A Journey to the Center of the Earth 外国文学导读指南系列丛书.pdfVIP

A T E A C H E R ’ S G U I D E T O T H E S I G N E T C L A S S I C E D I T I O N O F JULES VERNE’S JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH By DIANA MITCHELL S E R I E S E D I T O R S : W. GEIGER ELLIS, ED.D., UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, EMERITUS and ARTHEA J. S. REED, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, RETIRED A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth 2 I N T R O D U C T I O N J ourney to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne is a novel that literally plunges the reader into the center of the earth through vivid description, detailed explanations, and the “eyewitness” accounts of the narrator. On the most basic level, J ourney is an adventure story—a tale of the obstacles, encounters, and wonders. The eccentric scientist Professor Hardwigg finds directions to the center of the earth in an old book and sets out, along with his nephew Henry and the guide Hans, to Iceland where they find the mountain and the shaft that allows them access to the depths of the earth. On a deeper level the story can be seen as man’s journey into himself, always probing deeper for what lies at his center. Written in 1864 this novel is a remarkable look into the future. Although students will recognize scientific predictions that were based on inaccurate assumptions, language that is somewhat antiquated, and a beginning that proceeds at a leisurely pace, they will appreciate Verne’s ability to weave into the story information and questions about science that will keep them in a state of curiosity and wonderment. Since the novel moves at a slower pace than action-packed thrillers