[英语学习]高级英语第七课The+Libido+for+The+Ugly.ppt

The Libido for The Ugly H.L. Mencken Teaching Objectives To learn about Henry L. Mencken To learn about the writing technique of description To appreciate the writer’s bombastic style To appreciate the language features Henry Louis Mencken Henry Louis Mencken(1880 - 1956)  His life He spent most of his life in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. He was the son of German immigrant parents. He completed high school but did not attend university, only graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute at 16. He became a reporter on the Baltimore Morning Herald. A few years later, he joined the staff of its rival newspaper, the Baltimore Sun or Evening Sun, first as a reporter, then as its drama critic and editor, a position which he held until 1941. He helped to found and edit two literary magazines which were highly influential among intellectuals. The Smart Set 2) The American Mercury He was a central figure in American intellectual life during the 1920s. He launched the most cutting attacks of any writer against Americas middle class culture. He invented the word booboisie, combining the two words bourgeoisie and booby (an awkward, foolish person). In caustic, witty essays, he derided (mocked) the institution which supported the middle class. He enjoyed controversy and tried to arouse his antagonists with his direct and devastating attacks. His works The American Language 1918 Prejudices (6 vols) 1919--1927 Happy days Newspaper Days 1940--1943 autobiography Heathen Days 25 Books and thousands of articles He was a leading scholar in the field of language. His monumental book The American Language is considered an outstanding work of philology. The American Language a) It examined the development of the English language in America, b) It