The Blanket

1
The Blanket

• By Floyd Dell

2
Pre-class Work

• Read the text and think over the following
  questions.
• 1.What do you think about the blanket in the
  story? Does it have any symbolic meaning?
• 2.What are the relationships between the
  characters in the story?
• 3. What is the function of the first paragraph?
• Pick out idiomatic expressions and well-written
  sentences in the text.

3
Teaching Objectives
1
Elements of Short Stories
2
Comparison of Chinese and Western Cultures
3
Language Points
4
Elements of Short Stories

• Symbol
• Theme
• Character (Characterization)
• Setting
• Plot
• POV

Backward
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Language Points

• Absolute construction
• 1.It was a fine September night, with a thin
  white moon riding over the roof.
• 2.Hed never be hearing Granddad play like this
  again, and hed never want to sit here on the
  porch again with Granddad gone.
• (Could you find more examples of this kind from
  the text and make up a sentence with the similar
  sentence structure?)

6
Language Points

• Adverbs used for the expression of emotions of
  the speakers
• 1.prettily
• 2.coldly
• 3.defensively
• 4.reproachfully
• 5.gently
• 6.harshly
• (What is the function of these adverbs in terms
  of characterization?)

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Check on the Preview

• Answer the following questions
• 1.What is the story about?
• 2.Does the blanket have any symbolic meaning?
• 3.How many characters are there in the story?
  What are the relationships between them?
• 4.What does the boy mean by saying I mean that
  Ill give it to you, Dad-when you are old and Im
  sending you away?
• 5. What is the function of the first paragraph?
• Blank filling

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Introduction to the Text
9
Structure
Part II
Part I
Part III
Para. 1
Para. 2-9
Para. 10-24
Climax
Part IV
Para. 25-26
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Detailed Discussion of the Text Part II

• Questions concerning the details of Part II
• 1.When does the story take place?
• 2.Where does the dialogue between Granddad and
  the boy take place?
• 3.What is the blanket like? Do you think it is
  really a fine blanket?
• 4.Have you found any conflicts so far?
• 5.Does Granddad want to leave? Where can you find
  clues to the question?

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Detailed Discussion of the Text Part II

• Key words and expressions
• 1.strip n.
• 2.smooth v.
• 3.nuisance n.
• 4.tune up
• 5.(get) in the way
• 6.take oneself off
• 7.take ones leave

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Summary

• The major points of the text (Cf. the teaching
  objectives)

13
In-class Activity

• Act the story out.
• Exercise explanation.

14
Homework

• Write a logical ending for the story. Explore the
  various possibilities and provide as many endings
  as possible.

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Thank You !