My Father‘s Shadow

• Based on the title, guess what the text is about.

• Shadow: 1. the dark shape that someone or something makes on a surface when they are between that surface and the light

• 2.the bad effect or influence that something has, which makes other things seem less enjoyable, attractive, or impressive

• The events of September 11th cast a shadow over the celebrations.

• Kate grew up in the shadow of her film star sister.

• Sb.'s shadow someone who follows someone else everywhere they go

• She looked pale, with deep shadows under her eyes. eye shadow

• Shadow Chancellor/Foreign Secretary etc Shadow Cabinet

• shadow boxing

motto

• There is no friendship, no love, like that of the parent for the child.

• — Henry Ward Beecher

• If you have never been hated by your child, you have never been a parent.

• — Bette Davis

Father’s love• 父爱如山，高大而巍峨

，让我望而生怯不敢攀登；父爱如天，粗旷而深远，让我仰而心怜不敢长啸；父爱如河，细长而源源，让我淌不敢涉足。父爱是深邃的、伟大的、纯洁而不可回报的，然而父爱又是苦涩的，难懂的、忧郁而不可企及的。

Father’s love

• 全国 60% 的强奸犯、 72% 的少年凶杀犯、 70% 的长期服役的犯人来自无父家庭。 90% 的无家可归和离家出走的孩子来自无父家庭。戒毒中心有 75% 的青少年患者来自无父家庭。 80%的强奸犯的动机来源于无父家庭转移的愤怒。

• 父亲的品格丰富了儿子的生命，而儿子的品格则是父亲生命的延续 .

• 缺乏父爱的男孩更容易成长为危险男人

• 父亲影响孩子的人生指向

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http://space.taobao.com/0f339e1c021cb1cb6f287d9098e57506/show_blog-9468385.htm

• 他戴着黑布小帽，穿著黑布大马褂，深青布棉袍，蹒跚地走到铁道边，慢慢探身下去，尚不大难。可是他穿过铁道，要爬上那边月台，就不容易了。他用两手攀着上面，两脚再向上缩；他肥胖的身子向左微倾，显出努力的样子……

Pre-reading questions

• 1.Do you believe in generation gap? Why or why not?

• What do you do when you disagree with your parents? What do you think is the right attitude towards your disagreement?

• 2.How do you describe your relationship with your parents?

• 3. Have you ever done anything that hurt your parents? Or have they hurt you in some way?

• 4. Whom do you go to for help when you are in trouble, your father or your mother? Why ？

• a father’s role• 1.Determine to live as a positive

influence on others.• 2.Encourage the children to read and

nurture their dreams.• 3.Volunteer to help organizations

(lacking male leaders).• 4.Expose the children to males who

are doing right things.• 5.Mentor children, besides your own.• 6.Be the spiritual leader in your home.

Sledge, Linda Ching 程美兰

• Empire of Heaven. (with Gary Allen Sledge) New York: Bantam Books, c1990. 《太平残梦》 / 《天堂帝国》

• A Map of Paradise: A Novel of Nineteen-Century Hawaii. New York: Bantam Books, 1997. 《天国地图》 / 《天堂地图》

• Sledge is married to Gary Allen Sledge, managing editor of Reader’s Digest. Linda’s earlier book, Empire of Heaven, inspired by the family’s journey from China to Hawaii, won the Washington Irving Award and was praised by the New York Times as “a Chinese Gone With the Wind.”

• As for her latest novel, A Map to Paradise, C.Y. Lee, author of Flower Drum Song, called it “a fascinating novel about the early days in Hawaii,” adding, “I could not put it down.” And Alex Haley, who knows about “Roots,” called it an “exceedingly powerful, sensitive drama.”

• The story “My Father’s Shadow” is a typical narrative with some flashbacks at the beginning. It centers on the development of the author’s intimacy with her father in a series of events — her childhood memories, her education, her marriage, and her trip home, etc.

• The story reaches the climax when the daughter sees her father feeding his grandson at midnight while humming the same song he had hummed when she was a little girl. The happy ending echoes the title by describing her son as “a different bouncing shadow.”

• Together, the selected events along with the vivid physical and emotional description expressed the theme of the story — the importance of kinship and understanding in bridging the generation gap.

Text analysis

Through descriptions, flashbacks, and the author’s comments, the text recalls how the author’s newborn baby bridges the gap between her father and herself.

Structural analysis

• Paragraph 1 background information: the author’s

relationship with her father and her feeling about her return to Hawaii.

• Paragraph 2-4• flashback: the clashes between the

author and her father.

• Paragraphs 5 – 6 transition: the author’s recall of her

father’s affection for her in her childhood and her uncertainty about the forthcoming reunion.

• Paragraphs 7 – 13

• the reunion: the initial uncertain moment, the father’s affection for his grandchild, and ease of the tension between the father and the daughter.

• Paragraphs 14 – 15• conclusion: the ending of the story

about how family ties work in removal of disagreement between family members.

Para 1 • mission1) an important piece of work that

a person or group of people has to do, especially one that involves travel

• Our boss leaves for a trade mission to Japan.

• A mission of joy: our trip which should have been joyful

• 2) a flight into space carry out / conduct / go on / undertake a

mission

Apprehension: worry, anxiety about the future

The students looked around the examination room with apprehension.

• Apprehensive adj.Though they are apprehensive about

the prospect, they have not shown it.

stern: serious, strict, harshDon’t get too stern with your children.“Wait!” I shouted in my sternest voice.Her grandfather was a stern man who

rarely smiled.

• a stern teacher , stern discipline

• be stern with

• Sternlyad. He said sternly and coldly: “Do you

understand me?”

• manner: formal the way in which something is done or happensI had hoped you would behave in a more responsible manner.The issue will be resolved in a manner that is fair to both sides.

• typical of: having the usual features or qualities of a particular group or thing,

• It’s typical of Craig not to notice my new dress.This painting is fairly typical of his early work. 这幅画是他早期作品相当典型的代表作 .

• It is typical of him to take hard jobs .

• demands(plural): the difficult, annoying, or tiring things that you need to do, or a skill you need to haveThe curriculum makes great demands on the teacher.There are heavy demands on people’s time these days.

• and though we were very much alike, we’d also grown very far apart:

• Even though we had a lot in common, we were also greatly different in some respects.

Part 2-4 flashbackHold sb./sth. up…as a(n) model/example

His son was held up as a model of hard work.

• Hold up: (1)to rob a place by violence

(2) to remain strong (3) to support sth. And prevent it from falling (4) to delay sth./ sb.(often passive)

• feminine: having qualities that are considered to be typical of women, especially by being gentle, delicate, and prettyHairstyles this autumn are long, soft and very feminine.How can I persuade my tomboy daughter to wear feminine clothes?

• Nowadays many women rejected the old feminine roles of wife and mother.

• feminism : the belief that women should have equal rights as men

• feminist : someone who supports the idea that women should …

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• gregarious adj. seeking and enjoying the companionship of others

• Some of the animals are highly gregarious.

• gregariousness n.• But she was gregarious and social:

But she enjoyed meeting people and talking to them.

• 尽管与人交往时，史密斯希望自己能够得心应手，但他知道这不仅要品味孤独，还需要长期经历孤独。

• Smith hopes that he can be sociable and gregarious when he wants to, which he knows requires him to not only savor solitude but also experience long periods of solitude.

• press: to try hard to persuade someone to do something, especially by asking them many timesBoth leaders are being pressed to agree quickly on the new treaty.I felt that if I had pressed him he would have lent me the money.The manufacturers are pressing the government for action.

• Mingle: to go about among, ~ with

• 1) 许多情感都交织在一起。• A lot of emotions all mingled together.

• 2) 她既兴奋又害怕。• She felt fear mingled with excitement.

follow in someone’s footsteps: to follow an example set by sb.

模仿某人 , 步某人后尘Most of the children are reluctant to

follow in their father’s footsteps.

enroll: enter or register in a list, record; to enter one’s name on a list as commitment to membership

enroll sb. in…/ Sb. enroll in…He enrolled in a business school.It takes time for parents to decide which

school to enroll their children in.enrollment in a computer course

marry into: by marriage to become a member of…

Her mother let her receive good education, hoping that she could marry into the purple one day.

• marry sb.• get married• marry money• marry sb. to sb.

as…as… as : prep. & adv. as good as, as a result conj. as usual , so as to do, as if

as + 形容词或副词原级 + as  1 ）在否定句或疑问句中可用 so… as 。

He cannot run so/as fast as you. 2 ）当 as… as 中间有名词时采用以下格式。

　　　 as + 形容词 + a + 单数名词　　　 as + many/much + 名词This is as good an example as the other is.

I can carry as much paper as you can..

• as bald as a coot 头发脱光的 • as blind as a bat 有眼无珠 • as blind as an owl 瞎透了 • as bold as brass 厚颜无耻 • as busy as a bee 极忙碌 • as clear as a bell 健全的 • as clear as day 一清二楚的 • as cool as a cucumber 极为冷静的• as easy as a pie 极容易 • as fussy as a hen with one chick • as hard as the millstone 铁石心肠

• as lively as a cricket 极活泼 • as mad as a wet hen 非常生气 • as mild as a dove 非常温和 • as plain as the nose in your face 一清二楚 • as poor as a church mouse 赤贫的• as proud as a peacock 极骄傲 • as strong as a horse 健壮如牛 • as stupid as an owl 极愚蠢• as thin as a wafer 极薄 • as true as steel 绝对可靠

bullheaded: obstinate, impetuous, blundering

Don’t be bullheaded; see a doctor.

• bull-headedly adv.

• bull-headedness n.

• bullheaded, obstinate, stubborn, headstrong and stiff-necked

• Bullheaded: suggests foolish or irrational obstinacy, and pigheaded, stupid obstinacy.

• Obstinate: implies unreasonable rigidity. • Stubborn: pertains to innate, often perverse

resoluteness or unyieldingness.• Headstrong: emphasizes the fact that

someone is very determined to do what he or she wants, even when other people advise not to do it.

• Stiff-necked: implies stubbornness combined with arrogance or aloofness.

• Caucasian: a member of the race of people with white or pale skin

announce: to make known publicly, to tell the public about a decision that has been made

a wedding announcement公主宣布她将要与那位商人结婚。The princess announced that she was going

to marry that businessman.微机芯片的发明标志着计算机进入一个新的时代The invention of the microchip announced a

new generation of computers.

subsequent: following or happening after

resonate with: to be full of a particular meaning

disapproval: disagreementShe made no secret of her disapproval

of what we had done.She shook her head in disapproval.They eyed her with disapproval.

Estrangement n. estranged adj.estrange v. （常与 from连用）使疏远His behavior estranged him from his

brother.• estrange sb. from his friends• 使某人跟朋友们疏远• estrange oneself from sb.跟某人疏远• 夫妻二人都有疏远感，但他们现在不谈分居。 The husband and wife both felt the

estrangement between them, but there was no talk of separation at the moment.

• and I felt an unexpected tidal pull back to the island: All of a sudden, I felt a very strong desire to go back to the island.

Part 3flood: (1) An overflowing of water onto land that

is normally dry.泛滥； The river flooded the valley. 河水淹没了河谷。(2) to arrive in large numbers Strawberries flooded the market and prices

dropped. The corridors are flooded with girls. flood the market with cheap foreign goods 市场上充斥着廉价的外国货

• From there, I could see forever: From my father’s shoulders, I could see something ever-lasting — the nature and my father’s love for me.

• I laughed, taking his devotion as my due:

I laughed and took his devotion as what I was entitled to.

take sth. as one’s due: take sth. for granted

• due: Something owed or deserved: 应得的东西

You finally received your due.

你终于得到了你应得的 .

You are my sunshine

• The other night, dear, As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken And I hung my head and cried.

• You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

• I'll always love youAnd make you happyIf you will only say the sameBut if you leave meTo love anotherYou'll regret it all some day;

• You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

• You told me once, dearYou really loved meAnd no one else could come betweenBut now you've left meAnd love anotherYou have shattered all my dreams;

• You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

• I laughed, taking his devotion as my due:

I laughed and took his devotion as what I was entitled to.

take sth. as one’s due: take sth. for granted

• due: Something owed or deserved: 应得的东西

You finally received your due. 你终于得到了你应得的 .

• the prodigal son or daughter: someone who leaves their family and home without the approval of their family, but who is sorry later and returns.

• The parable( a short simple story) of the prodigal son conveys at a conscious level a message about the need for forgiveness and acceptance.

• The passage, very moral in tone throughout, is a reworking of the theme of the return of the prodigal son.

Hazel-eyed

• (a) breach: an opening or hole made in a wall, a break in friendly relations; an action that breaks a law, rule, or agreement.

• He has insisted that to name them publicly would be a breach of confidence.

• The Nanjing Massacre caused an irreparable breach between China and Japan.

• What had caused the sudden breach between Henry and his son?

Part 4

• peer at/through/into: look very carefully at something, especially because you are having difficulty seeing it; to look intently, searchingly, or with difficulty

• She adjusted her glasses and peered at the man.

• He was peering through the wet windscreen at the cars ahead.Philippa peered into the darkness.

• to be partially visible; show

• The moon peered from behind dark clouds.

• peer over

• your own flesh and blood: someone who is part of your familyHow can he treat his own flesh and blood that way?He raised those kids like they were his own flesh and blood.

• flesh and blood 血肉至亲• down and out 穷困潦倒• free and easy 随和• hard and fast 不能改变的• simple and easy 简易明了• hot and bothered 激动，担忧• clear and bright 清楚明了• bright and early 一大早• pure and simple 十足 • far and near 四面八方

crib

tuck: 1) to put in a safe place Tuck that money into the top of your

sock for safekeeping.

2) a place hidden behind sth. else Tucked down the alley are some

beautiful timber-framed houses.

• Fretful: anxious and complaining, and unable to relax

• The child was tired and fretful.

• —fretfully adverb

• —fretfulness noun [uncountable]

• Wail: 1.to say something in a loud, sad, and complaining way:

• 'But what shall I do?' Bernard wailed.• 2. to cry out with a long high sound,

especially because you are very sad or in pain:

• Somewhere behind them a child began to wail.

• the Wailing Wall a high stone wall in Jerusalem where Jews go to pray. It is the only remaining part of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem, which was destroyed in AD70.

哭墙

• 旅行到以色列，人们来到耶路撒冷的旧城，首先要去看的便是圣殿遗址的哭墙。“哭墙”（Wailing Wall 又称“西墙”（Western Wall ），是由圣殿山的回教圆顶岩石寺走下来，在山西边残留下来的一片石墙。是一段高约五十码，宽约六十码的巨墙。此为原以色列人圣殿仅余的残址，是犹太人世界中最神圣的地方，是海外犹太人回到以色列朝圣必须朝觐的圣地。她也是以色列历史的见证，是达味王朝国魂的象征。

• Gurgle ： if water gurgles, it flows along gently with a pleasant low sound /burble

• We could hear the stream gurgling down in the valley.

• if a baby gurgles, it makes a happy low sound in its throat

I tiptoed down the hall.

tiptoe: to walk on tiptoe to avoid making any noise

I tiptoed past the sleeping child.

• Gleeful: very excited and satisfied

• Cheerful

• in a good mood

• delighted/thrilled/overjoyed/ecstatic

• optimistic/positive

• contentedhappy with your life

• Tickle: to move your fingers gently over someone's body in order to make them laugh:

• Stop tickling me!

• if something touching your body tickles you, it makes you want to rub your body because it is slightly uncomfortable

• if a situation, remark etc tickles you, it amuses or pleases you

Most people hate having their feet tickled.

Suspense tickles the readers’ curiosity.

• Croon: to sing or speak in a soft gentle voice, especially about love

• A woman gently crooned the tune of a lullaby.

• We hear her sobbing, lifting the baby up, crooning to it.

break the spell:stop the spell from working

to make someone stop paying all their attention to something, or to make a time stop feeling special:

cast a spell over

put sb. under a spell: bewitch

put a spell on

be/fall under sb.’s spell

• suspect: think that something is probably true, especially something bad; imagine; have doubts about I suspect it’s going to be a pretty difficult day.She’s not going to be very happy about this, I suspect.

The tension slowly melted…:

the strained relationship between my father and I disappeared gradually.

Melt: snow/tension/hostility/anger

uniform : the same or consistentAs in so many offices that you see, the

walls and furniture are a uniform grey.

Curly haired, hazel-eyed Timmy was loved for himself: Timmy was loved for who he was.

conclusion• Toddler： a very young child who is

just learning to walk

make/build sth. out of sth.

Scrap lumber

• Scrap：materials or objects that are no longer used for the purpose they were made for, but can be used again in another way:

So pleased was my father…:

so + a./ad. +that The soup was so filling that I don’t think

I’ll want a main course.

• status: sb.’s position in an organization or in society

Now that he was a bank manager, he wanted a car that would reflect his status.

trail ： to walk slowly, especially behind other people because you are tired or bored

Oral activities

• 1. The conversation can be based on the following aspects.

• 1) interest• 2) pressure• 3) waste of time• 4) personal affection• 5) special reasons (optional)

• Words and expressions suggested for this topic:

• boring / tired /of no interest• time consuming • a difficult task / not gifted• parents’ desire• jazz / key• musical instrument• a man to conquer himself• brings about folly and ends with regret

• 2. The conversation can be based on the following aspects.

• 1) Blood is thicker than water.

• 2) Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.

• 3) Every mother’s child is handsome.

• 4) Friends must part.

• 5) We’re taught unconditional love.

Words and expressions suggested for this topic:

1. an apple in the eyes

2. revolving always around his son

3. demanding very little in the way his son behaves

4. be patient

5. rewarding the child’s positive behaviors

• valuing the development of the child’s autonomous personality

• giving praise• acknowledging the child’s wishes

and desires• attaching great importance to good

manners

• taking great pride in his son’s independence

• a true blessing

• priceless asset

• very high parental expectations

• offering much warmth to his son

Oral topic

• What’s your principle for choosing the boy friend? Do you think the standard has changed between your parents and you? What’s the difference?

• Suggestion: personality, appearance, family background, education, career, financial ability, promising future…