高级英语第二册Lesson9The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.ppt

Edited VariationsonathemebyWilliamJamesURSULALEGUIN 9 TheOnesWhoWalkAwayfromOmelas Objectives TounderstandthetextTolearntheusefulwordsandphraseslearnaboutanallegorystory TeachingContents 1 Introduction 10min 2 Detailedstudyofthetext 140min 3 Structureanalysis 5min 4 Languageappreciation 5min 5 Summaryofwordsandphrases 5min 6 Exercises 15min 1 Introduction Theauthor UrsulaK LeGuinisawell knownsciencefictionandfantasywriter UrsulaLeGuin ShewasborninBerkeley Californiain1929 AftergraduatingfromRadcliffCollege shetookanM A degreeatColumbiaUniversity Herwritingsforceustore examinemanyofthethingsthatweoncetookforgranted likeourcities ourpoliticalandsocialstructures etc UrsulaLeGuin Shebeganwritingduringthe1950s butnotuntilthe 60sdidshebeginpublishing LeGuin sworkhasappealedtoawideraudiencethansciencefictionfans Bringingasocialscientist seyeandafeminist ssensibilitytosciencefiction shehasemployedthisspeculativegenretocriticizecontemporarycivilization UrsulaLeGuin Manyofherstories like TheOnesWhoWalkAwayFromOmelas 1974HugoAward createcompleximaginarycivilizations envisionedwithanthropologicalauthority LeGuinhasalsowrittenpoetryandjuvenilefiction includingtheEarthsea video 2 trilogy WizardofEarthsea video 2 1968 TheTombsofAtuan video 2 1971 andTheFarthestShore video 2 1972 whichrankamongtheclassicsofmodernchildren sliterature ShelivesinPorland Oregon UrsulaLeGuin InaninterviewwithLarryMcCafferytheauthorexplainswhyshelikesthesciencefictionform Shesays Sciencefictionallowsmetohelppeoplegetoutoftheirculturalskinsandintotheskinsofotherbeings Inthatsensesciencefictionisjustafurtherextensionofwhatthenovelhastraditionallybeen Inmostfictiontheauthortriestogetintotheskinofanotherperson insciencefictionyouareoftenexpectedtogetintotheskinofanotherpersonfromanotherculture WilliamJames 1842 1910 Americanphilosopher WilliamJames HewasbornNewYorkCityandgraduatedfromHarvardUniversityin1869withadoctorofMedicinedegree In1872hejoinedtheHarvardfacultyasalectureronanatomyandphysiology 生理学 continuingtoteachuntil1907 3yearslaterhedied after1880inthedepartmentofpsychologyandphilosophy In1890hepublishedhisbrilliantandepoch makingPrinciplesofPsychology inwhichtheseedsofhisphilosophyarealreadydiscernible perceptive WilliamJames James sfascinatingstyleandhisbroadcultureandcosmopolitanoutlookmadehimthemostinfluentialAmericanthinkerofhisday Hisphilosophyhasthreeprincipleaspects hisvoluntarism hispragmatism andhis radicalempiricism Thetext ThistextistakenfromTheNortonAnthologyofShortFiction Thiswritingmaybecalledapieceofallegoricaldescription Allegory 讽喻 inliterature isasymbolicstorythatservesasadisguisedrepresentationformeaningsotherthanthoseindicatedonthesurface Thecharactersinanallegoryoftenhavenoindividualpersonality butareembodimentsofmoralqualitiesandotherabstractions Allegory Theallegoryiscloselyrelatedtoparable religiousteachingstory fable animalstory andmetaphor differingfromthemlargelyinintricacyandlength Althoughallegoryisstillusedbysomeauthors itspopularityasaliteraryformhasdeclinedinfavorofamorepersonalformofsymbolicexpression Omelas So Omelas shouldnotbereadasarealisticstory LeGuinisplayingaroundwiththeoldideaabout thegreatestgoodforthegreatestnumber andtakingittoitslogicalextreme Whatif magically alltheevilintheworldcouldbeheapedononepersonandeveryoneelsecouldbehappy Woulditbeworthwhileorwouldtheinjusticedonetothatoneprobablyretardedchildoutweighthegoodofalltherest Theoneswho walkaway arebuyingoutofthesystem refusingtoaccepttheirownhappinessifitcomesattheexpenseofsomeoneelse Ononelevelthestorycanbeunderstoodaboutthewesternworldlivingoffthesufferingofthethirdworld Onanotherlevelitcanbeunderstoodaboutoursociety srefusaltoacceptthelegitimacyoftheplightofthepoor Noteon TheOnesWhoWalkAwayFromOmelas UrsulaK LeGuinonceexplainedinoneofherstorycollectionTheWind sTwelveQuarters Thecentralideaofthispsychomyth thescapegoat turnsupinDostoyevsky sBrothersKaramazovandseveralpeoplehaveaskedme rathersuspiciously whyIgavethecredittoWilliamJames video 2 Thefactis Ihaven tbeenabletore readDostoyevsky muchasIlovedhim sinceIwastwenty five andI dsimplyforgottenheusedtheidea ButwhenImetitinJames s TheMoralPhilosopherandtheMoralLife itwaswithashockofrecognition OfcourseIdidn treadJamesandsitdownandsay NowI llwriteastoryaboutthat lostsoul Itseldomworksthatsimply Isatdownandstartedastory justbecauseIfeltlikeit withnothingbuttheword Omelas inmind Itcamefromaroadsign Salem Oregon backwards Salem equalsPeace Melas Omelas Omelas Wheredoyougetyourideasfrom MsLeGuin FromforgettingDostoyevskyandreadingroadsignsbackwards naturally Whereelse Thegeneralideaofthetext Inthisallegoricalwriting LeGuinbringsuparatherprovocativetheme thenatureofhappinessandonwhatitdepends Inthebeginning LeGuinfashionsautopiancity Omelas ItiscelebratingtheFestivalofSummer Thereisanairofexcitementthroughoutthecitywithitsclangingbells flag adornedboats beautifulbuildingsandjoyfulprocessions Peoplemarchinprocessiontowatchahorserace whichwillbeginverysoon ThenLeGuincommentsindirectlyonthepeopleofOmelastoconvincethattheyarenotsimplebuthappy Accordingtoher theirhappinessisbasedonajustdiscriminationofwhatisnecessary whatisneithernecessarynordestructive andwhatisdestructive Theydowithoutmonarchy slavery oranycommercial politicalormilitaryinstitution ThereisnoguiltinOmelas Peopleliveahappylifewhichtheyloveearnestly However LeGuindisclosesthetruthofOmelas happinessshortly whichshocksthereaders InacellarinOmelasachildhasbeenlockedinatinyroomandmistreatedforaverylongtime AllthehappinessofOmelasisbasedonitssuffering ThepeopleofOmelasacceptthisasaterriblejusticeofrealityandletthechild smiserygoon Bythissharpcontrastbetweentheformerhappinessandthepresentcruelty LeGuindrawstheattentionuponhertheme thenatureandbasisofhappiness shouldthehappinessofthemanybebaseduponthesufferingofthefew Butsheprovidesnosolutionexceptanopen thought provokingendingthatsomepeopleleaveOmelasafterseeingthechild 2 Detailedstudyofthetext TheOnesWhoWalkAwayfromOmelas InUrsulaLeGuin sshortstory TheoneswhowalkawayfromOmelas shebringsuptheideaofthescapegoatwho bylivingalifeofconstantsuffering ensuresthateveryoneelseinthecityofOmelashastheperfect happylife Theyallknowitisthere thepeopleofOmelas theyallunderstandthattheirhappiness thebeautyoftheircity thetendernessoftheirfriendships thehealthoftheirchildren thewisdomoftheirscholars theskilloftheirmakers eventheabundanceoftheirharvestsandthekindlyweathersoftheirskies dependwhollyuponthischild sabominablemisery Somepeople ofcourse cannotaccepttheideathattofreethechildwouldbetoletmiseryintothelivesofeveryoneinOmelas toletinguilt eveniftheyacceptthatthechild ruinedbyitsmiserablelife wouldnotbeabletounderstandorindeedsurvivethefreeandjoyousworldoutsideitscell Thesepeoplecannotstandtolivedependentonanother smisery theyrefusetobenefitfromthechild ssuffering thoughtheymakenoapparentefforttohelpthechild Ineffect theyoptoutofthesystem andtheydon ttrytofixit ThesearetheoneswhowalkawayfromOmelas Omelasisafictionalcityofhappinessenvisagedbythewriter ShedescribesemotionallyandcolorfullythecityofOmelasanditscitizensbutitisapieceofallegoricaldescription Inreality however shediscoursesonaratherprovocativetheme thenatureofhappinessandonwhatitdepends WhatdoesUrsulaLeGuinwanttotellusthroughherstory Throughherstorytheauthorwantstoshockreaderstothinkagainaboutaphilosophicalquestion couldonebehappyinaworldthatprovidedeveryperfectiononecouldwishIFitdependedononepersonlivinginabsolutemisery VariationsonathemebyWilliamJames ThetextdiscussesonathemebyWilliamJames TheauthorshowsdifferentideasfromWilliamJames themeconcerninghappinessandwhatitisbasedon Para 1 thecityofOmelas WhatdoesParagraph1describe thehappycityofOmelas Omelasisaportcitybytheseawithbrighttowersandhouseswithredroofsandpaintedwalls Therearetree linedavenues moss growngardens greatparksandpublicbuildings Towardsthenorthsideofthecitythereisagreatwater meadowcalledtheGreenFields FarofftothenorthandwestaremountainswithsnowypeakshalfencirclingOmelas ThepeopletherewerejoyouslycelebratingtheFestivalofSummerwithmusic danceandprocessions Men womenandchildrenexceptfortheriderswhowerenaked Thehighlightofthecelebrationswasahorseracetobeheldonthegreatwater meadowcalledtheGreenFields Sothewholecityisimmersedinhappiness Withaclamorofbells thecityOmelas bright toweredbythesea Theloudringingofthebells whichsentthefrightenedswallowsflyinghigh marksthebeginningoftheFestivalofSummerinOmelas bright toweredbythesea Omelasisaportcityby nearthesea Ithadwhitetowersthatshonebrightinthesun Theriggingoftheboatsinharborsparkledwithflags Thelinesandchainsontheshipsweredecoratedwithflagswhichwereshininginthesun rigging linesandchainsusedaboardashipespeciallyinworkingsailandsupportingmastsandspars therigging U alltheropes chains etc thatholdupaship ssails e g Thesailorclimbeduptheriggingtoseeifhecouldsightland Inthestreets processionsmoved Thestreetswerelinedwithhouseswithredroofsandpaintedwalls Betweenthehousestherewereoldmoss growngardens Therewerealsoavenueslinedwithshadytrees Thecityhadmanybigparksandpublicbuildings Thereweremanyprocessionsmovingthroughthestreetsandavenues Inthislongsentence themainidea processionsmoved isattheendofthesentence Thisisagoodexampleofalongperiodicsentence 圆周句 precededbyastringofmodifiers Someweredecorous oldpeopleinlongstiffrobesofmauveandgrey gravemasterworkmen quiet merrywomencarryingtheirbabiesandchattingastheywalked Someoftheseprocessionsweremarkedbyproprietyandgoodtaste becausetheyweremadeupofoldpeople gravemasterworkmenandwomencarryingbabies Therewerenochildrenoryoungpeopleamongthem Inthislongsentence themainideaisatthebeginning Thisisanexampleofaloosesentence 松散句 Thewriterusesavastvarietyofsentencestructures decorous adj fml ofappearanceorbehavior correct showingproperrespectforthemannersandcustomsofsociety e g Behaviorthatisdecorousispoliteandcorrectanddoesn toffendpeople Hegavehiswifeadecorouskiss Teenageloversarestrollingdecorously mauve adj havingapalepurplecolour n sth thatismauveisofapalepurplecolore g mauvewritingpaper Inotherstreetsthemusicbeatfaster ashimmeringofgongandtambourine andthepeoplewentdancing theprocessionwasadance Inotherstreetstheprocessionsweredifferent Themusicwasmuchfasterandonecouldseetheglimmeringlightreflectedfromgongsandtambourines Thepeopledancedtothemusicastheymovedforward Thewholeprocessionwasadance shimmer shinewithasofttremulous slightlyshaking light glimmer Childrendodgedinandout overthemusicandthesinging Thechildrenranaboutplayfully nowinandnowoutoftheprocession Theirhigh pitchedshoutingcouldbeheardclearlyabovethemusicandsinginglikethecallsoftheswallowsflyingbyoverheard dodge v toavoid sth bymovingsuddenlyaside e g Hedodgedthefallingrockandescapedunhurt Shedodgedpastme infml toavoid aresponsibility duty etc byatrickorinsomedishonestwaye g Shesomehowmanagedtododgeallthedifficultquestions dodger ataxdodger adraftdodger逃避服兵役者dodge n infml acleverwayofavoidingsth orofdeceivingortrickingsb ataxdoge逃税花招 synonyms avoid escape avert evade elude avert toprevent sth unpleasant fromhappeninge g Anaccidentwasavertedbyhisquickthinking evade derog toavoid esp adutyorresponsibility esp usingdeceptione g Givemeadirectanswerandstopevadingtheissue elude escapefromesp bymeansofatricke g Thefoxsucceededineludingthehuntersbyrunningbackintheoppositedirection theirhighcallsrisingliketheswallows crossingflightsoverthemusicandthesinging asimile flight rising settlingorflyinginaflock Alltheprocessionswoundtowardsthenorthsideofthecity Thestreetstwistedandturnedsotheprocessionsalsotwistedandturnedasitmovedforwardtothenorthsideofthecity wound pastparticipleoftheverbwindtomake one sway inawindingortwistingcourse whereonthegreatwater meadow exercisedtheirrestivehorsesbeforetherace Thisisanattributiveclausemodifyingthenorthsideofthecity Themainstructureoftheclauseis where onthegreatwater meadow boysandgirlsexercisedtheirrestivehorsesbeforetherace naked Thisshowstheboysandgirlswereverynaturalandunsophisticated Theydidnotfeeltherewasanythingwronginbeingnakedandbarefoot lithe adj esp ofpeopleoranimals abletobendandmoveeasilyandgracefully e g thelithebodiesofthedancersexercisedtheirrestivehorsesbeforetherace puttheirhorsesthroughsomeexercisesbecausethehorseswereeagertostartandstubbornlyresistingthecontroloftheriders restive stubbornlyresistingcontrol unruly disobedient unwillingtokeepstillorbecontrolled nervous e g Ifyou rerestive you reimpatient bored ordissatisfied Thehorsesarerestivetonight theremustbewolvesabout Thecrewwererestiveandrebellious restively adv restivenessn Thehorsesworenogearatallbutahalterwithoutbit Thehorsesdidn twearharnessbutaropeorleatherbandwithoutbit gear n theharnessforahorsehalter aropeorleatherbandfastenedroundahorse shead esp toleaditBit n ametalbar partofabridle thatisputinthemouthofahorseandusedforcontrollingitsmovements马嘴子 马衔 Theirmaneswerebraidedwithstreamersofsilver gold andgreen Themanesofthehorseswerealsodecoratedwithsmallsilver goldandgreenflags mane n thelonghairalongthetopandsidesoftheneckofcertainmammals suchasthehorseandthemalelionbraid v interweavethreeormorestrandsof hair straw etc streamer alongnarrowpieceofcoloredpaper usedsep fordecoratingatparties alongnarrowflag Theyflaredtheirnostrilsandprancedandboastedtooneanother Thewriterusespersonificationherebytreatingthehorsesashumanbeings Thehorsesopenwidertheirnostrils jumpedaboutandseemedtobeboastingtooneanother Allthisshowsthehorsesexcitementbeforetherace flare to causeto openoutwards esp towidengraduallytowardstobottom e g flaredtrousersHernostrilsflaredwithanger flare n awideningtowardsoneende g trouserswithwideflaresprance v ofanimal esp ahorse tojumphighormovequicklybyraisingthefrontlegsandspringingforwardsonthebacklegs thehorsesbeingtheonlyanimalwhohasadoptedourceremoniesashisown anominativeabsoluteconstructionandacontinuationofpersonification Thehorsewastheonlyanimalthatconsideredtheceremoniesofhumanbeingsasalsotheirceremonies FarofftothenorthandwestthemountainsstooduphalfencirclingOmelasonherbay FarofftothenorthandweststoodupthemountainshalfsurroundingOmelasonhercoast thesnowstillcrowning themilesofsunlitair underthedarkblueofthesky averybeautifulmetaphordescribingthesunlitsnowpeaks Thewhitesnowpeaksglowingwithgoldensunlightseemedtobeonfire Thedarkblueoftheskymakesthegoldenpeaksstandoutmoreclearly onecouldhear andbrokeoutintothegreatjoyousclangingofthebells Themusicthroughthestreetsfarandnearwasaspleasantasthesweetperfumeofflowers Themusicwassometimesfaintanddistantbutsometimesgatheredinstrengthandfinallyclimaxedinthejoyousclangingofbells fartherandnearerandeverapproaching thesewords inagrammaticalway alsoindicatethemusicmovementheardfromthestartingplace farther tothecomparativedegree nearer tothecontinuoustense approaching stressingthedistanceisgettingshorterandshorter acheerfulfaintsweetnessoftheair ametaphordescribingthebeautifulmusic Para 2 questioningthejoyoftheOmelaspeople Joyous Howisonetotellaboutjoy HowdescribethecitizensofOmelas Theveryshortparagraphisaspecialfeatureofthispieceofwriting Thewriterusestwoshortquestionstointroducetwoimportantsubjects InthenextlongparagraphshedescribesthepeopleofOmelasandexpressesherviewsonjoyandhappiness whichisthemainthemeofthewriter Para 3 thewriter sviewonthejoy andtheOmelaspeople Butwedonotsaythewordsofcheermuchanymore Buttheordinarypeopledonotmentionwordslikehappyandjoybecausebeinghappyistheirwayoflifeandisnolongeraproblem we theordinarypeople Allsmileshavebecomearchaic Smilingtoshowone shappinessisoldfashionedforthereisnoneedofitnow Givenadescriptionsuchasthisonetendstomakecertainassumptions Assumingthatthesmilesaredescribedinthisway peopleareinclinedtoexplainwhytheyarelikethisastheythemselvesimagine Afterreadingtheabovedescriptionthereaderislikelytoassumecertainthings suchasthis thisreferstotheabovesentence Allsmileshavebecomearchaic Givenadescription bygreat muscledslaves AfterreadingtheabovedescriptionthereadermayassumethatOmelasisafeudalkingdomwhereonecanseethekingridingabeautifulhorsesurroundedbynobleknightsoragoldenlittercarriedbystrongwell builtslaves litter acoveredandcurtainedcouchprovidedwithshaftsandusedforcarryingasinglepassenger Idonotknowtherulesandlawsoftheirsociety butIsuspectthattheyweresingularlyfew IdonotknowwhattherulesandlawsoftheirsocietyarebutIguesstheywereexceptionallyfew singularly exceptionally unusually Astheydidwithoutmonarchy andthebomb Theymanagedwithoutmonarchyandslavery Inthesameway theyalsomanagedwithoutthestockexchange theadvertisement thesecretpolice andthebomb as so inthesamewayas so e g Aswateristhemostimportantofliquids soairisthemostimportantofgases Asbeeslovesweetness sofliesloverottenness Asthewindblewharder sotheseagrewrougher thebomb itreferstotheBomb atomicbomb nuclearweapons dowithout managewithout dispensewith WhatthingsdothecitizensofOmelasdonothave Theydowithoutmonarchyandslaveryandalsowithoutthestockexchange theadvertisement thesecretpolice thebomb theclergyandsoldiers Theydonothavecarsnorhelicopters Andonethingthereisnoneofisguilt thesewerenotsimplefolk notdulcetshepherds noblesavages blandutopians ThecitizensofOmelaswerenotagroupofna vepeople Theywerenotshepherdswhohadamelodiousvoiceandweregoodatsinging norprimitivepeoplewholivedinavirtuous innocentstateuncorruptedbycivilization noragreeableandcourteouspeoplewhobelievedinautopia aperfectsociety dulcet lit orhumor esp ofsounds sweetandcalming e g Dulcetsoundsaregentleandpleasanttolistento oftenusedhumorously Shespokeindulcettones IwakeuptothedulcettonesoftheRadioFournews blandadj ofpeopleortheirbehavior showingnostrongfeelingsoropinionsorothernoticeablequalities esp soastoavoidcausingtroubleorgivingoffence e g Someonewhoisblandiscalm unexcitedandpolite Theradiostation sblandcoverageoftheelectioncampaign温和报道Manfredsmiledhisblandsmile offood withoutmuchtasteThissoupistooblandforme shepherds allusion suggestingoneofthehistoricalsymbolsofpastoralism ashepherdandhissheep PastoralismcelebratedtheinnocentlifeofshepherdsusuallyfromanidealizedGoldenAgeofrusticinnocenceandidleness noblesavages allusion referringtoromanticliteraryfiguresinthe18thcentury