她生命中的这些年（节选）

2019-04-26江苏南菁高级中学

疯狂英语·新悦读 2019年4期

江苏南菁高级中学秦虞

Step 1感知·阅读导航

话题导入

《她生命中的这些年》是加拿大作家莫利·卡拉汉（Morley Callaghan，1903—1990）的作品，讲述了一个小伙子Alfred在一家杂货店打工，老板Mr.Carr发现他经常把东西偷出去卖钱，有一天Mr.Carr抓住偷了店里东西准备下班的Alfred，但在决定报警之前打电话叫来Alfred的母亲Mrs.Higgins。Mrs.Higgins用其镇定、优雅的姿态成功说服Mr.Carr放弃报警而让她将儿子带回家。正当Alfred庆幸自己化险为夷时，他目睹了回家后的母亲独自喝茶时苍老崩溃的神态。那一刻给他带来了巨大的震撼，他明白了母亲这些年为他所承受的痛苦，也宣告了他告别叛逆青春走向成长的开始。节选部分讲述了Mrs.Higgins用她镇定、优雅的姿态改变了Mr.Carr的态度，使其放弃报警。

莫利·卡拉汉是加拿大现实主义小说家，他的写作风格自然质朴、简洁明快，笔下人物多为社会中下层，且刻画深刻、栩栩如生，与海明威和另一美国作家舍伍德·安德森的风格颇为相近。

本文为小说节选，全文575字，建议用时9分钟。

阅读立意

阅读时应达到以下三个基本目标：

1.了解故事情节和人物在故事中的变化；

2.通过剖析人物的品质，深入理解小说标题的真正内涵及主题；

3.体会作者简洁明快的语言风格及以surprise推进故事发展的特色，并将其运用到读后续写中。

Alfred and Mr.Carrwaited butsaid nothing.At last they heard someone at the closed door.Mr.Carr opened it and said,“Come in,Mrs.Higgins.” His face was hard and serious.

Alfred's mother came in with a friendly smile on her face and put out her hand to Mr.Carr and said politely, “I'm Mrs.Higgins,Alfred's mother.”

Mr.Carr was surprised at the way she came in.She was very calm,quiet and friendly.“Is Alfred in trouble?” Mrs.Higgins asked.

“He is.He has been taking things from the store,little things like toothpaste and lipsticks，things he can easily sell.”

Mrs.Higgins looked at her son and said sadly,“Is it so，Alfred？ ”

“Yes.”

“Why have you been doing it?” she asked.

“I've been spending money,I believe.”

“On what?”

“Going around with the boys,I guess，”said Alfred.

Mrs.Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr.Carr's arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt.She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble.She said,“If you will just listen to me before doing anything.”Her voice was cool and she turned her head away as if she had said too much already.Then she looked again at Mr.Carr with a pleasant smile and asked,“What do you want to do,Mr.Carr?”

“I was going to get a cop.This is what I should do,call the police.”

She answered,“Yes,I think so.It's not for me to say because he is my son.Yet I sometimes think a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at certain times in his life.”

Mrs.Higgins looked like a different woman to her son,Alfred.There she was with a gentle smile saying, “I wonder if you don't think it would be better just to let him come home with me.He looks like a big fellow,doesn't he?Yet it takes some of them a long time to get any sense into their heads.”

Mr.Carr had expected Alfred's mother to come in nervously,shaking with fear,asking with wet eyes for mercy for her son.But no,she was most calm and pleasant,and was making Mr.Carr feel guilty.

After a time,Mr.Carr was shaking his head in agreement with what she was saying.“Of course，”he said, “I don't want to be cruel.I will tell you what I'll do.Tell your son not to come back here again，and let it go at that.How is that?”And he warmly shook Mrs.Higgins'hand.

“I will never forget your kindness.Sorry we have to meet this way，”said Mr.Carr. “But I am glad I got in touch with you.Just wanted to do the right thing.That it is all.”

“It's better to meet like this than never,isn't it?”she said.

Suddenly they held hands as if they liked each other,as if they had known each other for a long time.

“Good night,sir.”

“Good night,Mrs.Higgins.I'm truly sorry.”

Mother and son left.They walked along the street in silence.She took long steps and looked straight in front of her.After a time,Alfred said,“Thank God it turned out like that.Never again.”

“Be quiet! Don't speak to me.You have shamed me enough.Have the decency to be quiet.”

Step 2 实践·文本解读

立意呈现

Understand the characters

Step 3 运用·读写整合

I.Understand the title

What does the titleAll the Years of Her Lifemean?

Ⅱ.Explore the theme

What is the theme of the excerpt in your opinion? (topic sentences followed by supporting details)

【点石成金】小说主题思想的挖掘需要跳出节选内容，结合标题、情节发展、人物特征、语言情感色彩以及故事背景。莫利·卡拉汉的《她生命中的这些年》以普通人的经历切入，描写了一个少年成长的故事，让读者感受到母爱的深沉和伟大，同时也引发读者思考∶什么样的教育才是有效的教育？什么样的教育才能触及孩子的心灵深处？在孩子的成长过程中是他人拯救更重要还是自我拯救更重要?