Developing ideas 课文精读 · 回归大自然
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
Tao Yuanming and Henry David Thoreau were both poets, but one lived in Ancient China and the other in 19th century America. Superficially, these two men, whose lives were separated in time by nearly 1,500 years, were polar opposites. And yet they shared an intense respect for nature, which made them each an influential figure of their time.
陶渊明和亨利·大卫·梭罗都是诗人，但是一位生活在古代中国，另一位生活在19世纪的美国。表面上看，这两个人生活在不同的时代，相隔近一千五百年，迥然不同。然而，他们都非常尊重自然，这使得他们在各自的时代都成为有影响力的人物。
第2段
Both men made dramatic transformations to their lives in order to reconnect with nature. As an official in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Tao felt conflicted over life at court. In 405, he quit the service of the court for good, expressing his unhappiness in the now famous line that he would not "bow like a servant in return for five dou of grain". He spent the next 22 years until his death, working the land in a poor, rural area. From his poetry, we can learn that although his life was arduous, he succeeded in finding contentment in its simplicity and in drawing pleasure from nature.
为了重归自然，两人的生活都发生了戏剧性的转变。陶渊明是东晋的官员，但是对官场生活感到矛盾。公元405年，他永远辞去了官职，用今天的一句名言表达他的不满——他不愿"为五斗米折腰"。在之后的22年里，直到生命的尽头，他在一个贫困的乡村躬耕于田野。从他的诗歌中我们可以看出，尽管生活艰苦，但他从这种简单的生活中成功获得了满足感，并从大自然中获得了乐趣。
第3段
While Tao's return to nature was a reaction to a lifestyle he was opposed to, Thoreau's was a personal decision to transform the way he lived. He had a decent quality of life, but he wanted to live in a simpler way. For two years, two months and two days, he lived in a cottage in the forest on the edge of Walden Pond, focusing on himself and his writing. He explained his reason for doing so in Walden: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life." Both men were happy to withdraw from contemporary life, seeking a harmonious relationship with nature in the quietness of their lives.
陶渊明回归大自然是对自己所反对的生活方式做出的一种反应，而梭罗则是出于个人的决定去改变自己的生活方式。他过着体面的生活，但他希望活得更简单些。两年两个月零两天，他住在瓦尔登湖边森林里的一间小屋里，专注于自身和写作。他在《瓦尔登湖》中解释了这样做的原因："我步入丛林，是因为我希望从容地生活，只面对生活中的基本事实。"两个人都乐于从当下的生活中抽身而退，在平静的生活中寻求与自然和谐的关系。
第4段
Although Tao and Thoreau do not treat nature in quite the same way, their works show its beauty and value. Tao's nature is a place of fields and villages, in other words, rural, and his animals are domestic ones, such as chickens and dogs. The calm and peaceful life he wrote about is in contrast to and critical of the depressive court life:
尽管陶渊明和梭罗对待自然的方式并不完全相同，但他们的作品都展现了自然的美丽和价值。陶渊明的自然是田野和村庄，换句话说，是田园；他笔下的动物都是家养的，比如鸡和狗。他所描写的平静祥和的生活，与压抑的官场生活形成鲜明对比，是对官场生活的批判：
Beyond the dark and distance lies a village,
The smoke above reluctant to depart.
A dog is barking somewhere down the lane,
And chickens sit atop the mulberry tree.
暧暧远人村，
依依墟里烟。
狗吠深巷中，
鸡鸣桑树颠。
第5段
Thoreau's descriptions of nature emphasised the beauty and purity of the wild areas around him. Devoting himself to observations of the natural phenomena, he recorded his detailed findings in his journals. Thoreau's writing aimed to convince people that animals and plants had a right to live and prosper, as we do. We should live with them in harmony and enjoy nature's gifts, as he describes in his journals:
梭罗对自然的描写强调了他周围荒野的美丽与纯净。他全身心投入到对自然现象的观察中，并在日记里详细记录了自己的发现。梭罗的写作意在使人们相信，动物和植物就像我们人类一样，都有生存和繁荣的权利。我们应该与它们和谐共处，享受大自然的恩赐，正如他在日记中所描述的那样：
Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet, drink and botanical medicines.
好好度过每一个季节，呼吸空气，畅饮甘泉，品尝果实，让自己顺应每一个季节的影响。让它们成为你唯一的食物、饮品和草药。
第6段
It takes considerable courage to reject the easy and familiar and instead try to live closer to nature, as both Tao and Thoreau did. Their choices led them to quiet and reflective lives with fewer material desires. In today's modern world, their ideas about living simply and being at ease with nature may take us a step closer to attaining personal well-being and fulfilment.
像陶渊明和梭罗那样，拒绝轻松熟悉的事物，转而尝试更亲近大自然地生活，需要相当大的勇气。他们的选择使他们过上了平静而沉思的生活，物质欲望也更少。在今天这个现代世界，他们关于简单生活、与自然安然相处的想法，或许能让我们离获得个人幸福与满足更近一步。
二、重点单词
superficially adv.：表面上；从表面看。Superficially, these two men were polar opposites.
polar adj.：完全相反的；两极的。were polar opposites（截然相反）
intense adj.：强烈的；深厚的。they shared an intense respect for nature
influential adj.：有影响力的。an influential figure of their time
transformation n.：转变；变革。made dramatic transformations to their lives
conflicted adj.：矛盾的；纠结的。Tao felt conflicted over life at court
quit v.：辞去；放弃。he quit the service of the court
arduous adj.：艰苦的；艰难的。although his life was arduous
contentment n.：满足；知足。finding contentment in its simplicity
decent adj.：体面的；相当好的。He had a decent quality of life.
deliberately adv.：从容地；有意地。I wished to live deliberately
essential adj.：基本的；必不可少的。the essential facts of life
withdraw v.：退出；抽身。happy to withdraw from contemporary life
contemporary adj.：当代的；同时代的。withdraw from contemporary life
domestic adj.：家养的；家庭的。his animals are domestic ones
depressive adj.：压抑的；令人沮丧的。the depressive court life
prosper v.：繁荣；兴旺。a right to live and prosper
considerable adj.：相当大的。It takes considerable courage to ...
fulfilment n.：满足感；成就感。attaining personal well-being and fulfilment
三、一词多义与熟词生义
bow 常见义为"鞠躬（礼节性动作）"，课文 bow like a servant 指"像奴仆一样弯腰低头"，引申为"屈身事人、屈从"。
court 常见义为"法庭、球场"，课文 life at court、the service of the court 中指"朝廷、宫廷"，是历史语境中的专义。
work 常见义为"工作（不及物）"，课文 working the land 中 work 作及物动词，意为"耕种、耕作（土地）"。
domestic 常见义为"国内的、家庭的"，课文 his animals are domestic ones 中指"家养的（禽畜）"，与 wild 相对。
front 常见义为"前面（名词）"，课文 to front only the essential facts of life 中 front 作动词，意为"直面、面对"。
resign 常见义为"辞职"，课文 resign yourself to the influences of each 中是 resign oneself to 结构，意为"听任、顺从、安于"。
treat 常见义为"对待、治疗"，课文 do not treat nature in quite the same way 中指"处理、看待（自然）"，即写作中的处理方式。
figure 常见义为"数字、身材"，课文 an influential figure 中指"人物、知名人士"。
四、重点词块
be separated in time by 在时间上相隔
polar opposites 截然相反的两极
share an intense respect for 对……怀有深切的敬意
make dramatic transformations to 对……做出巨大改变
reconnect with nature 重归自然；与自然重建联系
feel conflicted over 对……感到矛盾纠结
quit the service of the court 辞去官职
for good 永远地；一劳永逸地
in return for 作为对……的回报
work the land 耕种土地
find contentment in 在……中获得满足
draw pleasure from 从……中汲取乐趣
be opposed to 反对；不赞成
withdraw from 从……中抽身退出
in contrast to 与……形成对比
be at ease with 与……安然相处
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】Superficially, these two men, whose lives were separated in time by nearly 1,500 years, were polar opposites.
【主干】these two men were polar opposites.
【分层】Superficially 为评注性状语，表明作者态度；whose lives were separated in time by nearly 1,500 years 为非限制性定语从句，插在主谓之间补充说明；by nearly 1,500 years 表相差的幅度。
【译文】表面上看，这两个人生活在不同的时代，相隔近一千五百年，迥然不同。
【考点】非限制性定语从句；插入成分的位置；by + 数量表差额。
【原句 2】And yet they shared an intense respect for nature, which made them each an influential figure of their time.
【主干】they shared an intense respect for nature.
【分层】And yet 承上转折；which 引导非限制性定语从句，指代前面整个主句所述事实；make + 宾语 + 名词短语（an influential figure）为复合宾语结构。
【译文】然而，他们都非常尊重自然，这使得他们在各自的时代都成为有影响力的人物。
【考点】which 指代整句的非限制性定语从句；make + 宾语 + 宾补。
【原句 3】He spent the next 22 years until his death, working the land in a poor, rural area.
【主干】He spent the next 22 years.
【分层】spend + 时间 + doing 结构；until his death 为介词短语作时间状语，限定 22 年的终点；working the land 为现在分词短语作伴随/方式状语，其中 work 为及物动词。
【译文】在之后的22年里，直到生命的尽头，他在一个贫困的乡村躬耕于田野。
【考点】spend time doing；现在分词作状语；work 的及物用法。
【原句 4】While Tao's return to nature was a reaction to a lifestyle he was opposed to, Thoreau's was a personal decision to transform the way he lived.
【主干】Thoreau's was a personal decision.
【分层】while 引导对比状语从句，意为"而、然而"；he was opposed to 为省略关系代词 that/which 的定语从句修饰 lifestyle，介词 to 后置；Thoreau's 为名词性物主代词，指 Thoreau's return to nature；to transform the way he lived 为不定式作定语，其中 the way he lived 为省略 in which 的定语从句。
【译文】陶渊明回归大自然是对自己所反对的生活方式做出的一种反应，而梭罗则是出于个人的决定去改变自己的生活方式。
【考点】while 表对比；省略关系词的定语从句；the way 后接定语从句。
【原句 5】Devoting himself to observations of the natural phenomena, he recorded his detailed findings in his journals.
【主干】he recorded his detailed findings.
【分层】Devoting himself to ... 为现在分词短语作状语，表原因/伴随；devote oneself to 中 to 为介词，后接名词 observations；in his journals 为地点状语。
【译文】他全身心投入到对自然现象的观察中，并在日记里详细记录了自己的发现。
【考点】现在分词作状语；devote oneself to + 名词；主语一致原则。
【原句 6】It takes considerable courage to reject the easy and familiar and instead try to live closer to nature, as both Tao and Thoreau did.
【主干】It takes considerable courage to reject ... and try to live ...
【分层】It 为形式主语，真正主语是 to reject ... and (to) try to live ... 这一并列不定式；instead 为副词，表"转而"；as both Tao and Thoreau did 为 as 引导的方式状语从句。
【译文】像陶渊明和梭罗那样，拒绝轻松熟悉的事物，转而尝试更亲近大自然地生活，需要相当大的勇气。
【考点】It takes + 名词 + to do；并列不定式的省略；as 方式状语从句。
六、语法点清单
1. 非限制性定语从句（whose / which）
whose lives were separated in time by nearly 1,500 years；which made them each an influential figure。whose 表所属，which 可指代整个主句，均用逗号与主句隔开，不可用 that。
2. 现在分词作状语
working the land in a poor, rural area；Devoting himself to observations ...；seeking a harmonious relationship with nature。分词逻辑主语须与主句主语一致，可表伴随、原因或方式。
3. while 引导的对比状语从句
While Tao's return to nature was a reaction ..., Thoreau's was a personal decision ...。此处 while 意为"而、然而"，表前后对比，非"当……时候"。
4. It takes + 名词 + to do 句型
It takes considerable courage to reject the easy and familiar。It 为形式主语，不定式短语为真正主语，courage 为不可数名词。
5. 省略关系词的定语从句与 the way 从句
a lifestyle (that) he was opposed to；the way (in which) he lived。关系代词作宾语时可省略；the way 后常用 that / in which 或直接接从句。
6. 介词短语与副词作评注性状语
Superficially, ...；In other words, ...；And yet ...。此类成分独立于句子主干，表明作者的态度或换一种说法，写作中可增强逻辑层次。
7. 一般过去时叙述人物生平
lived, quit, spent, had, recorded, led 等，全文以一般过去时讲述两位诗人的经历，间以一般现在时表述其作品内容与普遍道理。
七、逻辑链
引题（第1段）：两位诗人时代相隔千年、表面截然相反 → 却同样尊崇自然，各自成为时代名人
↓
陶渊明（第2段）：为官矛盾 → 405年辞官归田 → 22年躬耕，于简朴中得满足
↓
梭罗（第3段）：并非反抗，而是自主选择 → 瓦尔登湖畔独居两年余 → 主动抽身，追求和谐
↓
对照一（第4段）：陶的自然＝田园村庄、家禽家畜，以平和对压抑的官场
↓
对照二（第5段）：梭罗的自然＝荒野的纯洁，主张动植物与人同有生存繁荣之权
↓
升华（第6段）：两人皆以勇气换得少欲沉思的生活 → 其"简朴、亲自然"之思于今仍有现实意义
这是一篇"比较+论说"的散文式议论文：第1段提出平行比较的对象与共同点；第2—3段分述两人"回归自然"的动因与方式，一为反抗、一为选择；第4—5段从作品切入，对比两人笔下自然的不同面貌与共同价值；第6段归结到"勇气—简朴—幸福"的现实启示，收束全文。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：A and B were both ..., but one ..., and the other ...
课文：Tao Yuanming and Henry David Thoreau were both poets, but one lived in Ancient China and the other in 19th century America.
仿写：Lu Xun and Guo Moruo were both writers, but one wrote sharp satire and the other romantic poetry.（鲁迅与郭沫若是同时代的作家，但一位写尖锐的讽刺，一位写浪漫的诗歌。）——用于比较开篇、引出两位人物。
模板 2：Superficially, ..., and yet they shared ...
课文：Superficially, these two men ... were polar opposites. And yet they shared an intense respect for nature.
仿写：Superficially, the two plans look entirely different, and yet they share the same goal.（表面上看，两个方案迥然不同，然而它们目标一致。）——用于"先抑后扬"的对比论证。
模板 3：While A was a reaction to ..., B was a personal decision to ...
课文：While Tao's return to nature was a reaction to a lifestyle he was opposed to, Thoreau's was a personal decision ...
仿写：While his silence was a protest against unfair rules, hers was simply a personal choice to stay out of trouble.（他的沉默是对不公规则的抗议，而她的沉默只是明哲保身的个人选择。）——用于对比两种动因。
模板 4：Devoting himself to ..., he recorded ...
课文：Devoting himself to observations of the natural phenomena, he recorded his detailed findings in his journals.
仿写：Devoting herself to the study of wild birds, she recorded their songs every morning.（她潜心研究野鸟，每天清晨记录它们的鸣唱。）——用于写专注投入与成果。
模板 5：It takes considerable courage to ..., as ... did.
课文：It takes considerable courage to reject the easy and familiar and instead try to live closer to nature, as both Tao and Thoreau did.
仿写：It takes considerable courage to admit your mistake in public, as she did.（像她那样当众承认错误，需要相当大的勇气。）——用于结尾评价人物或倡导行动。
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