Unit 8 Literature Lesson 1 The Last Leaf 课件-2024-2025学年高中英语北师大版（2019）选择性必修第三册

该高中英语课件围绕O. Henry短篇小说《最后一片叶子》展开，系统涵盖文本阅读、情节梳理、人物分析及主题探讨，通过O. Henry背景知识激活与情境提问构建学习支架，帮助学生衔接已知与文本内容。 其亮点在于多元活动设计，如时间线梳理关键事件、Johnsy希望变化分析、小组角色视角复述故事、拟人手法实践及“生命艺术家”颁奖词写作，融合语言能力、思维品质与文化意识。学生在活动中提升语言运用与思维深度，教师可借助结构化活动提高教学效率。

Lesson 1 The Last Leaf Unit 8 Literature To read for general understanding and specific information To recognise the point of view of multiple characters in a piece of literature Born: September 11, 1862 Greensboro, North Carolina Died: June 5, 1910 (aged 47) New York City, New York Notable Works: The Last Leaf The Gift of the Magi The Furnished Room Movement/ Style: local colour Who is the man? O. Henry O. Henry, pseudonym (笔名) of William Sydney Porter, original name William Sidney Porter, American short-story writer whose tales romanticized the commonplace—in particular the life of ordinary people in New York City. His stories expressed the effect of coincidence on character through humour, grim or ironic, and often had surprise endings, a device that became identified with his name and cost him critical favour when its vogue (流行，时髦) had passed. How much do you know about O. Henry? Find some background information about him. Search online if necessary. 1 Where was O. Henry from? a UK b France c USA 2 As a writer, he was most famous for _________. a novels b short stories c poems 3 He started the writing style of _________. a surprise endings b humorous starts c sad endings c b a If your life were connected to this leaf, what would you think? “The Last Leaf” is one of O. Henry’s most famous short stories. Read the story quickly and answer the questions. 1 Who are the main characters? 3 What happened at the end? 2 When and where did the story take place? 1 Who are the main characters? The main characters are Sue, Johnsy, Mr Pneumonia (personified), the doctor, and Mr Behrman. n. 肺炎 3 What happened at the end? Mr Behrman dies of pneumonia because he painted an ivy leaf for Johnsy in the rain.(Para.12) 2 When and where did the story take place? The story took place in November in Greenwich Village, New York City. n. 常春藤 Read the story more carefully. Complete the timeline with what happened in the story. Then tell the story. Make a timeline Making a timeline that shows when different events happened can help you understand how the events are connected to each other. Read the story more carefully. Complete the timeline with what happened in the story. Then tell the story. Find the clues of time and mark key events Time clues key events November Johnsy ______________________. The doctor ________________________. For three days Johnsy counted the leaves on the ivy vine and thought ______________________________________. Behrman and Sue looked out the window and found ___________. The next morning Johnsey askJohnsy _________________________________ ___________________________. The following day Johnsy ________________________. In the afternoon The doctor ______________________________. Mr Behrman _____________________. The next day Mr Behrman __________. The janitor found __________________________ the day before. n. (学校或大楼的)看门人，管理员 got sick with pneumonia said she might not get better that she must die when the last ivy leaf falls one leaf left saw the leaf was still there asked to look out the window and saw the leaf remained bravely said she would live and get better was sick with pneumonia died Mr Behrman in bed with pain The changes in Johnsy's hope In the early stage of illness Counting the fallen leaves Seeing the last leaf The leaves being still there Understanding the truth in November For three days The next morning The following day In the afternoon Mr Behrman was sick with pneumonia. The next day Mr Behrman died. Read for Plots Story Mountain The life background of the artist in Greenwich Village the main characters, Sue and Johnsy Countdown to Life's End The Stormy Night the last leaf still "held on" linking the hope of life to the last few vine leaves Development Climax 1 Solution1 The Truth of a Masterpiece：Behrman painted the leaf, thus fell ill and passed away Climax 2 Setting Step 1 character image analysis ( in different groups)： John's Group: What did she go through from "I must go" to "I want to eat"? Su's Group: Identify the verbs that describe Su's actions and analyze the value of friends. Belman's Group: Compare his images before and after he knew Johnsy’s illness to understand the meaning of "Failure" and "Greatness" Interpretation Step 2 Key dialogue reading: -"Die because of falling leaves" - Read aloud and feel the despair Sue took some paper and a pen into Johnsy's room and began a pen drawing, in an attempt to raise Johnsy's spirits. Johnsy's eyes were open, but they weren't watching her. Instead, she stared out the window and counted backwards: "Ten, nine, eight, seven ..." "What are you counting, dear?" asked Sue. "They’re falling faster now," replied Johnsy. "Three days ago there were almost a hundred. But now its easy. There are only five left now. Five leaves on the ivy vine. When the last one falls,I must go, too. Didn't the doctor tell you?" "Oh, I never heard of such nonsense," quickly replied Sue. But Johnsys mind was made up. " I want to see the last one fall. I’m tired of waiting. I want to go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves." Step 2 Key dialogue reading: -"It is Belman's masterpiece" - Discuss the true meaning of "masterpiece" "Try to sleep," said Sue. Then she went to fetch her neighbour, Mr Behrman, to be a model for her drawing. He was a failed painter. In 40 years he had never produced the masterpiece he longed to paint. Sue told him about Johnsy's longing to slip away like the leaves. Behrman cried with disbelief." Are there people in the world that foolish to think they’ll die because leaves drop off from a vine? This is not a place in which Miss Johnsy shall lie sick. Someday I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away." Behrman and Sue looked out the window at the vine and noticed that there was just one remaining leaf. What's more, a cold rain was falling, mixed with snow. The next day, Sue came to Johnsy's bed. "I have something to tell you," she said. "Mr Behrman died today. He was ill for only two days. The janitor found him lying in bed helplessly with pain yesterday morning. His shoes and clothing were wet through and icy cold. They couldn't imagine where he had been on such a terrible night. And then they found a lantern, still lit, and some brushes, and—look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn't you wonder why it never moved an inch when the wind blew? Ah, dear, it's Behrman's masterpiece— he painted it there the night when the last leaf fell."  Interpretation Step 3 Write the award speech: Write the citation for "Artist of Life" for Behrman，based on specific deeds, highlight the spiritual qualities The 'Artist of Life' Award Citation For: Mr. Behrman Ladies and Gentlemen, Tonight, we are not presenting an award for technical skill with a brush. We are here to honor an art that uses life itself as its medium, and an artist who painted with his very soul. Tonight, we present the "Artist of Life" award to—Mr. Behrman. He once called himself a failed painter. His palette was stained with regret, his canvases filled with the dream of a masterpiece he longed to create. For forty years, he searched. But true masterpieces are often born in the most unexpected moments. On a bitter, rain-lashed, snow-driven night, when a young soul, succumbing to despair, had tethered her will to live to the fate of a falling leaf, this "failed" painter found his greatest canvas. The 'Artist of Life' Award Citation It was not a prestigious gallery wall, but the cold, rough bricks of a tenement. His brush was dipped not in paint, but in his own courage, compassion, and selfless love. There, in the wind and the rain, he painted one defiant leaf that would never fall. This leaf was so real, it deceived the eyes of death itself. This leaf reignited the spark of hope in a young woman's heart. This leaf taught a dying girl that "it is a crime to want to die." And Mr. Behrman—he paid the ultimate price. His shoes and clothes were soaked through with ice-cold rain. A lantern, found still lit, bore witness to his final, mighty effort. So, let us be clear: Behrman's masterpiece was not the leaf painted on the wall, but the life restored within the room. His masterpiece is not a static image, but a saved life, a future reclaimed. Now, let us raise our glasses in tribute to our eternal "Artist of Life"—Mr. Behrman! His masterpiece will never fade. It shines on, as long as life endures. Tell the story from Johnsy’s or Sue’s point of view. When you retell a story from another point of view, you must think about how that character feels. Group 1: retell the story from Johnsy’s point of view Group 2: retell the story from Sue’s point of view Try to find the key events in the story and then decide how your character sees the action. Each group tell your story. To comment on how the stories are similar and different. 22 Read paragraph 2 of the story. Answer the questions. 1 How did the writer describe pneumonia? 2 Why did he describe pneumonia in this way? 3 How do you feel about the description? O. Henry described pneumonia as if it were a character. He personified the sickness by saying it placed its finger on Johnsy. He described it in this way in order to make pneumonia scary. Personification is giving a human trait or quality to something non-human (e.g., an animal, an object, or a concept). 运用拟人手法可以使事物更形象、贴切，便于作者抒发感情，以增强文章的感染力。 My heart was singing. The flowers nodded to her when she passed. My stomach was punishing me for not eating on time. The rain was angry; you could tell just by listening to it from indoors. Personification In the story, the writer uses different words to express similar meanings. Read the story and write them down. Then work in pairs and use each word to describe a scene. say: _____________________________________ see: _____________________________________ die: _____________________________________ claim, ask, replay, cry, tell look, watch, stare, notice go, go sailing down, go away, slip away Think and share. 1 What do you think Sue’s comment “it’s Behrman’s masterpiece” means? It was painted true to life that Johnsy didn’t even find it was a picture. It is the best art he ever painted because it kept Johnsy hopeful and alive. 2 What do you think the story is trying to express? 3 Does the ending of the story surprise you? If yes, how? What do you think of such an ending? The story is trying to express how people love and take care of each other. It also invites readers to think about attitudes towards life. It is surprising because the reader expects Johnsy to either die or recover, but the reader does not think that Mr Berhman would be affected by Johnsy’s sickness. If the story were not named “THE LAST LEAF”, which of the following would be its best title in your opinion? A. Mr Pneumonia B. The masterpiece C. Greenwich Village B What typical writing features have you noticed in “The Last Leaf”? Give examples. Personification. 作者采用了拟人的修辞手法，形象地描绘了肺炎病毒的无情以及人们面对这种疾病时的无助与弱小。 Create our own "Last Leaf" 1. Thematic Debate: Was Behrman's sacrifice worth it? Hold a pro/con discussion to understand the deeper meaning of sacrificial spirit. 2. Finding the "Leaf" in Our Lives: Guide students to recall: Who has been the "last leaf" in your life during a low point? It could be a word of encouragement from a parent, a reassuring look from a teacher, or the companionship of a friend. 3. Creative Writing: Option 1: Write on the topic "The Last Leaf in My Life." Option 2: Continue the story – What would Johnsy think while standing before the painting after her recovery? $