Unit four A Dream of an Hour

Pre-reading activities 1.Have you got moments when people might impose upon you? For example, you parents expect you to specialize in the major that they think is very important? And how do you look to it? 2. Do you have any intense inner desires in your life? And do you keep yourself from listening to your inner desires and why?

About the author Kate Chopin Kate Chopin scandalized the 19th century and triggered a revolution in the 20th. She set her stories in New Orleans and in the bayous and backwaters of Louisiana—a lush Creole world that awakened desire and longings for freedom. Lost for over half a century, her fiction has been unearthed and rediscovered for our time.

This Louisiana Public Broadcasting production revisits the life and work of renowned nineteenth-century Louisiana author Kate Chopin. She is best known for her work The Awakening, the story of a woman's self- realization that shocked the Victorian establishment. Actress Kelly McGillis (Witness) narrates the documentary and actress JoBeth Williams (The Big Chill) reads passages from Chopin's fiction.

A native of Missouri, Kate O'Flaherty married Oscar Chopin, the son of a wealthy Louisiana cotton grower, in 1870 and moved to New Orleans. They later relocated with their six children to the Chopin family home near Cloutierville in Natchitoches Parish. In 1882 Oscar died of swamp fever, and Kate and the children moved back to St. Louis, where she began writing to support the family. Nearly all of her work is set in the areas around New Orleans, Grand Isle and Natchitoches, and provides a vivid window into Louisiana life near the turn of the century.

Her early stories were well-received nationally and earned her literary fame as a "local colorist," even appearing in the first issue of Vogue. However, her career was devastated when The Awakening was published in It drew a storm of criticism for its "shocking, morbid, and vulgar" story and quickly went out of print. The novel was not resurrected until the 1950s, when its importance was recognized by participants in the growing women's movement. Today The Awakening is among the five most-read American novels in colleges and universities and is considered an early example of American realism.

A chronology of key events in Kate Chopin's life  Kate Chopin (Katherine O'Flaherty) born on February 8 to Thomas O'Flaherty, an Irish immigrant, and Eliza Faris, a Creole  Kate's father dies in a rail accident. Kate begins school at Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis  Kate's great-grandmother, Victoire Verdon Charleville, dies. Kate's half-brother, George O'Flaherty, a Confederate soldier, dies of typhoid fever  Kate graduates from the Academy of the Sacred Heart  Kate visits New Orleans in the spring.

1870  Kate marries Oscar Chopin on June 9 in St. Louis. Their honeymoon in Europe is cut short by the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War. The couple moves to New Orleans in October  Jean Chopin, the first of Kate's six children, is born on May  Oscar Chopin Jr. born  The Chopins move to the Garden District of New Orleans, and visit Grand Isle in the summer  Oscar's cotton business fails, and the Chopins move to Cloutierville, Louisiana. Lelia Chopin born  Kate's husband dies of malaria  Kate moves back to St. Louis.

1885  Eliza O'Flaherty, Kate's mother, dies in June  Kate writes her first poem, 'If It Might Be,' and begins the story 'Euphraisie.' 1889  "If It Might Be" is published in the literary and political journalAmerica. Two stories, "Wiser than a God" and "A Point at Issue" published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch  Kate's first novel, At Fault, is published privately  Kate unsuccessfully submits the novel Young Dr. Gosse to several publishers. She later destroys the manuscript  "Désirée's Baby" published in Vogue  Bayou Folk published. Kate writes "Story of an Hour."

1895  "Athénaise" written  "Athénaise" published  A Night in Acadie published. Kate begins work on The Awakeningin June  Kate completes The Awakening in January  The Awakening is published, to scathing reviews  Kate writes "The Gentleman from New Orleans", and is listed in the first edition of Who's Who in USA  Kate visits the Louisiana Purchase Exposition on August 18, where she suffers a stroke. She dies two days later.

If you didn't know Kate Chopin had lived there for a time, you might never have heard of or driven through Cloutierville with a second glance. Located along the Cane River in Natchitoches Parish in Northwest Louisiana, Cloutierville (pronounced Cloochyville) is approximately 260 miles from New Orleans. Kate Chopin described Cloutierville in one of her stories as, "This little French village was simply two long rows of very old frame houses, facing each other closely across a dusty roadway." 1 The quiet town hasn't changed much since Chopin's day and it still stands as a town set in the past, charmingly out of place in the modern day.

Cloutierville was founded in 1822 by a Frenchman named Alexis Cloutier who hoped to make it the center of a new parish (county) but instead it remained very small. As I looked down the same small, once dusty but now paved, road there was no one to be seen, not even a designated parking place for visitors, just the grass by the side of the road.

Kate Chopin and her husband Oscar lived in this house for approximately four years. They moved from New Orleans in 1878, when Oscar's business as a cotton factor failed, due to the fact that his cotton yields were so small. He suffered terrible financial losses, which seemed to follow him for the remainder of his life. Oscar bought a comfortable two story home in Cloutierville. He borrowed money to buy a general store, which sold just about everything one could need. Although it became very popular with the other residents, it is uncertain how lucrative it was considering he was too lenient in giving credit.

Kate Chopin became a distinct presence in the town. She was popular with the other townspeople but nonetheless remained an enigma, even to this day. Some of Oscar's relatives lived in the town, so Kate apparently assimilated quickly and felt part of Cloutierville, "Her home became the center of social life. Her inherited esprit or gaiety made her the delight of her social equals–affectionately admired and approved her tact {and} her musical and conversational talents." 2 However, besides her engaging qualities, some locals did not understand her and thought her husband gave her too much independence and sovereignty over her own behavior and whims. Kate was notorious for her unconventional manner of dress, especially in her horseback riding apparel, described as a " a fantastic affair a close fitting habit of blue cloth, the train fastened up at the side to disclose an embroidered skirt, and the little feet encased in pretty boots with high heels. A jaunty little jockey hat and feather, and buff gloves rendered her charming. " 3 She was both cosmopolitan in her appearance as well as with her wit and intelligence. Her big presence in a small town was not always compatible.

Oscar, a rather delicate man, died suddenly from Swamp Fever in 1882 leaving Kate, a young widow at the age of thirty one years old, to raise their six children alone. There have been speculations as to why she never remarried, possibly for the independence and control she gained of herself and her body, another is that she loved Oscar too much, or her writing became her new love and interest. Kate Chopin was infamous, as our guide confirmed, for having an affair with a local resident, Albert Sampite, apparently after Oscar died. It seems to have been well known throughout the town. " The general talk was that he was in love with the pretty widow, and there were those who believed that she, too, was in love with him." 4 Supposedly Kate was the reason for Albert's failed marriage. Although Kate is known for writing about unfulfilled women, especially housewives, who need and struggle for freedom and truth, it appears Kate loved Oscar very much and he gave her the freedom and independence she craved. But because of the nature of her stories, which paint a rather different portrait of her, one wonders if Kate Chopin had another side to her, one that was less than content.

The curator of the Chopin home, Amanda Chenault, showed me around on a very hot August day. Needless to say, there was no air conditioning inside. The home is white with green trim. There are large first and second story porches on the home. The Chopin family lived on the second floor where the breezes were stronger. There is a Bayou Folk Museum on the first floor that entails remnants and memorabilia of former Cloutierville residents with a brief history of the town. Many of the artifacts show their faces through a glass casing. It was very warm as the tour began and I found myself the only visitor that day. Overall, the home gave the appearance of being quite large. The structure of the home, the floors and walls were in their original state, but almost all of the furniture were period pieces and not the property of the Chopin family. The rooms were rather close together and I pictured the six Chopin children playing and romping around indoors on a rainy day. How chaotic it must have been trying to keep them all entertained.

Graciously, Amanda gave me ample time to view the home and its premises. The stairs pointing to the spacious attic were a long ascent upward and the heat was practically unbearable. The screen porch at the rear of the house was my favorite room in the home; it was so quaint and I could imagine Kate sitting there relaxing while she took a few moments for herself in solitude. There is an aura of family happiness in the home. It seems she was happy in the years she lived in Cloutierville. Although, I would speculate Kate probably would have been happy and creative anywhere.

After Oscar died, Kate was able to carry on with the business successfully for more than a year and pay off most of his debts. Kate left Cloutierville and finally gave into the insistence of her mother who wanted Kate and the family to return to St. Louis. She may have wanted to put the scandal between her and Albert behind her and move on. Unfortunately, her mother died shortly afterward, a year or so following Kate's arrival. Kate experienced much grief from the deaths of her loved ones over her lifetime. Because of her strength and the support of family and friends, she was able to thrive as a woman, mother, and most of all a great writer. What is so interesting is that many of her stories are written about Louisiana and Natchitoches Parish and only a handful about St. Louis. However, they were not written while she lived in Cloutierville, but in St. Louis. Her heart still seemed irrevocably connected to Louisiana. There was something important to her in her time spent there. She was persuaded to write by a long time friend, Dr. Kolbenheyer, and perhaps because of financial as well as artistic need. Kate published her first poem in 1889 after which her writing career blossomed.

In 1904, Kate Chopin died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of fifty three. At this time, her writing career was considered scandalous and her writings were banished because of her subject matter. Kate Chopin died never knowing the praise she was to receive. She lived and died before her time. It was not until many years passed that interest in her work was revived and the spirit of her writing fully recognized for its true worth. Kate Chopin certainly left her mark on Cloutierville as well as the rest of the world. The Chopin Home and Bayou Folk Museum are well worth a visit where for a few moments you can forget time and perhaps catch a glimpse of her walking, as she often did, through the town on the dusty road leaving her footprints behind for those willing to see them.

Language point:

afflict afflict vt. to bring great harm or suffering to someone 使苦恼, 痛苦, 折磨 be afflicted with a conscience 受良心的指责 afflicting 痛苦的 affliction n. 痛苦, 折磨, 忧伤 ; 苦恼 ; 困苦, 不幸 bear up under affliction 忍受苦难, 不屈不挠 afflictive adj. 带给人痛苦的, 苦恼的, 难受的

break to break sth. to sb./break to sb. sth: to make sth. known to sb., as news: 泄露，透露：告知， 如消息 break a story to him 透露一则新闻给他 break: to find the solution or key to ; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of: 破解，解决：找到 … 的解决办法或答案；揭 开 … 的基本成分或暴露 … 的排列方式： break a code; break a spy ring. 破译密码；破 坏间谍网

veil a veil of secrecy. 神秘的遮盖物 v.tr. （及物动词） Dense fog veiled the bridge. 浓雾笼罩着 桥 He tried his best to veil the secrecy, but in vain.

assure To inform positively, as to remove doubt: 向 … 保证：告知确实如此，以解除怀疑： assure us that the train would be on time. 向我们保证火车将会准时到达 To cause to feel sure: 使确信： assure her of his devotion. 使她确信他的挚爱

To make certain; ensure: 确实；保证： “Nothing in history assures the success of our civilization”(Herbert J. Muller) “ 历史上没有任何东西保证我们文明的胜 利 ”( 赫伯特 J. 马勒 )

assurance n. 确信, 断言, 保证, 担保 give sb. an assurance that... 给某人保证 have full assurance of 完全相信 with assurance 有把握地, 自信地

assured adj. 确实的, 确定的 assuredly adv. 确实地, 确信地 assurer n. 保证人, 保险业者

hasten fanned the wet paint to hasten drying. hasten to deny sth. hasten forward hastily adv. hastiness n. 火急, 性急, 轻率

hasty adj. a hasty conclusion 草率的结论 hasty pudding [ 美 ] 玉米粥 ; [ 英 ] 面糊, 麦片糊 He was sorry for his hasty words. 他对他在生气时说的话表示后悔。

bear v. Translation: bear a scar on the left arm. She bore herself with dignity. bear heavy responsibilities. bear his lying. plants bearing flowers.

Answers: 左臂上有伤痕 （带有） 她举止高贵（具有 … 性质；显示） 责任重大（对 … 负责；承担责任）： 忍受他的谎言 会开花的植物（生育，结果实等）

bear, endure, stand, abide, suffer, tolerate 用于承受痛苦，经历困难时，把这些动词 进行比较：

Bear pertains broadly to capacity to withstand Bear 更多地适用于承受的能力： “Man performs, engenders, so much more than he can or should have to bear. That's how he finds that he can bear anything” (William Faulkner). “ 人类所做的和引起的事情远远比他能够或必须承 受的要多得多。那就是他如何发现了他能够忍受 一切 ” （威廉 · 福克纳）。

endure specifies a continuing capacity to face pain or hardship: endure 尤指长期面对痛苦、 艰难的能力： “Human life is everywhere a state in which much is to be endured and little to be enjoyed” (Samuel Johnson). “ 无论在何处，人类生活总是忍受的苦难多，享受 的欢乐少 ” （塞缪尔 · 约翰逊）。

stand implies resoluteness of spirit: stand 指精 神上坚毅，有决心： Actors who can't stand criticism shouldn't perform in public. 受不了批评的演员不应在公众中演出。

“abide” and the more emphatic “suffer” suggest resignation and forbearance: Abide 及语气更强烈的 suffer 指顺从、听 任、容忍、自制： She couldn't abide fools. 她最不能与蠢人打交道。 He suffered their insults in silence. 他默默忍受他们所施加的伤害。

Tolerate, in its principal application to something other than pain, connotes reluctant acceptance despite reservations: Tolerate 主要用于指除痛苦之外的一些事情，含 有尽管保留但勉强接受之意 Sell the bear's skin before one has caught the bear.[ 谚 ] 熊未捉到先卖皮 ( 意指过早乐观 ) 。 take a bear by the tooth 胆大妄为, 作不必要的冒险

abandon abandon, v.tr. （及物动词） To withdraw one's support or help from, especially in spite of duty, allegiance, or responsibility; abandon a friend in trouble. 抛弃处于危难中的朋友

abandon oneself to 沉缅于, 陷入 They abandon themselves to drinking. 他们沉湎于饮酒。 The girls jumped up and down and waved their arms with abandon ( 放肆 ; 放纵 ; 尽情 ; 任意 ) 那些女孩子跳上跳下尽情地挥舞着手臂。

abandoned adj. 被弃的 ; 放纵的 ; 无耻的 ; 邪恶的 ; 报废的, 废弃的 abandoned ship 被弃的船 an abandoned criminal 一个罪犯 an abandoned character 无耻之徒

abandonment n. 放弃 ; 废弃 normal abandonment 正常报废 abandonment of a right 弃权 abandonment of option 放弃购货保留权 ( 购货保留权系指在交易所合同规 定期限内, 按约定价格购货的权利 )

abandon desert forsake quit 都含有 “ 放弃 ” 、 “ 遗弃 ” 的意思。 abandon 强调 “ 完全、永远地遗弃 ”, 尤其是指 遗弃以前感兴趣或负有责任的人或物, 如 : She abandoned her child. 她遗弃了她的孩子。 desert 强调 “ 违背誓言、命令、责任、义务等 ” 如 :The soldier deserted his country and helped the enemy. 那个士兵叛国助敌。

forsake 指 “ 遗弃某人以前所爱的人或物 ”, 强调 “ 断 绝情感上的依恋 ”, 如 : She pleaded with her husband not to forsake her. 她恳求丈夫不要抛弃她。 quit 强调 “ 突然或不意地弃去 ”, 常指 “ 停止 ”, 如 : She quitted her job. 她放弃了自己的工作。

spend spend itself 耗尽, 消失, 衰弱 spend oneself 耗尽精力, 精疲力竭 The storm finally spent itself. 风暴最后平息了 spent an hour each day exercising. 每天花一小时练习 spent all their creative resources on futile projects. 将他们所有的创造力浪费在无益的项目上

count for v. Their opinions count for little. 他们的观 点没什么价值。 Each basket counts for two points. 每投一球得两分 ten dogs, counting the puppies. 连小狗总共有十只

Count me in. 把我算进去 Count me out. 不算我 Count yourself lucky. 把你自己看作幸运者 counted by tens. 以十为单位来计算

count on You can count on my help. 你可以依赖我的帮助 counted on getting a raise. 期待获得加薪

v.t (bespoke ； bespoken ) to be or give a sign of; indicate 说明，指示：表示或给出指示 an arrow bespeaking north 指示北方的箭头 to engage, hire, or order in advance. 提前预定，提前预租，提前预订 The manager bespoke a magic show for Saturday night. 那个经理预定了一场星期六晚上的魔术表演 bespeak,

to foretell; portend: 预言；预示： fearful weapons that bespeak great loss of life. 可怕的武器预示着大量生命的死亡 Translation: 我们已经预定了三张明天的票。 今天的事件预示着未来的不幸。 他抬头问他儿子的愿望。

Keys ； We have bespoken three tickets for tomorrow. Today's events bespeak future tragedy. He raised his head to bespeak his son's wish.

suspension 悬, 吊 ; 悬挂物；悬而未决 ; 保留；中止, 暂停, 停职 ; 停学 the suspension of payment 暂停付款 suspension of arms 停战 suspension bridge 悬桥, 吊桥 suspension from school [office] 暂时停 学 [ 职 ] suspension points, suspension periods 【语】省略号 [...]

suspend v. （动词） suspend a student from school. 勒令一学生休学 suspend oneself in the water. 浮在水里 keep (sb.) in suspense 让 ( 人 ) 担心 [ 挂念 ], 使处于紧张等待状态 in suspense 悬而未决 ; 处于焦灼等待状态, 心神不宁 suspense account 悬帐, 暂记帐

suspenseful adj. 悬疑的, 令人紧张的 suspensible adj. 可悬吊的, 可中止的, 可悬浮的 suspensibility n. 可中止, 可悬挂, 悬而不决

elusive adj. tending to elude capture, perception, comprehension, or memory 逃避的：不易被抓获、觉察、理解或记忆的： e.g. an invisible cabal of conspirators, each more elusive than the archterrorist [himself] ” (David Kline) “ 一个看不见的小阴谋集团，每一个都比恐怖主义 集团［本身］更难于被发现 ” ( 戴维 · 克兰 )

difficult to define or describe: 难于定义或描述的： e.g. “Failures are more finely etched in our minds than triumphs, and success is an elusive, if not mythic, goal in our demanding society”(Hugh Drummond) “ 在我们的社会需求中, 失败比胜利更容易刻在我们 脑中，成功在我们这个需求的社会是一个难于描 述的，如果不是神秘的话，目的 ”( 休 · 德拉蒙德 )

elude v. to evade or escape from, as by daring, cleverness, or skill: 躲避：如以胆量、机智或技巧而从 … 躲避或逃跑： The suspect continues to elude the police. 嫌疑犯继续躲避着警察 to escape the understanding or grasp of: 理解不了或抓不 到： a name that has always eluded me; 我一直想不起来的名字； a metaphor that eluded them. 他们理解不了的隐喻 elude observation 避人耳目 elude one's understanding 使人不解

exalt v. To raise in rank, character, or status; elevate: 提高，提升：提高或提升军衔、身份或地位；提 升： exalted the shepherd to the rank of grand vizier. 把牧羊人提升为高贵的大臣 To increase the effect or intensity of; heighten: 加强：增加 … 的效果或加强 … ；增高： works of art that exalt the imagination. 能增强人们想象力的艺术作品

exaltation 提升, 提高, 兴奋, 得意洋洋 exaltation-register 缴款通知单 exalted adj. 尊贵的, 兴奋的, 高尚的

save save one's eyesight. 保护视力 Your taking the trunk to the attic has saved me an extra trip. 你把那个大箱子拎到阁楼上去，省得我 再多走一趟 saving for a vacation. 为假期攒钱

save (one's) breath=to refrain from a futile appeal or effort: 不必白费劲：省去无用的请求或努力： Save your breath; you can't dissuade them. 别白费劲儿了；你劝阻不了他们的

self-assertion n. determined advancement of one‘s own personality, wishes, or views. 自我断言，自作主张，骄横：决定发展自己的 个性、愿望或观点 assertive adj. 断定的 ; 斩钉截铁的 ; 过分自信的 ; 武断的 He is an assertive boy, always insisting on his own rights and opinions. 他是个固执的孩子, 总是坚持自己的权力和主意。

assert v. to state or express positively; affirm: 断言：肯定地说出或讲出；断言： asserted his innocence. 他坚称自己无罪 to put (oneself) forward boldly or forcefully in an effort to make an opinion known, for example: 坚 持己见 I had to assert myself in the meeting in order to ensure acquisition of the new book. 我在会上不得不坚持自己观点以保证得到那本新书

assertion n. 主张, 断言, 声明 assertive adj. 断定的, 过分自信的 asserted adj. 宣称的 ( 尚待证实的 ) 的 assertedly adv. 据说

importune importune v. （动词） to beset with insistent or repeated requests; entreat pressingly. 胡搅蛮缠；对 … 强求：用迫切的或重复的要求 使烦恼；急切地恳求 importune sb. for sth. 向某人强求某物 The boy importuned the teacher to raise his mark. 那个男孩纠缠着老师给他提分 ( 数 ) 。 to annoy; vex. 麻烦；使烦恼

adj. 胡搅蛮缠的 The quality of being importunate. 胡搅蛮缠 importunity n. An importunate request; an insistent or pressing demand. 强求：胡搅蛮缠的要求；持续的或迫切的 要求

compose Compose vt, To make up the constituent parts of; constitute or form: 组成， 构成；作为... 部分 the parts that compose the whole 组成全体的各部分 Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. 水是由氢与氧化合而成的。

To create or produce (a literary or musical piece). 创作， compose a poem [a speech] 写一首诗［一 篇演讲］

To make (oneself) calm or tranquil: 使安定， 使平静 She composed herself to answer the letter. 她镇静下来写回信。 compose one's thoughts [passions] 镇定思绪［情绪］ To settle or adjust; reconcile: 安顿，调停（纠纷等）； They managed to compose their differences. be composed of 由... 组成 compose oneself 使自己镇定下来

composed adj. 镇静的, 沉着的 composedly adv. 镇定地, 沉着地, 从容地 composer n. 作家, 作曲家, 设计者, 著作者 composition n. 写作, 作文, 成分, 合成物

enable, v. a hole in the fence that enabled us to watch; 篱笆上的洞使我们能够观看； funds that will enable construction of new schools. 建设新学校的资金 a law enabling the new federal agency. 赋予新联邦机构权力的法律 enabled the computer's modem 激活计算机的调制解调器 enable a nuclear warhead. 激活一个核弹头

thirst n. 渴, 口渴, 渴望, 热望 (after, for, of) a thirst for knowledge 求知的热望 The horse satisfied its thirst at the river. 那马在河中痛饮解渴。 vi. 渴, 想喝, 渴望, 热望 (after, for) thirst for adventure 渴望冒险 I thirst for beer. 我想喝啤酒。 get up one's thirst 使口渴起来 ; 使想喝酒

Answers to the exercises A. Probe the story 1.a. They assumed that the news of her husband's death would be too much for Mrs. Mallard who suffered from heart trouble. b. So they took great care. c. First Richards verified the news "to assure himself of the truth by telegram"; then Richards took precaution "to forestall any less...". d. Josephine, on the other hand, broke the news in a roundabout way, "in broken sentences, veiled hints that revealed in half concealing".

2.a. Mrs. Mallard's immediate reaction was emotional and intuitive, "she wept at once.... ", but she did not react "with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance". b. This indicates that while the woman was sensitive, spontaneous, and passionate, she was not weak. She was not a person to hide her feelings. c. The inclusion of this detail prepares the reader for the later development of the story.

3. a. literally, the description indicates a shift of setting in the story. b. Symbolically, it suggests a new phase of Mrs. Mallard's life which could be as dynamic and lively as the scene outside the window. c. Notice tile following expressions used to describe actions and sounds: (tops of trees) all a-quiver / (a peddler) crying / (someone) singing / (countless sparrows) twittering. d. Notice that the language denotes the woman is using all her senses to enjoy this new awakening in her life: she was watching and seeing, listening and hearing, breathing and smelling.

4. a. In these sentences "something" refers to her longing for change in her life. b. This desire for change had always been in her subconscious and now it gradually found its way to her conscious mind. c. She felt it "fearfully" and "tried to beat it back" because it ashamed her that she was thinking about freedom at a time when she should be mourning for her late husband.

5. a. These sentences indicate that the process of emotional change is completed. b. She was no longer agonizing over whether it was right for her to link this unfortunate accident with her personal freedom. c. A new desire for life had awakened in her body and she was ecstatic. d. This is shown in her keen and bright eyes, her fast-beating pulse, the warm blood flowing in her veins, and the complete relaxation of her body.

6. The sentence metaphorically suggests that the brief moment of illumination served as a miracle cure which made her life worth living again.

7. a. When her husband was alive, she was not able to live an independent life and she dreaded when she thought that site might continue this way forever. b. As a woman brought up in a traditional society, she could not have imagined ever breaking away from her husband. Tile accident suddenly gave her freedom. She would be able to live a life for herself as an independent human being. c. She prayed that she would live this independent life for many years to come

B Essay questions 2. (1) The ending of the story is surprising as an irony and paradox of life. The heroine was at beginning shocked, but later became joyful at.her husband's death. She was awakened to the truth of life and expected to live a life for herself as an independent and free soul. Ironically, when the true meaning of life dawned upon her, she died from the shock of her husband s return home. The ending was symbolically hinted actually in the story by the description of her thought that it was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.

(2) Other people believed that Mrs. Mallard died. from the shock of the "joy" of having her husband return home. Social conventions dictated that husband and wife should live for each other. Thus it was taken for granted by the people around her that she should be "joyous" upon seeing her husband's return.

(3) The reason for her death is hard to fathom. Some possible reasons: (a) Her guilty feeling of her evil Ideas induced her heart to fall; (b) Her despair at the thought that she was thrown back to the old way of life induced her heart to fall, (c) Her exaltation was so great that her heart simply gave up

2 Language work A. In other words 1. elusive 2. bespeak 3. veiled 4. composedly 5. exalted 6. save 7. forestalling 8. self-assertion

B. Work with sentences 1. Every year the United Nations provides emergency aid to those countries that are afflicted by famine. 2. Facing the competitive market, the company is striving to update its products. 3. Many local government departments impose fees of different kinds on local businesses.

4. Most manufacturers and marketing experts admit that package design counts for a great deal in promoting sales. 5. Finally, she wrote to the President, imploring for his intervention in the situation. 6. The brilliant young athlete Joyce died suddenly of epilepsy in her home one night. 7. The lady abandoned herself to the profound grief of losing her child in the accident.

C Word study b. 1. a. Hearing that Mr. Smith was afflicted with cancer, I couldn't help feeling sorry for him. b. Suspecting that she was afflicted with hepatitis, Mary decided not to visit her friends. c. Believing that he was afflicted with rheumatism, Mr. Jones had to abandon his plan to go in for winter swim.

2. a. Such safety systems enabled the pilot to land without mishap. b. This pass enables me to travel half- price by train. c. Installing computers should enable us to cut production costs by half.

3. a. My opinion doesn't count for anything around here. b. Book knowledge counts for little when it comes to practical work. c. I felt that all my years there counted for nothing.

4. a. She implored her parents not to send her away to school. b. I implored her not to have all that beautiful hair cut off. c. The cancer patient held the doctor by the hand imploring him to let her die.

5. a. After they examined her, the doctors declared that she had died from the injuries caused by the car accident. b. When her children came to the hospital, the doctor told them that their mother had died of a rare disease. c. After they talked to his friend, they found out he had actually died of hunger and grief.

2 Read more The theme of the story: In this short story, Hemingway reveals the loneliness and boredom of the girl. Her longing for the cat out in the rain is in fact her wish to be cared for and loved by her husband.

Questions for comprehension (1) No. She felt lonely and wanted to attract the attention of her husband. At the same time she probably identified herself with the cat in the rain, lonely, discarded and helpless. (2) She longed for companionship, friendship and love.

(3) Each of the titles offers an interpretation. A good short story may allow of a variety of interpretations. It is the reader's task to comprehend not only the literal meaning but also the implied message of the story. With the given titles, especially the first two, the theme of the story is made explicit, whereas in the original version; the title does not reveal anything about the deeper meaning of the story. Hemingway obviously does not want to impose his 'own view on the reader. He prefers to let the reader make up his or her own mind. Superficially this is a story about a cat in the rain, but it is more a story about subtle human relationships, about marriage and love, about loneliness and longing for companionship, about lack of understanding, and about warmth and care.

3. Grammar work a. 1. It was yesterday afternoon that John met the new manager in the office. 2. It was only last week that I saw him in the street. 3. It is because you have lost all his papers that he is angry. 4. It was in order to teach him a lesson that we punished him. 5. It was Dr. Hobson who / that decided to operate on him.

6. It was since they came back that they have had all those troubles. 7. It was a precious diamond ring that she lost outside in the garden. 8. It was a large pile of plates that fell down just now. 9. It was his leather gloves that he was looking for.

b. 1.When was it (that) you met her for the first time? 2. Why was it (that) he couldn't come? 3. What is it (that) you don't understand 4. Whose fault was it (that) the vase got broken?

5. Where was it (that) she died? 6. Who was it that was going to promote me? 7. What is it (that) he is waiting for? 8. How long ago was it (that) his business was certified with the IS090027

c. 1. I make it my prime objective settling the matter within this week. 2. I think it was wrong not to tell her the truth. 3. We owe it to you that the accident did not happen. 4. I put it to you that Richard paid the money.

5. I'll see to it that justice is done. 6. The manager makes it a rule to hold the meeting in the workshop. 7. We'll depend upon it that you keep the information confidential. 8. I take it upon myself to look after my little sister when Dad and Mom are away from home.

4. Work with words 1. variety 2. pleasure 3. pass 4. information 5. solutions 6. real 7. arrangement 8. what 9. personal 10. taste 1l. popularity 12. classics 13. published 14. considered

5. Translation 1.Many developing countries, after independence, were afflicted with economic problems to begin with. 2. In order to protect domestic industries, the government decided to impose anti-dumping tariff on imported products. 3. Knowledge without practical experience counts for little.

4. Thousands of people were forced to abandon their homes to the invading enemy troops. 5. I've lived in Shanghai so long that I've looked upon the city as my second hometown. 6. The roof will have to be propped up while repairs are being carried out. 7. In the face of great hardship, he managed to keep his sense of humor.