While he was glancing at/After he glanced at

[diamondcutter]

A gust of wind swept the bed off the roof and sent it crashing into the courtyard below. ... Although the bed was smashed to pieces, the man was miraculously unhurt. ... Glancing at the bits of wood and metal that lay around him, the man picked up the mattress and carried it into his house. After he had put it on the floor, he promptly went to sleep again.

Source: Lesson 49, New Concept English 2, Longman

Glancing at the bits of wood and metal that lay around him, the man picked up the mattress and carried it into his house.

I think this sentence could be rewritten as follows.

1. While he was glancing at the bits of wood and metal that lay around him, the man picked up the mattress and carried it into his house.

2. After he glanced at the bits of wood and metal that lay around him, the man picked up the mattress and carried it into his house.

I think No. 2 is better because the verb “glance” is an instant verb and the simple past fits the context better than the present progressive.

What do you say?

 

[Tarheel]

The original is fine.

What is an instant verb?

 

[tedmc]

I don't like the original. A glance is a quick look. How could one glance and pick up something at the same time?

 

[jutfrank]

We can assume your 'rewritten' versions of the sentence were intended only to show us how you interpret the original sentence, not to improve editorially on the text.

Yes, you're right that sentence 2 is the correct interpretation. The glancing comes first and the picking up comes after.