Unit 2 Hiroshima — the “ Liveliest ” City in Japan

Unit 2 Hiroshima—the “Liveliest ” City in Japan Jacques Danvoir (para.11-27)

Contents • Revision • Detailed study (para.11-19) • Student’s presentation • Detailed study (para.20-27) • Assignment

Revision • Try to describe the scene when the author first saw the mayor with the following words: • intermezzo; heave a sigh; sketch; canal embankment; barge; moor; arresting spectacle; incessant struggle • stunning; tread; twinge; prospect; sad-eyed; overwhelm; crush; slain; linger on; agony

Para. 11-19 • 1）How did the mayor introduce Hiroshima in his speech？ • 2）Why did the faces ( of other foreigners ) grow more and more serious？ • 3）What had he expected the mayor’s speech about？ • 4) What are the writing features in these description?

Para. 11-19 • Humor: • spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible • fresh bow • Jolt me out of my sad reverie • Seriousness: • faces grew more and more serious • more and more agitated • sad reverie

The mayor’s greeting and welcome people’s bowing including the foreigners the narrator’s comment The speech of the mayor (Para. 11-19)

Para. 11-19 • After three days in Japan …extraordinarily flexible: • spinal column: • the backbone • flexible: • easily bent; pliant • Paraphrase • After three days in Japan one gets quite used to bowing to people as a ritual to show gratitude

Para. 11-19 • the faces grew more and more serious each time the name Hiroshima was repeated: • Why? • The Mayor mentioned Hiroshima repeatedly and to the author (who was suffering from a guilty conscience ) the repeated mention of the name created a suspense which he found hard to bear.

Para. 11-19 • agitated: • disturbed, upset • seldom has a city gained such world renown (replace): • seldom has a city become so world famous

Para. 11-19 • a town known throughout the world for its-oysters: • Figure of speech • anti-climax突降: • An abrupt shift from a serious or noble tone to a less exalted one--often for comic effect. • a common literary device to achieve humor, surprise, satire, etc. • Alas！Alas！What shall I do? I've lost my wife and best hat, too

Para. 11-19 • assent: • (formal) official agreement • The director has given her assent to the proposals • She is by common assent, the best person for the job. • Nobody would assent to the terms they proposed • sink in: • be fully absorbed or understood • Figure of speech

Para. 11-19 • jolt: • shock • The bus jolted to a halt. • reverie: • daydream

Para. 11-19 • Paraphrase: • I was on the point of showing my agreement by nodding when I suddenly realized what he meant. His words shocked me out of my sad dreamy thinking.

Para. 11-19 • heinous: • morally very bad, cruel • a heinous crime • humanity’s most heinous crime: • the most wicked crime mankind has ever committed

Discussion • Can you guess the mayor’s reason for mentioning seafood instead of bomb?

20-27 • Group 4

Para. 20-27 • 1) What is the author’s description of the Japanese man? • 2) What did he get from his talk with a little Japanese man？ • 3) Can you guess the reason why the mayor said Hiroshima is famous for its oysters？ • 4) Can you guess the author’s real purpose of this visit to Hiroshima?

The little Japanese’s idea Two different schools of thought The different attitudes of the Japanese preserving the traces of the bomb It hurts everybody. The reason of their doing so Getting rid of everything, even the monument. or even demolishing the museum Although hidden wounds &burns, yet still liveliest & gayest city

Para. 20-27 • I cautiouslybacked away and headed toward the far side of the room • Why ?

Para. 20-27 • I thought that Hiroshima still felt the impact of … • cataclysm: • disaster • impact: • the powerful effect • the act of one object hitting another • Paraphrase • I thought that people here had not forgotten the disaster the city had suffered.

Para. 20-27 • Because I am an old man… • Why can an old man tell this? • school: • group of people sharing the same thought • to preserve traces of the bomb: • to maintain and protect • preserve, conserve, reserve, • conserve energy, forest • reserve a seat • preserve peace

Para. 20-27 • erect: • in a vertical position • at the point of impact: • at the exact point over where the bomb exploded • demolish---destroy • to pull or knock down a building • The factory is due to be demolished next year. • They've destroyed all the evidence.

Translation • There are two different schools of thought in this city of oysters, one that would like to preserve traces of the bomb, and the other that would like to get rid of everything, even the monument that was erected at the point of impact. • 在这个以牡蛎闻名的城市里有两种截然不同的意见，一种主张保存原子弹爆炸留下的痕迹，另一种则主张销毁一切痕迹，甚至要拆除立于爆炸中心的纪念碑。

Para. 20-27 • time marches on: • things are changing; history is advancing • gay---delightful: • pleasure-loving • hidden wounds and burns: • visible and invisible scars

Discussion Why does the mayor say Hiroshima is famous for “oysters” instead of “bomb”? What can you see from the old man’s words?

Assignment • Please write a report on this text.

Unit 2 Hiroshima — the “ Liveliest ” City in Japan