英语周报

Unit 15 The Necklace

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About the author

Guy de Maupassant (莫泊桑1850-1893) was a well-known French novelist and short-story writer. He was born in Normandy, France, on August 5, 1850. As a school boy, he was very much interested in literature, and won a prize for one of his poems. So his writing began at an early age, and he became a famous novelist in his thirties. He wrote in the tradition of the 19th century French realism. Most of his works were about everyday life of the simple humble people. As he had worked in government departments since 1871, he became familiar with the life of government workers. This experience helped him create his best short story“The Diamond Necklace”. He had a fine use of irony. His style was direct and si mple, with attention to realistic detail. The play we are going to learn is typical of Maupassant’s choice of topic and characters and his style and use of irony.

Maupassant suffered a great deal from illness in his later life. He only lived for 43 years and died in Paris on July 6, 1893. He had a short life, but his works will last forever.

2. Topics

①.Do you know anything about drama and theatre?

②.Have you ever acted in a play? What role did you play?

③.How many famous actors or actresses do you know in Peking Opera? Can you tell us something about them? ④.What kind of plays do you like best, funny plays, serious plays or sad ones?

2. Writing: How to write a short play?

①.要有完整的故事内容。

②.故事情节的发生，发展，结束在时间、地点、逻辑等方面要有一定的连贯性。

③.剧本台词要符合剧中人物角色的身份、职业等个性特点。

④.人物对话要口语化。

（大灰狼）故事改编成三幕短剧。

Scene1: Warning from mother

Scene2: Visit of the big grey wolf

Scene3: Catching the big grey wolf

Sample of Scene 2

Characters:

Mama: a middle-aged woman

Daniu: a girl of thirteen, her daughter

Erniu: a girl of nine, Daniu ’s sister

The Big Grey Wolf

Scene 2:

The outer room of a farmer ’s house. There is a table and two chairs in the room. In front of the window, there is a big wooden box. There are two doors, one leading to the inner room, the other to the outside.

Big Grey Wolf: (appears outside the door) Erniu, Erniu, and my darling! Your granny is here. Open the door. Daniu :( Surprised) Who is it?

Wolf: It ’s your granny.

Erniu: Hey, It ’s Granny. Let ’s open the door.

Daniu: Wait a munite.Mamam said Granny was coming tomorrow. How is it you are here already?

Wolf: I meant to come tomorrow, but I missed Erniu so much that I decided to come earlier.

Daniu: And why is your voice so strange?

Wolf: I ’ve been ill for three months, so I ’ve lost my voice. Erniu, hurry up and open the door. I ’m getting so tired with

standing here, you bad girls. Let your granny into the house.

Erniu: Coming. (She tries to open the door)

Daniu: (In a low voice) Stop, Erniu.Mama often tells us to be careful with strangers. And we must make sure who she

really is before we let her in.