Vocabulary Notes (Week Sixteen)

1. baptism (n.) [C]
     /ˈbæpˌtɪz·əm/
     a Christian ceremony in which water is poured over someone’s head or the person is briefly 
     covered completely by water, and is named as a Christian
     We’re hoping to be able to get to Pasadena for the baptism of our grandson.

2. commencement (n.) [C/U]
     /kəˈmens·mənt/
     A commencement is also a ceremony at which students formally receive their diplomas

3. rust (n./v.) [U]
     /rʌst/
    a red-brown substance that forms on the surface of iron and steel as a result of decay caused     
    by reacting with air and water
    Stainless steel won’t rust.

4. chimney (n.) [C]
     /ˈtʃɪm·ni/ 
    a hollow structure that allows the smoke from a fire inside a building, esp. from a fireplace, to
    escape to the air outside

5. initiation (n.) [U]
    /ɪˌnɪʃ·iˈeɪ·ʃən/ 
     the act of beginning something
    The initiation and carrying out of such a measure, he wrote, is absolutely necessary.

Children's Literature (Week Sixteen)- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

1. Before the lesson
(1) The usage of writing down a name of a book or a story
     a. The name of a short story-->  using the quotation  eg. "The Little Mermaid"
     b. The name of a whole book--> using the underline  eg. Charlotte's Web

(2) Bildungsroman: It is a german word. Bild means like cultivate and roman means novel. It is 

     novel of education. However, it is not going to educate the readers.

(3) Initiation: Ini- is a prefix which means start or begin. In an extended sense it can also signify a 

      transformation in which the initiate is 'reborn' into a new role. 
(4) Creativity is not something that can be imitated or reproduced.

(5) The Everlasting Childhood in a Picaresque Bildungsroman: Understanding Mark Twain’s The 

      Adventures of Tom Sawyer  Author: T. Sara Sun 

      Quotation: 「《湯姆歷險記》的確擁有許多兒童文學經典的共通特質：諸如
    爭取小讀者認同的孩童主角(child protagonist)、弱勢族群的集結以挑戰權
    威、領導統禦(leader)與兄弟情誼(brotherhood)、追求夢想與冒險等暢銷
    元素。」

(6) Literature form Western are not that care about moral lessons. Most of the time, they 
      just reflected or told the truth.

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2. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 

(1) The author of this book is L. Frank Baum and the illustrator is W. W. Denslow.

(2) This name is actual an ironic name because there is no wonderful thing happened in Oz and the 

      Wizard is not a wizard, either. He is just a magician who was took here from Tornado. 

(3) The main conflict in this book is to find the wizard Oz. As for the wonderful and wizard, then we 

      don't have to discuss them again.

(4) Through this book and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, we can find out that the main roles 

      in adventure fantasy have something in common－Their parents would never be mentioned 

      in the books. 
(5) Describe a character with three objects.
      eg. Tin Man- oil can (because of rust), axe, no heart

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3. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Academy Awards 2011 video)

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

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4. Vocabularies and Phrases

(1) baptism 受洗禮

(2) confirmation 堅信儀式

(3) commencement 畢業典禮

(4) cowardly (adj.) 形容詞的-ly結尾: friendly, elderly, deadly (eg. seven deadly sins) 

(5) emerald 綠寶石

Vocabulary Notes (Week Fifteen)

1. abolition (n.) [U]
    /ˌæb·əˈlɪʃ·ən/

    the official ending of an activity or custom 

2. abort (v.)

    /əˈbɔrt/

    to stop something before it has begun or to cause something to fail before it is complete 

    Engineers aborted the test flight at the last minute.

3. peculiar (adj.)

    /pɪˈkjul·jər/ 

    unusual and strange 

    The copy editor will check type size and technical details to see if anything looks peculiar.

4. cannibalistic (adj.)

    /ˈkæn.ɪ.bəl/

    a person who eats human flesh, or an animal that eats the flesh of animals of its own type 

5. reconcile (v.)

    / ˈrek·ənˌsɑɪl/

    to adjust the way you think about a fact or situation that is opposed to another fact or situation 

    so that you can accept both 

    How do we reconcile the seemingly contradictory notions of cutting taxes and balancing the   

    budget?

Children's Literature (Week Fifteen)- The Brothers Grimm 2 and Hans Christian Andersen

1. Before the formal lesson
(1) Foreigners usually use "What's in your mind?" not "What are you thinking?". (你在想甚麼?) 
(2) God can test humans but humans don't test God. ---> faith (hard to explain and make it clear)

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2. The Brothers Grimm

(1) They recorded these stories during their travel. (在采風狀況下紀錄故事)
(2) The first version of Lutheran Bible was written in German. Due to the idea of localization, the second version was written in local language in every country. The current version was translated to English by King James the first which is called KJV (King James version).
(3) The origins of some stories.
      a. Cinderella in China called Ye Xian (葉限姑娘). This fairy tale is from Miscellaneous 
          Morsels from Youyang (<<酉陽雜俎>>).
      b. In The Little Red Riding Hood, there is a plot that a hunter cuts open the wolf's belly with 
          his axe. This plot is from the legends of Greece－cuts open Zeus' belly.                                                        

   c. Rapunzel was locked in a tower. This is originated from the legends of Greece that Zeus 

       changed himself to golden shower and went into the tower for the reason of his love     

       to Danaë.

     * The image of Tower is a kind of phallus. --> Phallic symbol 陽物崇拜: 對柱狀物的崇拜

     * Semiotics 記號學: Sign, colour, and design have some features in common. It is a sign 

        system or a study of sign indication.

        d. The witch in Hansel and Gretel lost the myth of reproduce. eg. something 
             like Menopause or maybe the old women can't give birth a baby. 
         * The climax in this story appears when Gretel pretended that she couldn't set on fire and 
            then push the witch into the stove. In the end of the story, she can offer Hansel 
            some help. She turned to be smart abruptly because before that, she swept the floor 
            all the time.
        e. When Sleeping Beauty was born, only one witch didn't be invited to the celebration party 
            so she was cursed. This plot is originated form the legends of Greece. When
            Achilles' parents got married, only Eris didn't get the invitation to the wedding 
            so Achilles' parents got cursed.

       

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3. Hans Christian Andersen

(1) He was born in a poor family.
(2) His good friend was Mendelssohn. They met each other when Andersen was traveling.

(3) Recommend: The Snow Queen from Akira Kurosawa.

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4. Christmas songs－Hark the Herald Angel Sing (Lyrics)

(1) hark: 歡欣鼓舞 (唱歌)
(2) my brother's keeper: 守護者
(3) reconciled: 和解
(4) all ye: you的古語
(5) angelic: 天使般的

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5. Vocabularies and phrases
(1) hero / heroin 男女主角 
(2) against 丟 (彈回)
(3) Deutschland 德國
(4) abolition *ab is a negative prefix. --> eg. aboriginal, abnormal, abortion, and 
      abort(abort the mission)  
(5) protest 抗議(者)
(6) peculiar: It means something strange, something odd, or something unusual.
(7) Cumulate means collect.
(8) cannibalistic 吃人的

Vocabulary Notes (Week Fourteen)

1. conscience (n.) [C]
     /ˈkɑn·ʃəns/

    the feeling that you know and should do what is right and should avoid doing what is wrong, 
    and that makes you feel guilty when you have done something you know is wrong 

    I have a guilty conscience for spending so little time with my kids.

2. cumulative (adj.)

     /ˈkju·mjə·lə·t̬ɪv/

    increasing as each new amount is added or as each new fact or condition is considered 

    No single development is causing the company’s financial trouble – it’s the cumulative effect of 

    years of weak leadership.

3. mortify (v.)

     /ˈmɔr·t̬əˌfɑɪ/

    to cause someone to feel extremely ashamed or embarrassed 

    He’s mortified by the fact that at 38 he still lives at home with his mother.

4. agenda (n.) [C]

     /əˈdʒen·də/

     a list of matters to be discussed at a meeting 

     Among the items on the agenda were next year’s budget and raising the membership dues.

5. plague (v.)

    /pleɪg/

   to cause someone or something difficulty or suffering, esp. repeatedly or continually 

   Financial problems have been plaguing the company.

Children's Literature (Week Fourteen)- The Brothers Grimm and Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears 2

1. Before the formal lesson
(1) Usages of drug, pill, and medication
     a. I am doing drug.  b. take the pill(s) / tablet   c. I am under the medication.
(2) Oedipus: The major conflict is the plague.
      a. He killed his father and married with his step-mother.
      b. The plague showed in his kingdom.
      c. He finally found out the cause and the resolution of the plague－Who killed the old king?
      d. He banished himself.

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2. The video of Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

(1) Myth: Something you don't know. More specifically, you studied of something you can't 

                 figure out.

(2) Mythology: Most of time we feel so confused about knowledge so we would make some

                          stories to explain and convince ourselves that it was normal.

(3) The major conflict is the mother owl won't wake the sun. And the lion used his wisdom to figure 

      out the answer layer by layer.

(4) The only moral lesson is you need to say hi and greet to your friend in the morning. (?)

(5) Here comes the story. --> The major of the agenda today is to find out who killed the owlet.

     a. Exposition: It's the mother owl who woke the sun each day so the dawn can come.

     b. Mosquito: I just saw a farmer who digging a yam almost as big as I am.

     c. Iguana: Try me. It's such a big lie (tall tale). I would rather be deaf. 

                       -> So he put two sticks on his ears.

     d. Python: Why the Iguana wouldn't speak to me? He would plot something to against me.

                       (some mystery)

     e. Rabbit: Run in his life.    f. Crow   g. Monkey.

(6) Verbs in the story (中文都是驚嚇)

     a. Mosquito annoyed the Iguana.

     b. Iguana frightened the Python. -> to make someone feel fear

     c. Python scared the rabbit. -> to feel frightened

     d. Rabbit startled the crow. -> to do something unexpected that surprises and                  
                                                        sometimes worries a personor animal (倒彈的驚嚇-最大)

     e. Crow alarmed the monkey. -> a warning of danger, usually a loud noise or flashing light

     f. The monkey killed the owlet.
(7) 背脊發涼
      a. I was thrilled. -> extremely pleased.
      b. I was mortified. -> very embarrassed.
(8) Term Explanation
      a. big lie: No one would believe that someone "could have the impudence to 
                      distort the truth so infamously."
      b. tall tale: A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true
                         and factual. Some such stories are exaggerations of actual events.
      c. cumulative tale (story): In a cumulative tale, sometimes also called a chain tale, 
                                                 action or dialogue repeats and builds up in some way as 
                                                 the tale progresses.
(8) This is a Frame Story (story within story)/ cumulative story.
      

It is the shape like this.

(9) The purpose of a cumulative story is a kind of training which can improve children's 

      impermanent memory.

      Take the song, 12 Days of Christmas, for example.

   

 

      * Three Wise Man(東方三賢人) brought gold, frankincense(乳香) and myrrh(默藥).

      * Greensleeves songs

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3. Vocabularies and Phrases

(1) tell a tale / being told  流傳至今

(2) guilty conscience  良心不安

(3) won't buy that kind of credo  不會採信....

(4) partridge  鷓鴣 

(5) folklore 民間故事                                

Vocabulary Notes (Week Thirteen)

1. condemn (v.)
     /kənˈdem/
    to criticize something or someone strongly, usually for moral reasons 
    The movie was condemned for glorifying violence.

2. raid (n.) [c]
    /reɪd/

    a planned attack by a military group that is done suddenly and unexpectedly and is intended to 

    destroy or damage something

    an air raid ; a bombing raid

3. moral (adj.)

    /ˈmɔr·əl/

    relating to standards of good behavior, honesty, and fair dealing, or showing high standards 
    of this type

   It’s her moral obligation to tell the police what she knows.

4. persevere (v.)

     /ˌpɜr·səˈvɪər/

     to try to do or continue doing something in a determined way, despite difficulties 

     If I had persevered, I probably would have gotten the job.

5. ashamed (adj.)

    /əˈʃeɪmd/

    feeling bad because you are aware that others know that you or someone connected with you     

    has done something wrong or embarrassing

    Pedro was never ashamed to admit his mistakes.

Children's Literature (Week Thirteen)- Aesop's Fables and Mother Goose 3

1. Quiz of the day
(1) situation comedy ---> sitycom / citycom
(2) In a story, a Hare means brown rabbit and Tortoise means Testudinidae (陸龜).

 

(3) Mod's Hair (a kind of hair product) is from the sound of March Hare.

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2. Folklore, Myth, and Legend.
(1) Legend: It is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to 
                   take place within human history. eg. Tiger Aunt 

(2) Fable: A fable is a succinct fictional story that features animals or inanimate objects 

                 which are anthropomorphized, and that leads to an interpretation of a moral lesson. 

                 (short and narrative tale with anthropomorphized animals or mythical creatures)

(3) Parable:

     a. Parable differs from a fable in that fables employ animals and inanimate objects, or forces

         of nature as characters, whereas parables have human characters. (It means there is no 

         any animal in parables)

     b. In this kind of genre, the authors used to use analogy to complete a story.

     c. It was always used in New Testament (新約聖經).  

         eg. Prodigal Son (who was wastefully extravagant) 浪子回頭 --> 

         If you are willing to believe in god, even in the last time, the god will still hold you in his arm.

         eg. Lost Sheep 迷途羔羊

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3. Some fables which we must read (Aesop's Fables)

* Jean de La Fontaine rewrited and extended the content of Aesop's Fables.

(1) The Ass Eating Thistles --->中文闡釋: 各花入各眼

      a. Vocabularies and Phrases in this fable

          (a) repeaters 收割者

          (b) "Mumble" is an onomatopoeia.

          (c) enter into his reflection 腦袋中浮現....的想法

          (d) prickly 刺刺的 

          (e) savory 味道濃厚

          (f) above everything....

          (g) be content with... 滿足於... 

              * Lyrics from Today - John Denver 

                 I can be content with yesterday's glory. 

               * blossom and strawberry in this song are all means lips.

(2) The Ass Carrying Salt --->中文闡釋: 同一法則無法放諸四海皆準
      a. Vocabularies and Phrases in this fable
          (a) slippery ledge 滑溜溜的邊緣
          (b) dissolve 溶解
          (c) at his hold trick again 故技重施
(3) The Fox Without a Tail
      a. Vocabularies and Phrases in this fable
          (a) call a meeting 召開大會
               *assembly 大會會議 ; 軍事會議   summoned to 召喚 --> summon 振道詞(神父)
          (b) stump (大腿的或樹幹)根部
          (c) was ashamed to 丟臉;羞恥...
          (d) bolder face 厚臉皮
          (e) assemble= collect together 
          (f) fail to see....
          (g) dispense with= get rid of
          (h) chief ornament 主要裝飾品
(4) The Hare and the Tortoise. 
      a. Vocabularies and Phrases in this fable
          (a) ridicule= make fun of 
          (b) assented 表示同意
          (c) narrative swiftness 有天賦的
          (d) perseverance 謹慎
      b. Tortoise: slow but steady
      c. If you care, you may win the competition.
(5) The Wolf and the Shepherd
      a. Vocabularies and Phrases in this fable
          (a) a flock of + 鳥.魚.羊.學生 --> flock 群集
          (b) keep on 緊盯著
          (c) raid 造成騷動
          (d) slaughter 屠殺
      b. Let them out of the sight.
      c. I trust my sheep to a wolf. 後引申為所託非人 
(6) The Boy Who Cried Wolf 
      a. Vocabularies and Phrases in this fable
          (a) flock 羊群
          (b) moral 道德的(adj./n.)--> morale 道德(n.)
(7) The Fox and the Grapes
      a. Vocabularies and Phrases in this fable
          (a) inaccessible 無法靠近的
      b. You are just sour grape. 後引申為酸葡萄心理
(8) The Wolf and the Crane --> 中文闡釋: 不設身處地

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4. Extra knowledge
(1) If you can rock them, you can teach them.
(2) Beauty and the Beast (Lyrics) --- Teacher mentioned the tale as a chief ornament.

     * You make me want to be a better self. (From someone who fell in love)

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5. Mother Goose Rhymes

(1) What did Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater have?

Peter, Peter pumpkin eater,

Had a wife but couldn't keep her;

He put her in a pumpkin shell

And there he kept her very well.

Peter, Peter pumpkin eater,

Had another and didn't love her;

Peter learned to read and spell,

And then he loved her very well.

(2) What did Mary have?

Mary had a little lamb,

whose fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,

the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day

which was against the rule.

It made the children laugh and play,

to see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,

but still it lingered near,

And waited patiently about,

till Mary did appear.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"

the eager children cry.

"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."

 the teacher did reply.

(3) What did Peter Piper pick? 

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,

Where's the peck of pickled peppers that Peter Piper picked?

(4) What did Jack and Jill do?

Jack and Jill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down and broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after.

(5) Where did the old woman live?

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.

She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;

She gave them some broth without any bread;

Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.

(6) Where did Little Miss Muffet sit?

Little Miss Muffet

Sat on a tuffet,

Eating her curds and whey;

Along came a spider,

Who sat down beside her

And frightened Miss Muffet away.

(7) What has Little Bo Peep lost?

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep,

And doesn't know where to find them;

Leave them alone, And they'll come home,

Wagging their tails behind them.

(8) What did Georgie Porgie do?

Georgie Porgie, Puddin' and Pie,

Kissed the girls and made them cry,

When the boys came out to play

Georgie Porgie ran away.

(9) Where did Wee Willie Winkie go?

Wee Willie Winkie rins through the toon,

Up stairs an' doon stairs in his nicht-gown,

Tirlin' at the window, crying at the lock,

"Are the weans in their bed, for it's now ten o'clock?"

"Hey, Willie Winkie, are ye comin' ben?

The cat's singin grey thrums to the sleepin hen,

The dog's speldert on the floor and disna gie a cheep,

But here's a waukrife laddie, that wunna fa' asleep."

Onything but sleep, you rogue, glow'ring like the moon,

Rattlin' in an airn jug wi' an airn spoon,

Rumblin', tumblin' roon about, crawin' like a cock,

Skirlin like a kenna-what, waukenin' sleepin' fock.

"Hey Willie Winkie, the wean's in a creel,

Wamblin' aff a bodie's knee like a verra eel,

Ruggin' at the cat's lug and raveling a' her thrums-

Hey Willie Winkie – see there he comes."

Wearit is the mither that has a stoorie wean,

A wee, stumpie, stousie, that canna rin his lane,

That has a battle aye wi' sleep afore he'll close an e'e-

But a kiss frae aff his rosy lips gies strength anew to me.

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6. Vocabularies and Phrases

(1) be apt to....

(2) condemn 承擔

(3) at his hold trick again 故技重施

(4) raid 造成騷動

(5) be content with... 滿足於...