1、1,Background,Theme: the main subject or idea of a work of literature The theme of this story is a common one-loyalty to a friend vs devotion to public duty Characterization: the method a writer uses to present to the reader the characters in a work of literature. Two ways-showing and telling Showing

2、: what the characters say and do Telling: the characters physical appearance, personality, even their thoughts and feelings,2,Jimmy Wells: The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively(1)Trying doors as he went, swinging his club with many clever movements, turning now and then to cast

3、his watchful eye down the peaceful street, the officer, with his strongly built form and light air of superiority, made a fine picture of guardian of the peace. (2) Bob: The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his eyebrow. His tiepin was a large diamon

4、d, oddly set(6)the waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small diamonds(10),3,The American West,4,5,6,7,8,9,The Wild West: the land of opportunities and adventures, where many European settlers moved during the 19th century to establish new farms and new cities. In films i

5、t is often shown as a place where cowboys and Native Americans fight each other, and where cowboys use guns rather than law to settle arguments. Therefore, a situation where there are no laws or controls is sometimes described as being like the Wild West.,10,Plot of the story,Bob and Jim had obvious

6、ly been close friends twenty years ago when they were young. Before their separation, they made an appointment to meet again at exactly the same place and the same hour twenty years later.,11,Setting of the story,On a business avenue of New York: The same hour: ten oclock at night The same place: Bi

7、g Joe Bradys restaurant 20 years agoin the doorway of a hardware store now,12,13,Part division,I. A policeman on the beat a few minutes before 10 pm (1-2) II. The policemans encounter with a man from the West (3-7) III. The arrest of the man from West by a plainclothes man (18-31) IV. A note from th

8、e best friend of the arrested man (32-33),14,Discussion,Do you think Jimmy did the right thing as a friend? If you were him, what would you do? What do you think of Bob? Do you think a criminal can make a faithful friend? Do you think Bob is a plausible character? Do you think the friendship between

9、 Jimmy and Bob would survive after Bobs arrest? Give reasons to support your point of view.,15,The policeman on the beat(1) Beat: an area of the town or city that a police officer regularly walks around On/walking the beat: on duty, walking around The impressiveness was normal and not for show, for

10、spectators were few (1) The police officer walked that way habitually, no to attract attention or admiration because there were few people in the streets,16,The time was barely ten oclock, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had almost emptied the streets (1) barely: hardly; only j

11、ust e.g. She spoke so softly. I could barely hear her. I can barely make both ends meet. How can I buy a car? a taste of rain: a small amount of rain empty: to make empty; to cause people leave (a place) e.g. The TV series emptied the streets at 8 pm every Saturday. He emptied his pocket to show tha

12、t he really had no money on him.,17,Trying doors as he went, swinging his club with many clever movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the peaceful street, the officer, with his strongly built form and light air of superiority, made a fine picture of guardian of the peace. (2)

13、 trying doors as he went: to find whether they were locked (his strong sense of responsibility) swinging his club with many clever movements: to warn off would-be troublemakers (his confidence and competence as a cop) turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the peaceful street: to notice

14、possible danger or illegal activity (his vigilance as a policeman),18,cast ones eye on/over/down sth: to look at, or read sth quickly the area was one that kept early hours. (2) people in that area closed their stores pretty early. all-night lunch counter (2) lunch counter: a counter in a store or r

15、estaurant where food is served or sold to be taken out,19,twenty years ago tonight (7) ten years ago this morning/this time yesterday/at exactly this hour next Sunday,20,We lost track of each other. (9) We lost contact with each other. keep/lose track of sb/sth: to pay attention to sb/sth so that yo

16、u know where they are or what is happening to them, or fail to do this. e.g. The airport has lost track of the plane. It is important to keep track of current affairs.,21,He was a kind of slow man, though, good fellow as he was. (13) slow: not good and quick at understanding things good fellow as he

17、 was: thought he was a good fellow e.g. Poor as they were, they were quite happy. Famous as she was, she was very modest.,22,to fill an appointment (18) in modern English: to keep an appointment to make an appointment “Bless my heart” exclaimed the new arrival(22) bless my heart: bless my soul the n

18、ew arrival: the man who has newly arrived Its Bob, sure as fate(22) sure as fate: as sure as hell, used for emphasis,23,well go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about old times(26) Know of sb/sth: to have heard of sb or sth and be able to give a small amount of information about them arm in arm (27) shoulder to shoulder face to face hand in hand,24,The man from the West stopped suddenly and released his arm (29) stopped talking about his life in the west and withdrew his arm from the other mans elbow release: to stop holding sth other uses: The news was released yesterda