Unit 16

1. Unit 16 1776

2. Teaching aims • 1. Improving Reading Skills----appreciating a play • 2. Enriching Vocabulary--- enlarging vocabulary • cultivating students’ sense of word building • understanding that synonyms have fine shades • 3. Improving Writing skills---portraying characters, especially psychological movement • making efficient use of elliptical sentences • making efficient use of figures of speech

3. Teaching process • Warming up • Introduction to Additional Background Knowledge • Introduction to the Passage • Detailed Study of the Text • Questions • Rhetorical Devices • Effective Writing Skills

4. I .Warming up • Have you ever read or watched any English plays? • In what way plays are different from stories?

5. II．Introduction to Additional Background • 1. Introduction to the authors • 2. Musical comedy • 3. The triangle trade

6. 1. Introduction to the authors • Peter Stone was born in Los Angesl in 1930. he studied at Bard and Yale, and wrote in France for 12 years. Later he won an Oscar for the film script of Father Goose. After the success of 1776 on Broadway, he wrote the script for its filmed version.

7. Sherman Edwards is a New Yorker, born in 1919. he was educated at New Youk University and Cornell where he majored in history. He was in the Air Force in World War Two, and taught history in high school after the war. A songwriter and occasional actor, it was history that gave him the idea for 1776.

8. 2. Musical comedy • The musicalcomedy - sometimes called simply ‘musical’ - is the chief form of popular musical theatre in the 20th-century English-speaking world. It developed from comic opera and burlesque in London at the end of the 19th century and reached its most durable form in the work of such American composers as Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin in the 1920s and 1930s.

9. Most musical comedies have a loosely constructed plot combining comic and romantic interest; the musical score usually consists of catchy or sentimental songs, ensembles and dances. The tradition continues in the work of such composers as Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

10. Closely related to the musicalcomedy is the musical play, a work with a more substantial plot and score (e.g.Bernstein's West Side Story), and the musical film, of which Harry Warren's 42nd Street (1933) is a notable example (though most musical films of this type were simply film versions of stage musicals, e.g.Rodgers's The Sound of Music).

11. The distinction between musicalcomedy and operetta is not precise; generally ‘operetta’ is taken to denote an older-style work, with a romantic story and a score using 19th-century European styles.

12. 3. The triangle trade • A slave ship left a European port for West Africa with guns, spirits and other goods for African chieftains. From the west coast of Africa, loaded with slaves, it sailed to the America. There the slaves were sold and after buying cotton, tobacco, molasses, gold and silver, etc., the ship returned to Europe. The sea routes formed a triangle, hence the name.

13. III. Introduction to the Passage • 1. Main idea • The text 1776 is about the Second Continental Congress that was convened in Philadelphia in 1776, in which the united colonies were asked to vote for their independence and the establishment of the United States. Some delegates of the congress were against the separation from Britain. Dickinson, for example, was among them, who thought Britain was the greatest empire on earth and American can enjoy its protection and share its benefits.

14. Then there were heated debates between the members against independence and those for independence, which even resulted in a fight. In order to make the vote on independence official and formal, Hancock appointed the clergyman Witherspoon Congressional Chaplain. John Adams proposed to postpone the debate because there was no written declaration of independence to vote on.

15. When they came back again on the written declaration by Jefferson, there were also arguments about amending, deleting some parts of it. Some members insisted that the abolishment of slavery should be included in the declaration. But southern states would not approve it because they seemed unable to go without slavery. Therefore, Franklin thought it was necessary to make some sacrifice or compromise to get the declaration approved unanimously. At last the Second Continental Congress witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

16. 2. Appreciation and writing features • The text is a musical comedy which provides people with an interesting history lesson. It has a noble theme and noble set of characters. The suspense, the intrigue, the courage and compromise, the richness of men, their vagaries, vanities and fears and their individual pride– all this can be observed while readers read this comedy.

17. As it is a stage play in genre, the author uses simple, plain and colloquial words and expressions are used in the talks to achieve light entertainment, sometimes archaic terms are used to obtain literary accomplishment, which suit to the age. In brief, the comedy 1776 presents to readers a clear account of how the republic was made.

18. 3. Members of the Continental CongressPresident : John HancockNew Hampshire: Josiah BartlettMassachusetts: John AdamsRhode Island: Stephen HopkinsConnecticut: Roger ShermanNew York: Lewis Morris, Robert LivingstonNew Jersey: Reverend John WitherspoonPennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin, John DickinsonJames Wilson

19. Delaware: Caesar Rodney, Colonel ThomasMcKean, George ReadMaryland : Samuel ChaseVirginia: Richard Henry Lee, Thomas JeffersonNorth Carolina Joseph HewesSouth Carolina Edward RutledgeGeorgia : Dr. Lyman HallSecretary: Charles ThomsonCustodian and Andrew McNairBell-ringer:

20. Detailed Study of the Text Understanding of Vocabulary and expressions

21. . • 词汇(Vocabulary) • abridge ( v．) :shorten by using fewer words but keeping the main contents；condense(在保留主要内容的同时)减少……的篇幅；删去；简写，精简(文章等) • custodian ( n.) :a person who has the custody or care of something，as of a private library；caretaker；keeper(私人图书馆等的)管理员，看管人 • tally ( n.) :anything used as a record for an account，reckoning，or score记帐或记分用物

22. abstain ( v．) :decline to use vote(投票时)弃权 horsefly ( n.) :any of a number of related large flies(Tabanidae)，the female of which sucks the blood of horses，cattle，etc．虻

23. quill ( n.) :the hollow，horny stem of a feather；calamus羽毛管 inkwell ( n.) :a container for holding ink，usually set in the top of a desk，inkstand，etc．(镶在桌上或墨水台上的)墨水池 holler ( v．) :[colloq．]shout or yell[口]叫喊，呼喊

24. mill ( v．) :[AmE]move slowly in a circle，as cattle，or aimlessly，as a confused crowd(often with around or about)[美](人、家畜)成群地兜圈子；乱哄哄地推挤(常与around或about连用) Quaker ( n.) :a popular name for a member of the Society of Friends：Friend 贵格会教徒(基督教新教的教友派或“公谊会”教徒的别称) distill ( v．) :remove，extract，or produce by distillation用蒸馏法提取(或生产)，由蒸馏而得；提纯；精制

25. rum ( n.) :an alcoholic liquor distilled from fermented sugar cane，molasses，etc．朗姆洒(甘蔗汁制的一种甜酒) dammit ( interj.) :amn it(used to express annoyance，disgust，impatience)该死的；他妈的 tria juncta in uno :[Latin]three joined in one[拉]三人意见统一 wart ( n.) :an imperfection，failing，flaw，etc．缺点；缺陷；瑕疵

26. portly ( adj.) :stout；corpulent肥胖的；粗壮的；魁梧的 hawkish ( adj.) :of or like a hawk像鹰一样的 bespectacled ( adj.) :wearing spectacles戴眼镜的 sycophant ( n.) :a person who seeks favour by flattering people of wealth or influece谄媚者，拍马者

27. gout ( n.) :disease with inflammation of joints，esp. of big toe [医]痛风 drowse ( v. ) :sleep lightly；be half asleep；dose打瞌睡，打盹 pappy ( n.) :[dial．or colloq．]father[方或口]爸爸 vehement ( adj.) :having or characterized by intense feeling or strong passion；fervent；impassioned，etc．热情的；热烈的；激情的

28. quietude ( n.) :a state of being quiet；rest；calmness平静，宁静 pedantic ( adj. ) :like or of a pedant学究气的，书呆子似的 festivity ( n.) :[pl．]festive proceedings；things done in celebration[复]庆祝活动，庆典 swat ( v．) :[colloq．]hit with a quick，sharp blow[口]重拍，猛击 whoop ( n.) :a loud shout，cry高叫声，呼喊声

29. absolve ( v．) :free(from a duty，promise．etc)解除(或免) 除…的(责任)；使不受(诺言等)约束 allegiance ( n.) :the obligation of support and loyalty to one’s ruler, government, or country(对统治者、政府、国家)效忠 dissolve ( v．) :end by or as by breaking up；terminate使结束，使中止

30. weasel ( n.) :a sly，cunning，or sneaky person狡猾的人，奸刁的人 intone ( v．) :speak or recite in a singing tone or in prolonged monotones；chant吟咏；吟诵；以拖长的音调说话或朗诵 brunt ( n.) :the heaviest or hardest part正面的冲击；主要的压力

31. skeptical ( adj.) :not easily persuaded or convinced；doubting；questioning难以说服的；好怀疑的 itch ( v．) :have a restless desire or hankering渴望，追求 sever ( v．) :part or break off，as by cutting or with force；cut in two切断，割断

32. cripple ( v．) :make unable or unfit to act，function effectively，etc．；disable使损伤，使丧失活动能力；削弱 muster ( v．) :gather together and display；collect；summon鼓起；振作(常与up连用) forsake ( v．) :abandon抛弃，遗弃 anarchist ( n.) :a person who believes in or advocated anarchism无政府主义者，无政府主义鼓吹者

33. redress ( v．) :set right；rectify or remedy，often by making compensation for(a wrong，grievance，etc．)纠正，矫正；补偿 treason ( n.) :violation of the allegiance owed to one's sovereign or state；betrayal of one's country叛国罪；叛逆行为 pound ( v．) :deprive of money or property by violence；loot 掠夺(某地)的财物；抢劫(某人)的财物

34. stifle ( v．) :suppress or repress；check，stop，inhibit，etc．抑制；扑灭；镇压 spawn ( vt．) :bring forth or be the source of酿成，引起 status quo :the existing state of affairs(at a particular time)(also"status in quo”)现状(亦作status in quo) seditious ( adj.) :engaging in resistence or rebellion against the government in power叛乱的

35. fugitive ( n.) :a person who flees or has fled from danger，justice，etc．逃亡者，逃犯 chaos ( n.) :extreme confusion or disorder纷乱，混乱(状态)，无秩序 reek ( vi．) :be permeated with anything very unpleasant充满(某种极不愉快的东西)(通常与of，with连用) roach ( n.) :any of an order(Blattalia)of insects with long feelers and a flat soft body(some species are common house—hold pests)蟑螂

36. aye ( adv．) :yes；yea是；当然 infernal ( adj.) :[colloq．]hateful；outrageous[口]可恨的，可恶的，讨厌的，该死的 incendiary ( n.) :a person who willfully stirs up strife. riot，rebellion，etc．煽动者 demagogue ( n.) :a person who tries to stir up the people by appeals to emotion，prejudice，etc．in order to win them over quickly and so gain power煽动者，鼓动者；蛊惑人心的政客

37. fribble ( n.) :any trifling act or thought无聊的行为或思想 whack ( vt.) :[colloq．]strike or slap with a sharp。Resounding blow[口]使劲打；重击 bedlam ( n.) :any place or condition of noise and confusion渲闹或混乱的地方或状态

38. ascetic ( adj.) : self—denying；austere苦行(主义)的，禁欲的 emblem ( n.) :a sign，badge，or device标记；徽章；像章 ditto ( n.) :the same(as something said or appearing above or before)同上，同前

39. felicity ( n.) :a quality or knack of appropriate and pleasing expression in writing，speaking，painting，etc．(措词等的)恰当，恰如其分；贴切；巧妙 anteroom ( n.) :a room leading to a larger or more important room；waiting room前厅；(来宾)接待室 inalienable ( adj.) :that may not be taken away or transferred不可剥夺的；不能转让的 levy ( v．) :wage(war)发动(战争)

40. bonny，bonnie ( adj.) :[now chiefly Scot．or Eng．dial．]fine；pleasant[现主苏格兰或英方]好的，愉快的，快活的 mercenary ( n.) :a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army外国雇佣兵 kilt ( n.) :a pleated skirt reaching to the knees；esp.，the tartan．skirt worth sometimes by men of the Scottish Highlands苏格兰高地男子和苏格兰兵团士兵穿的、方格呢制的褶裥短裙

41. antagonize ( v． ) :incur the dislike of；．make an enemy of招…的怨；引起…的反对；使…与自己为敌 august ( adj.) :inspiring awe and reverence；imposing and magnificent威严的，威风凛凛的；(建筑物等)庄严雄伟的 contention ( n.) :a statement or point that one argues for as true or valid(争论中的)论点；争论点 apoplexy ( n.) :apoplexy sudden paralysis with total or partial loss of consciousness and sensation，caused by the breaking or obstruction of a blood vessel in the brain；stroke[医]中风

42. piddle ( v．) :dawdle or trifle(sometimes with away)鬼混；游荡；偷懒(有时与away连用) abdicate ( v．) :give up formally(a high office，throne，authority，etc．)(国王)退(位)；辞(职) incite ( v．) :urge to action；stir up；rouse促成；激励；怂恿；鼓动 prostitute ( v．) :sell(oneself，one's artistic or moral integrity，etc．)for low or unworthy purposes出卖(名誉等)；为(钱)而自甘堕落

43. aroma ( n.) :a characteristic quality or atmosphere格调，风格，风味，韵味 seafaring (adj.) :of or engaged in life at sea航海的；海上生活的 elate ( v．) :raise the spirit of；make very happy，proud，or joyful使精神振奋；使欢欣鼓舞；使得意洋洋 glum ( adj. ) :feeling or looking gloomy，sullen，or morose忧郁的，闷闷不乐的，愁眉不展的

44. tavern ( n.) :saloon；bar酒馆 credential ( n.) :[usu．pl．]a letter or certificate given to a person to show that he has a right to confidence or to the exercise of a certain position or authority(常用复)证明书，介绍信；信任状；(大使等的)国书 jeopardize ( v．) :put in jeopardy；endanger使处于险境；危及，危害 fishwife ( n.) :a coarse，scolding woman粗野的女人，泼妇，悍妇

45. obnoxious ( adj.) :very unpleasant；objectionable；offensive令人非常不快的；引起反感的；讨厌的 pageant ( n.) :a spectacular exhibition，elaborate parade，etc．，as a procession with floats华丽的展览；壮观的行列 dilemma ( n.) :any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives窘境，左右为难

46. demigod ( n.) :[myth．]a lesser god；minor deity[神话]半人半神 poll (v．) :[AmE．]require each member of(a jury，committee，etc．)to declare his vote individually[美]个别征求…中成员的意见 nonentity ( n.) :a person or thing of little or no importance无足轻重的或无用的人或物

47. anonymity ( n.) :the condition or fact of being anonymous不知名，无名 reconciliation ( n.) :a reconciling和解；调解 flourish ( n.) :a decorative or curved line or lines in writing(手写花体字上的)花边，曲线 belfry ( n.) :a bell tower，esp. one that is part of a building，placed at the top(尤指建筑物顶上的)钟塔，钟楼

48. 短语 (Expressions) • stand(或get) in the way:   prevent妨碍 •  例： She is determined to succeed and won’t let anything get／ stand in her way．她决心要成功，不让任何事情妨碍她。 in aIl fairness:   You use this phrase when you are about to add a com． ment that corrects a falsa or unfair impression．完全出于公平起见。   例： In all fairness to Jack，he was just trying to be helpful．为杰克说句公平话，他只是想帮忙。 take a chance:   take a risk冒险   例： You don’t get anywhere in life without taking chances．在生活中，你不冒险就会一事无成。

49. Understanding of the text • 1. the Continental Congress: The First Continental Congress was convened from Sept. 5 to ()ct. 26, 1774 in Philadelphia. The session's most important act was the creation of the Continental Association, which forbade importation and use of British goods and proposed prohibition of colonial exports. Several petitions of grievances were sent to the king, and the meeting was adjourned until May 10, 1775. Smoke from the battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775) had scarcely cleared when the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia.

50. Armed conflict strengthened the radical element, but only gradually did the delegates swing toward independence. A Continental Army was created to oppose the British, and George Washington was appointed commander in chief. On July 4, 1776 a momentous step was taken: Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.