【英语角】那些年少时错过的经典,长大就不要再错过了

2016年04月05日 走遍美国



来源/新东方英语(IDNOE_XDFYY

有这么一些经典小说,如果你在年少时就读了,但是却似懂非懂;长大成人后,有机会你一读再读,却突然了悟了书中的真谛,而此时,你只愿自己年少时更聪慧一些,更懂得书中自有言如玉。这些年少时错过的经典,可以塑造我们的一生……


The Catcher in the Rye 

麦田守望者
by J.D. Salinger
In brief: Holden Caulfield has a couple of bad days. Suspended from his posh Pennsylvania prep school, this adolescent walking-puddle-of-angst sloshes around New York City and spends some time in a seedy hotel until he can go home (so his parents won’t be immediately aware of his school troubles). He sees a few old friends, meets people who take advantage of him, tries to pay a prostitute to just talk to him (for which he gets punched in the stomach by her pimp), and, among other misadventures, brings his younger sister for a ride on the carousel in Central Park where he has a revelation about the meaning of life.

小说讲述了一个16岁少年,霍尔顿·考尔菲德(Holden Caulfield),在圣诞节假前际因为5门功课有四门不及格被学校开除后,在极度压抑、颓废、矛盾中度过的几天经历。早熟但幼稚的霍尔顿发现现实世界的丑恶跟他理想的童年世界的“纯真”形成巨大的反差、在看到了成人世界的种种丑恶、虚伪后沉湎于理想、纯真的童年世界里不能自拔,一直幻想能做个“纯真”保护神,最后精神几乎崩溃,被送进一家精神病医院疗养。在医院疗养康复中他以第一人称叙述了自己的故事。


Adolescent attraction: Ask any 16 year old, life is meaningless — at least sometimes. And Holden talks, and talks, and talks, and seemed to get inside our heads.

Lasting lesson: Holden Caulfield verified our hopes that other teens were as messed up as we felt on bad days; in fact, some had it worse. But our thoughts and feelings were important, even if adults dismissed us, so said Salinger.

经典语句

一个不成熟男子的标志是他愿意为某种事业英勇的死去,一个成熟男子的标志是他愿意为某种事业卑贱地活着。



Little Women 

小妇人

by Louisa May Alcott
In brief: Four sisters living in mid-19th century Massachusetts encounter life’s problems and life’s joys. Thus, they pass over the divide from being “little” (almost) women to true womanhood.

这部小说以家庭生活为描写对象,以家庭成员的感情纠葛为线索,描写了马奇一家的天伦之爱。马奇家的四姐妹中,无论是为了爱情甘于贫困的海格,还是通过自己奋斗成为作家的乔,以及坦然面对死亡的贝思和以扶弱为己任的艾米,虽然她们的理想和命运都不尽相同,但是她们都具有自强自立的共同特点。描写了她们对家庭的眷恋;对爱的忠诚以及对亲情的渴望。马奇一家有四个姐妹,生活清贫、简单而又温馨。四组妹性格迥异;老大梅格漂亮端庄,有些爱慕虚荣;老二乔自由独立,渴望成为作家,老三贝丝善良羞涩,热爱音乐,老四埃米聪慧活泼,爱好艺术,希望成为一名上流社会的“淑女”。所有时代的所有少女成长过程中所要面对的经历的,都可以在这本书中找到:初恋的甜蜜和烦恼,感情与理智的译,理想和现实的差距,贫穷与富有的矛盾。


Adolescent attraction: Well, there are the love stories, which all work out well, and the sentimental but moving death scene involving the lovely Beth. For some reason, teenage boys also get caught up in this book — maybe because there are a few “little men” whose story lines entwine with those of the March girls.

Lasting lesson: Follow your heart. Even Amy, the youngest and most self-absorbed sister, ends up rejecting a wealthy suitor in favor of the man she loves.

经典语句

美貌、青春、财富、甚至爱情本身,都不能让深得上帝恩宠的人免于焦虑和痛苦,远离哀愁,也无法让他们避免失去自己最爱的东西。因为,一生中,有些雨必然得下,一些日子必然会黑暗、哀伤、凄凉。



Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl 

安妮日记
by Anne Frank
In brief: While hiding in Amsterdam from the Nazis and living in close quarters with another family, Anne records her day-to-day experiences along with her thoughts and musings about life. Remarkably, Anne is genuinely optimistic about life and people. (Her father edited out some of the darker portions for the original publication. This material was restored in 1995.)

花季少女安妮·弗兰克为躲避纳粹,和家人一起藏匿于密室的生活记录。两年充满恐惧和迷惘的密室生活,让写日记成为了安妮生活中最大的乐趣。她认真的记录着这段辛酸岁月的种种苦痛和弥足珍贵的欢笑快乐,自由的只有她的思想。可不幸还是在两年后降临在了这个家庭,他们被送往集中营。坚强乐观的安妮和其他家人朋友都不幸遇难,只有她的父亲幸运逃生。战争结束后,安妮的父亲决定完成女儿的遗愿——将这本日记出版问世。《安妮日记》记录下了在纳粹统治下,人民苦难的战时生活,成为仅次于圣经的一本最畅销的读物。 


Adolescent attraction: I imagine no teen picks up this book without knowing that Anne’s family was betrayed and shipped to a Nazi death camp, where she died just a few weeks before liberation. And yet the girl writing the diary seems so normal, so likeable. Even Justin Bieber, in one of the most cringe-worthy comments ever made by a narcissistic teen idol, expressed his wish that they could have been “friends.”

Lasting lesson:People can live through a lot of stuff. Writing helps.

经典语句

我变得越来越独立,不再依赖父母。虽然我还年幼,但我更有勇气面对生活我有比母亲更好和更忠实的正义感。我知道我想要的是什么,我有目标,我有想法、宗教信仰和爱心。只要我能做我自己,我就满意了。我知道我是一个女人,一个拥有内心力量和巨大勇气的女人。如果上帝让我活下去,我将超越母亲获得更多的成就,我将使自己的声音传遍各地,我将在世界上为全人类工作。



To Kill a Mockingbird 

杀死一只知更鸟
by Harper Lee
In brief: Six-year-old Scout Finch recounts how her father, the widower-lawyer Atticus Finch, defends an African- American man who has been accused of rape. Atticus’ inner nobility garners him the respect of the black community, but his two children still suffer at the hands of bigoted whites.

本书获1960年普利策奖。上个世纪30年代,美国大萧条时期南部的一个小镇,三个天真孩子的生活因为两桩冤案而改变。赢弱而失语的人、固守太多偏见的无知的人,还有恪守原则的善良的律师父亲,迫使他们艰难地去理解成人世界里的偏见和冷漠,去理解真相所包含的危机和无奈,同时试着去理解,坏人的内心也可能无辜。


Adolescent attraction: Just about everything in this book works against its being a stalwart of teen bookshelves. The narrator is six years old at the beginning (nine at the end), but she talks like an adult. The hero is her middle-aged father. The mystery involves an aging reclusive neighbor. And yet, this beloved novel is perfect for teens. Maybe it’s the vividness of the writing and the tension of the plot — along with a certain sophistication and a story accessible to teens — that account for its continuing popularity. It has never been out of print.

Lasting lesson: From Atticus we learn (as do his children) that we must do what is right. From Scout and her brother we learn that adults can be cruel (like Bob Ewell) but also immensely kind (like Boo Radley).

经典语句

但凡不能杀死你的,最终都会使你更强大。 



Pride and Prejudice 

傲慢与偏见
by Jane Austen

In brief: Elizabeth and her older sister, Jane, find love and happiness in early 19th -century England.

《傲慢与偏见》是简·奥斯汀的代表作。这部作品以日常生活为素材,一反当时社会上流行的感伤小说的内容和矫揉造作的写作方法,生动地反映了18世纪末到19世纪初处于保守和闭塞状态下的英国乡镇生活和世态人情。故事描写傲慢的单身青年达西与偏见的二小姐伊丽莎白、富裕的单身贵族彬格莱与贤淑的大小姐吉英之间的感情纠葛,充分表达了作者本人的婚姻观,强调经济利益对恋爱和婚姻的影响。


Adolescent attraction: The scene where Darcy and Elizabeth accidently meet at Pemberley (Darcy’s manor house) is probably the most romantic piece of writing ever. The humorous side-plots, ridiculous characters and witty ripostes are easily understood and appreciated by teens.

Lasting lesson:Each time I read this novel (and I must have read it 15 times — and I’ve seen every movie and TV version as well), I am struck by how much time and emotional energy people waste by not being forthright in the first place. I am also reminded that scoundrels can con you, foolish people are everywhere, but good-hearted souls will stand by you in trying times.

经典语句

将感情埋藏得太深有时是件坏事。如果一个女人掩饰了对自己所爱的男子的感情,她也许就失去了得到他的机会。



Of Mice and Men 

人鼠之间
by John Steinbeck
In brief: Two migrant workers bear the emotional and economic brunt of the Depression as they look for work and try to pursue their dream of owning their own farm.

《人鼠之间》故事情节简单,涵盖的时间不超过三天,地点是一个美国加州的一个牧场,讲述两个相互扶持的好朋友之间的故事——一位是精明的乔治(George),一位是轻度智障儿雷尼(Lennie)。雷尼因为社会适应较差,老是犯错,搞的两人无奈地到处换工作。在富人奥谢(Tyler Ranch)的牧场里,他们努力工作编织梦想,乔治答应雷尼如果他听话不要闯祸,将来就可以为自己照顾一窝的兔子,眼看着梦想就要成真。有一次雷尼失手勒死了奥谢儿子柯利的太太梅,铸成大错,为了躲避的农场伙计们的追打,雷尼逃跑了。当伙计们争先恐后地追杀雷尼时,乔治为了不让雷尼被农场伙计们杀死并受到侮辱,抢先找到雷尼。他举起枪来,把枪口挨近雷尼的后脑杓,将他射杀。 这部小说用来讽刺社会对弱者的歧视,反而不如雷尼对老鼠的疼惜。《人鼠之间》曾因“语言亵渎,带攻击性,并有种族主义倾向”被视为禁书。1962年斯坦贝克因这部小说获得诺贝尔文学奖。


Adolescent attraction: The vivid characteri-zations of the intellectually-challenged Lennie and the practical George make them people teens would want to talk to and wish to help. Curley’s wife’s provocative sensuality lends a sexual tension, which fascinates teens.

Lasting lesson: Steinbeck thrillingly includes the reader in on the secret of the power of friendship. He enables the teenage reader to feel smart that he or she “gets” what George feels and why he does what he does.


经典语句

“我们可不像那样。我们有奔头。我们有人可以谈话,有相互的关怀。我们不会因为没处可去,便坐在酒吧里乱花掉我们的钱。要是别人被关进牢里,他们就只能眼巴巴地等着腐烂掉。因为谁也不去关心他们。但我们却不一样。”



Fahrenheit 451 

华氏451度
by Ray Bradbury
In brief: In a dystopian future, books have been banned. Instead of putting out fires, “firemen” torch anything in print, and at the beginning of the book, an old woman who wouldn’t leave her burning home. Fireman Guy Montag steals a book from the old lady’s house. It turns out that he has actually been pilfering books for a while, hiding them in his air-conditioning duct. Finally betrayed by his wife and her friends, Montag is made to burn his own home, but also kills the fire chief. He escapes and finds a community of people who memorize books because they have faith there will come a time when people are eager for true knowledge and beauty.

《华氏451》是当代科幻小说大师雷·布拉德伯里最经典代表作之一,故事发生在一个压制思想自由的世界里,这里所有的书被禁,消防员的工作不是灭火,而是焚书。小说主人公已经当了十年消防队员,但他从来没有怀疑过自己从事的工作,直到有一天他遇到一个奇特的女孩,开始对自己的工作产生疑虑,直至对这个世界发起挑战。


Adolescent attraction: Teens love dystopian fiction, and the one teenage character, an intellectual rebel, helps Montag question the policy of book burning. The story is scary and believable.

Lasting lesson:In the end, there will be goodness and truth (which is actually the lesson of all Bradbury’s science fiction).

经典语句

如果你把无知隐藏起来,没人可以伤害你,但你也学不到任何东西。




The Great Gatsby 

了不起的盖茨比
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
In brief: Nick Carraway moves into a small home next to the lavish estate belonging to Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire. In Nick’s social circle are his wealthy cousin, Daisy, and her husband, Tom, who is having an extra-marital affair with a woman named Myrtle. Nick eventually meets Gatsby, discovers the millionaire is in love with Daisy and orchestrates a meeting between the two. Tom grows jealous, and Daisy ends up killing her husband’s mistress in an auto accident. Gatsby takes the blame and is shot and killed by Myrtle’s husband. Nothing seems to touch Daisy and Tom. Disgusted by the empty lives of the rich, Nick decides to move home to the Midwest.

《了不起的盖茨比》是美国作家弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德1925年所写的一部以20世纪20年代的纽约市及长岛为背景的中篇小说。20世纪20年代的美国,空气里弥漫着欢歌与纵饮的气息。一个偶然的机会,穷职员尼克闯人了挥金如土的大富翁盖茨比隐秘的世界,惊讶地发现,他内心惟一的牵绊竟是河对岸那盏小小的绿灯——-灯影婆娑中,住着他心爱的黛西。然而,冰冷的现实容不下飘渺的梦,到头来,盖茨比心中的女神只不过是凡尘俗世的物质女郎。当一切真相大白,盖茨比的悲剧人生亦如烟花般,璀璨只是一瞬,幻灭才是永恒。一阕华丽的“爵士时代”的挽歌,在菲茨杰拉德笔下,如诗如梦,在美国当代文学史上留下了墨色浓重的印痕。


Adolescent attraction: There is love. There is betrayal. There is an amazing story. There is someone who discovers that so much around him is a bunch of bullroar, something teenagers know instinctively.

Lasting lesson: A powerful novel never leaves you.



经典语句

如果打算爱一个人,你要想清楚,是否愿意为了他,放弃如上帝般自由的心灵,从此心甘情愿有了羁绊。



The Lord of the Flies 

蝇王
by William Golding
In brief: A group of British boys survive a plane crash on a remote Pacific Island. At first, three boys — Ralph, Jack and Simon — form a kind of ruling troika that helps preserve order. But things quickly break down, and the savage children turn on each other.

《蝇王》是英国作家、诺贝尔文学奖获得者威廉·戈尔丁的代表作,是一本重要的哲理小说,借小孩的天真来探讨人性的恶这一严肃主题。故事发生于想象中的第三次世界大战,一群六岁至十二岁的儿童在撤退途中因飞机失事被困在一座荒岛上,起先尚能和睦相处,后来由于恶的本性的膨胀起来,便互相残杀……


Adolescent attraction: It’s a horrible adventure, but it’s still an adventure. Teens who finish the book inevitably ask themselves which camp they would have joined and whether they would have discarded their humanity to survive.


Lasting lesson: How easily humans can discard the trappings of civilization!

经典语句

人性第一层:生物性,偏于恶 

人性第二层:社会性,善恶兼而有之 

人性第三层:精神性,偏于善




Animal Farm 

动物农场
by George Orwell
In brief: The animals on a farm revolt and drive off the irresponsible farmer. At first they are guided by “the seven principles of animalism,” and everyone is happy. After a while, though, one of the leader pigs (named Napoleon) takes over and changes the rules: All animals are equal, but now some are more equal than others. As the years go by, the pigs begin to walk upright, carry whips and in all respects resemble humans, their former oppressors.


《动物庄园》是一部政治寓言体小说,故事描述了一场“动物主义”革命的酝酿、兴起和最终蜕变。一个农庄(Manor Farm)的动物不堪人类主人的压迫,在猪的带领下起来反抗……


Adolescent attraction: Welcome to dystopia, again, one of the literary domains beloved by teens. Young readers understand Orwell’s allegory and feel intelligent, which they should.

Lasting lesson: Things aren’t fair. Those in charge will perpetuate the imbalance. Don’t you forget it!

经典语句

只要驱除了人,我们的劳动所得就会全归我们自己,而且几乎在一夜之间,我们就会变得富裕而自由。那么我们应该为此做些什么呢?毫无疑问,奋斗!为了消除人类,全力以赴,不分昼夜地奋斗!同志们,我要告诉你们的就是这个:造反!老实说,我也不知道造反会在何时发生,或许近在一周之内,或许远在百年之后。但我确信,就象看到我蹄子底下的稻草一样确凿无疑,总有一天,正义要申张。同志们,在你们整个短暂的余生中,不要偏离这个目标!尤其是,把我说的福音传给你们的后代,这样,未来的一代一代动物就会继续这一斗争,直到取得最后胜利。




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