1.Although fiction assuredly springs from political circumstances,its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological,and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.(4)
译文:,,而将小说和故事主要地当作意识形态的工具来探讨,会在相当程度上阻碍小说事业。
难句类型:复杂修饰
解释:本句从句子的结构上来讲,惟一的难度在于and之后的句子的主语talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments ofideology太长,以至于看到谓语circumvent的时候已经搞不清楚主谓了。更大的难度恐怕还在于对两个词汇的理解circumvent和enterprise。我们以前所背过的circumvent有两个词义,一个是规避,一是以计谋战胜,但是这两种意思放到此处都显然不通;其实circumvent有一个我们没有背过的最常用的意思是包围、限制或陷害;至于enterprise常用的意思是企业,这里的指事业。
2.Is this a defect,or are the authors working out of,or trying to forge,a different kind of aesthetic?(3)
译文:这究竟是一种缺陷呢,还是这些作者想要按照一种与众不同的美学体系进行创作,抑或是在试图创立一种与众不同的美学体系?
难句类型:插入语
解释:本句的句子既短,意思也不难理解,但插入语(or trying to forge)的干扰作用却极强。
3.In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomer’s Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted , a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression ? (5)
译文:不仅如此,有些黑人小说(比如JT的甘蔗)的风格接近与表现主义和超现实主义;这种技巧是否为流行的主题提供了一个和谐的对应呢?这种主题刻画了黑人注意与之相抗争的命运,这是一个通常用更为自然主义的表现手法所表达的主题。
难句类型:复杂修饰、插入语
解释:在本句中有三个词需要先解释一番:verge on这个词组是接近于、濒于的意思,hero在文学作品中是主人公的意思,pit作动词时,除了挖坑、窖藏之外,还有使竞争、使斗争的意思,其英文释义为:to set as gamecocks into or as if into a pit to fight, to set into opposition or rivalry usually used with against.在此用的是后一种语义的被动语态fate againt which Black heros are pitted.如果用主动语态则是:pit black heros againt fate。
另外本句的结构复杂,分号之后是一个一般疑问句,但是由于修饰成分过多,过长,使得读者看不清楚这个句子在问什么。其实如果没有最后的那个prevalent theme的同位语a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression,本句会易懂得多。