Lesson Fifteen

Touched by the Moon

Nirmal Gbosb

Introduction to the background knowledge

The structure of the text

Detailed discussion of the text

Conclusion of the text

Assignment

Teaching Procedures

Introduction to the text

This article, as the title tells us, is about the moon and about how the author was awe-struck by the sight of the moon during his visit to his friend’s house in Manila as well as on three other occasions: one up in the mountains in India, one in the plains of the same country, and another on the beach in the Philippines. These description are given in the first part of the article. The moon here serves as a symbol just like the green banana in Lesson 10.

Introduction to the text

It represents the whole of nature. In the second half of text, the author begins to express his concerns about our neglect of nature as a result of modernization. The article ends with the author wishing to live in a cottage in the Himalayas for the rest of his life so that he can “touch the moon”.

Structure of the Text

Part 1 (paras. 1—2 ) ： On the way to a friend’s house, I was awe-struck by the

moonrise in Manila and mentioned the moon’s influence on my friend’s life.

Part 2 (paras. 3—4 )： During the visit to the northern India, the author

witnessed the beautiful moon over mountains and the plain respectively.

Part 3 (para. 5)： In the Philippines, the author watched the full moon

over the sea.

Part 4 (paras. 6—7)： The author viewed the whole nature and

revealed the relationship between man and nature.

Part 5 (paras. 8—10)： The author rethought the modern life and

expressed the willingness to live close to nature.

Detailed Discussion of the Text

I was awe-struck by the sight of the full moon rising just above Manila rooftops, huge and swollen, yellow through the dust and smoke of the city. (Para. 1) I was greatly impressed by the sight of the full

and bright moon. It appeared yellow and big through the dust and smoke of the city.

It had touched many aspects of his life, including those concerning his ordinary daily life. (Para. 2) For many practical reasons in his daily life he

had to pay attention to the moon. For example, it could provide some light; it could tell people about the time and possible weather changes, etc.

... to make sure that he had his torch with him when he was outside in the evening, or when the moon was due to rise late or was at its newest. (Para. 2) … to make sure that he had not forgotten to

take his torch with him when the moon would rise late or be at its newest.

I can remember going out at 10pm and seeing the great Nanda Devil mountain like a ghost on the horizon, gleaming white in the moonlight and flanked by Trishul. (Para. 3) I can remember that once I went out at 10pm

and saw the great Nanda Devil mountain like a ghost on the horizon, gleaming white in the moonlight and with Trishul on both sides.

We sat in the sun looking at the scattering of stone-tiled roofs, … (Para. 6) We sat in the warmth and light of the sun,

looking at the few houses which spread out over a large area.

The cycles of the sun and moon are simple but gigantic forces which have shaped human lives since the beginning. (Para. 8) The changes of days and nights, months and

seasons, or the changes of the weather are simple but great forces which have long affected human lives.

Wise men and women studied them not as scientists, but as mystics; … (Para. 8) Wise men and women studied them not as

scientists who tried to understand the cycles of the sun and moon through testing and examination, but as mystics who felt the religious, spiritual or magical powers of these natural phenomena.

Today our lives are defined by glass, concrete, metal, plastic and fiber-glass. (Para. 9) Today we talk about out lives in terms of glass,

concrete, etc.

Energy flies around us. (Para. 9) Modern cities depend on energy to provide heat

and drive machines, etc., but energy production produces pollutants. The author obviously does not like the fact that “energy flies around us”.

… wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled and measure out my life in coffee spoons. (Para. 10) … wear my trousers with the bottoms rolled

and spend the rest of my life drinking coffee and enjoying nature.