THEOPENWINDOWAfterSaki*HectorHughMunro赫克托·门罗(1870-1916)Penname:SakiOccupation:Author,PlaywrightNationality:BritishMasterofshortstories.writingstyle:shortbutmemorable,withdelicatelydrawncharactersandfinelyjudgednarratives.Oftenbecomparedto OHenry.*themaidideaTheOpenWindowdescribesthatafifteen-year-oldgirlVeramakesupahorriblestoryforastrangerwiththetopicoftheopenwindow.Thatday,heruncleandhistwobrothersgoshootingbycoincidence.AndVeratellsthestrangerthatheruncleandhistwobrothersdiedfouryearsago,whichisaterribleshockforheraunt.Afterthattragedy,herauntwillalwaysleavethewindowopenandbelievesthatherhusbandandbrotherswillcomebackoneday.Therefore,whenthemenreallycomeback,thepooryoungmancannotsayawordbutescaperudely.Toexplainthestrangeactionoftheman,Veramakesupanotherstorythatheisafraidofthedog,whichshowsherwisdom.*newwordsandphrases1)annoy使生气,使烦恼2)affect影响3)tremble颤抖4)relief缓解,救助5)scarcity短缺,不足6)muddy泥泞的,粘满了泥巴的7)sympathetic同情的,怜悯的8)extraordinary不一般的,非凡的9)graveyard墓地10)creature生物,通常指动物*(1)gothrough经历,经受(2)anumberof许多,大量(3)makeastatement叙述,声名(4)apologizefor因---道歉,就---道歉(5)onthematterof就---来说,在---方面(6)loseone’snerve失去勇气,吓倒了(7)makeup虚构,杜撰*TheOpenWindow*theoutlineofthestoryTime1)AnOctoberafternoonPlace2)Aruralretreat/ArestfulcountryspotCharacters3)A.Mr.FramtonNuttelB.Vera----nieceC.Mrs.Stapleton-----auntD.Mr.StapletonE.Mrs.Stapleton‘stwobrothersexercise(p19) 1.Mr.NettlecametoMrs.Appleton’shousetotakeacompleteresttohelpthenervecure. 2.WhilewaitingwiththechildforMrs.Sappleton,Framptondoubtedifhisvisitstothesestrangerswoulddomuchtowardshelpingthenervecure. 3.ThechildaskedNettlealotofquestionsabouthisknowledgeofMrs.Sappleton,becauseshewantedtoknowifhewasarealmentalpatient. 4.Accordingtothechild,Mr.Sappletonandhistwobrothers-in-lawalwaysreturnedfromhunting,muddyandexhausted. 5.Mrs.Sappletonwaslateinmakingherappearance,becausesheknewthatherniecewasoldenoughtolookafterthepatient.(T)(T)(F)(F)(F)*6.Framptonwastryingtoturnthetalkontoalessembarrassingtopic,buthewasignoredbythehostess.7.Framptonturnedtowardsthechildwithalookintendedtoconveysympatheticcomprehension,whichsuggeststhathestartedtobeconsciousthateverythingthechildsaidtohimwastrue. 8.ThechildpretendedtobestaringoutthroughtheopenwindowwithhorrorinhereyesinordertoattractFrampton’sattention. 9.Mrs.Sappletonwasnotunhappy,thoughFramptondashedoffwithoutawordofgood-byeorapologywhenherhusbandarrivedback. 10.Fromthestory'sending,itcouldbeconcludedthatthechildwasgoodatinventingfrighteningstories.(T)(T)(T)(T)(T)*textstudy "Myauntwillcomedownverysoon,Mr.Nettle,"saidaverycalmyoungladyoffifteenyearsofage;"meanwhileyoumusttrytobearmycompany."FramptonNettletriedtosaysomethingwhichwouldpleasetheniecenowpresent,withoutannoyingtheauntthatwasabouttocome.Hewassupposedtobegoingthroughacureforhisnerves,buthedoubtedwhetherthesepolitevisitstoanumberoftotalstrangerswouldhelpmuch."Iknowhowitwillbe,"hissisterhadsaidwhenhewaspreparingtogoawayintothecountry;"youwillloseyourselfdownthereandnotspeaktoalivingsoul,andyournerveswillbeworsethaneverthroughloneliness.IshalljustgiveyoulettersofintroductiontoallthepeopleIknowthere.Someofthem,asfarasIcanremember,werequitenice."FramptonwonderedwhetherMrs.Sappleton,theladytowhomhewasbringingoneofthelettersofintroduction,oneoftheniceones.1.WhatwastheproblemwithMr.FramtonNuttel?Whyishisproblemimportanttothisstory?WhywashevulnerabletosomeonelikeVera?Hewasundergoingmentalillness,sohewasnervous,dullandsensitive,whichformsastrongcomparisontoVera’scharacteristic:calm,wittyandself-possessd*"Doyouknowmanyofthepeopleroundhere?"askedtheniece,whenshethoughtthattheyhadsatlongenoughinsilence."Hardlyone,"saidFrampton."Mysisterwasstayinghere,youknow,aboutfouryearsago,andshegavemelettersofintroductiontosomeofthepeoplehere."Hemadethelaststatementinasadvoice."Thenyouknowalmostnothingaboutmyaunt?"continuedthecalmyounglady."Onlyhernameandaddress;"Framptonadmitted.HewaswonderingwhetherMrs.Sappletonwasmarriedperhapsshehadbeenmarriedandherhusbandwasdead.Buttherewassomethingofamanintheroom.*whydidVeraaskMr.Nuttelabouthisacquiantancewithheraunt?ShewantedtocheckwhetherMr.Nuttelkewherauntwellornot.Ifheknewheraunt,shewouldnotsucceedinherplantoplaythetrickonhim.*"Hergreatsorrowcamejustthreeyearsago,"saidthechild."Thatwouldbeafteryoursister'stime.""Hersorrow?"askedFrampton.Somehow,inthisrestfulcountryplace,sorrowsseemedfaraway. "YoumaywonderwhywekeepthatwindowwideopenonanOctoberafternoon,"saidtheniece,pointingtoalongwindowthatopenedlikeadoorontothegrassoutside."Itisquitewarmforthetimeoftheyear,"saidFrampton;"buthasthatwindowgotanythingtodowithyouraunt'ssorrow?"不知为什么他觉得在这样的安静的乡村是不会发生什么悲剧的。*thestory:AgreattragedyAftersomesmalltalks,VeracallsFramton'sattentiontothelarge,windowintheroom,whichisopendespitethefactthatitisOctober.Andthenshebegantotellheraunt’s“tragicstory”…..Whatisherstory?* "Outthroughthatwindow,exactlythreeyearsago,herhusbandandhertwoyoungbrotherswentofffortheirday'sshooting.Theynevercameback.Incrossingthecountrytotheshooting-groundtheywereallthreeswallowedinabog.Ithadbeenthatterriblewetsummer,youknow,andplacesthatweresafeinotheryearsbecamesuddenlydangerous.Theirbodieswereneverfound.Thatwastheworstpartofit."Herethechild'svoicelostitscalmsoundandbecamealmosthuman."Poorauntalwaysthinksthattheywillcomebacksomeday,theyandthelittlebrowndogthatwaslostwiththem,andwalkinatthatwindowjustastheyusedtodo.Thatiswhythewindowiskeptopeneveryeveningtillitisquitedark.Poordearaunt,shehasoftentoldmehowtheywentout,herhusbandwithhiswhitecoatoverhisarm,andRonnie,heryoungestbrother,singingasong,ashealwaysdidtoannoyher,becauseshesaiditaffectedhernerves.Doyouknow,sometimesonquieteveningslikethis,Ialmostgetastrangefeelingthattheywillallwalkinthroughthewindow--"*Thetragicstory☆Threeyearsago☆Heraunt‘shusbandandtwobrothers☆Theywenthuntingwithalittledog.Theyleftthroughthatverywindow,buttheyneverreturnedbecausetheywereengulfedbyapieceofbog(沼泽).Theirbodieswereneverfound.☆Vera’sauntbelievesthatthemenwillreturnoneday,thattheywillenterthehousethewaytheyleft,throughtheopenwindow.Thatiswhythewindowiskeptopeneveryeveninguntildark;“Doyouknow,sometimesonquieteveningslikethis,Ialmostgetastrongfeelingthattheywillallwalkinthroughthatwindow-"你知道吗,有时候像今天这样寂静无声的傍晚,我总会有一种奇怪的感觉,那就是他们会从那个窗子里走进来……”*Shestoppedandtrembled.ItwasarelieftoFramptonwhentheauntcamebusilyintotheroomandapologizedforbeinglate."IhopeVerahasbeenamusingyou?"shesaid."Shehasbeenveryinteresting,"saidFrampton."Ihopeyoudon'tmindtheopenwindow,"saidMrs.Sappletonbrightly;"myhusbandandbrotherswillbehomesoonfromshooting,andtheyalwayscomeinthisway.They'vebeenshootingbirdstodaynearthebog,sothey'llmakemypoorcarpetsdirty.Allyoumendothatsortofthing,don'tyou?"Shetalkedoncheerfullyabouttheshootingandthescarcityofbirds,andthehopesofshootinginthewinter.ToFramptonitwasallquiteterrible.Hemadeagreateffort,whichwasonlypartlysuccessful,toturnthetalkontoamorecheerfulsubject.Hewasconsciousthathishostesswasgivinghimonlyapartofherattention,andhereyeswerefrequentlylookingpasthimtotheopenwindowandthegrassbeyond.Itwascertainlyunfortunatethatheshouldhavepaidhisvisitonthissorrowfulday.Thegirltoldthisentirestorywithnerves,soMr.Nuttelbelievesthestorywithnodoubt.thegirl‟sauntcomesback,shesaystoMr.Nuttel,“Ihopeyoudon‟tmindtheopenwindow”,whichnodoubtmakeshimtothinkaboutthegirl‟sstory*"Thedoctorsagreeinorderingmecompleterest,noexcitementandnobodilyexercise,"saidFrampton,whohadthecommonideathattotalstrangerswanttoknowtheleastdetailofone'sillnesses,theircauseandcure."Onthematteroffood,theyarenotsomuchinagreement,"hecontinued. "No?"saidMrs.Sappletoninatiredvoice.Thenshesuddenlybrightenedintoattention--butnottowhatFramptonwassaying. "Heretheyareatlast!"shecried."Justintimefortea,anddon'ttheylookasiftheyweremuddyuptotheeyes!"*findoutthedifferentresponse:Mrs.Sappletonrattledcheerfullyaboutherhusbandsandbrothersasiftheywerealive,buttoFramtonitwasallpurelyhorrible.Hemadeadesparatebutonlypartiallysuccessfulattempttoturntotalkontoalessghastlytopic,likehisillness.however,Mrs.Sappletonshowedlittleinterstinthistopic,whichconvincedMr.Nuttelthatthepoorauntmusthavesufferedfromthementaldisordersduetothetragedyandsorrow.fromherewecanseeMrs.Sappletoniskind,politebutquiteabsorbedinherownconcerns.Sheisn'interestedinhervisitor'sstorybuttriedtobekindtohim.*climaxFramptontrembledslightlyandturnedtowardstheniecewithalookintendedtoshowsympatheticunderstanding.Thechildwaslookingoutthroughtheopenwindowwithfearinhereyes.WithashockFramptonturnedroundinhisseatandlookedinthesamedirection.Intheincreasingdarknessthreefigureswerewalkingacrossthegrasstowardsthewindowtheyallcarriedgunsundertheirarms,andoneofthemhadalsoawhitecoathungoverhisshoulders.Atiredbrowndogkeptcloseattheirheels.Noiselesslytheydrewneartothehouse,andthenayoungvoicestartedtosinginthedarkness.Framptonwildlyseizedhishatandstick;heranoutthroughthefrontdoorandthroughthegate.Henearlyranintoamanonabicycle.弗雷顿微微打了个颤,他带着同情而理解的
情转向年轻小姐。而那小姐却是目不转睛的望着窗口,眼睛里满是害怕。不知名的恐惧如寒冰般向弗雷顿涌来,他跌坐在椅子上,目光也望向同一个地方。*"Hereweare,mydear,"saidthebearerofthewhitecoat,cominginthroughthewindow;"fairlymuddy,butmostofit'sdry.Whowasthatwhoranoutaswecameup?""Amostextraordinaryman,aMr.Nettle,"saidMrs.Sappleton,"hecouldonlytalkabouthisillnesses,andranoffwithoutawordofgood-byeorapologywhenyouarrived.Onewouldthinkhehadseenaghost.""Iexpectitwasthedog,"saidtheniececalmly,"hetoldmehehadaterriblefearofdogs.HewasoncehuntedintoagraveyardsomewhereinIndiabyalotofwilddogs,andhadtospendthenightinanewly-duggravewiththecreaturesjustabovehim.Enoughtomakeanyonelosetheirnerve."Shewasverycleveratmakingupstoriesquickly.毫不费劲的随口编个故事是她的拿手好戏。*HowdidVeraexplainMr.Nuttel'shurryandhorror?WhenMrs.Sappeltonandherhusbandwonderwhyheleftinsuchahurry,VerabeginstoexplainthatFramtonwasscarredofthehuntingdogs,whichwasactuallyanotherlie.untilnowdothereadersrealizethatthewholestorywasjustthegirl'strick.Sheisclever,quick-witted,inventiveandhasacruel,ironicalsenseofhumor.meanwhilesheisagoodactress.*Whatdifferentthingsdoestheopenwindowinthestorysymbolizetothecharacters?ToVera,theopenwindowwasjustaclueinhermake-upstory,whichsheusedtointensifytheterror.ToMr.Nuttel,theopenwindowwasasymbolofsorrowanddeath.Becausehebelievedthestory,heconsideredthewindowasapartofthesadstory.ToMrs.Sappleton,theopenwindowwasaplacewhereshecouldcheckoutwhetherherhusbandandherbrotherscamehomeornot.*usethecorrectformofthwwords.1.FramptonNettletriedtosaysomethingwhichwouldpleasetheniecenowpresent,withouttheauntthatwasabouttocome.(annoy)beabouttodosth:即将做某事新学年开学在即。newschoolyearisabouttobegin.2.Theniecebegantoaskwhenshethoughtthattheyhadsatlongenoughin.(silent)3.Theauntcamebusilyintotheroomandforbeinglate.(apology)annoyingsilenceapologized*4.Shetalkedonabouttheshootingandthescarcityofbirds,andthcehopesofshootinginthewinter.(cheer)5.Onthematteroffood,theyarenotsomuchin.(agree)somethingofloseone'snervewithoutawordofkeepcloseatsb'sheelscheerfullyagreement大概,似乎害怕,不知所措没说一句话紧跟其后*matchthewordsandtheirmeanings(P20)1.sorrowful2.restful3.tremble4.increasing5.extraordinary6.relief7.brighten8.sympathetic9.bear10.huntc.sadg.peacefuli.shiverb.moreandmorej.odde.comfortd.cheerupf.kindhearteda.putupwithh.chase*ifIwereaboyagain(P21)1.practice2.surmount3.between4.atonce5.part6.inyouth7.overagain8.itself*Thankyou!*