Section A  Discussion

Sit in groups of threes or fours and discussthe following brainstorming questions.

1    Have you ever experienced any intense difficulties, hardships or major obstacles in your life?

 2   How do you usually deal with adversity?

3    Do you think adversity can make you grow better and stronger?

SectionB  Quotes

Study the following quotes aboutadversity. Which quote do you like best? State your reasons.

⊙Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.    — African proverb

Interpretation:

Sailing on rough seas, sailors are constantly faced with all kinds of hostile conditions. In their struggle against adversities, they can acquire survival skills in time. Similarly, the difficulties of life should make us better, not bitter. In the process of dealing with problems and difficulties, we can become more experienced in life. Therefore, instead of panicking or complaining in the face of adversity, we should see it as a challenge as well as a chance to improve our abilities.

 

◎  When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.                           

                                        — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Interpretation:

This quote tells us not to lose hope in the face of adversity. As we all know, we cannot see well when night falls, but against the dark background we find the shining stars in the sky. So, at a time when we think we are at our worst, we can always discovers omething that promises hope, such as friendship, love and care from the people who won't desert us no matter what has happened.

About Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): US poet and writer who had great influence on the religious and philosophical thought of his time.

 

◎  Adversity is the first path to truth.    —Lord Byron

Interpretation:

Through adversity we can approach truth. When we are going through difficult times, we are able to see things and people from an angle different from when we are successful. Hence we tend to see things more soberly  and objectively in times of adversity.

Lord Byron (1788-1824): English writer of romantic and satirical poetry, best known for poems such as Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (《恰尔德·哈罗尔德游记》) and Don Juan (《唐璜》).

◎  If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.              

—Anne Bradstreet

Interpretation:

We love spring and resent winter; we love prosperity and hate adversity. But just as white would have no meaning if there is no black as a contrast, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the warm spring sun without having endured the cold of winter.

 About Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672): the first American woman writer and the first American poet to have her works published. Her most known volume is TheTenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America (《美国新崛起的第十位缪司女神》) (1650).