Lesson Seven Mandela s Garden Teaching aims

Lesson Seven Mandela’s Garden

Teaching aims § To know something about Mandela § To get theme of the text § To appreciate the writing style § To grasp the language points

Nelson Mandela How much do you know about him?

Key Words of background 种族隔离政策 § apartheid 种族歧视 § racial discrimination § African National Congress非洲国民大会 § be on trial 被审讯 § acquit 宣布无罪 § life imprisonment 终生监禁 § the Nobel Peace Prize 诺贝尔和平奖

Nelson Mandela 　 § He spent 27 years in prison fighting for black people in South Africa. § He was the first black president of South Africa and a legendary figure of the African National Congress (ANC)

Important events in his life ---was born in South Africa on July 18, 1918 ---Jointly established the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in 1944 ---Was imprisoned (1962 -1990) ---Was awarded, with F. W. de Klerk, Nobel Peace Prize in 1993

§ Was elected the first black President of South Africa in 1994 § (he and Winnie Mandela) divorced in 1996 § Resigned from his office without seeking a second term in 1999

In 1948 he was active in resistance against the ruling national party’s apartheid policies made by the white. In 1956 -1961 he was arrested and went on trial for treason. In 1961, he was acquitted. In 1962 he argued for the setting up of a military wings within the ANC executive agreed to his proposal on the use of violent tactics.

§ In 1962 He was arrested again and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor. § In 1963 Many fellow leaders of the ANC were arrested. Mandela was brought to stand trial with them for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. § In 1964 Eight of the accused (including Mandela) were sentenced to life imprisonment.

§ 1964 -1982 He was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison. § Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990 by F. W. de Klerk, the incumbent South African president at the time. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life's work, striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost four decades earlier.

In 1991, Mandela was elected President of the ANC. In 1994, he was elected president of South Africa, which he still holds office today. Two biographical movies were made, and the latest, Mandela and de Klerk, focused on struggle of his life.

Mandela has been married three times: From 1944 to 1957 to Evelyn Mase From 1958 to 1996 to Winnie Madikizela From 1998 till now to Graca Machel. . .

§ Mandela's wife Winnie became a powerful figure while Mandela was in prison. § However, in 1995, she dismissed from his cabinet, and their official divorce in 1996.

Nelson Mandela (1918 -) § Nelson Mandela was born in a village near Umtata on the 18 July 1918. § Mandela: The struggle is my life

Nelson Mandela § He is still leading the fight against apartheid with extraordinary vigor and resilience after spending nearly three decades of his life behind bars. § He has sacrificed his private life and his youth for his people, and remains South Africa's best known and loved hero.

Nelson Mandela § Mandela has held numerous positions in the African National Congress Youth League. § § ANCYL secretary (1948); ANCYL president (1950); ANC Transvaal president (1952); deputy national president (1952) § ANC president (1991).

Nelson Mandela § He was convicted and jailed for five years in November 1962. While serving his sentence, he was charged with sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Robben Island Robben Island, where he was imprisoned, became a center for learning, and Mandela was a central figure in the organized political education classes

Nelson Mandela behind bars In prison Mandela never compromised his political principles and was always a source of strength for the other prisoners

Nelson Mandela was released on February 18, 1990. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life's work, striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost four decades earlier.

Nelson Mandela He was inaugurated as the first democratically elected State President of South Africa on 10 May 1994 - June 1999

Structure analysis § I. Background information: the end of manual labor made it possible for Mandela to start a garden in prison (1) § II. Mandela’s gardening experience in prison (2 -7) § A. why he started a garden in prison--gardening as a survival weapon in prison (23)

B. How he started a garden (4 -7) § 1. how he prepared the land: by digging and removing rocks § 2. what he planted: hardy plants that did not require rich soil or much care § 3. what gardening experience he had previously had: gardening as an alternative to his intellectual work at college § 4. how he learned gardening : through trial and error

III. The insights Mandela gained from this gardening experience (8 -11) § A. he got a small taste of freedom which helped him to survive in prison(8) § B. he gained new insights into what leadership meant(9) § C. he came to realize that personal relationshop needed cultivating and nourishing like plants(10 -11)

§ What did Mandela say one should do if he wanted to survive in prison? What made him feel fulfilled? § How did he keep his mind active and his body fit? § What did he usually do to amuse himself? § Had Mandela ever owned a garden before? What was his first experience at gardening? Did he enjoy it? Why or why not? § Was he able to cut out a big garden? What was the soil like? Was it easy to start a garden in the courtyard? What did Mandela have to do to find enough room for growing plants?

§ What did Mandela learn from gardening in the prison? § The gardening gave him satisfaction and offered a taste of freedom. He was strong physically and mentally. He regarded it as a way to defy the enemy’s attempt to crush him.

What can we learn from Para 2? § The author used 3 bys to give a powerful emphasis in meaning with paralleling structures. § It showed the confidence and satisfaction of the prisoners toward the life, they can fulfill their boring life with instructive tasks.

§ To our young people, no matter what is waiting for us, No matter what is ahead of us, no matter how difficult situations we are in, we should always fulfill our hearts, fulfill our lives and lead our life optimistically, actively with firm and strong belief and faith.

§ Comrade—a close friend you have worked with, been in the military with, etc. “My comrades” refers to other ANC leaders who were also imprisoned on Robben Island.

---the university’s manual labor requirement § This sounds as if at the university, some kind of practical work done by hand was a requirement. This was not the same as manual labor in prison, which was forced, usually very hard.

…certain aspects of my life § This refers to what Mandela says in the last 3 paragraphs : § His work as a national leader § The handling of human relationship in general § His marriage with Winnie in particular

Learers must also look after their gardens…. (para 9) § Mandela compares his gardening with his responibility as a national leader. In his struggle as an ANC leader, he also has to plant seeds, and take care of what he has planted until in the end he

§ Garden-§ Plant seeds-§ Watch-§ Cultivate-§ Harvest the results--

…save what can be saved, and eliminate what cannot succeed(para 9) § Mandela seems to be talking about his relations with his comrades in general, and his relations with his wife in particular. § When differences occur, a leader should always try to settle these differences. However, if these differences concern matters of principle and cannot be reconciled, a leader must resolutely part from those people, just as one has to eliminate the weeds in one’s garden.

I wrote Winnie two letters about…deep red fruit. (para 10) § The “beautiful tomato plant” and how Mandela “made it grow from a tender seedling to a strong plant that produced deep red fruit” obviously refer to his relationship with his wife. § In para 10, Mandela gives a specific example of how he tried to save his marriage but in vain by using a metaphor.

When it finally died, I …. . (para 10) § By telling Winnie what he did with the dead tomato plant in detail, Mandela wanted her to know he cared about their marriage and felt very sorry about their worsening relationship.

…either through some mistake or lack of care…. (para 10) § Mandela seemed to feel that he was partly responsible for the way his relationship with his wife had declined, and that was why he did what he could to save their marriage. But he felt that their marriage probably wouldn’t survive.

Theme § Mandela regards gardening as a survival strategy. § The gardening--- § gives him satisfaction § offers a taste of freedom § makes him strong physically

§ It is a way to defy( refuse to do what someone in authority tells you to do) the enemy’s attempt to crush him spiritually. Gardening has become a metaphor and gives him inspiration on how to be a good revolutionary leader and how to nourish important human relationship.

Theme of the text For Mandela, gardening is the source of spiritual fulfillment. Gardening gives Mandela inspiration for his revolutionary cause. Political leaders are like gardeners.

§ § § City authorities Health authorities Police authorities School authorities Local authorities Military authorities

§ Get satisfaction from § Find satisfaction in § Take satisfaction in /from sth

§ She took great satisfaction in helping others. § He used to take satisfaction in making fun of others. Now he knows better. § The boy gets satisfaction from teaching his grandpa how to use the computer.

Develop---create sth over a period of time § develop methods § plans § a strategy § a new theory

Empty of § ---completely without sth § The restaurant was almost empty of customers. § The street was empty of traffic.

Take /find pride in (doing)sth § The little town takes great pride in their recent achievements. § The children take pride in wearing school uniform.

Give in to § ---finally agree to what sb wants, after refusing for a period of time § The factory finally gave in to the workers’ demand for a pay raise. § When you badly want a cigarette, don’t give in to it.

remove § She removed the cups and glasses from the table. § The Minister of Defense was removed from office. § Everybody knows the story about how an old foolish man removed a mountain. § WTO requires all members to remove their tariffs(关税).

allow § ---to make it possible for sth to happen or sb to do/ have sth § Her job allows her much time to look after her baby. § His experience in the army allows him to handle dangerous situations firmly.

At heart § People say that in spite of his academic success, he is a farmer at heart. § Even at the age of eighty, he is young at heart.

Regret doing sth § ---feel sorry about sth you have done and wish that you have not done it § He never regretted saying what he did at the meeting. § Some day, you’ll regret making this hasty decision.

Provide sb with sth/provide sth for sb § The school provides its students with many elective courses. § This hospital provides 500 beds for in-patients. § Is it true that free lunches are provided for your staff?

Neither…nor § She had neither the desire nor the courage to try it. § He did it neither for money nor fame. § Neither my brother nor I am interested.

For a time § For a time he worked in a coalmine. Then he decided to go to college. § For a time, I didn’t know what the trouble was, but then I realized.

Sense—a particular feeling about sth § A deep sense of despair § A great sense of relief § In the darkness they felt a growing sense of danger. § Too many electronic products give you an unpleasant sense of being their slave.

Mind their work § ---take care of sth/sb , watch or be in charge of sth/sb § Who’s going to mind the department office when Jane is on leave? § A lot of grandparents in China are helping mind their grandchildren.

At length § § § 1) for a long time We discussed this problem at length. 2) in a full and complete way, in detail The book discusses the topic at length. 3) (literary) after a long time, finally, in the end, at last § At length, the boy got permission from his parents to make a trip to Tibet on his own.

Read into sth § Don’t read too much into her remarks. § ( her remarks do not have the meaning or importance you think they have)

Writing style § A happy combination of abstract and specific words § The use of parallel structures § The use of figurative language

Language points decline blow manual bar at length

decline de: 1) opposite, negative, not, counter to demilitarize　　使非军事化 demobilize　　 复员 destruction　　破坏 denationalize　非国有化

2) Weaken, reduce, lower defame　诽谤 decode　解码 deform　变形 deface　损坏外观 devalue　贬值 declass　降低社会地位 depress　压下，压低

3) Strengthen, reinforce describe 　描绘 debate　　争论 decry　　　谴责

v. 1) to slope or move downwards: About 2 miles east, the land begins to decline towards the river. to move from a better to a worse 2) position, or from higher to lower: His power/health/influence has begun to decline now that he is old. to refuse, usu. politely; be unwilling 3) We asked them to come to our party, but they declined (the invitation)

4)decline n. There is a sharp decline in interest in sports in our town. decline: to refuse politely, formal word refuse: to say or show one is unwilling to give or accept sth. general word. reject: to refuse to accept, submit to, believe, or make use of, strong word

blow Common expression: vt. be moving: The wind blew the ship toward the island. vi. send out … from the mouth: The referee blew his whistle. vi. be moving: It was blowing hard. vi. I like to hear a siren blowing. n. hard stroke on sb. physical, spiritual The bad news was a blow to Ann. Father struck me a blow.

derivable words blower blow-dry Ask the hairdresser for a wash and blow-dry

Useful phrases to blow out to blow up to deal a blow to blow one’s nose to blow sb. a kiss

Idioms and slangs blow smoke (to talk nonsense) blow the test I blow the interview. come to blows over sth. I knocked him down at a blow. You would blow a billion dollars for this?

A proverb Strike the first blow; it is as good as two. Blow your own soup, not mine.

manual 1) of or relating to the hands a manual worker (adj. ) 2) a small reference book, especially one giving instructions. a manual for students (n. ) 3) employing human rather than mechanical energy: a pocket reference manual

bar 1. The bar of soap slipped from his grasp. 2. Poor health may be a bar to success in life. 3. After finishing here legal studies she was called to the bar. 4. He opened a snack bar. 5. He barred all the doors and windows of his house.

At length 1) after some time; eventually: At length we arrived at our destination. 2) for a considerable time; fully: spoke at length about the court ruling. 3) more phrases about length cannot see beyond the length of one's nose find (have, get, know, take) the length of sb. 's foot

Further reading: 　Paraphrase sentences

1. The end of manual work is liberating. I felt liberated from the manual work. § I found Dickens’s novel very interesting. I was interested. § The news was very disappointing. I felt terribly disappointed. § The result is a bit surprising. Everybody was surprised. § The whole experience was exciting. We all got extremely exci

2. One must develop ways to take satisfaction in one’s daily life. § take satisfaction in (doing) sth : to learn to enjoy sth. § more phrases: § find satisfaction in § feel satisfaction at § to sb. 's satisfaction (to the satisfaction of sb. ) § satisfy, satisfied, satisfying, satisfactory satisfaction

3. He is an enthusiastic reformer _at_ heart I must get this poem _by_ heart. The words were spoken _from_ the depths of her heart. He has lost his heart _to_ a very pretty young girl. heart and soul heart attack break one’s heart

4. He had set his heart on pursuing his studies abroad. § We have always pursued a friendly policy towards the Japanese people. § He has been pursued by misfortune. § He pursued the river to its source. § pursue the study of English for five years § After a pursuit lasting all day we finally caught up with them.

Rhetorical device

Metaphor § “All the world's a stage”. (Shakespeare) § Failure is the mother of success. § There’re many skyscrapers in Chongqing.