江蘇南菁高級(jí)中學(xué) 秦 虞
《她生命中的這些年》是加拿大作家莫利·卡拉漢(Morley Callaghan,1903—1990)的作品,講述了一個(gè)小伙子Alfred在一家雜貨店打工,老板Mr.Carr發(fā)現(xiàn)他經(jīng)常把東西偷出去賣錢,有一天Mr.Carr抓住偷了店里東西準(zhǔn)備下班的Alfred,但在決定報(bào)警之前打電話叫來Alfred的母親Mrs.Higgins。Mrs.Higgins用其鎮(zhèn)定、優(yōu)雅的姿態(tài)成功說服Mr.Carr放棄報(bào)警而讓她將兒子帶回家。正當(dāng)Alfred慶幸自己化險(xiǎn)為夷時(shí),他目睹了回家后的母親獨(dú)自喝茶時(shí)蒼老崩潰的神態(tài)。那一刻給他帶來了巨大的震撼,他明白了母親這些年為他所承受的痛苦,也宣告了他告別叛逆青春走向成長(zhǎng)的開始。節(jié)選部分講述了Mrs.Higgins用她鎮(zhèn)定、優(yōu)雅的姿態(tài)改變了Mr.Carr的態(tài)度,使其放棄報(bào)警。
莫利·卡拉漢是加拿大現(xiàn)實(shí)主義小說家,他的寫作風(fēng)格自然質(zhì)樸、簡(jiǎn)潔明快,筆下人物多為社會(huì)中下層,且刻畫深刻、栩栩如生,與海明威和另一美國(guó)作家舍伍德·安德森的風(fēng)格頗為相近。
本文為小說節(jié)選,全文575字,建議用時(shí)9分鐘。
閱讀時(shí)應(yīng)達(dá)到以下三個(gè)基本目標(biāo):
1.了解故事情節(jié)和人物在故事中的變化;
2.通過剖析人物的品質(zhì),深入理解小說標(biāo)題的真正內(nèi)涵及主題;
3.體會(huì)作者簡(jiǎn)潔明快的語(yǔ)言風(fēng)格及以surprise推進(jìn)故事發(fā)展的特色,并將其運(yùn)用到讀后續(xù)寫中。
Alfred and Mr.Carrwaited butsaid nothing.At last they heard someone at the closed door.Mr.Carr opened it and said,“Come in,Mrs.Higgins.” His face was hard and serious.
Alfred's mother came in with a friendly smile on her face and put out her hand to Mr.Carr and said politely, “I'm Mrs.Higgins,Alfred's mother.”
Mr.Carr was surprised at the way she came in.She was very calm,quiet and friendly.“Is Alfred in trouble?” Mrs.Higgins asked.
“He is.He has been taking things from the store,little things like toothpaste and lipsticks,things he can easily sell.”
Mrs.Higgins looked at her son and said sadly,“Is it so,Alfred? ”
“Yes.”
“Why have you been doing it?” she asked.
“I've been spending money,I believe.”
“On what?”
“Going around with the boys,I guess,”said Alfred.
Mrs.Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr.Carr's arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt.She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble.She said,“If you will just listen to me before doing anything.”Her voice was cool and she turned her head away as if she had said too much already.Then she looked again at Mr.Carr with a pleasant smile and asked,“What do you want to do,Mr.Carr?”
“I was going to get a cop.This is what I should do,call the police.”
She answered,“Yes,I think so.It's not for me to say because he is my son.Yet I sometimes think a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at certain times in his life.”
Mrs.Higgins looked like a different woman to her son,Alfred.There she was with a gentle smile saying, “I wonder if you don't think it would be better just to let him come home with me.He looks like a big fellow,doesn't he?Yet it takes some of them a long time to get any sense into their heads.”
Mr.Carr had expected Alfred's mother to come in nervously,shaking with fear,asking with wet eyes for mercy for her son.But no,she was most calm and pleasant,and was making Mr.Carr feel guilty.
After a time,Mr.Carr was shaking his head in agreement with what she was saying.“Of course,”he said, “I don't want to be cruel.I will tell you what I'll do.Tell your son not to come back here again,and let it go at that.How is that?”And he warmly shook Mrs.Higgins'hand.
“I will never forget your kindness.Sorry we have to meet this way,”said Mr.Carr. “But I am glad I got in touch with you.Just wanted to do the right thing.That it is all.”
“It's better to meet like this than never,isn't it?”she said.
Suddenly they held hands as if they liked each other,as if they had known each other for a long time.
“Good night,sir.”
“Good night,Mrs.Higgins.I'm truly sorry.”
Mother and son left.They walked along the street in silence.She took long steps and looked straight in front of her.After a time,Alfred said,“Thank God it turned out like that.Never again.”
“Be quiet! Don't speak to me.You have shamed me enough.Have the decency to be quiet.”
Understand the characters
I.Understand the title
What does the titleAll the Years of Her Lifemean?
Ⅱ.Explore the theme
What is the theme of the excerpt in your opinion? (topic sentences followed by supporting details)
【點(diǎn)石成金】小說主題思想的挖掘需要跳出節(jié)選內(nèi)容,結(jié)合標(biāo)題、情節(jié)發(fā)展、人物特征、語(yǔ)言情感色彩以及故事背景。莫利·卡拉漢的《她生命中的這些年》以普通人的經(jīng)歷切入,描寫了一個(gè)少年成長(zhǎng)的故事,讓讀者感受到母愛的深沉和偉大,同時(shí)也引發(fā)讀者思考∶什么樣的教育才是有效的教育?什么樣的教育才能觸及孩子的心靈深處?在孩子的成長(zhǎng)過程中是他人拯救更重要還是自我拯救更重要?
Ⅰ.Writing style
1.What are the features of the language and description of the story in your eyes?
2.What are the features of the structure of the story?
Ⅱ.Write your own ending of this story
【點(diǎn)石成金】讀后續(xù)寫是故事類文本閱讀課的有效拓展方式之一。通過對(duì)語(yǔ)言特點(diǎn)的賞析,學(xué)生可以在續(xù)寫的過程中模仿文本的語(yǔ)言特點(diǎn),輸出較高質(zhì)量的作品;通過對(duì)情節(jié)的梳理、主題意義的探究,學(xué)生能在續(xù)寫中緊扣主題,抓住線索,同時(shí)進(jìn)一步加深對(duì)文本的理解。讀后續(xù)寫是激活學(xué)生形象思維能力和邏輯思維能力的有效手段。