E. B.童话第一发

这是E. B. 给小朋友们创作的第一本童话,但即使是童话,怀特也是毫不吝啬他斐然的文采。文风优美,用词精准,寥寥数笔人物形象就跃然纸上——Stuart 如果不是一只老鼠,真的是很令人讨厌的大作逼;George如果不是Stuart的哥哥,那就是一个蠢到不行的脑残;Mr. Little 家长式的权威和Mrs. Little 一碰就碎的玻璃心,也是边看边要呵呵哒。
当然了,作为资深纽约客,E. B.还不忘时不时的讽刺一下纽约人民,比如在第七篇 The Sailboat Race里说“People in New York like to push each other.”,第十篇Springtime里说“But I think it was because there are always so many worth-while things going on in New York at night.” 。还有一些民族幽默例如“The doctor was delighted with Stuart and said that it was very unusual for an American family to have a mouse.” ,“Stuart was trying to make his voice sound as though he had an English accent.” 。
由于此书写于1945年,书中用的很多词现在已经不常用了。比如carpet sweeper现在应该都改用vacuum cleaner或者直接叫vacuum了吧,虽然严格来说这不是同一个东西;nightgown也被比较洋气的pajama替代了;现在应该也不会有美国人把heater叫做radiator;还有像conductor (售票员)这种职业基本上已经不存在了吧,反正我是没见过。当然咯,以上也有可能仅仅是因为我的孤陋寡闻。
摘几个用词特别好的句子,所谓好是在某种context下的好,并不是说这个词有多高级,虽然E.B.在这本童话里的用词还确实蛮高级的,当然咯,以上也有可能仅仅是因为我的才疏学浅。
I think it might embarrass Stuart to hear mice mentioned in such a belittling manner.
George darted into the kitchen.
With a rolling gait he sauntered along toward Fifth Ave, keeping a sharp lookout.
Stuart fished in his purse and pulled out a coin no bigger than the eye of a grasshopper.
Over the pond the west wind blew, and into the teeth of the west wind sailed the sloops and schooners, their rails well down, their wet decks gleaming.
I'm looking for a berth in a good ship.
A puff of air bellied out the schooner's headsails and she paid off and filled away on the port tack, heeling gracefully over to the breeze while Stuart twirled her wheel and braced himself against a deck cleat.
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.
I don't see why you have to make a pariah out of me just because that disagreeable little chippy flew the coop.
With his gray felt hat cocked jauntily on one side of his head and his pack slung across his shoulder, Stuart stole softly out of the house.
Dr. Carey tucked another big wad of gauze into Mr. Clydesdale's cheek.
特别精彩的篇章是第六篇 A Fair Breeze 和第十四篇 An Evening on the River,尤其是后者的遣词造句,把Stuart装逼(装英国人)的形象描绘的栩栩如生,非常值得一读。前者里面有一段特别表现E. B. 文采的地方,翻译成中文应该就是“语文是数学老师教的”,“体育是美术老师教的”吧。。。
"...her owner is a lazy boy who doesn't understand sailing and who hardly knows a squall from a squid."
"Or a jib from a jibe." cried Stuart.
"Or a luff from a leech." bellowed the man.
"Or a deck from a dock." screamed Stuart.
"Or a mast from a mist." yelled the man.
另外我还听了Julie Harris 朗读的有声图书,老奶奶丰富的声音表现力为这本书增色不少。
当然了,作为资深纽约客,E. B.还不忘时不时的讽刺一下纽约人民,比如在第七篇 The Sailboat Race里说“People in New York like to push each other.”,第十篇Springtime里说“But I think it was because there are always so many worth-while things going on in New York at night.” 。还有一些民族幽默例如“The doctor was delighted with Stuart and said that it was very unusual for an American family to have a mouse.” ,“Stuart was trying to make his voice sound as though he had an English accent.” 。
由于此书写于1945年,书中用的很多词现在已经不常用了。比如carpet sweeper现在应该都改用vacuum cleaner或者直接叫vacuum了吧,虽然严格来说这不是同一个东西;nightgown也被比较洋气的pajama替代了;现在应该也不会有美国人把heater叫做radiator;还有像conductor (售票员)这种职业基本上已经不存在了吧,反正我是没见过。当然咯,以上也有可能仅仅是因为我的孤陋寡闻。
摘几个用词特别好的句子,所谓好是在某种context下的好,并不是说这个词有多高级,虽然E.B.在这本童话里的用词还确实蛮高级的,当然咯,以上也有可能仅仅是因为我的才疏学浅。
I think it might embarrass Stuart to hear mice mentioned in such a belittling manner.
George darted into the kitchen.
With a rolling gait he sauntered along toward Fifth Ave, keeping a sharp lookout.
Stuart fished in his purse and pulled out a coin no bigger than the eye of a grasshopper.
Over the pond the west wind blew, and into the teeth of the west wind sailed the sloops and schooners, their rails well down, their wet decks gleaming.
I'm looking for a berth in a good ship.
A puff of air bellied out the schooner's headsails and she paid off and filled away on the port tack, heeling gracefully over to the breeze while Stuart twirled her wheel and braced himself against a deck cleat.
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.
I don't see why you have to make a pariah out of me just because that disagreeable little chippy flew the coop.
With his gray felt hat cocked jauntily on one side of his head and his pack slung across his shoulder, Stuart stole softly out of the house.
Dr. Carey tucked another big wad of gauze into Mr. Clydesdale's cheek.
特别精彩的篇章是第六篇 A Fair Breeze 和第十四篇 An Evening on the River,尤其是后者的遣词造句,把Stuart装逼(装英国人)的形象描绘的栩栩如生,非常值得一读。前者里面有一段特别表现E. B. 文采的地方,翻译成中文应该就是“语文是数学老师教的”,“体育是美术老师教的”吧。。。
"...her owner is a lazy boy who doesn't understand sailing and who hardly knows a squall from a squid."
"Or a jib from a jibe." cried Stuart.
"Or a luff from a leech." bellowed the man.
"Or a deck from a dock." screamed Stuart.
"Or a mast from a mist." yelled the man.
另外我还听了Julie Harris 朗读的有声图书,老奶奶丰富的声音表现力为这本书增色不少。
有关键情节透露