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The Facts in Fantasy Literature 奇幻文学：想象力的极限运动

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

With magical wands and swords hanging from their waists, a courageous group of friends heads for a fire-belching volcano. An old blind man in the village below warned them against going to the mountain. Deep inside, the three characters face great danger. Something terrible lurks in the shadows.

一群英勇的伙伴腰际挂着魔杖和刀锋锐利的剑，正前往一座爆发的火山。山下村庄的一个瞎眼老人曾警告他们不要上山。深山中，这三个人面临极大的危险。阴暗处潜藏着可怕的事物。

Fantasy literature excites the imagination and makes its readers breathlessly flip a book’s papers from start to finish. It allows them to escape the real world and enter a land where elves and dwarves amble through peculiar towns while evil eyes watch from the shadows. However, there is a reality behind the out-of-this-world realms of fantasy literature.

奇幻文学能激发想象力，让读者摒住气从头读到尾。它能使读者逃离现实世界，进入一个有精灵及小矮人漫步在奇特村庄，邪恶眼睛在暗处窥视的魔幻境地。然而，在奇幻文学的非现实王国背后，仍然反映现实。

Fantasy literature is the oldest form of storytelling. Like all good fiction, it begins in the imagination of writers and serves as a vehicle to shed light on serious issues. Instead of preaching heavy sermons, fantasy literature takes readers on an exhilarating journey where good must fight evil.

奇幻文学是最古老的说故事方式。就像所有优秀小说一样，奇幻文学源自于作家的想象，作为阐释严肃议题的工具。然而，不像其他直接说教的文类，奇幻文学带领读者踏上一个令人兴奋，正邪对抗的旅程。

It is a great way to encourage both children and adults to read more books. The Wizard of Oz is a classic example. Author L. Frank Baum supplies Dorothy with the Cowardly Lion, Tin Woodsman, and Scarecrow on her escapade through the magical world of Oz. This blend makes a much more enticing story than a girl in Kansas who tries to get her dog back from a mean old lady!

奇幻文学是吸引小孩及成人读更多书的好方式。《绿野仙踪》是一个经典的例子。作者法兰克包姆妙笔生辉，创造了胆小狮子、铁樵夫以及稻草人陪伴桃乐丝踏上冒险旅程，前往魔幻的欧兹国。这个多样化的团队比起一个试着从卑鄙老太婆手中救回自己狗狗的堪萨斯州女孩来得更引人入胜。

Vocabulary

单词发音

flip [flɪp] v. 快速翻动（书页等），翻阅

shed light on 查明, 说明, 解释 make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear

issue [ˋɪʃjʊ] n. 问题; 议题

preach [pritʃ] v. 鼓吹；反复灌输

sermon [ˋsɝmən] n. 布道，说教

More Information

单词发音

fantasy [ˋfæntəsɪ] n. 幻想﹐想象

wand [wɑnd] n. 魔杖

waist [west] n. 腰，腰部

courageous [kəˋredʒəs] adj. 英勇的，勇敢的

belch [bɛltʃ] v. 喷出，喷射；吐出

lurk [lɝk] v. 潜伏，埋伏

excite [ɪkˋsaɪt] v. 引起；激起

breathlessly [ˋbrɛθləslɪ] adv. 气喘地；屏息地

elf [ɛlf] n.（神话中）淘气的小鬼，小精灵

dwarf [dwɔrf] n. 矮子；侏儒

amble [ˋæmb!] v. 轻松地走，从容漫步

peculiar [pɪˋkjuljɚ] adj. 奇怪的; 特别的

out-of-this-world 【美】【口】极好的, 无与伦比的  wonderful and exciting

realm [rɛlm] n. 领域；范围

exhilarating [ɪgˋzɪlə͵retɪŋ] adj. 令人振奋的；使人高兴的

cowardly [ˋkaʊɚdlɪ] adj. 胆小的，懦怯的

woodsman [ˋwʊdzmən] n. 樵夫；猎人

scarecrow [ˋskɛr͵kro] n.〔放在田里吓鸟用的〕稻草人

escapade [͵ɛskəˋped] n. 越轨行为；恶作剧

enticing [ɪnˋtaɪsɪŋ] adj. 有吸引力的; 迷人的; 有诱惑力的

mean [min] adj. 卑鄙的，心地不好的

课文讲解

Just like in the real world, though, there has to be logic in how fantasy literature’s made-up worlds function. For readers to suspend their notions of disbelief, the settings must make sense historically and geographically. For example, pirates living far from trade routes would not be believable. In addition, there must be rules governing how and when magic is used. If the hero could simply wave a magic wand whenever trouble arose, the story would be quite dull.

但就像现实世界一样，奇幻文学中杜撰出来的世界也要依循逻辑运作。为了取得读者信任，故事场景在历史上、地理上必须合情合理。例如，海盗住在远离贸易航线的地方就令人难以相信。此外，如同现实世界中的武器，使用魔法也要有准则来规范。假如故事中的主角一遇到困难就能轻易挥动魔杖，故事就会很无聊。

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Frodo travels through the fantasy world known as Middle Earth. The ring Frodo must destroy represents absolute power; anyone seeking it risks corruption. As such, Frodo must exercise extreme caution in how he uses it.

在托尔金的《魔戒三部曲》中，佛罗多穿越了其中较为人熟知的奇幻世界里的中土世界。佛罗多必须毁灭的戒指代表了绝对的权力；任何图谋它的人面临堕落的风险。因此，佛罗多在使用戒指时必须极度小心。

Also like other literary genres, fantasy writers can teach valuable lessons. The Harry Potter series presents several. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, rather than boast about his newfound talent for playing Quidditch, Harry continues to practice hard. In The Order of the Phoenix, Harry discovers that growing up and learning should be a gradual process. All the books include other lessons, such as loyalty among friends and choosing to do the right thing.

就像其他文类一样，奇幻文学作家能够传达宝贵的教训。哈利波特系列丛书就是如此，在《哈利波特－神秘的魔法石》当中，哈利并没有因为自己擅长玩魁地奇这项新发现的才能而自吹自擂，反而继续努力练习。在《哈利波特－凤凰会的密令》中，哈利发现成长及学习应该是循序渐进的过程。所有系列还包含其他教训，像是对朋友忠诚以及选择做对的事情。

Compared to the real world, fantasy literature may seem far-fetched. However, there exist clear laws and rules that cannot be broken. For those willing to set out on the journey, there are many life lessons waiting to be discovered.

跟现实世界比较起来，奇幻文学或许显得牵强附会。然而在一切的虚构虚幻之下仍存在着不可违反的定律准则。对于想要踏上奇幻文学旅程的人来说，有许多人生课题等着被发掘呢。

−by Matthew Wilson

Vocabulary

单词发音

suspend [səˋspɛnd] v. 中止; 暂缓

notion [ˋnoʃən] n. 一时兴起的念头；想法

absolute [ˋæbsə͵lut] adj. 绝对的

corruption [kəˋrʌpʃən] n. 堕落

loyalty [ˋlɔɪəltɪ] n. 忠诚

More Information

单词发音

dull [dʌl] adj. 乏味的，单调的

destroy [dɪˋstrɔɪ] v. 毁坏，破坏

sorcerer [ˋsɔrsərɚ] n. 巫师；魔术师

boast [bost] v. 自吹自擂；夸耀

phoenix [ˋfinɪks] n. 长生鸟；凤凰

far-fetched [ˋfɑrˋfɛtʃt] adj. 牵强的

set out  动身, 开始

Reading Questions

1.  Which of the following is an important benefit of reading fantasy literature?

A.  Despite its surreal nature, it can actually probe real issues.

B.  Though it is largely based on fact, it is often of low moral quality.

C.  Because of its far-fetched style, it will never be confused with non-fiction.

D.  It can help people deal with real issues.

2.  Why is it important for fantasy stories to have rules and limits?

A.  Because rules and limits are what all fantasy is based on.

B.  Because that is the only way readers will believe in the fantasy.

C.  Because the story would be more interesting if magic could be used anywhere, anytime.

D.  Because without rules, the stories would descend into chaos.

3.  What does fantasy literature have in common with other literary genres?

A.  The stories tend to come in three-book series known as trilogies.

B.  They are used as tools to teach readers about morality.

C.  Authors of this genre tend to become extremely wealthy.

D.  The stories always contain an element of mystery and surprise.

4.  Which is NOT one of the characteristics of fantasy literature?

A.  It allows you to escape the real world for a period of time.

B.  It makes you want to read the books from beginning to end in one sitting.

C.  It allows you to discover all kinds of imaginary creatures.

D.  It is a great tool with which to learn about history.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [part 1 of 4] (1990)

Answer