Unit 6 The Human Touch

1. Unit 6 The Human Touch Text A The Last Leaf

2. What is the human touch? And let’s listen to the song and get some general idea. • Let’s see some pioneers full of human touch. • In Chinese, the human touch means 人性的关怀 • Something about O’ Henry • Let’s do the exercise of part division.

3. Read the Text by yourself 15 minutes

4. Plot Development • The action or the plot is the sequence of events in imaginative works, each event causing or leading to the next. The action of an imaginative work usually proceeds according to the following pattern:

6. The Plot Development of the Last Leaf • Exposition: (part1) At the top of a three-story brick building, Sue and Johnsy built their studio. But unfortunately, Sue’s roommate Johnsy caught pneumonia. • Narrative hook: (part2) The doctor told Sue that Johnsy needed a strong will to live on

7. Rising action: (part3 and part 4) Johnsy decided that she would die when the last ivy leaf fell. Then Sue told Behrman about Johnsy’s fancy. • Climax: (part5) As Johnsy was encouraged by the last leaf that wouldn’t give in to the weather, her will to live returned.

8. Falling action: (part6)The doctor told Sue that Johnsy would recover but Behrman caught pneumonia himself and his case was helpless. • Resolution: (part7) Sue told Johnsy that Behrman had performed a kind deed without any thought of himself.

9. Symbolism • Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent things, especially in art and literature. There exist inherent and systematic analogies(类似) between the human mind and the outer world, and also between the material and the spiritual worlds.

10. As the French writer Charles Baudelaire put his doctrine(学说): “Everything, form, movement, number, color, perfume, in the spiritual as in the natural world, is significative(有意义的), reciprocal(交互的), converse(相反的), correspondent.” The French Symbolists exploited an order of private symbols in a poetry of rich suggestiveness(暗示) rather than explicit signification(含义).

11. Various poets of the Romantic Period often used private symbols in their poetry. Shelley, for example, repeatedly made symbolic use of objects such as the morning and evening star, a boat moving upstream, winding caves, and the conflict between a serpent and an eagle. Here are two symbols often used in Chinese and western culture:

12. Yang-yin Yang-yin: a Chinese symbol representing the union of the opposite forces of the Yang (masculine principle, light, activity, the conscious mind) and the Yin (female principle, darkness, passivity, the unconscious)

13. Trees “In its most general sense, the symbolism of the tree denotes life of the cosmos: its consistence, growth, proliferation, generative and regenerative process. It stands for inexhuastible life, and is therefore equivalent to a symbol of immortality” (Cirlot)

14. Let’s Appreciate the Symbolism of the Last Leaf in the Text • What is the setting in the story? • The title is the last leaf, and what is the relationship between the last leaf and the characters? • 1) What’s the relationship between the last leaf and Johnsy? • 2) What’s the relationship between the last leaf and old Behrman? • 3) Do you think the last leaf is Behrman’ masterpiece? Why? • 4)Although leaves may be the most ordinary things in the world, we can see them everyday and almost everywhere. Do you think the leaf mentioned in the text is ordinary? What’s the function of the leaf in the story?

15. What is the setting in the story? The story happens in a three-story brick building and the time is the cold rainy days in November. The main characters are Johnsy, Sue and old Behrman.

16. 1) What’s the relationship between the last leaf and Johnsy? In Johnsy’s eyes, the last leaf is the symbol of her own life and also the embodiment of death. It is the vulnerable thread connecting Johnsy and the world and when the last leaf falls, Johnsy has enough reason to give up her life. With fewer and fewer hanging on the vine, the readers become more and more be concerned about the young girl’s life. But after enduring the fierce cold weather, it is still on the vine, which encourages Johnsy’s will to live on. And a miracle happens. Johnsy recoves.

17. 2) What’s the relationship between the last leaf and old Behrman? The last leaf is painted by Behrman • 3) Do you think the last leaf is Behrman’ masterpiece? Why? Of course it is. Although Behrman is down and out in art, he drinks wine to excess and he always mock terribly at softness of others, he is sympathetic and kind in nature. He is even willing to sacrifice his own life to help others. And this is the most precious. The leaf is not only the artistic work that Behrman pursue for 40 years, but also is a symbol of his good nature. It mingled with love, kindness and precious life, which makes it the true masterpiece.

18. 4)Although leaves may be the most ordinary things in the world, we can see them everyday and almost everywhere. Do you think the leaf mentioned in the text is ordinary? What’s the function of the leaf in the story? The last leaf links the activities of both Johnsy and Behrman, so the whole plots are displayed to the reader. Besides, the leaf links the life of both people for Johnsy recovers because of the leaf and Behrman dies also because of the leaf. The old man gives his life and hope to the sick young girl.

19. Let’s Do Some Discussion about the Value of Life. • Life and death is the immortal topic discussed in literature. Life is often welcomed but death is always feared. However, everybody will face death someday in his life and death happens everyday in the world. The track of every life is different and its value varies.

20. In the text, old Berman dies. Do you think his death is valuable? • Yes. • Although the whole life of old Berman is down and out , do you think there is some value in his life? What kind of life can be valuable? • Yes, the value of Berman lies in his self-sacrifice to help others. His death gain immortal life. We can feel some warm in such cold surroundings. It is the warm of humanity and it is the light in dark.

21. Through the character of old Berman, we can see that sometimes, greatness lies in some ordinary people and ordinary things. And sometimes, death gives the world immortal power to continue life. The people who can create value to the society, families and friends are the most worshipful. I think this may be the theme conveyed by O’ Henry.

22. O. Henry is skilled at portraying some small potatoes and their complicated feelings. His design is new and delicate. The ending of his story will give you some amazement but it is logical and reasonable. The language is humorous and poetic. O.Henry’s Writing Style