“文學(xué)閱讀與欣賞”考前寶典

同學(xué)們，你們好！

期末考試臨近了，面對厚厚的一本《文學(xué)閱讀與欣賞》，你是否感到有些緊張呢？

請不要擔(dān)心，如果你按照考試寶典的內(nèi)容認(rèn)真復(fù)習(xí)，相信你會考出一個好成績的！

一、如何復(fù)習(xí)

該課程學(xué)習(xí)的主線是課本。復(fù)習(xí)時，依據(jù)復(fù)習(xí)要點(diǎn)(focalpoints),把課本

梳理一遍，是其他任何方法都替代不了的?？荚噧?nèi)容大多是出自課本的，熟悉

課本是得高分的法寶。如果按教學(xué)平臺里的“復(fù)習(xí)與自測”部分的要點(diǎn)，對照

教材和面授輔導(dǎo)課的課程講義，從頭到尾地詳細(xì)復(fù)習(xí)一篇，你的考試成績會使

你滿意的。

二、復(fù)習(xí)參考

1面授課上的要點(diǎn)梳理/VOB考前串講

2考前寶典的范圍和要點(diǎn)

3論壇上的老師考前提醒

三、考點(diǎn)串講

1.考試范圍

《文學(xué)閱讀與欣賞》教材的一至八單元為本次考試的范圍?？荚噧?nèi)容主要涉及教

材中的文學(xué)作品理解以及文學(xué)常識的掌握。

2.考試題型

筆試分為五個部分，第一部分文學(xué)常識，占35分：第二部分詩歌/戲劇分析，占8

分；第三部分莎士比亞作品理解，占12分；第四部分短篇小說分析，占25分；

第五部分寫作，為20分?？荚嚂r間總共12()分鐘，其中文學(xué)常識占25分鐘，詩

歌/戲劇分析部分占15分鐘，莎士比亞作品理解部分占10分鐘，短篇小說分析部

分占30分鐘，寫作部分占40分鐘。

.3.試卷各部分詳解

a)文學(xué)常識的第一部分是10個有關(guān)課本出現(xiàn)的文學(xué)概念、文學(xué)人物和作品

的單項(xiàng)選擇題。10個均是課本的重點(diǎn)或者基本常識，所以比較簡單，而這

部分得分也較好。大部分同學(xué)都在12分以上（滿分20分），很多是16一

20分。

1.Thepoem“Ozymandias"isabouta.

A.traveler

B.sculptor

C.writer

D.king

2.TheBennettfamilyarecharactersin.

A.GoneWiththeWind

B.PrideandPrejudice

C.TheImportanceofBeingErnest

D.Pygmalion

3.Thestory“AHorsemanintheSky“takesplacein.

A.AmericanIndependenceWar

B.AmericanCivilWar

C.Colonialtime

D.20thcentury

4.Mrs.Droverisacharacterin.

A.TheAdventuresofTomSawyer

B.TheDemonLover

C.MansfieldPark

D.HeartsandHands

5.ThepoemXuZhimowroteis"Farewellto

A.Cambridge

B.Arms

C.Beijing

D.Freedom

6.UponWestminsterBridgeisabeautifulpoemwrittenbyWordsworth.Inthispoem,

thepoetdescribedthebeautyofthecitywhichrefersto.

A.York

B.Westminster

C.London

D.Cambridge

7.Whenapairofconsecutivelinesinapoemrhymethisisknownasa.

A.ballad

B.stanza

C.couplet

D.sonnet

8.Inaworkofliterature,characterscanbeclassifiedasmajorandminorcharactersin

termsoftheirimportance.E.M.Forstercontraststwotypesofcharacters,the“flat”

andthe“________

A.round

B.flat

C.minor

D.little

9.Thecharacterwhospeaksof“aseaoftroubles”and"theWhipsandScornsof

Time"is.

A.Hamlet

B.Macbeth

C.JaneEyre

D.Scrooge

10.FourofShakespeare'swell-knowntragediesare.

A.Macbeth,Othello,KingLearandWutheringHeights

B.Macbeth,theMerchantofVenice,OthelloandKingLear

C.Macbeth,Hamlet,OthelloandWutheringHeights

D.Macbeth,Hamlet,OthelloandKingLear

11.AnaccepteddramaticconventionusedinShakespeare\timewhereacharacter

expresseshisthoughtsandfeelings,whilealoneonastage,isreferredtoasa

A.memorial

B.soliloquy

C.oration

D.setting

12.RobinsonCrusoeisastory,firstpublishedin1719.Inthestory,RobinsonCrusoeis

themajorcharacterandFridayishis.

A.enemy

B.boss

C.slave

D.colleague

13.Itisimportanttorealizethatwhentheauthorwritesastory,hecreates“someone”to

tellthestory:thatstorytelleriscalledthe"

A.writer

B.witness

C.character

D.narrator

14.“Omniscient“，“I-witness”,"I-agent”and“Objective“areallexamplesofa

narrator's.

A.depth

B.competence

C.reliability

D.pointofview

15.Wheneventsarearranged“firstthingsflrst^^theyareportrayed.

A.chronologically

B.symbolically

C.incoherently

D.horizontally

16.Asthetensionisresolvedtheplotcomestothe.

A.climax

B.denouement

C.exposition

D.elaboration

17.Poeticlicenceisfreedomto.

A.useanotherpoet'simagery

B.makepoliticalstatements

C.combinegenres

D.breaklanguagerules

18.Heathcliffisacharactercreatedby.

A.CharlotteBronte

B.OscarWilde

C.JaneAusten

D.EmilyBronte

Key:1.D2.B3.B4.B5.A

6.C7.C8.A9.A10.D

11.B12.C13.D14.D15.A

16.B17.D18.D

b）第一大題的第二部分是文學(xué)常識填空。一般是每句三個空，考核文學(xué)常識中的

知識點(diǎn)。這部分往年得分情況不好，反映出考生對文學(xué)常識中的知識點(diǎn)能夠辨認(rèn),

但寫出來有困難，請大家考前練習(xí)。

現(xiàn)舉例如下，作為練習(xí)題。

1.Pleaselist3typesofliterarygenresd,p,f.

答案是drama,poetry,fiction

如果你寫play,poem,story(ornovel)也是可以接受的。

2.WecallJaneEyrearcharacter,sinceshehasthreedimensionsasa

person,andweseeherchangeanddevelop.Sheisaplain-featured,empathetic,

hard-working,andpassionategirl.SheworksasagovernessatThornfieldHalland

fallsinlovewithherwealthyemployer,R.Butherstrongsenseof

consciencedoesnotpermithertobecomehismistress,andshedoesnotreturnto

himuntilhisinsanewifeisdeadandsheherselfhascomeintoaninheritance.

答案是round,Rochester

3.Dickens'screation,themiserScrooge,isanexampleofa/anaor

s_character.Otherexamplescouldbe'thewiseadvisor'or4the

absent-mindedprofessor

答案是archetype,stock

4.AdlestropisapoemwrittenbyEdwardThomas.Inthepoem,Adlestropisa

rs.

答案是railwaystation

5.Whentheinitialsettingforastoryoccursintheintroduction,theliterarytermfor

thisise.Followingthisthereisa(n)eoftheplotwherethe

actiondevelopsintoconflictcausingaclimaxtobereachedwhentheseconflictsall

reacha(n)cpointbeforeanultimateresolutionoccurs.

答案是exposition,elaboration,crisis

Moreexercisesofthistype:

6.Intheexpositionofaplot,thefouraspectsofthestory-'who',w,

wandwareintroduced.

(when,where,what)

7.Characterscanbeclassifiedasmajorandmcharactersintermsoftheir

importanceinworks.Ortheyarefandroundcharacters,dependingon

whethertheydevelopornotinthestory.

(minor,flat)

8.ADayisasimpleandplainAmericanpoem.Inthispoem,adaystandsfora

inwhichwemaybekeenlyawareofthejoyofbandfeeluncertain

aboutd.

(birth,death)

9.Thetoneinwhichcharactersspeakcanindicatetheira,m,or

m.

(attitudes,manners,mood)

10.AphraBenn,DanielDefoeandBlakeallexploretheideaofthe4darkstranger'

butfromdifferentpointsofview:the4darkstranger'asans,orasa

ns.

(noblesalvage,naturalslave)

11.'Tobeornottobe'arethefirstwordsofthesoliloquyspokenbyH

inS'sdrama,aprinceexperiencing'aseaoft

(Hamlet;Shakespeare,troubles)

12.Inastory,theplotstructuresconsistsofc,e,c

anddenouement.

(exposition,elaboration,climax)

c）戲劇或詩歌分析。這部分主要考查的是對課本中某段戲劇節(jié)選或?qū)σ黄姼璧?/p>

理解。如果是戲劇分析，5個簡答題涉及主題、人物、情節(jié)等，如果是詩歌分析，

5個簡答題涉及主題、韻腳、詩歌形象、詩句的理解。只要對課本熟悉，這部分的

得分能夠很高。

舉例如下，請練習(xí)：

I.

Trees

IthinkthatIshallneversee

Apoemlovelyasatree

Atreewhosehungrymouthisprest

Againsttheearth'ssweetflowingbreast;

AtreethatlooksatGodallday;

Andliftsherleafyarmstopray;

AtreethatmayinSummerwear

Anestofrobinsinherhair;

Uponwhosebosomsnowhaslain;

Whointimatelyliveswithrain

Poemsaremadebyfoolslikeme,

RutonlyGodcanmakeatree.

Questions:

1.Whatistherhymingscheme?

2.Whatisthenamenormallygiventotwoconsecutivelinesofpoetrythatrhyme?

3.Whichfiguresofspeechdoesline3employ?

4.Whatisthepoet'sattitudetowardstrees?

Answers:

1.aabbccddeeaa

2.couplet

3.personification

4.Headoresthetrees.

II.

AnIrishAirmanForeseesHisDeath

IknowthatIshallseemyfate

Somewhereamongthecloudsabove;

ThosethatIfightIdonothate,

ThosethatIguardIdonotlove;

MycountryisKi1tartanCross,

MycountrymenKiItartan^poor,

Nolikelyendcouldbringthemloss

Orleavethemhappierthanbefore.

Norlaw,nordutybademefight,

Norpublicmen,norcheeringcrowds,

Alonelyimpulseofdelight

Drovetothistumultintheclouds;

Ibalancedall,broughtalltomind,

Theyearstocomeseemedwasteofbreath,

Awasteofbreaththeyearsbehind

Inbalancewiththislife,thisdeath.

Questions:

1.Whatistherhymingscheme?

2.Whatarcthemesofthepoem?

3.Whatattitudedoesthepoetseemtobeexpressinginthefirsthalfofhispoem?

4.IdentifytheimagethatYeatsusesinthelastfewlinesofthepoem?

Answers:

1.ababededefefghgh

2.(Anyoneofthesethree)(l)War,(2)Death,(3)Thefutilityofwar.

3.(Anyoneofthefollowingfive)

acceptanceofdeath;

exhilarationabouttheexperienceofwarintheair;

indifferencetothepurposeofwar;

indifferencetotheresultofthewar;

bitternessaboutthefutilityofthewar;

4.Yeatsuses€awasteofbreath5asanimagefbrboththefuture("theyearsaheadJ)and

thepast(4theyearsbehind)\ORYeatsusestheimage'awasteofbreath'foranytime

otherthanthepresentwhenthefighterisfacingdeathinthesky.

d)莎士比亞作品理解。這部分要求對莎士比亞作品中的詞句理解。我們課文中的

莎士比亞作品總共選了四篇，大家下些功夫，我相信大家肯定能理解的。

舉例如下：

True,Ihavemarriedher:

Theveryheadandfrontofmyoffending

Haththisextent,nomore.

A.TheonlywrongIhavedone.

B.Thebeginningofmyoffer.

C.TheexcuseIwillhave.

D.TheverydaughterIwillmarry.

答案是：A

這里把莎士比亞的作品用比較通俗的英語表達(dá)出來，希望幫助大家理解莎士比亞。

Hamlet(P215)

Tobeornottobe—thatistheQuestion;Whetherit'snoblerinthemindtosufferThe

slingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune,Ortotakearmsagainstaseaoftroubles,And

byopposingendthem?

Toliveortodie,thatisaquestion.Isitbettertobearthebitternessofbadfateinthe

mind,orshouldpeopleriseuptopickupweaponsfightingagainstitandendsomany

troublesinone'slife?

Todie,tosleep-Nomore;一andbyasleeptosayweendTheheartache,andthe

thousandnaturalshocksThatfleshisheirto;'TisaconsummationDevoutlytobe

wished.

Todie,tosleep,therewillbenomoreexistence.Andifwecansaythatweendthe

troubleandthecountlessnaturalstrikesthathumanbeingsareboundtosufferbya

sleep,thenasleeporadeathwouldbetheperfectthingthatwehaveseriouslywished

for.

Todie,tosleep;Tosleep,perchancetodream.Ay,there'stherub;Forinthatsleepof

deathwhatdreamsmaycome,Whenwehaveshuffledoffthismortalcoil,Mustgiveus

pause.ThereistherespectThatmakescalamityofsolonglife;

Tosleepperhapsistodream,thatiswherethetroubleis.Inthesleepofdeath,whenwe

getridofourphysicalbodiesandfreeourselvesfromtheseearthlytroubles,whatmay

comeasourdrcamsmustmakeushesitate.Itiswiththisveryconsiderationthatpeople

wouldratherendurealifesolongandsopainful.

Othello(P328)

Othello:Mostpowerful,grave,andrespectedlords

myverynobleandapprovedgoodmasters,

thatIhavetakenawaythisoldman'sdaughter,itismosttrue.

TheonlymisdeedIamaccusedofisthatIhavemarriedher.

Iamunpolishedinmyspeech,andlittleblessedwiththesoftphraseofpeace.

SinceIwasachildofseven,allmyeffortshavebeenconcentratedonmy

militaryprofession,exceptforthelastninemonths.

Icanspeaklittleofthisgreatworld,nomorethanwhatbelongstobattlefield.

AndthereforeIshallhelplittlemyowncauseforwardinspeakingformyself.

Yethyyourgraciouspatience,Iwilltellmylovestoryplainlyandsimply.I

willtellhowIwonhisdaughterbywhatdrugs,whatcharms,whatconjuration

andwhatmightymagic,forIamchargedwiththeseforsuchproceeding.

Brabantio:Amaidwhoisneverbold,whoissostillandquietofspiritthathermotion

blushedatitself,istofallinlovewithwhatshefearedtolookon,inspiteof

hernature,ofheryears,ofhercountry,ofherreputation,ofeverything.

Tobelievethatlovestoryisajudgmentsodeformedandtotallyimperfect

thatitcouldacceptthatperfectioncouldgowrongandgoagainstalltherules

ofnature.Itmustbetheevilclevernessthatdrivesthelovetohappen.

Ithereforeassertagain,heworkedonherwithsomemixtureswhichwere

powerfuloverthebloodorconjuredtothiseffectwithsomemagicpotion.

Duke:Tovouchthisisnoproof.

AlltheWorld'saStage(P73)

Andallthemenandwomenmerelyplayers:theyhavetheirexitsandtheirentrances;

Alltheworldisastage,allthemenandwomenareplayingtheirroles.Theywereborn

intothisworldanddeathwouldtakethemawayfromthisworld.

Andonemaninhistimeplaysmanyparts,Hisactsbeingsevenages.Atfirsttheinfant,

Mewlingandpukinginthenurse'sarms.

Andeverymanplaysmanyrolesinhislifetime.Hiswholelifetimecouldbedivided

into7stages.Atfirstthepartofaninfant,cryingandvomitinginthenurse'sarms.

Andthentheschool-boy,withhissatchel.Andshiningmorningface,creepinglikesnail

Unwillinglytoschool.

Andthenthemanplays(hepartofaschoolboywhosefaceshinesinthemorning.He

walksveryslowlytowardschool,carryinghisschoolbag,forheisreluctanttogoto

school.

Andthenthelover,Sighinglikefurnace,withawofulballadMaketohismistress'

eyebrow.

Andthenheplaysthepartofalover.Sighingheavilylikeafurnace,hewritesa

sentimentalpoemwhichisdevotedtohisgirlfriend\eyebrow.

Thenasoldier,Fullofstrangeoaths,andbeardedlikethepard,Jealousinhonour,

suddenandquickinquarrel,SeekingthebubblereputationEveninthecannon'smouth.

Thenhewillbeasoldier,swearsalot,wearingbeardliketheleopard.Heisvery

vigilantinguardinghishonor.Hequarrelswithothersbecauseheisrashandtouchy

whilepursuingfameevenattheriskofhislifeinthewar.Yet,thereputationheis

seekingisactuallylikeabubble,easilybrokenandvanishedsoon.

Andthenthejustice,Infairroundbellywithgoodcaponlin'd,Witheyessevere,and

beardofformalcut,Fullofwisesawsandmoderninstances;Andsoheplayshispart.

Thenheplaysthepartofanexperiencedmanwithsevereeyes,formallycutbeardanda

fairlyroundbellywhichisfilledwithgoodfood.Whathesaysisfullofoldsayingsand

newexamples.

ThesixthageshiftsIntotheleanandslipper'dpantaloonWithspectaclesonnoseand

pouchonside,Hisyouthfulhosewellsav'daworldtoowideForhisshrunkshank;and

hisbigmanlyvoice,Turningagaintowardchildishtreble,pipesAndwhistlesinhis

sound.

Inthesixthage,heturnsouttobeathinridiculousoldmanwithglassesonhisnoseand

asmallbagonhisside.Histrousers,whichhavebeenkeptwellfromhisyouth,aretoo

wideforhislegs.Hisbassvoiceturnstobecomechildishlyhighwithsoundsasif

producedbyapipeandawhistle.

Lastsceneofall,Thatendshisstrangeeventfulhistory,Issecondchildishnessandmere

oblivionSansteeth,sanseyes,sanstaste,sanseverything.

Themaninhisoldagebecomeschildlikeinhisactionsandmindashelosestheability

tothinkproperlyandtounderstandtheworldaroundhim.Heloseshisteeth,eyesight,

tastebudsandeverythingthatisnecessarytoappreciatelife.

e）短篇小說。這部分是整個卷子里唯一出自課外的，是8道問答題。主要考查的

也是基本的文學(xué)常識，涉及布景、主題、人物、情節(jié)、矛盾沖突等。前5題每題2

分，后3題每題5分。從分?jǐn)?shù)分布來看，前5題基本都是一句話或者一個短語簡

答即可，而后3題同學(xué)們要稍微展開來說。失分原因有：1）后三題答案過于簡單:

2）答案沒有切中要害。從得分策略來說，建議同學(xué)們作答時盡量多說幾句。

寫作。這部分是人稱變化和縮寫的結(jié)合。有些同學(xué)不知道怎樣才算是從要求的角

度寫，所以使用了第三人稱。其實(shí)就是把自己當(dāng)成文中的角色，然后講個故事就

行了。同時，把故事主要情節(jié)講完整就可以了。太多的細(xì)節(jié)會超過字?jǐn)?shù)限制。評

分是從語言、內(nèi)容和是否按照要求寫作三方面來給整體分。所以，提醒同學(xué)們注

意這三點(diǎn)。

以下是兩篇小說供大家復(fù)習(xí)用。

小說1：

TheTidyDrawer

ByMoMcAuley

OneSaturdaymorningAbby'sMumcameupstairstoseeAbbyinherbedroom,orcriedto.There

wassomuchmessonthefloor.Shecouldonlypokeherheadaroundthedoor.Abbysatinthe

middleofitallreadingabook.

“Whatarubbish-tip,“Mumsaid."Youneedtohaveaclearupinhere."

“Why?”Abbyasked.

“Why?”Munirepeated.^Becausethingsgetbrokenorlostwhenthey'reallwilly-nillylikethis.

Comeon,haveatidyupnow?*

"ButI'mverybusy,“Abbyargued,t4andit'sboringonmyown.Caivtyouhelpme?^^

“No,Ican't,I'mbusytoo.ButI'llgiveyouextrapocketmoneyifyoudoagoodjob.**

WhenMumcamebacklater,allthetoysandclothesandbookshaddisappeared.

"I'mimpressedJsaidMum,"ButI'llinspectitproperlylater75

“Itwaseasy,^^saidAbby.uCanIhavemyextrapocketmoneynow?”

“Allright.Getitoutofmychangepurse.It'sinthekitchentidydra\ver.^^

InthekitchenAbbywentovertothedresserandpulledopenthetidydrawer.Shehuntedforthe

purse.

“Anyluck?”Mumasked.

Abbyshookherhead.

"Itmustbelurkingatthebottom,Mumsaid."Let'shaveaproperlook.”

Shepulledthedraweroutandcarrieditovertothetable.Abbykneeleduponachairtolookinside.

Therewerelotsofboringthngslikestaplersandstringsbuttherewerelotsofinterestingthingsas

well.

"What'sthis?^^Abbyasked,holdingupaplasticbottlefullofredliquid.Mumlaughed.

“Fakeblood,fromaHalloweenpartyyearsago.YourDadandItookyoutothat,dressedupasa

babyvampire.Youwerereallyscary.”

“Idon'trememberthat.”

Abbycarriedonlookingthroughthedrawer.Shefoundsomevampireteeth,whitefacepaint,plastic

witchnailsandhairgel.Mumpulledoutaglitteryhairband.Ithadspringswithwobblyballsonthe

lopthatflasheddiscocolors.Sheputitonherheadwhileshecarriedonlookingthrough(hedrawer.

Abbyfoundsomesparklyhairelasticstomatchthehairband.ShemadeherMumputlotsoflittle

bunchesalloverherheadsoshelookedreallysilly.

“Irememberthis,^^Abbysaidasshepulledoutaplasticbag,"Thisisfrommypirateparty."Inside

therewasablack,falsemoustacheandsomebiggoldearrings.

ShepeeledthestickybackingoffthefalsemoustacheandstuckitonMum'stoplipthenfounda

paintbrushinthedrawerandpaintedafierceredscardownhercheekusingthefakeblood.Murn

clippedonthepirateearrings.

“Comehere,“MumsaidandsmearedwhitefacepaintalloverAbby'sface.Shedribbledthefake

bloodsoitlookedasifitwascomingoutofAbby'seyesandmouth.SheputgelalloverAbby'shair

andmadeitstandupintoweird,pointyshapes.Abbyputinthevampireteethandslippedonthe

witchfingers.ShemadescarynoisesatWow-Wowthecat.Heignoredherandcarriedonwashing

himselfonthesealnexttoher.

“Wotchthish?”Abbyasked,holdingupaflatrubberything.Itwashardtospeakthroughthe

vampireteeth.

"It'sawhoopeecushion,''Mumsaid."Youblowitupandsitonit.Itmakesrudenoises.^^Sheblew

itupandgaveittoAbby.

Suddenlytherewasaknockatthebackdoor.Avoicecalledout.**Hello,it'sonlyme.Tveletmyself

in.”

Itwastheirnosyneighbour,Mrs.Hislop.Shewasalwaysinterferingandcomplaining.

Mrs.Hislopenteredthekitchen.Hermouthdroppedopen.

“Wc'rcjushwookingforthechangepursc,^^Abbyexplained.

“Yes,well,er,"Mrs.Hislopsaid,“Ijustwantedawordaboutyourfence.Someofit'sblowndown

onmyside.”

Atthatmoment,Abbysatonthewhoopeecushionandletoutanenormousrudenoise.Wow-Wow

jumpedoffhisseatandranaway.

“Well!”saidMrs.Hislopandhurriedfromtheroomandoutofthehouse.

WhenthedoorbangedshutAbbyandMumburstoutlaughinguntilMum'smoustachehungonbya

whiskerandAbby'svampireteethdroppedout.

AbbycametositonherMum'sknee.

“It'sfundoingthistogether,51shesaid.

“Maybe.butwestillhaven'tfoundthechangepurse."Theybothlookedattheenormousheapof

thingsspreadoverthekitchentable.

44Well,youknowthingswillgetlost,orbroken,whenthey'reallwillynilly,“Abbysaid.

“Youcheekymonkey!”Mumlaughed."ButwhatshallIdowithitall?”

“Iknow,it'seasy,“Abbysaidandbegantoscoopeverythingoffthetabicintoherarms.Shedumped

i(allbackinthekitchendrav/er.

Munilookedathersuspiciously.

“Let'sgoandinspectyourbedroom,shallwe.,J

Abbyfollowedherupstairsandintoherbedroom.Wow-Wcwwassittinginfrontofherfishtank

lookinghungrilyatthegoldfish.HedashedunderthebedwhenhesawMumandAbby.Mum

kneeleddownandliftedthebedcovertogethimout.UnderneathwereheapsAbby'stoys,dooks,

tapes,clothesandshoes,emptyplasticcupsandwrappersandahalf-eatensandwichonaplate.

"Abby!What'sallthis?''

“It'smytidydrawer,“Abbysaid.ShewrappedherarmsaroundherMumandgaveherakiss."Let's

sortthisoneouttogethernow.”

小說2

TheMouse

BySAKI(H.H.MUNRO)(1870-1916)

TheodoricVblerhadbeenbroughtup,frominfancytotheconfinesofmiddleage,bya

fondmotherwhosechiefsolicitudehadbeentokeephimscreenedfromwhatshecalled

thecoarserrealitiesoflife.WhenshediedsheleftTheodoricaloneinaworldthatwas

asrealasever,andagooddealcoarserthanheconsideredithadanyneedtobe.Toa

manofhistemperamentandupbringingevenasimplerailwayjourneywascrammed

withpettyannoyancesandminordiscords,andashesettledhimselfdownina

second-classcomparlmentoneSeptembermorninghewasconsciousofruffledfeelings

andgeneralmentaldiscomposure.Hehadbeenstayingatacountryvicarage(avicarsr

house),theinmatesofv/hichhadbeencertainlyneitherbrutalnorbacchanalian,but

theirsupervisionofthedomesticestablishmenthadbeenofthatlaxorderwhichinvites

disaster.Theponycarriagethatwastotakehimtothestationhadneverbeenproperly

ordered,andwhenihemomentforhisdeparturedrewnear,thehandymanwhoshould

haveproducedtherequiredarticlewasnowheretobefound.Inthisemergency

Theodoric,tohismutebutveryintensedisgust,foundhimselfobligedlocollaborate

withthevicar'sdaughterinthetaskofharnessingthepony,whichnecessitatedgroping

aboutinanilllightedoutbuildingcalledastable,andsmellingverylikeoneexceptin

patcheswhereitsmelledofmice.Withoutbeingactuallyafraidofmice,Theodoric

classedthemamongthecoarserincidentsoflife,andconsideredthatProvidence,witha

littleexerciseofmoralcourage,mightlongagohaverecognizedthattheywerenot

indispensable,andhavewithdrawnthemfromcirculation.

Asthetrainglidedoutofthestation,Theodoric'snervousimaginationaccusedhimself

ofexhalingaweakodorofstableyard,andpossiblyofdisplayingamoldystrawortwo

onhisunusuallywell-brushedgarments.Fortunatelytheonlyotheroccupationofthe

compartment,aladyofaboutthesameageashimself,seemedinclinedforslumber

ratherthanscrutiny;thetrainwasnotduetostoptill(heterminuswasreached,inabout

anhour'stime,andthecarriagewasoftheold-fashionedsortthatheldno

communicationwithacorridor,thereforenofurthertravelingcompanionswerelikelyto

intrudeonTheodoric'ssemiprivacy.Andyetthetrainhadscarcelyattaineditsnormal

speedbeforehebecamereluctantlybutvividlyawarethathewasnotalonewiththe

slumberinglady;hewasnotevenaloneinhisownclothes(28a).Awarm,creeping

movementoverhisfleshbetrayedtheunwelcomeandhighlyresentedpresence,unseen

butpoignant,ofastrayedmouse,thathadevidentlydashedintoitspresentretreat

duringtheepisodeoftheponyharnessing.

Furtivestampsandshakesandwildlydirectedpinchesfailedtodislodgetheintruder...

andthelawfuloccupantoftheclotheslaybackagainstthecushionsandendeavored

rapidlytoevolvesomemeansforputtinganendtothedualownership.Itwas

unthinkablethatheshouldcontinueforthespaceofawholehourinthehorrible

positionofaRowtonHouse(acharityhouse)forvagrantmice(alreadyhisimagination

hadatleastdoubledthenumbersofthealieninvasion).Ontheotherhand,nothingless

drasticthanpartialdisrobingwouldeasehimofhistormentor,andtoundressinthe

presenceofalady,evenforsolaudableapurpose,wasanideathatmadehiseartips

tingleinablushofabjectshame.Hehadneverbeenabletobringhimselfeventothe

mildexposureofopenworksocksinthepresenceofthefairsex.Andyet—theladyin

thiscasewastoallappearancessoundlyandsecurelyasleep;themouse,ontheolher

hand,seemedtobetryingtocrowdawandeijahr(alongjourney)intoafewstrenuous

minutes.Ifthereisanytruthinthetheoryoftransmigration,thisparticularmousemust

certainlyhavebeeninaformerstateamemberoftheAlpineClub.Sometimesinits

eagernessitlostitsfootingandslippedforhalfaninchorso;andthen,infright,or

moreprobablytemper,itbit.Theodoricwasgoadedintothemostaudacious

undertakingofhislife.

Crimsoningtothehueofabeetrootandkeepinganagonizedwatchonhisslumbering

fellowtraveler,heswiftlyandnoiselesslysecuredtheendsofhisrailwayrugiothe

racksoneithersideofthecarriage,sothatasubstantialcurtainhungathwartthe

compartment.Inthenarrowdressingroomthathehadthusimprovisedheproceeded

withviolenthastetoextricatehimselfpartiallyandthemouseentirelyfromthe

surroundingcasingsoftweedandhalf-wool.Astheunraveledmousegaveawildleap

lothefloor,iherug,slippingitsfasteningaleitherend,alsocamedownwi』ha

heart-curdlingflop(28b),andalmostsimultaneouslytheawakenedsleeperopenedher

eyes.

Withamovementalmostquickerthanthemouse's,Theodoricpouncedontherugand

hauleditsamplefoldschin-highoverhisdismantledpersonashecollapsedintothe

farthercornerofthecarriage.Thebloodracedandbeatintheveinsofhisneckand

forehead,whilehewaiteddumblyforthecommunicationcordtobepulled.Thelady,

however,contentedherselfwithasilentstareatherstrangelymuffledcompanion.How

muchhadsheseen,Theodoricqueriedtohimself;andinanycasewhatonearthmust

shethinkofhispresentposture?

"IthinkIhavecaughtachill,11heventureddesperately.

"Really,I'msorry,"shereplied."Iwasjustgoingtoaskyouifyouwouldopenthis

window."

“Ifancyit'smalaria,"headded,histeethchatteringslightly,asmuchfromfrightasfrom

adesiretosupporthistheory.