Developing ideas 课文精读 · 小王子
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book, called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest. It was a picture of a boa constrictor in the act of swallowing an animal. Here is a copy of the drawing.
我六岁的时候在一本书里看到了一张非常震撼的图。书的名字是《大自然的真实故事》，讲的是原始森林。那张图片上有一条蟒蛇正在吞掉一只动物。这是那张图的摹本。
第2段
In the book it said: "Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole, without chewing it. After that they are not able to move, and they sleep through the six months that they need for digestion."
书上写着："蟒蛇把猎物整个吞下，完全不咀嚼。吞下以后，蟒蛇就动不了了。消化食物需要六个月，因此蟒蛇就睡六个月。"
第3段
I pondered deeply, then, over the adventures of the jungle. And after some work with a colored pencil I succeeded in making my first drawing. My Drawing Number One. It looked like this:
那个时候，我深深地思考着原始丛林里的奇遇。我用一支彩色铅笔，成功画出了我的第一幅画作。我的"一号画作"是这样的。
第4段
I showed my masterpiece to the grown-ups, and asked them whether the drawing frightened them.
我把我的杰作给大人看，问他们有没有被我的画吓到。
第5段
But they answered: "Frighten? Why should anyone be frightened by a hat?"
但他们回答："吓到？为什么有人会被一顶帽子吓到？"
第6段
My drawing was not a picture of a hat. It was a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. But since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another drawing: I drew the inside of the boa constrictor, so that the grown-ups could see it clearly. They always need to have things explained. My Drawing Number Two looked like this.
我画的不是帽子，而是一条正在消化一头大象的蟒蛇。但由于大人们没有看懂，我又画了一幅：我画出了蟒蛇身体的内部，这样大人就能看清楚了。所有事情都非要你跟他们解释清楚，他们才能懂。我的"二号画作"是这样的。
第7段
The grown-ups' response, this time, was to advise me to lay aside my drawings of boa constrictors, whether from the inside or the outside, and devote myself instead to geography, history, arithmetic and grammar. That is why, at the age of six, I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter. I had been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my Drawing Number Two. Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.
这次，大人的回答是建议我把不管是蟒蛇内部还是外部的画都放到一边，然后转而专心学习地理、历史、算术和语法。所以，六岁的时候，我放弃了可能会十分辉煌的画家职业道路。"一号画作"和"二号画作"的失败使我心灰意冷。大人从来没法自己弄懂任何事情，小孩永远要给他们解释是很辛苦的。
第8段
So then I chose another profession, and learned to pilot airplanes. I have flown a little over all parts of the world: and it is true that geography has been very useful to me. At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona. If one gets lost in the night, such knowledge is valuable.
所以后来我选了另一个职业，我开始学习驾驶飞机。世界上每个地方我差不多都去过；地理对我确实很有用。我一眼就能分辨中国和亚利桑那州。如果晚上迷路了，这样的知识很有价值。
第9段
In the course of this life, I have had a great many encounters with a great many people who have been concerned with matters of consequence. I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn't much improved my opinion of them.
在生命历程中，我多次遇到过很多关心大事的人。我在大人之中生活了很久。我密切地观察过他们，近在咫尺地看过。然而我对他们的看法还是没有改观。
第10段
Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I would try to find out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it was, he, or she, would always say:
每一次我遇到一个看上去头脑完全清楚的大人，我都会给他看我一直带着的"一号画作"，想看看这个人是不是能真正地理解。但是，不论这个人是谁，他（她）总是会说：
第11段
"That is a hat."
"那是顶帽子。"
第12段
Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and golf, and politics and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.
然后我就不再跟那个人聊任何有关蟒蛇、原始森林或是星星的事情了。我就会把自己降低到他的层次，跟他聊桥梁、高尔夫、政治、领带。而这个大人就会很高兴能遇到这样一个明智的人。
（节选自安托万·德·圣埃克苏佩里的《小王子》）
二、重点单词
magnificent adj.：宏伟的；极好的；令人震撼的。a magnificent picture
primeval adj.：原始的；远古的。the primeval forest
constrictor n.：蟒蛇； constrict 缠绕者。a boa constrictor
swallow v.：吞下；咽下。swallowing an animal
prey n.：猎物。swallow their prey whole
digestion n.：消化；消化过程。the six months that they need for digestion
ponder v.：沉思；仔细考虑。I pondered deeply
masterpiece n.：杰作；代表作。I showed my masterpiece to the grown-ups
advise v.：劝告；建议。advise me to lay aside my drawings
arithmetic n.：算术。devote myself to geography, history, arithmetic and grammar
disheartened adj.：灰心的；泄气的。I had been disheartened by the failure
encounter n. / v.：相遇；遭遇。a great many encounters with people
intimately adv.：亲密地；密切地。I have seen them intimately
clear-sighted adj.：头脑清醒的；有洞察力的。one who seemed clear-sighted
sensible adj.：明智的；通情达理的。such a sensible man
三、一词多义与熟词生义
drawing 常见义"图画、素描"，课文 My Drawing Number One 指作者童年画的"作品、画作"，含自嘲色彩。
masterpiece 本义"杰作、名作（大师之作）"，课文中用来形容孩子的涂鸦，是幽默的反差用法。
career 常见指成年人的"职业生涯"，课文 a magnificent career as a painter 指孩童想象中"可能辉煌的画家之路"。
level 常见义"水平、高度"，课文 bring myself down to his level 指"降低自己的层次/水准"以迎合大人。
matter 作名词常指"事情、物质"，课文 matters of consequence 意为"大事、要事"（consequence 表"重要性"）。
note / note 名词 concern 课文 concerned with 意为"关心、关注"，而非"担忧"。
四、重点词块
once when I was six years old 当我六岁的时候
in the act of swallowing 正在吞食……的时候
swallow their prey whole 把猎物整个吞下
sleep through 持续睡着度过（某段时间）
ponder deeply over 对……深深地沉思
succeed in doing 成功做成某事
lay aside 把……放在一边；搁置
devote oneself to 投身于；专心于
give up 放弃
be disheartened by 因……而灰心
learn to pilot airplanes 学习驾驶飞机
at a glance 一眼（就）；乍看之下
be concerned with 关心；关注
close at hand 近在咫尺；就在手边
bring oneself down to one's level 把自己降到某人的层次
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book, called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest.
【主干】I saw a magnificent picture in a book.
【分层】once when 引导时间状语从句；called True Stories from Nature 为过去分词短语作后置定语修饰 book；about the primeval forest 也是修饰 book 的介词短语。
【译文】我六岁的时候在一本书里看到了一张非常震撼的图，书名叫《大自然的真实故事》，讲的是原始森林。
【考点】时间状语从句；过去分词作后置定语；介词短语作定语。
【原句 2】But since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another drawing: I drew the inside of the boa constrictor, so that the grown-ups could see it clearly.
【主干】since..., I made another drawing: I drew the inside.
【分层】since 引导原因状语从句；冒号后解释说明；so that 引导目的状语从句，表"以便"。
【译文】但由于大人们没有看懂，我又画了一幅：我画出了蟒蛇身体的内部，这样大人就能看清楚了。
【考点】since 原因状语从句；so that 目的状语从句；冒号解释用法。
【原句 3】That is why, at the age of six, I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter.
【主干】That is why I gave up what...
【分层】why 引导表语从句；该表语从句中又含 what 引导的宾语从句作 gave up 的宾语；what might have been 为"虚拟语气"，表示与过去事实相反的假设（本可能却未成）。
【译文】所以，六岁的时候，我放弃了可能会十分辉煌的画家职业道路。
【考点】why 表语从句；what 宾语从句；might have done 虚拟语气。
【原句 4】Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept.
【主干】Whenever I met one of them, I tried the experiment.
【分层】whenever 引导时间状语从句；them 后接 who 引导的定语从句；of showing... 为介词短语修饰 experiment；which 引导非限制性定语从句修饰 Drawing Number One。
【译文】每当我遇到一个看上去头脑清醒的大人，我都会给他看我一直带在身边的"一号画作"。
【考点】whenever 让步/时间状语；who 定语从句；which 非限制性定语从句。
【原句 5】And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.
【主干】the grown-up would be pleased to have met such a man.
【分层】would 此处不表过去将来，而表"过去经常、总会"；be pleased to do 为"很高兴做某事"；to have met 为不定式完成式，表示"见面"发生在"高兴"之前。
【译文】而这个大人就会很高兴能遇到这样一个明智的人。
【考点】would 表过去习惯；不定式完成式 to have done。
六、语法点清单
1. 一般过去时叙述往事
全文以 I was / I saw / I showed / I made 等一般过去时回忆童年经历，是叙事主干。
2. 过去完成时被动（had been done）
I had been disheartened by the failure。强调"心灰意冷"发生在"放弃"之前，主语为动作承受者。
3. 定语从句（who / which）
people who have been concerned...；Drawing Number One, which I have always kept。注意 which 引导非限制性定语从句，用逗号隔开。
4. 虚拟语气（might have done）
what might have been a magnificent career。表示"本可能成为却未成为"，与过去事实相反。
5. 非谓语动词（分词 / 不定式）
called...（过去分词定语）；lay aside my drawings（动名词）；to devote myself（不定式目的）；to have met（不定式完成式）。
6. 并列与排比（or / and）
boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars；bridge, and golf, and politics and neckties。排比强化"大人只关心世俗小事"的讽刺。
七、逻辑链
起因（第1—3段）：六岁看科普图画，迷上蟒蛇吞象，画出"一号画作"
↓
冲突（第4—7段）：给大人看画却被当成"帽子" → 改画"二号画作"仍不被懂 → 被迫放弃画画，转学"正经学科"
↓
转折（第8段）：另谋职业学开飞机，地理反成实用本领
↓
印证（第9—12段）：成年后屡遇"清醒"大人，仍只识"帽子" → 作者学会迎合、聊世俗话题，大人反觉他"明智"
这是一篇"回忆+议论"的叙事散文：第1—7段以童年画画的失败经历，揭示大人"缺乏想象力、只看表象"；第8—12段由童年延展到成年社交，反复印证"大人难以理解真正重要的事物"，讽刺成人世界的功利与浅薄。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：Once when I was..., I saw / did...
课文：Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book...
仿写：Once when I was ten, I read a story that changed my view of life.（我十岁那年读到一个改变我人生观的故事。）——用于开篇引出回忆。
模板 2：But since ..., I made / did ... so that ...
课文：since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another drawing so that they could see it clearly.
仿写：Since he could not hear me, I wrote a note so that he could understand my plan.（既然他听不见，我写了张便条好让他明白我的计划。）——用于因果+目的。
模板 3：That is why ..., I gave up what might have been ...
课文：That is why I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter.
仿写：That is why she left what might have been a promising job in the city.（那就是她放弃本可能大有前途的城市工作的原因。）——用于解释遗憾的转折。
模板 4：Whenever I met ..., who ..., I would ...
课文：Whenever I met one of them who seemed clear-sighted, I would try...
仿写：Whenever I face a difficulty that seems impossible, I would tell myself to keep going.（每当我面对看似不可能克服的困难，我都会告诉自己坚持。）——用于描述习惯性反应。
模板 5：... would be greatly pleased to ...
课文：And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.
仿写：The teacher would be greatly pleased to see our progress.（老师看到我们的进步会非常高兴。）——用于表达他人的满意情绪。
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