Text Analysis

● Text Analysis

1.General Analysis

● Plot: a brief talk with a future man in asbestos

● Setting: a hushed outer world in a deep immeasurable sleep

● Protagonist: I

● Language style: go to Writing Devices

● Theme of the story: go to the next page

2.Theme

In our battle against human scourges, we sometimes forgot what a world of complete bliss is impossible. Difficulties, hardships, risks, suffering, pain, anxiety, failure and sacrifice will always be part of the human experience.

3.Structure

1) Part 1 (Paras. 1-6): It forms the introduction of the essay, which explains why the narrator early plunged into a distant future: to witness its marvels.

2) Part 2 (Paras.7-78): It narrates what the narrator discovered in this future world and how his feelings about it changed from astonishment and thrill to doubt, and finally to disgust and rejection.

3) Part 3 (Paras.79-81): The narrator found himself back in the old world.

4.Questions

Question:

1) To begin with, let me admit that I did it partly from jealousy. (Para. 1) What does “it” mean here?

2) … other writers should be able at will to drop into a sleep of four or five hundred years, … (Para. 2) Does any word here give us the clue about the protagonist’s profession?

3) We forbid all streetcars, street traffic, airplanes, and so on. To begin with, let me admit that I did it partly from jealousy. (Para. 1) What does “it” mean here?

4) “Ah,” said the Man in Asbestos. “I’ve heard about your arrangements with the women, but never quite understood them.” (Para. 74) Why does the Man in Asbestos call love and marriage “arrangement”?

5) “Yes, but give a rest to the rest of the corridor!” (Para. 79) Who says this? What does that show?

5.Further Discussion

●This kind of essay is called an allegory, which is a surface story used to convey a deeper meaning. What do you think that deeper meaning is in this essay?

●What is the author ridiculing in this essay? What is it about our life today that leads the author to foresee these changes?

●Do you believe that all species are evolving, which means they are making progress, and making progress means they are getting better?

●Do you agree with the author? Would you dismiss his worries as totally groundless fantasies? Would you call him politically conservative? Do you agree that he has given us some food for thought?

●Writing Device

▷ Allegory

1) Allegory:a story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

2) Example from Literature:

Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey.

3)Examples from Proverbs and Aphorisms:

All that glisters in not gold.

Never trust appearances.

● Sentence Paraphrase

1. It seemed unfair that other writers should be able at will to drop into a sheep of four or five hundred years, and to plunge headfirst into a distant future and be a witness of its marvels. (Para. 2)

2. … the very existence of the outer world was hushed. (Para. 6)

3. … the long passage of the centuries. (Para. 6)

More examples:

● Due to poor management the bank was rated C last year.

● The company management were totally corrupt.

● Nobody ever suspected his belonging to that secret gang.

● Her personal belongings remained untouched.

● The publication of the book was regarded as a great cultural event.

● You won’t be able to get full professorship without publications.

4. “Stop,” I said, my brain reeling. “Tell me one thing at a time”(Para. 19)

5. “You are in a museum. The figures in the cases are specimens like yourself. But here,” he said, “if … come out on Broadway.” (Para. 25)

6. … I stood riveted in astonishment. (Para. 26)

7. In place of the roaring thoroughfare that I had known, this silent, moss-grown desolation … There were no wires overhead—no sound of life or movement except here and there, there passed slowly to and fro … the same look of infinite age upon them.(Para. 27)

8. … the era of the conquest … (Para. 28)

9. … humanity was destined to move forward. (Para. 28)

10. … rendered me almost speechless. (Para. 28)

11. But how do you get about? (Para. 32)

12. I tried to pull my senses together. (Para. 38)

13. I must go at it systematically. (Para. 38)

14. It died out of itself. (Para. 40)

15. You were all caught in the cogs of your own machine. (Para. 42)

16. … just as soon as mankind … (Para. 46)

17. Eating and all that goes with it ... (Para. 46)

18. … the revolt of women and the fall of Fashion. (Para. 47)

19. … my old time harangues ... (Para. 48)

20. … the texture of life ... (Para. 56)

21. Well, we hunted them down … (Para. 63)

22. I’ve heard about your arrangements with the women ... (Para. 74)

23. Yes, but give a rest to the rest of the corridor! (Para. 79)