英国文学选读
Poems:Hamlet (Act 3, Scene 1, lines 55-86)
生存或毁灭 , 这是个必答之问题是否应默默的忍受坎苛命运之无情打击,
还是应与深如大海之无涯苦难奋然为敌,并将其克服。死即睡眠 ,它不过如此 !
倘若一眠能了结心灵之苦楚与肉体之百患,那么 , 此结局是可盼的 ! 死去 , 睡去 ...
但在睡眠中可能有梦 , 啊 , 这就是个阻碍 :当我们摆脱了此垂死之皮囊,
在死之长眠中会有何梦来临?它令我们踌躇 ,使我们心甘情愿的承受长年之灾 ,
否则谁肯容忍人间之百般折磨,如暴君之政、骄者之傲
失恋之痛、法章之慢贪官之侮、或庸民之辱
假如他能简单的一刃了之?还有谁会肯去做牛做马 ,终生疲於操劳
默默的忍受其苦其难 , 而不远走高飞 , 飘於渺茫之境
倘若他不是因恐惧身後之事而使他犹豫不前?
此境乃无人知晓之邦 ,自古无返者
进入我们无法知晓的地域所以 ,「理智」能使我们成为懦夫
而「顾虑」能使我们本来辉煌之心志变得黯然无光, 像个病夫
再之 , 这些更能坏大事 , 乱大谋 , 使它们失去魄力。
Hamlet P8
1. Why is sleep so frightening, according to Hamlet, since it can “ end”the
heartache and the thousand natural shocks”?
Nobody can predict what he will dream of after he falls asleep. Death means the
end of life, you may go to or unknown world and you can . ’If hetcomebackdies,
Hamlet ’s can't realize his will. Though “sleep can”end the heartache and the
thousand natural shocks, it is a state of mind. Hamlet didn ’knowt at all. He is
frightened by the possible suffering in the long “dream”He. can’predict what will
happen in the sleep, may be good may be evil.
2.Why would people rather bear all the sufferings of the world instead of
choosing death to get rid of them, according to Hamlet?
Death is so mysterious that nobody knows what death will bring to us. Maybe
bitter sufferings, great pains, heartbreaking stories ⋯Because people hold the
same idea "to grunt and sweat under a weary life, but that the dread of
something after death-the undiscovered country, form whose bourn no traveler
returns-puzzle the will, and make us rather bear those ills we have than fly to
others that we know not of? People” also are frightened by the myths in another
world after death.
3.What, after all, makes people lose their determination to take action?
Please explain in relation to the so-called hesitation of Hamlet.
Conscience and over-considerations. He wants to revenge, but doesn’ t know how.
He wants to kill his uncle, but finds it too risky. He lives in despair and wants to
commit suicide. However, he knows if he dies, nobody will comfort his father
’ s ghost. He is in face of great dilemma. They don’ t know the result after their taking
the action. Such as Hamlet, he doesn’knowt what would happen if he kills his
uncle or kills himself. So Hamlet was hesitated.
Sonnet 18 P15
我怎么能够把你来比作夏天？你不独比它可爱也比它温婉：
狂风把五月宠爱的嫩蕊作践，夏天出赁的期限又未免太短：
天上的眼睛有时照得太酷烈，它那炳耀的金颜又常遭掩蔽：
被机缘或无常的天道所摧折，没有芳艳不终于雕残或销毁。
但是你的长夏永远不会雕落，也不会损失你这皎洁的红芳，
或死神夸口你在他影里漂泊，当你在不朽的诗里与时同长。
只要一天有人类，或人有眼睛，这诗将长存，并且赐给你生命。
1.How does the poet answer the question he puts forth in the first line?
The poet opens with a question that is addressed to the beloved, "Shall I compare
thee to a summer's day?" This question is comparing “ thee ” to the summer time
of the year. It is during this time when the flowers are blooming, trees are full of
leaves, the weather is warm, and it is generally considered as an enjoyable time
during the year. The following eleven lines in the poem are also dedicated to similar
comparisons between the beloved and summer days.
2. What makes the poet think that“ thou” can be more beautiful than summer
and immortal?
At the very beginning, the poet puts forth a question:“ Shall I compare thee to a summer’ sday?” Then he gives an answer: “ Thou art lovelier and more
temperate. On” the one hand, “ Roughwinds do shake the darling buds of May,
and summer’ s lease hath all too short a date;” on the other hand,“ Sometime to hot the heaven shines, and often is his gold complexion dimmed. ”So from the
above two aspects the poet thinks that“ thou ” can be more beautiful than summer.
In addition,“ And every fair from fair sometime declines, by chance, or nature
changing course untrimmed.” Compared with immortal, hy eternal“Butsummert
shall not fade, nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’ st, nor shall death brag thou wand’ restin his shade, when in eternal lines to times thou grow’ st. ” Therefore, the poet draws a conclusion:“ So long as men can breathe orsee,eyesso canlog
lives this, and this gives life to thee.” In this poem, the poet makes“ thou ”beautiful than summer and immortal because of his beautiful lines. So in this case,
“ thou ” in the poem can be regarded as female because love can beauty eternal.Or
“ thou ” can be referred to male, for friendship can make beauty everlasting. Even
“ thou ” can beabstract“love”or“beauty”which will become eternal in the wonderful poem.莎
士比亚诗歌的两个主题：时光不饶人，青春和美丽是短暂的；只有诗歌才有力量使美
丽与爱情永存。(theme: 只有文学可与时间抗衡)
Change, Fate, and Eternity
However much it might look he ’ s praising a beloved, this poet is definitely more
concerned with tooting his own horn. Really, you could sum up the poem like this:
"Dear Beloved: You ’ re better than a summer ’ s day. But only because I can make you
eternal by writing about you. Love, Shakespeare." That message is why
images and symbols of time, decay, and eternity are all over this poem. Whether or
