复旦大学：《英美短篇小说 British and American Short Stories》教学课件（PPT）A Ghost Story

A Ghost Story Mark twain

A Ghost Story Mark Twain

Plot o Part 1: paragraph 1-10 o Creating a horrifying atmosphere o The bed clothes slipped away-a heavy footstep-huge footprint-a series of noises-pallid faces and white uplifted hands floating bodiless in the air-a huge, cloudy resence

Plot ⚫ Part 1: paragraph 1-10 ⚫ Creating a horrifying atmosphere ⚫ The bed clothes slipped away-a heavy footstep-huge footprint-a series of noises-pallid faces and white uplifted hands floating bodiless in the air-a huge,cloudy presence

Plot o Part 2: paragraph 11-13 Conversation between the ghost of cardiff giant and p? o The ghost of the Cardiff Giant demanded that he be reburied The ghost was so confused that he haunted Barnum's plaster copy of himself

Plot ⚫ Part 2: paragraph 11-13 Conversation between the ghost of Cardiff Giant and “I” ⚫ The ghost of the Cardiff Giant demanded that he be reburied. The ghost was so confused that he haunted Barnum’s plaster copy of himself

The Cardiff giant o One of the most famous hoaxes in United States history A 10-foot (3.0 m)tall purported petrified man'' uncovered on October 16. 1869 )

The Cardiff Giant ⚫ One of the most famous hoaxes in United States history ⚫ A 10-foot (3.0 m)tall purported “petrified man” uncovered on October 16, 1869

o Point of view: First-person narrative o Tone: shift from timorous to accusing ●Mood: tension; anger o Theme: To criticize the ridiculousness of the fake duplication; voice sympathy for the general public that has been fooled by the fraud

Analysis ⚫ Point of view: First-person narrative ⚫ Tone: shift from timorous to accusing ⚫ Mood: tension; anger ⚫ Theme: To criticize the ridiculousness of the fake duplication; voice sympathy for the general public that has been fooled by the fraud

Character. The ghost ● Benignant, friendly o When the narrator accused bim of wrecking all the furniture, he answered with tears coming into his eyes. And when the narrator revealed the truth to him, he expressed an eloquent Look of shame. This forms a sharp contrast to what we think a ghost should be like, especially after all the foreshadowing of scary haunting. It can be interpreted as iron that even the ghost could feel ashamed of

Character: The Ghost ⚫ Benignant, friendly ⚫ When the narrator accused him of wrecking all the furniture, he answered with tears coming into his eyes. And when the narrator revealed the truth to him, he expressed an eloquent look of shame. This forms a sharp contrast to what we think a ghost should be like, especially after all the foreshadowing of scary haunting. It can be interpreted as irony that even the ghost could feel ashamed of himself

Language: Auditory Description For the Celtic peoples, the Nem Year was celebrated on November 1"of erery year: This date marked the end of Summer and the beginning of winter. I heard the muffled slamming of doors I heard, at intervals, stealthy footsteps creeping in and out among the corridors, and up and domn the stairs I heard the clanking of ch Ty, in remote ge5.. I heard muttered sentences, half-uttered screams that seemed smothered violently; and the swish of invisible parmen Its, the rush of invisible wings I heard sighs and breathings about my bed, and mysterious whisperings

For the Celtic peoples, the New Year was celebrated on November 1st of every year. This date marked the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter. Language: Auditory Description …I heard the muffled slamming of doors… …I heard, at intervals, stealthy footsteps creeping in and out among the corridors, and up and down the stairs… …I heard the clanking of chains faintly, in remote passages… …I heard muttered sentences; half-uttered screams that seemed smothered violently; and the swish of invisible garments, the rush of invisible wings… …I heard sighs and breathings about my bed, and mysterious whisperings

Language: Auditory Description For the Celtic peoples, the Nem Year was celebrated on November 1"of erery year: This date marked the end of Summer and the beginning of winter. Unlike most of his works that are featured with colloquial speech, this novel does not contain much vernacular. Howerer, Mark Tain also disp lays his excellent skill in describing different kinds of sound. Words like rustle, And phrases like“ the swish of inisible garmen下 swish, rattle, clanking are illustrations of onomatopoe rush of invisible ings vividly reveal to us the p sychological fear the narrator experienced as he couldnt but let his imagination go mild

Unlike most of his works that are featured with colloquial speech, this novel does not contain much vernacular. However, Mark Twain also displays his excellent skill in describing different kinds of sound. Words like rustle, swish, rattle, clanking are illustrations of onomatopoeia. And phrases like “the swish of invisible garments, the rush of invisible wings” vividly reveal to us the psychological fear the narrator experienced as he couldn’t but let his imagination go wild. For the Celtic peoples, the New Year was celebrated on November 1st of every year. This date marked the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter. Language: Auditory Description

Language: Synonym For the Celtic peoples, the Nem Year was celebrated on November 1"of erery year: This date marked the end of Summer and the beginning of winter. And as my reverie softened down to a sadder and sadder pathos, the shrieking of the winds outside softened to a ail, the angry beating of the rain against the panes diminished to a tranquil patter, and one by one the noises in the street subsided, until the burrying footsteps of the last belated straggler died anay in the distance and left no sound bebind

For the Celtic peoples, the New Year was celebrated on November 1st of every year. This date marked the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter. Language: Synonym And as my reverie softened down to a sadder and sadder pathos, the shrieking of the winds outside softened to a wail, the angry beating of the rain against the panes diminished to a tranquil patter, and one by one the noises in the street subsided, until the hurrying footsteps of the last belated straggler died away in the distance and left no sound behind

T 6上mm I beard his stately tramp die anay, step by step down the stairs and out into the deserted street, and fell sorry that he nas gone, poor fellon- and sorrier still that he had carried off my red blanket and my bath-tub With the dying away of his stately tramp, the ghost vanished into the deserted street. It is left to the readers imagination where he would go. I think this ending symbolizes that although the fraud will be gradually forgotten by history, it remains a humiliation

“I heard his stately tramp die away, step by step down the stairs and out into the deserted street, and felt sorry that he was gone, poor fellow—and sorrier still that he had carried off my red blanket and my bath-tub.” The Ending With the dying away of his stately tramp, the ghost vanished into the deserted street. It is left to the readers’ imagination where he would go. I think this ending symbolizes that although the fraud will be gradually forgotten by history, it remains a humiliation