2. Lesson Thirteen Christmas Day in the Morning Pearl S Buck

3. Introduction to the background knowledge The structure of the text Detailed discussion of the text Conclusion of the text Assignment Teaching Procedures

4. About the author Pearl S. Buck (1892—1973) ( 中文译名： 赛珍珠 ), U.S. novelist; Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1938. She had first been brought to fame by the novel The Good Earth ( 中文译名：《大地》 ), which is about a Chinese family. A daughter of missionaries, Pearl Buck grew up in China, married an American and lived in China for about 40 years.

5. About the author Birthday: June 26, 1892 Parents: Absalom & Caroline Sydenstricker (Southern Presbyterian missionaries, stationed in China ) Came to China: 3 months old Period of stay in China: 40years Residential area: Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province

6. About the author Pearl’s Works: East Wind, West Wind The Good Earth Dragon Seed The Big Wave Satan Never Sleeps

7. About the author Pearl’s Special Contributions: In 1942, Pearl and Richard founded the East and West Association, dedicated to cultural exchange and understanding between Asia and the West.

8. The structure of the text Part 1 (paras. 1—8): Rob woke suddenly in an early Christmas morning. Part 2 (paras.9-41): Rob recalled the Christmas morning when he was fifteen years old. Part 3 (paras.42-46): Rob celebrated this Christmas with his wife after more than 50 years.

9. Detailed Discussion of the Text Strange how the habits of his youth clung to him still! (Para. 1) It was strange how up to that moment he had continued doing things the way he had always done them from boyhood.

10. Detailed Discussion of the Text He slipped back in time, as he did so easily nowadays. (Para. 9) He had recently got into the habit of recalling things in the past/of reminiscing/of letting his thoughts go back to the old days.

11. Detailed Discussion of the Text He had never thought of it before, taking for granted the tie of their blood. (Para. 13) He had never thought of the fact that his father loved him because he took the relationship of father and son as a matter of course. He had never given this another thought.

12. Detailed Discussion of the Text … there would be no more loitering in the mornings and having to be called again. (Para. 13) … he would never loiter in the morning and need no longer to be called again and again.

13. Detailed Discussion of the Text … stumbling blind with sleep, and pulled on his clothes. (Para. 13) When he got up, it was still very dark and he was still very sleepy. He could hardly open his eyes and could not see or think clearly, so he walked or moved unsteadily and blindly.

14. Detailed Discussion of the Text Then Jesus had been born in a barn, … bringing their Christmas gifts. (Para. 18) Bible:… And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold and frankincense, and myrrh…

15. Detailed Discussion of the Text … he got up and crept downstairs, careful of the creaky boards… (Para. 22) He had to be careful so that the boards would not make any noise and wake up his father, thus spoiling his plan.

16. Conclusion of the text The central idea of this story is expressed in the statement that love alone can waken love. It means that love is always mutual and always begins with giving. In view of the growing lack of human warmth partly due to the fierce competition in modern society, this idea appears all the more important. Of course it would be naïve to think that love is the answer to all our problems today, and in a world divided by class, racial and national conflicts, universal love is still unrealistic.