Astronomer's wife 范文
First of all,the plot of this novelette,has been fabricated into three parts. The initiation implays the dull and lifeless marital situation while the herorine is of great energy and vigor. However,what a pathetic life the housewife leads lies in the fact that her seemingly philosophical husband is actually a insipid and inconsiderate man. Hence,the sudden incident of acquaintance with the plumber,who is quite considerate,humorous and approachable. This is the very moment that enables her to wake up and to follow her mind in persuit of spiritual freedom. Here,the climax should focus on the denouement of her desision of going underground.
As far as the characters of the novella concerned, Mrs. Ames,the protagonist and also the heroine,is a dynamic round character. Originally,she is an obedient and innocent housewife in the monotonous marrige. Later,she comes to realize that she could change this mode of life style through her own power,especially the appearance of the plumber. Along with her increasingly aching for female freedom and liberation,the transformation of this heroine takes place. The two other figures, astronomers and the plumber,both being the static flat character,are distinctively differenciate from each other. The former one is a unrealistic dreamer which full of illusion and vision. Hence,he could he understood as a foil here. The latter one,however,is a diligent and down-to-earth hero. Besides, the descriptions like "his firm and clean flesh" also highlights the plumber's attractive phisical features.
As for the theme,undoubtedly,should lie in the drastic conflicts between Mrs. Armes' healthy and integrated life style and the realistic life she's leading at present. Given this,the plumber and Mr Armes,stands for the two types of life style,say,sense and sensability. Mrs Armes,initially,as the victim of patriarchy and female discrimination,later awakens as a typical spokesman for the self-dependant and self-reliant female,and eventually,she achieves her femininity through the strengh of her inside struggle and belief. Meanwhile,this short story could be undoubtedly understood as the females' breaking with the past,changing the repressed and eppressed women's fate.。
高考英语作文老外版 仰望星空,脚踏实地素材
老外版高考作文：仰望星空，脚踏实地[1] 英文版I'm no Li Bai, but when it comes to poetry I know what I like, and that's what I know. Some things are inalienably true: Water is wet, grass is green (kind of), dogs bark and houses prices rise.The line yang wang xing kong ("look up at the starry sky") is one of my favorites. Why? Because it's true. Look at the sky. What do you see? That's right. Stars.It's very important we all gaze at the skies and don't look around us. Look! Big apartment, high-earning job, KTV booked round the clock, two cars with different license plates and, of course, a hot wife (everyone wants a hot wife. Even my girlfriend, just for the marvelous face it gives).If we all do this, we drive up national productivity and everybody's happy, except the peasants. But it's crucial to remember the other half. Not the peasants. The earth.Reach for the Sky was a famous book by a wheelchair-bound pilot written after World War II. Today, we are asked to do a far more important thing: To reach for the ground.Or, in another way, jiao ta shi di (roughly translated: get real). Keep your feet firmly on dry land. Life is likely going to be living in a dormitory, working for the man and looking at hot wives on the Internet.It was, I believe, Oscar Wilde, or possibly George Bernard Shaw (or maybe even Noel Coward - it definitely wasn't Dorothy Parker) who said: "We are all of us in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars."What exactly did he mean? And how can I use this to finagle a passing grade and ensure a high-flying career at a top 500 company, like Foxconn (they've had some openings recently), or failing that, a kindergarten security guard post? The answer is: I don't know. But I've just had a text to say someone will be emailing me the answers soon.[2] 中文翻译版我不是李白，但谈及诗，我知道我喜欢什么。
用天文望远镜看月亮的英语作文
用天文望远镜看月亮的英语作文The Wonders of the Moon through a TelescopeThe moon, our celestial companion, has captivated the human imagination for centuries. With the aid of a telescope, we can unlock the secrets of this enigmatic celestial body and gain a deeper understanding of its captivating features. The journey of exploring the moon through a telescope is a truly awe-inspiring experience, one that reveals the intricate details and hidden wonders of this celestial wonder.As the telescope lens brings the moon into sharp focus, the first thing that strikes the observer is the sheer scale and grandeur of its surface. The vast expanse of craters, mountains, and valleys unfolds before our eyes, each feature a testament to the moon's tumultuous past. The Lunar Maria, or the dark, smooth areas on the moon's surface, are particularly fascinating to observe. These vast plains were formed by ancient volcanic eruptions, leaving behind a stark contrast to the rugged, cratered terrain that dominates the rest of the lunar landscape.One of the most striking features of the moon, as viewed through atelescope, is the intricate network of craters that dot its surface. These craters, ranging from small pockmarks to vast, gaping depressions, are the result of countless meteorite impacts over the course of the moon's history. Each crater tells a story, a record of the celestial bombardment that has shaped the moon's surface over billions of years. By observing these craters in detail, astronomers can gain valuable insights into the moon's geological history and the forces that have sculpted its surface.Another captivating aspect of the moon, as seen through a telescope, is the play of light and shadow across its surface. As the moon waxes and wanes, the angle of the sun's rays changes, casting dramatic shadows that accentuate the topography of the lunar landscape. The terminator, the boundary between the illuminated and dark portions of the moon, is particularly mesmerizing to observe, as it reveals the three-dimensional nature of the moon's surface features. The shadows cast by mountains and craters create a sense of depth and perspective, allowing the observer to truly appreciate the rugged and varied terrain of the moon.One of the most awe-inspiring moments in lunar observation comes during a lunar eclipse, when the moon passes through the Earth's shadow. As the moon is gradually obscured by the Earth's shadow, the surface takes on a deep, coppery hue, a phenomenon known as the "blood moon." This otherworldly display is a testament to theintricate dance of celestial bodies, and the telescope provides a front-row seat to this captivating event.Beyond the visual delights, observing the moon through a telescope also offers valuable scientific insights. By carefully studying the moon's surface, astronomers can gain a better understanding of the moon's geological history, its internal structure, and its relationship to the Earth. The craters, mountains, and other features on the moon's surface provide clues about the moon's formation and evolution, as well as the history of the solar system as a whole.Moreover, the study of the moon has practical applications here on Earth. The moon's gravitational pull is a key driver of the tides, and understanding the dynamics of this celestial relationship can have important implications for coastal communities and marine ecosystems. Additionally, the study of the moon's surface and its potential resources has implications for future space exploration and the potential colonization of the moon.In conclusion, the experience of observing the moon through a telescope is a truly remarkable and transformative one. The sheer scale and complexity of the lunar landscape, the interplay of light and shadow, and the insights into the moon's history and relationship to our planet all combine to create a captivating and awe-inspiring experience. Whether you are a seasoned astronomeror a curious stargazer, the moon's secrets, as revealed through the lens of a telescope, are sure to leave a lasting impression and inspire a deeper appreciation for the wonders of our celestial companion.。
Astronomers Wife
Setting
Mr. and Mrs. Ames belong to the upper class in society, and they live in a house where is very quiet but oppressive. Mrs. Ames always take the whole busying with her house works, and for her every day is the repetition of the day before. Her husband is an astronomer and dreamer. He always standing on the roof of the house or climbing up the peak of the hill, watching his astronomy world by telescope. Though Mrs. Ames lives a decent life materially, her life is very dull. She consider the astronomer the center of the world, and fears of disturbing him and bringing troubles to him. And they have no intersection in their marriage life. So, in such a condition, Mrs. Ames just can not gain what she want, and she lost herself gradually. Until one day a plumber comes to their house and exchange ideas with her, which evoke the internal aspiration of her.
The Astronomer’s Wife
Figures of Speech
Spoken soft as a willow weeping. (Alliteration) That man might be each time the new arching wave, and woman undertow that …(metaphor) Her husband was the mind, this other man the meat, of all mankind. (symbolism) The mystery and silence of her husband’s mind lay like a chiding finger…(simile) There’s a problem worthy of your mettle (irony)
Mr. Ames Passive Impractical Plumber Positive Practical
Indifferent
Idle Sense Go up
Kind
Laborious Sensibility Go down
The Change of the Plumber’s Attitude
The Astronomer’s Wife
Mrs. Ames Positive/optimistic Mr. Ames passive/pessimistic
Practical
Kind Laborious
Impractical
Indifferent Idle
The Astronomer’s Wife
Short Stories Wedding Day and Other Stories The First Lover and Other Stories The White Horses of Vienna ( O. Henry Award) The Astronomer's Wife Defeat ( O. Henry Award)
review on astronomer
天文学家的妻子 by Kay Boyle(1903-1992)review on astronomer's wife2009-12-31 15:32First of all,the plot of this novelette,has been fabricated into three parts. The initiation implays the dull and lifeless marital situation while the herorine is of great energy and vigor. However,what a pathetic life the housewife leads lies in the fact that her seemingly philosophical husband is actually a insipid and inconsiderate man. Hence,the sudden incident of acquaintance with the plumber,who is quite considerate,humorous and approachable. This is the very moment that enables her to wake up and to follow her mind in persuit of spiritual freedom. Here,the climax should focus on the denouement of her desision of going underground.As far as the characters of the novella concerned, Mrs. Ames,the protagonist and also the heroine,is a dynamic round character. Originally,she is an obedient and innocent housewife in the monotonous marrige. Later,she comes to realize that she could change this mode of life style through her own power,especially the appearance of the plumber. Along with her increasingly aching for female freedom and liberation,the transformation of this heroine takes place. The two other figures, astronomers and the plumber,both being the static flat character,are distinctively differenciate from each other. The former one is a unrealistic dreamer which full of illusion and vision. Hence,he could he understood as a foil here. The latter one,however,is a diligent and down-to-earth hero. Besides, the descriptions like "his firm and clean flesh" also highlights the plumber's attractive phisical features.As for the theme,undoubtedly,should lie in the drastic conflicts between Mrs. Armes' healthy and integrated life style and the realistic life she's leading at present. Given this,the plumber and Mr Armes,stands for the two types of life style,say,sense and sensability. Mrs Armes,initially,as the victim of patriarchy and female discrimination,later awakens as a typical spokesman for the self-dependant and self-reliant female,and eventually,she achieves her femininity through the strengh of her inside struggle and belief. Meanwhile,this short story could be undoubtedly understood as the females' breaking with the past,changing the repressed and eppressed women's fate.天文学家的妻子 by Kay Boyle(1903-1992)当万籁俱寂，生命尚未复苏时，醒来那一刻是令人不悦的。
The Astronomer’s Wife
Kay Boyle
Kay Boyle
Kay Boyle(1903-1992), American writer, educator and political activist, a member of the famous Lost Generation of American artists and writers who inhabited Paris in the 1920s Famous for her short stories Concentrates on the double alienation of women and especially on middle-class women's difficulty in finding fulfillment
Setting and Atmosphere
It is an ordinary early morning in a dull and lifeless marital situation, in contrast to Mrs. Ames’ energy and vigor, in the house where villas are scattered out few and primitive.
Figures of Speech
Spoken soft as a willow weeping. (Alliteration) That man might be each time the new arching wave, and woman undertow that …(metaphor) Her husband was the mind, this other man the meat, of all mankind. (symbolism) The mystery and silence of her husband’s mind lay like a chiding finger…(simile) There’s a problem worthy of your mettle (irony)
Glossary of Literary Terms
Glossary of Literary TermsAllegoryA symbolic narrative in which the surface details imply a secondary meaning. Allegory often takes the form of a story in which the charactersrepresent moral qualities. The most famous example in English is John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, in which the name of the central character,Pilgrim, epitomizes the book's allegorical nature. Kay Boyle's story "Astronomer's Wife" and Christina Rossetti's poem "Up-Hill" both containallegorical elements.AlliterationThe repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the beginning of words. Example: "Fetched fresh, as I suppose, off some sweet wood." Hopkins, "In the Valley of the Elwy."AntagonistA character or force against which another character struggles. Creon is Antigone's antagonist in Sophocles' play Antigone; Teiresias is the antagonistof Oedipus in Sophocles' Oedipus the King.AssonanceThe repetition of similar vowel sounds in a sentence or a line of poetry or prose, as in "I rose and told him of my woe." Whitman's "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" contains assonantal "I's" in the following lines: "How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, / Till rising and gliding out Iwander'd off by myself."CharacterAn imaginary person that inhabits a literary work. Literary characters may be major or minor, static (unchanging) or dynamic (capable of change). In Shakespeare's Othello, Desdemona is a major character, but one who is static, like the minor character Bianca. Othello is a major character who isdynamic, exhibiting an ability to change.CharacterizationThe means by which writers present and reveal character. Although techniques of characterization are complex, writers typically reveal charactersthrough their speech, dress, manner, and actions. Readers come to understand characters who are developed through their actions, what they say,their physical appearance, and what others say about them.ClimaxThe turning point of the action in the plot of a play or story. The climax represents the point of greatest tension in the work. The climax of JohnUpdike's "A&P," for example, occurs when Sammy quits his job as a cashier.ComplicationAn intensification of the conflict in a story or play. Complication builds up, accumulates, and develops the primary or central conflict in a literary work.Frank O'Connor's story "Guests of the Nation" provides a striking example, as does Ralph Ellison's "Battle Royal."ConflictA struggle between opposing forces in a story or play, usually resolved by the end of the work. The conflict may occur within a character as well as between characters. Lady Gregory's one-act play The Rising of the Moon exemplifies both types of conflict as the Policeman wrestles with his conscience in an inner conflict and confronts an antagonist in the person of the ballad singer.ConventionA customary feature of a literary work, such as the use of a chorus in Greek tragedy, the inclusion of an explicit moral in a fable, or the use of a particular rhyme scheme in a villanelle. Literary conventions are defining features of particular literary genres, such as novel, short story, ballad, sonnet, and play.DenouementThe resolution of the plot of a literary work. It involves the “tying up of loose ends.” The denouement of Hamlet takes place after the catastrophe, with the stage littered with corpses. During the denouement Fortinbras makes an entrance and a speech, and Horatio speaks his sweet lines in praise of Hamlet.DialogueThe conversation of characters in a literary work. In fiction, dialogue is typically enclosed within quotation marks. In plays, characters' speech is preceded by their names.DictionThe selection of words in a literary work. A work's diction forms one of its centrally important literary elements, as writers use words to convey action, reveal character, imply attitudes, identify themes, and suggest values. We can speak of the diction particular to a character, as in Iago's and Desdemona's very different ways of speaking in Othello. We can also refer to a poet's diction as represented over the body of his or her work, as in Donne's or Hughes's diction.ExpositionThe first stage of a fictional or dramatic plot, in which necessary background information is provided. Ibsen's A Doll's House, for instance, begins with a conversation between the two central characters, a dialogue that fills the audience in on events that occurred before the action of the play begins, but which are important in the development of its plot.FableA brief story with an explicit moral provided by the author. Fables typically include animals as characters. Their most famous practitioner in the west is the ancient Greek writer Aesop, whose "The Dog and the Shadow" and "The Wolf and the Mastiff" are included in this book.Falling actionIn the plot of a story or play, the action following the climax of the work that moves it towards its denouement or resolution. The falling action of Othello begins after Othello realizes that Iago is responsible for plotting against him by spurring him on to murder his wife, Desdemona.FictionAn imagined story, whether in prose, poetry, or drama. Ibsen's Nora is fictional, a "make-believe" character in a play, as are Hamlet and Othello. Characters like Robert Browning's Duke and Duchess from his poem "My Last Duchess" are fictional as well, though they may be based on actual historical individuals. And, of course, characters in stories and novels are fictional, though they, too, may be based, in some way, on real people. The important thing to remember is that writers embellish and embroider and alter actual life when they use real life as the basis for their work. They fictionalize facts, and deviate from real-life situations as they "make things up."Figurative languageA form of language use in which writers and speakers convey something other than the literal meaning of their words. Examples include hyperbole or exaggeration, litotes or understatement, simile and metaphor, which employ comparison, and synecdoche and metonymy, in which a part of a thing stands for the whole.FlashbackAn interruption of a work's chronology to describe or present an incident that occurred prior to the main time frame of a work's action. Writers use flashbacks to complicate the sense of chronology in the plot of their works and to convey the richness of the experience of human time. Faulkner's story "A Rose for Emily" includes flashbacks.FoilA character who contrasts and parallels the main character in a play or story. Laertes, in Hamlet, is a foil for the main character; in Othello, Emilia and Bianca are foils for Desdemona.ForeshadowingHints of what is to come in the action of a play or a story. Ibsen's A Doll's House includes foreshadowing as does Synge's Riders to the Sea. So, too, do Poe's "Cask of Amontillado" and Chopin's "Story of an Hour."HyperboleA figure of speech involving exaggeration. John Donne uses hyperbole in his poem: "Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star."ImageryThe pattern of related comparative aspects of language, particularly of images, in a literary work. Imagery of light and darkness pervade James Joyce's stories "Araby," "The Boarding House," and "The Dead." So, too, does religious imagery.IronyA contrast or discrepancy between what is said and what is meant or between what happens and what is expected to happen in life and in literature. In verbal irony, characters say the opposite of what they mean. In irony of circumstance or situation, the opposite of what is expected occurs. In dramatic irony, a character speaks in ignorance of a situation or event known to the audience or to the other characters. Flannery O'Connor's short stories employ all these forms of irony, as does Poe's "Cask of Amontillado."MetaphorA comparison between essentially unlike things without an explicitly comparative word such as like or as. An example is "My love is a red, red rose,"MetonymyA figure of speech in which a closely related term is substituted for an object or idea. An example: "We have always remained loyal to the crown." See Synecdoche.NarratorThe voice and implied speaker of a fictional work, to be distinguished from the actual living author. For example, the narrator of Joyce's "Araby" is not James Joyce himself, but a literary fictional character created expressly to tell the story. Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" contains a communal narrator, identified only as "we." See Point of view.OnomatopoeiaThe use of words to imitate the sounds they describe. Words such as buzz and crack are onomatopoetic. The following line from Pope's "Sound and Sense" onomatopoetically imitates in sound what it describes:When Ajax strives some rock's vast weight to throw,The line too labors, and the words move slow.Most often, however, onomatopoeia refers to words and groups of words, such as Tennyson's description of the "murmur of innumerable bees," which attempts to capture the sound of a swarm of bees buzzing.ParableA brief story that teaches a lesson often ethical or spiritual. Examples include "The Prodigal Son," from the New Testament, and the Zen parable, "Learning to Be Silent." See Fable.ParodyA humorous, mocking imitation of a literary work, sometimes sarcastic, but often playful and even respectful in its playful imitation. Examples include Bob McKenty's parody of Frost's "Dust of Snow" and Kenneth Koch's parody of Williams's "This is Just to Say."PersonificationThe endowment of inanimate objects or abstract concepts with animate or living qualities. An example: "The yellow leaves flaunted their color gaily in the breeze." Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a cloud" includes personification.PlotThe unified structure of incidents in a literary work. See Conflict, Climax, Denouement, and Flashback.Point of viewThe angle of vision from which a story is narrated. See Narrator. A work's point of view can be: first person, in which the narrator is a character or an observer, respectively; objective, in which the narrator knows or appears to know no more than the reader; omniscient, in which the narrator knows everything about the characters; and limited omniscient, which allows the narrator to know some things about the characters but not everything.ProtagonistThe main character of a literary work--Hamlet and Othello in the plays named after them, Gregor Samsa in Kafka's Metamorphosis, Paul in Lawrence's "Rocking-Horse Winner."RecognitionThe point at which a character understands his or her situation as it really is. Sophocles' Oedipus comes to this point near the end of Oedipus the King; Othello comes to a similar understanding of his situation in Act V of Othello.ResolutionThe sorting out or unraveling of a plot at the end of a play, novel, or story. It is also called the denouement. See Plot.ReversalThe point at which the action of the plot turns in an unexpected direction for the protagonist. Oedipus's and Othello's recognitions are also reversals. They learn what they did not expect to learn. See Recognition and also Irony.Rising actionA set of conflicts and crises that constitute the part of a play's or story's plot leading up to the climax. See Climax, Denouement, and Plot.SatireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies. Swift's Gulliver's Travels is a famous example. Chekhov's Marriage Proposal and O'Connor's "Everything That Rises Must Converge," have strong satirical elements.SettingThe time and place of a literary work that establish its context. The stories of Sandra Cisneros are set in the American southwest in the mid to late 20th century, those of James Joyce in Dublin, Ireland in the early 20th century.SimileA figure of speech involving a comparison between unlike things using like, as, or as though. An example: "My love is like a red, red rose."StyleThe way an author chooses words, arranges them in sentences or in lines of dialogue or verse, and develops ideas and actions with description, imagery, and other literary techniques. See Connotation, Denotation, Diction, Figurative language, Image, Imagery, Irony, Metaphor, Narrator, Point of view, Syntax, and Tone.SubjectWhat a story or play is about; to be distinguished from plot and theme. Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" is about the decline of a particular way of life endemic to the American south before the civil war. That is its subject/topic. Its plot concerns how Faulkner describes and organizes the actions of the story's characters. Its theme is the overall meaning Faulkner conveys.SubplotA subsidiary or subordinate or parallel plot in a play or story that coexists with the main plot. The story of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern forms a subplot with the overall plot of Hamlet.SymbolAn object or action in a literary work that means more than itself, that stands for something beyond itself. The glass unicorn in The Glass Menagerie, the rocking horse in "The Rocking-Horse Winner," the road in Frost's "The Road Not Taken"--all are symbols in this sense.SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is substituted for the whole. An example: "Lend me a hand." See Metonymy.SyntaxThe grammatical order of words in a sentence or line of verse or dialogue. The organization of words and phrases and clauses in sentences of prose, verse, and dialogue. In the following example, normal syntax (subject, verb, object order) is inverted:"Whose woods these are I think I know."ThemeThe idea or message of a literary work abstracted from its details of language, character, and action, and cast in the form of a generalization. Theme must be stated in a sentence. It is not simply a topic.ToneThe implied attitude of a writer toward the subject and characters of a work, as, for example, Flannery O'Connor's ironic tone in her "Good Country People." See Irony.UnderstatementA figure of speech in which a writer or speaker says less than what he or she means; the opposite of exaggeration. The last line of Frost's "Birches" illustrates this literary device: "One could do worse than be a swinger of birches."。
thecharacteranalyzeofastronomerswife
The character analyze of astronomer's wifeI think the protagonist of astronomer’s wife is the wife, and the antagonist is his husband. I will analyze one character of this essay. Everyday she does much housework. Her husband always sleeps late in the bed, and scarcely out of the impenetrable silence of his brow. She was absent from him all the day in being clean, busy, kind. She never compliment about this. From it, we can see she is a woman who was industries and kind. When the plumber came, she quickly put on her stock. It can see she is an adept in housework and an excellent woman. She was a youngish woman, but this she has forgotten. The mystery and silence of her husband’s mind lay like a chiding finger on her lips. The strange dim halo of her yellow hair was still uncombed and sideways on her head. In this description, we can learn that she is a person who was confined by her husband. Her life is not happy, dull and dry. She faces the cold. Her husband always silences, but arrange her do anything. In the life, she steels herself, even forgotten her beauty. In the description of this: the astronomer shouted that what thing can make you so bold? The wife didn’t respond him, and go downstairs with plumber. I think from this, we can see that she has a thirst of a happy life. And then the essay said that the plumber seems know this ruddiness not from illumination, but from the shy in heart. So the wife is a person who bashful and has mind but don’t dare to present, mind was confined by others. The plumber’s worddeeply moved her; it made her wonder that why she didn’t have sense when her husband speaks of the high. It seems that she like the life style as plumber more. She doesn’t want her hand busy one more. She feels curious about the plumbers’ word, she believe his words.。
Astronomer's wife
Astronomer's WifeKay BoyleThere is an evil moment on awakening when all things seem topause. But for women, they only falter and may be set in action by asingle move: a lifted hand and the pendulum will swing, or the voice raised and through every room the pulse takes up its beating. Theastronomer's wife felt the interval gaping and at once filled it to the brim. She 5fetched up her gentle voice and sent it warily down the stairs for coffee, swung her feet out upon the oval mat, and hailed the morning with her bare arms'quivering flesh drawn taut in rhythmic exercise: left, left, left my wife andfourteen children, right, right, right in the middle of the dusty road.The day would proceed from this, beat by beat, without reflection, like 10every other day. The astronomer was still asleep, or feigning it, and she, once out of bed, had come into her own possession. Although scarcely ever out of sight of the impenetrable silence of his brow, she would be absent from him all the day in being clean, busy, kind. He was a man of other things, a dreamer. At times he lay still for hours, at others he sat upon the roof behind 15his telescope, or wandered down the pathway to the road and out across the mountains. This day, like any other, would go on from the removal of the spot left there from dinner on the astronomer's vest to the severe thrashing of the mayonnaise for lunch. That man might be each time the new arching wave, and woman the undertow that sucked him back, were things she had 20been told by his silence were so.In spite of the earliness of the hour, the girl had heard her mistress's voice and was coming up the stairs. At the threshold of the bedroom she paused, and said: "Madame, the plumber is here."The astronomer's wife put on her white and scarlet smock very quickly 25and buttoned it at the neck. Then she stepped carefully around the motionless spread of water in the hall."Tell him to come right up," she said. She laid her hands on the bannisters and stood looking down the wooden stairway. "Ah, I am Mrs.Ames," she said softly as she saw him mounting. "I am Mrs. Ames," she said 30softly, softly down the flight of stairs. "I am Mrs. Ames," spoken soft as a willow weeping. "The professor is still sleeping. Just step this way."The plumber himself looked up and saw Mrs. Ames with her voice hushed, speaking to him. She was a youngish woman, but this she had forgotten. The mystery and silence of her husband's mind lay like a chiding 35finger on her lips. Her eyes were gray, for the light had been extinguished inthem. The strange dim halo of her yellow hair was still uncombed and sideways on her head.For all of his heavy boots, the plumber quieted the sound of his feet, and together they went down the hall, picking their way around the still lake of 40water that spread as far as the landing and lay docile there. The plumber wasa tough, hardy man; but he took off his hat when he spoke to her and lookedher fully, almost insolently in the eye."Does it come from the wash-basin," he said, "or from the other . . .?""Oh, from the other," said Mrs. Ames without hesitation.45In this place the villas were scattered out few and primitive, and although beauty lay without there was no reflection of her face within. Here all was awkward and unfit; a sense of wrestling with uncouth forces gave everything an austere countenance. Even the plumber, dealing as does a woman with matters under hand, was grave and stately. The mountains round about 50seemed to have cast them into the shadow of great dignity.Mrs. Ames began speaking of their arrival that summer in the little villa, mourning each event as it followed on the other."Then, just before going to bed last night," she said, "I noticed something was unusual."55The plumber cast down a folded square of sack-cloth on the brimming floor and laid his leather apron on it. Then he stepped boldly onto the heart of the island it shaped and looked long into the overflowing bowl."The water should be stopped from the meter in the garden," he said at last.60"Oh, I did that," said Mrs. Ames, "the very first thing last night. I turned it off at once, in my nightgown, as soon as I saw what was happening. But all this had already run in."The plumber looked for a moment at her red kid slippers. She was standing just at the edge of the clear, pure-seeming tide.65"It's no doubt the soil lines," he said severely. "It may be that something has stopped them, but my opinion is that the water seals aren't working. That's the trouble often enough in such cases. If you had a valve you wouldn't be caught like this."Mrs. Ames did not know how to meet this rebuke. She stood, swaying a 70little, looking into the plumber's blue relentless eye."I'm sorry--I'm sorry that my husband," she said, "is still--resting and cannot go into this with you. I'm sure it must be very interesting. . . .""You'll probably have to have the traps sealed," said the plumber grimly, and at the sound of this Mrs. Ames' hand flew in dismay to the side of her 75face. The plumber made no move, but the set of his mouth as he looked at her seemed to soften. "Anyway, I'll have a look from the garden end," he said."Oh, do," said the astronomer's wife in relief. Here was a man who spoke of action and object as simply as women did! But however hushed her voice had been, it carried clearly to Professor Ames who lay, dreaming and solitary, 80upon his bed. He heard their footsteps come down the hall, pause, and skip across the pool of overflow."Katherine!" said the astronomer in a ringing tone. "There's a problem worthy of your mettle!"Mrs. Ames did not turn her head, but led the plumber swiftly down the 85stairs. When the sun in the garden struck her face, he saw there was a wave of color in it, but this may have been anything but shame."You see how it is," said the plumber, as if leading her mind away. "The drains run from these houses right down the hill, big enough for a man to stand upright in them, and clean as a whistle, too." There they stood in the 90garden with the vegetation flowering in disorder all about. The plumber looked at the astronomer's wife. "They come out at the torrent on the other side of the forest beyond there," he said.But the words the astronomer had spoken still sounded in her in despair. The mind of man, she knew, made steep and sprightly flights, 95pursued illusion, took foothold in the nameless things that cannot pass between the thumb and finger. But whenever the astronomer gave voice to the thoughts that soared within him, she returned in gratitude to the long expanses of his silence. Desert-like they stretched behind and before the articulation of his scorn.100Life, life is an open sea, she sought to explain it in sorrow, and to survive women cling to the floating debris on the tide. But the plumber had suddenly fallen upon his knees in the grass and had crooked his fingers through the ring of the drains' trap-door. When she looked down she saw that he was looking up into her face, and she saw too that his hair was as light as gold.105"Perhaps Mr. Ames," he said rather bitterly, "would like to come down with me and have a look around?""Down?" said Mrs. Ames in wonder."Into the drains," said the plumber brutally. "They're a study for a man who likes to know what's what."110"Oh, Mr. Ames," said Mrs. Ames in confusion. "He's still—still in bed, you see."The plumber lifted his strong, weathered face and looked curiously at her. Surely it seemed to him strange for a man to linger in bed, with the sun pouring yellow as wine all over the place. The astronomer's wife saw his lean 115cheeks, his high, rugged bones, and the deep seams in his brow. His flesh was as firm and clean as wood, stained richly tan with the climate's rigor. His fingers were blunt, but comprehensible to her, gripped in the ring and holding the iron door wide. The backs of his hands were bound round and round with ripe blue veins of blood.120"At any rate," said the astronomer's wife, and the thought of it moved her lips to smile a little, "Mr. Ames would never go down there alive. He likes going up," she said. And she, in her turn, pointed, but impudently, towards the heavens. "On the roof. Or on the mountains. He's been up on the top of them many times."125"It's a matter of habit," said the plumber, and suddenly he went down the trap. Mrs. Ames saw a bright little piece of his hair still shining, like a star, long after the rest of him had gone. Out of the depths, his voice, hollow and dark with foreboding, returned to her. "I think something has stopped the elbow," was what he said.130This was speech that touched her flesh and bone and made her wonder. When her husband spoke of height, having no sense of it, she could not picture it nor hear. Depth or magic passed her by unless a name were given. But madness in a daily shape, as elbow stopped, she saw clearly and well. She sat down on the grasses, bewildered that it should be a man who 135had spoken to her so.She saw the weeds springing up, and she did not move to tear them up from life. She sat powerless, her sense veiled, with no action taking shape beneath her hands. In this way some men sat for hours on end, she knew, tracking a single thought back to its origin. The mind of man could balance 140and divide, weed out, destroy. She sat on the full, burdened grasses, seeking to think, and dimly waiting for the plumber to return.Whereas her husband had always gone up, as the dead go, she knew now that there were others who went down, like the corporeal being of the dead. That men were then divided into two bodies now seemed clear to Mrs. 145Ames. This knowledge stunned her with its simplicity and took the uneasy motion from her limbs. She could not stir, but sat facing the mountains' rocky flanks, and harking in silence to lucidity. Her husband was the mind, this other man the meat, of all mankind.After a little, the plumber emerged from the earth: first the light top of 150his head, then the burnt brow, and then the blue eyes fringed with whitest lash. He braced his thick hands flat on the pavings of the garden-path and swung himself completely from the pit."It's the soil lines," he said pleasantly. "The gases," he said as he looked down upon her lifted face, "are backing up the drains."155"What in the world are we going to do?" said the astronomer's wife softly.There was a young and strange delight in putting questions to which true answers would be given. Everything the astronomer had ever said to her wasa continuous query to which there could be no response."Ah, come, now," said the plumber, looking down and smiling. "There's a 160remedy for every ill, you know. Sometimes it may be that," he said as if speaking to a child, "or sometimes the other thing. But there's always a help for everything amiss."Things come out of herbs and make you young again, he might have been saying to her; or the first good rain will quench any drought; or time of itself 165will put a broken bone together."I'm going to follow the ground pipe out right to the torrent," the plumber was saying. "The trouble's between here and there and I'll find it on the way. There's nothing at all that can't be done over for the caring," he was saying, and his eyes were fastened on her face in insolence, or gentleness, or 170love.The astronomer's wife stood up, fixed a pin in her hair, and turned around towards the kitchen. Even while she was calling the servant's name, the plumber began speaking again."I once had a cow that lost her cud," the plumber was saying. The girl 175came out on the kitchen-step and Mrs. Ames stood smiling at her in the sun."The trouble is very serious, very serious," she said across the garden. "When Mr. Ames gets up, please tell him I've gone down."She pointed briefly to the open door in the pathway, and the plumber hoisted his kit on his arm and put out his hand to help her down.180"But I made her another in no time," he was saying, "out of flowers and things and what-not.""Oh," said the astronomer's wife in wonder as she stepped into the heart of the earth. She took his arm, knowing that what he said was true.185Topics for Discussion1. How is the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Ames? Find details tosupport your statement.2. The story revolves around two sets of character contrasts: wife versushusband; plumber versus astronomer. Try to describe the differences ofthe three characters.3. What is the implication in the ending of the story？。
我的偶像叶光富英语作文
我的偶像叶光富英语作文Ye Guangfu is a remarkable individual who has inspired countless people around the world. As an accomplished astronaut, he has made significant contributions to the field of space exploration, pushing the boundaries of human achievement and inspiring the next generation to reach for the stars.Ye's journey to becoming an astronaut was not an easy one, but it was driven by a deep passion and unwavering determination. From a young age, he was fascinated by the mysteries of the universe and the wonders of space travel. He spent countless hours studying the intricacies of astronomy and rocket science, honing his skills and preparing himself for the challenges that lay ahead.One of the most impressive aspects of Ye's career is his ability to overcome adversity. Throughout his training and missions, he has faced numerous obstacles, from the physical and mental demands of spaceflight to the constant pressures of public scrutiny. However, Ye has always risen to the occasion, demonstrating a level of resilience and fortitude that is truly inspiring.During his time as an astronaut, Ye has undertaken numerous missions, each one more challenging and awe-inspiring than the last. He has conducted experiments, performed complex maneuvers, and even conducted spacewalks, all while maintaining a calm and composed demeanor that has earned him the respect and admiration of his peers.But Ye's impact extends far beyond his achievements in space. He is also a passionate advocate for STEM education, using his platform to inspire young people around the world to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through his public appearances, educational outreach programs, and media interviews, Ye has become a role model for countless individuals who aspire to follow in his footsteps.One of the most remarkable things about Ye is his humility and dedication to his craft. Despite his many accolades and accomplishments, he remains grounded and focused on the task at hand, always striving to learn and improve. He is a true embodiment of the values that define the best of humanity – curiosity, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge.As I reflect on Ye's life and career, I am struck by the profound impact that he has had on the world around him. Through hisachievements in space exploration, his dedication to education and outreach, and his unwavering commitment to excellence, he has become a true inspiration to people of all ages and backgrounds.In a world that is often dominated by divisiveness and cynicism, Ye's story serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of human potential. He has shown us that with the right mindset, the right tools, and the right support, we can achieve remarkable things – not just for ourselves, but for the betterment of all humanity.As I continue to follow Ye's career and the incredible work that he is doing, I am filled with a sense of awe and admiration. He is a true hero in the truest sense of the word, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. Whether you are a aspiring astronaut, a STEM educator, or simply someone who is fascinated by the wonders of the universe, Ye Guangfu is a role model whose story is worth celebrating and sharing with the world.。