Martin Armstrong

About the author

Background information

Words and Phrases

Details of the text*

Group discussion

MARTIN ARMSTRONG (1882-1974)Armstrong was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne,Britain in 1882.The family was well-to-do and Armstrong recalled his comfortable childhood in the novel Victorian Peep-Show (1938). After university studies he became a journalist and novelist. He published two novels, Lover’s Leap and Snakes in the Grass, eight collections of short stories and poems.

Background information

This text describes an interesting conversation that takes place in a train between two Englishmen. Its chief merit is the quick wit displayed by both parties, and the charm of the English language used in this verbal fencing.

I murdered my wife!

!

Oh! He threw away his suitcase Why he paid little attention to me?

… …

The Highland Fling This is the oldest of the traditional dances of Scotland and is a dance of joy performed at the end of a victorious battle. It was danced by male warriors over a small round shield, called a Targe, that the warriors carried into battle. Most Targes had a sharp spike of steel projecting from the centre, so dancers learned early to move with great skill and dexterity. The Highland Fling is danced on the spot, and is said to be based on the antics of a stag on a hillside; the grouped fingers and upheld arms representing the antlers.

Word Study

arouse sb. from sleep 唤醒某人

arouse suspicion 引起猜疑

arouse sb.‘s enthusiasm 激起某人的积极性

ArouseVi:1.To be or become aroused; stir 睡醒Vt:1.To awaken from or as if from sleep 唤醒 , 唤起2.To stir up; excite 鼓励 , 引起

BetrayVt:1.To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against:背叛，出卖：给敌方提供帮助或情报；通敌叛国2. To deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance:出卖：违背信任或忠诚地送给敌方：3. To be false or disloyal to:背信或不忠实：4. To divulge in a breach of confidence:以违背信任而泄露：5. To make known unintentionally:无意识地暴露：6. To reveal against one's desire or will.泄露愿望，泄露欲望7. To lead astray 引入歧途；

1.betray one‘s country. 背叛祖国

2. betrayed Christ to the Roman. 将耶稣出卖给罗马人

3. betrayed their cause; betray one‘s better nature. 不忠实他们的事业；背离善良本性

4. betray a secret. 泄露秘密

5. Her hollow laugh betrayed her contempt for the idea. 她的大笑显示了她对此观点的蔑视

Association 　　　 n. 协会 , 联合 , 结交 , 联想Distraction 　　　 n. 娱乐 , 分心 , 分心的事物Division 　　　 n. 分开 , 区分 , 部分，界限Flinch 　　　　　　　　　 vi. 退缩 , 畏首畏尾　 n.退缩 , 畏缩Occurrence 　　　　　　 n. 发生 , 出现 , 事件　　　　Raw 　　　　　　　　　　 adj. 未加工的 , 生疏的Shudder 　　　　　vi. 发抖 , 打颤 , 战栗 (at; to do)shudder at the thought of (=shudder to think of)想到 ... 就发抖 [ 毛骨悚然 ]

Tempt 　　　　　　vt. 诱惑 , 吸引 , 使感兴趣 , 考验 , 试探never to be tempted off the straight path决不被引入歧途tempt sb. to steal诱人偷窃tempt the storm冒着暴风雨的危险

Dueadj.适当的 ; 应有的应做的 ; 应得的 ; 正当的 ; 充分的 ; 足够的( 车、船等 ) 预定应到的 ; 约定的 ; 预定的应支付的 ; ( 票据等 ) 到期的 ; 期满的应给予的 ; 应归于的 ; 起因于 ...; 由于adv.( 罗盘指针、方向等 ) 正 ( 南、北等 )drive due east [west]向正东 [ 西 ] 方行驶n.应得物 ; 应得权益 ; 正当报酬[pl. ] 应付款 ( 如税、手续费等 ) to give sb. his due公平待人harbor dues港口税

adj. 例句 :(to) after due discussion经过充分讨论due reward应得报酬due course of application正当的申请手续a mistake due to carelessness由于粗心而犯的错误When is the train due at Shanghai?火车该什么时候到上海 ?The plane is due at London at five.飞机定于五点到达伦敦。When is my salary due?什么时候付我工资 ?This note will fall [become] due.这张票据要到期了。Respect is due to teachers.教师应受尊敬。

习惯用语fall due到期 , 满期become due到期 , 满期for a full due完全地 , 彻底地 ; 一劳永逸地【航海】give the devil his due承认某人的长处 ; 给某人应得的评价 ; 公平对待某人due from应收due to由于 ; 起因于 ; 归功于[as a result of; in virtue of; owing to; thanks to; as a consequence of]

特定搭配accounts due应收到期帐款amount due到期金额annuity due期初应付年金association dues协会会费balance due结欠 (金额 ); 不足额cargo dues货物港务费club dues会费customary dues例定规费customs dues应付海关费用date due到期日期

frontier customs dues国境关税harbor dues港务费 , 入港税 , 碇泊税inland customs dues国内关税interest due到期利息money dues应付款past due过期port dues港口税 , 入港税postage due欠资premium due到期保险费quarantine dues(fee)检疫费transit dues(duty)转口税 , 过境税

resume one’s seatmake a fool of oneselfin the eyes of in the event of rob sb. of sth.for one’s partfor allcount on practical jokein the hope of sth.refer ot sth.to the best of my recollectionin so far asnot in the least

Phrases回到座位上干傻事，出洋相根据……的 判断或见解如果……发生，万一抢夺某人某物就某人来说尽管依靠，指望（针对某人的）恶作剧怀着……的希望有关，针对如果我没有记错的话到达……的程度一点也不

(be) taken backlaunch outbe rid ofbe no chickenbe out of the questionturn sb. outbubble withbe incapable of sth.accuse sb. of sth.drag sb.\sth. into sth.(be) worked up toon the large scaleas for

吃了一惊（尤指由于意想不到的事情而）（大步骤地）开始，着手（有危险的事）摆脱（有害或不受欢迎的东西）（女子）年纪不小了不可能的赶走，驱逐某人兴奋，快乐无能为力的指责某人有错把不相干的人或是扯进话题（被）鼓动，唤起大规模的（转入新话题时）就……而言

Part one ( paras 1-2 )

Part two ( paras 3-22 )

Part three (paras 23-28)

Part four ( paras 29-46 )

Part one ( paras 47 )

Describe the events and the two men’s respective thoughts.

Mr.Harraby-Ribston volunteered to narrate why he threw the suitcase out.

Mr.Harraby-Ribston started the dialogue and the reason for Mr.Crowther’s indifference is he thought the stranger’s suitcase is insignificant for him to notice.

The relunctant description of Mr.Crowther’s story----he just murdered his wife to get himself free in his life.

The real story of the suitcase shows that these two men are real rivals.

Part one1. He was by nature a sociable, chatty man and he had reckoned that his action would infallibly produce conversation. (Para. 1)

---He was the kind of man who likes to talk and enjoys company, and had guessed that what he did would invariably start a conversation.

by natureadv.生来 infallibly

adv.不错地；有效地必然地

ReckonVt.

计算，估算

2. Such were the thoughts that buzzed round Mr. Harraby-Ribston, robbing him of the satisfaction and refreshment that were his due .(Para.1)

---These thoughts were moving around quickly in Mr. Harrby-Ribston’s mind, and they took away his hope that his action would give him an interesting conversation, which he thought he deserved.

One’s due= Sth. One has a right to do难句句式、成分分析

3. The fellow was obviously counting on him for a violent reaction, and so Mr. Crowther made a point of not reacting. (Para 2)

---That chap was clearly expecting him to react violently, and therefore Mr. Crowther deliberately decided not to react, because he did not want to give that man this satisfaction.

count on sb. for sth指望得到某人的…… make a point of

重视 , 强调

Part two1.What surprises me is that you weren’t surprised when I threw my suitcase out of the window. (Para.5)

---The unusual action that I threw my suitcase out of the window didn’t surprise you ;it was the fact that made me feel surprise.

名词性从句

2.If one allowed oneself to be surprised at anything ,however insignificant, one’s whole life would consist a series of trivial astonishments. (Para.8)

---If one is too curious about anything insignificant ,his life would be full of trivial surprises.

however insignificant = no matter how significant

3. Not if it wouldn’t interest you, though, I must say, I find it hard to believe that anyone could fail to be interested. (Para.21)

---I can hardly believe that anyone should not be interested in finding out why I threw the suitcase out of the window. But I’m not anxious to tell you if you are not interested.

这句话反映了说话人想要向对方解释，却又故意卖关子，想引起对方兴趣，却又不愿意主动述说的矛盾心理。

Part three1. Clothes, hairbrushes and so on all have their associations, and associations are precisely what I want to be rid of. Hence my rather unusual action. (Para 23)

---Clothes, hairbrushes and so on are all somewhat related to my marriage and will bring back memories, which I want to bury for ever. That was why I threw out that suitcase.

宾语从句 Hence = for this reason

2. “You seem to me,” said Mr. Crowther, “a man much given to surprise.” (Para.26)

---“It seems to me,” said Mr. Crowther, “that you’re in the habit of being surprised by trivial matters.”

given to vbl. 被给予 , 经常受到的作用 ,

惯于 ...

Part four1.“ Ｉ don’t think ” said Mr.Crowther , “ that my particular method would be quite in your line. ” (Para.38)

--- “ I don’t think ” said Mr.Crowther , “ that my particular method would be to your taste or would be suitable for you. ”

in sb.'s lineadv.

跟某人有关 , 是某人擅长的

2.“ Quite ! Quite! ”said Mr.Harrby-Ribston ,who, by now ,was worked up to a dangerous pitch of excitement. (Para.45)

---“All right ! All right! ” said Mr.Harrby-Ribston ,by now who got extremely excited about this.

be worked up to被鼓动，唤起

Pitchn.程度

3.Forgive me if it seems to you a little sensational , and remember, please, that I shall deeply resent any appearance of astonishment on your part. (Para.46)

---I’m sorry if what I say will astonish you ,but please remember that I shall resent you if you display any surprise on that.

句中的停顿、片断语句的多次使用更加强调了说话人的语气，以及后面所揭示的结果。

Part five1.In fact, you tempt me be equally frank with you. Let me confess, then, that as a matter of fact I haven’t left my wife, for the simple reason that I’m a bachelor. (Para.47)

---In fact, you make me be equally frank with you . Let me tell you the truth ,then, that actually I haven’t left my wife, only because I’ve not been married.

be frank with you明白对你说 , 老实说

as a matter of factadv. 事实上

Discussion

1. How would you describe Mr. Harraby - Ribston ? 2. If you have such a man to be your travelling companion , what would you do ?3. How do you understand the title of this article ?

After class work

As we can see , the conversation is full of fencing and rivalry, and in the end, it turns our that the one that appears to be less smart at first is just as sharp as the other . So , find out the sentences , as many as you can , that most reflect this point after class !

张晖、胡焱、寸杨杰