Riassunto e analisi di alcuni brani inglesi

Materie:	Riassunto
Categoria:	Inglese
Download:	1330
Data:	05.05.2005
Numero di pagine:	6
Formato di file:	.doc (Microsoft Word)

THE UMBRELLA MAN BY ROALD DAHL
A GIRL AND HER MOTHER COME OUT OF A DENTIST AND GO TO A CAFE’ FOR A CUP OF COFFE. WHEN THEY COME OUT IT IS RAIN AND THEY STAND IN TEHE RAIN LOOKING FOR A TAXI. A KIND-LOOKING OLD MAN COMES UP TO THEM AND OFFERS TO SELL HIS UMBRELLA FOR A POUND BECAUSE HE HAS FORGOTTEN HIS WALLET AND IS TOO TIRED TO WALK BACK.
HE SAYS HE NEEDS THE MONEY TO GET A TAXI HOME. AT FIRST THE MOTHER IS VERY RUDE OF THE STRANGER, BUT THE DAUGHTER SEEMS TO LIKE HIM. THE OLD MAN’S BEHAVIOUR AND MANNERS AT LAST CONVINCE THE MOTHER THAT HE IS A GENTLEMAN AND SHE ACCEPTS HIS OFFER.
SOON AFTER THE GIRL NOTICES THAT THE OLD MAN ISN’T TAKE A TAXI, BUT IS RUNNING IN GREAT HASTE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, SO THE MOTHER GETS VERY ANGRY AND DECIDES TO FOLLOW HIM. THEY SEE THE MAN GO INTO A PUB. THROUGH A WINDOW THEY WATCH THE MAN DRINK A BIG GLASS OF WHISKY, PAY FOR IT WITH THE POUND, STEAL AN UMBRELLA, GO OUT OF THE PUB AND SELLS THE UMBRELLA TO A PASSER-BY FOR ANOTHER POUND.
THE STORY IS TOLD IN THE FIRST PERSON BY THE GIRL, THROUGH NARRATION, THROUGH DESCRIPTION AND THROUGH DIALOGUE. THE EXPECTATION OF A “FUNNY” OUTCOME IS AROUSED IN THE READER AT A VERY BEGINNING AND MAKES THE READER EAGER TO READ ON. THIS EXPETATION COMES TRUE AT THE VERY END, WHEN THE MAN’S “LITTLE GAME” IS REVEALED.
THE DIALOGUE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS IT MAKES THE SCENE LIVELY; IT IS MEANS BY WHICH THE THREE CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ON ONE HAND, AND THE UNUSUAL BEHAVIOUR OF THE OLD MAN ON THE OTHER HAND, CREATE A HUMOROUS EFFECT.
THROUGH HUMOUR THE STORY ALSO COMMENTS ON SOME PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTIC SUCH AS THE MOTHER‘S CONCERN FOR EXTERNAL APPEARANCES AND WEALTH. THE LANGUAGE IN GENERAL IS INFORMAL AND SIMPLE, THEREFORE APPROPIATE TO THE NARRATOR, A YOUNG GIRL.
THE CHARACTER ARE DESCRIBES THROUGH DESCRIPTION AND DIALOGUE.
FEATURES OF A NARRATIVE TEXT
THE STORY IS A SERIES OF ACTION WHICH HAPPEN IN A SHORT STORY, IT IS BUILDS UP A FICTIONAL WORLD WITH A SETTING (PLACE AND TIME), EVENTS AND CHARACTERS.
THE PLOT IS THE WAY THE STORY IS TOLD IN ORDER TO CREATE A CERTAIN EFFECT.
IN THE STORY YHE EVENTS ARE TOLOD IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER WHILE IN PLOT THE AUTHOR MAY CHOOSE TO ARRANGE THEM IN DIFFERENT ORDER.
THE NARRATOR IS THE NARRATIVE VOICE AN AUTHOR CHOOSES FOR PARTICULAR REASONS; THIS CHOICE ALWAYS INFLUENCES THE WAY THE STORY IS TOLD.
THE POINT OF VIEW IS THE ANGLE OR ANGLES FROM WHICH THE STORY IS TOLD.
THE THREE TIPE OF LANGUAGE USED ARE NARRATION, DESCIPTION AND DIALOGUE AND ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT.
DESCRIPTION IS USED TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE AND PLACES; NARRATION IS USED TO RELATE EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE; DESCRIPTION IS THE TECHINQUE USED TO SHOW CHARACTERS’ PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIOUR THROUGH THEIR OWN WORDS.
THE READER IS WHO READ THE STORY: THE IMPLIED READER IS AN IMMAGINARY READER WHOSE THE AUTHOR HAS IN MIND.
THE MESSAGE IS THE PURPOSE, THE AIM OF THE AUTHOR IN TELLIG A PARTICULAR STORY. THE PURPOSE MAY BE SIMPLY ONE OF ENTERTAIMENT, BUT OFTEN THERE ARE MORE SERIOUS MESSAGES.
THE IMMORTAL BARD BY ISAAC ASIMOV
AT A UNIVERSITY CHRISTMAS PARTY THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO TEACHERS, A PHYSICIST DR WELCH AND A YOUNG ENGLISH TEACHER SCOTT ROBERTSON, TAKES AN UNUSUAL COURSE WHEN DR WELCH INFORMS SCOTT ROBERTSON THAT HE BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE SOME FAMOUS PEOLPLE SUCH AS ARCHIMEDES, NEWTON, GALILEO THROUGH “TEMPORAL TRASFERENCE”. AT FIRST ROBERTSON LISTENS ONLY OUT OF POLITENESS BEXCAUSE THE OLDER TEACHER IS A BIT DRUNK, BUT WHEN SHAKESPEARE IS ALSO MENTIONED HIS INTEREST IS AROUSED BECAUSE HE GIVES A COURE ON SHAKESPEARE. DR WELCH DESCRIBES SHAKESPEARE’S PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, HIS ACCENT, AND EVEN SHOWS HIM HIS SIGNATURE. UNLIKE OTHER FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO COULDN’T ADAPT THEMSELVES TO THE MODERN WORLD, SHAKESPEARE SEEMED QUITE AT HOME, GIVEN HIM FLEXIBILITY OF MIND. HE EVEN AGREED TO ATTEND MR ROBERTSON’S COURSE ON HIMSELF BUT THIS WAS A MISTAKE. DR WELCH HAD TO SEND HIM BACK TOO BECAUSE OF THE HUMILATION SCOTT ROBERTSON INFLICTED ON HIM BY FAILING HIM AT THE FINAL EXAMINATION.
THE STORY STARTS WITH THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THWE TWO TEACHERS AND PROCEEDS MAINLY THROUGH DIALOGUE. A THIRD-PERSON NARRATOR DESCRIBES THE ATTITUDES OF THE TWO CHARACTERS. BY THIS TECHNIQUE THE READER FINDS HIMSELF IN THE POSITION OF A SILENT GUEST AT THE PARTY WHO LISTENS TO THE CONVERSATION AND IS GUIDED IN HIS REACTIONS BY THE NARRATOR’S DESCRIPTIONS THAT MAKE HIM SHARE ROBERTSON’S POINT OF VIEW.
THERE IS NEITHER PHYSICAL NOR PSYCOLOGICAL DESCIPTION OF THE TWO CHARACTERS BUT, NEVERTHELESS, SOME TRAITS OF THEIR PERSONALITY COME OUT VERY CLEARLY, AS WELL AS THEIR ATTITUDE TO EACH OTHER. DR WELCH IS OLDER, LIKES HIS DRINK AND SEEMS TO HAVE A WIDE CULTURE AND A BROAD OUTLOOK ON LIFE. HE IS A SCIENTIST, A PHYSICIST, BUT HE ISN’T SINGLEMINDED AS WE SEE FROM HIA APPRECIATION OF SHAKESPEARE AS A UNIVERSAL MIND, HE DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE A HIGH OPINION OF ROBERTSON, AS WE INFER FROM THE WAY HE ADDRESSES HIM. HE THINKS HE IS A NARROW-MINDED AND LACKS FLEXIBILITY.
THE SETTING IS JUST HINTED AT – A UNIVERSITY CHRISTMAS PARTY- BUT SOME ASPECTS OF THE SOCIAL SETTING CAN BE INFERRED, SUCH AS THE RESPECT FOR TRADITION AND THE HIERACHICAL ORDER THAT COMPELS THE YOUNGER TEACHER TO LISTEN POLITELY TO THE OLDER AND MORE IMPORTANT ONE.
THE TOME IS HUMOROUS FROMA THE VERY BEGINNING AND THROUGHOUT. AS THE STORY GOES ON AND ROBERTSON GETS LESS SCEPTICAL AND MORE INTERESTDE THE READER IS LED TO EXPECT THE STORY TO DEVELOP A MORE SERIOUS TONE SO THE FINAL OUTCOME COMES AS A SUDDEN SURPRISE, WHICH ADDS TO THE COMIC FLAVOUR OF THE WHOLE STORY. THE HUMOROUS TONE IS THE GUIDE TO THE MESSAGE OF THE STORY. THE READER IS INVITED TO THINK ABOUT THE RISKS IMPLICIT IN TOO NARROW ACADEMIC SPECIALISATION ABND THE RISKS OF LACK OF FLEXIBILITY. THE STORY CAN BE BROADLY READ AS AN INVITATION TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO BOTH THE FACTS OF LIFE AND CULTURE. THE STORY BELONGS TO SCIENCE FICTION AS IT SPEAKS ABOUT “TEMPORAL TRASFERNCE”.
THE CHARACTERS ARE DESCIRIBES THROUGH DIALOGUE.
LISPETH BY RUDYARD KIPLING
THE HEROINE OF THE SHORT STORY IS AN INDIAN GIRL WHO IS BROUGHT UP AT THE CHRISTIAN MISSION BY THE CHAPLAIN AND HIS WIFE. SHE LIVES HAPPILY AT THE MISSION AND DOESN’T REALISE THAT SHE’S REJECTED BY HER OWN PEOPLE AND NOT CONSIDERED AS AN EQUAL BY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BROUGHT HER UP. ONE DAY SHE RESCUSES AN ENGLISHMAN WHO HAD HURT HIMSELF BADLY DURING AN EXPEDITION IN THE HILLS. SHE NURSES HIM TILL HE RECOVERS AND FALLS IN LOVE WITH HIM. THE ENGLISHMAN ENJOYS LISPETH’S COMPANY WHILE HE STAYS AT THE MISSION TO RECOVER. WHEN HE LEAVES HE FOLLOWS THE ADVICE OF THE CHAPLAIN’S WIFE WHO WANTS TO KEEP LISPETH QUITE, AND PROMISES TO COME BACK AHD MARRY HER. LISPETH WAITS INVAIN FOR THE ENGLISHMAN TO COME BACK. WHEN SHE LEARNS THE TRUTH FROM THE CHAPLAIN’S WIFE, SHE GOES BACK TO HER PEOPLE AND REVERTS TO THEIR HABITS.
TWO SOCIAL GROUPS ARE PORTRAYED: THE BRITISH PEOPLE AT THE MISSION AND THE LOCAL INDIAN PEOPLE. LISPETH, HOWEVER, DOESN’T BELONG TO EITHER GROUP. HER PEOPLE HATE HER BECAUSE SHE HAS TAKEN UP THE HABITS OF WHITE PEOPLE. THE WHITE PEOPLE DON’T CONSIDER HER AS A MEMBER OF THEIR COMMUNITY EITHER. LISPETH’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE WHITE WORLD IS LIMITED TO THE PEOPLE AT THE MISSION. SHE LIKES IT VERY MUCH AND SHE’S HAPPY IN IT.
LISPETH CAN BE DESCRIBE AS INSTINCTIVE, OPEN, SINCERE, PASSIONATE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD IN HER BEHAVIOUR WHILE THE CHAPLAIN AND HIS WIFE ARE CONFORMIST AND SOMEWHAT SPITEFUL. THIS ATTITUDE CAN BE INFERRED FROM THEIR BEHAVIOUR AS, FOR ISTANCE, WHEN THEY “LECTURED HER SEVERELY ON THE IMPROPRIETY OF HER CONDUCT” OR FROM THE REACTION OF THE CHAPLAIN’S WIFE WHO “SHRIEKED WITH HORROR” WHEN LISPETH TOLD HER OF HER INTENTION TO MARRY THE ENGLISHMAN.
THE CHAPLAIN’S WIFE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THAT THE GIRL IS OPEN, STRAIGHTFORWARD AND SINCERE AND EXPECTS OTHER PEOPLE TO BEHAVE IN THE SAME WAY. THE CHAPLAIN’S WIFE SEEMS TO BE ONLY CONCERNED WITH WHAT SHE CONSIDERS LISPETH‘S UNCIVILISED HABIT OF EXPRESSING HER FEELINGS WITH NO RESTRAINTS. BOTH THE CHAPLAIN’S WIFE AND THE ENGLISHMAN HAVEN’T SCRUPLES IN USING DECEIT AGAINST LISPETH‘S TRUSTING SINCERITY.
LISPETH‘S CHARACTERISATION CLEARLY DIFFERS FROM THAT OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS. THE TITLE IS THE FIRST INDICATION TO THE READER THAT SHE IS THE MAIN CHARACTER. SHE IS FULLY DESCRIBED IN HER PHYSICAL BEAUTY, IN HER PERSONALITY AND IN THE REACTIONS SHE AROUSES IN THE PEOPLE SHE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH, WHILE ALL THE OTHER CHARACTERS ARE DESCRIBED ONLY IN RELATION TO HER.
THE STORY CONVERS THE WHOLE OF LISPETH‘S LIFE BUT IT FOREGROUNDS THE FORTNIGHT IN WHICH SHE FALLS IN LOVE. THE REASON FOR THIS PARTICULARY EMPHAIS IS THAT THIS EPISODE IS A TURNING POINT WHICH WILL ALTER THE COURSE OF EVENTS IN LISPETH‘S LIFE, ESPECIALLY AFTER SHE REALISES THAT THE PEOPLE SHE LOVED AND TRUSTED HAVE DECEIVED HER. THE READER IS INVITED TO TAKE SIDES WITH HER BOTH FOR HER POSITIVE QUALITIES AND BY THE IRONICAL TONE OF THE NARRATOR THAT CRITICIES THE WHITE PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR.
LISPETH‘S CHARACTERISATION LEADS THE READER TO THINK OVER THE VALUES THAT SHOULD RULE HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS; ACCORDING TO THE MESSAGE OF THE STORY THESE ARE SINCERITY, STRAIGHTFROWARDNESS AND TOLERANCE. THE FACT THAT THE NOVEL IS SET IN INDIA AND PUTS TWO DIFFERENT CULTURE IN CONTRAST MAY SUGGEST THAT THE VALUES PUT FORWARD BY THE STORY ARE STILL MORE IMPORTANT WHEN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS MUST ALSO OVERCOME CULTURAL DIFFERENCES.