Analyzing 'The Million Pound Bank Note' by Mark Twain

The Million Pound Bank Note The Million Pound Bank Note by Mark Twain

Learning objectives: By the end of this period, you will be able to 1. analyse the language style of the play and the personalities of the main characters; 2. learn some useful skills of understanding implied meanings based on what the characters said in the text; 3. describe the feelings of the main characters using suitable adjectives.

Do you know the original author of this play? Mark Twain Mark Twain

Leading in What would you do if you had a million-pound bank note? Immediate needs Short-term goals Long-term possibilities

Look at the title and predict: The Million Pound Bank Note Act 1, Scene 3 What is the type of the text? A. A novel. B. A biography. C. A play. A drama or play intends to portray( ) life or people or to tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue. It is typically designed for theatrical( ) performance.

Read for types Narration ( )--to introduce the background knowledge. Narrator: Two rich brothers, Roderick and Oliver, have made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million-pound bank note a man could live a month in London. His brother Roderick doubts it. They see a poor young man walking outside their house. It is The characters Henry Adams. Roderick: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please? The lines of the dialogue Henry: Who? Me, sir? Roderick: Yes, you. Servant: (opening a door) Good morning, sir. Would you please come in? (Henry enters the house.) The stage instructions

Look through the passage and answer the question. 1. How many characters( ) are there in the scene? Who are they? Who are the main characters? Two brothers: Roderick and Oliver; Henry; Servant The twobrothersand Henry. Four.

Presentation: Reading Comprehension I 1. Henry was a __________. A. poor British businessman B. rich British businessman C. poor American businessman D. rich American businessman

Skimming Reading Comprehension I 2. The two brothers gave ____ to Henry. A. a check B. a lot of money C. a credit card D. a letter 3. When can Henry open the letter? A. He can t open it until 1 o clock. B. He can t open it until 2 o clock. C. He can open it after 1:30. D. He can open it on 3 o clock.

4.What did Henry do before? A. A miner. B. A typist. C. A beggar. D. A tramp. 5.Why did Henry land in Britain? A. He wanted to find a job in Britain. B. He actually landed in Britain by accident. C. He dreamed of making a fortune in Britain. D. He was guided to Britain by a ship.

6.Why did the brothers make a bet? A. Because they doubted if a person could live without money. B. Because they each wanted to win the bet. C. Because they disagreed with each other s opinions. D. Because they wondered whether a poor man could live with a million pound note in a strange place.

Read for details Narrator: Two rich brothers, Roderick and Oliver, have made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million-pound bank note a man could live a month in London. His brother Roderick doubts it. They see a poor young man walking outside their house. It is Henry Adams. Roderick: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please? Henry: Who? Me, sir? surprised Henry felt _______. Roderick: Yes, you. Servant: (opening a door) Good morning, sir. Would you please come in? (Henry enters the house.)

Where does Henry Adams come from? Roderick: How do you do, Mr... er...? Henry: Adams. Henry Adams. Why did Henry come to England? Oliver: Come and sit down, Mr Adams. Henry: Thank you. Roderick:You're an American? Henry felt__________. anxious Henry: That's right, from San Francisco. Roderick: May we ask what you're doing in this country and what your plans are? Henry: Well, I can't say that I have any plans. As a matter of fact, I landed in Britain by accident.

Oliver: How is that possible? How did Henry come to England? Henry: Well, I had my own boat. About a month ago, I was sailing, and towards night I foundmyself carried out to sea by a strong wind. The next morning I was spotted by a ship. Oliver: And it was the ship that brought you to England. Henry: Yes. I went to the American consulate to seek help, but... Anyway, I didn't dare to try again. It s an advantage to us that you were brought to England by accident and you re the right person for the bet because of having no money. You don t need to worry about your situation because we're going to give you a million-pound bank note. (The brothers smile at each other.) Roderick: Well, you mustn't worry about that. It's an advantage. What does Roderick mean by saying these words?

Henry felt__________. puzzled Henry:I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir. Roderick:Tell us, what sort of work did you do in America? Henry: I worked for a mining company. How does Henry want the brothers to help him? Could you offer me work here? Roderick: Patience. If you don't mind, may What did Oliver mean by saying these words? I ask you how much money you have? Henry: Well, to be honest, I have none. Oliver: (happily) What luck! Brother, what luck! Fortunately, we found the right person for the bet. It's good luck for us.

Henry: Well, it may seem lucky to you but not angry Henry felt_______and _________. upset to me! If this is your idea of some kind of joke, I don't think it's very funny. Now if you'll excuse me, I ought to be on my way. Roderick: Please don't go. You mustn't think we don't care about you. Oliver, give him the letter. Oliver: Yes, I was about to go get the letter. Wait! (getting it from a desk and giving it to Henry) The letter. Henry: (taking it carefully) For me?

Roderick: For you. (Henry starts to open it.) Oh, no, What does Henry mean by saying like this you'd better not open it. You can't open it until two o'clock. Henry: Oh, this is silly. It's very strange that I can't open the envelope until two o'clock. What's happening? Roderick:Not silly. There's money in it. Henry: Oh, no. I don't want your charity. I just want a job that earns an honest income. Roderick:We know you're hard-working. That's why we've given you the letter. (to the servant) Show Mr Adams out.

Henry: Well, why dont you explain what this is all about? Henry felt__________, __________ and ____________. curious angry puzzled Roderick: You ll soon know. In exactly an hour and a half. Servant: This way, sir. Roderick: Not until 2 o'clock. Promise? Henry: Promise.Goodbye.

Read again and fill in the blanks. sailing Henry was ______ out of the bay. Henry found himself _______ out to sea by a strong wind. Henry was ________ by a ship. Henry arrived in ________ by working on the ship unpaid. Henry was _______ in London and wandering in the street. Roderick _______ him and asked him to step in. Roderick gave Henry a _____ with money in it. A month ago carried Towards nightfall spotted The next morning London Lastly lost Now called Just at that time letter To Henry s surprise

Skimming Read the passage and answer: 1. How did Henry Adams come to England? 2. Where did Henry work before? How much did he have? 3. Why did they choose Henry?

1. How did Henry Adams come to England? It was the ship that brought him to England. 2. Where did Henry work before? How much did he have? He worked for a mining company before and he had no money at all. 3. Why did they choose Henry? Because Henry was honest, hard-working and poor.

Character Analysis What kinds of people are Henry Adams , Oliver and Roderick?

Henry was? I earned my passage by working as an unpaid hand. independent

Henry was? It is my first trip here. Well, to be honest, I have none. (no money) Well, I can t say that I have any plans. honest

Henry was? Could you offer me some kind of work here? I don t want your charity. I just want an honest job. hard-working

Henry was? Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me. If this is your idea of some kind of joke, I don t think it s very funny. Now, if you ll excuse me, I think I ll be on my way. frank

The characteristics of Oliver and Roderick: servants and not worrying about giving a stranger a million pound bank-note prepared to bet one million pounds just for a bit of fun rich mischievous good judges of character They see that Henry is honest and proud.

scanning Reading Comprehension II Write F if it is a fact. Write O if it is an opinion. 1. ____ Henry wants to find a job in London. 2. ____ Henry is given an envelope by the two brothers. 3. ____ Henry is an unlucky young man. 4. ____The servant is called James. 5. ____ Henry is foolish to go and meet the two brothers. F F O F O

Read and find all the examples of polite requests in it. Then rewrite them in informal language. Polite language Simple alternative Come in, please. 1 Would you step inside a moment, please? 2 3 4 5 6

Polite language Would you step inside a moment, please? Good morning, sir. Would you please come in? Permit me to lead the way, sir. Simple alternative Come in, please. Come in please. Let me show you the way.

How do you do, Mr er ? I wonder, Mr Adams, if you d mind May we ask what you re doing in this country ? Now if you ll excuse me I ll Hello Mr Mr Adams, is it OK if Why are you in England? Please excuse me.

Discussion What do you think of this play? Is money so important? Some people say that money is everything. But some people still think that money cannot bring them happiness. What do you think of this?

Summary: enjoy the film ACT 1 3 SCENE

Test in class Fill in the blank with proper words. Roderick and Oliver, rich______(man) living in London, made a bet on ________a million-pound bank note could help a man live a month in London. Just then a poor man, Henry, came into their sight. Henry, an American, was carried to Britain_______ accident. One day, when______(sail) Henry was taken far into the sea by a strong wind. ___________(fortunate), he was saved by a British ship and thus he landed in Britain, where he was _______(job) and poor. At that time Roderick and Oliver noticed him and decided ________(give) him a million-pound bank note. to give men whether by sailing Fortunately jobless

When first hearing they call him a lucky man, Henry was angry because he thought he __________(make) fun of by the two rich men. He insisted he be offered a job to make money by_________(he) rather than get money from others. After Roderick made more explanation, Henry with doubt received a letter with______ big note from Oliver. Henry was required not to open the letter until two o'clock. Such a bet began. was made himself a

Translation Translation Quiz II 1. Oliver believes that with a million pound bank note __________________________ ( ) in London. 2. The fact is that ______________________ ________________________ ( ). 3. That s why ________________________ ( ). a man could survive a month I earned my passage by working as an unpaid hand we ve given you the letter

Thank you.