高級(jí)英語Mark_Twain

1、Book 1 Structural analysis Part 1: (the first para.) Introduction The first paragraph serves as an introduction of the whole text. It provides an general appraisal of Mark Twain, the father of Hack and Tom, the nations best-loved author, and the good news and bad news . The author adopted some rheto

2、rical devices to illustrate the picture, and some very emphatic adjectives, adverbs, such as eternal, endless, every bit, profound, etc. The fist paragraph is highly conclusive.Rhtorical Devices Metaphor Simile Hyperbole Parallelism Personification Antithesis Euphemism Alliteration Metonymy synecdoc

3、he Most Americans remember Mark Twain as the father.Father: metaphor. Endless: hyperbole. The whole sentence: parallelism. Mirror of A mirror reflects or reveals the truth of something America: or somebody. cruise乘船航行乘船航行: A cruise is a holiday during which you travel on a ship and visit lots of pla

4、ces. When it is used as a verb, it means to move at a constant speed that is comfortable and unhurried. Idyllic cruise 詩情畫意的旅程詩情畫意的旅程 idyllic平和美麗的，完美無瑕的平和美麗的，完美無瑕的: i / ai a simple happy period of life, often in the country an idyllic setting, holiday, marriageIII. Detailed study of the text: Mark T

5、wain is famous to most Americans as the creator of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. Hucks sailing / travel on the river was so peaceful that it made his boyhood seem to be infinite, while Toms independent mind and his dangerous activities made the summer seem everlasting. 5. every bit asas: just asas, quit

6、e asasHe is every bit as clever as you are. Im every bit as sorry about it as you. Adventure： Mark Twain was adventurous in every sense of the word. He was trying new things, and always going to new places. Even in his literary career, he was never satisfied with what he had achieved. Patriotic: His

7、 profound love for his country with its robust people and beautiful scenery and its lofty ideals; it also refers to his pride in the American traditions and American language.Detailed study of the text: cynic憤世嫉俗的人憤世嫉俗的人: n. a person who believes that people do not do things for good, sincere or nob

8、le reasons, but only for their own advantagea cynical remark, attitude, smile 7. deal給，賦予給，賦予, dealt: to give , to give out, to strike, to distributeWho deals the cards next?to deal sb. a blow obsess念念不忘，牽掛念念不忘，牽掛: to worry continuously and unnecessarily.If sth. obsesses you or if you are obsessed w

9、ith it or by it, you keep thinking about it over a long period of time, and find it difficult to think about anything else. She is obsessed by the desire to become a great actress. frailty缺點(diǎn): a weakness of character or behaviour.One of the frailties of human nature is laziness.There is only a frail

10、chance that he will pass the examination.a man who became obscessed with the frailtiesPara: a man who was continually distressed by the moral weakness of human race. I found another Twain as well-one who grew cynical, bitter, obsessed with the frailties of the human race, who saw clearly a black wal

11、l of night. 但我還發(fā)現(xiàn)還有另一個(gè)不同的馬克吐溫-由于深受人生悲劇打擊而變得憤世嫉俗，尖酸刻薄的馬克吐溫，為人類品質(zhì)上的弱點(diǎn)而憂心忡忡，明顯地看到前途是一片黑暗的人。 A black wall of night (metaphor) Hopelessness and despair tramp: 流浪漢a person who has no home or permanent job and very little money. prospector:勘探者 a person who examines the land in order to find gold, oil, etc.

12、 starry: full of stars in the sky, indicating sparkling, glowing, and flashing. 布滿星星的，閃閃發(fā)光的，不切實(shí)際的 starry-eyed: full of unreasonable or silly hopes. If you are starry-eyed, you are so full of dreams or hopes or idealistic thoughts that you do not see how things really are. Starry-eyed optimist 耽于幻想的樂

13、天派We were all starry-eyed about visiting London. acid-tongued: If sb. is acid-tongued, he makes unkind or critical remarks. 語言尖刻的諷刺家 range: to travel without any definite plan or destination Range across 浪跡 navigable: 適于通航的deep and wide enough to allow ships to travel attest: 證實(shí)to show to be true, t

14、o give proof of, to declare solemnlyHistoric documents and ancient tombstones all attest to the fact that this is a historic battlefield. artery: blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body 干線，要道 vein: any of the tubes carrying blood from all parts of the body to the heart

15、 delta country:三角洲三角洲basin: 盆地盆地the Yellow River BasinThe basin made up 3/4 of the populated area of the US of that time. drain: flow off gradually or completely, to cause to become gradually dry or empty; receive the waters of this area and carry them to the ocean. Here, metaphor: cover; occupy; ta

16、ke up占占 drained three-quarters of the settled United States: The river drained a vast basin, and the basin made up 3/4 of the populated area of the U. S. of that time. settled: populated, inhabitedDetailed study of the text: cub: the young of various types of meat-eating wild animals, such as lion,

17、bear閱歷尚淺的年輕人閱歷尚淺的年輕人 cast of characters: the cast of a play or a film consists of all the people who act in it-alliteration,metaphor cosmos: the whole universe considered as an ordered system.-metaphor The cast of characters set before him in his new profession was new rich and varied-the cosmos. 在這

18、個(gè)新的工作崗位上，他接觸到的是各式各樣的人物，看到的是一個(gè)多姿多彩的大千世界。 He participated abundantly in this life: - He was very much involved in this life. listening to pilothouse talk of feuds, piracies, lynchings, medicine shows, and savage waterside slums: - listening to the gossip in the pilothouse about feuds, etc. feud: 爭吵爭吵(

19、n. & v.) bitter quarrel between persons, families or countries over a long period of time a family feud （家族世仇）（家族世仇） a tribal feud （部落爭端）（部落爭端） a feud between labor and management（勞（勞資間的一場爭議）資間的一場爭議） the feud between Romeos family and Juliets piracy:海上搶劫海上搶劫 robbery of ships on the high seaspirate:

20、a robber on the high seas copy right piracy lynching: the murder of an accused person without trial處私刑處私刑 medicine show: show given by entertainers who travel from town to town selling cure-alls, snake-bite medicine, etc. savage slums: slums that are crude, lack polish or are violently lawless He pa

21、rticipated abundantly in this life, listening to pilothouse talk of feuds, piracies, lynching, medicine shows, and savage waterside slums. 他完全投身到這種生活之中，經(jīng)常在操舵室里聽著人們談?wù)撁耖g爭斗，海盜搶劫，死刑案件，游醫(yī)賣藥以及河邊一些話外居民的故事。 All would resurface in his books: (Metaphor) - All would reappear in his books. “Resurface”再次浮現(xiàn) means

22、 to reappear after a period of submersion or hiding. Here the word is used figuratively. soak up: take in, absorb the colorful language that he soaked up with a memory that seemed phonographic: - (Simile) Or: He absorbed and digested the colorful language with an astonishing good memory which seemed

23、 to be able to record things like a gramophone.Steamboat decks teemed not only with the main current of pioneering humanity, but its flotsam of hustlers, gamblers, and thugs as well. (para.5) Steamboat decks were filled with people with pioneering spirit (people who explored and prepared the way for

24、 others) and also lawless people such as hustlers, gamblers and thugs teem with=to be full of=be filled withThe water teems with fish and shrimps. His mind teems with plans. current: a stream of water or air; (fig.) the flowing of people with pioneering spirit main current of pioneering humanity: (m

25、etaphor) people with pioneering spirit who forms the majority; the main part of them were people with devotion/dedication to open up new areas and prepare ways for others flotsam: the wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on the sea; figuratively here (metaphor), people without homes or wor

26、k, who move helplessly through life（流離失所者；無（流離失所者；無業(yè)游民）業(yè)游民） hustler:耍詭計(jì)騙錢的人耍詭計(jì)騙錢的人 a person who tries to earn money or gain an advantage from any situation they are in, often by using dishonest or illegal method. Now in the U. S. the word means a prostitute, or streetwalker thug: 暴徒暴徒a person who is

27、 very violent and rough, esp. a violent criminal, hooligan, villain, or murderous ruffian perception: natural understanding keen: (with the five senses, the mind, the feelings) good, strong, quick at understanding keen perception: intense insight, understanding or knowledge gained by perceiving (obs

28、erving) keen: a. sharp b. (with the 5 senses, the mind) good, strong, quick at understanding My hearing is not as keen as it used to be.He has a keen brain.the difference between what people claim to be and what they really are. (para.5) The difference between words and deeds, between what they prea

29、ch and what they practice. People often claim to be kind, generous, honest, etc., whereas in reality, they are seldom what they say they arethe railroads began drying up the demand for steamboat pilots and the Civil War halted commerce. (para.6) Because of the railroads there was no more demand for

30、steamboat pilots and the Civil War brought commerce to a temporary stop. motley:混雜的混雜的 having or composed of many different or clashing elementsa motley crowd / crew, ie a group of many different types of people band: a group of people joined together for a common purpose (derog.) succumb: a. (fml)t

31、o stop resisting (temptation, illness, attack, etc)He finally succumbed to the temptation to have another cigarette / drink.b. to die (because of) He succumbed to cancer. epidemic:流行病 the occurrence of a disease which affects a very large number of people living in an area and which spreads quickly

32、to other people succumbed to the epidemic of gold and silver fever: gave way to (yielded to, submitted to ) the prevailing gold and silver fever metaphor used here (epidemic, fever). flirt with a. If you flirt with someone, you behave as if you are sexually attracted to them, in a not very serious w

33、ay. Dont take her seriously, she is only flirting with you. She flirts with every man in the office. b. If you flirt with the idea of doing or having sth. , you consider doing or having it, without making any definite plans. We flirted with the idea of going abroad but decided against it. rebuff: (n

34、. & v.) refuse bluntly 斷然拒絕；斷然拒絕；回絕回絕 e.g.: He was rebuffed again and again. 他一再受人冷落。他一再受人冷落。 He rebuffed all the attempts at friendship. 他拒不和任何人交好。他拒不和任何人交好。 he flirted with the colossal/large wealth. and was rebuffed: He tried but not very hard or persistently enough to get the enormous wealth tha

35、t is only available to those lucky and persistent ones, and he failed. It is a metaphor. Words like “flirt”, “l(fā)ucky”, “persistent”, “rebuff” are often associated with love. “Flirt” originally means to play at love; “rebuff” means to refuse bluntly. to literatures enduring gratitude: (Personification

36、) - If Twain had not accepted that job offered to him by Territorial Enterprise, literature might have lost that literary giant. Therefore world literature is forever grateful to this turn of event. mining strike: sudden discovery of mine strike: sudden discovery of oil, gold,etc.a lucky strike: for

37、tunate discovery hone: n. a stone used to sharpen knives and tools. v. to sharpento hone ones wit scathing:嚴(yán)厲斥責(zé)的嚴(yán)厲斥責(zé)的 (of speech or writing) bitterly cruel in judgement, sharp and hurtful; cutting, scornfulShe could be.scathing in her criticism.his scathing rejection of violence trendy: very fashion

38、able and modern trend setter: a person who starts or popularizes the latest fashion (在時(shí)裝式樣等在時(shí)裝式樣等方面方面)創(chuàng)新的人，創(chuàng)新潮流者，標(biāo)新立異者創(chuàng)新的人，創(chuàng)新潮流者，標(biāo)新立異者 trend setting: taking the lead in starting new trends or new ways of doing things ring familiarly in modern world accustomed to trend setting on the West Coast: - Hi

39、s descriptions of those adventurers in the west produce a familiar impression on the people of the West Coast in modern world who are used to leading the fashions. It was a splendid populationfor all the slow, sleepy, sluggish-brained sloths stayed at home. Note the alliteration in the sentence: slo

40、w, sleepy, sluggish, sloths, stayed. sluggish-brained: dull-brained; slow-witted sloth: lazy person 懶漢懶漢 for all the slow, sleepy, sluggish-brained sloths.: because all the slow, dull and lazy people stayed at home, hence implying that all those who came pioneering out west were energetic, courageou

41、s and reckless people. It was that population dash and daring and a recklessness of cost or consequences, which she bears unto this day(Alliteration) gave to California a name for: made California famous for, gave California a reputation for get up: arrange, or perform. If you get something up, you

42、organize something such as a public event, esp. with very little preparation. (This is a rather old-fashioned expression.) astounding: astonishing/amazing/electrifying; shocking with surprise enterprise: a plan, business, task, something daring and difficult; undertaking getting up astounding enterp

43、rises: starting, contriving or organizing astounding undertakings, especially one that needs courage or offers difficulties rush through: complete (a job) hastily e.g.: We will try to rush the contract through before Saturday. rushing them through: carrying them out, developing them at high speed da

44、sh: a combination of bravery, style, and self-confidence; a mixture of stylishness, enthusiasm and courage 魄力，銳氣，氣派，魄力，銳氣，氣派，闖勁闖勁 dash and daring: (Alliteration) energy and courage recklessness: lack of care,regardlessness of risk and danger reck: (negative or interrogative only) care or mind reckle

45、ss: Someone who is reckless shows a complete lack of care about danger or about the results of their actions. A reckless person is one who does things without thinking about what the results might be. Well, that is California all over. It was these pioneers that brought California a reputation. Cali

46、fornia was made famous for organizing surprising businesses and developing them with great bravery and courage, without caring cost or result.And California keeps this fame until now. When she makes plans for a new surprise, the dull, solemn, dignified people in other parts of the States smile as us

47、ual and say: “Well, thats typical of California, thats just California style.” notations: a brief note jotted down, as to remind one of somethingThe Duchess found the notation left by the Duke. Coleman with his jumping The strangers frog won. (an outline for his story with careless sentence structur

48、es) bet: bet sb. money on sth. (Here, he wagered $50 with a stranger) shot: tiny balls of lead used in a sporting gun against birds or small animals celebrated: well-known, famousa celebrated actress, writer, pianist, etc. celebrity: famous personcelebrities of stage and screen sort: group or class

49、of people or things (which are alike in some way); type e.g.: Hes the sort of person I really dislike. a sort of sth: (infml.) vague, unexplained or unusual type of sth 難以說得清的，某種難以說得清的，某種 e.g.: I had a sort of feeling he wouldnt come. sort of: (infml) to some extent; in some way or other （做狀語）有幾分，在一

50、定程度上，有（做狀語）有幾分，在一定程度上，有點(diǎn)，近似點(diǎn)，近似 e.g.: It was sort of odd that he didnt come. 他沒來，真是有點(diǎn)奇怪。他沒來，真是有點(diǎn)奇怪。 If readers sorely surprised. glowing: showing enthusiasm, full of praises熱情洋溢的熱情洋溢的 travelogue: a lecture or article on travels sometimes accompanied by the showing of pictures if its a lecture 旅行記錄片，

51、旅行見聞旅行記錄片，旅行見聞講座講座 sorely: greatly or extremely （痛苦地；嚴(yán)厲（痛苦地；嚴(yán)厲地；非常）地；非常） e.g.: Your financial help is sorely needed. Sultan of Turkey: the ruler of Turkey (then the Ottoman Empire) one could set a trap anywhere and catch a dozen abler men in a night: This shows Twains contempt for the Sultan of Turk

52、ey. debunk: (infml) to point out the truth about (over-praised people, ideas, etc). If you debunk an idea or belief, you show that it is false or not important. debunk fashionable opinions bunk: sl. nonsense Dont talk bunk! de: to remove from debunk: to remove the nonsense Detailed study of the text

53、: revere: (fml) to give great respect and admiration toHe was a revered figure with a great national reputation.They revered him. Detailed study of the text: version: a form of sth in which certain details are different or have been changed from the previous forms Did you read the short or full vers

54、ion of the book? There have been several translations of the Bible, including the Authorized Version and the Revised Version. innocent: simple, not able to recognize evilAn innocent is a person who is inexperienced and ignorant about the more complex, evil or unpleasant aspects of life.He was a fina

55、ncial genius but a political innocent.One is innocent before found guilty. earnest: determined and serious, perhaps too serious Are you joking or in earnest?It soon began to snow in real earnest. classic: having the highest quality; of the first or highest class or rank cf: classical: being in accor

56、dance with ancient Greek or Roman models in literature or art（古典）古典）classical music as opposed to popular, jazz, or folk music. puritan: (usu. derog.) person who is extremely strict in morals and who tends to regard pleasure as sinful pace: speed, esp. of walking or running; (fig.) rate of activity;

57、 tempo（行走、跑步的）步速、步調(diào)、速度、進(jìn)度 deplore: feel or express sorrow and usu. severe disapproval of; lament, grieve for 悲嘆，痛惜；強(qiáng)烈反對(duì)，譴責(zé) live by: behave according to the rules of 按照的規(guī)律生活 lifes regularities: lifes regular activities energy-sapping sap: gradually weaken sb/sth by taking awayI was sapped by months o

58、f hospital treatment.Shes been sapped of her optimism.Stop sapping her confidence!energy-sapping: energy-consuming clamour: a continuous strong demand or complaint The government has made a decision in defiance of the public clamour.The public are clamouring for a change of government. The baby clam

59、oured to be fed. Mark Twain suggested renew our edges. ingredient: component, part robust: strong and healthy, full of vigor; strong, mighty, powerful edge: sharp cutting part of a blade, knife, sword, or some other tool or weapon刀刃；刀刃；刀鋒刀鋒 Here, enthusiasm, energetic or active enterprising spirit (進(jìn)取心，事業(yè)心進(jìn)取心，事業(yè)心)we would only lay ourselves on the shelf occasionally and renew our edges. (para17) We should relax from all this crazy struggle for success occasionally and keep their daring a