Get to know a famous novelist and figure out the reason for writing these letters.
1. Learn the basic elements of a book review by analyzing the structure of the passage.
2. Understand the meaning of festivals by further thinking of the title.
To write a letter to recommend the book .
Extended goal
Challenging goal
Fast reading
Detailed reading
writing time: recommendation letter
Basic goal
Learning Objectives
1. Yes,I have. They are fantastic and full of imagination.
2. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is strongly influenced by his personal World War experience in 1916,which had an impact on the novel’s.
Answer questions.
1. What is Letters from Father Christmas about ?
2. Why did Tolkien write these letters?
Letter from Father Christmas is a collection of Tolkien's letters to his four children at Christmas. The letters told wonderful stories about Father Christmas's life and adventures at the North Pole.
Tolkien wrote these letters because he wanted to keep Father Christmas alive for his four children.
Which of the sentences best explains the title of the passage?
1. The real Father Christmas was actually Tolkien himself.
2. Tolkien is the real Father Christmas, because he wrote letters using the name “Father Christmas”.
3. Tolkien’s love and care for his children make him very like Father Christmas.
What does the “real” imply in the title?
Tolkien behaved like Father Christmas.
Anyone who is giving is the real Father Christmas.
Match the main idea with each paragraph.
Para. 1 A. The stories in the letters.
Para. 2 B. The basic information about those letters.
Para. 3 C. The magic of Father Christmas.
Para. 4 D. The true spirit of giving at Christmas time.
Para. 5 E. Letters from Father Christmas and its writer.
Letters from Father Christmas
J.R.R. Tolkien
a North Pole stamp
a handwritten letter from Father Christmas
Father Christmas's life and adventures at the North Pole
climbed the North Pole
fell through the roof
how he could not stop his helpers playing games
Summary(课文语法填空)
Maybe Letters from Father Christmas is the perfect book for those 1. ____
regard Christmas as a special time of year. The author, J. R. R. Tolkien, is one of
the most famous 2. ______ (name) in English literature.
Every Christmas, an envelope with a North Pole stamp arrived. It 3. ____
__________ (address) to Tolkien’s children. Inside, they would find a handwritten
letter from Father Christmas. The letters were also 4. __________ (beautiful)
illustrated—each must have taken its true author, Tolkien, a long time 5. __
_________(complete). ?
who
names
was
addressed
beautifully
to
complete
In one letter, Father Christmas complained 6. _____ how he could not stop his
helpers 7. _______ (play) games with the toys instead of wrapping them up.
Interestingly, the letters did not contain the usual 8. ________ (warn) to children
that they might not receive their presents if they were not good. The letters did,
however, change as Tolkien’s children got 9. _____(old).
By expressing love for his children in such a special way, Tolkien may indeed
have been 10. ___ real Father Christmas.
about
playing
warnings
older
the
Write a letter to recommend the book to your friend-Tom,giving at least two reasons for recommendation.
Assignment:
Dear Tom ,
Dear Tom,
I’m more than delighted to recommend the book-Letters from Father Christmas by G.R.R. Tolkien to you ,which kept me reading all night. Below are several reasons for my high recommendation.
First of all, ________________________________________________
_________________________________
What’s more, _____________________________________________
_________________________________________
Last but not least, __________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________
In conclusion, the book is well worth reading again and again.
Yours ,
sincerely
it is letters’ beautiful language that appeals to me,
driving me to read without stop.
letters are all beautifully illustrated and handwritten,
showing Tolkien’s strong love for his children.
it informs us of the wonderful stories about
which leads us to a mysterious world.
Father Christmas’s life and adventures at the North Pole ,
Christmas Day, on December 25, is one of the most festive (喜庆的) Christian holidays in many countries around the world. It celebrates Jesus' birth.
Christmas Day is a holiday in many countries. Many homes have Christmas trees and other decorations in the weeks leading to Christmas Day. Some workplaces hold Christmas parties prior to December 25. Festive (节日的) activities include exchanging presents, singing Christmas songs, going to parties.
It's a special time when children get presents from family, friends and Santa Claus, or Father Christmas. Christmas cards are also given or sent out prior to Christmas Day.
For some, Christmas is an exclusive (专属的) family affair, while others invite friends to a Christmas buffet or pot luck meal. Churches have special services and may include a crèche (育婴堂) or miniature (微型的) Nativity (耶稣诞生) scene.
date
decorations
celebrations
food
The Hobbit is a children’s fantasy novel. It was published on 21 Sept. 1937. The book remains popular and is recognized as a classic in children’s literature. Personal growth and forms of heroism are central themes of the story. The work has many adaptations for stage, screen, radio, board games and video games.
The Lord of Rings is an epic high fantasy novel. The story began as a sequel (续集) to The Hobbit, but eventually developed into a much larger work. Written in stages between 1937 and 1949, The Lord of the Rings is one of the best-selling novels ever written, with over 150 million copies sold.
In 1925, while the Tolkien family was at the beach, young Michael lost his beloved little toy dog. To comfort him, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote Roverandom, a story about a real dog who is turned into a toy by a wizard. The boy is transported to the moon along a path of light over the sea, encountering dragons and whales before he asks the wizard to undo the spell. (解除咒语)
Letters from Father Christmas is a collection of Tolkien’s letters to his four children at Christmas. The letters told wonderful stories about Father Christmas’s life and adventures at the North Pole.
Tolkien wrote these letters because he wanted to keep Father Christmas alive for his four children.
shaky handwriting and beautiful illustrations(插图)
*handwritten letters
*changed as children got older
Write an introduction to your favourite festival just like the following one.
Assignment: