高級英語件第三 Everyday Use for Your Grandmama

1、Everyday Use for Your Grandmama In order to understand this passage better, we can watch a movie-”The Color of Purple”故事發(fā)生于1909年美國南部。未受過教育的黑人女孩西莉被繼父強(qiáng) 奸后，又被迫嫁給了粗魯，兇狠的黑人男子，西莉稱其為“先生”。在驚恐和膽怯中她開始了奴仆一般的痛苦生活。幸而有親姐妹南蒂與之相伴，淚水中才多了一些歡樂。不久，這短暫的幸福也從西莉身邊消失了。因?yàn)椤跋壬睆?qiáng) 奸南蒂不成，惱羞成怒地將南蒂趕了出去，姐妹二人被殘酷的分開。年復(fù)一年，西莉在門口的郵筒中找尋南蒂

2、的音訊，她始終期盼有一天能與南蒂再次重逢(從中大家可以看到當(dāng)時的整個社會的縮影，以及黑人生活的社會環(huán)境和社會地位，黑人女性的崛起和黑人女性的反抗精神也從有深刻得展現(xiàn))Everyday Use for Your GrandmamaCharacters:Maggie: a shy,young woman made even more self-concious by scars she got in a house fire years ago. She hasn t has much formal education but has learned traditional skills, suc

3、h as quilting, from her familiy.Mama(Mrs johnson): the narrator of the story. She is a middle-aged or even older African American woman living with her younger daugter, Maggie. Athough poor, she is strong and independent, and takes great pride in her way of life.Dee(Wangero):Dee is Mama s older daug

4、her. She is attractive, well-educated and sophisticated. Moreover, she is selfish and she may even has caused the fire that disfigured （損毀···的外貌）her sister. Mama(Mrs johnson) called her Dee or Wangero.Asalamalakim: a young muslim man who accompanies Dee on her visit. Mama, unable to p

5、ronounce his name , called him “Hakim-a- Baber”. The muslim greeting he gives to her means “peace and happiness to you. ” This maybe ironic because their visit disturbs the peaceful lives of Maggie and Mama. The relationship between him and Dee is unknown. He may be a friend, a boyfriend, husband or

6、 spiritual adviser.Main content:The story begins when the mother and Maggie wait for Dee to come back home.Dee goes back home with her lover. She asks for some traditional household appliances, especially two old quilts made by their grandma. The mother refuses. Instead, she sends the two quilts to

7、Maggie. Dee leaves angrily.In her eyes, two old quilts(百納被) are the cultural heritage of blacks. Maggie inherits the black tradition and she should own them.The text:I. para1-2 The prelude: the three family members.II. Para3-16 The mothers recollections / flashback:the three personsrelationshipsmoth

8、er; Maggie; DeeIII. Para17- 82 The process of Dee going back home.Detailed study of the text:Paragraph 1-16:Paragraph1:1,.Maggie and I made so clean and wavy.(wavy:波動起伏的。 It shows that Maggie and Mama had made carefully preparations for the arrival of Dee.)2,It is like a extended living room. (exten

9、ded: enlarged, prolonged. Expressions with extend: extended family)Paragraph 2:1,homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs.(homely: 不好看的，不漂亮的，later we will know how she got the scar, so that is a suspense.)2, she thinks her sister has held life always.to say to her.(she think that

10、her sister has always had a firm control of her life and that she can always has what she want. )(課后習(xí)題paraphrase )The role of the first two paragraph: it describes the place and main characters.Paragraph3:1,totter: 蹣跚。 Backstage: 背后。Paragraph4:1,Johnny Carson: he is famous for such TVprograms, On TV

11、 he was a sporty man with gray hair and a smiling face.Paragraph5:1, In real life i am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands.(that means Mama was a typical black working woman.)2, My fat keeps me hot in zero weather.(because I am fat, I feel hot even in freezing weather.)(課后習(xí)題paraph

12、rase )3,I am the way my daughter.an uncooked barely pancake.( this sentence tells that Dee was ashamed of his mother as a woking-class black woman.)4, Johnny Carson has much to do .witty tongue.(johnney carson has a witty and glib tongue. But i outdo 超過，勝過 him and so he has to try hard if he wants t

13、o catch up with me.)(課后習(xí)題paraphrase )5, who ever knew a Johnson with a quick tongue?(that is a rhetorical question. The obvious answer is that no one in the Johnson family has a quick tongue.)Paragraph6:1, It seems to me i have talked to them always with one foot raised. from them.(I am ready to lea

14、ve as quickly as possible because of discomfort, nervousness, timidity,etc, and turn my head away from them in order to avoid them as much as possible for the same reason.)課后習(xí)題paraphrase )2,She would always look anyone in the eye.(she would always look at somebody directly and steadily, not feeling

15、embarrassed or ashamed.)課后習(xí)題paraphrase )Paragraph 91, have you ever seen a lame跛足的 animal .to be kind to him? （here the narrator compares Maggie to an injured and pitiful animal.）2,she has been like this, chin on chest, eyes on ground.to the ground. (Maggie has been very shy ever since the fire dest

16、oryed our other house. She is so shy that she never raises her head or eyes when looking at and talking to people, and she is always feel so neverous and restless that she is unable to stand still.)Paragraph10,1, Dee is lighter than Maggie.,(lighter means the color of one s skin, not weight.)2,And D

17、ee.(an elliptical sentence, meaning”and there was Dee”)3, she had hated the house that much.(so she was glad to see it burn down. This shows Dee is ashamed of her family.)Paragraph111,she used to read to us without pity, forcing.underneath her voice.(The narrator implies that the books Dee read to t

18、hem were written by white people and full of their language and ideas, falsehoods and their way of life.)2,she washed us in a river of .need to know.(she imposed on us lots of falsity and so-called knowledge that was totally useless and irrelevant to us.)課后習(xí)題paraphrase )Paragraph121,her eyelids 眼皮wo

19、uld not flicker閃爍 for minutes at a time.（it shows that Dee was undaunted勇敢的，無畏的, with a strong character. She would look at anybody steadily and intently for a long time.）2, Often I fought off the tempation to shake her.( Often I wanted so much to shake her , but I restrained myself.)3,At sixteen sh

20、e had a style of her own, and knew what style was.( she had her own unique way of doing thing at an early age, she also know what is fashion. That means she is totally different from her sister. )Paragraph131,she stumbles along good-naturedly.(she often makes mistakes while reading, but never loses

21、her good temper.)2, like good looks and money, quickness passed her by.(she was homely and poor. Besides she was not smart.)課后習(xí)題paraphrase )Paragraph141,”when did Dee ever had any friends ?” (a rhetorical question that means Dee never really had any friend.)Paragraph151,furtive:鬼鬼祟祟的，秘密的，His furtive

22、 behaviour aroused our suspicion.他鬼鬼祟祟的行為引起了我們的懷疑。Paragraph3-16: this section is what we call exposition, providing background and preparing for the main action, which is what happens during Dee s visit.Para.17 but there they are! Before I could meet them (in the yard), they have already arrived.Par

23、a.18 I stay her with my hand. I stop her from dashing off with my hand.1) stay: to stop, halt or check somebody from doing sth.2) Note that the simple present tense - the purpose is to make the story telling more vivid.Para.19 1. Hair is all over his head a foot long and hanging from his chin like a

24、 kinky mule tail.A simile by comparing the young mans hair to a mule tail2. I hear Maggie suck in her breath. "Uhnnnh," is what it sounds like.I hear Maggie inhale her breath and a sound like “Uhnnnh” escapes her mouth.3. like when you see the wriggling end of a snake just in front of your

25、 foot on the road.1) 課后習(xí)題-B-3 an elliptical sentence - it was like the reaction you have when you see the wriggling end of a snake just in front of your foot on the road.2) Wriggle: to move to and fro with a twisting and writhing motionPara.201. A dress down to the ground, in this hot weather課后習(xí)題-B-

26、4 an elliptical sentence -she is wearing a dress long enough to touch the ground in spite of this hot weather.2. a dress so loud 1) an elliptical sentence - she is wearing a dress in loud colors2) 課后習(xí)題-A-12 loud: attracting attention by being unpleasantly colorful and bright3. there are yellows the

27、light of the sunthrow back: to reflect4. earrings gold, her shoulder課后習(xí)題-B-5 an elliptical sentence -her earrings are gold, too, and they are hanging down to her shoulders.5. it is her sisters hair.This time it is her sisters hair style that makes Maggie utter an exclamation of dislike and disapprov

28、al.6. it is black as night behind her ears.1) black as night: a simile2) rope about: metaphor - compare the moving of Dees pigtails to that of a rope3) like small lizards: a simile4) Dees new hairstyle is African, and looks bizarre to the country girl Maggie.Para.211. “Aalamalakim, my mother and sis

29、ter!”To call strangers “y mother and sister” is not the American way of greeting, but a Muslim habit2. he moves to Maggie but she falls backhugging a girl at the first meeting is a western habit. Maggie is too shy and, as a rural girl, she is probably not used to being hugged by young men she doesnt

30、 know.Para.22 kisses me on the foreheadNot usual for a daughter to kiss her mother on the forehead. Normally, people kiss each other on the cheeks for greeting. This shows Dee is very distant and unloving with her family.Also note she takes all the photos first before she kisses her. A loving daught

31、er will run up to her mother and throw her arms around her.Para.231. meanwhile Asalamalakim is going through hand.課后習(xí)題-8 paraphrase-meanwhile Dees boyfriend is trying to shake hands with Maggie in a fancy and elaborate way.2. Maggies hand is as limp as a fish sweatSimile. Maggies hand lacks firmness

32、 and is cold though she is sweating3. or maybe he doesnt know howungrammatical spoken English4. He soon gives up on MaggieSoon he knows that wont do for Maggie, so he stops trying to shake hands with her in that manner.Note “gives up on Maggie”, not gives up Maggie, the meanings are diffirent.Para.2

33、5 There is an exclamation mark which shows emphasis. Here, we also can see the trace of the name changing. During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, many African Americans were disappointed by the influence of integration. Many blacks affirmed their African roots by discarding their “slave name

34、s” and adopting Africans names, even many didnt know the meaning or how to spell them correctly. And they also wore African hair styles and African clothing.The author held negative opinion about the name changing. She thought an African name was not related to the recent past of the black Americans

35、 experience.Para.26 Mama felt her daughter “Dee” no longer existed. So that, she describes her daughters visit as something happening in the past.Pare.27 She meant that the girl born again with a new name. (Dee no longer existed.)Para.28 “Dee” vs. “Big Dee”The daughters name was after her aunt, and

36、then we added “Big” to aunts name to make a distinction.Para.32 “Though, in fact, through the branches”.Actually, I could trace it back before the Civil War, through the family branches. But Dee seemed tired, I wouldnt go on either.Para.33 “There you are”.It is a colloquial expression. Dees boyfrien

37、d meant “I knew you couldnt trace it further back” by saying this.Para.36 1. “Looking down a Model A car”.Here “a Model A car” meant something old and out-of-date. 2. “every once my head”Now and then he and Dee communicated through eye contact in a secretive way.Para.41 “Ream it out again”Try to pro

38、nounce it again no matter how difficult.Ream: to extract the juice from; to enlarge a hole with a reamerPara.42 1. “Well, soon the way”We overcame the difficulty and could pronounce it. 2. “I tripped it out”I failed to say to say it correctly.Trip: to stumble; catch ones foot and lose balancePara.43

39、 The narrator hints some conflict here. We can guess those beef-cattle are Muslims.Para.44 “I accepted some of their doctrines”Conversion to Islam was also part of many African Americans search for a new identity by this.Para.45 1. Greens green leafy vegetables eaten cooked or raw. 2. “She talked po

40、tatoes”Talk a blue streak: talk a lot and rapidly 3. “Everything delighted her”“New interest” vs. “Old hatred” -Indicated a change of value.Para.52 “Maggies an elephants”It is a simile. Elephants are said to have good memories.Para.53 “I can use alcove table”Centerpiece an ornamentAlcove a secluded

41、section of a room for meal. 凹室Para.54 1.“Sink” is used figuratively meant a depression in the wood of the handle left by the thumb and fingers. 2. “You could the wood”The objects record history. Dee only noticed the nice shape, but Mama and Maggie connected them with the people who used them.Para55-

42、82: Dee asks for the old quilts.Words:Para55:rifle:plunder;to search messily Eg: The men rifled through his clothing and snatched the wallet.hang back(off):to be reluctant to advance,as from timidity and shyness Eg: I saw him step forward momentarily but then hang back, nervously massaging his hands

43、. dishpan:a pan in which dishes,cooking utensils,etc,are washed teeny(colloquial):tiny Eg: I forgot to mention one teeny wittle item.Para61:stroke 中風(fēng); 一件(幸運(yùn)的)事n.（用筆等）畫；輕撫；輕挪；敲擊vt.Eg: He had a minor stroke in 1987, which left him partly paralysed. It didn't rain, which turned out to be a stroke o

44、f luck. She held the quilts securely in her aarms,stroking them.(this is a sentence in our textbook)Para74:“That was Maggies portion.” Here “portion” means fate in our textbook.Para80:“You ought to try ro make something of yourself,too” Here in our textbook,“make” means to turn out to be;to prove to

45、 have the essential qualitiesSentences:“Bits and pieces of grandpa Jarrells Paisly shirts.”(para55)Ellipitcal.In the quilts there were bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarrells Paisly shirts.“MaMa,”Wangero said,sweet as a bird.”Can I have these old quilts?”(para56)Simile. “MaMa,”Wangero said in an extreme

46、ly sweet voice.“I promised to give them quilts to MaggieJohn Thomas.”(para64)Incorrect grammer.It should be “I promised to give these quits to Maggie when she marries John Thomas.” “She gasped like a bee had stung her.”(para65)Simile.She breathed suddenly in painful surprise.“God knows I been saving

47、emnobody usingem.”( para67)Incorrect grammer. It should be”God knows I have been saving them long enough with nobody using them.I was hoping somebody would use them.”“Lwss than that!”(para68)Ellipitcal.The quilts would be in rags or in an even worse condiction.“I can remember Grandma Dee without the

48、 quilts.”(para73)Paraphrase:I do not need the quilts to remind me of Grandma Dee.She lives in my memory.It's really a new day for us.(para80)Metaphor.For us colored people,this is a new era,and we must seize our opportunities.But a real smile,not scared.(para82)Ellipitcal.She smiled a real smile

49、 from the bottom of her heart,not nervous.Paragraphs(The portrayal of the characters and the plot of the story):para61: “She held the quilts securely in her arms,stroking them. ”In para.63,she was “clutching them closely to her bosom.”All this shows how much she wanted them and how determined she wa

50、s to have them.para66：“Shed probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use.”Here Wangero said that Maggie was behind times,and not as well educated as she was and that Maggie would not able to appreciate the value of the quilts and would use them just as quilts,not as works of art.para74：“It was Grandma Dee and Big Deeto quilt herself. ”Again it shows Maggie has inherited the cultural legacy from the maternal ancestors.Para75:In this paragraph the action reaches the clima