复旦大学：《英美短篇小说 British and American Short Stories》教学课件（PPT）Graham Greene, “The Destructors”

The destructors Graham Greene

The Destructors Graham Greene

ma Henry graham greene, (2 October 1904-3 April 1991) was an English author laywright and literary critic His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world

• Henry Graham Greene, (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world

Graham Greene(1904-199 1)was one of the 20th century's most versatile story tellers in English literature. This year marks the centenary of his birth, as well as the 50th anniversary of his short story The destructors When i read this short story for the first time, I was rather surprised and tickled by its haunting, allegorical sweep with the decline of the post-independent Sri lankan state in a miniaturized version

• Graham Greene (1904-1991) was one of the 20th century’s most versatile story tellers in English literature. This year marks the centenary of his birth, as well as the 50th anniversary of his short story ‘The Destructors.’ When I read this short story for the first time, I was rather surprised and tickled by its haunting, allegorical sweep with the decline of the post-independent Sri Lankan state in a miniaturized version

Greene suffered from bipolar disorder which had a profound effect on his writing and personal life. In a letter to his wife Vivien he told her that he had a character profoundly antagonistic to ordinary domestic life, and that "unfortunately, the disease is also one s material". william Golding described Greene as " the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man 's consciousness and anxiety

• Greene suffered from bipolar disorder, which had a profound effect on his writing and personal life. In a letter to his wife Vivien, he told her that he had "a character profoundly antagonistic to ordinary domestic life", and that "unfortunately, the disease is also one's material". William Golding described Greene as "the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety

The destructors The Destructors" is a 1954 short story about teenagers who destroy a house The story is ironicshowing how destruction is allegedly a form ofcreation The story is set in the mid-1950s, and is about a boys gang named the"Wormsley Common Gang", after the place where they live. Trevor, or T., the protagonist, devises a plan to destroy a beautiful two hundred-year-old house that survived the blitz

The Destructors • "The Destructors" is a 1954 short story about teenagers who destroy a house. The story is ironic—showing how destruction is allegedly a form of creation. • The story is set in the mid-1950s, and is about a boys' gang named the "Wormsley Common Gang", after the place where they live. Trevor, or "T.", the protagonist, devises a plan to destroy a beautiful two hundred-year-old house that survived The Blitz

Under T, their new leader, the gang accepts the plan and executes it when the owner of the house. Mr Thomas(whom the gang callOld Misery"), is away during a bank holiday weekend Their plan is to destroy the house from inside then tear down the remaining outer structure. Mr. Thomas returns home and leader. T. refuses to stop until the destruction J0 o early however, and the gang locks him in the outhouse is complete, because even the facade is valuable and could be reused. Inside, they find a mattress filled with money-but they burn it nonetheless. The final damage to the house is done when a parked lorry pulls away a support pole from the side of the house. Mr. Thomas is released from the outhouse by the aforementioned lorry's driver and after being laughed at is left with the dusty rubble of what once was his home

• Under T., their new leader, the gang accepts the plan and executes it when the owner of the house, Mr. Thomas (whom the gang call "Old Misery"), is away during a bank holiday weekend. Their plan is to destroy the house from inside, then tear down the remaining outer structure. Mr. Thomas returns home early, however, and the gang locks him in the outhouse and leader, T., refuses to stop until the destruction job is complete, because even the facade is valuable and could be reused. Inside, they find a mattress filled with money—but they burn it nonetheless. The final damage to the house is done when a parked lorry pulls away a support pole from the side of the house. Mr. Thomas is released from the outhouse by the aforementioned lorry's driver and after being laughed at is left with the dusty rubble of what once was his home

In this short story, Greene profiles the activity of a street gang named the Wormsley Common Gang It has a leader called blackie. Then Greene presents another member of the gang, Trevor(abbreviated as t in the story) who presents a fresh approach to criminal looting The target of Ts vandalism is Mr Thomass dilapidated house. 'Old Misery is the nickname given by the gang to Mr Thomas

• In this short story, Greene profiles the activity of a street gang named the ‘Wormsley Common Gang.’ It has a leader called Blackie. Then, Greene presents another member of the gang, Trevor (abbreviated as T in the story), who presents a fresh approach to criminal looting. The target of T’s vandalism is Mr.Thomas’s dilapidated house. ‘Old Misery’ is the nickname given by the gang to Mr.Thomas

Television adaptation The destructors"was adapted for television as part of the 1970s British drama series shades of greene. t starred Michael byrne, Phil daniels and nicholas Drake

Television adaptation • "The Destructors" was adapted for television as part of the 1970s British drama series Shades of Greene. It starred Michael Byrne, Phil Daniels and Nicholas Drake

Questions for discussion and writing(1) How does Trevors plan help focus the plot of the story? In what manner does Trevor resolve the complication caused by Mr. Thomas's early return?

Questions for discussion and writing (1) • How does Trevor’s plan help focus the plot of the story? In what manner does Trevor resolve the complication caused by Mr. Thomas’s early return?

Questions for discussion and writing(2) How is trevor characterized in the second paragraph of the story? How does his description of his tour of Mr. Thomass house add to that characterization? What qualities does he possess that inspire the gang to accept his leadership?

Questions for discussion and writing (2) • How is Trevor characterized in the second paragraph of the story? How does his description of his tour of Mr. Thomas’s house add to that characterization? What qualities does he possess that inspire the gang to accept his leadership?