Writing Duty 书写的责任

 

 

导言阅读

威廉·福克纳（1897—1962），20世纪最伟大的作家之一，美国“南方文学”派的创始人，也是整个西方最有影响的现代派小说家之一。他的代表作品有《喧哗与骚动》、《八月之光》等。福克纳从小生长在美国南方，年轻时曾在当地邮政局做过一阵不太负责任的局长，后因玩忽职守而被辞退。他游历过许多地方，但最终依然回到美国南方，并且所有的作品都以南方为背景。1949年，因为“他对当代美国小说作出了强有力和艺术上无与伦比的贡献”，福克纳获诺贝尔文学奖。他在斯德哥尔摩发表的获奖感言是诺贝尔文学奖最精彩的感言之一。他捐献了自己获得的奖金，要成立一个基金以支持鼓励文学新人，最后建立了国际笔会/福克纳小说奖。

演讲实录

I feel that this award was not made to me as a man, but to my work — life's work in theagony and sweat of the human spirit, not for glory and least of all for profit, but to create out ofthe materials of the human spirit something which did not exist before. So this award is only minein trust. It will not be difficult to find a dedication¹ for the money part of it commensurate withthe purpose and significance of its origin. But I would like to do the same with the acclaim² too, byusing this moment as a pinnacle³ from which I might be listened to by the young men and womenalready dedicated⁴ to the same anguish⁵ and travail⁶, among whom is already that one who will someday stand where I am standing⁷.

Our tragedy today is a general and universal physical fear so long sustained by now that wecan even bear it. There are no longer problems of the spirit. There is only the question: When willI be blown up?

Because of this, the young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of thehuman heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worthwriting about, worth the agony and the sweat.

He must learn them again. He must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid;and, teaching himself that, forget it forever, leaving no room in his workshop for anything but theold verities⁸ and truths of the heart, the universal truths lacking which any story is ephemeral anddoomed — love and honor and pity and pride and compassion¹⁰ and sacrifice. Until he does so, helabors under a curse. He writes not of love but of lust¹¹, of defeats in which nobody loses anythingof value, of victories without hope and, worst of all, without pity or compassion. His grievesgrieve on no universal bones, leaving no scars. He writes not of the heart but of the glands¹².

Until he learns these things, he will write as though he stood among and watched the end ofman. I decline to accept the end of man. It is easy enough to say that man is immortal¹³ simplybecause he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom⁹ has changed and faded from the lastworthless rock hanging tideless in the last red and dying evening, that even then there will still beone more sound: that of his puny¹⁴ inexhaustible voice, still talking. I refuse to accept this. I believethat man will not merely endure: he will prevail . He is immortal, not because he alone amongcreatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion andsacrifice and endurance .

The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help manendure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride andcompassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet's voice need notmerely be the record of man, it can be one of the props¹⁵, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.

参考译文

我感到这份奖励不是授予我个人，而是授予我的工作——一生用辛劳和汗水为人类精神所做的工作，不是为了名，更不是为了利，而是为了用人类精神的原材料创造一些原先不存在的东西。所以这份奖励只是暂时给我保管。为这笔奖金发表一篇与它的本来目的和象征相符合的演说辞并不困难，但我更愿意在欢呼声中做另一件事情，把这个激动人心的时刻献给那些可能正在聆听我讲话的、同样献身于艰苦的文学事业的年轻男女们，在这些人当中肯定有人将来会站在我现在站着的地方。

我们今天的悲剧是一种肉体上的恐惧，它已经持续了那么久，以至于我们几乎都能忍受它了。现在已经没有任何关于灵魂的话题，有的只是一个问题：“我什么时候会被炸得粉身碎骨？”

正因为如此，今天从事写作的年轻人已经忘记了关于人类内心深处的自我斗争的题材，只有这个题材能写出好的文章，因为只有它是值得去写的，是值得付出辛劳和汗水的。

人们必须重新回忆它，必须告诉自己，世界上最可卑的事情就是恐惧；并且告诉自己，永远忘记它，在自己的工作室里不给任何东西留下位置，除了那些古老的真理和心灵的真实。缺少了这些普遍的真理，任何故事都是短命的、注定要被忘记的——这些真理就是爱与荣誉，怜悯与自尊，同情与牺牲。如果人们不注意这些真理，他们的工作就是无用的。他们不是在写爱情而是在写情欲，在他们描写的失败中没有任何人失去任何有价值的东西；在他们描写的胜利中找不到希望，更糟糕的是找不到怜悯和同情。他们的悲剧没有建立在普遍的基础上，不能留下任何伤痕；他们不是在写心灵，而是在写器官。

在人们学到这些真理以前，他们在写作中会认为自己已经高高在上，并且看见了人类的末日。我拒绝接受关于人类末日的说法。当然，我们可以很轻易地认为人类是不朽的，因为他可以永远存在：当最后一块无用的礁石在血红色的、死气沉沉的黄昏中伫立，世界末日的钟声在它上空渐渐远去时，仍然会有一个声音，那是人类仍然在用微弱但永不停息的声音说话。我拒绝接受这种情景。我相信人类不会仅仅存在，他还将胜利。人类是不朽的，这不是因为万物当中仅仅他拥有发言权，而是因为他有一个灵魂，一种有同情心、牺牲的觉悟和忍耐力的精神。

诗人、作家的责任就是书写这种精神。他们有权力升华人类的心灵，使人类回忆起过去曾经使他无比光荣的东西——勇气、荣誉、希望、自尊、同情、怜悯和牺牲，从而帮助人类生存下去。诗人的声音不应该仅仅成为人类历史的记录，更应该成为人类存在与胜利的支柱和栋梁。

Vocabulary Bank

1. agony ［'?ɡ?ni ］n （精神或肉体的）极大痛苦He suffered agonies of remorse¹⁶.

他饱受悔恨的煎熬。

2. glory ［'ɡl?:ri ］n 光荣，荣誉

Our team didn't exactly cover itself with glory today.

我队今天未能真正载誉而归。

3. dedication ［?dedi'kei??n ］n 忠诚，奉献

I admire the priest's dedication.

我钦佩这位牧师的奉献精神。

4. commensurate ［k?'men??rit ］adj （与某事物）成比例的Her low salary is not commensurate with her abilities.

她的薪水很低，与她的能力不相称。

5. acclaim ［?'kleim ］v 欢呼，喝彩

It was acclaimed¹⁷ as a great discovery.

这被赞誉为伟大的发现。

6. anguish ［'??ɡwi? ］n （肉体的或精神的）极度痛苦I was in anguish until I knew she was still alive.

在知道他还活着之前，我一直痛苦万分。

7. sustain ［s?s'tein ］v 经受（某事物），遭受He sustained a severe blow on the head.

他头部受到重击。

8. conflict ［'k?nflikt ］n （意见，欲望等）的不合，分歧Your statement is in conflict with the rest of the evidence.

你的陈述同其余证据矛盾。

9. ephemeral ［i'fem?r?l ］adj 短暂的

Slang words are often ephemeral.

俚语往往只流行于一时。

10. compassion ［k?m'p???n ］n 同情，怜悯

They took compassion on her children and offered them a home.

他们因可怜她的孩子而给他们提供了住处。

11. immortal ［i'm?:tl ］adj 不朽的，永世的

The soul is immortal.

灵魂不灭。

12. inexhaustible ［?iniɡ'z?:st?bl ］adj 无穷尽的，用不完的My patience is not inexhaustible.

我的耐心是有限度的。

13. prevail ［pri'veil ］v 战胜，击败

The invaders¹⁸ prevailed over the native population.

入侵者打败了土著居民。

14. endurance ［in'djur?ns ］n 忍耐力

His treatment of her was beyond endurance.

他这样对待她是无法令人忍受的。

15. privilege ［'privili? ］n 特别的荣幸，特权It was a privilege to hear her sing.

能听她唱歌十分荣幸。

Grammar Master

1. so... that...常用于表示“如此、这么……，以致于……”，引导的是结果状语从句，其中so是副词，常用来修饰形容词或副词。

例　She made so good a meal that we all ate far too much.

她做的饭菜那么好吃，结果我们都吃得太多了。

例　It was so good an exhibition that I went to see it several times.

展览是那么好，我去看了好几次。

当名词前有many，much，few，little等词修饰时，常用so...that...的结构。

例　I've had so many falls that I'm black and blue all over.

我摔了那么多跤，全身青一块，紫一块的。

例　There was so much work to do that everybody got bored.

有这么多的事要做，大家都感到厌烦了。

so... that... 与 such... that... 可 以 相 互 转 换， such... that... 同 样 表 示“如 此……， 以 致于……”，such是副词，用于修饰名词。

例　She is so honest that everybody trusts her.

→She is such an honest girl that everybody trusts her.

→She is so honest a girl that everybody trusts her.

她非常诚实，所以大家都信赖她。

2. enough to do sth.表示“如此……，足够……”，常用来强调程度之深，当主句和从句的主语一致，且that从句是肯定句时，可与so... that...转换。

例　The man is so strong that he can lift the heavy box.

→The man is strong enough to lift the heavy box.

那个男子非常强壮，能提起这么重的盒子。

例　He was so clever that he can understand what I said.

→He was clever enough to understand what I said.

他很聪明，能听懂我的意思。

当主句和从句的主语不一致，且that从句是肯定句时，enough to do sth.可以转换成enough for sb. to do sth.，但不定式的宾语需要省略。

例　The question is so easy that I can work it out.

→The question is easy enough for me to work out.

这个问题对我来说太简单了。

例　The box is so light that he can carry it.

→The box is light enough for him to carry.

那个盒子很轻，他拿得动。

enough还可单独当作形容词来用，表示“足够的”，当用作定语时，既可修饰可数名词，也可修饰不可数名词。

例　Are there enough seats for ten person?

有没有足够十人的座位？

例　We have enough food for a week.

我们有足够维持一周的食物。

只有当主语是代词、数词，或是“数词 + 名词”时，enough才可作表语用，如果主语是名词，enough便不能用作表语。

例　That's enough. Thank you.

够了，谢谢。

例　Five is enough.

五个够了。

 

1 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

2 acclaim   

v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞

参考例句：

• He was welcomed with great acclaim.他受到十分热烈的欢迎。
• His achievements earned him the acclaim of the scientific community.他的成就赢得了科学界的赞誉。

3 pinnacle   

n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰

参考例句：

• Now he is at the very pinnacle of his career.现在他正值事业中的顶峰时期。
• It represents the pinnacle of intellectual capability.它代表了智能的顶峰。

4 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

5 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

6 travail   

n.阵痛；努力

参考例句：

• Mothers know the travail of giving birth to a child.母亲们了解分娩时的痛苦。
• He gained the medal through his painful travail.他通过艰辛的努力获得了奖牌。

7 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

8 verities   

n.真实( verity的名词复数 )；事实；真理；真实的陈述

参考例句：

• the eternal verities of life 生命永恒的真理

9 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

10 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

11 lust   

n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望

参考例句：

• He was filled with lust for power.他内心充满了对权力的渴望。
• Sensing the explorer's lust for gold, the chief wisely presented gold ornaments as gifts.酋长觉察出探险者们垂涎黄金的欲念，就聪明地把金饰品作为礼物赠送给他们。

12 glands   

n.腺( gland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a snake's poison glands 蛇的毒腺
• the sebaceous glands in the skin 皮脂腺

13 immortal   

adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的

参考例句：

• The wild cocoa tree is effectively immortal.野生可可树实际上是不会死的。
• The heroes of the people are immortal!人民英雄永垂不朽！

14 puny   

adj.微不足道的，弱小的

参考例句：

• The resources at the central banks' disposal are simply too puny.中央银行掌握的资金实在太少了。
• Antonio was a puny lad,and not strong enough to work.安东尼奥是个瘦小的小家伙，身体还不壮，还不能干活。

15 props   

小道具； 支柱( prop的名词复数 )； 支持者； 道具； （橄榄球中的）支柱前锋

参考例句：

• Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
• The government props up the prices of farm products to support farmers' incomes. 政府保持农产品价格不变以保障农民们的收入。

16 remorse   

n.痛恨，悔恨，自责

参考例句：

• She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
• He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。

17 acclaimed   

adj.受人欢迎的

参考例句：

• They acclaimed him as the best writer of the year. 他们称赞他为当年的最佳作者。
• Confuscius is acclaimed as a great thinker. 孔子被赞誉为伟大的思想家。

18 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。