Diogenes and Alexander 现代大学英语课件.ppt

Lesson Ten Diogenes and Alexander Detailed Discussion of the Text 1. Introduction to Diogenes: (c.400---c.325 BC), Greek philosopher. The most famous of the Cynics, he lived ascetically in Athens (according to legend, he lived in a tub), and was accordingly nicknamed “dog”, from which the Cynics derived their name. He emphasized self-sufficiency and the need for natural, uninhibited behavior, regardless of social conventions. 2. Introduction to Alexander: (c.356---c. 324 BC), King of Macedonia, son of King Philip II, a pupil of Aristotle. At the age of 18, Alexander played an important role in the Macedonian conquest of Greece. When Philip was assassinated (c. 336 BC), Alexander became the head of Philip’s Greek League. In 334 BC he conquered Asia Minor, defeated the Persian fleet, marched as far as India, and as far south as Egypt. He died in the year 324 BC at the age of 32. as a brilliant and versatile strategist and tactician, Alexander changed the history of the world by making Hellenic Greek civilization dominant in the Near East for about a thousand years.  Para 1 1. lunatic: (offensive slang abbreviation: loony) an insane or mad person; sb who is extremely foolish or reckless. Origin of “lunatic”: insanity was once believed to be controlled by the moon and its phases. Lunatic literally means “moonstruck”, subject to the changes of the moon, and comes from the Latin word Luna, moon. 2. He had …done his business like a dog at the roadside,…: This is an instance of euphemism. It means that he had emptied his bowels or passed water like a dog at the roadside. More examples: A. The doctor instructs that I need to have a stool test. B. The doctor asked me if I had had any movement. C. They do not yet have the drainage system to dispose of human waste. D. Chinese peasants used to depend on night-soil for fertilizer. 3. Handful: “-ful” here is used as a noun suffix. E.g. a few mouthfuls, a spoonful of honey; a glassful of beer 4. Everybody knew him,