1、,LESSON Four,A Drink in the Passage,I Introduction to the Text .II Detailed Discussion of the Text III Oral Work IV Word UsagesV Grammar Exercises VI Writing Exercises,Introduction to the Text The story is set against the background of Apartheid South Africa. South Africa was colonized by the Britis
2、h and Dutch in the 17th century. British domination of the Dutch descendants (known as Boers or Africaners, speaking a Dutch dialect known as Afrikaans) resulted in the Dutch establishing the new colonies of Orange Free State and Transvaal. The discovery of diamonds in these lands around 1900 led to
3、 a British invasion which resulted in the Boer War. Following independence from Britain, there was a period of uneasy power-sharing between the two groups until the 1940s, when the Afrikaner National Party was able to gain a strong majority. Strategists in the National Party invented apartheid as a
4、means to strengthen their control over the economic and social system. The aim, in reality, was to maintain white domination while extending racial separation.,Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of “wh
5、ite-only” jobs, In 1950, the Population Registration Act required that all South Africans be racially classified into one of three categories: white, black (African), or colored (of mixed descent). Nom-compliance with the race laws was dealt with harshly. Chinese settlers, mainly laborers, were clas
6、sified as coloreds, while Japanese, mainly businesspeople, were classified as white. Toward the end of the 1980s, amid increasing racial tension and criticism from the outside world, Nationalist president F. W. De Klerk started a serious reform. He removed the ban on the African National Congress, t
7、he principal anti-apartheid organization, and released Nelson Mandela, the ANC deputy president, after 27 years of imprisonment. Negotiations between the government and the ANC commenced.,In June 1991, the Parliament started scrapping the countrys apartheid laws. With Mandelas election as President
8、in 1994, apartheid was completely brought to an end. The writer of the story, Alan Paton, was an important South African novelist and political activist, whose novel cry, the Beloved Country (1948) brought worldwide attention to the tragedy of apartheid and has become an international classic since.
9、 Born in 1903, Paton attended the University of Natal and, afterwards, became a schoolteacher. In the 1930s, he found himself interested in delinquent youths and in 1935 became the principal of a model reformatory. The success of his first book cry, the Beloved Country led him to choose to become a
10、professional writer. Meanwhile he was actively involved in Politics. From its founding in 1953 until it was outlawed by the government in 1968, Paton was president of the Liberal party of South Africa, which advocated the establishment of a multiracial democracy through constitutional, nonviolent pr
11、ocedures.,In his writing, Paton explored the relationship between whites and blacks in his country. In this story, a well-educated black finds himself cordially invited to split a bottle with a white man in the latters apartment building. The black man is admired and praised by a group of friendly w
12、hite people, but he has to drink in the passage. Throughout the story one can see that the two sides are both anxious to reach ort to each other, but they do not know how. Obviously there exists an invisible wall between them which hampers their free communication and full understanding, not just a
13、wall imposed by apartheid laws, but a wall deep in their hearts.,It is worth mentioning that the problems Alan Paton depicted in his stories were not confined to South Africa. These are problems that we have all had. Racism has been a serious problem throughout human history. In fact, it is still th
14、e case today. Racism of course is based on prejudice, and prejudice can lead to tremendous human suffering, be it racial, religious or political. Moreover, racism or any other form of prejudice does not only involve government and politicians. It exists on a personal level. Teachers are advised to e
15、ncourage the students to discuss this question.,About the author Alan Paton (1903-1988) was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Owing to the influence of his father, a Scot who had emigrated to South Africa, he kept an intense interest in books and nature throughout his life, two passions which
16、figure prominently in his works. Patons most famous novel is Cry, the Beloved country, which was published in 1948, and by the time he died, it had sold over 15 million copies.,II. Detailed Discussion of the Text,1.In the year 1960 the Union of South Africa celebrated its Golden Jubilee, and there w
17、as a nationwide sensation when the one-thousand-pound qrize for the finest piece of sculpture was won by a black man, Edward Simelane. (1): In the year 1960, the Union of South Africa celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and there was a great excitement throughout the country when people heard that
18、the prize for the finest piece of sculpture was by a black man. Golden Jubilee: Jubilee is the celebration of a special anniversary: silver jubilee (25th anniversary); golden jubilee (50th anniversary) and diamond jubilee (60th or 75th anniversary). ntionwide: throughout the nation Note that “wide”
19、is an adjective or adverb suffix meaning throughout, e. g. nationwide; worldwide; communitywide; schoolwide a sensation: extreme excitement or interest, e.g. His speech produced a great sensation in the audience. The new opera did not cause the sensation that had been expected.,2.His work, African M
20、other and child, not only excited the admiration, but touched the conscience or heart or whatever it was that responded, of white South Africa. (1) His sculpture, African Mother and Child, not only won the abmiration of the white people for its artistic merit, but also deeply touched or moved their
21、hearts and conscience because the work made them see the injustice of racial discrimination and the black peoples yearning for a better life for their children. 3.It was by an oversight that his work was accepted (2) It was by a careless mistake that his work was accepted, because as a black person,
22、 he was not supposed to participate in the competition. oversight: a mistake that you make by not noticing sth or by forgetting to do sth, e.g. I didnt mean to leave the room unlocked, It was just an oversight. By (an) oversight, the letter was sent unsigned.,4.The committee of the sculpture section
23、 received a private reprimand for having been so careless as to omit the words “for whites only” from the conditions (2) a private reprimand: a private criticism; a criticism that is not made public reprimand: a sharp, angry and official rebuke (criticism) so careless as to omit the words “for white
24、s only” from the conditions: so careless that they forgot to put the words “for whites only” in the conditions for entering the competition 5.a very high personage(2) a high-ranking official; an important person personage: a person of distinction Compare: person, personage, personnel, personality,6.
25、The committee then decided that this prize must be given along with the others, at the public ceremony which would bring this particular part of the celebrations to a close. (2) to bring sth to a close: to end or conclude sth, e.g. The government was anxious to bring the hostage crisis to a close. T
26、he surrender of General Lees army soon brought the Civil War to a close. 7but in certain powerful quarters, there was an outcry against any departure from the “traditional policies” of the country (3) but in certain politically influential circles, there was a strong protest against this decision as
27、 it was not in conformity with the traditional, apartheid policies of the country,quarters: a usually unspecified group of people I learned the news from some usually well-informed quarters. He has won some support from business quarters. outcry: a strong protest or objection There was a public outc
28、ry against police brutality, There was an outcry among the workers when the decision was announced, Departure from: a divergence from a rule or traditional practice “traditional policies”: They refer to the racist policies which had been in effect for many years. 8.However, a crisis was averted, bec
29、ause the sculptor was “unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony”. (3) A crisis was avoided because to the relief of the authorities Simelane apologized that he would not be able to attend the ceremony personally to receive the prize. Notice that what is given here in quotes is the official announ
30、cement which was probably not true, and everybody knew it.,9.“I wasnt feeling up to it,” Simelane said mischievously to me. “My parents, and my wifes parents, and our priest, decided that I wasnt feeling up to it. And finally I decided so too.” (4) When Simelane said mischievously to the author that
31、 he wasnt feeling up to it, he meant that he was going to pretend that he was sick and therefore he could not go to the ceremony, and he knew that the author would understand that is was only an excuse. The meaning became even clearer when he went on to say that his parents and others “decided” that
32、 he wasnt feeling up to it. What they really meant of course was that he should not go to the ceremony as it was too risky. to feel up to: to be well enough to; to be capable of, e.g. I dont feel up to a long hike. I dont think Ann will feel up to it. She is not as young as she used to be. mischievo
33、usly: playfully; teasingly,10.“boys, Im a sculptor, not a demonstrator.” (4) Majosi and Sola and the others were obviously well-known anti-apartheid activists. They wanted him to go to the ceremony for political reasons. But his response was that he was only a sculptor and he was not interested in p
34、olitics. He did not want to make it a political issue. boys: my friends 11.“This cognac is wonderfrl,” he said, “especially in these big glasses. Its the first time Ive had such a glass. Its also the first time Ive drunk a bran. by so slowly.” (5) Brandy is an expensive drink that was usually consum
35、ed by well-to-do white folks in Apartheid South Africa who would use a brandy glass and sip slowly. When a black person like Simelane ever got a chance to drink brandy, he would usually use a small glass and drink it quickly for fear that he might be seen and arrested by the police for breaking the
36、law, A brandy glass is a large one with a wide bowl and narrower top, It is this shape so that the drinker can appreciate the aroma of brandy.,12.“In Orlando you develop a throat of iron, and you just put back your head and put it down, in case the police should arrive.” (5) When black folks in Orla
37、ndo drank brandy, frequently they had to put back their head and drink it up in one gulp in order to avoid police detection, and because brandy is a very strong drink, you gradually develop a very strong throatlike a throat of iron. Notice that according to apartheid laws, blacks could not remain in
38、 the big cities after a certain hour at night. Orlando must be a small town where blacks live.,13.They gave a window to it, with a white velvet backdrop, if there is anything called white velvet, and some complimentary words. (7) They gave a whole window to the sculpture with a white curtain at the
39、back and some words in praise of the work, The curtain (backdrop) was made of white velvet, if there is such a thing as white velvet. Velvet os usually soft and smooth, But in this country of apartheid, it was hard for the sculptor to associate the color “white” with such qualities as “softness” and
40、 “smoothness”. Notice the sharp contrast of the colors of the backdrop and the sculpture. There is something symbolic about it. complimentary: paying compliments; expressing praise or admiration Do not mix it up with the complementary, which means 补充的.,14.on my way from the station to the Herald off
41、ice, I would only squint at it out of the corner of my eye. (8).,the station: This obviously refers to the railway station. The sculptor lives in Orlando as he is not allowed to live in the big city and therefore has to commute by train every day. the Herald office: We can assume that the sculptor w
42、orks for a newspaper called Herald. to squint at: to look or glance to the side out of the corner of my eye: Notice in this idiom that it is “my eye”, not “my eyes”.,15. so I thought Id go and see the window, and indulge certain pleasurable human feelings. (9) So I thought Id go and see the window,
43、and enjoy secretly some pleasant feelingsfeelings of pride for example for ones genius. 16.I must have got a little lost in the contemplation of my own genius (9) I must have become too absorbed or preoccupied about my own genius 17.And you know, one doesnt get called “mate” every day. (10) In South
44、 Africa, a black man does not hear a white man call him “mate”. They are usually treated very rudely. But this white man was very friendly. Therefore he just couldnt bring himself to say no to his invitation.,18.Well honestly I didnt feel like a drink at that time of night, with a white stranger and
45、 all, and a train still to catch to Orlando. (16) Well, to tell the truth, I didnt like the idea of having a drink at that time of night. I was getting late, and I had to catch a train to Orlando before I got into trouble with the police, Besides, I would be drinking with a white stranger and would
46、have to face all the possible consequences. and all: the whole thing; including everything or everybody mentioned, e.g. My boss promised to provide me with a computer and all. He ate the whole of the fish, head, tail, bones, and all.,19.“My flats just round the corner. Do you speak Afrikaans?” (18)
47、(just) round the corner: very near Afrikaans: a Dutch dialect spoken mainly by the white people of Dutch descent in South Africa. The fact that the sculptor had spoken the language since he was a child showed that although he was black he was well-educated. In this passage, there was quite a problem
48、 for the sculptor as to what language he should use, ad language served as an important social status symbol.,20.I couldnt have told him my name. (21) Why did Simelane say he couldnt have told van Rensburg his name? It might be that Simelane had been acting as if he were admiring somebody elses work
49、 of art and therefore it would be embarrassing to reveal his true identity. He did want the other person to know that he was indulging in admiring his own genius, esp. after hearing the compliments of this stranger. 21.We didnt exactly walk abreast, but he didnt exactly walk in front of me. (22) Is there any symbolic meaning of the sentence? Would it be a problem for them to walk abreast? A black was not the equal of white so they would never walk side by wide as equals.,
