Unit 5 A Few Kind Words for Superstition.ppt-道客多多

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1、cover,A Few Kind Words for Superstition,Unit 5,新世纪高等院校英语专业本科系列教材（修订版）综合教程第六册(第2版) 电子教案,上海外语教育出版社南京信息工程大学刘杰海,Contents page,Contents,Learning ObjectivesPre-reading ActivitiesGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingConsolidation ActivitiesFurther Enhancement,objectives,Learning Objectives,Rhetorical skill: cl

2、arification with anecdotes and examplesKey language & grammar pointsWriting strategies: classification and divisionTheme: superstition from different perspectives,Pre-R: picture activation,Whats your sign? And do you believe in horoscope?,Picture Activation | Pre-questions,Pre-R: pre-questions-1,1.

3、People are more or less superstitious. For example, we Chinese all think that the numbers “six” and “eight” can bring good luck, while “four” and “thirteen” are unfavoured numbers. Whats your favourite number? Why do you like it?,Picture Activation | Pre-questions,Open for discussion.,Pre-R: pre-que

4、stions-2,2. Its well known that different colours have quite different connotations in different cultures. For example, “yellow” in Chinese is associated with pornography, while in most English-speaking countries it connotes cowardice. Can you give some other examples of this kind?,Picture Activatio

5、n | Pre-questions,Open for discussion.,G-R: text introduction,The text is developed by means of the authors classification of the four types of superstition, and his explanation of its history, popularity and characteristics, and the reasons for peoples fascination with it. Davies uses a variety of

6、examples in every paragraph, with the exception of the first two paragraphs, to develop the text. These examples include anecdotes, facts and personal experiences. In many of these examples we notice the words “a deeply learned professor,” “another learned professor,” “Dr. Samuel Johnson,” “a good s

7、cientist.” All this helps to build the impression that superstition is not only for the naive and ignorant but it is also “alive and flourishing among the people who are indisputably rational and learned.”,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- transcendental meditation-1,tr

8、anscendental meditation (Paragraph 1) Transcendental meditation (超脱禅定法) is a technique of meditation derived from Hindu traditions that calms the mind and promotes deep relaxation through the use of a mantra (符咒), a sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation (符咒，咒语), such a

9、s an invocation(祈祷) of a god, a magic spell, or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- transcendental meditation-2,Transcendental meditation is unique and fundamentally different from any other systems of

10、 meditation and relaxation. Over 5 million people around the world have learned the technique since it was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1957.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- enlightment,enlightenment (Paragraph 1) In Hinduism and Buddhism, enlightenment is the

11、highest spiritual state that can be achieved. It is a blessed state in which the individual transcends desire and suffering and attains Nirvana, the ineffable ultimate in which one has attained disinterested wisdom and compassion.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- Vain

12、Observances,Vain Observances (Paragraph 3) An observance is an act performed for religious or ceremonial reasons. Here “vain” roughly means “proud.” Not walking under a ladder is a vain observance because people believe that they should not be humble in front of the Devil.,Text Introduction | Cultur

13、e Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- I Ching,I Ching (Paragraph 4) The I Ching (or Book of Changes易经), is an ancient Chinese divination manual and book of wisdom that offers slightly ambiguous advice on how to act. Especially since the 1960s, its poetic text and extraordinary symbolism to say nothi

14、ng of its strange effectiveness in divination have gained it a following in the West. The I Ching was traditionally held to be written by the legendary Chinese Emperor Fu Hsi (伏羲) (2953 B.C.2838 B.C.).,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- I Ching,It is possible that the I

15、Ching originated from a prehistoric divination technique which dates back as far as 5000 B.C. Further commentaries were added by King Wen and the Duke of Chou in the 11th century B.C.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- Samuel Johnson,Dr. Samuel Johnson (Paragraph 8) (170

16、91784) English poet, essayist, critic, journalist, lexicographer, conversationalist, regarded as one of the outstanding figures of 18th century life and letters. Johnson became Doctor Johnson when Dublin University gave him the honorary degree in 1765.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | St

17、ructure,G-R: CN- Orthodox Jews,Orthodox Jews (Paragraph 9) Orthodox Judaism (正统的犹太教) is the branch of Judaism that is governed by adherence to the Torah (旧约的首五卷，即摩西五经) as interpreted in the Talmud (塔木德经，犹太古代法典). It is the oldest form of Judaism practiced by Jews. Orthodox Jews are Jews who believe i

18、n Orthodox Judaism.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- Melanesian,Melanesian (Paragraph 9) Melanesia is a division of Oceania in the southwest Pacific Ocean comprising the islands northeast of Australia and south of the equator. It includes the Solomon Islands, New Hebri

19、des, New Caledonia, the Bismarck Archipelago, various other island groups, and sometimes New Guinea. Melanesian is a member of any of the indigenous peoples of Melanesia.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- roman Catholic-1,Roman Catholic (Paragraph 11) The Roman Catholic

20、 Church sees itself as instituted by Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls. It accomplishes this goal through teaching and through the administration of sacraments, including baptism, the Eucharist, and the forgiveness of sins, through which God grants grace to the believer. The teaching authority

21、 or magisterium of the Church bases its teachings on both Scripture and apostolic tradition.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- roman Catholic-2,As well as ordained secular clergy, the Church encourages monasticism, and has many orders of monks, friars and nuns who live

22、in celibacy, and devote their lives entirely to God. Other religious practices include fasting, prayer, penance, pilgrimage and meditation.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- Battle of the Boyne-1,Battle of the Boyne (Paragraph 11) No year in Irish history is better know

23、n than 1690. No Irish battle is more famous than the Battle of the Boyne. The Boyne is a river of eastern Ireland flowing about 113 km (70 miles) to the Irish Sea. In the Battle of the Boyne on July 1, 1690, the armies of King William III (Prince of Orange, a Dutch-speaking Protestant) defeated the

24、forces of James II (a Roman Catholic who had lost the throne of England in the bloodless “Glorious Revolution” of 1688), who fled to France.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- Battle of the Boyne-2,The Battle of the Boyne is recalled each July in the celebrations of the

25、Orange Order, not on the first day but on “the Twelfth,” for eleven days were lost with the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: CN- Orangemen,Orangemen (Paragraph 11) In Northern Ireland, a solely Protestant organizati

26、on called the Orange Order was founded in County Armagh, in 1795, in opposition to the Defenders, a Catholic secret society. It was a revival of the Orange Institution founded in 1688 to support William III of Orange, whose victory over the Catholic James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 has be

27、en commemorated annually by Protestants in parades since 1796. Orangeman is a member of one of the Ulster Protestant Orange societies founded in Northern Ireland in 1795 to maintain the political and religious ascendancy of Protestantism.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: C

28、N- gypsy,gypsy (Paragraph 12) A member of a race of people, originally from Asia, who travel around and traditionally live in caravans. Many gypsy groups have preserved elements of their traditional culture, including an itinerant existence, tribal organization, and the Romany language.,Text Introdu

29、ction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: author bio-1,Robertson Davies, one of Canadas foremost writers of plays, novels, and satire, was born on August 28, 1913, in the small village of Thamesville, Ontario. He was educated at Upper Canada College, Queens University, and earned a degree in l

30、iterature from Oxford. After a few years in theatrical life, he shifted into journalism, as the literary editor of Saturday Night magazine, and later the editor of the Peterborough Examiner.,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,G-R: author bio-2,During this period, he began to writ

31、e plays, and then novels, starting with Tempest-Tost in 1951. He wrote 10 other novels, grouped into trilogies, as well as many plays. In 1961, Davies was appointed Master of Massey College at the University of Toronto, the post where he remained until his retirement. He died on December 2, 1995, at

33、rt 2,(Para 3-6) the author describes and explains one by one the four manifestations of superstition.,Part 3,(Para 7-8) the relationship of superstition and psychology, religion and science.,G-R: structure analysis-2,Text Introduction | Culture Notes | Author | Structure,Part 4,(Para 9-11) the persi

34、stent popularity of superstition and its reason,Part 5,(Para 12) concluding remarks,DR-p0-text,A FEW KIND WORDS FOR SUPERSTITION Robertson Davies “A Few Kind Words for Superstition” originally appeared in Newsweek magazine (November 20, 1978). Looking closely at why some people believe in magic and

35、chance, Davies divides superstition into categories for the purpose of analyzing this complex topic. The four divisions he presents are certainly familiar to most of us, though few of us have taken the time to label them. In taking a rational approach to what many people consider to be an irrational

36、 subject, Davies offers some fascinating observations about human nature.,Detailed Reading,DR-p1-text,1. In grave discussions of “the renaissance of the irrational” in our time, superstition does not figure largely as a serious challenge to reason or science. Parapsychology, UFOs, miracle cures, tra

37、nscendental meditation, and all the paths to instant enlightenment are condemned, but superstition is merely deplored. Is it because it has an unacknowledged hold on so many of us?,Detailed Reading,DR-p2-text,2. Few people will admit to being superstitious; it implies navet or ignorance. But I live

38、in the middle of a large university, and I see superstition in its four manifestations, alive and flourishing among people who are indisputably rational and learned.,Detailed Reading,DR-p3-text,3. You did not know that superstition takes four forms? Theologians assure us that it does. First is what

39、they call Vain Observances, such as not walking under a ladder, and that kind of thing. Yet I saw a deeply learned professor of anthropology, who had spilled some salt, throwing a pinch of it over his left shoulder; when I asked him why, he replied, with a wink, that it was “to hit the Devil in the

40、eye.” I did not question him further about his belief in the Devil, but I noticed that he did not smile until I asked him what he was doing.,Detailed Reading,DR-p4-text,4. The second form is Divination, or consulting oracles. Another learned professor I know, who would scorn to settle a problem by t

41、ossing a coin (which is a humble appeal to Fate to declare itself), told me quite seriously that he has resolved a matter related to university affairs by consulting the I Ching. And why not? There are thousands of people on this continent who appeal to the I Ching, and their general level of educat

42、ion seems to absolve them of superstition. Almost, but not quite. The I Ching, to the embarrassment of rationalists, often gives excellent advice.,Detailed Reading,DR-p5-text,5. The third form is Idolatry, and universities can show plenty of that. If you have ever supervised a large examination room

43、, you know how many jujus, lucky coins, and other bringers of luck are placed on the desks of the candidates. Modest idolatry, but what else can you call it?,Detailed Reading,DR-p6-text,6. The fourth form is Improper Worship of the True God. A while ago, I learned that every day, for several days, a

44、 $2 bill (in Canada we have $2 bills, regarded by some people as unlucky) had been tucked under a candlestick on the altar of a college chapel. Investigation revealed that an engineering student, worried about a girl, thought that bribery of the Deity might help. When I talked with him, he did not t

45、hink he was pricing God cheap because he could afford no more. A reasonable argument, but perhaps God was proud that week, for the scientific oracle went against him.,Detailed Reading,DR-p7-text,7. Superstition seems to run, a submerged river of crude religion, below the surface of human consciousne

46、ss. It has done so for as long as we have any chronicle of human behavior, and although I cannot prove it, I doubt if it is more prevalent today than it has always been. Superstition, the theologians tell us, comes from the Latin supersisto, meaning to stand in terror of the Deity. Most people keep

47、their terror within bounds, but they cannot root it out, nor do they seem to want to do so.,Detailed Reading,DR-p8-text,8. The more the teaching of formal religion declines, or takes a sociological form, the less God appears to great numbers of people as a God of Love, resuming his older form of a w

48、atchful, minatory power, to be placated and cajoled. Superstition makes its appearance, apparently unbidden, very early in life, when children fear that stepping on cracks in the sidewalk will bring ill fortune. It may persist even among the greatly learned and devout, as in the case of Dr. Samuel J

49、ohnson, who felt it necessary to touch posts that he passed in the street. The psychoanalysts have their explanation, but calling a superstition a compulsion neurosis does not banish it.,Detailed Reading,DR-p9-text,9. Many superstitions are so widespread and so old that they must have risen from a d

50、epth of the human mind that is indifferent to race or creed. Orthodox Jews place a charm on their doorposts; so do (or did) the Chinese. Some peoples of Middle Europe believe that when a man sneezes, his soul, for that moment, is absent from his body, and they hasten to bless him, lest the soul be seized by the Devil. How did the Melanesians come by the same idea? Superstition seems to have a link with some body of belief that far antedates the religions we know religions which have no place for such comforting little ceremonies and charities.,

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