The Rivals

A conversation between

Mr. Harraby-Ribston and

Mr. Crowther on a moving train

     

Time allotment

1. Cultural knowledge and relevant language expressions (4 hours) Some basic means of transportation in Britain Ways of breaking the ice in the English conversation Highland Fling Relevant language expressions2. Exercises (2 hours) Key words Translation Grammars

A passenger train is one which includes passenger-carrying vehicles. It may be a combination of one or more locomotives and one or more unpowered trailers known as cars (Am. E), carriages (Br. E) or coaches.

A carriage is an unenclosed four-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses or other draft animals.

A horse-drawn coach waits for passengers in downtown Chicago. It has a covered body with side doors. Once common through England and the USA coaches were

replaced by railroad in the 19th century as the preferred form of transportation.

In British English and Australian English, the term coach is used to

refer to a large motor vehicle for conveying passengers. A coach has a luggage hold separate from the passenger cabin. Coaches are more

used for longer trips between cities - or even between countries - where passengers may pre-book tickets for a specific journey.

English conversation can be described as an activity where two or more participants take turns at speaking. Typically, only one person speaks at a time and there tends to be an avoidance of silence between speaking turns. If more than one participant tries to talk at the same time, one of them usually stops. Politeness and silence are aspects of English gentlemanship.

In a journey, there are some ways to break the silence. (which ways?)

One protagonist, Mr. Harraby-Ribston tried to break the ice by pitching a

suitcase out of the moving train, but failed at first, why?

at a good sixty miles good: at least; more e.g. a good hour It’s a good five miles to the station.

a Mr. Crowther

a: implying that the speaker does

not know the person

e.g. A Mr. Smith wishes to speak to

you on the phone.

a sharp glance:

a brief and severe look

What does such a look mean?

No emotion of any kind is revealed.

resume his seat: go to seat again

puff: breathe quickly after carrying

heavy load

heightened color: increased color;

redder

exertion: effort made to carry load

arouse curiosity fear

anger interest

fallible: capable of making errors e.g. All humans are fallible.

infallibly: certainly, invariably, doubtlessly, without fail fallacy: a false belief e.g. It is a fallacy that everyone is equal before the law because people with money hire expensive lawyers to keep them out of jail

that being so An absolute construction as an adverbial of reason, in which “that” refers to “no conversation had followed”.

make a fool of sb make sb look stupid

in the eyes of in the opinions of

In the event of in the case of

Spelling differences between Br. E. and Am. E.

Br. E. enquiry clamour programme centre cheque draught

Am. E inquiry clamor program center check draft

buzz: make a low sound of zzz’s, the sound

produced by a fly or bee, hence an

onomatopoeic word.

refreshment: the experience of being made to

feel less tired and bored

afresh: (adv.) again

one’s due: what one deserves

give sb his due 公正对待某人 e.g. I thought he would make a mess of it, but to

give him his due, he did a good job.

one’s dues: cost of membership/sufferings

e.g. yearly dues

She paid her dues by singing in smoky night-

clubs in small towns before becoming a star.

for one’s part: to speak for oneself

e.g. For my part, I plan to go the

party even if you decide not to go.

the sight of sb doing sth

(the complex object of the preposition)

e.g. the sound of water gurgling

the sound of door opening

the smell of something burning

make a point of sth: stress sth

e.g. He made a point of promising he would repay me soon.

infringe: encroach (go where sb or sth

doesn’t belong)

e.g. Our neighbor’s fence infringes on

our land.

infringe the intellectual property rights

infringe school rules

Structure of the text Part 1 (paragraph 1-2)

Mr. Harraby-Ribston tossed his suitcase out of the moving train and the incident produced different responses in Harraby-Ribston and Crowth’s minds.

Questions on Part 1 What was the profession of Mr. Harraby-

Ribston? What did he do in front of Mr. Crowther? When Mr. Crowther saw that incident , how

did he respond? What did Mr. Crowther think might have bee

n the reason for the man’s behavior?  Why did Mr. Crowther appear so calm and

quiet?

Part 2 (paragraph 3- the end)

An exchange of words and wits between Mr. Harraby-Ribston and Mr. Crowther, presenting the quick wit displayed by both parties, and the charm of the English language used in this verbal fencing.

First round

Mr. C: Does reading in the train surprise you?Mr. H: What surprises me is that you weren’t surprised when I …

witty remarks:e.g. The only thing we have to fear is fear

itself. (E. D. Roosevelt)

Second round

Mr. C: You are very easily surprised.Mr. H: I don’t know about that. Surely, surely, my dear sir, it was, to say the least of it, an unusual sight.

I don’t know about that: show you slightly disagree with other.Surly: show you think sth must be true when others seem to be disagreeing with you

I dare say (bet): used when you are

saying that sth is probable

to the best of my recollection: as far as I

can remember

for that matter (spoken): as far as (a topic

being discussed) is concerned

e.g. I didn’t like it much. Nor did the kids,

for that matter.

What of it? (spoken): What does it matter?

Highland fling: It was created sometime during the 1700s in the Scottish Highland. It is considered a war dance as the dancers were originally military men. Highland Fling is usually performed by three or four persons to the duple rhythm music. The term "Fling" expresses the kick which characterizes the step.

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=x7vSWqgd6kw

The following several roundsMr. C: If one allowed oneself to be surprised at anything, however

insignificant, one’s whole life would consist a series of trivial

astonishments.

Mr. H: You think it an insignificant act to throw one’s suitcase out of a

railway-carriage window?

Mr. C: Totally!

Mr. H: Then what would you consider a significant act?

Mr. C: Perhaps I would have thought it significant if the suitcase has

been mine.

Mr. H: And the affairs of strangers don’t interest you?

Mr. C: Only in so far as they affect mine.

Mr. H: If you had thrown your suitcase out of the window, I should have

been curious to know why you did it.

Mr. C: I gather you are anxious to tell me why you did it.

Mr. H: Not if it wouldn’t interest you.

Mr. C: (no reply, which seems that Mr. H is outwitted in these rounds)

Mr. Harraby-Ribston began the next round by talking his marriage. And this topic leads to the final result.

Who finally wins the battle of wits?

Write out the core conversation between Mr. H and Mr. C about marriage and final result.

Quick review (Cultural knowledge)

1. train, carriage, coach

2. English conversation

3. Ways of breaking the ice

4. Highland Fling

Quick review (language difficulties) a good hour a Mr. Smith a sharp glance resume seat puff heighten color exertion arouse infallibly buzz afresh

due/duesgive sb his due pay one’s due

sfor one’s partthe sight of sb doing sthMake a point of sthinfringe I dare say (bet).to the best of my recollectionfor that matterWhat of it?

Quick review (different spellings between Br. E & Am. E)

Br. E. enquiry clamour programme centre cheque draught

Am. E inquiry clamor program center check draft

Quick review (structure)

Part 1 (1-2): incident and responses Part 2 (3- 47): a battle of words and wits 1st round --- Mr. 2nd round 3rd round 4th round . . . final result

Homework

Reading and writing Read the relevant articles on the styles of bo

th English and Chinese conversation and make a ppt on the ways of breaking the ice in the Chinese conversation.