Mark_Twain_马克吐温.ppt

I. Mark Twain’s Life Career A. Boyhood B. Early life Sam had relatively little schooling. After his father’s death, he had to help the family by taking up odd jobs. He left school at 13 and became a full-time apprentice to a printer . At 18, he became a tramp printer . C. Experiences on the Mississippi River On his way down the Mississippi , he ran out of funds and was persuaded by a steamboat pilot to become his apprentice . D. Journey West and the birth of “Mark Twain” There were rumors about fortunes to be made in Nevada and California. He tried prospecting , mining, speculating, but failed . It was in Virginia City on February 3,1863,that “Mark Twain” was born when Clemens, then 27,signed a humorous travel account with that pseudonym. In 1865, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County was published and became an immediate success. G. Financial difficulties and personal misfortunes He invested largely on his own printing shop and became bankrupt. Heavily in debt ,he made a lecturing tour abroad and succeeded in paying all his debts, but ruined his own health. In this period occurred the deaths of his son, daughters and wife. H. Last years He dictated his autobiography . He died in 1910. Some of his other major works are The Prince and the Pauper and The 1,000,000 Bank-Note . II. Relevant Literary Background Material One of Mark Twain’s significant contribution to American literature lies in the fact that he made colloquial speech an accepted, respectable literary medium in the literary history of the country. III. Questions on Content Give brief answers to the following questions. 1 . Why is Mark Twain one of America’s best-loved authors? 2 . Give a brief account of Mark Twain’s experience before he became a writer. 3 . Why did the author adopt ‘Mark Twain’ as his pen name? How long did he stay there? What did he learn there? What effect did his