1、OUTLINEOUTLINEIrwin ShawPlot SummaryDetailed Questions Character AnalysisConflicts Theme (s)Language Points第1頁/共9頁1. Irwin ShawIrwin Shaw (February 27, 1913 May 16, 1984) was an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and short-story author. “Irwin Shaws material is fresh, and he handles it wit

2、h rich understanding and superb techniqueup to a point. Then he lays it on too thick or too pat.”第2頁/共9頁2. Plot Summary “Ford runs into a cab driven by an old man. The driver of the Ford gets nasty when the cabby insists on seeing his licence, and hits him. He tries to reason with the old man, who i

3、s yelling for police. The argument is settled by a policeman who takes them to the station house. The old man is persuaded against pressing charges. “ “A decent young man betrays all human decency under wifely pressure, in his responsibility as witness of a street fight between a gangster and a prou

4、d little taxi driver.” 第3頁/共9頁3. Detailed Questions What does the title “The Dry Rock” means? What was the name of the Ford man? What do you have to say about the dinner party? Why did the cabby insist on calling police? What did Rusk on the way to the police house? Why was Rusk anxious about a poss

5、ible trial? What did Fit mean by “shrugged sadly” (P63) ?第4頁/共9頁4. Character AnalysisFA small man of fifty, in a cap and a ragged coat, with a heavy accent, gently, wearily, calmly, with dignity, anxiously Cabby TarloffFHarshly, shouted, glared, snarled, balefully, savagely, growled, hoarsely Ford m

6、an Rusk第5頁/共9頁4. Character AnalysisFReassuringly, impartial, judicious, patiently, sadly, his voice low, silently, I FitzsimmonsFBitterly, gloomily, disdainfully, elegant, witty, sadly, coldly, Wife Helen第6頁/共9頁5. ConflictsA Feeling insulted, Tarloff insisted on a legal punishment on Rusk. Regretful

7、ly, Rusk tried hard to persuade Tarloff out of pressing charges.FTarloff and Rusk A Fit tried to offer help to the cabby, while Helen kept trying to get them out of the trouble.FFitzsimmons and Helen How were the conflicts settled eventually?第7頁/共9頁6. Theme and Lessons Unnecessary and overelaborate formalities The dry rock of principle and reponsibility Rise above principle and do whats right. We talk on principle, but we act on interest. The more laws, the less justice.