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Unit 7 The Monster by Deems Taylor. Pre-reading questions:. 1. What is a monster in your mind? 2. Do you know anyone who can be called a monster?. Background information:. 1. About the text:
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Pre-reading questions: • 1. What is a monster in your mind? • 2. Do you know anyone who can be called a monster?
Background information: 1. About the text: This text first appeared as a radio talk, entitled A Monster. Later it was published with the title Of Men and Music in the United States in 1937. 2. About the author: Deems Taylor, American musician and critic.
Richard Wagner • Richard Wagner, German composer, was born in Leipzig on May 22, 1813 and died in Venice on February 13, 1883. His operas represent the fullest musical and theatrical expression of German Romanticism. His works are hated as much as they are worshipped; but no one denies their greatness. Richard Wagner is undoubtedly one of the leading figures of the 19th century. At his time, he was already a source of debate and controversy. When Wagner died in 1883, over 10,000 books and articles were written about him.
Structural analysis: • Paragraphs 1-9: the peculiar features of a monster in his appearance and personality • Paragraph 10: who this monster really is • Paragraphs 11-13: the justification of all the peculiar behaviors of the monster
Paragraphs 1-9:the peculiar features of a monster in his appearance and personality
Word Study: • 1. undersizedadj (usu derog) of less than the usual size 较一般为小的: undersized portions of food
2. nerve n. • a)nerves[pl] (infml) condition in which one is very nervous, irritable, worried, etc; nervousness 神经紧张; 神经质: suffer from nerves, ie be easily upset, worried, etc * He has nerves of steel, ie a very calm temperament in times of stress, danger, etc. b) [U] boldness; courage 胆量; 勇气: lose/regain one's nerve
3. agonyn [U, C] extreme mental or physical suffering (精神或肉体的)极大痛苦: The wounded man was in agony. * She was in an agony of indecision. • >agonizev.(使)极度痛苦
4. delusionn 1) [C] false opinion or belief, esp one that may be a symptom of madness 幻想, 错觉: be under a delusion/under the delusion that... • 2) (idm) delusions of grandeurfalse belief in one's own importance • >deludevt. 欺骗
5. grandeurn [U] greatness; magnificence; impressiveness 伟大; 壮观: the grandeur of the mountains
6. conceitn [U] excessive pride in oneself or in one's powers, abilities, etc 骄傲; 自负: The conceit of the man -- comparing his own work with Picasso's!> conceitedadj极其自负的
7. exhaustv [Tn] a) make (a person or an animal) very tired 使…非常疲倦 • b) use (sth) up completely 用尽, 耗尽 • > exhaustedadj 极其疲倦的 • exhaustingadj令人疲倦的: It had been an exhausting day. • exhaustive adj.彻底的, 详尽的, 使枯竭的
8. conversationalistn [C] someone who talks about intelligent, amusing, and interesting things 健谈者、交谈者
9. maddeningadj very annoying使人恼火的,令人气恼的: maddening delays>maddeninglyadv • madden v. 使发疯,使发狂
10. manian [C] ~ (for sth) (infml) extreme or abnormal enthusiasm 狂热; 癖好: have a mania for sweets, for collecting things • > maniacala.发狂的,狂热的 monomanian. 偏执狂 nymphomanian. [医]色情狂
11. haranguen long, loud, serious and usu. angry speech 长篇大论﹑慷慨激昂通常为义愤填膺的演讲. • > haranguev对(某人)作慷慨激昂的演讲 • harangue sb about sthe.g. He stood on the street corner, haranguing passers-by about the stupidity of the forthcoming war.
12. volubleadj (fml derog) • (a) (of a person) speaking a lot; talkative (指人)喋喋不休的, 爱说话的. • (b) (of speech) quick, easy or fluent; glib (指说话)快的, 流畅的: voluble protests, excuses, etc • > volubilityn
13. vegetarianismn [U] the practice of not eating meat or fish素食主义 >vegetarian n. 素食者 反:carnivore n. 食肉动物
14. pamphletn [C] a very thin book with paper covers, that gives information about something小册子: a political pamphlet
15. ravev [I, Ipr] ~ (at/against/about sb/sth) talk wildly or furiously as if in a fever or mad 胡言乱语; 说胡话: The patient began to rave incoherently at the nurses. • >raven. 胡说 • raving adj [attrib] 胡言乱语的; 说胡话的 • ravingsn [pl] 胡话; 疯话
16. strickenadj formal very badly affected by trouble, illness, unhappiness etc经受或不堪(如疾病﹑悲痛)之苦的 : stricken by poverty/ poverty-strickendrought-stricken • cancer-stricken • tragedy-stricken
17. callousadj cruelly insensitive or unsympathetic 冷酷无情的; 无同情心的: a callous person, attitude, act> callously adv冷酷无情地callousness n冷酷无情
18. shudderv [I, Ipr, It] ~ (with sth) shiver violently with cold, fear, etc; tremble (因寒冷﹑ 恐惧等)发抖, 战栗: shudder (with horror) at the sight of blood • > shuddern发抖; 震动
19. grovelv (derog) (fig) [I, Ipr] ~ (to sb) (for sth) behave with a show of humility or shame 带着谦卑或羞愧的样子行事: You will just have to grovel to the bank manager for a loan. > grovelingadj 过分谦逊的; 可鄙的
20. loftyadja) [usu attrib] (of thoughts, aims, etc) noble; exalted (指思想﹑目标等)高尚的:lofty sentiments • b) (derog) seeming to be proud and superior; haughty 骄傲的; 傲慢的: in a lofty manner • > loftilyadvloftinessn [U].
21. benefactorn [C] : someone who gives money for a good purpose恩人, 捐助者: An anonymous benefactor donated $2 million. • >benefactionn. 捐助,善行
22. unscrupulousadj without moral principles 无道德原则的; 不讲道德的: unscrupulous methods, behavior • > unscrupulously adv. unscrupulousnessn [U]. • 反: scrupulousadj. 小心谨慎的, 细心的
23. infidelityn [C, U] (fml) (act of) disloyalty or unfaithfulness, esp adultery 背信; 不忠实: willing to forgive her husband's little infidelities >fidelityn. 忠诚,忠实
24. pull strings/wires (for sb) • (infml) use influential friends, indirect pressure, etc in order to obtain an advantage (for sb) 凭借私人关系﹑间接压力等谋取好处; 走後门: My father pulled a few strings to get me into the Civil Service.
25. arrogantadj behaving in a proud and superior manner傲慢的; 自大的: an arrogant tone of voice * It's arrogant of you to assume you'll win every time. • > arrogancen
26. caricaturen [C] picture, description or imitation of sb/sth that exaggerates certain characteristics in order to amuse or ridicule 漫画; 夸张的描述或模仿: draw a caricature of a politician • >caricaturev用漫画表现或夸张描述 caricaturist n. 漫画家
27. burlesquev [Tn] make a burlesque of (sb/sth); parody (以滑稽或夸张手法)模仿嘲弄 • >burlesquen.滑稽模仿, 嘲讽性作品 / adj.滑稽模仿的
Questions: • 1. Does the man’s appearance, described in the first paragraph, give one any impression of “grandeur”? • 2. What are the further evidences of the monster’s conceit? • 3. What is his attitude toward love? • 4. Why do you think Wagner made so many enemies?
28. testimonyn [U,C] written or spoken statement declaring that sth is true, esp one made under oath (书面或口头的)证词: According to the witness's testimony, you were present when the crime was committed.
Paragraphs 11-13: the justification of all the peculiar behaviors of the monster
29. stupendousadj amazingly large, impressive, good, etc 极大的; 极好的: a stupendous mistake, achievement • * The opera was quite stupendous!
30. compromise v. ~ (on/with sth) to reach an agreement in which everyone involved accepts less that what they wanted at first 妥协: His work-mates demanded that he never compromise with the bosses. • >compromisen. 妥协, 折衷
31. conceivev ~ of sth; ~ sth (as sth) form (an idea, a plan, etc) in the mind; imagine sth 想出; 构思: It was then that I conceived the notion of running away. • >conceivableadj 可想到的; 可相信的 • inconceivableadj 想象不到的
32. tormentn [U, C] severe physical or mental suffering (肉体或精神上的)折磨, 痛苦: be in great torment * suffer torment(s) from toothache • > tormentv [Tn] 使(某人)备受折磨或痛苦
Questions: What is the writer’s real intention of writing this article? What is your final conclusion about Richard Wagner?