英语文学阅读与鉴赏B7_Unit 5_A Glimpse of Heaven.docVIP

Unit Five Get Started ▇ Read the following background notes before class and be prepared for classroom activities. 1. About the author: Jack Trammel works at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, USA, where he does research and writes historical articles about the American Civil War for such journals as the America’s Civil War and is well known for his regular Civil War column in the Washington Times. As Director of Disability Support Services at Randolph-Macon College, he is also an active researcher and writer in the field of disability (残疾) studies. Some of his well-known works include The Blue Ridge Anthology (2008), Sarah’s Last Secret (2002), The Saint’s Departed (2002), Beyond the County Line (2000), Gray (2000), Return to Treasure Island (2000), etc. Jack Trammell is the recipient of numerous writing awards. Currently he is President of the Blue Ridge Virginia Writers Club, a local branch of the Virginia Writer’s Club (VWC), which is the oldest and most prestigious organization of its kind in the United States. 2. The American Civil War (1861-1865): The American Civil War (1861-1865), also known as the War Between the States, is a war between the North and the South. The war was caused mainly by the disagreement over slavery. The South’s economy depended on slavery and farming, while the North depended on industry, and Northerners wanted to put an end to slavery. When Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States in 1860, the southern states found that he would abolish slavery altogether. So they formed a separate government called the Confederate States of America or the Confederacy (南部联邦) for short. The Confederacy’s president was Jefferson Davis and its army was led by Robert E. Lee. The northern states formed the Union army under the command of Ulysses S. Grant and fought hard to keep the South. At first, the South won many battles and Lee was much admired for his military excellence, but the North (also referred to as Yankees) had