英语短篇小说教程 虞建华 高等教育出版社 课后答案(6)

(It indicates that the princess was not really sure that the fair maid had shown her love or admiration for the courtier. The love relation between them might be imagined, out of the princess’ jealousy towards the pretty maid.)

Suggested Homework:

Write a story summary in 200 words. The summary may begin like this:

(Frank Stockton’s ―The Lady, or the Tiger?‖ is a story about a man sentenced to an unusual punishment for having a romance with the king's beloved daughter. Taken to the public arena, he was faced with two doors, behind one of which stood a fierce tiger, and behind the other a fair lady. The king was not sure whether a person so low in station could aspire to one so far above him, but anyway put the young man in the arena. He was either to be eaten by the beast or married to the young lady. Somehow the princess had acquired the secret hidden even from the king himself and knew behind which of the two doors stood a woman that she hated intensely out of jealousy. On the day of the trial, the arena was filled with people with the king and the princess sitting opposite the twin doors. The young man bowed to the king and threw a glance at the princess. She made a quick movement toward the right. Without hesitation, he went directly to the door on the right. Now the problem remains: what was behind the close the door on the right, the lady or the tiger? )

英语短篇小说教程 虞建华 高等教育出版社 课后答案

Keys to Unit Nine

Frank O’Connor: Guests of the Nation

By Frank O’Connor

2) Questions for Discussion:

(Suggested answers for reference)

(1) Why do you think the author chose ―Guests of the Nation‖ as the title of the short story?

(Obviously, ―guests‖ in the title refers to the two English prisoners, and ―the nation‖ refers to Ireland. Unconsciously, the Irish guards referred to them as ―our guests‖ rather than ―enemy soldiers.‖ The four of them could play cards together, or argue on some topics and generally enjoyed the time they spent together. It’s ironic that the ―guests‖ were finally shot for doing nothing wrong on their part.)

(2) What were the reasons for killing Hawkins and Belcher? Were they good reasons? The answer can be both yes and no. Please support your argument.

Most of the ―reasons‖ justifying the killing of Hawkins and Belcher are given by the petty office Donovan:

1. "The enemy have prisoners belonging to us"' he says, "and now they're talking of shooting them. If they shoot our prisoners, we'll shoot theirs." (lines 125-126)

2. "There were four of our fellows shot in Cork this morning and now you're to be shot as a reprisal." (lines 219-220)

3. "I never said I had anything against you. But why did your people take out four of our prisoners and shoot them in cold blood?" (lines 236-237)

4. "…because you'd know you'd be shot for not doing it." (line 269)

5. "You understand that we're only doing our duty?" (line 243)

One the one hand, these are good reasons because the war demands such actions: soldiers should obey orders, to fulfill their duty, or they would be shot for disobeying orders; violence should be repaid by violence as a reprisal. But on the other hand, the war logic is against the common sense and against human nature – when people could enjoy being together, why should they kill each other?

(3) How do you understand J. Donovan?

(On the surface, he seemed cold-blooded, and personally executed the two Englishmen, but if we read very careful between the lines, we would find that he, as a petty office, had to do something unpleasant in his position. He was also a victim, and had to suppress his own true feelings before his subordinates. He actually had sympathy with the captured soldiers, but was not understood by his men. We should notice that the narrator is, to some degree, a naïve narrator.)

英语短篇小说教程 虞建华 高等教育出版社 课后答案

(4) What characteristics of realism can we find in the short story?

1. It is the details that make up the most of the short story.

2. The language used is common speech of common soldiers.

3. The author tries to be faithful to the real life as he understands it.

4. The five main characters are ―small potatoes,‖ victims of the forces that they have no control of.

5. There is a sharp criticism of the absurdity of the war.

3) Explanation and interpretation:

(Explain the implied meaning of the following sentences, and point out their significance in the context of the story.)

(1) It wasn't the hanging round that was a trouble to me at all by this time. I had worse things to worry about.

(―Worse things‖ refer to the two Irish guards’ sincere concern and deep worry about the ill fate that might befall the two English prisoners of war.)

(2) I rose from the table and caught him before he reached the door. "What do you want?" I asked.

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