高級英語大學英語精讀5第二單元

2WarmingupAplotisthedeliberatelyarrangedsequenceofinterrelatedeventsthatconstitutethebasicnarrativestructureofanovelorashortstory.Itstartsfromasignificantconflict,whichsetstheplotinmotion.Itholdsthereader’sattention,buildsthesuspenseoftheworkandarousesexpectationfortheeventsthataretofollow.Itoftenmovesthrough5stages:exposition,risingaction,crisis(climax),fallingactionandresolution.Aplotconsistsof3parts:beginning,middleandend.Plot單擊視頻播放3分40秒4WarmingupThethemeofastoryisthegeneralmeaning,thecentral&dominatingideathatunifies&controlsthetotalwork.Afterreadingthewholestory,we’llfindthatthemeaningofthetitle“TwoKinds”isspelledoutinPara.72:“Onlytwokindsofdaughters”...Thethemeof“TwoKinds”:Themother’sattempttochangeherdaughterintoaprodigyandthedaughter’sresistancetosuchchangeepitomizeabittersweetrelationshipbetweenmotheranddaughterandasharpconflictbetweentwogenerationsandtwocultures.ThemeWBSET5BackgroundInformation

TheAuthor

TheNovelAmyTanWBSET6BackgroundInformationAmyTanisoneofthemostpopularChineseAmericanwriters.Amy’sparentsleftChinabefore1949.ThefamilysettledinSanFrancisco,California.Amyandhertwobrotherswerebornthere.Inthelate1960s,Tan'sfatherandbrotherdiedofbraincancer.ThisaffectedthefamilysomuchthathermothermovedthefamilytoSwitzerland.Tandevelopedaverydifficultrelationshipwithhermother.ItcontinuedaftershereturnedtotheUnitedStates.TheAuthor7BackgroundInformationAfterfinishinghighschoolinSwitzerlandin1969,TanreturnedtotheUnitedStates,whereshestudiedliteratureandlinguisticsatSanJoseStateUniversity.Asanadult,AmyTanoperatedatechnicalwritingbusinessformanyyears.Butshesaysshewasnothappy.Shebeganpublishingshortstoriesin1986.

Theylaterbecamepartofherfirstbook,“TheJoyLuckClub,”publishedin1989.TheAuthor8BackgroundInformationTheJoyLuckClubisTan’sfirstandmostsuccessfulnovel.ItrecountedthefamilytalesoffourmodernChinese-Americanwomen;itwaswidelyhailedforitsdepictionoftheChinese-Americanexperienceofthelate20thcentury.

Ithasbeentranslatedinto35languages.Apopularfilmbasedonthebookwasalsomade.TheNovel9BackgroundInformation描述了一對住在加州的母女之間的關系和沖突。故事的主人公景梅的母親在中國出生長大，后來因為中國政局動蕩的緣故而移居美國。Thedifferentpointsofviewenablethereadertolookatthebittersweetmother-daughterrelationsfromdifferentangles.Themothersanddaughterstreatoneanothercautiously,playingagameofloveandfear,needandrejection.Theolderwomen,whosufferedinOldChinaandimmigratedtotheUnitedStateswithnewhopes,areambitiousfortheirdaughters,butwhiletheyexpectthemtosucceedinAmerica,theywantthemtoremainChinese.TheNovel10BackgroundInformationThedaughtersconsiderthemselvesAmericanandregardtheirmothersasasourceofembarrassment,fortheyspeakfracturedEnglish,behavewithChinesemanners.Theywanttobedifferentfromtheirmothers,andbreakloosefromtheirmothers’culturalgravity.Themother-daughterrelationshipsareamixtureofloveandhostility,expectationsanddisappointments,conflictsandreconciliation.WBSET“TheminuteourtrainleavestheHongKongborderandentersShenzhen,China,Ifeeldifferent.Icanfeeltheskinonmyforeheadtingling,mybloodrushingthroughanewcourse,mybonesachingwithafamiliaroldpain.AndIthink,mymotherwasright.IambecomingChinese.”——From

TheJoyLuckClub1112Theconflictsubsided.(Paras.77-89)StructureoftheTextPartI

(Paras.1-3)PartII

(Paras.4-76)PartIII

(Paras.77-93)Background:themotherandherhighexpectationsforherdaughter.WhyMotherand

Daughterareengagedinaclash,

andhowtheconflictisintensified.TheendofthestoryDaughterunderstoodMother’slove,andfeltcontented.

(Paras.90-93)WBSET13StructureoftheTextPartI

(Background)PartII

(Body)PartIII

(Theend)MothertriedtochangeDaughterintoaChineseShirleyTemplebutfailed.(Paras.4-11)

Theconflictbegan.MothertriedhardtotrainDaughter.ButDaughterhatedbeingtested.(Paras.12-20)GradualdevelopmentofconflictWhilewatchingTV,anewideaflashedintoMother’smind.(Paras.21-28)Furtherdevelopmentofconflict.MothermadeDaughterlearntoplaythepiano.Daughterhatedit.(Paras.29-46)Theconflictbecamemoretense.

Daughterperformedbadlyinatalentshowinthechurch.(Paras.47-60)Motherwasgreatlydisappointed.Daughter’spoorperformancedidn’tstopMotherurginghertopractice.(Paras.61-76)Climax:theyhadafiercequarrel.

WBSET14DetailedAnalysisoftheTextParas.1-11Paras.12-46Paras.47-76Paras.77-93WBSETTextAnalysisParagraphs1-3describesthemotherandherhopesforherdaughter,pavingthewayforthedevelopmentoftheconflictbetweenthedaughterandthemother.Theseparagraphsshowthatthemotherwasveryoptimisticaboutthefutureandcorrespondinglyambitiousforherdaughter.Whythemotherplacedextraordinarilyhighhopesonherdaughter?First,shebelievedonecouldbeanythingonewantedtobeinAmerica.Whethershewasawareofitornot,shewasinfluencedbyandbelievedinthe“AmericanDream.”Second,shewascompetingwithherbestfriendLindo,whohadasmartdaughter.Third,shehadlosteverythinginChinaandhadcometoAmericawiththedeterminationtoliveabetterlife.Shewastransferringherownhopestoherdaughter.1516Youcouldbuyahousewithalmostnomoneydown.(Para.1)P:Youcouldbuyahousewithaverysmalldownpayment,mostofthemoneywasloanedtoyou.down:Heretheword“down”isanadverb,meaning“incashwhenbought”現(xiàn)款;adownpaymentistheinitialupfrontportionofthetotalamountdue,usuallygivenincashwhenatransactionisfinalized.TextAnalysisTextAnalysis“Ofcourseyoucanbeprodigy,too.”(Para.2)

Themother’sEnglishwasnotgrammaticallycorrect;hereshedropsthearticle“a”before“prodigy”.prodigy:ayoungpersonwhoisextremelycleverorgoodatdoingsomething奇才，神童:eg.Mozartwasachildprodigy.“Youcanbebestanything”(Para.2)

Oneshouldsay:“Youcanbethebestatanything.”AuntieLindo(Para.2):OneofthefourwomenmembersoftheJoyLuckClub.Thenarrator’smother’sclosefriendandrivalsincetheycomparedtheirdaughtersallthetime.1718TextAnalysisHerdaughter,sheisonlybesttricky(Para.3)

Sheisonlygoodatbeingtricky.…h(huán)ermotherandfather,herfamilyhome(Para.3)

Istheword“family”redundant?No.InChina,afamilyhomeisonewhereabig,extendedfamilyofthreeormoregenerationslivetogether.TextAnalysisParagraphs4to11formthefirstsubsectionofthebodyofthestory.Thissectionisconcernedwiththemother’sunsuccessfulattempttochangeherdaughterintoaChineseShirleyTemple.Inthebeginningthechildwasasexcitedasthemotheraboutbecomingaprodigy.Atthispoint,theconflictbetweenmotheranddaughterwasnotperceptible.1920TextAnalysisAtfirstmymotherthoughtIcouldbeaChineseShirleyTemple.(Para.4)ShirleyTemple(1928-2014)wasabelovedAmericanchildmoviestar,appearingin43movies.

SeeNote1tothetext.秀蘭·鄧波兒21TextAnalysisAndIwouldseeShirleytappingherfeet(Para.4)Shirleywasdoingatap

dance,performedwithsharp,loudtapsofthefoot,toe,orheelateachstep.Watchavideoclip

(2mins).

22TextAnalysisYoualreadyknowhow.Don’tneedtalentforcrying(Para.5)Thisisareproachfulremarksaidinasarcastictone.Sheisindicating“thedaughtercriestoomuch”.…shetookmetoabeautytrainingschool(Para.6)美容培訓班theMissiondistrict(Para.6)AdistrictinSanFrancisco,fordecadesithasbeenaprimarilyHispanicneighborhoodwithtouristsfrequentingitsinterestingrestaurants,barsandspecialtyshops.Insteadofgettingbigfatcurls,Iemergedwithanunevenmassofcrinklyblackfuzz(Para.6)Shirleyhadblondhairinbigfatcurls.Butafterherhairwasdone,Jing-meilookedverydifferentfromwhatsheandhermotherhadhoped.anunevenmassofcrinklyblackfuzz:一團亂蓬蓬的黑色小卷毛crinkly:fullofwrinkles,twistsandripplesfuzz:thin,softhair2324TextAnalysis

“YoulooklikeNegroChinese”(Para.7)Sheisthinkingofstereotypes:Whitegirlshaveblondcurlyhair,Chinesegirlshaveblackstraighthair,andblackgirlshavecrinklyfuzzyhair.Tothemother,thenewhairstylewasevenworsebecausethedaughternowlookedlikeaNegrogirl.shelamented,asifIhaddonethisonpurpose.(Para.7)tolamentistoexpressannoyance/disappointmentThiswordshowsthemotherisdisappointed.Lateronwefindthatthemotheranddaughteroftenblameeachotherintheirintenserelationship.25TextAnalysisTheinstructor…h(huán)adtolopoffthesesoggy

clumps(Para.8)Here“l(fā)opoff”and“clumps”areusedfiguratively.“PeterPanisverypopularthesedays”(Para.8)Thegirllookedlikeaboy,andsotheinstructorwascomfortingthembymentioningPeterPan,whosehairwasshort,withafewstraight-acrossbangsabovehiseyebrows.tocutapartofsth.off,esp.abranchofatreeunpleasantlywetandsoftagroupoftreesorbushesgrowingveryclosetogetherInfact,inthebeginning,Iwasjustasexcitedasmymother(Para.9)Whywasthenarratorasexcitedashermotherinthebeginning?Becausehermother’sattempttochangeherintoaprodigyrousedinhermanyfancifulideasandmadeherquiteexcited.2627TextAnalysisIpicturedthisprodigypartofmeasmanydifferentimages,tryingeachoneonforsize(Para.9)P:Iimaginedmyselfasdifferenttypesofprodigy,tryingtofindoutwhichonesuitedmethebest.I我在腦海里描繪我的神童部分的各種形象，試試哪一種最適合于我。tryingeachoneonforsize:Totrysomething,especiallyclothing,toseeifitistherightsizeforyou.adaintyballerinagirl(Para.9)Asmall，prettyanddelicategirlwhodancesinballets.ballerina:awomanwhodancesinballets.28TextAnalysisIwasliketheChristchildliftedoutofthestrawmanger,cryingwithholyindignity(Para.9)HerethegirlisimaginingherselfplayingthepartofChristasanew-bornbabyonstageaspartofaChristmascelebrationinachurch.TheChristchildcriedwithholyindignationwhenhewasliftedfromthestrawmanger.Ortheauthor’shumor:Asanewbornbaby,hecriedjustlikeotherbabies,withoutholydignity.Yet,hewastheholySonofGod,sohisindignitywasholy,too.29TextAnalysisIwasCinderellasteppingfromherpumpkincarriage

(Para.9)

Inthefairytale…bymagicthefairygodmotherchangesthepumpkinintoagoldencoach.Cinderellagoestothepartyinthecarriage,andsheistheprettiestgirlthere.Theprincedanceseverydancewithher…Ifyoudon’thurryup…I’mdisappearingforgood.(Para.11)permanently一勞永逸地；永遠地Paragraphs12to20formthesecondsubsectionofSectionTwoofthestory.Inthispartwelearnthatthemotherwastryingveryhardtotrainherdaughtertobeagenius.Asthetestsgotmoreandmoredifficult,thedaughterlostheartandbegantohatebeingtested.Shedecidedthatshewouldnotlethermotherchangeher.Thischangeofattitudeleadstothegradualdevelopmentofconflictbetweenmotheranddaughter.3031TextAnalysisMymothergotthesemagazinesfrompeoplewhosehousesshecleaned…assortment(Para.12)Thefamilywasnotwelloff.Themotherhadtocleanmanyhouseseachweektohelpsupportthefamily.multiplyingnumbersinmyhead(Para.16):心算乘法findingthequeenofheartsinadeckofcards(Para.16)I在一副紙牌中找出紅桃皇后來Playingcardsarearrangedindecksoffoursuits:spades黑桃,hearts紅桃,diamonds方片,clubs梅花WBSETTextAnalysistostandonmyheadwithoutusingmyhands(Para.16):不用手扶地的倒立NowJehoshaphathadrichesandhonorinabundance(Para.17)ThislineistakenfromChroniclesoftheOldTestament.ChroniclesrecountthereignofKingSolomon,therevoltofthenortherntribes,thekingsofJudahandthefallofJerusalem.Theoriginalpassageisquitecomplicatedwithdifficultnames.“AndJehoshaphathissonreignedinhisstead,andstrengthenedhimselfagainstIsrael.AndheplacedforcesinallthefencedcitiesofJudah,andsetgarrisonsinthelandofJudah,andinthecitiesofE’phrim,whichAsahisfatherhadtaken.AndtheLordwaswithJehoshaphat,becausehewalkedinthefirstwaysofhisfatherDavid,andsoughtnotuntoBa’alim;ButsoughttotheLordGodofhisfather,andwalkedinhiscommandments,andnotafterthedoingsofIsrael.ThereforetheLordestablishedthekingdominhisland;andallJudahbroughttoJehoshaphatpresents;andhehadrichesandhonourinabundance.”3233TextAnalysis…somethinginsideofmebegantodie(Para.18)AnimportantchangeJing-mei:Asthetestsgotharderandharder,Jing-meilostinterestandconfidence.Sheknewthatshewasnotagenius,notaprodigy.Ihatethetests,theraisedhopesandfailedexpectations.I我討厭那些測試，那些過高的希望和達不到的期盼。Shehatedthetestsbecausetheyrepresentedhopesthathadbeenraisedsohighthatfailuretomeettheexpectationswasinevitable.Thisisanimportantsentence,revealingthenatureoftheconflictbetweenmotheranddaughter.34TextAnalysisIlookedinthemirrorabovethebathroomsinkandwhenIsawonlymyface…Ibegantocry(Para.18)WhenJing-meilookedinthemirror,sheexpectedtoseeaprettyfaceorshewishedthatsomemagicwouldmakeherfaceprettier.Itseemspossiblethattheauthorisalludingheretothefairytale“SnowWhite.”

Once,theQueenlookedinthemirror,asking:“Mirror,mirroronthewall,whoisthefairestoneofall?”I鏡子鏡子我問你：誰在世界上最美麗？35Ihadnewthoughts,willfulthoughts…lotsofwon’ts(Para.19)Whatnewthoughts?Whatdidshedecidetodo?Shehadthoughtsfilledwithastrongspiritofrebellion,disobedience.Shedecidednottobecooperative.Inagivencontext,anywordcanbeusedasanoun:Tellmetheinsandoutsoftheproblem.(adv.)Rememberthedo’sanddon’tsofstudyingabroad.(v.)Realfriendsgothroughthickandthin.(adj.)TextAnalysisdisobedience,rebellioncontinuingtodowhatyouwant,evenafteryouhavebeentoldtostop36TextAnalysisIwon’tletherchangeme,Ipromisedmyself.Iwon’tbewhatI’mnot(Para.19)Jing-meiisassertingheridentity.Thisideaof“IamwhatIam.”reflectsAmericanindividualismwhichisanimportantaspectofAmericanvalues.GrowingupinAmerica,Jing-meihadbeeninfluencedbythisvalue.ThisnotionofindividualismwasnotinconformitywithatraditionalChinesefamilyeducation,whichemphasizedfilialpiety,theprinciplethatchildrenshouldrespectandlistentotheirparents.AfterJing-meimadeuphermindtoresist,theconflictbetweenmotheranddaughterescalated.TextAnalysisIgotsoboredIstartedcountingthebellowsofthefoghornsoutonthebaywhilemymotherdrilledmeinotherareas.(Para.20)Translation:我感到極為枯燥無聊，開始心里數(shù)著海灣傳來的霧角的聲音，而我的媽媽正在其他方面訓練我。bellow:adeephollowsoundfoghorn:ahornonashiporalighthousesoundedasawarningduringafog霧角，霧喇叭（向霧中的船只發(fā)警告）onthebay:ontheSanFranciscoBayto

drill:toteachsomeonebymakingthemrepeatsomethingmanytimesotherareas:Theword“areas”isusedbecausethebaywasanareathegirl’sattentionwasfocusedon.3738TextAnalysisThesoundwascomfortingandremindedmeofthecowjumpingoverthemoon.(Para.20)Thebellowofthefoghornsonthebayhadaqualitythatcouldrousethechild’simagination.Thesoundremindedherofthenurseryrhymeaboutthecowjumpingoverthemoon.Thecompleterhymegoeslike:TextAnalysisParagraphs21to28formthethirdsubsectionofSectionTwo.WhilewatchingaChinesegirlplayingthepianoontheEdSullivan

Show,anewideaflashedintothemother’smind.Withtheintroductionofthenewplan,theconflictwoulddevelopevenfurther.39埃德·沙利文（埃德·沙利文是美國著名的娛樂作家和電視節(jié)目主持人，主持的綜藝節(jié)目《埃德·沙利文秀》播放時間長達23年，邀請了眾多知名藝人上節(jié)目，是美國電視史上播放時間最久的綜藝節(jié)目之一。沙利文也因此入選《電視指南》雜志“50個最偉大電視明星”）40TextAnalysisTheTVwasoldandthesoundkeptshortingout

(短路).ItwaslikeanembracelessdancebetweenherandtheTVset.(Para.21)I她和電視機好像上演了一段舞蹈，二者不相擁抱，動作僵硬。Para.21isoneofthemanyfineexamplesshowinghowtheauthortellsherstoryusingsimplebutvividlyexpressivelanguage.Inherdescription,theauthorusessimplewordslike“upanddown,backandforth,quietandloud.”Finally…sounddial.(Para.21)sounddial:apieceofequipmentofanold-fashionedradioorTVsetthatyouturntoadjustthevolumeofthesound41TextAnalysisSheseemedentrancedbythemusic

alittlefrenziedpianopiecewiththismesmerizingquality,sortofquickpassagesandthenteasingliltingonesbeforeitreturnedtothequick

playfulparts.(Para.22)I她似乎被這音樂吸引住了。這鋼琴曲不長，但有點狂亂，有著迷人的特點，樂曲一開始是快節(jié)奏的，接著是歡快跳動的節(jié)拍，然后又回到嬉戲的部分。veryinterestedin&pleasedwithsthwithapleasantpatternofrising&fallingsoundinmusicorvoicetomakesomeonefeelthattheymustwatchorlistentosth,be-causetheyaresoattractedbyit42TextAnalysisThegirlhadthesaucinessofaShirleyTemple(Para.24)P:

Thegirlwasfullofenergyandspirit,lovelyandbrisk,atypeofgirllikeShirleyTemple.ShewasproudlymodestlikeaproperChinesegirl(Para.24)P:AChinesegirlwassupposedtobemodest.Thegirltriedtolookmodest,butactuallyshewasproud.I正如一個舉止得當?shù)娜A人女孩，她雖然驕傲但顯得謙虛。Oxymoron(矛盾修辭法/逆喻)

truelies;opensecret;gloriousdefeat;kindcruelty;dullybright;cryhappily;orderlychaos;bitter-sweetmemories43TextAnalysisAndshealsodidthisfancysweepofacurtsy(Para.24)P:LikeShirleyTemple,shedidhercurtsywithafancysweep.就像秀蘭?鄧波兒每次結束表演時那樣，她也行了個花哨瀟灑的屈膝禮。thefluffyshirtofherwhitedresscascadedslowly…alargecarnation.(Para.24)她那白色蓬松的裙子慢慢地垂落到地上，好似一大朵康乃馨。44TextAnalysisInspiteofthesewarningsigns,Iwasn’tworried.(Para.25)Themotherhadanewidea—tomakeherdaughterlearntoplaythepiano.Jing-meiknewthis,butshewasnotworried.reams(Para.25)：(pl.)(informal)alargeamountofwritingonpaper:eg.:Heshowedmereamsofnoteshehadtaken.SoIcouldbegenerousinmycommentswhenmymotherbad-mouthedthelittlegirl.(Para.25)Whygenerous?Sheknewshewouldnotcompetewiththisgirl,soshecouldsaynicethingsaboutthegirl’sperformance.(informal)tofindfaultwith,tocriticizeorbelittleTextAnalysis“Playnoteright,butdoesn’tsoundgood!Nosingingsound”(Para.25)WecanseethatalthoughthemotherdidnotspeakgrammaticallycorrectEnglish,shewasabletoexpressherselfadequately.Clearlyshemeantthatthegirlplayedthenotescorrectlybutfailedtobringoutthemelodyofthepiece.4546TextAnalysis“Whatareyoupickingonherfor”(Para.26)P:Whyareyoucriticizinghersounfairly?IknewimmediatelyIwouldbesorryIsaidthat(Para.26)IknewatonceIhadinvitedcriticismbysayingthat.topickonsb:toblamesomeoneforsth.,esp.unfairlyTextAnalysisParagraphs29to46formthefourthsubsectionofSectionTwo.ItdescribeshowJing-meiismadetolearntoplaythepianoundertheinstructionofOldChong.Jing-meihatedthepianolessonsbecauseshedidn’twanttobesomebodyshewasnot.Therelationshipbetweenmotheranddaughterbecamemoreandmoretense.WhenJing-mei’smotheruseshertocompetewithAuntieLindo,Jing-meicannotputupwithhermother’sbehavioranymore,andshedecidestoputastopto“herfoolishpride.”WhatisJing-meigoingtodo?Thatnaturallyarousesouranticipationaswecontinueourreadingintothenextsection.4748TextAnalysis…mymotherhadtradedhousecleaningservicesforweeklylessonsandapianoformetopracticeoneveryday,twohoursaday,fromfouruntilsix.(Para.29)MymotherwoulddohousecleaningforMr.Chong.Asaformofpayment,shegotfreeweeklypianolessonsandapianoforherdaughtertopracticeon...Atthisstage,thelittlegirlwastooyoungtoappreciatetheeffortsandsacrificehermothermadeforher.IwhinedandthenkickedmyfootalittlewhenIcouldn’tstanditanymore.(Para.29)Icomplainedinasad,annoyingvoice.49TextAnalysisMymotherslappedme(Para.32)Themotherisratherquick-tempered.SheisaChinesemother.Americanparentswouldhavehesitatedtousephysicalpunishmentindealingwiththeirchildren.“Whoaskyoubegenius?Onlyaskyoubeyourbest.Foryousake.YouthinkIwantyoubegenius?”(Para.32)IfweputthispartintomorecorrectEnglish,itshouldbe:Whoisaskingyoutobeagenius?Iamonlyaskingyoutodoyourbest.Foryoursake.DoyouthinkIwantyoutobeagenius?TextAnalysis“Soungrateful,”IheardhermutterinChinese(Para.33)ThisreflectsanimportantChinesevalue:Parentsdoeverythingtheycanfortheirchildrenandthechildrenaresupposedtofeelgratefultotheirparents.ThisisdifferentfromatypicalAmericanattitude:sincetheparentshavebroughttheirchildrenintothisworld,theyhaveobligationstotheirchildren,sothechildrendonothavetofeelthattheyoweanythingtotheirparents.50TextAnalysisIheardhermutterinChinese(Para.33)Notethatwhenthemothercommunicateswithherdaughter,sometimesshespeaksEnglishandsometimesChinese.PerhapssheswitcheswhenthenotionsaresotypicallyChinesethatitiseasierforhertoexpresstheminhermothertongueorwhenshefindsthatwhatshewantstosayistoodifficultforhertogetacrossinEnglish.“Ifshehadasmuchtalentasshehastemper,shewouldbefamousnow”(Para.33)如果她的才氣和脾氣一樣大的話，她早就出名了.5152TextAnalysis…tappinghisfingerstothesilentmusicofaninvisibleorchestra.(Para.34)用手指隨著一支無形樂團的無聲音樂打著拍子?！癓ikeBeethoven!”heshoutedtome.“We’rebothlisteningonlyinourhead!”(Para.35)Beethoven’scareerwasmarredbyhisdeafness.Inspiteofhisdeafness,hewentonworkingwithallhisstrength,thoughhewasneverabletohearmostofhisownfinestmusic.

SeeNote10tothetext.TextAnalysisAtfirsthecouldnotbeartoletanyone,evenhisbestfriends,knowofhistragedy.Inaletterhewrotetohisbrotherabouthisdeafnessin1802,hesaid:“WhathumiliationwhenanyonestandingbesidemecouldhearadistantflutethatIcouldnothear,orashepherdsinging,andIcouldnotdistinguishasound!Suchcircumstancesbroughtmetothebrinkofdespairandalmostmademeputanendtomylife:nothingbutmyartheldmyhand.”Thediseaseworsened,andhebecamecompletelydeafin1807.53TextAnalysis…anoldunreachableitch(Para.37)Theword“itch”hastwomeanings.Anitchisanuncomfortablefeelingonyourskinthatmakesyouwanttoscratchitwithyourfingernails.Informallyandfiguratively,itmeansastrongdesiretodoorhavesomething.5455TextAnalysisButnowyoumustlearntokeeptime!(Para.38)Otherphrasesaboutmusicwiththeword“time”:Waltzesareusuallyinthree-fourtime.Hewentthroughthemotionsinhalf-time.Shebeganmovingherbodyintimetothemusic.Whilehisfriendsweresinging,hebeattimeforthem.toplayapieceofmusicusingtherightrhythmandspeed保持(相同的)節(jié)奏56TextAnalysisHebalancedpenniesontopofmywrists(Para.39)acommonmethodpianoteachersusetotraintheirstudents…conductinghisownprivatereverie(Para.40)Hewasconductingtheinvisibleorchestracreatedbyhisownimagination.Ilearnedtoplayonlythemostear-splittingpreludes,themostdiscordanthymns(Para.41)Shedemonstratedherrebellioninthisway.Shetriedherbesttobedisagreeabledreamythinking;fancifulmusing;daydreamingAmetaphor:comparinghernon-cooperativeattitudetolearningtoplaydiscordantmusic.57TextAnalysisOverthenextyear,Ipracticedlikethis,dutifullyinmyownway.(Para.42)Sheplayedinaprivatelyuncooperativeway,whichneitherhermothernorthepianoteacherrealized.Wehadgrownuptogetherandsharedalltheclosenessoftwosisterssquabblingovercrayonsanddolls.(Para.42)Thetwogirlshadgrownuptogether.Likesisterstheyhadoftenquarreledovercrayonsanddolls.toquarrelcontinuouslyaboutsthunimportantMymotherstartedtheSanFranciscoversionoftheJoyLuckClubin1949,twoyearsbeforeIwasborn.ThiswastheyearmymotherandfatherleftChinawithonestiffleathertrunkfilledonlywithfancysilkdresses...WhentheyarrivedinSanFrancisco,myfathermadeherhidethoseshinyclothes.Sheworethesamebrown-checkedChinesedressuntiltheRefugeeWelcomeSocietygavehertwohand-me-downdresses,alltoolargeinsizesforAmericanwomen.Thesocietywascomposedofagroupofwhite-hairedAmericanmissionaryladiesfromtheFirstChineseBaptistChurch.Andbecauseoftheirgifts,myparentscouldnotrefusetheirinvitationtojointhechurch.58Norcouldtheyignoretheoldladies’practicaladvicetoimprovetheirEnglishthroughBiblestudyclassonWednesdaynightsand,later,throughchoirpracticeonSaturdaymornings.ThiswashowmyparentsmettheHsus,theJongs,andtheSt.Clairs.MymothercouldsensethatthewomenofthesefamiliesalsohadunspeakabletragediestheyhadleftbehindinChinaandhopestheycouldn’tbegintoexpressintheirfragileEnglish.Oratleast,mymotherrecognizedthenumbnessinthesewomen’sfaces.AndshesawhowquicklytheireyesmovedwhenshetoldthemherideafortheJoyLuckClub.5960TextAnalysis…forthemostpart,wehatedeachother.(Para.42)P:Wehatedeachothermostofthetime.Theirbehaviorissimilartosiblingrivalry--competitionbetweenbrothersandsistersfortheirparents’love.“Chinatown’sLittlestC