Lesson 39 What every writer wants 作家之所需

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

How do professional writers ignore what they were taught at school about writing?

I have known very few writers, but those I have known, and whom I respect, confess at once that they have little idea where they are going when they first set pen to paper. They have a character, perhaps two; they are in that condition of eager discomfort which passes for inspiration; all admit radical changes of destination once the journey has begun; one, to my certain knowledge, spent nine months on a novel about Kashmir,

5 then reset the whole thing in the Scottish Highlands. I never heard of anyone making a 'skeleton', as we were taught at school. In the breaking and remaking, in the timing, interweaving, beginning afresh, the writer comes to discern things in his material which were not consciously in his mind when he began. This organic process, often leading to moments of extraordinary self-discovery, is of an indescribable fascination. A blurred image appears; he adds a brushstroke and another, and it is gone; but something was 10 there, and he will not rest till he has captured it. Sometimes the yeast within a writer outlives a book he has written. I have heard of writers who read nothing but their own books; like adolescents they stand before the mirror, and still cannot fathom the exact outline of the vision before them. For the same reason, writers talk interminably about their own books, winkling out hidden meanings, super-imposing new ones, begging response from those around them. Of course a writer doing this is misunderstood: he might as well try to 15 explain a crime or a love affair. He is also, incidentally, an unforgivable bore.

This temptation to cover the distance between himself and the reader, to study his image in the sight of those who do not know him, can be his undoing: he has begun to write to please.

A young English writer made the pertinent observation a year or two back that the talent goes into the first draft, and the art into the drafts that follow. For this reason also the writer, like any other artist, has no 20 resting place, no crowd or movement in which he may take comfort, no judgment from outside which can replace the judgment from within. A writer makes order out of the anarchy of his heart; he submits himself to a more ruthless discipline than any critic dreamed of, and when he flirts with fame, he is taking time off from living with himself, from the search for what his world contains at its inmost point.

JOHN LE CARRÉ What every writer wants from Harper's

New words and expressions 生词和短语

confess (1.1) $/\mathrm{k}$ an’fes/ $v$ . 承认

inspiration (1.3) ${/}_{1}$ Insp ${\partial }^{\prime }$ rel $\int \partial \mathbf{n}/n$ . 灵感

Kashmir (1.4) /kæʃ’mɪə/ n. 克什米尔

interweave (1.6) ${/}_{1}$ Int ${\partial }^{\prime }$ wiːv/v. 交织

afresh (1.6) $/{\partial }^{\prime }$ fre $\int I{adv}$ . 重新

discern (1.7)/dɪ'sɜːn/v. 辨明,领悟

indescribable (1.8) / , IndIs'kraɪbəbəl/ adj. 无法描述的

blur (1.9)/blɜː/v. 使 …… 模糊不清

yeast (1.10)/ji:st/ n. 激动

fathom (1.12) $/\prime f \approx \delta = m/v$ . 领悟,彻底了解

interminably (ll.12-13) /in't3:mInəbəli/adv. 没完没

了地

winkle (1.13) $/$ wiŋk $\partial /v$ . 挖掘

incidentally (1.15) ${/}_{1}$ InsI dentli/ adv. 顺便说一下

pertinent (1.18) /'pɜːtɪnənt/adj. 中肯的

flirt (1.22)/flɜːt/v. 调情

inmost (1.23) /'inməʊst/ adj. 内心深处的

A scene from the film of John le Carré's book, The Spy who Came in from the Cold

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 where they are going, 他们要写什么, 怎么写。

2 set their pen to paper, 开始写作。

3 pass for, "被当作", 但常指蒙骗、假冒。

4 to my certain knowledge, 据我所知。

5 nothing but, 仅, 只。

6 like adolescents they stand before the mirror, and still cannot fathom the exact outline of the vision before them. 他们如同少年,站在镜前,不能辨认出自身的真面目。此句出自古希腊的一则神话:有一漂亮少年,他热恋上了水中自身的映像, 最后憔悴而死, 化为水仙花。

7 in the sight of, 从 …… 角度来看。

参考译文

我所认识的作家寥寥无几,然而凡是我所认识和尊敬的作家,都立即承认在他们动笔时,不清楚要写什么, 怎么写。他们心中有一个或两个角色。他们处于急切不安的状态, 而这被当作是灵感。他们无不承认, 一旦 “旅程”开始,“目的地”常有急剧的变化。据我所知,有位作家花了 9 个月的时间写了一部有关克什米尔的小说、后来却把整个故事背景换成了苏格兰高地。我从未听说过任何一位作家像我们在学校学的那样,动笔前先列什么提纲。作家在剪裁修改、构思时间、穿插情节、以至从头重写的过程中,会领悟到素材中有很多东西是他刚动笔时所未意识到的。这种有机的加工过程往往达到不寻常自我发现的境界, 具有难以言表的构思魅力。 一个朦胧的形象出现在作家的脑海里, 他左添一笔, 右添一笔, 形象反而消逝了; 可是, 好像还有什么东西存在着,不把它捕捉到,作家是不会罢休的。有时,一个作家一本书写完了,但兴奋仍不消散。我听说一些作家,除了自己的书外, 别的书一概不读, 犹如希腊神话中那位漂亮少年, 站在镜前, 不能辨认出自身的真面目。由于这个原因,作家喋喋不休地谈论自己的书,挖掘其隐晦的含义,增添新的含义,询问周围人的反应。作家如此行事当然会被人误解。他还不如给人讲一个犯罪案件或一个恋爱故事。顺便说一句, 他也是个不可饶恕的令人厌烦的人。

Unit 5 Lesson 39

这种企图消除自己和读者之间距离的作法, 企图用不了解自己的人的观点来研究自己塑造的形象的作法, 会导致作家的毁灭, 因为他已经开始为取悦他人而写作了。

一两年前,一位年轻的英国作家发表了中肯的看法。他说, 初稿是才华,以后各稿是艺术。也是由于这个原因, 作家同任何艺术家一样, 找不到可休息的场所, 找不到伙伴和活动使自己得到安逸。任何局外人的判断也比不上他自己内心的正确判断。一旦作家从内心的紊乱中理出头绪,就应按任何评论家想像不到的无情规范约束自己去写作；当他沽名钓誉时,他就脱离了自我生活,脱离了对自己灵魂最深处世界的探索。

Comprehension 理解

Answer these questions:

1 What do you understand by this sentence: 'All admit radical changes of destination once the journey has begun.'? (II.3-4)

2 What do you understand by the phrase 'organic process'? (1.8)

3 Quote a sentence from the passage from which you could deduce that a writer must be a lonely person.

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: eager discomfort (1.3); passes for (1.3); skeleton (1.5); beginning afresh (1.6); discern (1.7); a blurred image (1.9); fathom (1.12); interminably (11.12-13); winkling out (1.13); anarchy (1.21); ruthless (1.22); taking time off (1.22).

Summary 摘要

Drawing your information from the first paragraph (lines 1-15) write a summary of the author's account of how a writer works. Do not write more than 100 words. Your answer should be in one paragraph.

Composition 作文

A Write a list of ideas in note form which could be used to discuss this subject:

Which do you prefer reading: novels, plays, poetry or non-fiction?

Give reasons for your choice.

B Drawing on your list of ideas, write a composition of about 400 words.

Key structures 关键句型

A Supply who, whom or which where necessary in the following sentences. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 I have known very few writers, but those _____ I have known, and _____ I respect confess at once that they have little idea where they are going when they first set pen to paper. (ll.1-2)

2 The writer comes to discern things in his material _____ were not consciously in his mind when he began. (ll.6-7)

3 Sometimes the yeast within a writer outlives a book _____ he has written. (I.10)

4 I have heard of writers _____ read nothing but their own books. (1.11) Unit 5 Lesson 39

B Note the use of little in this sentence: They have little idea where they are going. (II.1-2) Write sentences using the following expressions: little expectation; little appreciation; little improvement. C Compare these two sentences: Instead of saying: I never heard of anyone who made a 'skeleton', as we were taught at school. We can say: I have never heard of anyone making a 'skeleton', as we were taught at school. (II.5-6) Change the following sentences in the same way: 1 This organic process, which often leads to moments of extraordinary self-discovery, is of indescribable fascination. (ll.7-9)

2 I have often heard of writers who read nothing but their own books. (1.11)

3 A writer who does this is misunderstood. (1.14)

D Note the use of may/might as well in the following sentences:

1 Of course a writer doing this is misunderstood: he might (or may) as well try to explain a crime or love affair. (11,14-15)

2 I haven't got anything else to do so I might (or may) as well do some gardening.

Write two sentences using may/might as well in the ways shown above.

E Note the use of back in place of ago in the following:

A young English writer made the pertinent observation a year or two back... (I.18)

Write two sentences using back in this way.

Special difficulties 难点

A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.

1 destination (1.3) - destiny

Passengers flying on to other destinations in Europe must first clear their baggage at this airport.

Surly you don't believe someone can tell your destiny by looking at a pack of cards or a crystal ball?

2 indescribable (1.8) - undescribed

When they reached the top of the hill, they saw a scene of indescribable beauty.

Stephen's journey back home is undescribed in the novel.

3 capture (1.10) - arrest

Captured by the enemy, the soldiers were in danger of being shot.

He was arrested by the police for theft.

4 misunderstood (1.14) - not understood

That is not what I meant. He must have misunderstood or misheard me.

Apparently this is not understood by all the students.

5 draft (1.19) - draught

It is said that he completed the first draft of the play within two days.

Can you close that window a bit, please, on account of the draught. (= cold air current)

6 judgment (1.20) - criticism

Find out everything you can, then make a judgment based on the facts.

Young people deeply resent any criticism of their friends by their parents.

Unit 5 Lesson 39

B The words in italics in the following sentences are used metaphorically. What is their literal meaning?

1 He adds a brushstroke and another, and it is gone, ... (1.9)

2 Sometimes the yeast within a writer outlives a book he has written. (1.10)

3 Like adolescents they stand before the mirror and still cannot fathom the exact outline of the vision before them. (II.11-12)

4 When he flirts with fame, he is taking time off from living with himself ... (11.22-23)

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1 According to the author, most writers he has known _____.

(a) often change the location in which their novel is set

(b) do not work to a detailed preconceived plan

(c) follow the method of writing they were taught at school

(d) rely on inspiration from the moment they start until they finish

2 According to the writer, the process of writing _____ .

(a) is predictable and methodical

(b) brings out ideas that the writer was conscious of

(c) is rather chaotic

(d) depends on skilful planning

3 If a writer becomes too concerned with the reader, he _____ .

(a) might fail because he will lose touch with the creative process

(b) will learn a lot about himself and his work will benefit

(c) will find conversations with other people very boring

(d) will understand the vision he is pursuing

4 The key to good writing is not so much the original inspiration, but _____ .

(a) ruthless discipline

(b) the anarchy of the writer's heart

(c) the number of drafts that follow the first one

(d) the quality of editing that follows the original draft

Structure 句型

5 I have known very few writers _____ . (1.1)

(a) in my life (b) recently (c) last year (d) since last year

6 _____ at school to make a 'skeleton'. (II.5-6)

(a) We taught (b) They taught us

(c) They were taught by us (d) They taught to us

7 I have heard of writers _____ nothing but their own books. (I. 11)

(a) who they read (b) that they read (c) which they read (d) reading

8 Of course a writer _____ this is misunderstood. (1.14)

(a) who doing (b) that doing (c) that he does (d) that does

Unit 5 Lesson 39

Vocabulary 词汇

9 All admit _____ changes of destination. (1.3)

(a) important (b) fundamental (c) unforeseen (d) predictable

10 _____ image appears. (I.9)

(a) A false (b) A visionary (c) A sudden (d) An indistinct

11 They stand before a mirror _____ adolescents. (1.11)

(a) as though (b) as if they were (c) as if to be (d) as

12 A young English writer made the _____ observation ... (1.18)

(a) relative (b) extraordinary (c) relevant (d) cheeky