Unit 3 Holding the Bag.pptVIP

Unit 3Holding the Bag Chunlin Chen, English Language Center Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-sen University Lead-in Questions Understanding the Title Two levels of meaning: denotation (superficial level) connotation (deeper level) By denotation, the doctor holding the bag is a symbolic icon of trustworthiness, commitment, devotion, personal service. By connotation, the way the doctor holding the bag practiced medicine is out of date, but the spirit of devotion is not. - Partly positive about the nostalgic icon: the spirit and devotion. - Partly negative about the image: their devotion exceeds their skill and they probably killed more patients than cured them. Text Organization Part I (Para. 1-2)Introduction: Background information about the patient, Dr Green, and how the author inherited the bag. Part II (Para 3-6): A good feeling about the bag: the author’s deference inspired by the bag; the absolute sovereignty represented by the bag; a nostalgic icon of trustworthiness, commitment and personal service. Part III (Para 7-8): Another kind of feeling aroused by a careful examination of the contents of the bag, which reveals the dangerous detriments of the bag---an outdated, posthumous footnote to a debatable “golden age” in medicine. Part IV (Para 9-12): A personal example to show that the doctor with a bag is an outdated historical figure whose devotion exceeds his ability. Part V (Para 13): Conclusion: the doctor with a bag in hand is an outdated image that doesn’t fit in with the modern medical world. Language Points and Special Difficulties Para 1 to bespeak: 1) to give evidence of; indicate; 2) to be an omen of; foreshadow Para 2 to flatter: to try to please or gain the favor of by praising excessively and insincerely; to gratify the vanity of; to represent or portray as more attractive than is actually the case in any event: in any case; at any rate to retort: to reply in a quick, witty manner Para 3 to dismiss