Module 2 英美文化欣赏

【导读】《格列佛游记》是青少年很喜欢读的一本小说。这本书在1726年出版后，立即取得了巨大的成功。大人们喜欢读它，是因为它的讽刺功力和诙谐机智的语言；孩子们喜欢读它是因为它是一个如此轻松愉快又有趣的冒险故事。

Culli v er's Tra v els(excerpt)

Unlocking the Chains

My gentleness with the people and my good behavior seemed to impress the Emperor and his advisors，as well as the Lilliputians themselves.As they lost their fear of me，they enjoyed dancing on my hand and even let their children play hide and seek in my hair.I encouraged these friendships in the hope that the people would persuade the Emperor to remove my chains.

His Majesty often had shows put on outside my house.I was especially impressed by the skill and grace of the rope-dancers，who performed on a thin white thread two feet above the ground.But I was shocked to learn that these performances were competitions to select important ministers at Court.Whoever was the best dancer and jumped the highest on the rope would be named a minister.Even those who were already in office were often required to dance on the rope to prove that they hadn't lost their skills.

Flimnap，the Court Treasurer，got his job by jumping one inch higher than any other lord in the kingdom and doing several somersaults on a wooden board balanced on the rope.Reldresal，the Emperor's Private Secretary，who became my good friend，was almost as good as Flimnap.

In another competition，the Emperor held a stick straight out in front of him，changing its height every few minutes.The competitors had to leap over the stick or creep under it at each turn.The winner was the one who did the most graceful leaping and creeping，and who stayed in the competition the longest.Blue，red，and green silk ribbons were awarded to the first，second，and third place winners，who proudly wore their awards tied around their waist.

格列佛游记(节选)

打开锁链

我对人的君子之风和善良的举止貌似博得了皇帝和大臣们的好感，也受到了利立浦特百姓们的欢迎。一旦他们消除了对我的恐惧感，他们就开始享受在我的手掌心跳舞的感觉，并且还让他们的孩子在我的头发里玩儿捉迷藏的游戏。我是很鼓励这种友谊的，希望这些百姓能够帮忙劝说皇帝除去我的锁链。

皇帝陛下经常在我的房子外面安排些演出。我尤其对绳舞者的表演印象最为深刻，这些人是在一条离地两英尺高的白色细绳上表演的，我折服于他们的技巧和优雅的风范。但是后来我得知这些表演其实是朝廷遴选重要官员的一种竞赛，这让我大为惊讶。不管是谁，只要舞跳得最好，在绳子上跳得最高，就会被任命为朝廷重臣。甚至那些已经有了官位的人，也经常被要求在绳子上跳舞，以证明他们的技艺还没有生疏。

财政大臣弗利姆纳普，就是因为能在绳子上比这个国家里的其他任何人都要跳得高一英寸，并且能在绳子上搭的木板上连做好几个空翻才获得这个职位的。雷尔德里沙，皇帝的内务大臣，本领几乎和弗利姆纳普一样好，后来他成了我的朋友。

在另外一个竞赛中，皇帝手拿一根棍子，平伸在自己面前，每过几分钟就随机改变棍子的高度，参加竞赛的人就要每次要么跨跃过横杆，要么从杆下面爬过去。最后的赢家是能以最优雅的动作完成跳跃和爬行的动作，并且在场上保持最长参赛时间的人。蓝色、红色和绿色的丝带分别奖励给冠军、亚军和季军，他们都会非常骄傲地把奖品缠绕在自己的腰上。

[知识积累]

1．hide and seek 捉迷藏游戏

2．competition n. 竞赛，比赛；竞争

3．somersault n. 翻筋斗，空翻；(态度、意见等)

180度的转变

4．creep v. 爬行，匍匐；缓慢前进；令人毛

骨悚然n．爬行；毛骨悚然[文化链接]

《格列佛游记》之解读

酷爱航海的外科医生格列佛，在航海的途中屡遇险境，但是他却又一次次地