Unit 2 Going HOME

1. Warming-up Questions

1) What do you think Vingo had done that got him in prison?

2) How do you think Vingo behaved in prison? What do you think he wanted to do after his release?

3) What kind of person do you think his wife was? Why didn’t she write to Vingo?

4. Do you agree the yellow ribbon is a symbol? What does it symbolize? What did it mean to Vingo?

5. What lesson do you think young people can learn from Vingo’s story?

6. Do you think the ability to forgive and forget is important in human relationship?

2. Background Knowledge of the Text1) About the Author The text is based on “Yellow Ribbon”, a

story written in the 1960’s by Pete Hamill, a successful American journalist and author. The story was made into a Japanese movie in 1977 in which the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” became quite popular in the United States.

The 1960’s-70’s was a very trying ime for the American people, as the country was deeply troubled by its involvement in Vietnam War”. It was a time when such traditional values as human sympathy, understanding, trust and love seemed to be losing out. Through the experience of a former prisoner and his journey with a group of young people, the story seems to express a strong desire for “going home”, where such good old values are to be found again.

2) Introduction to the Text This is a moving story. Yellow ribbons are still

sometimes used to welcome someone home. Ribbons are also sometimes worn to symbolize support for a cause.

The plot follows three stages: The 1st stage (para. 1-4) Introduction to the

setting and the characters The 2nd stage (para. 5-9) Where Vingo is

going and what for, and how the young people get interested in what is going to happen.

The 3rd stage (para. 10-12) The conclusion: Vingo is forgiven and welcomed home.

3. Detailed Discussion of the Text 1) They were dreaming of golden beaches and

tides of the sea as the grey, cold spring of New York vanished behind them. (para. 1)

★ to dream of/about (doing sth): to imagine and think about sth. that you would like to happen,

e.g. a) On the way to school the boy dreamed

about that afternoon’s football match. b) The girl dreamed of becoming a movie

star.

2) He sat in front of the young people, his dusty face masking his age, dressed in a plain brown suit that did not fit him. ↓

nominative absolute construction

e.g. a) The old man stood up, tears running down his

face. b) She gave Bob a letter, her hands trembling.

The types of absolute construction: a) to-infinitive A number of officials followed the emperor,

some to hold his robe, others to adjust his girdle, and

b) —the present participle phrase c) — the past participle phrase d) verbless structure

3) Deep into the night, the bus pulled into a Howard Johnson’s restaurant and everybody got off the bus except Vingo.

Paraphrase: → Late at night the bus stopped at one of the

Howard Johnson fast food chain restaurants. Every passenger on the bus got off to eat, but Vingo didn’t.

★ to pull in (to sth): (of a train or bus) to enter a station and stop.

4) … one of the girls became so curious that she decided to engage him in conversation. → …one of the girls became very interested in Vingo, and she decided to get him to talk.

★ to engage sb. in conversation: to start talking to sb. and involve him/her in a conversation

★ to engage sb. in sth. : to make sb. take part in sth., e.g.

She tried to engage her roommate in a philosophical discussion.

5) . … as Vingo nodded in sleep.→ … as Vingo fell asleep.

“in” → It is often used to show a state or condition.

“into”→It is used to show a change in state.

E.g. He sat in complete silence. But then some boys began to glance at me in

curiosity. He thanked her and retreated into his silence. Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face

into the ex-con’s mask…

6) The girl insisted that he join them. ↓ subjunctive mood ★ to insist that sb. do sth. or sth. be done: to

demand that sth. should happen and refuse to let anyone say no, e.g.

The teacher insisted that the students (should) turn in their homework on time.

Other words: command, order, move( 提议）， advocate,

advise, suggestions etc.

7). … when I was sure the parole was coming through I wrote her again.

Paraphrase: … when I knew for sure that I would be

released on parole I again wrote her a letter.

★ parole: permission for early release that is given to a prisoner before the end of his sentence on condition that he behaves well.

to come through: to arrive.

8) Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face into the ex-con’s mask, as if fortifying himself against still another disappointment.

→Vingo moved his eyes away from the window, and his face again became expressionless as if he was trying to find the courage to face another possible blow, another disappointment in his life.

★the ex-con’s mask: the expression of a former prisoner(ex-convict) trying to hide his true feelings.

★to fortify oneself (against sb. / sth.) : to make oneself feel stronger or braver.

9)Then suddenly all of the young people were up out of their seats, screaming and shouting and crying, doing small dances, shaking clenched fists in triumph and exaltation. All except Vingo.

→Then all of sudden, all the young people left their seats and began doing all sorts of things to express their happiness and excitement. Vingo alone remained still.

4. Class Activity

Please turn the story into a play and act it out.