with excitement at this marvelous sight. a. If a place, economy or area of interest opens up, or is opened up, more people will go there or become involved in it.b. to cause sth. to be available for development, production, etc.c. to create a new opportunity or possibility He said he wanted to see how Albania was opening up to the world. to open up undeveloped land, new territory, etc. When you’ve got a qualification like that, so many career opportunities opened up. Chinesea. (使)开放b. 开发，生产c. 提供新的机会、可 能性 open up But somehow the imminence of an event that had been long expected, loved, feared and prepared for made them dejected. (Para. 3)the fact that sth. (usu. unpleasant) is now about to take place 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.irritated; in low spirits; disheartened Mary, with her shrewd woman’s mind, thought of as many things as there are in life as a woman would in the first joy and anxiety of her mating. (Para. 3)Mary, like all sharp and smart women, thought of many things in life when she got married. Martin fell over a basket in the half-darkness of the barn, he swore and said that a man would be better off dead than… (Para. 4) In the barn, it was still very dark as it was very early in the morning. So Martin tripped over a basket. He cursed and said that it would be better off dying than having to get up at such an early hour and begin the day’s toil—probably for the rest of his life. Paragraph 4 Paragraph 4 a. If sb. / sth. falls over, they fall to the ground.b. to fall over sth.: to tumble over He was walking along quite normally and then suddenly fell over. Be careful not to fall over the step on your way in.Chinesea. 跌倒b. 被······绊倒 fall over better off: in a more favorable position or financial circumstances They would be better off flying than driving here. They were not rich, but they were better off than most of their neighbors. be cross with(infml.) to be rather angry I was cross with him for being late. Why is he so cross with you?Chinese 生气 at this rate means “if what is happening now continues to happen for some time” Where has he got to? At this rate we will miss the train. At this rate they will soon overtake 赶上 other countries. And somehow, as they embraced, all their irritation and sleepiness left them. And they stood there embracing until at last Martin pushed her from him with pretended roughness and said: “Come, come, girl, it will be sunset before we begin at this rate.” (Para. 4) However, all of the unhappiness and drowsiness melted away with their hug. They remained in each other’s arms until finally Martin pushed her away, with pretended roughness, to show that he was now the bread-winner of the family and had serious work to do and therefore must stop this sentimental nonsense, otherwise they would not be able to get anything done in the whole day.progressing at this speed … as they walked silently… through the little hamlet, there was not a soul about. (Para. 5) Paragraph 5Paragraph 5Paragraph 5Paragraph 5When they walked silently through the small village, they saw not a single person around them because they were earlier than everybody else.Here it means a person. And they both looked back at the little cluster of cabins that was the center of their world, with throbbing hearts. For the joy of spring had now taken complete hold of them. (Para. 5)Both of them looked back towards their small village, which was the most important place for them. Their hearts were quivering / beating with excitement at that moment, for the coming of spring had already filled their hearts with pleasure.the center of their lifeto gain complete control over sb. take complete hold of to gain complete control or influence over sb.; to have great power over sb.; to overpower sb.Examples: She felt a strange excitement taking hold of her. She was determined not to let the illness take hold again.Take/catch/grab/seize hold of sb. /sth.:抓住、握住、拿住 (控制住) And there was a big red heap of fresh seaweed lying in a corner by the fence to be spread under the seeds as they were laid. (Para. 6)In a corner beside the fence, there was a big pile of fresh seaweed. Before the seeds were dropped on the ridge, the seaweed should be spread first.lay seeds: to put the seeds into the soil When she was a little distance down the ridge, Martin advanced with his spade to the head, eager to commence. (Para. 9)When she was a little away from him, Martin started to move ahead, putting his spade to the front. Now he was eager to start working. Paragraph 9Paragraph 9Paragraph 9Paragraph 9 1. on behalf of : I greet you in the name of the President.2. By the authority of: I arrest you in the name of the law.3. Calling sb. / sth. to witness: In God’s name, what are you doing? / What in the name of God are you doing here? （to express surprise or disbelief.）4. For the sake of: They did it all in the name of friendship. in the name of God by/of the name of: 称作、叫做称作、叫做 He goes by the name of Henry. Someone of the name of Henry wants to see you. under the name of: 用某某作名字，不用自己的真名用某某作名字，不用自己的真名 a. (of a part of the body) unable to feel anything, usually for a short time; not able to feel any emotions or think cheerfully because you are so shocked or frightenedvt. Make sb./sth. numb I had been lying awkwardly and my leg had gone numb. My fingers were so cold that they felt numb. The shock left me numb. Her fingers were numbed with the cold. She was completely numbed by the shock of her father’s death. numb (Para. 11) a.& vt. (esp. passive ) Suppose anybody saw us like this in the field of our spring sowing, what would they take us for but a pair of useless, soft, empty-headed people that would be sure to die of hunger. (Para. 12)If people should see us like this (with your arm round my waist), what would they think of us? They were sure to take us for a pair of good-for-nothings, people who are unable to endure hardships and foolish and, therefore, were sure to die of hunger. Paragraph 12Paragraph 12Paragraph 12Paragraph 12to regard asweak or delicatestupid; silly and ignorant take for to regard as Do not take our silence for approval. I think they took me for Japanese. His eyes had a wild, eager light in them as if some primeval impulse were burning within his brain and driving out every other desire but that of asserting his manhood and of subjugating the earth. (Para. 12)His eyes shone and his only desire now was to prove what a strong man he was and how he could conquer the land.exceptto eliminateto state strongly or behave in such a way as to show sth.primitiveto conquer the earth assert v. Example: assert a fact or belief or innocence 坚定地陈述（state sth. firmly） assert one’s authority/independence 显示权威(make it clear by your behavior that sb. have authority … ) assert one’s right 坚持权利或要求（insist that sb. has the right ） You’re too timid—you must try to assert yourself （彰显自己）more.（speak and act in a forceful way, so that people take notice of you ） She asserted her innocence / that she was innocent. … but she drew back at the same time and gazed distantly at the ground. (Para. 13)to withdrew; to retreatto look at the ground as if she were far removed from（远离）the present situation; to be absorbed in thought She stayed from Martin and deeply absorbed in her thought. Paragraph 13Paragraph 13 … he turned up the first sod with a crunching sound. (Para. 13)… he dug up the first piece of earth with grass and roots with his spade, making a crunching sound.to dig up and turn overcrackling soundturn up: other meanings of the phrase ?Turn out / in / down / on / off etc. Turn sb. off … to drive out the sudden terror that had seized her at that moment when she saw the fierce, hard look in her husband’s eyes that were unconscious of her presence. (Para. 13)… she began to work hard in order to get rid of the terror that suddenly seized her when she saw that her husband had suddenly changed from the loving husband she knew into a fierce-looking farmer who did not seem to be aware that his bride was with him. She became suddenly afraid of that pitiless, cruel earth, the peasant’s slave master, that would keep her chained to hard work and poverty all her life until she would sink again into its bosom. (Para. 13)she would be bound tomercilessto die and be buried in the earthShe became afraid of the earth because it was going to force her to work like a slave and force her to struggle against poverty all her life until she died and was buried in it. be chained to to be bound to; to have your freedom restricted because of a responsibility you can not escape 拴住 Too many women nowadays feel chained to the kitchen sink. My brother was chained to my sick mother for more than 30 years. (old use) to prepare land for raising crops as by plowing and fertilizing; to cultivatefrom now on The love they had for each other did not last long. Their romance was now replaced by their necessity to face the hard work. From then on, she was merely her husband’s helper and had to work side by side with him. Her short-lived love was gone. Henceforth she was only her husband’s helper to till the earth. (Para. 13) And Martin, absolutely without thought, worked furiously… (Para. 13)Martin on the other hand had no time to waste on idle thoughts. He just concentrated on his work and worked with great energy. be dotted with to have things or people spread here and there over a wide area 点缀着 The sky was dotted with stars. The countryside is dotted with beautiful ancient churches. Paragraph 14Paragraph 14Paragraph 14Paragraph 14 There was … a sharpness in the still thin air that made the men jump on their spade halts ferociously and beat the sods as if they were living enemies. (Para. 14) The chilly and biting air of early spring made the peasants work fiercely with their spades, beating the sods as if they were enemies.furiously; fiercelythe top part of the spade blade which you press with your foot Birds hopped silently before the spades, with their heads cocked sideways, watching for worms. Made brave by hunger, they often dashed under the spades to secure their food. (Para. 14)Birds hopped here and there around the working peasants, turning their heads to one side in order to look for worms. The desire for food was so strong that they even dared to dash under the spades to get their food.to get secure: to get hold or possession of; to obtain after a lot of effort With a tremendous effort, she managed to secure a ticket for me. Graham’s qualifications would no doubt help secure him a job. cock sideways: to tilt （倾斜）or turn (said of the head or ear) to one side He paused and cocked his head as if listening.Tom thought for a moment, his head cocking to one side. “Yes, isn’t it lovely,” said Mary, looking at the black ridges wistfully. (Para. 17)Mary was sad that this was going to be her life from now on, toiling and sweating over the land until the day she died. But on the other hand what they had done that day also made her proud and hopeful. Paragraph 17Paragraph 17Paragraph 17Paragraph 17 The hurried trip to the village and the trouble of getting the tea ready had robbed her of her appetite. (Para. 17)to deprive sb. of sth. belonging to that person by an unjust procedure Those cats robbed me of my sleep. It overpowered that other feeling of dread that had been with her during the morning. (Para. 17)The feeling of joy drove away the feeling of terror that she had had in the morning. overpower vt.Be too strong or powerful for sb; defeat sb. by greater strength or numbers 制服、战胜、压倒，使无法忍受She was completely overpowered by the two men who attacked him.They were overpowered by grief when their son died.nHe was overpowered by the heat/guilt and shame. adj overpowering 压倒性的，无法抵抗的 overwhelm: be overwhelmed with grief / sorrow /despair …; be overwhelmed by the enemy be overcome with grief / fear / laughter … Martin ate heartily, reveling in his great thirst and his great hunger, with every pore of his body open to the pure air. (Para. 18) The heavy work made Martin thirsty and hungry and made him enjoy his lunch and tea more.to take much pleasure in Paragraph 18Paragraph 18with a good appetite a. to take great pleasure or delight in (revel in (doing) sth.)b. (literary or humorous) to dance, drink, sing, etc., at a party or in public, esp. in a noisy wayExamples: After the long hot summer we reveled in the rainstorm. They reveled all day and all night after their exams. revel v. That was the signal for a general rising all along the little valley. (Para. 19)The noise was the signal for all peasants to stand up and start working again. Paragraph 19Paragraph 19Paragraph 19Paragraph 19 The strong smell of the upturned earth acted like a drug on their nerves. (Para. 20)The newly upturned earth sent out a strong smell that seemed to be able to take the tiredness away from people’s body and mind. Paragraph 20Paragraph 20Paragraph 20Paragraph 20 Para. 21 - 30Para. 21 - 30•Was the grandfather satisfied enough with what the couple did? Why or why not ?•What did the author focus on when describing the grandfather?•Any other information have you got from reading this part? Then she thought of the journey home and the trouble of feeding the pigs, putting the fowls into their coops and getting the supper ready, and a momentary flash of rebellion against the slavery of being a peasant’s wife crossed her mind. It passed in a moment. (Para. 32)When she thought of all the drudgery waiting for her at home, suddenly she wanted to break the chains on her as a peasant’s wife, but it only last a very short time. She immediately dismissed the idea.transitory; passinga sudden, brief and intense display of sth. Paragraph 32Paragraph 32Paragraph 32Paragraph 32 a flash of sth. a sudden, brief and intense display of sth.; sudden show of wit, understanding, etc.Examples: The essays could do with (to express a need or desire for sth.) a flash of wit or humor. a flash of inspiration, intuition, etc. a flash of lightening cross one’s mind (of thoughts, etc.) to come into one’s mind; to suddenly occur to oneExamples: It never crossed my mind that she might be lost. It never crossed my mind that they would turn the proposal down. All her satisfaction and weariness vanish from Mary’s mind with the delicious feeling of comfort that overcame her at having done this work with her husband. (Para. 34)At the moment when she had done this work with her husband, the feeling of comfort fought against all her previous feelings of dissatisfaction and weariness and took control / hold. Paragraph 34Paragraph 34Paragraph 34Paragraph 34 Cows were lowing at a distance. (Para. 35)to make the characteristic moo sound of a cow Paragraph 35Paragraph 35Paragraph 35Paragraph 35 Group Work•Task 1: Find out the following description in the text•1. Appearance (including clothing) •2. Animals & onomatopoeia：•3. Labor (action) (2 groups)•4. Weather (environment)：•5. Field•6. Sentiments (also tell when and why there are such changes) (2 groups)•Task 2: Analyze the two characters Discussion: •Discover the relationship between Martin and Mary and the land：•How do Martin and Mary love each other?•How does Martin show his love for Mary?•What is his attitude to the land?•How does Mary show her love for Martin?•What is her attitude to the land?And Exercise 2 on Page 45 Questions on Text B•Questions•How do you understand the title of the text? What do you think are the similarities and differences between the father the earth poet and the other poets? •What kind of beauty did the father find in his life? Cite some examples.•Was the author influenced a lot by his father? Did he enjoy the beauty around him? Find some evidence to support your idea.•Could many people really understand the father? What did they think of him?•Did those who really knew my father ever feel sorry for him? Why or why not? Writing DeviceWriting DeviceWriting DeviceWriting DeviceOnomatopoeia（拟声法）（拟声法）The use of words that by their sound suggest their meaning.Some onomatopoetic words are “hiss”, “buzz”, “whirr”, “sizzle”, “crack”. However, onomatopoeia in the hands of a poet or a writer becomes a much more subtle device than simply the use of such words.More examples To be continued on the next page.Definition Writing DeviceWriting DeviceWriting DeviceWriting DeviceTo be continued on the next page.Outside, cocks were crowing and a white streak was rising from the ground. (Para. 1)… he turned up the first sod with a crunching sound as the grass roots were dragged out of the earth. (Para. 13)She was just munching her bread and butter. (Para. 17) The rasping noise carried a long way in the silence. (Para. 19)Cows were lowing at a distance. (Para. 26)More examples 结束结束 。