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英語長文章:The Chronicles of Narnia

作者:C. S. Lewis
出版社:Geoffrey Bles
中譯版:納尼亞傳奇:獅子・女巫・魔衣櫥,大田出版

  • 你看過《納尼亞傳奇:獅子・女巫・魔衣櫥》這部電影嗎?如同其他改編電影一樣,這部原著的精彩程度超乎電影,能讓大人小孩都樂在其中。 
  • 《納尼亞傳奇》全系列作品皆以淺顯易懂的英文寫作,除了精彩動人的故事情節外,內容也非常適合作為英語學習者的寫作參考。

預估閱讀時間:03:00
文章難度: ★★★☆☆

 

There is a set of books that virtually every child in the west has heard of, and furthermore, possibly even read at least one of. It is a classic work of literature for children, set in the fantasy realm of Narnia. Narnia is influenced by Greek and Roman mythology, as well as fairy tales traditional to the United Kingdom. The book's actual story, ideas, and virtues, however, are founded in traditional Christianity. The books are something more than allegory, though, and have their own unique richness and flavor that has been tremendously influential on modern fantasy and science fiction, even rivaling The Lord of the Rings. 

有一套書,是每一個西方國家的小孩,就算沒讀過也有聽過,它是一部兒童文學經典,發生在一個名為納尼亞的虛構國度—《納尼亞傳奇》。納尼亞本身根基於傳統的基督信仰精神,同時受到希臘、羅馬神話、以及英國傳統童話故事的影響。這部作品不只是一般的寓言,它饒富趣味又飽滿的故事,影響了許多現代的奇幻與科幻作品,甚至能與《魔戒》系列分庭抗禮。 

 

The books are not officially numbered and can be read in any particular order, however the most well-known of the series is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It's chiefly about when the White Witch has Narnia under her spell so that it's always winter and never Christmas.  Betrayal, repentance, and redemption are some core themes within the story. One of the series' central tenets is that nobody is beyond being redeemed, though as in any thrilling fantasy epic many of its villains fall to the sword. 

《納尼亞傳奇》的系列作品並沒有刻意排列作品的順序,從哪一本開始讀都可以。其中最具盛名的是《獅子・女巫・魔衣櫥》這本書,講述一個名為納尼亞的王國,正受到白女巫的詛咒而處於永遠的冬季,聖誕節永遠不會來臨。背叛、懺悔、救贖,都是故事的核心內容,其中一個中心概念跟其他經典的奇幻作品不同,不是反派角色最終會得到報應,而是每一個人最終都會得到屬於自己的救贖。 

 

Four children, evacuated to the British countryside during World War II (which is when the book was written), accidentally find their way into another world when they enter a wardrobe. When one of their number is tempted to the dark side by the White Witch with a tray of sweets, he helps the White Witch to rob himself and the other children of their destinies as kings and queens, and great lengths must be taken to redeem him. The mythical lion Aslan, a household name in America, is introduced herein. 

故事開始於二戰期間(也就是這本書創作的時候),因戰被疏散到英國郊區的四兄妹,意外地在一個衣櫥中發現一條通往另一個世界的道路。其中一個男孩受到白女巫的糖果誘惑而身陷囹圄,甚至還幫助了白女巫,奪走他們原先能成為王與后的機會,讓其他人需要用盡全力贖回他。獅子亞斯蘭—在美國家喻戶曉的神話角色—也在此時登場。

 

Some books in the series have been adapted to film here and there, sometimes to some acclaim. In this writer's opinion the books themselves, like all true classics of literature, could never truly be captured by any other medium. These stories are written expressively in clear, accessible English, and so make an excellent study for English learners that can teach most of us something about writing. C. S. Lewis' prose is incredibly pleasing and filled with its own natural charm, making the books a delight for all ages. 

《納尼亞傳奇》系列中的幾部作品曾被翻拍成電影,有幾部也獲得了好評,然而以作者的角度來看,就像其他真正的文學經典,原著是無法被其他媒介完整傳達的。《納尼亞傳奇》中的故事全以淺顯易懂的英文寫作,是英語學習者極為優良的讀物,能讓我們藉其學到寫作的技巧。作者C.S.路易斯的文字自然散發著一種不可思議的吸引力, 所有年齡的讀者都能在他的作品中享受樂趣。 

 

 


 

文/ Max Power

本文收錄於英語島English Island 2018年7月號
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