Unit 11 A Friend in Need(Book4). Contents I Background I Background II Questions II Questions III Text structure III Text structure IV The Writing style.

Unit 11 A Friend in Unit 11 A Friend in Need(Book4)Need(Book4)

ContentsContents

I Background I Background II QuestionsII Questions III Text structureIII Text structure IV The Writing styleIV The Writing style V Language pointsV Language points VI DiscussionVI Discussion VII Organization and developmentVII Organization and development VIII HomeworkVIII Homework

I Background I Background

About the author:About the author: Somerset MaughamSomerset Maugham

(1874-1965)(1874-1965) British novelist, playwright British novelist, playwright

and short story writer. He and short story writer. He was best known for his was best known for his novels, and his novel novels, and his novel Of Of Human BondageHuman Bondage (1915) (1915) has strong has strong autobiographical autobiographical elements.elements.

About the authorAbout the author

Besides, Maugham was Besides, Maugham was expert in short story writexpert in short story writing, which was known foing, which was known for plots and story telling sr plots and story telling skills. He has written 100 kills. He has written 100 short stories, dealing witshort stories, dealing with spies, and the domestih spies, and the domestic and overseas life of the c and overseas life of the English people, of which English people, of which our text was one.our text was one.

Culture backgroundCulture background Bridge: Bridge: any of a group of card games including any of a group of card games including

Bridge Whist, Auction Bridge, and Contract Bridge, all Bridge Whist, Auction Bridge, and Contract Bridge, all derived from Whist. The name Whist seems to have derived from Whist. The name Whist seems to have been first used in the early 17th century to describe a been first used in the early 17th century to describe a card game that had evolved from several other card game that had evolved from several other games, principally Triumph. By the mid-18th century games, principally Triumph. By the mid-18th century Whist had become the preeminent card game in both Whist had become the preeminent card game in both Europe and America. The introduction of the exposed, Europe and America. The introduction of the exposed, or dummy, hand in the 1870s led to the development or dummy, hand in the 1870s led to the development of Bridge (the name Bridge Whist was coined later to of Bridge (the name Bridge Whist was coined later to distinguish it from Auction Bridge). By the early distinguish it from Auction Bridge). By the early 1900s, however, Auction Bridge, which introduced 1900s, however, Auction Bridge, which introduced competitive bidding, had rendered Bridge Whist competitive bidding, had rendered Bridge Whist obsolete. The final refinements that resulted in the obsolete. The final refinements that resulted in the modern game of Contract Bridge were made in the modern game of Contract Bridge were made in the 1920s; by 1929 it had become the standard game.1920s; by 1929 it had become the standard game.

Culture backgroundCulture background

The game is played by four players arranged into two The game is played by four players arranged into two partnerships. The full pack of 52 cards is used, and the play partnerships. The full pack of 52 cards is used, and the play comprises 13 tricks, each of which consists of one card per comprises 13 tricks, each of which consists of one card per player. The two partnerships first bid to establish which player. The two partnerships first bid to establish which side will contract to take a given number of tricks in its side will contract to take a given number of tricks in its chosen trump suit or with no-trump. A “trump” suit is one chosen trump suit or with no-trump. A “trump” suit is one of which any card beats any card of the other suits; “no-of which any card beats any card of the other suits; “no-trump” is a situation in which no suit overcomes the one trump” is a situation in which no suit overcomes the one that is led. Suits are ranked, in ascending order, clubs, that is led. Suits are ranked, in ascending order, clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades, with no-trump outranking any diamonds, hearts, spades, with no-trump outranking any suit. Thus, the lowest possible contract is one club, which suit. Thus, the lowest possible contract is one club, which means that a “book” of six tricks plus one must be taken means that a “book” of six tricks plus one must be taken with clubs as trumps. Two clubs means eight tricks, and so with clubs as trumps. Two clubs means eight tricks, and so on up to seven clubs (13 tricks). The highest possible on up to seven clubs (13 tricks). The highest possible contract is seven no-trump.contract is seven no-trump.

Culture backgroundCulture background

Tactics form a large part of bridge, with many Tactics form a large part of bridge, with many subtleties in the play, including false-carding asubtleties in the play, including false-carding and occasional bluff bids (“psyches”) to confnd occasional bluff bids (“psyches”) to confuse the opposition. The declarer plans the plause the opposition. The declarer plans the play of two hands in concert. His chances for succy of two hands in concert. His chances for success depends upon the distribution of the oppoess depends upon the distribution of the opponents’ unseen cards, and he endeavours to dnents’ unseen cards, and he endeavours to develop the play based on his assumptions aboevelop the play based on his assumptions about the location of those cards. The defenders, ut the location of those cards. The defenders, however, do not know what cards their partnehowever, do not know what cards their partners hold and must rely on information gained drs hold and must rely on information gained during bidding and through leads.uring bidding and through leads.

II DiscussionII Discussion

Judging from the title, what do you Judging from the title, what do you expect the text to be about?expect the text to be about?

What are some of the qualities you What are some of the qualities you look for in a real friend?look for in a real friend?

Have you got a friend like that? If you Have you got a friend like that? If you have, tell us something about your have, tell us something about your friend. friend.

III Text structureIII Text structure

Part one(Line1—3): the first impressions Part one(Line1—3): the first impressions of a person are not always right.of a person are not always right.

Part two(Line4—10): the accident of HydPart two(Line4—10): the accident of Hyde Burton make me surprised. e Burton make me surprised.

Part three(Line11—104):the surprising Part three(Line11—104):the surprising memorable ending demonstates the wrimemorable ending demonstates the writer’s original point admirably and signiter’s original point admirably and significantly.ficantly.

IV The Writing styleIV The Writing style

It is not in the usual chronological It is not in the usual chronological order but flashback is used.order but flashback is used.

The author used the first person to The author used the first person to narrate the story. He succeeds in narrate the story. He succeeds in choosing details that are relevant to choosing details that are relevant to his purpose and the effect he wants his purpose and the effect he wants to create.to create.

He uses an ironic title against what He uses an ironic title against what the reader expected.the reader expected.

V Language pointsV Language points

1. 1. shrug: shrug: v. v. raise one’s shoulders slightly ignorance or indifference raise one’s shoulders slightly ignorance or indifference e.g. I asked her where Sam was, but she just e.g. I asked her where Sam was, but she just shruggedshrugged her shoulder her shoulder

s.s. We can’t just We can’t just shrugshrug these objections off. these objections off. 2.2. startling: startling: adjadj. very unusual or surprising. very unusual or surprising ee.g. Paddy’s words had a startling effect on the children..g. Paddy’s words had a startling effect on the children. 3. 3. mild: mild: adjadj. having a gentle character and not easily getting angry. having a gentle character and not easily getting angry ee.g. Joe was a mild man who rarely raised his voice..g. Joe was a mild man who rarely raised his voice. 4. 4. spicy: spicy: adj. adj. exciting or interesting (because somewhat improper)exciting or interesting (because somewhat improper) e.g. a e.g. a spicyspicy rumour rumour 5. 5. namesake: namesake: n. n. someone with the same name as someone elsesomeone with the same name as someone else e.g. Like his famous namesake, young Nelson had a brave, adventue.g. Like his famous namesake, young Nelson had a brave, adventu

rous spirit.rous spirit.

Language pointsLanguage points

6. 6. uncanny: uncanny: adj. adj. very strange and difficult to explainvery strange and difficult to explain e.g. an e.g. an uncannyuncanny coincidence coincidence 7. 7. sip: sip: v. v. drink something slowly, taking very small modrink something slowly, taking very small mo

uthfulsuthfuls e.g. She was sitting at the bar e.g. She was sitting at the bar sippingsipping a Martini. a Martini. Frank Frank sippedsipped at his whisky thoughtfully. at his whisky thoughtfully. 8. 8. chuckle: chuckle: v. v. laugh quietlylaugh quietly e.g. What are you e.g. What are you chucklingchuckling about? about? 9. 9. candid: candid: adj. adj. directly truthful, even when the truth directly truthful, even when the truth

may be unpleasant or embarrassingmay be unpleasant or embarrassing e.g. The Governor’s brutally candid assessment strue.g. The Governor’s brutally candid assessment stru

ck a new blow to Mr Major’s reputation.ck a new blow to Mr Major’s reputation.

Language pointsLanguage points

10. 10. vacancy: vacancy: n. n. an unfilled position in an organizationan unfilled position in an organization e.g. e.g. vacanciesvacancies for drivers for drivers Judge Ginsburg is to fill the Judge Ginsburg is to fill the vacancyvacancy on the US supreme on the US supreme

court.court. 11. 11. reflection:reflection: n. n. careful thought, or an idea or opinion careful thought, or an idea or opinion

based on thisbased on this e.g. A moment’s e.g. A moment’s reflectionreflection will show the stupidity of this will show the stupidity of this

argument.argument. It was interesting to hear her It was interesting to hear her reflections reflections on the situation in on the situation in

the Far East.the Far East. 12. 12. benign: benign: adj. adj. kind and gentlekind and gentle e.g. He shook his head in e.g. He shook his head in benignbenign amusement. amusement. 13. 13. cocktail:cocktail: n. n. an alcoholic drink made from a mixture of an alcoholic drink made from a mixture of

different drinksdifferent drinks e.g. e.g. cocktailcocktail party party

Language pointsLanguage points

14. 14. spacious:spacious: adj. adj. having or providing much space; roomyhaving or providing much space; roomy e.g. a e.g. a spaciousspacious, comfortably furnished living room, comfortably furnished living room 15. 15. instinct: instinct: n. n. a natural tendency or ability to behave or a natural tendency or ability to behave or

react in a particular way without having to learn it or think react in a particular way without having to learn it or think about itabout it

e.g. an e.g. an instinctinstinct for self-preservation for self-preservation My My instinctinstinct would be to wait and see. would be to wait and see. 16. 16. insane: insane: adj. adj. completely stupid or crazy, often in a way completely stupid or crazy, often in a way

that is dangerousthat is dangerous e.g. I don’t know what made Sarah marry him—she must e.g. I don’t know what made Sarah marry him—she must

have been totally have been totally insaneinsane.. The whole idea sounds absolutely The whole idea sounds absolutely insaneinsane to me. to me. 17. 17. beacon: beacon: n. n. fixed light to warn or guide people, ships fixed light to warn or guide people, ships

or aircraftor aircraft

Language pointsLanguage points

18. 18. funk:funk: v. v. avoid doing something because it is difficult, or becaavoid doing something because it is difficult, or because you are afraid to do it use you are afraid to do it

e.g. He e.g. He funkedfunked telling her he had lost his job. telling her he had lost his job. 19. 19. constitution: constitution: n. n. the ability of your body to fight disease and ilthe ability of your body to fight disease and il

lnesslness e.g. have a strong/good/weak e.g. have a strong/good/weak constitutionconstitution 20. 20. dissipation:dissipation: n. n. pleasurable but dangerous livingpleasurable but dangerous living e.g. a life of luxury and e.g. a life of luxury and dissipationdissipation 21. 21. fizz: fizz: n. infml. n. infml. ChampagneChampagne 22. 22. harbour: harbour: n.n. place of shelter for shipsplace of shelter for ships e.g. We reached the e.g. We reached the harbourharbour at sunset. at sunset. 23. 23. remittance: remittance: n. n. an amount of money that you send by post to an amount of money that you send by post to

pay for somethingpay for something e.g. We will forward the goods on remittance of e.g. We will forward the goods on remittance of ＄＄ 20.20.

Language pointsLanguage points

24. 24. go (all) to pieces: go (all) to pieces: lose the ability to think or act clearly becaulose the ability to think or act clearly because of fear, sorrow, etc.se of fear, sorrow, etc.

e.g. When he heard the sad news, he e.g. When he heard the sad news, he went all to pieces.went all to pieces. 25.25. be taken aback: be taken aback: be shocked or confused, especially by somebe shocked or confused, especially by some

thing unpleasant or unexpected thing unpleasant or unexpected e.g. Your request e.g. Your request tooktook me me abackaback.. The teacher The teacher waswas quite quite taken abacktaken aback by his student’s resort. by his student’s resort. 26.26. for my own part: for my own part: as far as I am concerned, speaking for myseas far as I am concerned, speaking for myse

lflf e.g. e.g. For my own partFor my own part, I don’t mind having one more lesson on , I don’t mind having one more lesson on

ecosystem.ecosystem. For my own partFor my own part, I’m in favour of having a telephone at hom, I’m in favour of having a telephone at hom

e.e. 27.27. in accordance with: in accordance with: in a way that agrees within a way that agrees with e.g. She did everything e.g. She did everything in accordance within accordance with the regulations. the regulations. He was buried in his hometown, He was buried in his hometown, in accordance within accordance with his wishes. his wishes.

Language pointsLanguage points

28.28. on account of: on account of: because ofbecause of e.g. They got married e.g. They got married on account ofon account of the baby. the baby. We didn’t have a good time because the We didn’t have a good time because the

picnic was held in the gym picnic was held in the gym on account ofon account of the rain. the rain. 29.29. with a good grace: with a good grace: willingly, cheerfully willingly, cheerfully

without complaintwithout complaint e.g. He accept his defeat at the chess game e.g. He accept his defeat at the chess game with with

a good gracea good grace..

Language pointsLanguage points

something ofsomething of an athlete—rather an athlete, a an athlete—rather an athlete, a fairly good athletefairly good athlete

She is She is something ofsomething of a pianist. a pianist. The soldier found himself The soldier found himself something ofsomething of a hero. a hero. presentlypresently—soon, shortly, immediately, at the —soon, shortly, immediately, at the

present timepresent time We were not sure if Peter would come to the We were not sure if Peter would come to the

party. party. PresentlyPresently he appeared. he appeared. PresentlyPresently I heard her leave the house. I heard her leave the house. She’s She’s presentlypresently working on her PhD. working on her PhD. PresentlyPresently we have no vacancy in the office. we have no vacancy in the office.

VI DiscussionVI Discussion

Divide the Ss into groups and ask Divide the Ss into groups and ask them to discuss the following topics:them to discuss the following topics:

What is the main idea of this text? What is the main idea of this text? The first impressions of a person are The first impressions of a person are always wrong, according to the always wrong, according to the author? Give your reasons.author? Give your reasons.

VII Organization and developmentVII Organization and development

In this piece of persuasive writing, the writer uses In this piece of persuasive writing, the writer uses narration (a story within a story) as his technique to narration (a story within a story) as his technique to convince the reader of his point of view—first convince the reader of his point of view—first impressions of a person are often more wrong than impressions of a person are often more wrong than right. right.

The following is a summary of how Maugham uses The following is a summary of how Maugham uses different methods to achieve his purpose:different methods to achieve his purpose:

1. The narrative employed in this piece of writing is not 1. The narrative employed in this piece of writing is not in the usual chronological order but flashback is used. in the usual chronological order but flashback is used.

2. The writer succeeds in choosing details that are 2. The writer succeeds in choosing details that are related to his purpose and the effect he wants to related to his purpose and the effect he wants to create. create.

3. Maugham keeps the narrative moving forward 3. Maugham keeps the narrative moving forward through dialogue.through dialogue.

Organization and developmentOrganization and development

4. Maugham uses a narrator who speaks in the 4. Maugham uses a narrator who speaks in the first person to tell the story—and to express what first person to tell the story—and to express what may well also be Maugham’s own point of view.may well also be Maugham’s own point of view.

5. The writer makes uses of what turns out to be 5. The writer makes uses of what turns out to be an ironic title. an ironic title.

In short, the writer’s use of narration is successful In short, the writer’s use of narration is successful because he keeps his purpose and audience in because he keeps his purpose and audience in mind and has a trick up his sleeve. The surprising mind and has a trick up his sleeve. The surprising memorable ending—a not untypical characteristic memorable ending—a not untypical characteristic of a good short story—demonstrates the writer’s of a good short story—demonstrates the writer’s original point admirably and significantly.original point admirably and significantly.

VIII HomeworkVIII Homework

Finish the exercise in the workbook.Finish the exercise in the workbook. Surf on line and find out some informatiSurf on line and find out some informati

on about Maugham.on about Maugham. Writing a composition,the title: “An EngWriting a composition,the title: “An Eng

lish Merchant at Kobe” for you with the lish Merchant at Kobe” for you with the below cues for each para.below cues for each para.

The EndThe End

Thank You!Thank You!