现代大学英语精读6lesson 10 Notes on the English Character

NotesontheEnglishCharacterE.M.ForsterKeyPointsoftheText1.TounderstandnotesbothpositiveandnegativeontheEnglishcharacters:middleclass;thepublicschoolsystem;theunderdevelopedheartofthemiddleclassEnglishman;hypocrisy;treachery,crueltyandfanaticism2.toappreciatehumorinthetext.3.topointoutmainrhetoricaldevicesKeyWordsoftheText4.synonyms:(1)barrister,solicitor,attorney(Para.3)(2)Feeling,emotion,sentiment(Para.3)(3)gaze,stare,glare,peer(Para.10)(4)titter,guffaw,chuckle,giggle(Para.11)KeywordsofthetextPara.1:sound,amountto,reston,indifferentPara.4-8:bottleup,plungeindespair/gloom,makeafussabout/over,throwlighton,prudent,liabilities,munificence,beobligedto,intime,goalongwayPara.10:advertise,imperturbablePara.11-13:takesth.toheart,abysmal,embarkupon/on/in,adjure,gainon,villainPara.17-19:infamy,reticence,diplomacyOrganizationofthetext(7parts)Part1(Para.1)Thefirstnote:themiddleclasshavebeenthedominantforceintheEnglishcommunity.Part2(Para.2-3)Thesecondnote—theEnglishpublicschoolsystemanditsroleinthecharacterbuilding.Part3(para.4-8)thethirdnote—theundevelopedheartofthemiddle-classEnglishman.OrganizationofthetextPart4(Para.9-10)aquestion:ifEnglishnatureiscold,howisitthatithasproducedagreatliteratureandaliteraturethatisparticularlygreatinpoetry?Part5(Para.11-15)thetopicofhypocrisy,aprimechargealwaysbroughtagainsttheEnglishbycitinganexamplefromJaneAusten’snovelSenseandSensibility.OrganizationofthetextPart6(Para.16-17)someotherchargessuchastreachery,crueltyandfanaticismthathavebeenbroughtagainsttheEnglishasanation.Part7(Para.18-19)sumsupnotesontheEnglishcharacterandextendhopeforfuture.Part1(Para.1)Letthecatoutofbag:torevealasecret.Themiddleclasses:theuppermiddleclass,middleclassandlowermiddleclass.Theymainlyincludeindustrialists,businessmen,professionalsandclericalworkersinthecitiesandthelandedgentry（绅士阶层，地主阶层）inthecountry.theBritishupperclasswasmainlythenobility,theclassofpeopleofnoblerankorhavinghereditarytitles.Sound(1)sensibleandlikelytoproducetherightresults.合理的，明智的，正确的。E.g.soundadvice/judgement/reasons.(2)someonewhoissoundcanbedependedontomakegooddecisionsandgivegoodadvice.有判断力的，见地高的。(3)completeandthrough.E.g.asoundknowledgeofEuropeanmarket.Sound(4)ingoodconditionE.g.Thebodyworkissoundbuttheengineneedsreplacing.(5)physicallyandmentallyhealthy.E.g.assoundasabell.十分健康的。asoundmind.心智健全的。Sound(6)deepandpeaceful.E.g.asoundsleeper;(7)severeandthrough.E.g.asoundbeatingWhatdidNapoleoncalltheBritish?Whatdoyouthinkofit?Amountto(1)sumsorfiguresequalthattotalwhenaddedtogether.达到，总计。E.g.Timelostthroughillnessamountedto1,357workingdays.(2)havethesameeffect.等于，意味着。E.g.Thecourt’sdecisionamountstoanotguiltyverdict.Amountto/amount(N.)(3)notamounttomuch/anything/agreatdealetc.没多大了不起（价值，成功）E.g.Heracademicachievementsdon’tamounttomuch.N.amountof/asmallorlargeamountof.E.g.aconsiderableamountofmoney.restonReston/upon:(1)todependonorbebasedonsth.依赖，取决于，以…为依据。E.g.Successinmanagementultimatelyrestsongoodjudgement.(2)eyesreston…..目光落在…Restwith:sb.isresponsibleforsth.有（某人）负责。E.g.ThefinaldecisionrestswiththePresident.RussianpeasantandfactoryworkersJapanesesamuraibalance:theamountofmoneythatyouhaveinyourbankaccount.Caper:tojumpaboutandplayinahappyandexcitedway.Indifferent:notreallygood;ratherpoororbad;mediocre.JohnBullfirstappearsasacharacterinaseriesofsatiresbyJohnArbuthnot(1667-1735).HesatiredWhigpolicy(1712)andintroduced"JohnBull"asthetypicalEnglishman--"anhonestplain-dealingfellow,choleric,bold,andofaveryinconstanttemper"JohnBullPresentedasabluff,kindhearted,bull-headedfarmer.Alwayswearasquattophat,neckcloth,waistcoatwiththeBritishflagonit,tailcoat,tightbreeches,andboots.EnglishGentlemanUncleSamandJohnBullUncleSamusuallyisassociatedwithSamWilson,abusinessmanwhosuppliedthearmyduringtheWarof1812.Hisbarrelswerestamped"U.S."forthegovernment,leadinghimtobenicknamed"UncleSam.“JohnBullandUncleSamhaveoftenbeendepictedinteracting,asfriendsorantagonistsSaintGeorgeStGeorgeisthepatronsaintofEnglandandamongthemostfamousofChristianfigures.Presentedinanarmorkillingthedragon.SaintGeorgeSt.Georgeisahero,thepatronofarms,symbolizingchivalry(骑士精神),hisimageoftenappearsonbanners,andhisnameisoftenmentionedinthespeechesofpoliticians.Heisusedasasymbolicfigureforpoliticalpurposes.“Itallamountstothesameintheend”GibbonsuggestedthatSt.Georgeisalegendarydoubleofthedisreputablebishop,GeorgeofCappadocia.WhetherEnglandisrepresentedbyJohnBullorSt.George,itisthesamethinginthefinalanalysis:Englandisessentiallymiddleclass.Whatdoesitlooklike?Part2(Para.2-3)Thepublicschoolsystems:thepublicschoolsaresupportedbyfundingthroughtheprivatesectorandthroughtuitionrates.Theyareinfactprivate-runeliteschools.Theyareboy’spublicboardingschoolsandareexpensive;onlyrichmiddle-classparentscanaffordtosendtheirchildrentotheseschools.Whatuniquefeaturesdoesthepublicschoolhave?(1)Boarding-house(2)Compulsorygames(3)Perfectsandfagging(4)goodformandespiritdecorpsWhatisthemainideaofPara.3?Thelastingeffectofthepublicschooleducationonthemiddle-classEnglishmen.Barrister,solicitor,attorneyBarrister:(在英国有资格出席高等法庭并辩护的)律师,法律顾问;solicitor:律师,法律顾问;城市、城镇或政府部门的首席法律官员;【多用于英国】初级律师：不是律师界成员，而只能在低级法庭出庭的律师;attorney:<美>律师,(业务或法律事务上的)代理人OldBoy’sSocietyanetworkforgraduatesofpublicschools.Someofthemremainasnaïveasboysfortherestoftheirlives.Theytrytoholdontoyouthandnevergrowup,neverbecomemature.“…thebattleofwaterloowaswonontheplayingfieldsofEton”themilitarydisciplinerequiredtodefeatNapoleonatWaterloowasacquiredwhiletheywereengagedinsportsontheplayingfieldsofthepublicschools.ThesesportsplayedaveryimportantroleinthedevelopmentofcharacterinpreparingtheEnglishboysintheirfuturetasksfortheBritishEmpire.Feeling,emotionFeeling:suggestsaconsciousnessofsth.feltinone’smind,orsimplyreferstowhatonefeelsatheart.E.g.Hehadthefeelingthathewasbeingfollowed.Emotion:anyofstrongfeelingsofhumanspiritoranexcitedstateoffeeling.E.g.theemotionsofjoy,sorrow,reverence,hate,andlove.快乐、痛苦、尊敬、痛恨和爱的冲动.Hisvoiceshookwithemotion.Feeling,emotionAlthoughfeelingandemotionaresometimesinterchangeable,feelingisthemoregeneralandneutral.Emotionisoftenconsideredtobethestrongerofthetwotermsandtoimplythepresenceofexcitementoragitation.SentimentSentimentoftenappliestoathoughtoropinionarisingfromorinfluencedbyemotion:Sentiment常指由情感或受情感影响而产生的想法或意见E.g.Whatareyoursentimentsaboutthegovernment'spolicies?你对政府的政策有什么想法？Thewordcanalsorefertothedelicate,sensitive,orhigherormorerefinedfeelings:此词也指细腻的、敏感的或更高级或更细微的感情“Theygoforthintoitwithwell-developedbodies….”Theauthorimpliesthatamorecompleteeducationshouldacknowledgeequalclaimsofbodyandspirit,heartandheadandthatamorecompletecharactershouldbedevelopedequallywellinbody,mindandheart.Part3(Para.4-8)WhatdoesanundevelopedheartmeaninPara.4?Bottleupone’semotionsandletthemoutonlyonaveryspecialoccasion.Para.5:beplungedin/intodespair/gloom:suddenlyexperiencegreatunhappiness;E.g.Thewholeregimentwasplungedintodespairbythisnews.makeafussabout/over….Buckup:cheerupPara.6throwagooddealoflighton….:tomakesth.easiertounderstandbyprovidingnewinformation.E.g.Thenewbiographythrowslightontheauthor’slifeandhiswork.Rouse:(1)Toarousefromslumber,apathy,ordepression.唤醒：把…从睡眠、冷漠或沮丧中唤醒;(2)Toexcite,astoangeroraction;stirup.Synonyms—provoke;激起愤怒或行动；煽动E.g.Thespeakertriedtorousethemasses.Para.7prudent:Carefulaboutone'sconduct;liability:(1)Somethingforwhichoneisliable;anobligation,aresponsibility,oradebt.E.g.liabilitytopaytaxes纳税的义务;(2)Thefinancialobligationsenteredinthebalancesheetofabusinessenterprise.E.g.Thebusinessfailedbecauseitsassetswerenotsogreatasitsliabilities.这家商行因资不抵债而倒闭。Para.7WhatdoesShelley’spoemmean?Trueloveisdifferentfrommaterialthingssuchasclayorgoldwhichcanbedividedandtakenaway.Yetifwesharetruelove,itwillneverdiminish.What’stheauthor’sopiniononthewealthofthespirit?copiously:inlargequantities.Acutely:verystrongly.WhatisthemainideaofPara.8?Frantic:extremelyworriedandfrightenedaboutasituation.Gesticulate:Tomakegesturesespeciallywhilespeaking,asforemphasis.慌乱得挥舞着双臂；Flingthemselvesabout:跌跌撞撞。Beobligedto:不得不ObligeV.(1)Tomakeitnecessaryforsomeonetodo.强制，强迫：E.g.Don’t’feelobligedtoplayifyoudon’twantto.(2)Tomakeindebtedorgrateful.使感谢或感激：E.g.Iamobligedtoyouforyourgracioushospitality.(3)Todoaserviceorfavorfor:施恩惠于，帮助：Theyobligedusbyarrivingearly.他们来帮了我们一个大忙Para.8Intime:afteracertainperiodoftime.Goalong/good/greatway:(1)helpful.有很大作用，大有帮助。E.g.Well-chosenwallpapercangoalongwaytowardmakingaroomlookattractive.(2)（食物）能存放很久,（钱）经用。E.g.Shemakesalittlemoneygoalongway.(3)walkalongway.走一大段路不辞劳苦。E.g.Iwentalongwaytomeether.Part4(Para.9-10)WhatquestiondoestheauthorraiseinPara.9?prose:allwritingsnotinverse.Canyoupointoutthemeaningof“fire”and“ice”“hiddenspringsoffire”inPara.9?Fire:passion,romance,imagination,sympathyIce:thequalityofbeingcold,unemotional,unimaginativeHiddenspringsoffire:invisibleresourcesofemotionThefire:thegreatromanticliteratureNationalsong:romanticandpassionateEnglishpoetry.Para.10HowdoestheauthordevelophispointinPara.10?HegoesontodiscusswhytheEnglishcouldproduceagreatliterature,emphasizingthattheEnglishnatureisnoteasytounderstandusingthe“sea”and“flyingfish”metaphorsinhisanalysis.ApparentlyimperturbableandevenRomanticismandsensitivenessAdvertiseTomakeknown;callattentionto.引起注意：使变得著名；引起对…的注意：E.g.Iadvertisedmyintentiontoresign.我渲染要辞职的意向.Heworeatightdresstoadvertiseherfigure.imperturbable:Unshakablycalmandcollected.沉着的：不可动摇地冷静和精神集中的.Thedepths:thedeepestpartsofthesea.Gaze,stare,glare,peerGazereferstoprolongedlookingthatisoftenindicativeofwonder,fascination,awe,oradmiration.Stareistogazefixedly;thewordcanindicatecuriosity,boldness,insolence,orstupidity.Glareistofixanotherwithahard,piercingstare.Peeristolooknarrowly,searchingly,andseeminglywithdifficultyExamplesE.g.gazingatthestars;观看星星；gazedintohereyes.注视着她的眼睛。E.g.staredatthemindisbelief;怀疑地盯着他们；staringintothedistance.心不在焉地盯着远方。E.g.HeglaredfuriouslyatmewhenIcontradictedhim.当我与他意见相反时，他生气地瞪我看。E.g.Shepeeredthroughherspectaclesatthecontract.通过她的眼镜看着合同。Part5(Para.11-15)Terrafirma:Latintermmeaningsolid,drylandasopposedtothesea.WhatisEnglishman’sattitudetowardcriticism?Notannoyedbycriticismandalwaystakecriticismlightlybecauseofbeingself-complacent.Takesth.toheart:toconsiderseriously.Para.11Abysmal:(1)Resemblinganabyssindepth;unfathomable.深不可测的，无底的：深度上象深渊的；深不可测的;(2)Veryprofound;limitless;深重的；无边的;E.g.abysmalmisery.无边的苦难.(3)verybadE.g.anabysmalperformanceSnappy:quicktoreactinanangryway.Mask:toconcealordisguise.Titter,guffaw,chuckle,giggleTitter:Tolaughinarestrained,nervousway;giggle.窃笑：以一种克制的、紧张的方式笑；傻笑.guffaw:loudandcoarselaughter.哄笑，狂笑.Chuckle:Tolaughquietlyortooneself.轻笑或自笑.giggleTolaughwithrepeatedshort,spasmodicsounds.吃吃得笑，咯咯地笑。Giggleandtitterbothrefertoahalf-suppressedlaughconsistingofaseriesofrapid,high-pitchedsounds,suggestingembarrassment,silliness,nervousness,etc.Para.12perfide:false-hearted,;treacherous.背信弃义的：属于、关于或被认为背信弃义的；Albion:anoldpoeticnameforEngland.Financialconcession:aprivilegegrantedbyagovernment,company,etc.Pointouttherhetoricaldevicesof“Bible”and“pistol”villain—awickedorunprincipledcharacterinanovel,play,etc.Muddle-headedness:confusedornotabletothinkclearly.theRenaissanceThegreatrevivalofart,literatureandlearninginEuropeinthe14th,15thand16thcenturiesbasedonclassicalsources.NiccolMachiavelli:statesmanandpoliticalphilosopher,famousforhisThePrincess.SenseandSensibilityElinorandMarianneDashwoodElinorformsanattachmenttothegentleEdwardFerrars,unawarethatheisalreadysecretlyengaged.MariannemeetsWilloughby,adashingyoungmanwholeadsherintoundisciplinedbehavior,butsheignorestheattentionsofthefaithfulColonelBrandon.Thecontrastbetweenthesisters'charactersiseventuallyresolvedasbothfindloveandlastinghappiness.Para.13scarlet:ofsin,sinful.ScarletLetter.Scarletfever.Embarkupon/on/in:Tosetoutonaventure;着手，从事：开始一项冒险活动；从事,（常与on,in连用）开始；从事.E.g.Theyembarkedonaworldtour.Survive:tolivelongerthansomeoneelse.Usuallysomeonecloselyrelatedtoone.E.g.Mr.Dashwoodwas~dbyhiswifeandthreedaughters.Henry~dhiswifebythreemonths.Para.13Welloff___badlyoffAdjure:toappealstrongly,toencouragesomeonetosweartodosth.E.g.Iadjureyoutospeakthetruth.annuity:afixedamountofmoneythatispaideachyeartosomeone,usuallyuntilWrench:asuddenfeelingofsadness,anguish,etc.asatpartingwithsomeoneorsomeplace.Drain:somethingthatcontinuouslyusestine,money,strength,etc.;消耗：E.g.Nothavinganybodytorentmyapartmentisaseriousdrainonmyfinancialresources.Impecunious:havinglittlemoney,poor.Para.14AretheJohnDashwoodshypocrites?consciousdeceitorunconsciousdeceit?gainon:(1)tograduallyovertakehisgoodintentions;占据或侵蚀;(2)tograduallygetclosertoaperson,caretc.thatyouarechasing.E.g.Quick,theyaregainingonus.Para.15Whatmetaphorisusedinthisparagraph?Consumption:slow,insidious,pretendingtobesomethingelse.MoralconsumptivesThebookdrawaaparallelbetweenancientandmoderntheoriesofeducation.villain:Awickedorevilperson.villainy:evil,vice,criminalbehavior.Part6(Para.16-17):Whatisthemainideaofthispart?Pointouttherhetoricaldeviceof“..preventhisrising…sinkingtothesedepths.”阿姆利则惨案Massacre ofAmritsar1919年4月13日英国殖民当局屠杀印度阿姆利则群众的事件。1919年2月6日，英印立法会议通过罗拉特法案规定警察可任意逮捕官方所怀疑的分子，不经公开审讯，可以长期监禁。4月13日，约5万人在阿姆利则市贾利安瓦拉·巴格广场举行集会，抗议殖民当局专横暴虐。当天下午戴尔指挥装甲车堵住广场狭窄的出口，并下令向密集人群开枪射击。据英国官方公布的数字，当场死379人，伤1200人。WhatisthemainideaofPara.17?Throwin:(1)toaddsth.towhatyouaresellingwithoutincreasingtheprice.E.g.Wepaid$2,000fortheboat,withthetrailerandsparesthrownin.(2)sayitsuddenlywithoutthinkingcarefully.随口说话。(3)throwinthesponge/towel.(inf.)承认失败，认输。Part7(Para.18-19):machinery:systemReticence:unwillingtotalkaboutwhatyoufeelorwhatyouknow.“Ihavenofaithinofficialcautionandreticence.”Officialswouldnothavedonesoastheyarealwayscautiousandunwillingtodiscusstheirviewsopenly.Para.19Diplomacy:beingskillful,tactfulindealingwithpeople.Thelastsentenceshowstheauthor’sremarkmadein1920abouttheshrinkageoftheglobeishighlyprophetic.AssignmentsParagraphtranslation.Commentsononeofthefollowingviewpointsinthetextbygivingexamples.1.Trueloveinthisdiffersfromgoldandclay,Thattodivideisnottotakeaway.2.conscioushypocrisyandunconscioushypocrisy3.Thereisnothingdramaticorviolentabouttheirsins,youcannotcallthemvillains.