Unit 8 Fun, Oh Boy. Fun.

You Could Die from it.

ContentsContents

Pre-reading questionsPre-reading questions Background informationBackground information Structural analysis of the textStructural analysis of the text Comprehensive questionsComprehensive questions Language pointsLanguage points Sentence highlightsSentence highlights Language appreciationLanguage appreciation Grammar pointsGrammar points Comprehensive questions of Text IIComprehensive questions of Text II

Pre-reading questionsPre-reading questions

1. How important is fun in your life?1. How important is fun in your life?   2.2. What is the greatest fun in your life?What is the greatest fun in your life?

Background informationBackground information

About the author:About the author:

Suzanne Britt JordanSuzanne Britt Jordan American columnist and writer. Her books include American columnist and writer. Her books include

Show and TellShow and Tell (1982), (1982), Skinny People Are Dull and Skinny People Are Dull and Crunchy like CarrotsCrunchy like Carrots (1982). (1982).

http://wadsworth.com/english_d/templates/student_resources/http://wadsworth.com/english_d/templates/student_resources/0759398313_sundance/a-f/britt.html0759398313_sundance/a-f/britt.html

PuritansPuritans

http://baike.baidu.com/view/1658836.htm?http://baike.baidu.com/view/1658836.htm?fr=ala0_1fr=ala0_1

Structural analysis of the TextStructural analysis of the Text The essay evaluates the “fun” side of the American cuThe essay evaluates the “fun” side of the American cu

lture in an ironic way. The first five paragraphs, whiclture in an ironic way. The first five paragraphs, which form the introduction to the essay, provide a stipulah form the introduction to the essay, provide a stipulative definition of “fun”. Then in the main body of the tive definition of “fun”. Then in the main body of the text, the writer gives an extended definition of it by ptext, the writer gives an extended definition of it by pointing out what it is not. The essay concludes with aointing out what it is not. The essay concludes with an anecdote that further explains what fun is. To develn anecdote that further explains what fun is. To develop the definition, a number of methods have been emop the definition, a number of methods have been employed, among which are narration., comparison and ployed, among which are narration., comparison and contrast.contrast.

Questions for comprehensionQuestions for comprehension

1. 1. How does advertising help to cultivate our fuHow does advertising help to cultivate our fun-seeking appetite?n-seeking appetite? Advertisements help to develop modern peoplAdvertisements help to develop modern people’s fun fetish by setting an example for us to foe’s fun fetish by setting an example for us to follow and showing how much fun we can get frllow and showing how much fun we can get from consuming all the items being advertised.om consuming all the items being advertised.

  

2. 2. How old was Jordan at the time she remembers How old was Jordan at the time she remembers having an especially good time with her having an especially good time with her friend Pam? friend Pam? Describe in your own words why she had such a Describe in your own words why she had such a wonderful time that day.wonderful time that day. Jordan was twelve at the time she remembers having an Jordan was twelve at the time she remembers having an

especially wonderful time. She had a fun night to look especially wonderful time. She had a fun night to look forward to that day and she had lots of candies and her forward to that day and she had lots of candies and her friend kept imitating a sailor’s posture and words. All these friend kept imitating a sailor’s posture and words. All these were simple forms of fun yet keen to a girl of twelve. More were simple forms of fun yet keen to a girl of twelve. More importantly, she was a simple, innocent girl without a importantly, she was a simple, innocent girl without a dulled and insatiable appetite for fun; that is why she could dulled and insatiable appetite for fun; that is why she could feel the fun of simple joys.feel the fun of simple joys.

3.3.  What according to Jordan is fun?What according to Jordan is fun? The author employs the technique of negation-i.e., The author employs the technique of negation-i.e.,

defining a term through showing what it is not- in defining a term through showing what it is not- in defining the concept of fun. Fun, according to defining the concept of fun. Fun, according to Jordan, is not a family visit to Disney World; nor Jordan, is not a family visit to Disney World; nor is it celebrating big occasions. Fun is simple is it celebrating big occasions. Fun is simple pleasure in life which lies rather in one’s work and pleasure in life which lies rather in one’s work and the fulfillment of one’s duty.the fulfillment of one’s duty.

4. Does Jordan think fun is as important as duty and morality?4. Does Jordan think fun is as important as duty and morality? In more than one place in the essay (Paragraphs 4 and 13), Jordan pointIn more than one place in the essay (Paragraphs 4 and 13), Jordan point

s out that fun cannot be compared with duty and morality. People shouls out that fun cannot be compared with duty and morality. People should not be obsessed with fun; instead they should devote themselves to thd not be obsessed with fun; instead they should devote themselves to their work and the fulfillment of their duties.eir work and the fulfillment of their duties.

5. 5. Do you agree with Jordan’s view about the fun fetish of moDo you agree with Jordan’s view about the fun fetish of modern Americans? Why or why not?dern Americans? Why or why not?

Language pointsLanguage points

1. 1. overshadow:overshadow: to make ( sb. Or sth.) less successful, important or impressive by comparison with others; to dominate) Ben overshadows all his colleagues.Ben overshadows all his colleagues. She is overshadowed by her younger and She is overshadowed by her younger and

more attractive sistermore attractive sister..

2. flunk:2. flunk:to fail, especially (in) a course or an to fail, especially (in) a course or an examexam The boy was upset because he flunked (in) an The boy was upset because he flunked (in) an

English Exam.English Exam. Flunk out: to expel or be expelled from a school or Flunk out: to expel or be expelled from a school or

a course because of work that does not meet a course because of work that does not meet required standards.required standards.

We didn’t flunk out, but our records weren’t so good.We didn’t flunk out, but our records weren’t so good.

3. traipse: to walk wearily3. traipse: to walk wearily She spent the day traipsing from one shop to She spent the day traipsing from one shop to

another.another.

4. epitome: an ideal; a typical representation4. epitome: an ideal; a typical representation His father is the epitome of goodness.His father is the epitome of goodness. ““He is seen…as the epitome of the hawkish, right-of-center He is seen…as the epitome of the hawkish, right-of-center

intellectual”.intellectual”.

Epitomize: v. to be an epitome of somethingEpitomize: v. to be an epitome of something He epitomizes the loving father.He epitomizes the loving father. She epitomizes all the good qualities of her family.She epitomizes all the good qualities of her family.

5. 5. damper:damper: something that stops an occasion from something that stops an occasion from being an enjoyable as it was intended to be, being an enjoyable as it was intended to be, The bad news put/cast/threw a damper on the party.The bad news put/cast/threw a damper on the party.

6. blaspheme:6. blaspheme: to swear; to use words which to swear; to use words which show a lack of respect for God or religionshow a lack of respect for God or religion The bank manager began to rage and blaspheme The bank manager began to rage and blaspheme

(against) God.(against) God. The spiritual leader charged that the film The spiritual leader charged that the film

blasphemed Islam.blasphemed Islam.

7. chunky7. chunky 1) (of candy,etc.) containing small, thick 1) (of candy,etc.) containing small, thick

piecespieces Chunky peanut butter; chunky soupChunky peanut butter; chunky soup

2) (of a man) short and strong; stocky2) (of a man) short and strong; stocky A chunky man usually has a wide upper body and A chunky man usually has a wide upper body and

looks strong.looks strong.

8. 8. scanscan (1)(1)  to examine (sth.) carefully, with the eyes or with a to examine (sth.) carefully, with the eyes or with a

machine, in order to obtain information, machine, in order to obtain information, She anxiously scanned the faces of the young men leaving the train in She anxiously scanned the faces of the young men leaving the train in

the hope of finding her son.the hope of finding her son.

(2) To scan a text can also mean to look through it quickly in (2) To scan a text can also mean to look through it quickly in order to find a piece of information that one wants to get a order to find a piece of information that one wants to get a general idea of what the text contains. general idea of what the text contains. Now, scan the newspaper article quickly and make a note of the main Now, scan the newspaper article quickly and make a note of the main

pointspoints

Sentence highlightsSentence highlights

1. Somewhere along the line people got the 1. Somewhere along the line people got the modern idea that…. Puritans. (para.3)modern idea that…. Puritans. (para.3)

Paraphrase:Paraphrase:

2. Television commercials brought a lot of fun 2. Television commercials brought a lot of fun and fun-loving folks into the picture. (Para.10)and fun-loving folks into the picture. (Para.10)

Paraphrase:Paraphrase:

3. I don’t’ mean to put damper on things. I just 3. I don’t’ mean to put damper on things. I just mean we …. Like an animal. (Para.13)mean we …. Like an animal. (Para.13)

Paraphrase:Paraphrase:

Language AppreciationLanguage Appreciation

1. Fun is hard to have.1. Fun is hard to have. Fun is a rare jewel. (Paras. 1-2)Fun is a rare jewel. (Paras. 1-2)

Short sentences; metaphorShort sentences; metaphor

2. Fun got to be such a big thing that 2. Fun got to be such a big thing that everybody started to look for more and more everybody started to look for more and more thrilling ways to supply it. One way was to thrilling ways to supply it. One way was to step up the level of danger or licentiousness step up the level of danger or licentiousness or alcohol or drug consumption so that you or alcohol or drug consumption so that you could be sure that, no matter what, you could be sure that, no matter what, you would manage to have a little fun. (Para.9)would manage to have a little fun. (Para.9)

Long sentences are adopted here to show the Long sentences are adopted here to show the misunderstanding of fun in modern society.misunderstanding of fun in modern society.

3. Big occasions were supposed to be fun. 3. Big occasions were supposed to be fun. Christmas, Thanksgivings and Easter were Christmas, Thanksgivings and Easter were obviously supposed to be fun. Your wedding day obviously supposed to be fun. Your wedding day was supposed to be fun. Your wedding night was was supposed to be fun. Your wedding night was supposed to be fun. Your honeymoon was supposed supposed to be fun. Your honeymoon was supposed to be the epitome of fun. And so we ended up going to be the epitome of fun. And so we ended up going through every Big Event we ever celebrated, through every Big Event we ever celebrated, waiting for the fun to start. (Para. 11)waiting for the fun to start. (Para. 11)

4. It is a mystery. I cannot be caught like 4. It is a mystery. I cannot be caught like virus. It cannot be trapped like an animal. virus. It cannot be trapped like an animal. (Para. 13)(Para. 13)

The three parallel sentences emphasizes….The three parallel sentences emphasizes….

Stylistic FeatureStylistic Feature

the alternative use of short and long sentences, the alternative use of short and long sentences, the use of rhetoric, such as simile and the use of rhetoric, such as simile and repetition. repetition.

Repetition Repetition

Comprehension questions of Text IIComprehension questions of Text II

1. What, according to the author, is the most 1. What, according to the author, is the most distinctive feature of our age?distinctive feature of our age? Our age, according to the author, is the age of Our age, according to the author, is the age of

thrills. It generates many more thrills than any of thrills. It generates many more thrills than any of the previous ages did and people in our age expect the previous ages did and people in our age expect to be thrilled as continuously as people in no other to be thrilled as continuously as people in no other ages did. We have cinemas running all day long, ages did. We have cinemas running all day long, publishing houses pouring out thousands upon publishing houses pouring out thousands upon thousands of thrillers every day and various thousands of thrillers every day and various devices of excitements of speed. We are by no devices of excitements of speed. We are by no means short of a diversity and variety of thrills.means short of a diversity and variety of thrills.

2. What is the essence of happiness? Can 2. What is the essence of happiness? Can thrills bring us happiness?thrills bring us happiness? Happiness is not rooted in thrills, which are merely Happiness is not rooted in thrills, which are merely

amusements. Happiness chiefly derives from amusements. Happiness chiefly derives from affection for people and interest in various objects affection for people and interest in various objects in the external world. It is the simple joy in life in the external world. It is the simple joy in life rather than the thrilling experience that provides us rather than the thrilling experience that provides us with happiness which is deep and lasting. And with happiness which is deep and lasting. And those who are truly happy do not depend on thrills those who are truly happy do not depend on thrills for their happiness, for thrills can only help to et for their happiness, for thrills can only help to et rid of the feeling of boredom.rid of the feeling of boredom.

3. What is the difference between great books 3. What is the difference between great books and thrilling books?and thrilling books? Great books bring us exaltations while thrilling Great books bring us exaltations while thrilling

books only excite our nerves superficially; great books only excite our nerves superficially; great books inspire imagination and affection while books inspire imagination and affection while thrilling books can hardly do so. Great books can thrilling books can hardly do so. Great books can help us to gain an insight into the reality, into the help us to gain an insight into the reality, into the essence of life, into the nature of human beings essence of life, into the nature of human beings and into the truth of the universe while thrilling and into the truth of the universe while thrilling books can help us to escape form reality and books can help us to escape form reality and worries in life for some time.worries in life for some time.

4. Should we deny ourselves entirely the 4. Should we deny ourselves entirely the excitement of thrills?excitement of thrills? We, as human beings, can enjoy thrills We, as human beings, can enjoy thrills

occasionally, for various forms of thrills can serve occasionally, for various forms of thrills can serve as a kind of spice in life, but what is important is as a kind of spice in life, but what is important is that we should learn to derive our pleasures from that we should learn to derive our pleasures from simple things in life so as to feel truly happy. In simple things in life so as to feel truly happy. In addition, if we learn how to bear a certain degree addition, if we learn how to bear a certain degree of boredom, we may enjoy life more intensely.of boredom, we may enjoy life more intensely.