BTLEW Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years Part Three ENTER

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Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years

Part ThreePart Three

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Text Text AppreciatioAppreciationn


I. Text Analysis

II. Writing DevicesIronic Ending

Euphemism

III. Sentence Paraphrase

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Plot of the story

Setting of the story

Drama of the story

Theme of the story

Structure of the text

Protagonists of the story

I.I. Text AnalysisText AnalysisHave you got the

key elements

in the story?

To be continued on the next page.

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I.I. Text Text AnalysisAnalysisPlot of the story

Bob and Jim had obviously been

close friends twenty years ago

when they were young. Before

their separation, they made an

appointment to meet again at

exactly the same place and the

same hour twenty years later.

The end of Plot.


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I.I. Text AnalysisText Analysis

The end of Setting.

Setting of the story

On a business avenue of New York:

The same hour: ten o’clock at night

Referring to Paras. 1, 11

The same place:

‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant 20 years ago—in the doorway of a hardware store now

Referring to Paras. 3, 4, 5

and 7

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When they met again twenty years later, they should find themselves on opposite sides of the law—one was the man wanted by the police and the other turned out to be the police officer instructed to watch out for the runaway criminal. But no matter how much Jim had cherished their friendship, he would not let a personal relationship stand in the way of discharging his duty.

Drama of the story

The end of Drama.

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Theme of the story

The end of Theme.

Loyalty to friend

VS. Devotion to duty

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Part 1 (paras. 1—17) about:

Part 2 (paras.18—33) about:



Structure of the text

The end of Structure.

The policeman (Jimmy) met with Bob and had a conversation.

Bob was arrested by a plain clothes man without his awareness until he found that the policeman was his expected friend Jimmy.

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I.I. Text AnalysisText AnalysisProtagonists of the story


Bob Jimmy smart restless ambitious ready to try in every

way to reach his goal He had made his

fortune, though. He had many fights.

He had broken the law.

average height a bit slow strongly built not so adventurous honest, truthful,

responsible and devoted He was obviously a good

police officer.

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Para. 6: His tiepin was a large diamond, oddly set.


I. I. Text Text AnalysisAnalysis

Para. 10: He pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small diamonds.

Para. 31: He was wanted by the police.

Bob:



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Para. 6: the light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and little white scar near his right eyebrow.

Para. 9: “The West is a pretty big place, and I kept running around over it pretty lively.”

Para. 13: “I’ve had to compete with some of the sharpest brains going to get my money. It takes the West to make a man really keen.”

Bob:


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The end of Text Analysis.

Para. 2: the officer, with his strongly built form and slight air of superiority, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.

Jimmy:

Para.9: … “for he always was the truest, best old friend in the world.”Para. 13: “He was a kind of slow man, though, good fellow as he was.”

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II.II. Writing Writing DevicesDevices


We don’t know what happened twenty

years ago that made them so special to

each other. But it was clear that Jim was

a good honest man and always true to his

friends and Bob admired and trusted him.

Slipping along this way, we would expect

a very touching story. But the ending is

very dramatic and surprising.

Ironic ending

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The end of Ironic Ending.

O. Henry’s most famous stories, such as “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Furnished Room,” and “The Ransom of Red Chief”, make simple yet effective use of paradoxical coincidences to produce ironic endings. For example, in “The Gift of the Magi” a husband sells his watch to buy his wife a Christmas present of a pair of hair combs; unbeknownst to him, she cuts and sells her long hair to buy him a Christmas present of a new chain for his watch. His style of storytelling became a model not only for short fiction, but also for American motion pictures and television programs.

Ironic ending

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Euphemism

A euphemism is a word or phrase used to mask a rude or offensive concept. This figure of speech provides a technique to avoid taboos by being polite. Many euphemisms are so common, that we don't even recognize them as such.

Examples

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The end of Euphemism.

EuphemismExamples:

We are experiencing heavy casualties. (many soldiers are being killed)

There is a logjam in the river. (constipation)

Downsizing, rightsizing or laying off. (getting rid of

employees)

Praying to the porcelain altar. (vomiting into the toilet)

If something happens to me. (if I die)

Sanitation Worker. (trash collector)

Unplanned landing. (plane crash)

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III.III. Sentence Sentence Paraphrase 1Paraphrase 1

beat: the area of the town or city that a police officer regularly walks around; his route, which he patrols

The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. (para. 1)

on the beat:

checking the area he is assigned to

go to 2

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The impressiveness was… not for show, for spectators were few. (para. 1)

This policeman was impressive in a natural way. He was not trying to look important, because it didn‘t make sense—there were few people in the street to see him.

This description shows that Jim has become an excellent police officer.

go to 3

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III.III. Sentence Sentence Paraphrase 3 Paraphrase 3

Trying doors as he went… a guardian of the peace. (para. 2)

This sentence showed Jim’s strong sense of responsibility.

His clever swinging of the club showed his confidence and competence as a cop. His air of superiority showed his pride and sense of dignity as a law-enforcing officer.

go to 4

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In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. (para. 3)

It had to be a darkened store and Bob’s cigar had to be unlighted, otherwise Jim would see that it was the man wanted by the police in Chicago.

Careful description of the details

go to 5

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… to make certain it’s all straight. (para. 4)

Here means true, accurate. It also means honest, frank.

to make sure that it’s all true

I’ll be straight with you. You will lose this job if you don’t work hard.

Yes or no? Can’t you give me a straight answer?

go to 6

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The light showed a pale, square-jawed face… oddly set. (para. 6)

go to 7

The match light showed a face which must have fitted the description of the wanted man.

the diamond placed in a strange or unusual way showing the owner’s lack of taste

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We figure that in twenty years each of us ought to have our fate worked out… whatever they were going to be. (para. 7)

We guessed that by that time we should have already decided what to do with our lives, or we should have already found our places in society.

to calculate; to

find outgo to 8

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More examples

Haven’t you heard from your friend since you left? (para. 8)

General questions in the negative are often used to show surprise or doubt.

Mary’s back. Didn't you know?

Are you not coming? It is really a wonderful game.

go to 9

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A man gets stuck in New York. It takes the West to make a man really keen. (para. 13)

A man is unable to go very far or to be very successful in New York. He can’t escape the boring life. He has to go to the West to become an eager and exciting person.

go to 10

Culture Notes


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III.III. Sentence Sentence Paraphrase Paraphrase

In the early 20th century, this also suggested that because New York city was “civilized”, it had too many laws, and so getting rich quickly was less likely. In the West, however, one could bypass the rules and through being tougher and smarter one could become rich very fast.

back to 9

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I’ ll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. (para. 15)

I have to go now.

All right here means without any problem.

Jim wanted to make sure that Bob wouldn't escape while he was away.

Are you going to leave immediately? (15)

go to 11

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III.III. Sentence Sentence ParaphraseParaphrase

I hope you can understand the book all right.

I am feeling all right again.

The car turned over but the driver was all right.

all right can also means fairly healthy, well ; safe, uninjured

back to 10

More examples

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“Bless my heart!” exclaimed the new arrival, … (para. 22)

(= bless my soul) used to express surprise This expression is rather old-fashioned.

Here it refers to the man who has newly arrived.

go to 12

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Moderately, I have a position in one of the city departments. (para. 26)

so-so; not too well, not too badly either

understatement

I have a job in one of the departments of the city government.

He didn't say straight that he had a position in the police department.

go to 13

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Chicago… wants to have a chat with you. (para. 31)

Here refers to Chicago police.

euphemism

Chicago police is trying to track you down, arrest you and take you to court.

go to 14

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Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job. (para. 33)

Jim had mixed feelings. He knew what his duty

was. But the memories of their friendship, the

expressions of Bob’s undying respect and

admiration for him and the fact that Bob had

come all the way from thousand miles away

just to keep the appointment made 20 years

ago must have deeply touched him.

Somehow I couldn't arrest you myself, so I…

The end of Sentence Paraphrase.

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BTLEW Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years Part Three ENTER