Text Appreciation

●Text Analysis

1.Theme

By citing interesting historical anecdotes, the text tells us how to handle people. The policy is, not to criticize or ridicule them because it may cause bad feelings and destroy their confidence. Besides, our criticisms can often be wrong. Wise people should instead show their understanding and trust, since nobody is perfect.

2.Structure

1)Part One (Para. 1): Criticism is usually futile and often dangerous in handling people.

2)Part Two (Para. 2-21): By examples of both positive & negative, the text gives stories of how some celebrities learned to handle people.

3)Part Three (Para. 22-23): The writer urges readers to understand people instead of criticizing, condemning and complaining.

1) When young, Abraham Lincoln learned not to ridicule people. (Paras. 2–4)

2) As president, Lincoln learned to put himself in the position of the person he intended to criticize. (Paras. 5–11)

3) When criticized, how to avoid responding rudely. (Paras. 12–14)

4) Bitter criticism is capable of ruining a promising career and even causing suicide. (Paras. 15–16)

5) It takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving. (Paras. 17–21)

3.Further Discussion

How to Win Friends and Influence People 《人性的弱點》, published in 1936, is still a popular book in achieving successful personality and communication skills. Its structure is as follows:

Part 1: Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

Part 2: Six Ways to Make People Like You

Part 3: How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking

Part 4: Be a Leader - How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

Questions:

1) Why did Shields challenged Lincoln to fight a duel?

A: He was ridiculed by Lincoln repeatedly, and turned to duel to settle the dispute, which was then the practice to settle a quarrel over a point of honor.

2) Why did Lincoln think, from the author’s guess, in this way?

A: Battle of Gettysburg was the most brutal one of the entire Civil War, leaving the largest number of casualties. Lincoln came to understand why General Meade refused his order to launch a new attack.

3) Why did Mark Twain lose his temper occasionally?

A: Twain had a peculiar idea upon spelling mistakes, which he thought created a unique effect. Besides, some of his protagonists, say Huck, were not well educated, and always gave a poor pronunciation.

Alliteration 头韵（修辞）：

The repetition of an initial consonant sound, as in “a peck of pickled peppers.” It creates a rhythm to draw the readers’ attention.

✔my ears had been pierced with the screams and shrieks (Para. 11)

✔Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain (Para. 17)

✔this proud and precise pilot (Para. 21)

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” It evokes a sense of rhythm and sound within the line almost like a drum, pounding against an object like a boat against waves. — A famous example from The Great Gatsby

4) How do you think Carnegie’s idea of not criticizing? Do you think his argument convincing

A: The anecdotes he uses are more legendary and cannot prove anything. He uses the word “criticize” rather loosely and treats it as synonymous with “ridicule”, “condemn” and “insult”. Actually, to criticize does not have to be any of these. A sincere advice would be welcome, which may strengthen mutual understanding and friendship rather than otherwise. He asks people not to criticize, but isn’t he criticizing and ridiculing those who do?

Discussions:

1) Can you make a distinction between constructive criticism and destructive criticism?

2) Isn’t the author being illogical when he is arguing against criticism while criticizing those who criticize?

●Writing Device: Quotation

An effective and proper quotation can add spice, interest, thought, effectiveness, support, and respect to your writing. But an ineffective one makes your writing look like an amateur attempt padded by random comments from strangers.

Tips about using quotations:

●Don't overuse quotations.

●Avoid long quotations if a short one will suffice.

●Don't misrepresent the original opinion out of context.

●Always introduce your quotations.

●Use a variety of sources.

The choice of quotation verbs indicate specific opinion of the statement.

●"Jones says" is neutral;

●"Jones informs us" is positive;

●"Jones alleges" is somewhat negative.

The list of verbs used:

●say    write   observe

●note   remark   add

●declare   inform     allege

●claim        state comment

●think     affirm     assert

●explain     argue

●Sentence Paraphrase

1. The town roared with laughter. Shields, sensitive and proud, boiled with indignation. (Para. 3)

Lincoln’s criticism made Shields the laughingstock of the whole town, who was outraged because his pride was hurt.

2. Time after time….Lincoln put a new general at the head of the Army of the Potomac, and each one in turn blundered tragically and drove Lincoln to pacing the floor in despair. (Para. 5)

Every time Lincoln appointed a new commander, he would be made restless and hopeless by their incompetence, defeated by the Confederate army.

3. But Lincoln, “with malice toward none, with charity for all,” held his peace. One of his favorite quotations was “Judge not, that ye be not judge.” (Para. 5)

Lincoln asked his people to forget whatever hard feelings may have arisen from the years of battle during the Civil War, and show kindness and goodwill towards those who have lost so much, approaching none with hate or ill will.

From Bible: Do not judge, so that you will not be judged, since you will be judged in the same judgment that you make, and you will be measured by the same standard you apply.

4. I do not believe you appreciate the magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lee’s escape. (Para. 9)

Lincoln criticized General Meade for not catching the golden opportunity to defeat Lee’s army, because the general would not understand the consequence militarily and politically.

5. Mark Twain lost his temper occasionally and wrote letters that turned the paper brown….

he once wrote to a …”The thing for you is a burial permit. You have only to speak and I will see that you get it” (Para. 12)

Make the newspaper angry. Letters which have so much anger in them that they almost burn the paper.

What you need in a burial permit because you really have no reason to live in this world. This is really cruel and insulting.

6. He ordered: “Set the matter according to my copy hereafter and see that the proofreader retains his suggestions in the mush of his decayed brain.” (Para. 12)

hereafter: from now on. Note that Mark Twain is very angry and he deliberately uses this

formal word to intimidate the proofreader.

Make sure the proofreader not to improve Twain’s manuscript again, just keeping it as it is. The stupidity of his useless brain is as in a mess of porridge.

7. Do you know someone you would like to change and regulate and improve? Good!

8. … that he was made American Ambassador to France. The secret of his success? “I will speak ill of no man,” he said… (Para. 16)

9. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving. (Para. 18)

10. The young man was sick with the agony of his mistake. (Para. 21)

The young man was overwhelmed by great worries, waiting for the possible punishment imposed.

He had just caused the loss of a very expensive plane and could have caused the loss of the test pilot as well.