(共14张PPT)
Unit 8 Literature
Lesson 1
The Last Leaf
Activate and Share
1
How much do you know about O. Henry Find some background information about him.
1. Where was O. Henry from
a. UK b. France c. USA
2. As a writer, he was most
famous for _________.
a. novels b. short stories
c. poems
3. He started the writing style
of ________.
a. surprising endings
b. humorous starts
c. sad endings
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√
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How much do you know about O. Henry
O. Henry was an American short story writer, whose stories are set in his own time, the early 20th century. Many take place in New York City and frequently feature characters with blue-collar jobs, such as policemen and waitresses. Among them, The Gift of the Magi, The Cop and The Anthem(《警察与赞美诗》) and The Last Leaf enjoy huge popularity.
Please look at the pictures and the title.
1. What can you guess from the pictures
2. What does the title refer to
The Last Leaf
Pre-reading
— Make predictions
Read the story quickly and answer the questions.
1. Who are the main characters
2. When and where did the story take place
3.What happened at the end
Read and Explore
Sue, Johnsy, the doctor, and Mr Behrman.
The story took place in November in Greenwich Village.
Mr Behrman died of Pneumonia.
Main characters
When and where
What happened at the end
characters
setting
plots
ending
Read and Explore
The structure
The
Last
Leaf
Beginning
Development
Climax
Ending
Para.
Para.
Para.
Para.
1-3
12-13
9-11
4-8
A. Johnsy’s hope
B. Johnsy is dying
D. The background
C. The truth
What happened during this period
In November, Johnsy _______.
The doctor ____.
Behrman and Sue looked out the window and found _______________.
The following day, Johnsy ______.
The doctor ______.
Mr. Behrman______.
________________________________________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
Johnsy counted the leaves on the ivy vine and thought ________.
The next morning, Johnsy_________ ______________.
The next day, Mr. Behrman ______. The janitor found _______ the day before.
A. asked to look out the window
and saw the leaf still there
B. got sick with pneumonia
C. said she might not get better
E. that she must die when the
last ivy leaf falls
G. one leaf left
F. saw the leaf was still there
D. said she would live and get better
H. was sick with pneumonia
J. died
I. Mr. Behrman in bed with pain
B
E
A
F
D
H
I
What plays the vital role in Johnsy’s survival
Plot
C
G. one leaf left
J. died
Threads/clues
How many clues/threads are used in this article What are they
The leaves
“Ten, nine, eight, seven...” (Para.4)
“Three days ago there were almost a hundred. There are only five left now.” (Para.5)
“There was just one remaining leaf.” (Para.8)
“The leaf was still there!” (Para.10)
Johnsy’s attitudes
“When the last one falls, I must go, too...” (Para.5)
“I’m tired of waiting. I want to go sailing...(Para.6)
“It will fall today. And I will die with it” (Para.9)
“It is a crime to want to die.” (Para.11)
Mr Behrman’s health
“Mr Behrman ,to be a model for her drawing. He was a failed painter.” (Para.7)
“And now I must see a fellow downstairs, Behrman. Pneumonia, too. There is no hope for him.” (Para.12)
“Mr Behrman died today.” (Para.13)
about a hundred
one left
negative
positive
healthy
dead
to Behrman
to Johnsy
Think and share
3. What do you think the story is trying to express
The story is trying to express how people love and take care of each other. It also invites readers to think about attitudes towards life.
1. What did the last ivy leaf mean
a masterpiece
the hope of life
2. Why did Sue say that the leaf on the wall was Behrman’s masterpiece
It was painted true to life that Johnsy didn’t even find it was a picture. It is the best art he ever painted because it kept Johnsy hopeful and alive.
Reflection
Life is full of ups and downs.
Always keep the
last leaf on the tree
of hope.
What do you think of the personalities of these three
characters, Johnsy, Sue and Behrman
Main Characters Personality Examples
Johnsy
Sue
Behrman
pessimistic;
stubborn
considerate;
kind; patient
ambitious;
selfless;
brave
waited to die
constantly encouraged Johnsy and attended to her carefully
For forty years he had been about to paint a masterpiece.
He sacrificed his life to save Johnsy.
“In November, a cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia, arrived in Greenwich Village.”(para.2)
“I want to go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves.”(para.6)
“Johnsy’s eyes were open, but they weren’t watching her. Instead, she stared out the window and counted backwards:’Ten, nine, eight, seven...’” (para.4)
“Didn’t you wonder why it never moved an inch when the wind blew Ah, dear, it’s Behrman’s masterpiece...”(para.13)
personification
the vividness of details
simile & personification
the surprising but logical ending
Why did O.Henry write in this way
Writing styles of O.Henry
hints:
simile (明喻)
personification(拟人)
the vividness of details
(生动的细节描写)
the surprising but logical ending(惊人但合逻辑的结局)
Thank you!