Midnight Visitor
Robert Arthur
The Midnight Visitor
Unit 4
W arming up
B ackground
T ext Analysis
R einforcement
The Midnight Visitor
Unit 4
Questions / Activities
Check-on Preview
Warming up
Objectives
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Warming up
Questions / Activities
• Have you ever seen a spy movie, or read a spy
story? What is it? Do you like it? Why?
• What is a spy like? What is your general
impression of a spy? Look at the prompts (提
示) and pictures on the next slide and try to
think of as many words as possible to describe
people who work as a secret agent.
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Warming up
Questions / Activities
Age,
appearance
Tasks,
responsibilities
Personality
Reasons
Warming up
Questions / Activities
Young or old?
Handsome or
ordinarylooking?
Adventurous
Courageous
Intelligent
Shrewd (精明的)
Presence of mind
They live in a secret world
of deception, fraud (欺骗),
and sometimes violence.
Collect and pass on
significant information
Recruit new agents
Espionage
For money?
For ambition?
For patriotism?
Warming up
Questions / Activities
Espionage
• [Fr.] spying
 Espionage (谍报)： the secret collection of information,
or intelligence, the source of such information wishes to
protect from disclosure.
 Intelligence (情报)：evaluated and processed
information needed to make decisions. Intelligence
generally has a national security connotation and
therefore exists in an aura (光环) of secrecy.
Warming up
Questions / Activities
An Example
• British intelligence agents secretly intercepted
(截获) conversations of U.N. SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan in his New York office
last year.
Warming up
Questions / Activities
CIA中央情报局
• Central Intelligence Agency
• Mainly for gathering secret information that may bear on national
security
• Created in 1947
• The CIA also coordinates the activities of the United States
intelligence community, which includes agencies such as the
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security
Agency (NSA).
• In addition, the CIA takes overall responsibility for gathering
information from other U.S. intelligence agencies, analyzing the
separate pieces of information from each source, and providing a
recommendation to the president of the United States and the
president’s advisers.
Warming up
Questions / Activities
FBI美国联邦调查局
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Chief investigative agency of the
United States federal government
and a division of the U.S.
Department of Justice
• The primary responsibility for counterespionage
activities within the US., coordinating its work with the
CIA, which is responsible for such operations outside
the US.
Warming up
Questions / Activities
FBI
• It also provides services to other law enforcement
agencies, including fingerprint identification, laboratory
analysis of criminal evidence, police training, and
access to a centralized crime information database.
• Because of its broad mandate (授权), the FBI is one of
the most powerful and controversial agencies in the
government.
• The bureau traces its origins to 1908, when the attorney
general appointed a small group of investigators within
the Department of Justice.
Warming up
Questions / Activities
KGB苏联国家安全委员会(克格勃)
• Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti
(State Security Committee)
• the government agency of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(USSR) in charge of the Soviet political police from 1954 to 1991.
• The KGB, the last in a series of Soviet security agencies dating from
1917, was officially disbanded（解散）when the USSR collapsed.
• During its years of operation the agency’s main directive was to
protect the Soviet regime from internal and external threats by means
of a vast police and spy network.
• During the cold war, both the FBI and the CIA concentrated their
attention primarily on KGB of the USSR.
Warming up
Questions / Activities
Do you know these terms?
1. spy
2. espionage
3. international spy
4. double agent
5. secret agent
6. secret service
7. special agent
8. intelligence
9. intelligence agency
10. counterintelligence agency
11. spy movies
12. detective stories
13. undercover agent or
undercover operation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
间谍
侦察、谍报
国际间谍
双重间谍
秘密特工
特工处
特工
情报
间谍机构
反间谍机构
间谍片
侦探故事
秘密的地下工作者/活动
Warming up
Check-on Preview
• Do you like the story? Why/Why not?
• Read aloud the sentences/paragraphs you like best and
say why.
• What is the story about?
• How do you understand the historical background
against which the story was set?
• What have you found about the source of this article?
• Give the meaning/ the definition of the following words
and expressions (p. 270):
– official hands, course, drama, a start, management, to
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take a chance
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Warming up
Objectives
• By the end of the Unit, students are expected to
 be able to retell how Ausable defeated his adversary (敌手,
对手)Max.
 be able to make character analysis of Ausable, Max and
Fowler.
 be able to use the key words, phrases, expressions, and
grammar items correctly and appropriately.
 know more about the author, detective stories and related
information about secret agents.
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The Midnight Visitor
Unit 4
Author
Background
Genre
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Background
Author
• Born on Nov. 10, 1909 in the Philippines
• Got his B.A. in 1930 at the University of Michigan
• Got his M.A. in journalism in 1932
• 1930-1940, his stories was published in Wonder Stories,
Detective Fiction Weekly, Mystery, The Illustrated Detective
Magazine, Street & Smith’s Detective Story Magazine,
Amazing Stories, The Shadow, Street & Smith Mystery
Reader, Detective Tales, Thrilling Detective, Double
Detective, Startling Stories, Collier’s, The Phantom
Detective, Argosy Weekly, Unknown Worlds, and Black
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Mask.
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Background
Author
• 1940s to 1960s:
He also wrote radio scripts and TV series. His
career as a writer for radio came to an end during
the McCarthy era. In 1959, he worked in television
and wrote scripts for The Twilight Zone.
• 1960s:
He was involved in editing a series of anthologies
for younger readers. He died on May 2, 1969 in
Philadelphia at the age of 59.
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Background
Genre
• Elements of a Short Story
 Setting
 Characters: protagonist vs. antagonist
 Conflicts
 Climax
 Theme
 Suspense
 Irony
Background
Genre
• How is a spy story similar to or different from
a detective story?
Background
Genre
A spy story vs. a detective story
• Both have complicated plots so that the reader remains
as puzzled as the characters within the story.
• Both are like a puzzle and the climax of the story is the
solution of the puzzle.
• The bulk (大部分内容) of the narrative concerns the
logical process by which the investigator follows a
series of clues to this solution.
• Suspense is used a lot.
• A spy story is mainly concerned with international
intrigue (阴谋) and politics; while a detective story is
usually concerned with local crimes.
The Midnight Visitor
Unit 4
Theme
Text Analysis
Structure
Detailed
Analysis
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Text Analysis
Theme
• Wisdom is more powerful than any weapon.
• Never judge a person by his appearance.
• First impressions could be misleading.
• He who laughs last, laughs longest.
Text Analysis
1
Structure
2
3
Paras. 1-5
Paras. 6-23
Paras. 24-28
Who Ausable
was and why
the young
writer Fowler
was
disappointed
with him
How Ausable
developed a
plan to deal
with his
adversary Max
and what he did
to throw Max
off guard
How Ausable
finally outwitted
Max and made
him jump onto
the so-called
balcony and kill
himself
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part I
Part II
Part III
Main Idea
Sentence Paraphrase
Words & Expressions
Exercise
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Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part I: Main Idea
• When and where did the story happen?
• Who was Fowler? Why did he follow Ausable to his room?
• What was his first impression of Ausable?
• Why did Fowler feel disappointed with Ausable?
• Who was Ausable? Did he fit in with Fowler’s picture of a
good spy? Why or why not?
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part I: Sentence Paraphrase
Ausable did not fit the description of any secret agent
Fowler had ever read about. (para. 1)
Paraphrasing: Ausable was not at all what a secret
agent should look like.
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part I: Sentence Paraphrase
Someday soon that paper may well affect the course
of history. (para. 5)
Paraphrasing: In the near future, this document
might probably have an effect on the development of
history.
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part I: Words & Expressions
Words
Phrases
fit
figure
wheezily
espionage
crack
sloppy
Sentence
Pattern
for one thing
(for another)
deal in
slip into
may/might well
risk one’s life
doing sth.
risk one’s life to
do sth.
Grammar
as used in
time clauses
as used in
reason clauses
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
 to risk one’s life doing sth./to do sth.
• Don’t risk your life (in) trying to climb that mountain.
• He risked his life to save his friend.
• I don’t want to risk being late.
 risk n.
• There is a high risk of accidents happening on the icy road.
• Heart attack can be avoided if people at risk take medical
advice.
• The houses at the foot of the mountain were at the risk of mudrock flow.
• She argued with him at the risk of being fired.
 risky adj.
• Verbs collocated with: be, look, prove, seem, sound, consider
sth.
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part I: Exercise
• Choose one option that can best replace the underlined part in
each sentence.
1. It was a small room on the sixth floor, and hardly a setting for a
romantic figure.
A. character
B. story
C. picture
2. Ausable was, for one thing, fat.
A. just a little
B. for one reason C. generally
3. There is drama in that thought, don’t you think?
A. performance
B. some trick
C. something out of the ordinary
• Key: 1. A, 2. B, 3. C
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part II: Main Idea
• What happened when Ausable opened the door of his
room? Did Ausable know the man?
• Who was Max? What did he want?
• How did Ausable react to the sudden appearance of
Max in his room?
• How did Ausable react to Max’s threat?
• Why did Ausable start talking about the balcony?
• How did Fowler feel? Was he frightened? Why or why
not?
• Did Max believe the story? How come he never
doubted Ausable?
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
• Discuss the following questions in pairs.
1. What is meant by “It will be safer in my hands than in
yours.” (para. 10)?
2. Why did Ausable say “The appointment was for
twelve-thirty. I wish to know how you learned about the
report, Max.” (para. 15)?
3. Describe Max’s feelings when he said “And we wish
we knew how your people got the report.”?
4. What do you think helped to make Ausable’s plan
work out?
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part II: Sentence Paraphrase
…you gave me quite a start. (para. 8)
Paraphrasing: You surprised me.
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part II: Words & Expressions
Phrases
start
press
glance
unlock
cover
Sentence
Pattern
except for
save the trouble of
doing sth
raise the devil with
block off
learn about
check on
take one’s chance(s)
make sure
Grammar
unreal
condition
passive voice
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
raise Cain
alludes to the son of Adam and Eve who killed his brother, Abel
“Why have we every reason to believe that Adam and Eve were both
rowdies? Because … they both raised Cain.” (pun)
raise Cain/hell/the devil:
to behave in a rowdy or disruptive way 闹事; 大吵大闹; 提出强烈反抗
e.g.
1. He said he’d raise Cain if they wouldn’t give him a refund.
他说如果他们不给他退款，他就大吵大闹。
2. The gang was out to raise hell that night.
那天晚上，黑社会出来闹事。
3. The wind raised the devil with our picnic.
风把我们的野餐搅乱了。
Cain and Abel
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
take chances: to behave riskily
Don’t take your chances when driving a car.
take a chance (on sth.): to take a risk
He left home and decided to take a chance on pursuing a
career in acting.
take one’s chance: to benefit as much as possible from one’s
opportunities
If you want to work in a creative field, you should learn to
take your chance.
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part II: Exercise
• Choose one option that can best replace the underlined part in
each sentence.
1. Some day soon that paper may well affect the course of history.
A. will quite probably
B. will to a great extent C. will positively
2. And as the light came on, Fowler had his first real thrill of the day.
A. fear
B. excitement
C. headache
3. “Max,” he wheezed, “you gave me quite a start.”
A. frightened shock
B. good beginning
C. terrible pain
4. Max was slender, not tall, and with a face that suggested the look of a fox.
A. evoked
B. proposed
C. demanded
5. I’m going to raise the devil with the management this time.
A. raise Cain with
B. curse
C. fire
6. I wish I knew how you learned about the report, Max.
A. studied
B. read through
C. became aware of
7. Send them away or I’ll shoot and take my chances.
A. kill
B. try my luck
C. have an opportunity
• 答案见备注栏
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part III: Main Idea
• How did Max feel when he heard someone knocking
at the door?
• Did Ausable know who it was? What did he say to
Max? Did Max believe him?
• What did Max decide to do under the circumstances?
• What happened to Max?
• Why did Ausable sigh?
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Part III: Words & Expressions
Words
uncork
shrilly
sigh
stare
stammer
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Sigh: to breathe out slowly and noisily, expressing
tiredness, sadness, pleasure, etc.
She sighed deeply and sat down.
"I wish he was here, " she sighed
(= she said with a sigh) .
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Stare: to look for a long time with the eyes wide open,
especially when surprised, frightened or thinking
Don't stare at people like that. It's rude.
Henry sat quietly for hours staring into the distance,
thinking of what might have been.
Text Analysis
Detailed Analysis
Stammer: to speak or say something with unusual
pauses or repeated sounds, either because of speech
problems or because of fear and anxiety
"Wh-when can we g-go?" she stammered.
He dialled 999 and stammered (out) his name and
address.
Text Analysis
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
•
Detailed Analysis
Part III: Exercise
True/False Statements.
Fowler was a young man learning spy skills from Ausable. ( )
Ausable was quite probably an American secret agent working in France. ( )
Fowler was disillusioned because Asuable would not tell him anything. ( )
Both Asuable and Fowler were thrilled when they found someone standing in the
room holding a pistol in one hand. ( )
Ausable started talking about the balcony because he wanted to gain some time to
make a plan. ( )
It wasn’t the first time for somebody to get into Ausable’s room through the
balcony. ( )
Somebody started knocking at the door at about twelve-thirty at night. ( )
When somebody knocked at the door, Ausable knew it was the waiter who had
brought his wine. ( )
Max was probably killed at the end of the story. ( )
答案见备注栏
The Midnight Visitor
Unit 4
Discussion
Reinforcement
Retelling
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Reinforcement
Retelling
• Dramatize the story
• Assume a role of Ausable, Fowler, or Max and
retell the story
• Imagine yourself to be Fowler, the writer, and
retell your experience on the night you spent
with Ausable.
Reinforcement
Discussion
Lurk (《潜伏》) is a 2009 Chinese television
series based on a spy novel. Yu Zecheng was an
underground worker who spied for the
Communist Party of China during the Chinese
Civil War. Many viewers consider this is
different from what we have usually seen on
screen. The actor Sun Honglei presents a
refreshing spy image and displays the true-to-life
personality of a spy in a high danger-plagued
existence full of espionage, pretending to be
foolish and just dressing like an ordinary person
in office.
Topic: Why do people love spy dramas and
their heroes?