新视野第四册第二课

Unit 2

Section A Charlie Chaplin

1. Pre-reading Activities

1. 1 Background information

Charles Spencer Chaplin

Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on 16th April 1889 in Walworth, London, and lived a Dickensian childhood, shared with his brother, Sydney, that included extreme poverty, workhouses and seeing his mother’s mental decline put her into an institution. Both his parents, though separated when he was very young, were music hall artists, his father quite famously so. But it was his mother that Charlie idolised and was inspired by during his visit of the backstage while she performed, to take up such a career for himself.

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens, 1812—1870, an English novelist, considered by many to be the greatest one of all. His many famous books describe life in Victorian England and show how hard it was, especially for the poor and for the children. They include The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities.

Hollywood

Hollywood is an area of Los Angeles which is known as the center of the American film industry. In terms of geography, Hollywood refers to an area consisting of the City of West Hollywood and its vicinity that form part of the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is generally thought that everyone living in Hollywood is extremely rich, famous, and concerned with appearances but in fact many parts of Hollywood today are poor, dirty and badly cared for.

Mack Sennett

Mack Sennett: (1880—1960) U.S. film producer, born in Richmond, Quebec. He worked in the theatre as a comic in burlesque companies, and from 1908 in silent films. He later formed his own company and hundreds of shorts, establishing a whole generation of players and a tradition of knockabout slapstick under the name of Keystone Komics (1912), and later the Sennett Bathing Beauties (1920). He received a Special Academy Award in 1937.

1. 2 Topic-related video

Directions: Watch a video performed by Charles Chaplin.

1. 3 Topic-related discussion

1) What enlightenment can we gain from the video?

2) How do you understand the proverb “All roads lead to Rome”?

2. While-reading Activities

2. 1 Global reading

2. 1. 1 Understanding the major details of the text

1) What do you learn about Charlie Chaplin from the first paragraph of the passage?

He lived a poor and miserable life during his childhood.

2) What do you know about the film Modern Times from the fourth paragraph of the passage?

It was the first movie in which Charlie Chaplin used his voice for the characters.

3)What happened to Charlie Chaplin after his death?

His body was stolen by thieves and held for money.

2. 1. 2 Understanding the organization of the text

1) Main idea of the text

The world’s most famous comic, Charlie Chaplin, had a miserable childhood. However, after he moved to America, he gradually became famous. His excellent performance has brought laughter to people all over the world.

2) Text structure analysis

Part One (Para.1-2): Introduction of Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was born into a poor family but created comic characters of lasting fame. He won more reputation in many other countries than in the land of his birth.

Part Two (Para.3-6): Charlie Chaplin’s professional success

This part is about Charlie Chaplin’s success with his Tramp, sound movies and his secrets of great comedy.

Part Three (Para.7-8): Charlie Chaplin’s emotional life

This part is about Charlie Chaplin’s emotional collision and his stable happiness in his later years.

Part Four (Para.9): Charlie Chaplin’s death

A strange incident after his death is taken as a fitting memorial to the world’s most famous comic.

2. 2 Detailed reading

2. 2. 1 Words and phrases

1) for good (L.8)

forever; permanently

这一次她将是永远地离开她的国家了。