The gift of Magi麦琪的礼物英语鉴赏
麦琪的礼物英文讲义
Unit two: The plot and the CharacterReading: O. Henry, The Gift of the MagiPlot•A plot is a plan or groundwork for a story, based on conflicting human motivations, with the actions resulting from believable and realistic human responses.•“The king died, and then the queen died.”•“The king died, and then the queen died of grief.”Conflict in plotFictional human responses are brought out to their highest degree in the development of a conflict. In its most elemental form, a conflict is the opposition of two people. They may fight, argue, enlist help against each other, and otherwise carry on their opposition. Conflicts may also exist between larger groups of people, between an individual and larger forces, such as natural objects, ideas, modes of behavior, public opinion, and the like. The existence of difficult choices within an individual’s mind may also be presented as conflict.External ConflictExternal conflict may take the form of a basic opposition between man and nature, or between man and society. It may also take the form of an opposition between man and man(between the protagonist and a human adversary, the antagonist.Internal Conflict•Internal conflict, on the other hand, focuses on two or more elements contesting within the protagonist’s own character.•Some conflicts, in fact, are never made explicit and must be inferred by the reader from what the characters do or say as the plot unfolds, as is the case in Ernest Hemingway’s Hills like White Elephants.Five Stages of Plot (1)•Exposition:the exposition is the beginning section in which the author provides the necessary background information, sets the scene, establishes the situation, and dates the action. It usually introduces the characters and the conflict, or at least the potential for conflict.Five Stages of Plot (2)•Complication: The complication, which is sometimes referred to as the rising action, develops and intensifies the conflict.•Crisis: the crisis (also referred to as the climax) is that moment at which the plot reaches its point of greatest emotional intensity; it is the turning point of the plot, directly precipitating the resolution. Five Stages of Plot (3)•Falling action: Once the crisis, or turning point, has been reached, the tension subsides and the plot moves toward its conclusion.•Resolution:It is the final section of the plot which records the outcome of the conflict and establishes some new equilibrium. The resolution is also referred to as the conclusion or the denouement, the latter a Frenc h word meaning “unknotting” or “untying”.The Ordering of Plot (1)•The customary way of ordering the episodes or events in a plot is to present them chronologically, i.e., in the order of their occurrence in time.•But even within plots that are mainly chronological, the temporal sequence is often deliberately broken and the chronological parts rearranged for the sake of emphasis and effect.The Ordering of Plot (2)•Perhaps the most frequently and conventionally used device for interrupting the flow of a chronologically ordered plot is the flashback, a summary or fully dramatized episode framed by the author in such a way as to make it clear that the time being discussed or dramatized took place at some earlier period of time.Characters: The People in Fiction•The term character applies to any individual in a literary work. For the purpose of analysis, characters in fiction are customarily described by their relationship to plot, by the degree of development they are given by the author, and by whether or not they undergo significant character change.Types of Characters (1)•The major, or central, character of the plot is the protagonist; his opponent is the antagonist. •Flat characters are those who embody or represent a single characteristic, trait, or idea, or at most a very limited number of such qualities.•Round characters are just the opposite, they embody a number of qualities and traits, and are complex multidimensional characters who have the capacity to grow and change.Types of Characters (2)•Dynamic Characters exhibit a capacity to change. As might be expected, the degree and rate of character change varies widely even among dynamic characters.•Static Characters leave the plot as they entered it, largely untouched by the events that have taken place.Direct Characterization: Telling•Characterization through the use of names•Characterization through appearance•Characterization by the authorIndirect Characterization: Showing•Characterization through dialogue(1) the identity of the speaker, (2) the occasion, (3) what is being said, (4) the identity of the person or persons the speaker is addressing, (5) the quality or character of the exchange, and (6) the speaker’s tone of voice, stress, dialect, and vocabulary.•Characterization through actionIt is necessary to scrutinize the several events of the plot for what they seem to reveal about the characters, about their unconscious emotional and psychological states, as well as about their conscious attitudes and values.Reading: O. Henry, The Gift of the MagiO. Henry (1862-1910), pseudonym of William Sydney PorterAuthor InformationWilliam Sydney Porter, or O. Henry (1862-1910), wrote mostly about ordinary people going about the daily adventure of living. Not infrequently, his stories involve coincidences or unexpected twists that result in surprise endings.Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked in a drugstore, on ranch, in a bank, and on newspaper staff. When he was in his early twenties, he published a weekly humor magazine, The Rolling Stone, which failed. He then took a job with the Houston Post newspaper. However, a past misdeed, embezzlement of bank funds, caught up with him. To escape punishment, he fled to Honduras. When his wife, Athol Estes Porter, became terminally ill, he returned to the U.S. to be with her. After her death, he spent more than three years in prison in Columbus, Ohio. There, he cultivated his writing skills. After his release from prison, he became a professional writer, settled in New York City, and became famous as under his pseudonym, O. Henry. Typical for O. Henry's stories is a twist of plot which turns on an ironic or coincidental circumstance. Although some critics were not so enthusiastic about his work, the public loved it.Notes•The MagiThe Magi were the so-called three wise men from the east who travel a long distance to present gifts to the infant Jesus. The term magi (singular, magus) comes from the Greek word magoi. The Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 2, Verse 11) says: "And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary, his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts–gold, frankincense, and myrrh." These offerings, though valuable, were not as important as the recognition, respect, and love they gave the Christ child. Frankincense was used as a treatment for illness and as an fragrant additive to incense. Myrrh was also added to incense, as well as perfume, and found additional use as an ointment. The three wise men have been identified in western tradition as Balthasar, king of Arabia; Melchior, king of Persia; and Gaspar, king of India.Questions for discussion (1)1. What are the chief episodes or incidents that make up the plot? Is its development strictly chronological, or is the chronology rearranged in some way?2. Describe the plot in terms of its exposition, complication, climax, falling actions, and resolution.3. Is the plot plausible? What role, if any, do chance and coincidence play?Questions for discussion (2)4. Identify the characters in terms of whether they are flat or round, dynamic or static.5. What methods does the author employ to establish and reveal the characters? Are the methods primarily of showing or telling?6. Are the actions of the characters properly motivated and consistent?Questions for discussion (3)7. What elements seem to be remarkable in view of the techniques adopted by the author?8. How do you understand the paradox toward the end of the story with the narrator saying that the two main characters were two foolish children but were the wisest at the same time?Questions for discussion (4)9. Several passages in the story give subtle clues about the kind of person Jim is. Identify at least three passages and explain what they tell the reader about him.10. Comment on the meaning of the following sentence in the fifth paragraph of the story: “She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyar d.”11. Three times in the story, the narrator mentions the chops that the Youngs will be having for dinner. Are the chops significant in any way?。
麦琪的礼物_英文原文
THE GIFT OF THE MAGIby O. HenryOne dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents ofit was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Threetimes Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. While the mistress of the home is gradually subsidingfrom the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young."The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. JamesDillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated. They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling--something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.There was a pier-glass between the windows of the room. Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks. Della, being slender, had mastered the art.Suddenly she whirled from the window and stood before the glass. her eyes were shining brilliantly, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that hadbeen his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty'sjewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shininglike a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and madeitself almost a garment for her. And then she did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With awhirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.Where she stopped the sign read: "Mne. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie.""Will you buy my hair?" asked Della."I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."Down rippled the brown cascade."Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della.Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Forget thehashed metaphor. She was ransacking the stores for Jim's present. She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. There was no other like it in any of the stores, and she had turned all ofthem inside out. It was a platinum fob chain simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretriciousornamentation--as all good things should do. It was even worthy ofThe Watch. As soon as she saw it she knew that it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness and value--the description applied to both. Twenty-one dollars they took from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87 cents. With that chain on his watch Jim might be properly anxious about the time in any company. Grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked atit on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in placeof a chain. When Della reached home her intoxication gave way a littleto prudence and reason. She got out her curling irons and lighted thegas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. Which is always a tremendous task, dear friends--a mammoth task.Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close-lyingcurls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy. She looked at herreflection in the mirror long, carefully, and critically."If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "before he takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl. Butwhat could I do--oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty- seven cents?" At 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops.Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and saton the corner of the table near the door that he always entered. Thenshe heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment. She had a habit for saying little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered:"Please God, make him think I am still pretty."The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two--and to be burdenedwith a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.Della wriggled off the table and went for him."Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It'll grow out again--you won't mind, will you? I just had to do it. My hair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!'Jim, and let's be happy. You don't know what a nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift I've got for you.""You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, laboriously, as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor. "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Don't you like me just as well, anyhow? I'm me without my hair, ain't I?"Jim looked about the room curiously."You say your hair is gone?" he said, with an air almost of idiocy. "You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the chops on, Jim?"Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year--what is the difference? A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer. The magi brought valuable gifts, but that was not among them. This dark assertion will be illuminated later on.Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the table. "Don't make any mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less. But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first."White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! a quick feminine change to hysterical tearsand wails, necessitating the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat.For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone.But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!" And them Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!" Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit."Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch.I want to see how it looks on it."Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled."Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on." The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of twofoolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.麦琪的礼物1一块八毛七分钱。
介绍麦琪的礼物纯英文
2 Realistic Setting The story is set in New York City, adding a sense of realism that allows readers to easily identify with the characters and their situation. The apartment setting creates a familiar and relatable backdrop that complements the emotional journey of the characters
演示文稿是一种实用的工具，可以是演示，演讲，报告等。大部分时间，它们都是在为观众服务。演示文稿 是一种实用的工具，可以是演示，演讲，报告等。
The Landlord
A minor character who provides comic relief and adds to the story's irony. He mistakes Jim and Della's excitement about their Christmas gifts for financial hardship
3 Character Development Jim and Della's characters are well-developed, allowing readers to understand their motives and emotions. O. Henry effectively utilizes their actions and decisions to highlight their deep love for each other and their willingness to sacrifice for each other's happiness
麦琪的礼物(英文版)
The Gift of the Magi①One dollar and eighty-seven cents.That was all.And sixty cents of it was in pennies.Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing(强迫;胁迫)the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony②that such close dealing implied.Three times Della counted it.One dollar and eightyeighty--seven cents.And the next day would be Christmas.There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.So Della did it.Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles predominating.③While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second,take a look at the home.④A furnished flat at$8per week.It did not exactly beggar description,but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.⑤In the vestibule(门厅;前厅)below was a letter-box into which no letter would go,and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring⑥.Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name"Mr.James Dillingham Young."⑦The"Dillingham"had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid$30per week.⑧Now,when the①麦琪（Magi，单数为Magus）：指圣婴基督出生时来自东方送礼的三贤人，载于《圣经·马太福音》第二章第一节和第七至第十三节。
麦琪的礼物英语读后感
麦琪的礼物英语读后感The Gift of the Magi is a heartwarming tale that teaches us the true meaning of love, sacrifice, and the spirit of giving. The story revolves around a young couple, Della and Jim, who are deeply in love but struggling financially. With Christmas around the corner, Della is determined to find the perfect gift for her beloved husband, Jim. However, she has only a meager amount of money to spend. In a moment of desperation, Della decides to sell her most prized possession, her beautiful long hair, in order to buy a special gift for Jim. Meanwhile, Jim is also facing a similar dilemma and decides to sell his most treasured possession, a pocket watch that has been in his family for generations, in order to buy a gift for Della.The selfless acts of Della and Jim demonstrate the depth of their love and their willingness to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of the other. The story beautifully captures the essence of true love and the importance of giving from the heart. It reminds us that material possessions are insignificant in comparison to the love and devotion we have for one another.The Gift of the Magi also serves as a powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. In a world that often emphasizes the importance of material wealth and extravagant gifts, this story encourages us to focus on the spirit of giving and the thoughtfulness behind our actions. It teaches us that the most meaningful gifts are those that come from the heart, regardless of their monetary value.The story's timeless message has resonated with readers for generations, and continues to inspire acts of kindness and generosity. It serves as a beautiful reminder that love and sacrifice are the greatest gifts we can give to one another, and that true happiness comes from the selfless acts of giving and sharing.In conclusion, The Gift of the Magi is a powerful and moving story that touches the heart and soul of its readers. It reminds us of the true meaning of love, sacrifice, and the spirit of giving, and encourages us to cherish the moments we have with our loved ones. This timeless tale is a testament to the enduring power of love and the importance ofselflessness in our lives. It is a story that will continue to touch the hearts of readers for generations to come.。
麦琪的礼物之对比翻译赏析
The Gift of Magi
----------- 翻译评析
Part 1 作者简介
Part 2 作品简析
"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story, written by O. Henry , about a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money.
行业PPT模板：/hangye/ PPT素材下载：/sucai/ PPT图表下载：/tubiao/ PPT教程： /powerpoint/ Excel教程：/excel/ PPT课件igates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.
牛译：除了扑倒在家里那张破旧的小床上号啕大哭一场之外， 还有什么办法呢？
The Gift of the Magi
伍蠡甫译：“东方博士的礼物”
王永年：麦琪的礼物
初中语文课本：贤人的礼物
•注：标题中的the Magi，实为magus的复数形式，出自《圣经》典故：指 东方三贤人，他们在耶稣诞生时给耶稣送去黄金、乳香、没药三件礼物。 黄金表示高贵、乳香象征神圣、没药预示耶稣最后要受迫害致死。以英语 作为第一语言的人，都会知道the Magi的寓意，即象征智慧和神圣。
牛译：正如诸位所知,三圣贤都是智者,是聪明绝顶的人,他们带来礼物,送给出生在马槽里的耶稣。他们发明出互赠圣 诞礼物的习俗。由于他们智慧过人,毫无疑问,他们的礼物也是聪明的礼物,如果碰上互赠的东西完全一样,可能还有调 换的权利。而我在这里笨拙地给大家讲了住在公寓里的两个傻孩子平淡无奇的故事,他们极不明智地为了对方献出了 自己最最宝贵的东西。不过,最后让我对当今的聪明人说一句话,在一切馈赠礼物的人当中,他们两个是最聪明的;在一 切馈赠又接受礼物的人当中,像他们两个这样的人才是最聪明的。无论在任何地方,他们都是最聪明的。他们就是圣 贤。
《麦琪的礼物》题目与结局分析
·The Gift of the Magi analysisWell, he's not really named O. Henry–that was just a pen name for the man whose real name was William Sydney Porter.1. What's Up With the Title?"The Gift of the Magi" is about a young couple who sacrifice everything they have of value to give each other the best Christmas present. And who invented the practice of giving Christmas presents in the first place? The magi, at least according to the Christian tradition. You might also have heard of the magi as the "three kings" (as in the famous Christmas carol, "We Three Kings of Orient Are") or the "three wise men." According to the Christian Bible, the magi were the trio of kings who traveled to Bethlehem from somewhere in the east (probably Persia) to deliver three presents to the baby Jesus.According to the story, the magi were wise folks. The gifts the magi gave to Jesus must have been wise too (as the narrator of "The Gift of the Magi" suggests at the end of the story). These gifts must have been the smartest, best gifts anyone could have chosen. And according to the narrator, that makes the two characters in this story –Jim and Della–just like the magi: they gave each other the wisest gifts of all.2.What's Up With the Ending?O. Henry is known for his "twist endings," and the ending of "The Gift of the Magi" is probably the most famous of them all. At the end of the story Della cuts and sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his watch, and Jim sells his watch to buy Della combs for her hair. Here we have a classic case of irony. The determination to find the perfect gift leads each character to make a sacrifice; that sacrifice makes each gift useless. The result is the exact opposite of what Jim and Della intended. What makes this ending so bittersweet is that it only comes about because they acted on their intentions: their gifts wouldn't have been useless if they hadn't given up their prize possessions. And since we follow only Della in the story, we don't know what has happened until the very end, during the exchange itself. It's the sudden, unexpected irony, which only strikes at the very end that makes the ending a twist.Now that we've talked about what makes the ending a twist, let's ask another question: how do we feel about the ending? From one perspective, it's disastrous. Jim and Della seem much better off before the gift exchange. At the end, they have exchanged their most prized possessions to buy each other gifts that are now useless. Their original possessions – the watch and the hair – were valuable on their own. Not only that, their original possessions seem more precious because they were theirs – Jim's watch was a family heirloom passed down from his granddad, and Della's hair was literally a part of Della. Their gifts, on the other hand, are just new store-bought things that have no special connection to either person. Since each person wanted to buy the other the perfect gift, this means they have both failed colossally.But then there's the narrator's perspective in that last paragraph, according to which the gifts they've given each other are the "wisest" gifts of all, the "gifts of the magi." If we agree, then of course they've succeeded in what they wanted to do. BothJim and Della have shown that they're willing to sacrifice the most valuable thing they have to give something to the other. That makes their "useless" gifts incredibly valuable after all: the selfless love each feels for the other is embodied in those gifts. As long as they have the gifts, they'll be able to remember it. That kind of thing can't be bought. And it makes the gifts even more special and personal than what they replaced.Which leads us to another point. Before the exchange, Jim and Della each had one prize possession. Each possession was valuable on its own and belonged to each person individually. The watch was Jim's, and the hair was Della's. Both possessions are sacrificed. In the exchange, each gains something new, which doesn't have any sentimental value as a token of their love for each other. That love isn't something they have as individuals, it's something they share together. So in the gift exchange, the two of them come closer together in a very concrete way.。
《麦琪的礼物》--欧亨利（英汉对照）
THE GIFT OF THE MAGIOne dollar and eighty-seven cents.That was all.And sixty cents of it was in pennies.Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied.Three times Della counted it.One dollar and eighty-seven cents.And the next day would be Christmas.There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.So Della did it.Whichinstigates the moral reflection that life is made up ofsobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles predominating.While the mistress of the home is graduallysubsiding from the first stage to the second,take a lookat the home.A furnished flat atper week.It did notexactly beggar description,but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go,and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring.Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name"Mr.James Dillingham Young."The"Dillingham"had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paidper week.Now,when the income was shrunk to,though,they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D.But whenever Mr.James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called"Jim"and greatly麦琪的礼物一元八角七。
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The story opens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas. Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other.Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents.With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable (with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner.Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means.After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della's combs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.Book Review of The Gift of the MagiⅠ.About the author: This book waswrote by O. Henry (1862~1910), whose real name was William Sydney Porter, and was born in North Carolina. His schooling was rudimentary, and after working in a drug store, he went to Texas in 1882; he became a rancher for a time, then a bank teller and journalist, founding a comic weekly magazine, The Rolling Stone (1894~1895) before being employed by the Houston Post to write a humorous daily column. In 1896 he was indicted for alleged embezzlement by the bank for which he had worked, and fled to Honduras. He returned three years latter to be with his dying wife, was arrested and spent three years in the federal penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. Here Porter started to write short stories under the pseudonym of O. Henry, thought to be adopted from a French pharmacist mentioned in the USDispensary, a reference book which Porter came across in his work in the prison pharmacy. His collections of stories include The Four Million(1906), Heart of the West (1907), The Trimmed Lamp(1907), The Gentle Grafter(1908), The Voice of the City(1908), Options(1909), Roads of Destiny(1909), Whirligigs and Strictly Business(1910).Ⅱ.Background: The extraordinary lifeand experiences of O. Henry inform all his stories. He is at home describing life south of the Rio Grande as he is with ‘the four million’-the ordinary inhabitants of teeming, tern-of the century Now York. Although he has been criticized for relying too much coincidence and contrived circumstance, O. Henry had a genuine sympathy for the down-trodden and oppressed which was unusual in writers of his era. And it is an era that he depicts with remarkable clarity; though some of the reportage some of theconversations may grate on those whose consciousness is attuned to political attitudes of the late twentieth century rather than the realities of the early twentieth century, the stories are valuable examples of how life was lived at a time when slavery and the Indian Wars were only a generation or so in the past.The Brief Introduction of people in story: The two protagonists are Jim andDella, and there is also a costar, Mme. Sofronie. Jim, who was called in that way only between he and his wife, and his real name was James Dillingham Young. He was a people loved his wife very much, and he had to burden a family in his twenty’s. And he needed a new coat and a pair of gloves because of the tough living condition. He was very punctual to go home, so his wife wouldn’t wait long. His payment was $30 per week, and at that time, he and his wife lived in a furnished flat at $8 per week, and towardIII.which was a letter-box, and an electric button. Also there was a card bearing the name ‘Mr. James Dillingham Young.’ So the led a happy life then. But, as times we nt by, his salary went to $20 per week, and no letter would go into it, no moral finger could hoax a ring with the electric button, the letters of ‘Dillingham’ looked blurred. Della, Jim’s wife, was a beautiful girl with long hair, which rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters, and it reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. Della complained about the reality and was anxious about the present she would give to Jim in Christmas. Also she loved her husband deeply. Mme. Sofronie, the manager of a barbershop, had much rich experience.IV.About the story: The storyopens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas.Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other. Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents. With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable(with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner. Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means. After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della'scombs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.V.Writing Skills: There's not awhole lot of imagery or metaphor in this story. That makes the few Bible allusions stand out all the more. There's the whole "magi" reference. The last paragraph compares Jim and Della to the three wise men who, according to the Christian New Testament, delivered gifts to Jesus on the first Christmas (see "What's Up with The Title" for more on this comparison). In addition, there are two other Biblical allusions, both made in connection with Jim and Della's prize possessions. Della's hair is said to be so gorgeous that it would inspire envy in the Queen of Sheba. Jim's watchwould have been the envy of King Solomon. Both the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon are famous figures from the Old Testament. What do all three of these references have in common, besides being Biblical figures Well, they're all royal, very rich Biblical figures. The magi are often said to be kings, and brought Jesus three very expensive gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), while Sheba and Solomon were both powerful monarchs renowned for their wealth and splendor. The comparison of Jim and Della's possessions to those of Biblical figures helps bring out how precious those two items are to their owners; to Jim and Della they're treasures, which they giveaway. But that's not all the images of Solomon and Sheba do. By bringing them up, and by mentioning the magi, O. Henry creates a sharp contrast between their spectacular riches and the obvious poverty and Jim and Della. We have to wonder why O. Henry would dothat. Because ultimately the story wants us to think about what it means to be truly rich. Where it really counts, Jim and Della are as rich as Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and the magi, because they love each other. Just like the magi and Solomon (both figures famous for their wisdom), they're also wise, as the last paragraph tells us. The Biblical imagery also beefs up the story's credibility as a parable. By invoking the Bible at moments, O. Henry makes "Gift of the Magi" feel more morally weighty.VI.After reading: Have you ever lovedsomeone and wanted to find him or her just the perfect present Our bet is you have. Could be your mom, could be your significant other. And once you're in that gift-giving frame of mind, you're in the situation of Della, the main character from "The Gift of the Magi." That's why whenever the Christmas season rolls around; people (and television networks) go infor this story big time. You'll probably also face the same questions Della did. What is a perfect gift And how much (money, time, etc.) are you willing to give up to finding something that would really matter to that person You might even be lead to some surprisingly large questions. What really matters, and what's really valuable For a short, simple, and delightful way of assuring yourself that "all you need is love," this story's hard to beat. Read it to get a major case of the warm and fuzzies. Though it might also make you think more carefully about just what "love" means. Besides all that, to be honest, you've probably encountered this story somewhere even if you didn't know it. You might have seen it filtered through Sesame Street (which lodged it forever in your child subconscious), or you might have seen it recently parodied while watching The Simpsons. "The Gift of theMagi" is the original, though, and in our opinion, nothing's really touched it. It's hard not to be charmed by O. Henry's storytelling style.The Gift of the Magi is more than a nice Christmas story. It is a classic tale of sacrifice, irony, and wisdom gained. The story takes place on the day before Christmas, when a newlywed husband and wife long to buy the perfect holiday gifts for one another. Unfortunately, they have very little money, but they are determined. Della makes the difficult decision to sacrifice something of great value in order to raise the money to buy Jim a chain for his inherited gold pocket watch. Jim comes up with a similar solution so that he can buy a lovely set of ivory combs for his wife’s beautiful long hair. The conclusion of the story is poignant and touching, as realization sets in as to what they have done. In their efforts to please one another, they have lost two of the mostvaluable objects they owned, yet in the process may have gained something of much greater value. It is thought that this stor y reflects somewhat on the author’s own relationship with his wife as she struggled with poor health, even while he fled the country to avoid arrest for bank embezzlement. In spite of his problems, he returned to be with her in her final days. The Gift of the Magi is one of the most well-known stories of O. Henry, a pen name for William Sydney Porter.A definitive master of the short story, his tales tell of love and loss, deception and truth, loyalty and betrayal. He breathes life into his characters, who are rich and poor, young and old, the best and the worst of humanity… Through believable conversation and vivid description, he tells amazing, witty, and appealing stories that are inevitably peppered with twists of fate, chance encounters, and unavoidable meetings with destiny. Many editions of The Gift of the Magi have been published since it was written at the turn of the century, including children’s picture books. The story is most commonly ifound in various collected works of the author.“The Gi ft of the Magi”Title By O. Henry Author Important Characters: *Della- has a very beautiful long hair. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. *Jim- husband of Della. He has a golden wrist watch which was used to own by his grandfather and father. Synopsis: It was Christmas Day tomorrow, but Della had only $1.87 to buy Jim a special present. And the only precious thing they had was Jim’s golden wrist watch; in addition, was her beautiful long brown hair which reached to her knees. But she really wanted to buy a gift for Jim so she went to a hair and beauty parlor. She sold her hair for $20. And she bought a platinum fob chain for Jim’s wrist watch. When she got home, she fixed herself wondering if Jim would still love her. After forty minutes, she heard his footsteps. She whispered a silent prayer. She wished that she would still be looked pretty for him. The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. His coat and gloves were worn out. She became conscious because of the way he stares at her. Without asking why, she explained the reason why she had to do that because she wanted to buy him a special gift. And she told him that she really loved him. Then he asked why she would have to do that. But sh e thought that Jim wasn’t loved her because she has now a short hair, so Jim told her that before she doubt his love for her, he told her to unwrapped the package he brought. She saw beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims—just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair that Della had worshipped for long. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone, but she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and said to him that her hair grew fast.Then she gave to him the platinum fob chain. She proudly told him that she had searched for it all over the town. She asked him to put it on to his watch but instead of obeying, Jim smiled and said that put their Christmas presents away and keep them a while because they''re too nice to use just at present because he sold the watch to get the money to buy her combs. Comments/reaction: The magi, as we know, were wise men that brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here the author have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. The story contains Porter’s characteristic ironic plot twists and surprise ending. And I have learned that we always need trust our love ones, because sometimes we misunderstood the way they react to such situations. Always put in mind that they want the best for us. Trust not only them, but have faith also in God. Even if there are times that things happen not the way we expect, don’t doubt His love. R emember that when trials go worst, He has a purpose for that and He’s planning the best for you!。