Unit 3 The Million Pound Bank-note

1
Unit 3 The Million Pound Bank-note
2
Mark Twain

• Perhaps America's best known literary figure,
  Mark Twain enjoys a popular following as much for
  his personality as for his books. Born Samuel
  Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Missouri, he was
  brought up in Hannibal where his childhood
  experiences provided the basis for the two
  masterpieces 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and
  'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'.

3

• At the age of twelve the death of his father
  forced him to leave school and take work as a
  printer's apprentice to help support the family.
  But he was quickly tired of this life and left to
  spend four years as a river pilot on the
  Mississippi - his pen name coming from the
  characteristic call of a leadsman on the river.
• In 1870, he married into an old Connecticut
  family and settled in Hartford. His worldwide
  fame allowed him lucrative????international
  lecture tours but Twain continued to write
  steadily for the rest of his life.

4
Do you know any of his works?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn Life on the Mississippi
5
Discussion

• If a rich person gives you a large amount of
  money to use as you like, what will you do with
  it?
• Have you ever made a bet with a friend? If so,
  what did you bet on? How did you feel about the
  bet after it was won or lost?

6
The Million Pound Bank-Note

• A penniless and lost young American in London
  becomes the subject of a bet between two rich and
  eccentric English gentlemen. They want to know
  how a poor man do and live with a million pound
  note. And a series of funny things happened.

7
Main Characters

• Henry a lost American businessman in
  London
• Roderick a rich Englishman, Olivers brother
• Oliver a rich Englishman, Rodericks
  brother
• Servant to the brothers
• Portia Olivers daughter
• Mr. Clemens a diner in the restaurant and
  expert on bank-notes

8
Reading
9

What does this play tell us?
The Million Pound Bank-Note Two rich men
want to know how a poor man do and live with a
million pound note. So they issue the note.And a
series of funny things happen.
10

• P.17 Line 12 That will be all.
• P.18 Line 15 Id just about given myself up
  for lost when I was spotted by a ship.
• P.21 Line 2 That ones reserved
• P.21 Line 5 And make it extra thick.
• P.21 the last line Well, we will have to take
  a chance.

11
boat, ship

• A boat is much smaller, such as a sailboat, and
  can often be steered by a single person.
• A ship is much larger and requires a crew to
  navigate.
• A vessel can be either a boat or ship.

12
The main characters What kind of person are the
characters?
13
Henry Adams
He earns his passage by working on a ship to
England.
proud
He arrived in England by accident after not
sailing his boat well.
careless
He asks for work not charity
honest
14
Oliver and Roderick
servants and not worrying about giving a stranger
a million pound bank-note
rich
prepared to bet one million pounds just for a bit
of fun
mischievous
They see that Henry is honest and proud
good judges of character
15
Make a list of useful expressions for requesting
from the play.

• Would you do (something ), please?
• May we ask?
• I wonder if youd mind ?
• Could you offer me?
• If you dont mind ,may I ask you?

16
I wonder if youd mind us asking you a few
questions .

• This is a very formal expression. In the informal
  situations, it is usually put like this , Do
  you mind if we ask you a few questions?
• Please say nothing about us calling.