How to summarize a story?
short but to the point
The last leaf tells the story of Johnsy, who ______________________. While her friend, Sue,__________________________________, she______________________. To our great surprise, their neighbour, Behrman, ________________________________. At last _______________________________.
waited to die(pinned her destiny to the survival of one last leaf)… constantly encouraged Johnsy and attended to her carefully (stirring her chicken soup… ) For forty years he had been about to paint a masterpiece; a sacrificed fierce little old hisman; life to shouted his contempt… save Johnsy
Personality
Examples(why)
(what kind …is a/an ….girl/man, because she/he… Main person…(words/sentences) he/she is) or In Line__, tells us she/he is... characters Johnsy pessimistic; stubborn…
from Taicang Senior High
Learning Objectives
At the end of the class, you’ll be able to • know more about O. Henry and the short story ----- The Last Leaf; • know how to analyze characters; • appreciate short stories by analyzing some writing techniques.
Line 66 The last Line 25-30 paragraph How can people Behrman died know only the last leafafter was he two days painted Behrman? was ill.by Why? Line 1-24
O. Henry was an American short story writer, whose stories are set in his own time, the early 20th century. Many take place in New York City and deal with ordinary people. Among them, The Gift of the Magi, The Cop and The Anthem and The Last Leaf enjoy huge popularity.
considerate; Sue kind; patient… ambitious; Behrman bad-tempered; selfless…
II. Think
the last leaf
Understanding of the title
What do you think of the title---- The last leaf ？
a surprising ending
Detailed description of objects
What do you know about the story? characters? plot?
ending?
Task one：Brief introduction • Who? • What happened to them? • what’s the ending?
Possible structure:Three chFra bibliotekracters
Johnsy , Sue, Behrman What do you think of the characteristics of these three characters, Johnsy, Sue, Behrman?
I. Read & comprehend
Task two：Character analysis Focus on what they say & do
To the plot
“thread”
Writing techniques
III. Read further & think further
Writing techniques
“thread”
soup Line 15-16; the things mentioned moreLine57-59 than once inmasterpiece the story to help theLine76-77 plot Line 26-28; develop.
To Behrman a masterpiece
“It’s Behrman’s masterpiece----he painted it there…”
To Johnsy
a symbol of hope of life
“when the last one falls I must go, too”/Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how wicked I was.