首页
登录
职称英语
"Literature Class"[img]2012q1/ct_etoefm_etoeflistz_1455_20121[/img] [br] What ca
"Literature Class"[img]2012q1/ct_etoefm_etoeflistz_1455_20121[/img] [br] What ca
游客
2024-01-04
46
管理
问题
"Literature Class"
[br] What can we infer about the literature of the period?
[Narrator] Listen to part of a discussion in a literature class.
[Professor]
Today were continuing our discussion of Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. We left off last session at Q6
the point where Gulliver began his fourth voyage as the captain of a merchant ship. As you’ll recall, his
crew had confined him and cast him ashore on an island. While making his way along a road, he was
attacked by a herd of deformed beasts with brown skin and no tails, but suddenly the attack was interrupted
by the appearance of a beautiful horse. And this is where we left off. So what happens next?
[Student 1]
Well, another horse comes along, and they appear to be having a conversation, the two horses, I mean,
and they keep using the words Yahoo and Houyhnhnm so Gulliver is able to understand that Yahoo
refers to the animals that attacked him and Houyhnhnm refers to the horses. Then Gulliver goes home
with the horses.
[Professor]
And what is Gulliver thinking about while he’s observing the Yahoos and the Houyhnhnms?
[Student 2]
Oh, this was good. He starts to understand that the only difference between himself and the Yahoos is Q7
his clothing. But he’s... he’s horrified by this, so we see him trying to be more like the horses.
[Professor] How do you know that he’s striving to emulate the Houyhnhnms?
[Student 2] Well, he learns their language... so he can communicate with them.
[Professor]
Right. So this brings us to the most important part of the narrative—the comparison between the
Yahoos and the Houyhnhnms. First tell us how the Yahoos are portrayed. What do they eat? How do
they look?
[Student 3]
Well, I think the author used the word depraved several times. They eat dog and donkey meat and even Q8
garbage, and they drink, um, they drink... too much. And he says they’re filthy, and they stink.
[Professor]
So their behavior... the Yahoos’ behavior... is neither rational nor moral. Now take a look at the
description of the Yahoos that Gulliver has known in England. Let me refer to the book here. Okay, Gulliver
explains that Yahoos in England fight wars for religious reasons, that lawyers use reason to argue
for the wrong side, that the wealthy live to acquire more luxuries, and that greed makes them ill. By this,
we assume that he’s referring to the rich gourmet diet that causes gout and other health problems
among the upper classes. So this is in contrast with the Houyhnhnms, right? How so?
[Student 1] [Student 2]
Well... Yes...
[Student 1] Sorry, go ahead.
[Student 2]
I was just going to say that they eat oats, bread, and honey, but not meat, not other animals. And they
don’t drink.
[Student 1]
I think it’s important that they don’t even understand the concept of a lie. That proves that they are...
that they have a very innocent nature.
[Professor]
Good point. You’re referring to the fact that they failed to grasp how the crew was able to initiate the
mutiny that brought Gulliver to their island.
[Student 1] Umhum.
[Professor]
Okay, so what do the Houyhnhnms think about Gulliver? And what does Gulliver conclude about himself?
[Student 2]
Well, Gulliver isn’t really a Yahoo and he isn’t really a Houyhnhnm either. I’d say he’s kind of in the middle.
But, he’s trying to become a Houyhnhnm. When he goes back to England; he’s actually afraid of Q8
other humans... I mean... Yahoos.
[Professor]
But he can’t quite achieve his transformation, can he? Even though his pride motivates him to continue Q9
the impossible pursuit of perfection.... So, what does this all mean?
[Student 1]
I think it’s like the other chapters. The fourth voyage is... it’s another critique of the weaknesses in
human nature.
[Professor]
Then Swift is making the point that although humankind is capable of rational behavior, we seldom
choose to exercise it. The very meaning of the word Yahoo in the Houyhnhnm language is "evil." So
Swift is very satirical then. And when we consider the time period for the book, the early 1700s, we must Q10
appreciate the exceptional departure from the literature of the era, which was mostly written to flatter or
entertain. Swift used satire to provide the reader with a perspective that’s very different from that of Q11
other writers in an age of science and reason.
选项
A、Satire was very popular.
B、Most books were nonfiction.
C、It copied the style of Swift.
D、The tone was not very serious.
答案
D
解析
The tone was not very serious. It was meant to entertain.
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3333403.html
相关试题推荐
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0031_20121[/img][br][originaltext]ADVISOR:Isthe
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0031_20121[/img][br][originaltext]ADVISOR:Isthe
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0017_20121[/img][br][originaltext]Okay,nowg
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0017_20121[/img][br][originaltext]Okay,nowg
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0017_20121[/img][br][originaltext]Okay,nowg
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0017_20121[/img][br][originaltext]Okay,nowg
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0017_20121[/img][br][originaltext]Okay,nowg
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0339_20121[/img][br][originaltext]DAWN:We’vecha
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0339_20121[/img][br][originaltext]DAWN:We’vecha
[img]2012q1/ct_eilm_eillist_0339_20121[/img][br][originaltext]DAWN:We’vecha
随机试题
Itissonicetohearfromher.______,welastmetmorethanthirtyyearsago.A
[originaltext]Willyoubefreethisweekend?[/originaltext]A、I’mnotintheoff
Solarenergyforyourhomeiscoming.Itcanhelpyouasasinglehomeowner.Itc
下列各项不属于事故风险的是()。A.旅游服务供应部门擅自提高供应价格 B.
钢筋牌号中,HRB600表示()。A.热轧光圆钢筋 B.热轧带肋钢筋
出租人知道或者应当知道承租人转租,但在()个月内未提出异议,其以承租人未经同
操作风险可分为人员因素、内部流程、系统缺陷和外部事件四大类别,其中外部事件方面的
关于公司的财务行为,下列哪些选项是正确的?(2014年)A.在会计年度终了时,公
根据企业所得税规定,下列固定资产不得计提折旧在税前扣除的有()。A.未投入使用
治疗破伤风、白喉应采用A.氨苄西林+甲氧苄啶 B.青霉素+磺胺嘧啶 C.青霉
最新回复
(
0
)