A Dill Pickle

About the Text Word Study
exasperate: n. annoy, vex, irritate very much, e.g. She was exasperated at/by his stupidity. haunt: vi. to visit (said of ghosts) regularly; Here: to return repeatedly to the mind, e.g. a haunting melody
About the Text Word Study
impulsive adj. (of people or their behavior) marked by sudden action that is undertaken without careful thought e.g. an impulsive man, comment, decision In a burst of impulsive generosity, I offered to pay. impulse n. (on impulse) impulsive adj. impulsion n. impulsiveness n.
About the 源自文库ext Word Study
grimace n. an ugly twisted expression on the face to cause laughter or to show pain,disgust,etc e.g. Bernie gave a grimace of disgust and left the room. grimace vi ~ (at sb/sth) e.g. She grimaced in/with distaste a the thought of it. pagoda n. religious building on Asia, usu a tall tower with several stories each of which has its own overhanging roof
About the Text Word Study
barbarian: n. a person who is primitive or uncivilized barbaric/barbarous adj. barbarism n. barbarity n. decorate: vt. to put things in a room or house to make it more beautiful, e.g. We decorated the Christmas tree with tinsel lights. decorator n. decorative adj. decoration n.
About the Text Word Study
loathe: hate sth very much Expansion: the synonyms of a word which are in meaning, e.g. to dislike (to loathe); to like (to adore); small (tiny); big (huge, enormous, immense, colossal); sure (positive); possible (probable); to surprise (to stun; to shock); angry (furious); hungry (famished); tired (exhausted); pleased (overjoyed); interesting (fascinating); many (numerous); fine (excellent; superb); poor (destitute); old (ancient)
About the Text Word Study
egoist: n. a person who is always thinking about themselves or what is best for themselves. egoism n. egoistic/egoistical adj. luxury n. sth that is expensive and enjoyable, but not essential, e.g. a luxury hotel/flat; live in luxury; live/lead a life of luxury luxurious adj.
About the Text Main Idea
This is a story about a young man and a young woman who had been lovers once and now meet again after six years of separation, and as they reminisce, we begin to know what happened six years ago that finally led to the end of their relationship. In the story, the author artfully points up Vera, the heroine’s sensitivity and the man’s insensitivity to others— their feeling, attitudes and motivations,and the man’s self-involvement.
About the Text Word Study
maniac n. (1) mad person;wild and foolish person (2) (derog or joc) person with extreme liking (for sth) e.g. She’s a football maniac. maniacal adj : violently mad; extremely enthusiastic e.g. maniacal behavior, a maniacal expression on his face air n. appearance, manner, carriage,bearing e.g. She set about her task with an air of quiet confidence.
About the Text Word Study
mysterious adj. 1. full of mystery; hard to understand or explain, e.g. a mysterious event/crime 2. Keeping or liking to keep things secret e.g. He was being very mysterious ,and wouldn't tell me what he was up to. mystery n. mysteriously adv. self-engrossed adj occupied with one’s own thoughts or interest; paying no attention to anything other than one’s own business
A Dill Pickle
Katherine Mansfield
A Dill Pickle
Katherine Mansfield
About the Author About the Text
main idea / word study / sentence paraphrase
In-class Discussion Key to the Exercises After-class Questions
About the Text Word Study
infuriate: vt. make sb extremely angry e.g. I was infuriated by/with their constant criticism. It infuriated me to think of the money we’ve wasted. infuriating adj. very annoying e.g. It was infuriating to be so close and get unable to contact them. melancholy: adj. very sad,causing sadness e.g. A funeral is a melancholy occasion.
About the Author
Katherine Mansfield
An outstanding short story writer. She was born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1888. She studied at Queens College, London, where she met D.H. Lawrence and John Middleton Murry, a famous critic, whom she later married. After years of ill-health and struggle as a freelance writer and reviewer, she achieved success with Bliss and Other Stories (1920) and The Garden Party (1922). Just as she won world fame, however, her health grew worse. She died of tuberculosis in 1923.
About the Author
New Zealand's most famous writer, who was closely associated with D.H. Lawrence and something of a rival of Virginia Wolf. Mansfield's creative years were burdened with loneliness, illness, jealousy, alienation - all this reflected in her work with the bitter depiction of marital and family relationships of her middle-class characters. Her short stories are also notable for their use of stream of consciousness. Like the Russian writer Anton Chekhov, Mansfield depicted trivial events and subtle changes in human behavior.
About the Author
Katherine Mansfield
Critics praised her for her capturing the essence of Chekhov’s art for stories emphasizing atmosphere and actual life rather than exciting plot, and for her “refreshing originality” and “ sensitivity to beauty”.