the-libido-for-the-ugly-全文講義

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,翻譯,幾年前的一個(gè)冬日，我乘坐賓夕法尼亞鐵路公司的一班快車離開匹茲堡，向東行駛一小時(shí)，穿越了威斯特摩蘭縣的煤城和鋼都。,sentence2,thisareaisfamiliartome.bothwhenIwasyoungandwhenIgrewup,Ihadoftentravelledthroughthisregion.這是我熟悉的地方，無論是童年時(shí)期還是成年時(shí)期，我常常經(jīng)過這一帶。,sentence3,butsomhowinthepastIneverreallyperceivedhowshockingandwretchedthiswholeregionwas.但以前我從來沒有感到這地方荒涼得這么可怕,sentence4-1,theregionaroundPittsburghwasoneofthemostimportantindustrialcentersofAmerica.herewasthecenterofthemostprofitableandcharacteristicAmericanactivity-indutrialactivity.lucrative:producingwealthorprofit;profitable;有利可圖的,4-1,這兒正是工業(yè)化美國的心臟，是其最賺錢、最典型活動(dòng)的中心，世界上最富裕、最偉大的國家的自豪和驕傲,sentence4-2,theUnitedstates,therichestandgrandestnationeverseenonearth,bothboastsaboutandfeelsproudofthiscenterofindustrialacyivity.,sentence4-3,theverysightoftheregionwasterriblyuglyandthewholeregionwassomiserable,gloomyanddepairingthatitwashardforanyonetobear.thisteriblesceneinaregionwhichproducesthroughitsindustrythewealthtomakeAmericatherichestandgrandestnation,makesallhumaneffortstoadvanceandimprovetheirlifeseemsasadandhorriblejoke.,翻譯4-3,然而這兒的景象卻又丑陋得這樣可怕，凄涼悲慘得這么令人無法忍受，以致人的抱負(fù)和壯志在這兒成了令人毛骨悚然的、令人沮喪的笑料,words,hideous:horribletosee,hear,etc;veryuglyorrevolting;dreadful非常丑陋的,bleak:cheerless,gloomy,desolate,depressing荒涼的forlorn:inpitifulcondition;wretched;miserable悲慘的,不幸的aspiration:strongdesireorambition,asforadvancement,honor熱望,渴望macabre:gruesome;grimandhorrible;ghastly令人毛骨悚然的,sentence5,peoplecouldnotimagineorcalculatetheamountofwealththatwastobefoundinthisregion.Andinthesameregionthereweresuchterribleanddisgustinghousesthatevenhomelesswildcatswouldfeelashamedtoliveinthem.,翻譯,這兒的財(cái)富多得無法計(jì)算，簡直都無法想象也是在這兒，人們的居住條件又是如此之糟，連那些流浪街頭的野貓也為之害羞,words,abominable:nastyanddisgusting;vile;loathsome討厭的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,難受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,愛夸耀的,虛飾的,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狹溝chalet:atypeofSwisshouse,builtofwoodwithbalconiesandoverhangingeaves(瑞士的木造)山上小舍highpitched:steepinslopesideofroofsdingy:dirty-colored;notbrightorclean,grimyclapboard:athin,narrowboardwithoneedgethickerthantheother,usedassiding護(hù)墻板,隔墻preposterous:socontrarytonature,reason,orcommonsenseastobelaughable;absurd;ridiculous反常的,十分荒謬的pier:aheavycolumn,usuallysquare,usedtosupportweight,asattheendofanarch支柱perpendicular:exactlyupright;vertical,straightupanddown垂直的precarious:uncertain;insecure;risky不安全的eczematous:ofitchingskindisease濕疹的,streak-n.along,narrowline一長條(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(正話反說),是(understatement)低調(diào)陳述中的一種表現(xiàn)形式.主要是用no,not,none,never以及否定詞綴等否定詞或否定表達(dá)法來表述肯定的內(nèi)容.e.g.Thefacewasntabadone;ithadwhattheycalledcharm.Themanisnofool.Itwasnosmallskilltoputtingaknifeintothemouthwithoutgettinghurt.(understatement)低調(diào)陳述的另一種表現(xiàn)手法是弱說代替強(qiáng)說.常用sortof,somethingof,rather,hardly,scarcely,almost之類的詞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,徹頭徹尾的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(諷刺),ridicule(嘲弄),irony(反諷),Sarcasm:abitterorwoundingremark,主要用于傷人感情的那一類幽默,常運(yùn)用嘲笑或諷刺性反語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