欧美小说赏析教学资料：earlyautumn.docx

Early Autumn早秋By Langston Hughes (1902-1967)兰斯顿・休斯Early AutumnWhen Bill was very young, they had been in love・ Many nights they had spent walking, talking together. Then something not very important had come between them, and they didnt speak. Impulsively, she had married a man she thought she loved・ Bill went away, bitter about women.Yesterday, walking across Washington Square, she saw him for the first time in years.“Bill Walker/ she said.He stopped・ At first he did not recognize her, to him she looked so old."Mary! Where did you come from?nUnconsciously, she lifted her face as though wanting a kiss, but he held out his hand. She took it.nI live in New York now,” she said.HOhH — smiling politely, then a little frown came quickly between his eyes・nAlways wondered what happened to you, Bill.”nFm a lawyer. Nice firm, way downtown[l].n”Married yet?”"Sure. Two kids." nOh/9 she said.A great many people went past them through the park・ People they didn^t know .It was late afterno on. Nearly sunset. Cold."And your husband?^ he asked her."We have three children. I work in the bursar^s office at Columbia[2].95"Youle looking very../9 (he wanted to say old) “...welir he said.She understood・ Under the trees in Washington Square, she found herself desperately reaching back into the past. She had been older than he then in Ohio. Now she was not young at all. Bill was stillyoung.nWe live on Central Park West⑶she said. nCome and see us sometime.n"Sure，" he replied. "You and your husband must have dinner with my family some night. Any night. Lucille and Fd love to have you."The leaves fell slowly from the trees in the Square. Fell without wind. Autumn dusk. She felt a little sick・"Wed love it," she answered."You ought to see my kids." He grinned・Suddenly the lights came on up the whole length of Fifth Avenue[4], chains of misty brilliance in the blue air."Theres my bus/ she said.He held out his hand. HGood-bye.f,HWhen...n she wanted to say, but the bus was ready to pull off. The lights on the avenue blurred. And she was afraid to open her mouth as she entered the bus. Afraid it would be impossible to utter a word.Suddenly she shrieked very loudly, “Good-bye!，，But the busdoor had closed・The bus started. People came between them outside, people crossing the street, people they didnt know・ Space and people・ She lost sight of Bill. Then she remembered she had forgotten to give him her address一or to ask him for his — or tell him that her youngest boy was named Bill, too.Conceal his feelsLove deeper than the manVery vagueNotes1. way downtown: 在市中心2. Columbia: Columbia University3. Central Park West:中央公园西部，纽约住宅区。

4. Fifth Avenue:第五大道,纽约繁华的商业区Questions for Discussion:1. What caused Bill and Mary to leave each other many years ago? Do you think it is true with many lovers in reality?2. How did Bill feel about women when Mary married another man?3. Why couldn*t Bill recognize Mary at first?4. What can you learn about Bill and Mary5s life after they ended their relationship?5. Why did Mary feel a little sick in the middle of their conversation?6. Is it understandable to you that Bill and Mary responded differently to their unexpected meeting?7. How important is the description of scenes in narrating the story?EntangledA。