Lesson 22 By heart熟记台词 独立主格

Listen to the tape then answer the question below: Which actor read the letter in the end, the aristocrat or the gaoler?

Some plays are so successful that they run for years on end.

有些剧目十分成功,以致连续上演好几年。

In many ways, this is unfortunate for the poor actors who are required to go on repeating the same lines night after night.

这样一来,可怜的演员们可倒霉了,因为他们需要一夜连着一夜地重复同样的台词。

One would expect them to know their parts by heart and never have cause to falter. Yet this is not always the case.

人们以为,这些演员一定会把台词背得烂熟,绝不会临场结巴的,但情况却并不总是这样。

A famous actor in a highly successful play was once cast in the role of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in the Bastille for twenty years.

有一位名演员曾在一出极为成功的剧目中扮演一个贵族角色,这个贵族已在巴士底狱被关押了 20 年。

In the last act, a gaoler would always come on to the stage with a letter which he would hand to the prisoner.

在最后一幕中,狱卒手持一封信上场,然后将信交给狱中那位贵族。

Even though the noble was expected to read the letter at each performance, he always insisted that it should be written out in full.

尽管那个贵族每场戏都得念一遍那封信,但他 还是坚持要求将信的全文写在信纸上。

One night, the gaoler decided to play a joke on his colleague to find out if, after so many performances, he had managed to learn the contents of the letter by heart.

一天晚上,狱卒决定与他的同事开一个玩笑,看看他反复演出这么多场之后,是否已将信的内容记熟了。

The curtain went up on the final act of the play and revealed the aristocrat sitting alone behind bars in his dark cell.

大幕拉开,最后一幕戏开演,贵族独自一人坐在铁窗后阴暗的牢房里。

Just then, the gaoler appeared with the precious letter in his hands. He entered the cell and presented the letter to the aristocrat.

这时狱卒上场,手里拿着那封珍贵的信。狱卒走逬牢房,将信交给贵族。

But the copy he gave him had not been written out in full as usual. It was simply a blank sheet of paper.

但这回狱卒给贵族的信没有像往常那样把全文写全,而是一张白纸。

The gaoler looked on eagerly, anxious to see if his fellow actor had at last learnt his lines.

狱卒热切地观察着,急于想了解他的同事是否记熟了台词。

The noble stared at the blank sheet of paper for a few seconds. Then, squinting his eyes, he said: 'The light is dim. Read the letter to me.' And he promptly handed the sheet of paper to the gaoler.

贵族盯着白纸看了几秒种,然后,眯起眼睛来,说道:“光线太暗,请给我读一下这封信。”说完,他一下子把信递给了狱卒。

Finding that he could not remember a word of the letter either, the gaoler replied: 'The light is indeed dim, sire. I must get my glasses.' With this, he hurried off the stage.

狱卒发现自己连一个字也记不住,于是便说: “陛下,这儿光线的确太暗了,我得去把眼镜拿来。”

Much to the aristocrat's amusement, the gaoler returned a few moments later with a pair of glasses and the usual copy of the letter which he proceeded to read to the prisoner.

他一边说着,一边匆匆下台。贵族感到非常好笑的是:一会儿工夫,狱卒重新登台,拿来一副眼镜以及平时使用的那封信,然后为那囚犯念了起来。
19个相关单词

与课文关联的单词

run *

/rʌn/v. (戏剧,电影等) 连演,连映

lines

/laɪnz/n. (剧本中的)台词

part *

/pɑːt/n. 剧中的角色,台词

falter

/ˈfɔːltə(r)/v. 支吾,结巴说

cast

/kɑːst/v. 选派...扮演角色

role

/rəʊl/n. 角色

aristocrat

/ˈærɪstəkræt/n. 贵族

imprison

/ɪmˈprɪzn/v. 关押

Bastille

/bæˈstiːl/n. 巴士底狱

gaoler

/ˈdʒeɪlə(r)/n. 监狱长,看守

colleague

/ˈkɒliːɡ/n. 同事

curtain

/ˈkɜːt(ə)n/n. (舞台上的)幕布

reveal *

/rɪˈviːl/v. 使显露

cell

/sel/n. 单人监房,监号

blank

/blæŋk/adj. 空白的

squint

/skwɪnt/v. 眯着(眼)看,瞄

dim

/dɪm/adj. 昏暗

sire

/ˈsaɪə(r)/n. (古用法)陛下

proceed

/prəˈsiːd/v. 继续进行

埋下伏笔(大铺垫) 更新于:2024-05-14 12:22:47

learn / know sth. by heart 固定搭配(简略成by heart)

  • bear / keep sth. in mind 记住某事
  • make a mental note 记住要做某事:试图记住要做某事。
  • remember / recall / recollect sth. 记起/回忆起某事
  • remind sb. of sth. 使某人想起某事物或某人
  • bring back memories 勾起回忆
Richard, these are terrific pictures. This one really brings back memories.

in retrospect 回顾;回顾往事(写作);检讨过去

  • In retrospect, I think my marriage was doomed from the beginning.

... to remember 难忘的

Gandalf, my old friend ... this will be a night to remember.

ring a bell 听起来熟悉:似乎至少有点熟悉。、唤起记忆:激发先前被遗忘的记忆。

  • Does this name ring a bell?这个名字是否让你想起点什么?

have a short memory 记性不好:指一个人容易忘记事情,尤其是对过去的事情记忆模糊。

  • I have a short memory, she says. 她说:我的记忆力不好。
linespartrole
台词台词、角色角色
He plays the role / part of Hamlet.
Have you learned your part  / lines yet? 你记住你的台词了吗?character 角色
leading role 主角supporting role 配角cast 全休演员
hero / leading man 男主人公heroine / leading lady 女主人公an all-star cast 全明星阵容

Some plays are so successful that they run for years on end.

run v.刊登,播放、连续上映

  • The movie has been running for 2 months.
  • The movie has ended its run. n.连续上演(或放映)
on end 连续不停的He is a wonderful companion and we can talk for hours on end他是个极好的伙伴,我们可以连续谈上几个小时。
in a row 连续:连续不断地或连续地发生或存在。This is her third win in a row这是她连续获得的第三次胜利。
successively adv.相继地;接连着地The school team won five games successively校队先后胜了5场球。

In many ways, this is unfortunate for the poor actors who are required to go on repeating the same lines night after night.

in many ways 在许多方面:表示某事物在多个方面都有相似之处或影响。We are different in many ways我们在许多方面都不同。
in many respects 在许多方面This explanation is wanting in many respects这一解释在很多方面不能令人满意。
 in many aspects 在许多方面:表示某事物在多个方面都有涉及或影响。France is strong in many aspects法国在很多方面都很强大。
in more ways than one 有多个原因With the first goal he used his head in more ways than one他进第一个球时从多方面动了脑筋。

go on doing = keep (on) doing 不停的做某事

  • Please go on doing the same exercise. 请接着做同一个练习。
  • I'm very sorry to keep you waiting对不起,让你久等了。
require sb. to do 没有商量的余地You're required not to smoke here. 禁止吸烟
request sb. to do 请求(通常是可以商量的)You're requested not to smoke here. 请勿吸烟

One would expect them to know their parts by heart and never have cause to falter.

know / learn sth. by heart 熟记于心(点题)

  • learn sth. 背诵、记住(learn the contents of the letter by heart)

cause to falter 支支唔唔、结结巴巴的理由

  • cause to rejoice 欢舞、快乐的理由
  • a cause to believing that ... 相信的理由
  • cause to worry 担心的理由 

Yet this is not always the case.

the case 本句表 a true situation 实情

  • This is indeed the case. 这确定是实情
  • This is not the case at all. 事实并非如此(这根本不是实情)
  • This might not be the case. 但事实可能并非如此(这可能不是实情)
  • This is not necessarily the case.事实并非如此(这不一样是实情哦)

本文小故事的铺垫 更新于:2024-05-14 14:21:21

A famous actor in a highly successful play was once cast in the role of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in the Bastille for twenty years.

highly successful 非常成功的(高度成功,比very successful 更高级、书面)

... was once cast as an aristocrat 曾经扮演过贵族(被动替换)

  • ... once performed / played / acted (the role / part of) an aristocrat 替换(主动)

had been incarcerated 被监禁

  • had been jailed / gaoled 使入狱(被动)
  • had been locked up 被关了起来
  • had been sent to prison 瞬间动词,不能跟持续时间
  • had been put in prison 后面不可用for + 时间

In the last act, a gaoler would always come on to the stage with a letter which he would hand to the prisoner.

paly 戏剧act 1 第一幕scene 1 第一场
scene 2 第二场
scene 3 第三场
...
It happens in Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3.
这发生在《哈姆雷特》第一幕第三场。
act 2 第二幕scene 1 第一场
scene 2 第二场
scene 3 第三场
...

come on 登台(去到...的上面)

  • There was great applause when the Russian ballerina came on.

appear v.出现(在舞台)

a letter which he would hand to the prisoner. 书面(伪装成定语从句的延续性从句)

  • ... with a letter and he would hand it to the prisoner. 啰嗦
  • ... with a letter to hand to the prisoner. 简洁(口语、独立主格结构)

Even though the noble was expected to read the letter at each performance, he always insisted that it should be written out in full.

be expected to do (习语)应该

  • be supposed to do 替换
  • should do 同义 

insist on ... 接名词、短语

  • ..., he always insisted on its being written out in full. 本句替换

故事情节 更新于:2024-05-16 03:26:13

One night, the gaoler decided to play a joke on his colleague to find out if, after so many performances, he had managed to learn the contents of the letter by heart.

play a joke on sb. 给某人开玩笑(拿某人寻开心)

play a trick on sb. 给某人开玩笑(替换)

  • He played a trick on his wife, but she beat him up.

kid (sb.) / joke 戏弄(某人)/开玩笑

  • Are you kidding (me)?
  • Are you joking? vi. 不能加me

have a joke with sb. 与某人分享笑话(给某人讲个笑话)

  • I've just had a joke with the manager.

make fun of sb. 拿某人寻开心(戏弄)

  • The other children were always making fun of him because he was fat.

make a fool of sb.  让某人出丑(愚弄)

  • I suddenly realized that I was being made a fool of.

play the fool (with sb.) 扮演傻瓜逗某人乐

  • Stop playing the fool (with me). You'll fall!

The curtain went up on the final act of the play and revealed the aristocrat sitting alone behind bars in his dark cell.

the curtain goes up / rises 幕布升起

  • the curtain comes down / falls 幕布落下了
draw / pull the curtains 拉动窗帘Pull the curtains—it's dark outside. 外边天黑了,把窗帘拉上。
open / close the curtains 打开\关闭窗帘Why not close the curtains为什么不拉上窗帘呢?

on the final act 时间状语(在最后一幕开始的时间)

  • in the last act 时间状语(在最后一幕的过程中)

all (alone / on one's own / by oneself) 单独的、独自的

  • She was sitting alone on a park bench.
  • I don't like walking home on my own at night.
  • Do you share the apartment or do you live by yourself?
  • Wendy was frightened, all alone in that big old house. 完全是独自一人

oneself 亲自做...(无by的情况)

lonely / lonesome 孤独的、寂寞的

  • lonely hearts ad 征婚广告
  • Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight? Are you sorry we drifted apart?

Just then, the gaoler appeared with the precious letter in his hands.

He entered the cell and presented the letter to the aristocrat.

present sth. to sb. 呈递(庄重的、带有仪式感的)给某人


But the copy he gave him had not been written out in full as usual

as usual 与往常一样As usual, the police will have a difficult time.
as ever 一直;依旧His mind is as sharp as ever他思维敏锐,一如既往。
as always 一如既往We will, as always, firmly support your just struggle. 我们将一如既往坚定支持你们的正义斗争。
like always 和平时一样Ben is writing his homework at the very last moment, like always. 本跟往常一样总是在最后一刻才赶工写作业。

It was simply a blank sheet of paper.

a sheet of paper 长方格固定规格的纸(A4、B5)

  • a piece of paper 随便一张纸(没有规格)

The gaoler looked on eagerly, anxious to see if his fellow actor had at last learnt his lines.

look on vi.旁观(不参与)

  • stand by 站在旁边
  • Only one man tried to help us, the rest just looked on / stood by in silence.

onlooker / bystander 旁观者 / 看热闹的人

  • An onlooker is someone who watches an event take place but does not take part in it. 旁观者
  • A bystander is a person who is present when something happens and who sees it but does not take part in it. 旁观者
look on ... as ... 把...看着是...We look on her as a daughter. 视如己出
stand by sb. 支持、帮助某人(站在某人一边)He stood by her through the difficult times. 帮助度过难关

形容词做原因状语(省略being)

learn / know sth. by heart

  • learn sth.
  • know their parts by heart
  • learn the contents of the letter by heart
  • learn his lines

Then, squinting his eyes, he said: 'The light is dim. Read the letter to me.' And he promptly handed the sheet of paper to the gaoler.

read sth. to sb. = read sb. sth. 读给...

  • Read me the letter.
Then, he squinted his eyes and said: 'the light is dim. Read the letter to me.' 中文习惯(眯眼和说一样重要)
  • 汉语:parataxis 平行语,连动句,没有轻重之别。 
  • 英语:hypotaxis 层次语,突出中心动词,次要动词状语化。

Finding that he could not remember a word of the letter either, the gaoler replied: 'The light is indeed dim, sire. I must get my glasses.' With this, he hurried off the stage.

  • He looked at his watch and saw that it was one o'clock, but the bell struck thirteen times and then it stopped. 中文思维
  • Looking at his watch, he saw that it was one o'clock, but the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped.

With this 随着...

  • with the coming of spring 随着春天的到来
  • with the approach of Christmas 随着圣诞节的临近
  • with the outbreak of war 随着战争的爆发
  • with the progress of science 随着科学的发展
  • with the evidence began to accumulate with 介词后只能跟名词不能跟句子
  • However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the zoo felt obliged to investigate, ... AS 连词(随着)

Much to the aristocrat's amusement, the gaoler returned a few moments later with a pair of glasses and the usual copy of the letter which he proceeded to read to the prisoner.

to one's ... 使某人⋯的是

  • to one's amusement
  • to one's surprise
  • to one's delight
  • to one's excitement
  • to one's dismay
  • to one's sorrow
much to one's 使某人大为 … 的是much to the aristocrat's amusement
to one's great...to the aristocrat's great amusement

并列句 → 定语从句

  • ...and,he proceeded to read it to the prisoner. →  the letter which he proceeded to read to the prisoner.
  • He violently beat the boy and the boy later died from his injuries. → He violently beat the boy who later died from his injuries.
  • Ha said he had lost his watch, but it was not true. → Ha said he had lost his watch, which was not true.
共有5题需要完成

练习题

  1. That name just doesn't ring a bell with me.(单选)
    A、I haven't called Bill.
    B、I don't recognize that name.
    C、That doorbell doesn't work.
    D、I didn't ring that bell.
  2. M: Why did you come to the meeting late? I left a message with your roommate about the time change. W: She has a very short memory and it really gets on my nerve sometimes.(单选)
    A、The man shouldn't have invited her roommate to the meeting.
    B、Her roommate was unable to attend the meeting.
    C、Her roommate is unreliable about delivering messages.
    D、She forgot about the time change.
  3. W: Did Linda ever finish that introductory chapter? M: I'm not sure. She's spent hours on end rewriting it. Q: What does the man imply about Linda?(单选)
    A、She rearranged the chapters of her book.
    B、She assured him that the chapter was finished.
    C、She worked on the chapter for quite a while.
    D、She wasn't sure how to end the book.
  4. M: It's raining again. W: This makes it four days in a row. Do you think it'll ever stop? Q: What does the woman mean?(单选)
    A、She wishes the rain would stop soon.
    B、She doesn't care about the weather.
    C、She'll go out after the rain stops.
    D、She expects it to rain for four more days.
  5. W: Do you know if George is coming to the meeting? M: Oh, no, I was supposed to tell you that he is sick and can't come. Q: What does the man mean?(单选)
    A、He's supposed to go to the meeting.
    B、He wants the woman to give George the message.
    C、He doesn't know why George can't attend the meeting.
    D、He forgot to deliver a message.