Ellipsis
The Iliad for war; the Odyssey for wandering.
Contrast
Sentence analysis (1)
Passions raging round a tea-table would not have misbecome men dashing at one another in war-chariots; evolutions of patience and temper are performed at the fireside, worthy to be compared with…
?Tea-table and fireside
?War-chariot
?Sentence analysis (2)
Social martyrdoms place no saints upon the calendar.
?Social martyrdoms:
?Martyrdom: the death of people’s adherence to a religious belief.
?Social martyrdom: people who die in social conflicts.
?Saint: a person who dies because of a heroic event and is declared saint.
?Calendar: human history.
?Rhetorical device?
Part 1: The opening
◆M ain ideas
?Para.1:
?To display viewpoint;
?Further thinking.
For further thinking
◆T he author holds that great efforts are needed in ordinary domestic
settings and they should be valued highly. Do you agree?
C an you give examples to support the opinion?
Discussion results
Sentence analysis (3)
We may blind ourselves if we like, but the hatreds and disgusts that there are behind friendship, relationship, service, and indeed, proximity of all kinds, is one of the darkest spots upon earth.
?Proximity: any relationship among people who are happy to stay
together closely.
Sentence analysis (4)
The various relations of life … can not be perfectly fulfilled except in a state where there will be no occasion for any of them.
?Sentence feature
?Double negation
?Paraphrase
Sentence analysis (5)
It is no harm, however, to endeavor to see whether there are any methods which may make these relations in the least degree more harmonious now.
?Implication?
?To state his purpose of writing, that is to offer some methods for people to live in harmony.
Part 1: The opening
Main ideas
?Para.1:
?To display viewpoint;
?Further thinking.
?Para. 2:
?To state the purpose of writing.
Part 1: Vocabulary Focus
?Domestic (only before noun)
used in the home; connected with the home or family
domestic appliances
domestic chores
the growing problem of domestic violence (= violence between members of the same family)
domestic service (= the work of a servant in a large house)
?It is but commonplace to say
used before repeating a word in order to emphasize it
Nothing, but nothing would make him change his mind.
Part 1: Vocabulary Focus
?Dash, vi.
go quickly
?Fulfilled, a.
feeling happy and satisfied that you are doing something useful with your life
He doesn't feel fulfilled in his present job.
Opposite
unfulfilled
Assignment
Group-work on 9 rules in part 2. Present your understanding with: ?Examples, or,
? a role-play activity (less than 2 mins).
Part 2
Main ideas
?Part 1:
?Opening
?Part 2:
?Discuss 9 rules in detail
Watch an episode from Modern Family and try to identify the rules mentioned in the text Rule I: General Comprehension
?What is the rule about? Illustrate it with your example prepared beforehand.
A guiding rule and an essential prerequisite for harmonious relationship
E.g., Couples enjoying different pastimes
Rule I: Sentence Analysis
a thorough conviction of the difference of men is the great thing to be assured of in social
knowledge
?Conviction: a firm belief.
? A thorough conviction: not only the awareness of difference, but willing acceptance and heartfelt respect to it.
?Sometimes the difference between men may bring us some discomfort, we should always bear in mind that diversity is the source of genuine happiness.
Rule I: Sentence Analysis
it’s to life what Newton’s law to astronomy
?Analogy:
The author compares two branches of knowledge: social knowledge and Physics. ?Paraphrase:
This is a principle as essential for social awareness as Newton’s law for physics.
Rule I: Sentence Analysis
sometimes men have the knowledge of it with regard to the world in general…into those they live with.
?Paraphrase:
Men know that they should tolerate and respect difference when they are faced with
conflicts and issues of a more general and universal nature, but when dealing with
people who live with them, it seems that they have forgotten that principle and based their judgment all on their own experience and feeling.
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Fancy
fancy (that)… (literary) to believe or imagine something
She fancied (that) she could hear footsteps.
?Alike
[not before noun] very similar
My sister and I do not look alike.
Airports are all alike to me.
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Conviction, n.
[countable, uncountable]
conviction (that…) a strong opinion or belief
strong political/moral convictions
She was motivated by deep religious conviction.
a conviction that all would be well in the end
?Distress, v.
to make somebody feel very worried or unhappy
distress somebody It was clear that the letter had deeply distressed her.
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Might as well
may/might (just) as well do something
to do something because it seems best in the situation that you are in, although you may not really want to do it
If no one else wants it, we might as well give it to him.
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Interfere, vi,
1. to come into opposition or collision so as to hamper, hinder, or obstruct someone or
something: Constant distractions interfere with work.
2. to take part in the affairs of others; meddle:
to interfere in someone's life.
? Which sense is more appropriate in this context?
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Resolve, n. [uncountable] (formal)
strong determination to achieve something
Synonym:
resolution
The difficulties in her way merely strengthened her resolve.
It was a test of his stamina and resolve.
She did not weaken in her resolve.
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Ridicule, v.
ridicule somebody/something to make somebody/something look silly by laughing at them or it in an unkind way
Synonym
make fun of
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Indulge
[intransitive, transitive] to allow yourself to have or do something that you like,
especially something that is considered bad for you
indulge in something
They went into town to indulge in some serious shopping.
She has never been one to indulge in gossip.
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Perpetual, a.
[usually before noun] frequently repeated, in a way that is annoying
Synonym:
continual
How can I work with these perpetual interruptions?
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Pursuits
[countable, usually plural] something that you give your time and energy to, that you do as a hobby Synonym
hobby, pastime
outdoor/leisure/artistic pursuits
Rule I: Vocabulary Focus
?Perception
[uncountable, countable] (formal) an idea, a belief or an image you have as a result of how you see or understand something
a campaign to change public perception of the police
perception that…There is a general public perception that standards in schools are
falling.
perceive, v.
Rule 2: Comprehension Questions
?What is a “stock subject of disputation”?
Set topics from which frequent quarrels emerge.
?An episode from Modern Family, then discussion
?What is “mortified vanity”?
Rule II: Vocabulary Focus
?Vanity, n.
pride in appearance, or other aspects, usu. Disapproving ?Standing, a.
existing or arranged permanently, not formed or made for a particular situation
a standing army
a standing committee
It's a standing joke (= something that a group of people regularly laugh at ?Drift, v.
[intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to happen or change, or to do something without a particular plan or purpose
I didn't intend to be a teacher—I just drifted into it.
He hasn't decided what to do yet—he's just drifting.
The conversation drifted onto politics.
Rule III: General Comprehension
?How do you understand Dr. Johnson’s saying?
?What is the purpose for the author to mention contention between lawyers and politicians?What is the author’s attitude toward reasoning?
From the last sentence of para.6----the author believed that reasoning may not be the best solution; but it isn’t the worst either. At least, reasonable reasoning can prevent people from flying into rage. Don’t drive things too far. ?Examples to illustrate the rule
Rule III: Vocabulary Focus
?Recollect
(not used in the progressive tenses) (rather formal) to remember something, especially by making an effort to remember it
Synonym
recall
?Contention (formal)
[uncountable] angry disagreement between people
Synonym: dispute
One area of contention is the availability of nursery care.
a point of contention
Rule IV: Comprehension
?There is a simile in para.7: “It would be like living between the glasses of a microscope.”
Can you explain it? How would it feel like?
?To live a life with a critical companion is like living under close inspection. It sure feels
awful to be challenged by the intimate ones all day long.
But these self-elected judges, like their prototypes, are very apt to have the person they judge brought before them in the guise of culprits.
?What kind of thoughts about others do these self-elected people have? ?From the last sentence of para.7, these self-elected people tend to assume in the first place that the person of their criticism or judgment is indeed a wrongdoer. ?“Criticism over the shoulder “
Criticism after the matter has been finished
?Why such sentences remind people of “dissertations”?
It is an analogy. During preparation of a dissertation, a student would be encountered a lot of revisions. The supervisor would give lots of comments for revision after the
student finishes one draft. It is just an example of “criticism over the shoulder”, which we suffer a lot.
Rule IV: Vocabulary Focus
?Companion
a person or an animal that travels with you or spends a lot of time with you
travelling companions
Geoff was my companion on the journey.
(figurative) Fear was the hostages' constant companion.
?Be apt to
likely or having a natural tendency to do something
apt to be…apt to be forgetful/careless
apt to do something Babies are apt to put objects into their mouths.?Provoking, a. Provoke, v
provoke somebody (into something/into doing something)| provoke somebody to do something to say or do something that you know will annoy somebody so that they react in an angry way The lawyer claimed his client was provoked into acts of violence by the defendant.
Be careful what you say—he's easily provoked.
?Scrap
[countable] a small piece of something, especially paper, cloth, etc
She scribbled his phone number on a scrap of paper. (figurative) scraps of information
(figurative) She was just a scrap of a thing (= small and thin).?Dissertation
dissertation (on something) a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree
?Call to mind
bring/call somebody/something to mind (formal)
Synonym: recall
1 to remember somebody/something
She couldn't call to mind where she had seen him before.
2 to remind you of somebody/something
The painting brings to mind some of Picasso's early works.
Rule V: Sentence Analysis
?What kind of situation is described in the 2nd sentence?
?Explain : “There is no place, however, where real politeness is of more value than where we mostly think it would be superfluous.”
?The place where we think politeness might be unnecessary is actually the place where we should mind our manners most, because it is always in such a place or on such an
occasion one’s genuine personality is revealed.
Rule V: Vocabulary Focus
?Swallow up: completely cover/overtaken by
?Courtesy
[uncountable] polite behaviour that shows respect for other people
Synonym
politeness
I was treated with the utmost courtesy by the staff.
We asked them, as a matter of courtesy, if we could photograph their house.
It's only common courtesy to tell the neighbours that we'll be having a party (= the sort of behaviour that people would expect).
?Behind one’s back
when one is not present
?Plainly
using simple words to say something in a direct and honest way
He told her plainly that he thought she was making a big mistake.
To put it plainly, he's a crook.
?Associate, n.
a person that you work with, do business with or spend a lot of time with
business associates
a close political associate of
The company is called Landor Associates.
He was known to be one of the convicted man's associates.
Rule VI:
?What is the rule about? Explain the first sentence.
Don’t assume that you can know more about your friend than they are willing to share, and don’t expect that they can know you thoroughly.
?What is the implication of the author’s reference of what Hazlitt said??People tend to, especially in some occasions, believe that they have a full and complete understanding of others.
Rule VI: Vocabulary Focus
?Arrogant
behaving in a proud, unpleasant way, showing little thought for other people ?Infinite
without limits; without end
an infinite universe
Opposite
finite
?Catch a glimpse of
glimpse (of somebody/something)| glimpse (at somebody/something) a look at
somebody/something for a very short time, when you do not see the person or thing
completely
He caught a glimpse of her in the crowd.
I came up on deck to get my first glimpse of the island.
Fans crowded the street outside waiting for a glimpse of their hero.
Rule VII:
?What is an appropriate sub-heading for these two paragraphs?
About Temper
?Why are people who have reticence more secure benefits to society than cheerful people?
What is the author’s attitude towards them?
?Because those who have reticence won’t cause or make worse any conflict between people. They incline to keep their thoughts to themselves and keep silent. And also, they don’t pass on hasty and uncharitable speeches. Instead, they leave other people the
largest possible space in life and reduce the possibility of quarrel to the minimum level. Rule VII:
?What is the best way to respond a person of ill-temper according to the author??The best way is to be impassive when meeting with ill-tempered people. If both are sensitive, they would irritate each other with escalating rage.
Rule VII:
?Explain the usual laws of supply and demand. Why does the supply of temper follow the same principle as in the laws of supply and demand?
?The usual laws of supply and demand tell that supply should be decided by demand and when demand dwindles, supply will shrink accordingly. The same can be applied to
temper. When an ill-tempered person meets little response, his temper will ebb.
Rule VII: Vocabulary Focus
?Beware of
(used only in infinitives and in orders) if you tell somebody to beware, you are warning them that somebody/something is dangerous and that they should be careful
beware of somebody/something
Motorists have been warned to beware of icy roads.
beware (of) doing something Beware of saying anything that might reveal where you
live.
beware somebody/something It's a great place for swimming, but beware dangerous
currents.
said, made or done very quickly, especially when this has bad results
Synonym
hurried a hasty departure/meal/farewell
The army beat a hasty retreat.
Let's not make any hasty decisions.
She regretted her hasty words the moment she'd spoken.?Mischief, n. [uncountable]
bad behaviour (especially of children) that is annoying but does not cause any serious damage or harm
Those children are always getting into mischief.
It's very quiet upstairs; they must be up to some mischief!
make mischief
?to do or say something deliberately to upset other people, or cause trouble between them
?Look on
to watch something without becoming involved in it yourself
Passers-by simply looked on as he was attacked. related noun onlooker ?Intimacy
[uncountable] the state of having a close personal relationship with somebody
The old intimacy between them had gone for ever.?Irritability, n.
?adj., irritable, getting annoyed easily; showing your anger
Synonym: bad-tempered
to be tired and irritable
an irritable gesture
?Irritably, adv.
Rule VIII:
?… do not make a bad use of the knowledge which they have gained of each other by their intimacy
Do not give up/tell others information about your intimates
?… and did it not mostly proceed from mere carelessness it would be superlatively ungenerous.
If the secret was not been told accidentally for the most time, it would be extremely mean (to do this).
?The written life of a man
Rule VIII: Vocabulary Focus
?Ungenerous
generous
kind in the way you treat people; willing to see what is good about somebody/something
a generous mind
He wrote a very generous assessment of my work.
cf. Mean
In company with
in company with somebody/something
?(formal) together with or at the same time as somebody/something
She arrived in company with the ship's captain.
The US dollar went through a difficult time, in company with the oil market.
Rule IX
?What is this rule about? Why is it so important?
Respect tastes of others, or their cherished pastimes
?… a result of our whole being rather than a part of our nature
? A result of our endeavor and upbringing, but not only derived from our natural inheritance
Rule IX: Vocabulary Focus
?Give way to
give way (to somebody/something)
to stop resisting somebody/something; to agree to do something that you do not want to do
He refused to give way on any of the points.
?Refined
(of a person) polite, well educated and able to judge the quality of things; having the sort of manners that are considered typical of a high social class
Synonym
?cultured,
Beneath his refined manners and superficial elegance the man was a snake.
Opposite
?unrefined
?Subtle, a.
(often approving) not very noticeable or obvious
subtle colours/flavours/smells, etc.
There are subtle differences between the two versions.
The fragrance is a subtle blend of jasmine and sandalwood.
She's been dropping subtle hints about what she'd like as a present.
Subtlety
?Sympathy
[uncountable, countable, usually plural] the feeling of being sorry for somebody;
showing that you understand and care about somebody's problems
to express/feel sympathy for somebody
I have no sympathy for Jan, it's all her own fault.
I wish he'd show me a little more sympathy.
Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victims of the war. (formal) May we offer our
deepest sympathies on the death of your wife.
Part 2
Main ideas
?Part 1:
?Opening
?Part 2:
?Discuss 9 rules in detail
Part 3
Main ideas
?Part 1:
?Opening
?Part 2:
?Discussion of rules
?Part 3:
?Conclusion
Part 3: Conclusion
?Can you name some of the “Great principles of Christianity”? Why would the author mention them in the first place?
?… as form does between matter and spirit, moulding the one and expressing the other just like the role “form” plays in the relation of “matter” and “spirit”: “form” can decide
the shape of “matter” and embody “spirit”
Part 3: Vocabulary Focus
?Observation
[countable] observation (about/on something) (formal) a comment, especially based on something you have seen, heard or read
Synonym: remark
He began by making a few general observations about the report.
She has some interesting observations on possible future developments.?Precaution
precaution (against something) something that is done in advance in order to prevent problems or to avoid danger
safety precautions
precautions against fire
You must take all reasonable precautions to protect yourself and your family.
I'll keep the letter as a precaution.
Cf. warning
?Insight
[countable, uncountable] insight (into something) an understanding of what something is like
The book gives us fascinating insights into life in Mexico.
I hope you have gained some insight into the difficulties we face. ?Mould, v.
[transitive] to strongly influence the way somebody's character, opinions, etc. develop mould somebody/something
The experience had moulded and coloured her whole life.
mould somebody/something into somebody/something
He moulded them into a superb team.
Discussion Questions
?Which rule in this article has left with you the most profound impression? How do you think it can change your life for the good? Consider pre-reading questions again:
?Do you believe that living is an ART, or that living with others requires an ART?
?Do you think courtesy or politeness is still valid as a code of conduct?