the-libido-for-the-ugly-全文讲义

UnitSevenLibidofortheUgly-HenryLouisMencken(1880-1956),HenryLouisMencken(18801956),anAmericanjournalist,essayist,magazineeditor,satirist,acerbiccriticofAmericanlifeandculture,andastudentofAmericanEnglish.KnownastheSageofBaltimore,heisregardedasoneofthemostinfluentialAmericanwritersandprosestylistsofthefirsthalfofthe20thcentury,Menckensquotation:Acynicisamanwho,whenhesmellsaflower,looksaroundforacoffin.,MenckensCreedIbelievethatreligion,generallyspeaking,hasbeenacursetomankind-thatitsmodestandgreatlyoverestimatedservicesontheethicalsidehavebeenmorethanovercomebythedamageithasdonetoclearandhonestthinking.Ibelievethatnodiscoveryoffact,howevertrivial,canbewhollyuselesstotherace,andthatnotrumpetingoffalsehood,howevervirtuousinintent,canbeanythingbutvicious.,Ibelievethatallgovernmentisevil,inthatallgovernmentmustnecessarilymakewaruponliberty.Ibelievethattheevidenceforimmortalityisnobetterthantheevidenceofwitches,anddeservesnomorerespect.Ibelieveinthecompletefreedomofthoughtandspeech.,Ibelieveinthecapacityofmantoconquerhisworld,andtofindoutwhatitismadeof,andhowitisrun.Ibelieveintherealityofprogress.I-Butthewholething,afterall,maybeputverysimply.Ibelievethatitisbettertotellthetruththantolie.Ibelievethatitisbettertobefreethantobeaslave.AndIbelievethatitisbettertoknowthanbeignorant.,PennsylvaniaStateProfile,StateUniqueNameTheKeystoneStateCapitalCityHarrisburgLocation40.27605N,076.88450WBirdRuffedGrouseBorderStatesDelaware-Maryland-NewJersey-NewYork-Ohio-WestVirginiaEconomyAgricultureFlowerTheMountainLaurelLargestCityPhiladelphiaLandArea44,892sq.mi.Population1,20,19,661StatehoodDecember12,1787TreeHemlock,description,descriptionispaintingaverbalpictureofaperson,aplace,anobject,ascene,etc.inordertoenablehisreadertoperceivetherealityoftheoriginal,thewriterreproducesanimageandinvokesthatrealityessenciallybyspecificandconcretewordsthatappealtothereaderssenseofsight,smell,sound,tasteandtouch.,thetitle,thisisapieceofsubjective,impressionisticoremotionaldescription.libido:conceptoriginatedbySigmundFreudtosignifytheinstinctualphysiologicalorpsychicenergyassociatedwithsexualurgesandwithallconstructivehumanactivity.Inthetext,itmeanspsychicenergygenerally;specifically,abasicformofpsychicenergy,comprisingthepositive,lovinginstinctsmanifestedvariouslyatdifferentstagesofpersonalitydevelopment.Drive,desire.欲望,thetitle,thewriterusesthiswordtosuggestthattheloveandpassionforuglinessamongAmericansisakindofpathologicalproblemandthathisobservationshaveascientificfoundation.,Dominantimpressionofugliness,Nouns:desolation,filth,grime,horror,ugliness,monstrousness,grotesqueriesAdjectives:hideous,bleak,forlorn,abominable,dirty,horrible,misshapen,shabby,uncomely,dingy,decomposing,shocking,loathsome,gloomy,God-forsaken,frightful,putrid,ghastly,unlovely,diabolical,dreadful,macabre,depressingphrases:appallingdesolation,dreadfullyhideous,intolerablybleak,unbrokenandagonizingugliness,revoltingmonstrousness,incomparable,Images:leproushill,uremicyellow,eczematouspatches,malarioushamlets,oneblinksbeforeamanwithhisfaceshotaway,burythemselvesswinishly,likegravestonesinsomegiganticdecayingcemetery,colorofanegglongpastallhopeorcaring,thatofafatwomanwithablackeye,thatofaPresbyteriangrinningSentenceswithsarcasm,ridiculeandirony:wouldhavedisgracedaraceofalleycats,insultandlaceratetheeyetherewasnotasingledecenthouseinsighttherewasnotonethatwasnotshabbyIawardthischampionshipincomparableincolor,incomparableindesign,theParthenonwouldnotdoubtoffendthem,TheMainideaofeachparagraph,Para1-Thewritercontraststhegreatwealthofthisregionwiththeabominablehumanhabitationsseeneverywhere.Para2-coverageoftheuglinessinthecounty.Para3-theuglinessofthehousedesignPara4-theuglinessofthecolorofthebricksPara5-evaluatestheuglinessofthisregionasthetoponeintheworld.Para6-triestotracethesourceoftheuglinessfromtheforeignersPara7-speculatesonasolutionforthepuzzle:libidofortheuglyPara8-evidencetoprovehimselfrightPara9-Thewriterfinallygivesananswer.,para1,acontrastofthegreatwealthofthisregionwiththedominatablehumanhabitationsseeneverywhere.uglinessisnotduetopovertybuttosth.innateintheAmericancharacter-aloveforuglinessforitsownsakeor,asthetitlesays,thelibidofortheugly.,sentence1,onedayinwintersomeyearsago,IstartedoutfromPittsburghandtravelledthroughthecoalandsteeltownsofWestmorelandCountyinafastrailwaytrain.,words,Pittsburgh:acityinSouthwestPennsylvania.ItisoneofthemostimportantindustrialcitiesofAmerica,andacenterofrailandrivertransportation.Termedthe“SteelCity”or“SmokyCity”,itisthecenterofrichbituminousbtumns-coal(生煤)region,producingalsonaturalgas,oilandlimestone;alargepartofU.S.steelandironisproducedhere.Westmorelandcounty:acountyinSouthwestPennsylvania.ItscountyseatisGreensburg.Itisaminingandmanufacturingregion.roll:totravelinawheeledvehicle,翻译,几年前的一个冬日，我乘坐宾夕法尼亚铁路公司的一班快车离开匹兹堡，向东行驶一小时，穿越了威斯特摩兰县的煤城和钢都。,sentence2,thisareaisfamiliartome.bothwhenIwasyoungandwhenIgrewup,Ihadoftentravelledthroughthisregion.这是我熟悉的地方，无论是童年时期还是成年时期，我常常经过这一带。,sentence3,butsomhowinthepastIneverreallyperceivedhowshockingandwretchedthiswholeregionwas.但以前我从来没有感到这地方荒凉得这么可怕,sentence4-1,theregionaroundPittsburghwasoneofthemostimportantindustrialcentersofAmerica.herewasthecenterofthemostprofitableandcharacteristicAmericanactivity-indutrialactivity.lucrative:producingwealthorprofit;profitable;有利可图的,4-1,这儿正是工业化美国的心脏，是其最赚钱、最典型活动的中心，世界上最富裕、最伟大的国家的自豪和骄傲,sentence4-2,theUnitedstates,therichestandgrandestnationeverseenonearth,bothboastsaboutandfeelsproudofthiscenterofindustrialacyivity.,sentence4-3,theverysightoftheregionwasterriblyuglyandthewholeregionwassomiserable,gloomyanddepairingthatitwashardforanyonetobear.thisteriblesceneinaregionwhichproducesthroughitsindustrythewealthtomakeAmericatherichestandgrandestnation,makesallhumaneffortstoadvanceandimprovetheirlifeseemsasadandhorriblejoke.,翻译4-3,然而这儿的景象却又丑陋得这样可怕，凄凉悲惨得这么令人无法忍受，以致人的抱负和壮志在这儿成了令人毛骨悚然的、令人沮丧的笑料,words,hideous:horribletosee,hear,etc;veryuglyorrevolting;dreadful非常丑陋的,bleak:cheerless,gloomy,desolate,depressing荒凉的forlorn:inpitifulcondition;wretched;miserable悲惨的,不幸的aspiration:strongdesireorambition,asforadvancement,honor热望,渴望macabre:gruesome;grimandhorrible;ghastly令人毛骨悚然的,sentence5,peoplecouldnotimagineorcalculatetheamountofwealththatwastobefoundinthisregion.Andinthesameregionthereweresuchterribleanddisgustinghousesthatevenhomelesswildcatswouldfeelashamedtoliveinthem.,翻译,这儿的财富多得无法计算，简直都无法想象也是在这儿，人们的居住条件又是如此之糟，连那些流浪街头的野猫也为之害羞,words,abominable:nastyanddisgusting;vile;loathsome讨厌的alley:anarrowstreetorwalk;especially,alanebehindarowofbuildingsorbetweentworowsofbuildings,Boyandman,Ihadbeenthroughitoftenbefore.AsaboyandlaterwhenIwasagrown-upman,IhadoftentraveledthroughtheregionHereheartofindustrialAmerica,thecenterofitsmostlucrativeandcharacteristicactivity,theboastandprideoftherichestandgreatestnationeverseenonearthMetaphor,comparingthiscentertotheheartofahumanbody;hyperbole:exaggeratingtherichnessandgrandeuroftheregionandofAmericaasawhole.HerewasthecenterofthemostprofitableandcharacteristicAmericanactivityindustrialactivity.;,Paraphrasing(Para1),andherewasascenesodreadfullyhideous,toamacabreanddepressingjoke.Thescenethatmettheeyewasterriblyuglyandthewholeregionwassomiserableandgloomythatitwasunbearable.Thisdreadfulscenemakesallhumanendeavorstoadvanceandimprovetheirlotappearasaghastly,saddeningjoke.Herewaswealthbeyondcomputation,almostbeyondImaginationandherewerehumanhabitationssoabominablethattheywouldhavedisgracedaraceofalleycats.Hyperbole:exaggeratingthewealththatwasbeyondcomputationandimagination;Andhabitationssoabominablethatevenhomelesscatswouldhavefeltashamedtoliveinthem;,WordsandExpressions(Para2),filth:disgustinglyoffensivedirt,garbage,etc.lacerate:tearjaggedly;mangle(somethingsoft,asflesh)woundorhurt(onesfeelings,etc.)deeply;distressmonstrousness:strangeshapeagonizevt./vi.(cause)pain.痛苦,难受Heagonizedformonthsoverthethoughtofhissonsdeath.Martinbentoverhim,agonizedtoseehowburningwashisskin.agony.n.(u)(c)deeppain,extremesufferingortirednessThiscountrymustnotagaingothroughtheagonyofwar.Theagonyoftheinjuredmanwasdreadfultosee.Thousandsuponthousandsdieinslowagony.Hesufferedagoniesfromhisbrokenarm,revoltvi.RebelagainstThepeoplerevoltedagainsttheirruler.revolt.-v.t/vi.(cause)(feel)hatredorsicknessofTheverythoughtofworkinginthebasementrevoltedme.Theviolenceinthemovierevoltedmyparents.Mysoulrevoltedagainstthiswayofdoingbusiness.Hiswholenaturerevoltsat/from/againstsuchacrime.Thereisarevoltingsmellintheseafoodmarket.,pretentiousseemimportantorsignificant,usedtoshowdisapproval(自命不凡,爱夸耀的,虚饰的,野心勃勃的)e.g.Hewasatalentedbutpretentiouswriter.Thispubwasofaverydifferenttype,smaller,lesspretentious.pretension-noun(claimtobe,claimtodeserve)e.g.Imakenopretension(s)toskillasanartist,butforenjoyingit.Theyoungprincehaspretensionstothecrown.-boasting,vanity(u)Shetalkedofherrichfriendswithgreatpretension.Pretensionishisworstfault.,shabby-poor-looking,mean,unfaire.g.Thebeggarsclotheswereshabby.Thementalpatientsreceivedshabbytreatment.Whatashabbytrick,leavingmetowalkhomealone.sheerabsolute,completeeg.Shefaintedfromsheerweariness.Hewonbysheerluck.asheerwasteofmoney,bysheerchance,Sheeralcoholwillburntheliningofthethroat.,Paraphrasing(Para2),WhatIalludetoistheunbrokenandagonizingugliness,thesheerrevoltingmonstrousness,ofeveryhouseinsight.hyperbole,anexaggerationthateveryhouseisugly.unbrokenugliness:uglinessthatwascontinuousanduninterrupted.Itwasuglynomatterwhereyoulooked.agonizingugliness:uglinessthatcausedgreatpain(topeoplewhosawit)sheerrevoltingmonstrousness:theabsolutedigestinghideousness.oneblinkedbeforethemasoneamanwithhisfaceshotaway.asimile.Theuglinessofthesehouseswasasgruesomeasafacethathasbeenshotandmangled.,Afewlingerinmemory,horribleeventhere.Someofthehousesremaininonesmemoryandlaterwhenonepicturestheminonesmindtheystillappeartobehorrible.Therewasnotasingledecenthousewithin.Therewasnotonethatwasnotmisshapen,andtherewasnotonethatwasnotshabby.Therepetitionofthesamestructuralpatternandtheuseofdoublenegativeshelptoemphasizethetwowords“misshapen”and“shabby”.,WordsandExpressions(Para3),uncomely:havingunpleasantappearancegrime:dirt,esp.sootydirt,rubbedintoorcoveringasurfaceasoftheskingully:achannelorhollowwornbyrunningwater;smallnarrowravine狭沟chalet:atypeofSwisshouse,builtofwoodwithbalconiesandoverhangingeaves(瑞士的木造)山上小舍highpitched:steepinslopesideofroofsdingy:dirty-colored;notbrightorclean,grimyclapboard:athin,narrowboardwithoneedgethickerthantheother,usedassiding护墙板,隔墙preposterous:socontrarytonature,reason,orcommonsenseastobelaughable;absurd;ridiculous反常的,十分荒谬的pier:aheavycolumn,usuallysquare,usedtosupportweight,asattheendofanarch支柱perpendicular:exactlyupright;vertical,straightupanddown垂直的precarious:uncertain;insecure;risky不安全的eczematous:ofitchingskindisease湿疹的,streak-n.along,narrowline一长条(c)e.g.Youhaveastreakofpaintonyourforehead.Theplaneleftawhitestreakofvaporinthebluesky.Hehasthestreaksofgreyinhisdarkhair.-somequalityinonespersonalitye.g.Shehasastreakofselfishnessinher.Hehasastreakofhumor,thoughhelooksveryseriousThereisastreakofcrueltyinhischaracter.streak-v.ttomarkalineonTheIndiansusedtostreaktheirfaceswithpaint.Herdarkhairwasstreakedwithgrey.Thechildsfacewasstreakedwithtears.-vi.TopassrapidlylikelighteningThewinninghorsestreakedpastthefinishline.Acatstreakedacrosstheroadwithadogbehindit.,Paraphrasing(Para3),Thecountryitselfisnotuncomelynotuncomely:litotes,meaningquitecomelyorpleasanttolookat.Thecountryitselfispleasanttolookat.thereareveryfewsolidblocks.solidblock:agroupofbuildingswithnobreaksoremptyspaceseparatingthem.Eveninthelargertownsthereareveryfewsolidblocksofhouses,sotherearestillmanyemptyspacesonwhichnewbuildingscanbeputup.iftherewerearchitectsofanyprofessionalsenseordignityintheregion,theywouldhaveperfectedachaletsarcasm.Itsarcasticallyemphasizesthefactthattherewerenoarchitectsworthyofthehonororthehighstandardsdemandedofbyitsprofession.,Theyhavetakenastheirmodelabricksetonend.Themodeltheyfollowedwasabrickstandingupright.Andoneandalltheyarestreakedingrime,withdeadandeczematouspatchesofpaintpeeingthroughthestreaks.metaphor,comparingthepatchesofpainttodried-upscalesformedbyaskindisease.Allthehousesherearesmearedwithsootydirt,andsomepaintwhichisnotcoveredupbythesootlookslikedried-upscalesformedontheskinbyeczema.,ABriefIntroductiontoLitotes,notuncomelyquitepleasant,beautifulLitotes曲言法(正话反说),是(understatement)低调陈述中的一种表现形式.主要是用no,not,none,never以及否定词缀等否定词或否定表达法来表述肯定的内容.e.g.Thefacewasntabadone;ithadwhattheycalledcharm.Themanisnofool.Itwasnosmallskilltoputtingaknifeintothemouthwithoutgettinghurt.(understatement)低调陈述的另一种表现手法是弱说代替强说.常用sortof,somethingof,rather,hardly,scarcely,almost之类的词e.g.“Money,”shesayswithquietunderstatement,“iskindoftight.ButImanage.”Herscoreisfarfrombeingsatisfactory.HerscoreleavesmuchtobedesiredMr.Liissomethingofaprofessor.,AchaletatypeofSwisshouse,builtofwoodwithbalconiesandoverhangingeaves瑞士式小木屋,Eczematouspatches,eczemaanitchingskindisease,WordsandExpressions(Para4),downright-adj.straightforward,franke.g.Herdownrightanswerstartleduspresent.Heisadownrightsortofperson.-pletee.g.Youareadownrightcheat.Shetoldadownrightlie.downright-adv.Absolutely,彻头彻尾的e.g.Hewasdownrightrudetous.Itmakesmedownrightangrytoseefoodthrownaway.,loathe-vt.feelhatred,dislikee.g.YouknowhowIloathtypingandshorthand.Shelikesherjobthoughsheloathesgettingupearlytogotowork.loathing.-n.(u)Theylookatthemwithloathing.Ihaveagreatloathingforgeometry.loathsome-adj.tobedisgusting,hatede.g.Somepeoplethinksnakesareloathsomecreatureswhileothersthinkotherwise.Thevillainoftheplaywascompletelyloathsome.,Paraphrasing(Para4),Whenithastakenonthepatinaofthemillsitisthecolorofanegglongpastallhopeorcaring.ridiculeandirony,laughingscornfullyatthecolorofthesehouses;alsometaphor,comparingthecolorofthebrickstocolorofrotteneggs.Whenthebrickiscoveredwithblacksootofthemillsittakesonthecolorofarottenegg.Nomorethanitwasnecessarytosetallofthehousesonend.Neitherwasnecessary.Thewriterposesthequestioninordertoprovokethequestioningofthecause.Redbrick,eveninasteeltown,ageswithsomedignity.Redbrick,eveninasteeltown,looksquiterespectablewiththepassingoftime.Eveninasteeltown,oldredbricksstillappearpleasingtotheeye.,ButinWestmorelandtheypreferthaturemicyellow,uremia:atoxicconditioncausedbythepresenceinthebloodofwasteproductsnormallyeliminatedintheurineandresultingfromafailureofthekidneystosecreteurine.ButitseemsthatpeopleinWestmorelandcountypreferthatyellowcolorproducedbythediseaseuremia.andsotheyhavethemostloathsometownsandvillageseverseenbymortaleye.hyperbole,exaggeratingtheuglinessofthetownsandvillages.mortaleye:humaneyes,AComparisonofSarcasm(讽刺),ridicule(嘲弄),irony(反讽),Sarcasm:abitterorwoundingremark,主要用于伤人感情的那一类幽默,常运用嘲笑或讽刺性反语e.g.Obviously,iftherewerearchitectsofanyprofessionalsenseofdignityintheregion,theywouldhaveperfectedachalettohugthehillsides.havingchosenit,theyletinmellowintoitspresentshockingdepravity.Sarcasmandironye.g.Iawardthischampionshiponlyafterlaboriousresearchandincessantprayer.Itisincrediblethatmereignoranceshouldhaveachievedsuchmasterpiecesofhorror.Ridicule-makefunof,deride,laughat.Makeridiculouse.g.asteelstadiumlikeahugerat-trapsomewherefurtherdowntheline.theymadeitperfectintheirownsightbyputtingacompletelyimpossiblepenthouse.irony(sayingonethingandmeaningtheopposite),WordsandExpressions(Para5),laborious:involvingmuchhardwork;difficult;industrious;hard-workingdecompose:breakuporseparateintobasiccomponentsorparts;rotmalarious:offeverconveyedbymosquitoesforsake:giveup;renounce(ahabit,idea,etc.)hamlet:averysmallvillageaberrant:turningawayfromwhatisright,true,etc;deviatingfromwhatisnormalortypicaluncompromising:notyielding;firm;inflexible;determinedinimical:likeanenemy;hostile;unfriendly;adverse;unfavorableingenuity:cleverness,originality,skill,etc.grotesquery:thequalityorstateofbeinggrotesquediabolical:ofthedevilordevils;fiendishconcoct:devise,invent,orplan,Iawardthischampionshiponlyafterlaboriousresearchandincessantprayer.sarcasmandirony.IcametotheconclusionthatWestmorlandhadthemostloathsometownsandvillagesonlyaftervisitinganccomparingmanyplacesnotonlyintheUnitedStatesbutalsoinothercountriesandafterconstantlyprayingtoGodforguidance.championship:usedironicallytodescribenotthebestbuttheworst.,Paraphrasing(Para5),Ihaveseen.Iamfamiliarwith,andhavemadescientificexplorations.SafeinaPullman,IhavewhirledthroughIhavebeentoParallelstructurestoshowhisvisitstothoseplaces.inapullman:travelinginapullmancar.(whichwasnamedafteritsinventorGeorgeM.Pullman(1831-97)backstreets:small,meanstreets;streetsinslumareaGod-forsakenvillages:gloomy.Desolatevillagestidewaterhamlet:verysmallvillageneartheseaaffectedbytheriseandfalloftidesTheyareincomparableincolor,andtheyareincomparableindesign.sarcasm.Peoplecannotfindsuchterriblecoloranddesigninanyotherregion.,Itisasifsometitanicandaberrantgenius,uncompromisinglyinimicaltoman,haddevotedalltheingenuityofHelltothemakingofthem.genius:usedironicallytomeananevilgenius,havinggreatabilitytodoevil.Hell:thepowersofevilordarknesshyperboleandirony.Itisassomegeniusofgreatpower,whodidntliketodotherightthingsandwhowasaninflexibleenemyofman,employedalltheclevernessandskillofhelltobuildtheseuglyhouses.Theyshowgrotesqueriesofuglinessthat,inretrospect,becomealmostdiabolical.Theyshowsuchfantasticandbizarreuglinessthat,inlookingback,theybecomealmostfiendishandwicked.onecanscarcelyimaginehumanbeingsbearinglifeinthem.Onecanscarcelyimaginepeoplelivinginthesehousesandbearingandbringingupchildreninthem,WordsandExpressionsrottenandfoul-smellingyouwontfindanyabominablehousesinEurope,exceptinsomerottenanddecayingareasinEngland.,ButintheAmericanvillageandsmalltownthepullisalwaystowardugliness,andinthatWestmorelandvalleyithasbeenyieldedtowithaneagernessborderinguponpassion.pull:drawingforce,appealborderupon:tobelike,almostbesarcasm.ButintheAmericanvillageandsmalltown,theappealisalwaystowardsugliness,andinthatWestmorelandvalleypeoplehavegivenintothisappealeagerlyoralmostpassionately.Itisincredibleachievedsuchmasterpiecesofhorror.sarcasmandirnoy.Itishardtobelievethatpeople