郭金華
(陜西省西安高新第一中學)
現(xiàn)行教材的閱讀語篇以說明文和議論文為主,與讀后續(xù)寫相適應的記敘類語篇相對較少。因此,需要教師定期定量地在課外閱讀中為學生補充相應的材料,以期逐步夯實學生對記敘類語篇的解讀能力,提升學生的語言表達和細節(jié)描寫能力。
在拓展閱讀中,選取恰切的記敘類語篇是提升學生細節(jié)描寫微技能的基礎。為加強拓展閱讀的針對性,所選取的拓展閱讀語篇應當與高考讀后續(xù)寫語篇相契合。通過研讀高考讀后續(xù)寫試題給定的閱讀材料,筆者采取以下原則選取記敘類語篇作為課外閱讀材料:
(1)主題語境:人與自然/人與自我/人與社會
(2)語篇類型:記敘類語篇
(3)語篇字數(shù):350 詞左右
(4)語篇特點:①話題貼近學生生活,情境真實;②情節(jié)編排跌宕起伏,沖突性強;③人物塑造立體飽滿,性格鮮明;④語言表達生動形象,遷移性強。
對于記敘類語篇的選取要有整體性安排和規(guī)劃。所選取的語篇在語言表達上要有各自鮮明的特點,這樣經(jīng)過一定階段的累積,各個語篇就會在表達的豐富性上形成合力和互補,為學生提供更有力的語言支撐。
在實踐當中,考慮到實際教學中的課時安排和進度要求,筆者利用英語閱讀課,每兩周為學生選取一篇敘事類語篇,帶領學生解讀語篇中有遷移價值的描寫類詞匯和表達手法,以期加強學生的細節(jié)描寫能力。筆者將通過如下案例來說明教學實踐中的具體做法。
該語篇選自新概念英語3 第39 課,標題為《不必擔心》(Nothing to worry about),主題語境為人與社會和人與自然,語篇類型為記敘文,語篇詞數(shù)為359 詞。該語篇在主題語境、語篇類型和語篇詞數(shù)上都與高考要求高度契合。語篇講述了主人公布魯斯不顧同行人的多次勸阻,執(zhí)意在顛簸坑洼、偶有裂縫的道路上駕車疾馳,最終導致汽車陷入水塘的冒險經(jīng)歷。該語篇故事情節(jié)一波三折,人物性格沖突明顯,環(huán)境描寫生動形象,是讀后續(xù)寫的典型示范材料。
該語篇在環(huán)境描寫和人物描寫方面特點顯著,因此筆者帶領學生一步步挖掘該語篇在這兩個方面的描寫類詞匯和表達手法,以期提升學生讀后續(xù)寫的語言表達能力和描寫能力。
語篇全文如下:
Nothing to worry about
The rough road across the plain soon became so bad that we tried to get Bruce to drive back to the village we had come from.Even though the road was littered with boulders and pitted with holes,Bruce was not in the least perturbed.Glancing at his map,he informed us that the next village was a mere 20 miles away.It was not that Bruce always underestimated difficulties.He simply had no sense of danger at all.No matter what the conditions were,he believed that a car should be driven as fast as it could possibly go.
As we bumped over the dusty track,we swerved to avoid large boulders.The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car.We felt sure that sooner or later a stone would rip a hole in our petrol tank or damage the engine.Because of this,we kept looking back,wondering if we were leaving a trail of oil and petrol behind us.
What a relief it was when the boulders suddenly disappeared,giving way to a stretch of plain where the only obstacles were clumps of bushes.But there was worse to come.Just ahead of us there was a huge fissure.In response to renewed pleadings,Bruce stopped.Though we all got out to examine the fissure,he remained in the car.We informed him that the fissure extended for 50 yards and was two feet wide and four feet deep.Even this had no effect.Bruce went into a low gear and drove at a terrifying speed,keeping the front wheels astride the crack as he followed its zigzag course.Before we had time to worry about what might happen,we were back on the plain again.Bruce consulted the map once more and told us that the village was now only 15 miles away.Our next obstacle was a shallow pool of water about half a mile across.Bruce charged at it,but in the middle,the car came to a grinding halt.A yellow light on the dashboard flashed angrily and Bruce cheerfully announced that there was no oil in the engine!
筆者帶領學生初讀文章,在了解故事梗概之后,著重從語言表達的角度挖掘該語篇在環(huán)境描寫和人物描寫方面的語言特點。
1.環(huán)境描寫
環(huán)境(setting)是小說故事類語篇的三大要素之一。環(huán)境描寫可以提供故事發(fā)生的背景和具體場景,烘托氛圍。以下,筆者帶領學生從“數(shù)詞+量詞”詞塊,“形容詞+名詞”詞塊和“動詞+副詞”詞塊這三個方面對該語篇環(huán)境描寫的語言表達特點進行解讀,以期加以借鑒。
(1)“數(shù)詞+量詞”詞塊
a trail of oil 機油的痕跡
a stretch of plain 一片平地
clumps of bushes 一簇簇灌木叢
a shallow pool of water 一池淺水塘
The fissure extended for 50 yards and was two feet wide and four feet deep.
那個大裂縫長50 碼,寬2 英尺,深4 英尺。
Our next obstacle was a shallow pool of water about half a mile across.
我們的下一個障礙是一片約半英里寬的淺水塘。
語篇精準使用數(shù)詞和量詞,把布魯斯驅車途中所經(jīng)過的開闊平地、簇叢灌木和狹長裂縫描寫得很具體,也使得情境更有畫面感。在讀后續(xù)寫過程中,學生可以借鑒這種描寫手法,巧妙運用表示數(shù)量單位的名詞性短語,使得環(huán)境描寫更加生動具體。
(2)“形容詞+名詞”詞塊
The rough road was littered with boulders and pitted with holes.
路面布滿石頭,坑坑洼洼。
As we bumped over the dusty track,we swerved to avoid large boulders.
我們在塵土飛揚的道路上顛簸,車子東拐西歪,以避開那些大石塊。
Just ahead of us there was a huge fissure.離我們不遠處,出現(xiàn)了一個大裂縫。
“形容詞+名詞”的詞塊表達,使得對于路面狀況的描寫細致入微。路面的坑洼泥濘,塵土飛揚和石塊滿布躍然紙上。為寫出在語言層面上融洽度高的續(xù)作,學生可以嘗試借鑒給定閱讀材料中“形容詞+名詞”的詞塊表達,提升語言表達的豐富性。
(3)“動詞+副詞”詞塊
A car should be driven as fast as it could possibly go.
車必須以盡可能快的速度前進。
The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car.
車輪攪起的石塊錘擊車身,發(fā)出不祥的錘擊聲。
A yellow light on the dashboard flashed angrily.
儀表盤上一盞黃燈閃著刺眼的光芒。
“動詞+副詞”的詞塊表達,使得對于環(huán)境的描寫靈動活潑。從視覺上的“閃著刺眼的光芒”到聽覺上的“發(fā)出不詳?shù)腻N擊聲”,語篇的場面描寫調動了視覺和聽覺等不同的感官,使得對車輛疾馳的場面描寫更具立體感。在讀后續(xù)寫過程中,學生可嘗試使用這一類型的詞塊,使得對于情境的描寫更具表現(xiàn)力。
2.人物描寫
人物(character)是小說故事類語篇的三大要素之一。人物描寫為人物的性格刻畫服務,使得情節(jié)的推進更加合乎情理,更加符合人物的角色設定。以下,筆者帶領學生從“看”的動作描寫,“說”的動作描寫和“驅車”的動作描寫這三個方面對該語篇人物描寫的語言表達進行解讀,并加以研習。
(1)“看”的動作描寫
Glancing at his map...
瞥了一眼他的地圖……
Because of this,we kept looking back...
因此,我們不時地回頭看……
Though we all got out to examine the fissure...
盡管我們紛紛下車查看那個大裂縫……
Bruce consulted the map once more...
布魯斯看了一眼地圖……
在人物“看”這一動作的刻畫上,語篇使用豐富多變的詞匯,具體而微地將“瞥了一眼”“回頭看”“仔細查看”和“看了一眼”等不同程度的“看”的動作描寫出來,助推故事情節(jié)的發(fā)展。
(2)“說”的動作描寫
We tried to get Bruce to drive back to the village...
我們勸說布魯斯把車開回村莊……
He informed us that...
他告訴我們……
In response to renewed pleadings,Bruce stopped.
面對再三的懇求,布魯斯停了下來。
Bruce told us that the village was...
布魯斯告訴我們村莊……
Bruce cheerfully announced that...
布魯斯興致勃勃地宣布……
在人物“說”這一動作的刻畫上,語篇使用了不同詞性的詞匯,將“勸說”“告訴”“懇求”和“宣布”等不同性質和語氣的“說”的動作描寫出來,使得對人物態(tài)度和性格的刻畫更加深入。因此,巧妙轉換詞性,豐富表達手段也是學生在讀后續(xù)寫中可以借鑒的表達手法。
(3)“驅車”的動作描寫
As we bumped over the dusty track,we swerved to avoid large boulders.
我們在道路上顛簸,車子突然急轉,以躲開那些大石塊。
Bruce stopped.Though we all got out to...
布魯斯(把車)停了下來。盡管我們都出去……
Bruce went into a low gear and drove at a terrifying speed.
布魯斯掛上慢檔,以發(fā)瘋的速度向前開去。
He followed its zigzag course.
他順著彎彎曲曲的道路前進。
Bruce charged at it...
布魯斯向水塘沖去……
在人物“驅車”這一動作的刻畫上,語篇使用豐富的詞匯,將“顛簸急轉”“沿路行進”“掛檔疾馳”和“驅車猛沖”等不同狀態(tài)的“驅車”動作描寫出來,使得布魯斯這一人物更加活靈活現(xiàn)。筆者引導學生關注到,“驅車”(drove)是一個較為籠統(tǒng)的詞匯,而“急轉”(swerved)和“猛沖”(charged)等詞匯更精準。因此,應當引導學生在讀后續(xù)寫過程中多積累并運用精準動詞,避免寡淡無味的描寫,從而使動作描寫更具“動感”。
以上案例是筆者在教學實踐中所做的一種開展記敘類語篇拓展閱讀的嘗試??傊?,針對記敘類語篇的課外拓展閱讀,需要教師按照高考讀后續(xù)寫的要求甄選高質量的素材,定期定量帶領學生進行此類語篇的拓展閱讀。具體語篇具體解讀,挖掘每個語篇在語言表達上的各自精妙之處,加強學生對于描寫類詞匯和表達手段的積累,以期逐步提升學生讀后續(xù)寫的語言表達能力,夯實學生細節(jié)描寫這一微技能。