高级英语上讲义Lesson12

Lesson Twelve Why I Write一、Words and Expressions1.aesthetic-esthetic adj.美学的，审美的，艺术的美学标准aesthetic standards美感 aesthetic sense这个建筑的设计很美观。

The design of this building is very aesthetic.adv.aesthetically n.aesthetics 美学2.arrest-arresting v.-adj.put/place sb.under arrest她因为企图盗窃被捕了。

She was put under arrest for attempted burglary.adj.arresting: striking, appealing, attractivearresting smile/gesture/behavior3.backbone n.脊柱，中坚，栋梁，勇气， support这一代的年轻人是国家的栋梁之才。

The young of this generation are the backbone of the country.He has no backbone.他没有脊梁骨（没有坚强的性格）。

to the backbone彻底地backlog 积压的工作 a backlog of work, unanswered lettersback number 过期的期刊4.bout n.I.bout of (doing) sth.一回，一阵II.(疾病的)侵袭，发作 a bout of flu她患多发性抑郁症。

She suffered from frequent bouts of depression. III.拳击或摔跤比赛。

pulsion n.强制 being compelledI．under compulsion他勉强接受他们的邀请。

He accepted their invitation under compulsion.II．欲望，冲动毁物欲a compulsion to destroy thingspulsive 强迫性的，上瘾的a compulsive gamblingHe is a compulsive liar.他说谎成性。

pulsory 必须做的，有义务的必修课compulsory course我们国家实行义务兵役制。

In our country, military service is compulsory.pulsorily6.disagreeable-unpleasant adj.agreeable 宜人的天气 agreeable weather7.downright adj.作定语thorough, completeI．（指不喜欢的事物）彻底的，完全的彻头彻尾的谎言a downright lieII．坦白的，直率的frank, straightforwardadv.彻底地8.efface vt.擦去，抹去，使逐渐消失wipe out岁月和风雨早已磨掉了纪念碑上的铭文。

Time and weather had long ago effaced the inscription on the monument. 只有时间才能使人淡忘那些不愉快的回忆。

Time alone will efface those unpleasant memories.n.effacement9.id-ego-superegoego-centric 以自我为中心的egoism 自我主义，利己主义，自私自利自我主义者egoist adj.egoistic10.exhaust v.I.使疲倦，使筋疲力尽make sb.tiredHe exhausted himself in the hard work.II.用尽，耗尽use sth.up completely用尽力气/失去耐心exhaust one's strength/patienceThis subject has been exhausted.这一主题已经是被研究尽了。

adj.exhausted: very tired n.exhaustion地球上自然资源的迅速枯竭the rapid exhaustion of the earth's natural resourcesadj.exhausting11.fluctuate v.波动，动摇，变化不定fluctuate between A and B价格正在波动the price is fluctuating变化不定的意见fluctuating opinionsn.fluctuation12.humbug n.花招，谎话，骗子v.(-gg-) 欺诈，哄骗deceive, cheathumbug sb.into/out of (doing) sth.欺骗某人（不）相信某事13.ingrained adj.根深蒂固的，一成不变的deeply fixed根深蒂固的偏见ingrained prejudice14.mature-immature-maturely-maturity15.integrity n.I.诚实而正值a man of integrityII.完整，整体国家领土的完整the nation's territorial integrityv.integrate 使成为整体integrate A and B/A with B/into sth.将私立学校纳入国家教育体系integrate private schools into the state education system This building and its surroundings are well integrated.建筑物和周围的环境相融合。

adj.integrated 综合的，完整的综合计划integrated schemeintegrated circuit 集成电路16.meticulous adj.极细的precise, detailedbe meticulous in (doing) sth.小心翼翼的做某事adv.meticulously n.meticulousness17.narcissism n.自恋，自我陶醉narcissistic adj.18.nature-natural-naturalism-naturalist-naturalistic19.ornate adj.词藻华丽的，装饰华丽的ornate carvings in a churchornate description/styleadv.ornately n.ornatenessornament n./v.装饰，点缀 decorate/decoration20.outgrow v.他比他的哥哥长的都高。

He has already outgrown his older brother.outgrowth n.自然的发展或结果result航天工业发展的结果the outgrowth of the space industry21.outweigh v.在重要性或价值上超过利远大于弊。

The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. This outweighs all other considerations.这一点是首要考虑的。

22.perverse adj.反常的，不合常理的a perverse decision/judgementadv.perversely n.perverseness/perversity22.picture n./v.picture sth.as 把某物描绘成adj.picturesque adv.picturesquely23.posterity un.future generation, offspring, descendants 为后代造福而植树 plant trees for the benefit of posterity Posterity will remember him as a truly great man.24.※reconcile v.常用于被动语态I.reconcile sb.with sb.重新和好，使和解她道歉之后，我们又和好了。

We were reconciled after she apologized.II.化解，调解他们无法调解彼此的分歧。

They cannot reconcile their differences.III.使一致，和谐 be in agreement with sth.reconcile A with B使证据符合事实reconcile the evidence with the factadj.reconcilable n.reconciliation25.shiver v./n.颤抖tremble esp.from cold or fearshiver with sth.冷得浑身发抖shiver all over with coldShe shivered at the thought of going into the dark house alone.adj.shivery 令人毛骨悚然的25.simile（明喻）-metaphor（暗喻）-personification（拟人）-exaggeration（夸张）26.slant v./n.I.倾斜，歪 lean, not be straight他写的字从左往右倾斜。

His handwriting slants from left to right.这幅画歪向左边了。

This picture is slanted to the left.II.歪曲 slant one's reportIII.on a/the slant倾斜着，歪着adj.slanted 有偏见的 adv.slantingly27.snub v./n.(-bb-) 冷落，怠慢treat sb.coldlyhurt by the snubs of the other childrenShe snubbed them by not replying their invitation.28.squall v./n.loud cry or scream29.tumult n.混乱，骚乱 disturbance or confusion, disordera tumult of passion, jealousy, excitement 一阵激情，嫉妒，激动adj.tumultuous 无序的，混乱的，嘈杂的30.undervalue /underdeveloped/ undertone/underestimate/ underweight/ understate（有节制的表达或陈述）/ understaffed (人员不足的)二、TextFrom a very early age, perhaps the age of five or six, I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer.Between the ages of about seventeen and twenty-four I tried to abandon this idea, but I did so with the consciousness that I was outraging my true nature and that sooner or later I should have to settle down and write books.1.abandon the idea: give up, throw away2.with the consciousness that 清醒地认识到3.settle down 定居下来I was the middle child of three, but there was gap of five years on either side, and I barely saw my father before I was eight.For this and other reasons I was somewhat lonely, and I soon developed disagreeable mannerisms which made me unpopular throughout my school days.I had the lonely child's habit of making up stories and holding conversations with imaginary persons, and I think from the very start my literary ambitions were mixed up with the feeling of being isolated and undervalued.I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could get my own back for my failure in everyday life…4.for this and other reason5.make up stories 编故事6.from the very start/beginning 从一开始7.hold conversation with sb.8.mix up with sth.: combine with,将…结合起来9.have a facility with 拥有某种能力…As a very small child I used to imagine that I was, sa y, Robin Hood, and picture myself as the hero of thrilling adventures, but quite soon my "story" ceased to be narcissistic in a crude way and became more and more a mere description of what I was doing and the things I saw.For minutes at a time this kind of thing would be running through my head: "He pushed the door open and entered the room.A yellow beam of sunlight, filtering through the muslin curtains, slanted on to the table, where a matchbox, half open lay beside the inkpot.With his right hand in his pocket he moved across to the window.Down in the street a tortoiseshell cat was chasing a dead leaf," etc., etc.This habit continued till I was about twenty -five, right through my non-literary year.Although I had to search, and did search, for the right words, I seemed to be making this descriptive effort almost against my will, under a kind of compulsion from outside.The "story" must, I suppose, have reflected the styles of the various writers I admired at different ages, but so far as I remember it always had the same meticulous descriptive quality.10.filter through : penetrate through 穿过11.at a time : every /each time12.beam:一束13.continue : go on,继续14.search for : look for 寻找15.meticulous :极细的When I was about sixteen I suddenly discovered the joy of mere words, i.e.the sounds and associations of words.The lines from Paradise Lost-So hee with difficulty and labour hardMoved on : with difficulty and labour hee,"which do not now seem to me so very wonderful, sent shivers down my backbone; and the spelling "hee" for " he" was an added pleasure.As for the need to describe things, I knew all about it already.So it is clear what kind of books I wanted to write, in so far as I could be said to want to write books at that time.I wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels with unhappy ending, full of detailed descriptions and arresting similes, and also full of purple passages in which words were used partly of the sake of their sound.And in fact my first completed novel, Burmese Days, which I wrote whenI was thirty but projected much earlier, is rather that kind of books.16.against one's will17.as for 因为…就…而言1.What king of books did Orwell want to write?He wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels with unhappy endings, full of detailed descriptions and arresting similes, and also full of purple passages in which words were used partly for the sake of their sound.18.for the sake of : for the purpose of 为了…缘故And in fact my first completed novel, Burmese Days, which I wrote when I was thirtybut projected much earlier, is rather that kind of book.I give all this background information because I do not think one can assess a writer's motives without knowing something of his early development.His subject matter will be determined by the age he live in -at least this is true in tumultuous, revolutionary ages like our own -but before he ever begins to write he will have acquired an emotional attitude from which he will never completely escape.It is his job, no doubt, to discipline his temperament and avoid getting stuck at some immature stage, or in some perverse mood: but if he escapes from his early influences altogether, he will have killed his impulse to write.Putting aside the need to earn a living, I think there are four great motives for writing, at any rate for writing prose.They exist in different degrees in every writer, and in any one writer the proportions will vary from time to time, according to the atmosphere in which he is living.They are:1.tumultuous, revolutionary ages 动荡的，革命性时代；2.avoid doing 避免……3.perverse mood 反常的心态4.put sth.aside 把……放在一边5.vary from…to…2.What are the four great motives for writing according to George Orwell?They are:(1)Sheer egoism.Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on grown ups who snubbed you in childhood, etc., etc.It is humbug to pretend that this is not a motive, and a strong one…6.snub: treat badly(2)Aesthetic enthusiasm.Perception of beauty in the external world, or, on the other hand, in words and their right arrangement.Pleasure in the impact of one sound on another, in the firmness of good prose or the rhythm of a good story.Desire to share an experience which one feels is valuable and ough t not to be missed…7.firmness: strength 坚强，力量(3)Historical impulse.Desire to see things, as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity.8.historical impulse：历史冲动感(4)Political purpose-using the word "political" in the widest possible sense.Desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other people's idea of the kind of society that they should strive after.Once again, no book is genuinely free from political bias.The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude.9.in the widest sense 在广义上讲10.in a certain direction 按照一定的方向11.strive after: struggle for奋斗, 争取12.have nothing to do with… 与……无关13.political attitude 政治态度It can be seen how these various impulses must war against one another, and how they must fluctuate form person to person and from time to time.By nature -taking your "nature" to be the state you have attained when you are first adult- I am a person in whom thefirst three motives would outweigh the fourth.In a peaceful age I might have written ornate or merely descriptive books, and might have remained almost unaware of my political loyalties.As it is I have been force in to becoming a sort of pamphleteer.First I spent five years in an unsuitable profession ( the Indian Imperial Police, in Burma), and then I underwent poverty and the sense of failure.This increased my natural hatred of authority and made me for the first time fully aware of the existence of the working classes, and the job in Burma had given me some understanding of the nature of imperialism; but these experiences were not enough to give me an accurate political orientation.Then came Hitler, the Spanish Civil War, etc.By the end of 1935 I had still failed to reach a firm decision.14.political loyalties: political bias 政治忠诚/倾向性15.fluctuate from-to-16.outweigh 重于，大于17.be (un)aware of sth.了解，察觉3.What was Orwell's political stand?Against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism.The Spanish war and other events in 1936-1937 turned the scale and thereafter I knew where I stood.Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it.It seems to me nonsense, in a period like our own to think that one can avoid writing of such subjects.Everyone writes of them in one guise or another.It is simply a question of which side one takes and what approach one follows.And the more one in conscious of one's political bias, the more chance one has of acting politically without sacrificing one's aesthetic and intellectual integrity.18.against sth.for sth.反对…支持…19.force sb.into doing sth.强迫某人干某事20.be conscious of: be aware of知道21.take the side 选择…What I have most wanted to do throughout the past ten years is to make political writing into an art.My starting point is always a feeling of partisanship, a sense of injustice.When I sit down to write a book I do not say to myself, "I am going to produce a work of art." I write it because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention and my initial concern is to get a hearing.But I could not do the work of writing a book, or even a long magazine article, if it were not also an aesthetic experience.Anyone who cares to examine my work will see that even when it is downright propaganda it contains much that a full-time politician would consider irrelevant.I am not able, and I do not want, completely to abandon the world-view that I acquired in childhood.So long as I remain alive and well I shall continue to feel strongly about prose style, to love the surface of the earth, and to take a pleasure in suppress that side of myself.The job is to reconcile my ingrained likes and dislikes with the essentially public non-individual activities that this age forces on all of us.22.reach a firm decision 达到一定的目的23.in the guise24.It is no use doing sth.做…没用25.force sth.on/upon sb.把…强加于…5.What was the political and social environment that shaped his political orientation?It is not easy.It raises problems of construction and of language, and it raises ina new way the problem of truthfulness…26.raise problems 提出问题In one form or another this problem comes up again.The problem of language is subtler and would take too long to discuss.I will only say that of late years I have tried to write less picturesquely and more exactly.In any case I found that by the time you have perfected any style of writing, you have always outgrown it.Animal Farm was the first book in which I tried, with full consciousness of what I was doing, to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole.I have not written a novel for seven years, but I hope to write another fairly soon.It is bound to be a failure, every book is a failure, but I do know with some clarity what kind of book I want to write.27.in one form or another 以各种形式28.fuse sth.into 把…融会到1.What king of books did Orwell want to write?(1)He wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels with unhappy endings, full of detailed descriptions and arresting similes, and also full of purple passages in which words were used partly for the sake of their sound.(2)I have tried to write less picturesquely and more exactly.6.Did Orwell propose to stick to one style only? What is his idea about style?4.What are Orwell's views about the relationship between political content and aesthetic form in writing?Fuse political purpose and artistic purpose.…Writing a book is a horrible, exhaust ing struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness.One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.For all one knows that demon is simply the same instinct that makes a baby squally for attention.And yet it is also true that one can write nothing readable unless one constantly struggles to efface one's own personality.Good prose us like a window pane.I cannot say with certainty which of my motives are the strongest, but I know which of them deserve to be followed.And looking back through my work, I see that it is invariably where I lacked a political purpose that I wrote lifeless books and was betrayed into purple passages, sentences without meaning, decorative adjectives and humbug generally.drive: 驱动efface: 抹掉，擦掉7.What did Orwell think of purple passages?Sentences without meaning, decorative adjectives and humbug generally.8.Do you agree with Orwell's theory of fusing political purpose and artistic form into one whole?三、ExercisesC.Fill in the blank in each sentence with the best word or expression from the box below, changing its form when necessary:。