The husband who vanished
江苏省南菁高级中学 秦虞
Step 1 感知·阅读导航
话题导入
Jim与Ann于1960年结婚，住在纽约郊区拉奇蒙特，虽然没有孩子但生活甜蜜。在1971年的某一个月中，Jim遇到了几次小意外，脑部受伤，失忆后突然失踪。之后Ann一边外出工作维持生计，一边坚定地等待他回来。Jim失忆后阴差阳错到了费城市区，换了名字，开始了没有过去的生活。1985年，Jim又遇到了一些小意外，竟然恢复了记忆。恢复记忆后的Jim会回到Ann身边吗？Ann还在坚定地等待他吗？
本文改编自一篇短篇小说，全文共519词，建议用时8分钟。
阅读立意
阅读时应达到以下三个目标：
1. 把握故事大意和主要情节。
2. 体会故事主人公之间恒久的爱。
3. 模仿故事语言风格，合理构思情节展开读后续写。
读前预热
Answer the questions:
1. Have you ever waited for someone? How long did you wait and how did you feel?
2. What if you wait 14 years for someone?
The McDonnells lived in a small brick house in Larchmont, a suburb of New York City. Jim was foreman of mail carriers at the post office. Married in 1960, he and Anne were childless.
On the evening of the eleventh anniversary of their marriage, carrying out the garbage, Jim McDonnell slipped on icy steps, and struck his head. A few days later, driving to work, he lost control of the car, hit a telephone pole, and banged his forehead against the windshield. The following day he fell off the stairs and banged his head. Found unconscious, he was hospitalized for three days with a cerebral concussion (脑震荡). One day in the same month, Jim borrowed a friend’s station wagon and drove to Kennedy Airport to pick up Anne’s brother and family, unaware that the wallet containing his identification had slipped out of his pocket onto the floor of the car. After returning the car, he was never seen again.
For weeks, Anne walked the house wringing her hands and praying. At night, watching television, she would stare at the armchair where Jim had dozed off evenings. She often dreamed he had come home, only to wake up and find he wasn’t there.
After Jim’s disappearance, to earn a living, Ann tried various kinds of jobs; in 1977 she took her current job as a nursing attendant. Anne fell into the habit of working at the hospital on holidays because it was easier if she kept busy. Through it all, she had faith that Jim would return. She kept his clothes in the closet covered to protect them from dust. His razor and can of shaving cream remained in the bathroom cabinet.
So what really happened to Anne’s husband? During his walk home, Jim had indeed blacked out, losing all ability to remember who he was and where he lived. What happened then is unclear. The next thing he knew was that he was in downtown Philadelphia. Seeing signs advertising the services of a James Peters, a real estate broker, Jim adopted James Peters as his own name. He had no past; his only reality was the present. James Peters got a Social Security card, which could be obtained at that time without showing a birth certificate, and took a job in a health club. He also got a night-shift job at the P&P luncheonette, where he became well known for his omelets (煎蛋卷), as well as his kindness and good humor.
Bernadine Golashovsky, a waitress at P&P, recalls: “My father had died and Jim apparently had no family, so after he started at P&P we adopted each other. He became my father figure, and we– my husband, Pete, our four children and I — were his family. The children loved him.”
In December, 1985, a woman appeared in his dream again and again. On December 22, 1985, Jim had fallen and banged his head. The next day he had fallen again, striking his head. On December 24, he awoke feeling confused, yet excited. After almost 15 years, he knew who he was!
Step 2 理解·文本解读
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I. Story Mountain
Beginning:_1____ |
Build-up:___2___ |
|
|||
A: Jim banged his head several times and disappeared and then Ann started working with the faith that he would come back.
B: Jim suddenly recovered his memory.
C: Jim and Ann married and lived in Larchmont in New York City.
答案： 1. C 2. A 3. B
II. Jim’s character
Clues in the text |
Possible characteristics |
carrying out the garbage |
1. _______ |
…he became well known for his omelets, as well as his kindness and good humor. |
2. _______ |
…we– my husband, Pete, our four children and I — were his family. The children loved him. |
3. _______ |
答案：1. considerate and helpful 2. kind and humorous 3. easy-going and respectable
III. Answer questions
1. Do you think Jim loves Ann deeplyt? Use evidence from the story to support your opinion.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
答案：Yes, Jim loves Ann. Firstly, they spent the 11th anniversary together. Secondly, Ann started working after Jim disappeared to earn a living, which indicates Ann depended on Jim before he disappeared. Thirdly, Jim dreamed of Ann 14 years after he lost his memory.
2. Do you think Ann loves Jim deeply? Use evidence from the story to support your opinion.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
答案：Yes, in the beginning, it was hard for Ann to accept the fact that Jim disappeared. Later, she fell into the habit of working at the hospital on holidays because it was easier if she kept busy. Through it all, she had faith that Jim would return. She kept his clothes in the closet covered to protect them from dust. His razor and can of shaving cream remained in the bathroom cabinet.
3. Why nobody know Jim’s past?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
答案：1. He lost all his identification. 2. He adopted James Peters as his name. 3. He lost his memory.
Step 3 运用·读写整合
IV. Predict
1. What would Jim think and do after he recovered his memory?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
答案：He would be nervous and want to know if Ann was still waiting for him. Also, he would hurry home to see Ann.
2. Do you think Ann is still waiting for Jim?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
答案：Yes, Ann loves Jim deeply. She had the faith that Jim will come back.
3. What would happen if Jim and Ann meet each other again?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
答案：They would hug each other and cry tears of joy.
V. Theme
What could be the possible theme of the story?
_______________________________________________________________________________
答案：The story shows how Jim loses and recovers his memory. Throughout the story, we can also find some clues that indicate deep love between the couple. So the logical ending should be reunion of the couple. Therefore, faithful love could be the theme.
IV. Continuation Writing
请根据小说情节内容、语言特点及所给段落开头语，续写两段, 使之构成一篇完整的小说。字数约为150词左右。
Suddenly, he became scared. ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Anne had just returned home from Christmas Mass, where she lit candles and prayed for Jim. _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
答案：
Suddenly, he became scared. He couldn't help wondering: Is Anne alive? How did she spend all the years? Has she remarried? If not, how will she greet me? Never before did he felt so desperate yet so nervous to see his wife. The next moment, he hurried to the station, bought a ticket to New York and got onto the coach.
Anne had just returned home from Christmas Mass, where she lit candles and prayed for Jim. Night after night, she had dreamed of Jim coming home, only to wake up to the harsh reality. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Anne opened the door---there stood a man with a white beard. Immediately she recognized him. Words fail her. “Hello, Anne.” Jim said. To him, Anne looked a little older but prettier. Anne stoked his face, tears streaming down her face. Then they threw themselves into each other’s arms. Christmas bell was ringing, as if bringing the best wishes to this happy couple.
Step 4 提升·素养建构
V. Writing techniques
1. 叙述（narrative writing） VS 描写（descriptive writing）
叙述和描写是记叙文和故事中的两种常用写作方式。叙述是指将事情的经过记录下来，一般采用时间顺序或事情发展顺序。在时空转换较多，或为加快叙事节奏时宜使用叙述。描写是把人物或景物的状态具体形象地描绘出来，往往借助感官手段，如听觉、视觉、嗅觉等。在需要突出某个特定场景让读者留下深刻印象时，宜使用描写。叙述就如全景图，而描写就如近景图，故事写作中往往会两种手段结合使用。在本故事中，故事原文时间跨度较大，多采用叙述，在读后续写环节展现Jim与Ann相见时，使用描写，让故事更具画面感和冲击力。
原文最后一段：In December, 1985, a woman appeared in his dream again and again. On December 22, 1985, Jim had fallen and banged his head. The next day he had fallen again, striking his head. On December 24, he awoke feeling confused, yet excited. 此处需快速交代Jim在一个月内的几次经历，故采用叙述。
读后续写部分的第二段，使用描写展现Jim与Ann相见时的动人场景：Anne opened the door---there stood a man with a white beard. Immediately she recognized him. Words fail her. “Hello, Anne.” Jim said. To him, Anne looked a little older but prettier. Anne stoked his face, tears streaming down her face. Then they threw themselves into each other’s arms. Christmas bell was ringing, as if bringing the best wishes to this happy couple. 本段中融合了多种描写方式，让读者感受到两人就别重逢后的激动和喜悦，具有较强的感染力。
2. 展示而非讲述（to show rather than to tell）
以下方式能够有效地直接或间接刻画人物、突出某个场景。
a. 感官描写
借助感官描写，如听觉、视觉、嗅觉、味觉、触觉等，能创造出身临其境之感。
b. 多维描写
刻画人物、烘托场景时可采用动作描写、语言描写、神态描写、外貌描写、心理描写等多维描写方式展现立体人物形象或场景。
如读后续写部分第二段：Anne opened the door---there stood a man with a white beard. Immediately she recognized him. Words fail her. “Hello, Anne.” Jim said. To him, Anne looked a little older but prettier. Anne stoked his face, tears streaming down her face. Then they threw themselves into each other’s arms. Christmas bell was ringing, as if bringing the best wishes to this happy couple. 本段结合了动作描写、语言描写、外貌描写、心理描写、神态描写、环境描写，让读者感受到夫妻之间的深情和重逢后的喜悦。
c. 侧面描写
刻画人物时可使用一些细节或例子展现人物性格特点。本文中通过侧面描写很好地体现了夫妻之间的忠贞的爱。
eq \o\ac(○,1)1原文中并没有直接说明Ann对Jim的爱，但我们可以从以下两个段落中深刻地感受到：
For weeks, Anne walked the house wringing her hands and praying. At night, watching television, she would stare at the armchair where Jim had dozed off evenings. She often dreamed he had come home, only to wake up and find he wasn’t there.
… Through it all, she had faith that Jim would return. She kept his clothes in the closet covered to protect them from dust. His razor and can of shaving cream remained in the bathroom cabinet.
两段通过描写Jim刚失踪不久后Ann失魂落魄的样子,以及Ann坚信Jim会回来，在家里保留着Jim的衣物，很好地展现了Ann对Jim的爱。
eq \o\ac(○,2)2 Jim对Ann的爱可从原文最后一段第一句In December, 1985, a woman appeared in his dream again and again.可以看出，失忆多年，妻子Ann突然出现在Jim梦里，足以体现Ann在他心中的地位。