原文

A young man sees a sunset and, unable to understand or to express the emotion that it rouses in him, concludes that it must be the gateway to world that lies beyond. It is difficult for any of us in moments of intense aesthetic experience to resist the suggestion that we are catching a glimpse of a light that shines down to us from a different realm of existence, different and, because the experience is intensely moving, in some way higher. And, though the gleams blind and dazzle, yet do they convey a hint of beauty and serenity greater than we have known or imagined. Greater too than we can describe; for language, which was invented to convey the meanings of this world, cannot readily be fitted to the uses of another.

That all great has this power of suggesting a world beyond is undeniable. In some moods, Nature shares it. There is no sky in June so blue that it does not point forward to a bluer, no sunset so beautiful that it does not waken the vision of a greater beauty, a vision which passes before it is fully glimpsed, and in passing leaves and indefinable longing and regret. But, if this world is not merely a bad joke, life a vulgar flare amid the cool radiance of the stars, and existence an empty laugh braying across the mysteries; if these intimations of a something behind and beyond are not evil humour born of indigestion, or whimsies sent by the devil to mock and madden us. if, in a word, beauty means something, yet we must not seek to interpret the meaning. If we glimpse the unutterable, it is unwise to try to utter it, nor should we seek to invest with significance that which we cannot grasp. Beauty in terms of our human meanings is meaningless.

--C.E.M.JOAD Pieces of Mind--

译文

一个年轻人看到日落,却无法理解或表达它在他心中唤起的情感,于是断定那一定是通往彼岸世界的门户。 在强烈的美学体验时刻,我们任何人都不易抗拒这样的暗示:我们仿佛瞥见一道光芒,从一个不同的存在领域照射下来,那里与我们不同,而且因为体验极其感动,在某种程度上更高超。 尽管这些光芒刺眼夺目,却传达出一种比我们所知或想象中更伟大的美和宁静的暗示。 这种美也超出了我们的描述能力;因为语言原本是为传达这个世界的意义而发明的,无法轻易适应另一个世界的用途。

所有伟大的艺术都具有这种暗示彼岸世界的力量,这是不可否认的。 在某些心境中,大自然也分享这种力量。 六月的天空再蓝,也会指向更蓝的天空;日落再美,也会唤起对更伟大美的憧憬,这种憧憬在尚未完全显现时便消逝而去,并在消逝中留下一种难以名状的渴望和遗憾。 但是,如果这个世界不仅仅是个坏笑话,生命不是在群星的冷冽光芒中闪烁的庸俗火光,存在不是在神秘中咆哮的空洞笑声;如果这些对彼岸事物的暗示不是消化不良的恶作剧,或是魔鬼派来嘲弄和折磨我们的怪念头, 简言之,如果美有某种意义,我们却不应试图去解释它。 如果我们瞥见不可言说的东西,试图去言说是不明智的,我们也不应试图为那些我们无法把握的事物赋予意义。 用我们人类的意义来诠释美是毫无意义的。

--C.E.M.JOAD Pieces of Mind--

词汇表

sunset

名词
英:/ˈsʌnset/
美:/ˈsʌnˌsɛt/
定义
1. 日落 - The time in the evening when the sun disappears below the horizon, often associated with beautiful colors in the sky.

例子: The sunset over the ocean was breathtaking, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

例子: We watched the sunset from the hilltop, feeling a sense of peace.

2. 衰落期或结束 - A period of decline or end, metaphorically.

例子: The sunset of his career was marked by retirement after many successful years.

例子: In history, the sunset of an empire often leads to new beginnings.

近义词
dusk: 强调黄昏的开始,更侧重于光线渐暗,而 'sunset' 具体指太阳落下时刻。
evenfall: 更诗意和文学化,常用于描述黄昏的宁静,与 'sunset' 的视觉美感类似但更泛指。
twilight: 指日落后天空仍有光的时间段,比 'sunset' 更宽泛,强调过渡期。
反义词:
sunrise, dawn, daybreak
用法
常用于描述自然景观或比喻性语境,如文学或诗歌中,强调视觉美感或结束的象征;在正式和非正式场合均适用。
形式:
复数: sunsets

关键句型 "It is [adjective] for [subject] to [verb]..."

定义

此句型用于描述某事对某人来说是怎样的情况,常表达难度、容易度或可能性。基本结构为:It is + [adjective](形容词,如 difficult)+ for + [subject](主语)+ to + [verb](动词原形)+ ...。根据《剑桥英语语法手册》,这是一种常见的英语表达方式,用于强调主语面对某行动的挑战或便利性。它本质上是一个形式主语句型,其中 "It" 是形式主语,真正的主语是后面的 "for [subject] to [verb]" 部分。

例如,在文章中:“It is difficult for any of us to resist the suggestion...” 这里,形容词 "difficult" 描述了主语 "any of us" 面对的行动 "resist" 的情况。

用法

此句型常用于日常对话、描述个人经历或表达意见,特别是在讨论挑战、能力或情感时。规则包括:It is 后跟形容词(如 easy, hard, important),然后用 for 引导主语短语,再接 to 加动词原形。它的位置在语法体系中属于主语从句或不定式结构,常与表达意见的句子结合。

横向比较:与 "[Subject] finds it [adjective] to [verb]" 类似,但此句型更正式和通用;相比 "It is [adjective] that [subject] [verb]",它更强调主语的参与感。例如,与条件句相比,此句型不涉及假设,而是直接陈述事实。跨语法联系:它与不定式作主语相关(如 "To do this is hard"),但更常用 "It" 作形式主语以使句子流畅。学生可将此与情态动词结合,如 "It might be easy for you to understand",扩展表达可能性。

在实际应用中,此句型适合初学者用于描述学习或生活中的困难,比如 "It is easy for me to learn new words."

注意事项

学生易犯的错误包括:遗漏 for,直接说 "It is difficult to resist",这会使句子不完整或改变含义;或 misuse 形容词,如用 "difficultly"(错误,应为 "difficult")。纠正建议:始终记住 for + subject + to + verb 的顺序,并练习不同形容词的搭配。

另一个常见偏误是主语和动词不一致,如 "It is difficult for he to go"(应为 "for him to go")。提供例句:

错误示例:It is important we to study every day.  // 缺少 "for"
正确示例:It is important for us to study every day.

确保句子平衡,避免过长从句导致混乱。

练习

原创例子:想象一个学习场景,你可以说:“It is challenging for beginners to understand complex sentences like this one.” 学生可以替换关键词,例如将 [adjective] 换成 "easy",并修改 [subject] 为 "children",如 “It is easy for children to play games.” 这能帮助他们在日常对话中应用,例如在讨论旅行时说:“It is exciting for travelers to visit new places.”

通过替换练习,学生能加深对句型的灵活性,逐步构建更复杂的句子。

额外内容

背景知识:此句型源于英语中强调主语从句的传统,常见于19世纪文学,如文章作者C.E.M. Joad的风格。对比分析:与中文的 "对[subject]来说[verb]很[adjective]" 类似,但英语使用 "It is for [subject] to [verb]" 更结构化。在法语中,类似结构如 "Il est difficile pour [subject] de [verb]",但英语版本更简洁。了解此点能帮助学生欣赏英语的逻辑美,同时扩展到更高级的表达,如在写作中用于描述情感,这在哲学文章中很常见。

关键句型 "No [noun] so [adjective] that it does not [verb]..."

定义

此句型用于强调某种事物即使达到极致,也总有超越或不足之处,常表达普遍真理或比较。结构为:No + [noun](名词)+ so + [adjective](形容词)+ that + it does not + [verb](动词)+ ...。根据《牛津现代英语语法》,这是一种强调句型,源于古典英语,突出事物的相对性,常用于文学或哲学语境中。

文章示例:“There is no sky in June so blue that it does not point forward to a bluer...” 这里,句型强调天空的蓝色总有更蓝的可能。

用法

此句型主要用于描述事物间的比较或无限追求,常见于诗歌、散文或讨论美学时。规则:No [noun] 后跟 so [adjective],然后用 that 引导结果从句,通常以否定形式出现如 does not。在语法体系中,它属于复杂句型,结合了比较结构和从句。

横向比较:与简单比较句如 "[Noun] is [adjective] than..." 不同,此句型更强调普遍性;与 "The more..., the more..." 相比,它突出极限后的不足。跨语法联系:它涉及形容词的比较级和结果从句,可与条件句结合,如在文章中暗示哲学思考。学生应注意,它常用于正式写作,而非日常口语,帮助建立对语言的深度表达。

例如,在现代语境中,可用于激励,如讨论个人成长:“No achievement so great that it does not inspire further goals.”

注意事项

学生常犯错误包括:忽略 that 从句,导致句子不完整;或 misuse 形容词的比较级,如说 "No sky so blue that it points"(应保持否定)。纠正建议:练习时强调 that it does not 的部分,并确保形容词正确使用。

另一个问题是结构过长导致句子混乱,如添加过多从句。提供例句:

错误示例:No book so interesting that reads it easily.  // 缺少主语和正确结构
正确示例:No book so interesting that it does not leave you wanting more.

始终保持句子逻辑清晰,以避免歧义。

练习

原创例子:谈论自然时,你可以说:“No mountain so high that it does not challenge climbers to reach higher peaks.” 学生可以替换 [noun] 为 "painting",并修改 [adjective] 和 [verb],如 “No painting so beautiful that it does not evoke deeper emotions.” 这适用于艺术讨论,帮助学生在日记或作文中应用。

通过这种替换,学生能探索句型的创意性,增强对语言的自信。

额外内容

背景知识:此句型受浪漫主义文学影响,如雪莱或济慈的作品,常表达人类对无限的向往。对比分析:与西班牙语的 "Ningún [noun] tan [adjective] que no [verb]..." 类似,但英语更简练。文化背景中,它反映了西方哲学对完美的追求,如柏拉图的理念论,这在文章中可见。通过学习此句型,学生能更好地理解文学表达,并扩展到其他比较结构,提升整体语言能力。