EarlyAutumn

byLangstonHughesWhatwillyouthinkofwhenyouseetheword“autumn”?Itisaharvestseason.Fallenleaves.Itissad.Itiscoolerandcooler.Hotdaysareleavingandautumniscomingsoon.Todaywearegoingtoreadashortstorytitled“earlyautumn”.ItwaswrittenbyLangstonHughes.AbouttheauthorLangstonHugheswasan_________blackpoet,playwrightandnovelist.Hewrotealotofworks.Hewasap______writer.Hisworksaresopopularthattheyhavebeent___________intomorethan25languages.AmericanrolificranslatedAmonghisshortstories,EarlyAutumnisveryfamous.Inthestory,BillandMarywereinloveatfirst.Butlatertheybrokeup.Whydidtheybreakup?Somethingnotveryimportanthadcomebetweenthem,andtheydidn’tspeak.WhatdidMarydo?Impulsively,shehadmarriedamanshethoughtsheloved.HowdidBillfeel?Billfeltbitteraboutwomen.Manyyearslater,theymetinWashingtonSquare.Findoutthefollowinginformationaccordingtotheirdialogue（對話）.

MaryBillfirstreaction

appearance

attitudetoeachother

career

family

willingtomentiontheirhusbandorwife?

howtheyfelt

FirstreactionMaryrecognizedhimassoonasshesawhim.Bill________________her.Why?Theirappearance

1.Marylooked____________.2.Billwas________________.sooldstillyoungdidn’trecognizeWhatdidheroldappearanceimply?Unconsciously,Mary____________asthoughwantingakiss.ButBill__________hishandandsmiledpolitely.liftedherfaceheldoutTheirattitudeWhatdothetwowords“unconsciously”and“politely”imply?Unconsciously:Whentheywereinlove,BillwouldalwayskissMarywhentheymet.SoMaryliftedherfaceasahabit.InMary’smind,Billwasstillherlover.Politely:Billtreatedherasiftheyhadnotbeenlovers.Whatdothetwowords“unconsciously”and“politely”imply?1.Maryworkinthebursar’sofficeatColumbia(University).2.Billwasalawyerinanicefirm,waydowntown.Career:FamilylifeMaryhadthreechildrenandlivedonCentralParkWest.Billhadtwokids.AndhiswifewascalledLucille.DetailedUnclear:nonameofthefirmNoinformationaboutherhusband.Noinformationabouthisaddress.“Andyourhusband?”heaskedher.“wehave3children.Iworkin....”2.LucilleandI’dlovetohaveyou.AttitudetotheirhusbandorwifeMarywasunwillingtotalkaboutherhusband.Billwasverygladtomentionhiswife.1.Maryfeltalittlesick.2.“Yououghttoseemykids.”hegrinned.Howtheyfelt:grin:smilebroadlysoastoshowtheteeth,expressinghisdelightsick:Marywassad.“Alwayswonderedwhathappenedtoyou,Bill.”SheforgottotellhimthatheryoungestboywasnamedBill,too.Whatdothetwosentencesimply?MaryneverforgotBill.ShestilllovedBill.Thereisalotofenvironmentaldescription(環境描寫）inthisstory.Findouttheenvironmentaldescriptioninit.environmentaldescription(環境描寫）1.Agreatmanypeoplewentpastthemthroughthepark.Peopletheydidn’tknow.Itwaslateafternoon.Nearlysunset.Cold.2.TheleavesfellslowlyfromthetreeintheSquare.Fellwithoutwind.Autumndusk.Shefeltalittlesick.3.SuddenlythelightscameonupthewholelengthofFifthAvenue,chainsofmistybrillianceintheblueair.4.Thelightsontheavenueblurred,twinkled,blurred.5.Thebusstarted.Peoplecamebetweenthemoutside,peoplecrossingthestreet,peopletheydidn’tknow.Spaceandpeople.Thestoryissad.Itwastimeforleavestofallinautumn./normal/naturalItwastimetosaygoodbye.Itwaslate.ThereweretearsinMary’seyes.Theywerenotcloseanymore.Thereisspaceandpeoplebetweenthem.Theenvironmentaldescriptionhelpstoshowthefeelingsofcharactersinthestory.Whatisthefunctionoftheenvironmentaldescription?Whatcanwelearnfromthestory?1.Itisdifficultforwomentoforgetthepastlove.2.Asasayinggoes，“Marry

in

hasteandrepentatleisure.”(Don’tdothingsimpulsively.)3.Whatispastispast.Valuewhatisinyourhandnow.beinlovebreakupimpulsivelybitterunconsciouslyholdoutpolitelyfrowndowntownpulloffutterawordplaywrightaprolificwriterMyfriendShawnreadthestoryandhefeltverysorryforMary.HethoughtthatMaryshouldnotbesadanymore,soheaddedanendingtothestory.Readhisending.Whatdoesthenewendingimply?Marystaredoutside,leaningherheadtothewindow.Spaceandpeople.“AtleastIknowheishappynow.”Shewipedhereyes,smiled,wipedandsmiled.Shesuddenlyunderstoodthatwhatwas