Unit 3 A Taste of English humour

Read the two punchlines and enjoy playing on words.

A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two-tired.

A small boy went to the counter to pay for his lunch but he was a little short.

1) Two-tired, a. with two tires; b. too tired.2) Short, a. small in height; b. not having enough money.

A: I’m sorry.

B: I’m sorry, too.

A: I’m sorry three.

B: What are you sorry for?

A: I’m sorry five.

Warming up

depressed

entertained

* All are _________

*make ordinary tasks ______

*usually act as a social _____

*_________ people’s lives

entertaining

failure

brighten

performers/actors/humorists

underdog

What do they have in common?

Differences

use _______________to perform

use ______________________ to perform

verbal humour

nonverbal humour

words or voice

gestures/body language

mime

A Master of Nonverbal Humour

Was born in

His job is

Type of acting is

His charming character is

He died in

in

1889

an actor

mime

The Little Tramp

1977Switzerland.

Read the first sentence of each paragraph quickly and match the main idea .

Paragraph 1:

Paragraph 2:

Paragraph 3:

Paragraph 4:

Paragraph 5: The world situation

Charlie’s childhood

His famous film character

An example of his film

His achievements

unemployment

The ruins The world situation (para1)

depressed

At his time, people needed laughter and encouragement.

__________the lives of Americans and British through war times

made people feel more ___________ their lives.

Charlie Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.

Charlie’s nonverbal humor

brightened

content with

His childhood 　

1. The difficult family life made Charlie ____ ＿＿＿＿ the happiness and sadness of the ______ ．2. He started acting training at an ______ age and became a famous _______ actor by his teens.3. He could ______ and act the fool doing _______everyday tasks. His _______ acting made everything_______ _____________ ．

Para 2

understand

poor

early

child

mime

ordinary subtleentertaining

2. Unfortunately his father died, leaving the family even worse off. A. richer B. earlier C. poorer D. later 3. You may find it astonishing that Charlie was taught to sing as soon as he could… A. kind B. great C. amazing D. exciting

Para.2

The little tramp is

a social failure

an underdog

worn-out shoes

a small black hat

a moustache

a walking stick

large trousers

a tight jacket

Para 3

but

loved for his___________and____________

_______ to others even when others were unkind to him

optimism determination

kindness

charming personality

walk stiffly

a social failure

Alaska

in search of gold

without successin a small hut during a snowstorm with nothing to eat

the little tramp- The Gold RushPara.4:

when:

where:

what:

result:

sence:

the end of 19th century

boil his leather shoe

in a sad situation

First, he _______the leather top of the shoe. cuts off

How does the little tramp eat the boiled shoe? (v.)

Then, he tries ______ and _______ the bottom of the shoe as if it were the______________.

cutting chewing

finest steak

Finally, he _________the laces and eats it as if it were____________

picks out

spaghetti

He eats each _________ with great ____________.

mouthfulenjoyment

Para.5

Chaplin wrote, ________, and produced many movies he _________.

The Tramp流浪汉 1915

The Kid 寻子遇仙记 1921

The Gold Rush淘金记 1925

directedstarred in

He was given a ____________ for his lifetime ____________work.

Modern Times 摩登时代 1936

The Great Dictator 大独裁者 1940

The Circus 大马戏团 1928

special Oscaroutstanding

He is loved and remembered as a great actor who could ________ people with great __________.

inspireconfidence

A master of nonverbal humor

There are many factors that make Charlie a master of nonverbal humour. First of all, his character the little tramp, a social failure, is loved by everyone for his o__________, d__________ and k__________. Second and the most important, his acting is so s__________ and c__________ that he can always make a sad situation e__________. Besides, his own life experience of his family, training and performance are very h_________ for his acting. What’s more, people at his time were d__________ in the hard years, so they needed his humor to b__________ their lives. At last ， Charlie is not just an o__________ actor ,but also wrote, directed and produced many films and was given a special Oscar. All in all, Charlie’s great a_____________ make him a master of nonverbal humour.

A master of nonverbal humor

There are many factors that make Charlie a master of nonverbal humour. First of all, his character the little tramp, a social failure, is loved by everyone for his optimism, determination and kindness. Second and the most important, his acting is so subtle and convincing that he can always make a sad situation entertaining. Besides, his own life experience of his family, training and performance are very helpful for his acting. What’s more, people at his time were depressed in the hard years, so they needed his humor to brighten their lives. At last ， Charlie is not just an outstanding actor, but also wrote, directed and produced many films and was given a special Oscar. All in all, Charlie’s great achievements make him a master of nonverbal humour.

A master of nonverbal humor

There are many factors that make Charlie a master of nonverbal humour. First of all, his character the little tramp, a social failure, is loved by everyone for his optimism, determination and kindness. Second and the most important, his acting is so subtle and convincing that he can always make a sad situation entertaining. Besides, his own life experience of his family, training and performance are very helpful for his acting. What’s more, people at his time were depressed in the hard years, so they needed his humor to brighten their lives. At last ， Charlie is not just an outstanding actor, but also wrote, directed and produced many films and was given a special Oscar. All in all, Charlie’s great achievements make him a master of nonverbal humour.

Charlie Chaplin was born in a _____ family in _____. When he was a boy, he had become one of the most popular _____in England. As time went by, he grew more and more _______ for his __________character “the little _______” . The homeless man with a ________ , wore large trousers, ________ shoes and a small round black _____. Type of his acting is _____ .In 1972, he was given a special Oscar for his ___________work . He _____ in 1977. He is loved and ___________ as a great actor who could inspire people with great _______.

poor 1889

popular charming

tramp

Summary: fill in the following blanks

moustache

worn-outhat mime

outstanding

died remembered

confidence

actors

Charlie Chaplin was a master of

________________ . So is Mr Bean.nonverbal humour（ mime ）

Verbal & Nonverbal

verbal

nonverbal

sketch; cross talk

funny poems; funny stories;

jokes; limerick （打油诗） mime ; farce （笑剧） clown