The Rite of Spring

1. The Rite of Spring Arthur Miller

2. The Rite of Spring Unit 3 W arming up Reinforcement T ext Analysis Background

3. The Rite of Spring Unit 3 Questions / Activities Warming up Check-on Preview Objectives

4. Warming up Questions / Activities Will you be a good gardener? A quick quiz! 1. Where is the best location to plant tall or climbing plants? A. North side of the garden B.  East side of the garden    C. South side of the garden   D.  West side of the garden 2. Tomato plants that are “determinate” are more bushy plants, and tomato plants that are 'indeterminate' are more viny plants     True  False 3. Potatoes are in what family?     A. Carrot Family (Umbelliferae)    B.  Tomato Family (Solanaceae)     C. Pea Family (Leguminosae)   D.  Morning Glory Family (Convolvulaceae) 4. What is the best level of soil ph for MOST plants? A.  3.5 - 5.5 B. 5.5 - 7.5 C.  8.0 - 9.0 D.  2.5 - 3.5

5. Warming up Questions / Activities Will you be a good gardener? A quick quiz! 5. Pine needle mulch lowers the ph level of soil while peat moss raises the ph level. True False 6. When a plant has beautiful lush foliage, but almost no fruit, the plant has an overdose of: (Ans: One 8-letter word) 7. Tomato leaves that are purple and thin is a pretty good sign that they are lacking Potassium. True False 8. Potato plants want lots of organic matter in the soil for the potatoes to grow better.   True False

6. Warming up Questions / Activities Now Check Your Answer! 1. North side of the garden.  When the tall plants are planted on the north side, they don't block the sun from other smaller plants and also keep down the north winds. 2. True.  If you don't want to stake, you will want determinate. If not, go with indeterminate.  3. Tomato Family (Solanaceae).  Eggplant, Tomato, Tomatillo, Potato, and Pepper are all in the tomato family. 4. 5.5 - 7.5.  Most plants require ph levels of 6-7, but a few can tolerate 5.5 like corn, carrots, and potatoes. Others can grow well in soil ph of 7.5 like cabbage and cauliflower.

7. Warming up Questions / Activities Now Check Your Answer! 5. False.  Pine needle mulch and peat moss are good for alkaline soils because they lower the ph level.  6. Nitrogen.  Nitrogen will help produce lush foliage, but too much will make the plant concentrate on the leaves instead of the fruit.  7. False.  They lack phosphorus when the plants look like that. 8. False.  Too much organic matter will cause scabbing on the potatoes.

8. Warming up Check-on Preview See the Preview Quiz on P67-70.

9. Warming up Objectives • Know something about the author • Understand the genre of essay • Learn how to interpret and appreciate literary essay

10. The Rite of Spring Unit 3 Author Background Genre

11. Background His Life Arthur Miller 1915-2005 • A Harlem-born Polish-Jewish • boy • Majored in journalism at • University of Michigan • Wrote first play in 1936 • Received BA in English in • 1938

12. Background His Career • First successful play: All My Sons, 1946 • Huge success: Death of a Salesman, 1949 • The Crucible, 1953 • About Salem Witchhunt in 1692 • HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee), anti- • communist McCarthyism • Attended a HUAC hearing in 1956, refusing to give names; • sentenced to a $500 fine or thirty days in prison, blacklisted, • and disallowed a US passport • Conviction overturned in 1958 • Return to theatrical success: The Price, 1968 • Experimental drama in 1970s, unsuccessful • Kept writing until 2004

13. Background His Influence • One of the greatest dramatists of • the twentieth century • Politically engaged, commercially • successful, social plays • Numourous awards and honors: • Three Tony Awards, Pulitzer Prize for • Death of the Salesman in 1949 • 1965, Elected the first American • president of International Pen • 1993, awarded the National Medal of • Arts •  2001, selected for the Jefferson Lecture, • the U.S government's highest honor • for achievement in the humanities

14. Background His Works Death of a Salesman 1949; 1984 movie starring Dustin Hoffman) The Crucible, 1953, 1996 movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis

15. Background His Marriage • Mary Slattery, college • sweetheart, 1940 • Marilyn Monroe, 1956 • Brief affair in 1951 • Accompanied Miller to his 1956 trial • Made The Misfits with Miller as the scriptwriter • Divorced in 1961 • Inge Morath, 1962 • Son Daniel born with Down Syndrome; institutionalized at Miller’s insistence • Son-in-law, English actor Daniel Day-Lewis

16. Background Genre Essay • A short piece of prose often written from the author’s personal point of view • Vague definition, great variety: literary, political, academic, journalistic, argumentative, expository, etc. • Aldous Huxley: a literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything • Personal and the autobiographical: these use "fragments of reflective autobiography" to "look at the world through the keyhole of anecdote and description ". • Objective and factual: in these essays, the authors "do not speak directly of themselves, but turn their attention outward to some literary or scientific or political theme". • Abstract-universal: these essays "make the best ... of all the three • worlds in which it is possible for the essay to exist".

17. Background Genre Literary Essay • Types of essay • Formal & Informal, Impersonal & Familiar • Post-Montaigne, the essay split into two distinct modalities: one remained informal, personal, intimate, relaxed, conversational, and often humorous; the other dogmatic, impersonal, systematic, and expository • Structure: rather loose, shapeless • Samuel Johnson: "an irregular, indigested piece, not a regular and orderly performance." • Voice: usually “I” • Reader’s role: • The reader generally believes what the essayist says is true; he has been called on to join in the making of meaning

18. Background Genre Literary Essay • Famous essayist • Michel de Montaigne, first to use the term in Essais, 1580 • Francis Bacon , “Of Studies” • William Hazlitt • Charles Lamb • Ralph Waldo Emerson

19. Text Analysis Theme • “The Rite of Spring” • rite: a solemn ceremony or act; a set of fixed words or acts • The Rite of Spring by Stranvinsky: a sacred pagan ritual where the wise elders are seated in a circle and are observing the dance before death of the girl whom they are offering as a sacrifice to the god of Spring in order to gain his benevolence • What does “The Rite of spring” refer to in this text? • How is gardening a rite? Does gardening carry any symbolic meaning? • Is gardening a celebration of spring?

20. The Rite of Spring Structure Unit 3 Theme Text Analysis Detailed Analysis

21. Theme Text Analysis • How do you understand the title “The Rite of Spring”? • What about the timing of writing? Does it carry any significance? • Does the author enjoy gardening? Find textual evidence. • What does the author say about gardening? • What is the author’s attitude towards gardening?

22. Text Analysis Structure • I. Gardening as a celebration of the coming spring (1-2). • II. Why gardening? (3-10) • Gardening involves conflict and choice-making. • Gardening teaches you about nature. • Gardening is neurotic and moral. • Gardening helps character building. • III. Gardening enables people to stay hopeful for the future. (11-12)

23. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Main Idea • What do you know about the facts of the author’s gardening? • Why did they keep the garden? • What do you make of the comparison between root crops and hot dogs? • Why can’t he resist the temptation to plant despite the seeming unwillingness? Why “inevitably”? • What do you think is the tone of para. 1? • What do you think of the last few descriptive sentences in para. 2?

24. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Sentence Paraphrase There is a human instinct at work here, a kind of back-breaking make-believe that has no reality. (para.1) Back-breaking: physically hard and tiring Make-believe: believing in things that you want to believe because they are easy or exciting, but are not real At work: (lit.) to be having an effect, usually an obvious or bad effect Paraphrasing: Perhaps gardening is human nature. We like to exert ourselves year after year working in the garden, believing this year’s harvest will be better, just like we can always revive hope after repeated failures. .

25. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Sentence Paraphrase As it is, though, I cannot deny that when April comes I find myself going out to lean on the fence and look at that miserable plot of land, resolving with all my rational powers not to plant it again. (para.2) Analyze the grammatical structure of the sentence.

26. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Sentence Paraphrase And the sun means business…(para.2) Mean business: (infml) to want very much to achieve something, even if other people disagree with you; be serious about sth. you have to do Paraphrasing: The sun shines more brightly and it’s getting warmer.

27. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Words & Expressions

28. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Exercise 1. A bunch of ______/______/_____/_____/… 2. ______/______/_____/_____ … one’s way 3. 尽管意识形态上仍有不同，近年来两国间的合作不断加强。 4. 他这次似乎是认真的，还制定了一个详细的五年计划。 5. 一个难民小心地、慢慢地从铁丝网的下面钻了过去。

29. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Keys to Exercise 1. A bunch of people/flowers/vegetables/fruits/keys, etc. 2. work/make/shoulder/inch/bow/beg, etc. one’s way 3. 尽管意识形态上仍有不同，近年来两国间的合作不断加强。 Despite the ideological differences at work, the two countries have strengthened their cooperation in recent years. 4. 他这次似乎是认真的，还制定了一个详细的五年计划。 He seems to mean business this time; he has even made a detailed five-year plan. 5. 一个难民小心地、慢慢地从铁丝网的下面钻了过去。 A refugee carefully wormed his/her way through under the wire fence.

30. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Main Idea • What does the author mean by saying that “conflict” sends him back to garden? • What’s the difference between black plastic and hay mulch? Why does such difference matter? What does this say about gardening? • Why does the author use fertilizers sparingly? Why does he say “I’m not sure”? • How do you understand his claim that gardening is “neurotic” and “moral”? Do you agree? • What do you make of the parent-children metaphor in para. 6? • What do you think of the mother-in-law story? Why such a story?

31. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Main Idea • Why does the author say “I garden because I must”? • How do you understand “A garden is an extension of oneself”? • Where did gardening get Adam? What does this indicate? • What is the general tone in this part? Does Arthur Miller love gardening or not?

32. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase I’m not sure why I do this beyond the saving in fertilizer and my unwillingness to aid the weeds. (para.5) Beyond: except (in negative sentences) Eg. He has no idea of the current situation beyond what little he is told. Paraphrase: I don’t know why I only use very little fertilizer; maybe I don’t want to spend too much on fertilizer, or maybe I don’t want the weeds to thrive on fertilizer. But certainly there are more reasons.

33. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase She is an outspoken, truthful woman, or she was until she learned better. (para.8) Learn better: learn that it is not wise or moral to do sth. Cf. know better (than to do sth.): to be wise or moral enough not to do sth. Paraphrasing: She used to be a woman who spoke her mind and who was always straightforward in her speech, but now she has learned from experiences that it is not wise to do so. .

34. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase In some pocket of the mind there might even be the tendency to change this vision into a personal assurance that all this healthy growth, this orderliness and thrusting life must somehow reflect movements in one’s own spirit. (para.9) Paraphrasing: In some small corner of the mind, I am even inclined to believe that such beautiful view of the garden can be transformed into a spiritual certainty; I feel certain that just like this well-organized and arranged garden and the life and vitality of everything growing in it, my spirit is equally active as well as in order.

35. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase A garden in an extension of oneself – or selves – and so it has to be an arena where striving does not cease, but continues by other means. (para. 10) Paraphrasing: A garden is like your second self, or a projection of yourself in nature; whatever you do in real life continues in your garden. So a garden must be a state where your effort for achievements never stops, but carries on in different ways. .

36. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Words & Expressions .

37. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Exercise • All that ________ is not gold. • The grass _________ in the early morning dew. • Shakespeare’s literary legacy is ________ compare. • She dyed her hair a very unusual ________ of red. • 任何适用于本地学生的校规也适用于留学生。 • 在朝鲜发射导弹问题上有多方力量参与。 • 他们是最好的朋友，却在利益面前像死敌一样互相攻击。

38. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Exercise • All that glittersis not gold. • The grass glistened in the early morning dew. • Shakespeare’s literary legacy is beyondcompare. • She dyed her hair a very unusual shade of red. • All school rules for local students also go for overseas students. • Many forces came into play on the issue of North Korea’s missile launch. • They were best friends, but turned upon each other like deadly foes for profit.

39. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part III: Main Idea • According to the author, why is gardener a proper occupation for the father of mankind? What do you think? • Do you agree that mankind is a creature of self-delusion? Why do you think Arthur Miller say this? What does “self-delusion” actually mean here?

40. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part III: Sentence Paraphrase Only the gardener is capable of reviving so much hope that this year, regardless of drought, flood, typhoon, or his own stupidity, this year he is going to do it right! (para.11) Paraphrasing: Only the gardener can become hopeful after repeated failures and believe that this year he is going to have a good harvest, even though there might be disasters like drought, flood, typhoon, and even though he himself is foolish.

41. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part III: Sentence Paraphrase Leave it to God to have picked the proper occupation for the only creature capable of such self-delusion. (para. 11) Leave it to sb. to do sth.: to allow someone to make a choice or decision about something, or to make someone responsible for something Paraphrasing: God has done His job properly and chosen the right occupation for mankind, because only man can “deceive” themselves willingly, only man can regain hope after repeated failures, believing in new and better possibilities.

42. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part III: Words & Expressions

43. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part III: Exercise • 管理层决定把这个合同交给约翰去谈，因为他们知道他绝不会打没有准备的战。 • The management decided to leave it to John to negotiate for the contract, as they knew he would never leave it to chance.

44. The Rite of Spring Unit 3 Discussion Reinforcement Retelling

45. Reinforcement Discussion • Summarize what Miller says about gardening . • Compare what he says with the metaphors of gardening in “Mandela’s Garden”. What are the differences and similarities? • Have you ever had any experience in gardening? What do you think of gardening? • Do you think what Miller says still holds in the contemporary world? • Now what do you think of Miller’s attitude towards gardening? What do you think of the way he expresses himself?

46. Reinforcement Discussion Irony • Definition: • the surface meaning and the underlying meaning of what is said are not the same • Irony consists in stating the contrary of what is meant • Types of irony • Verbal irony is a disparity of expression and intention • Dramatic irony is a disparity of awareness between actor and observer • Situational irony is the disparity of intention and result

47. Reinforcement Discussion Irony • Can you find where the irony is in “The Rite of Spring”? • Title • Time of writing • Verbal irony

48. Reinforcement Further Reading • “Of Gardens”, by Francis Bacon