Structure of the Text
I. SectionOne: The author mocks at his own essay and introduces his subject matter. He creates suspense by telling the readers that the essay will demonstrate thatother side of logic. (Paras. 1-3)
II. SectionTwo: The beginning part of the story establishes the characters and setting andintroduces the conflict.
1. Thenarrator Dobie Gillis, a college freshman, introduces himself and his roommatePetey Burch. Burch yearns for a raccoon coat, which happens to be in fashion oncampus, and is willing to give anything for it. (Paras. 4-40)
2. Gillis finds a raccoon coat and persuades Burch to let go his girlfriend PollyEspy in return for the coat. (Paras. 41-59)
III. SectionThree: Gillis endeavors to turn Espy into a worthy lawyer’s wife.
1. Gillis has his first date with Espy and tries to teach her a few logicalfallacies. Espy seems to have a logic-proof head. Gillis debates if he shouldgive up but decides to give it one more try. (Paras. 60-98)
2. In the second date and the following week, Gillis plunges ahead with his logiclessons with Espy, who finally understands the fallacies. (Paras. 99-124)
IV. SectionFour: Gillis asks Polly Espy to be his girlfriend, but is refused on the basisof logic. What he has taught Espy backfires on him. (Paras. 125-154)
DetailedAnalysis of the Text
1. Charles Lamb, as merry andenterprising a fellow as you will meet in a month of Sundays, unfettered theinformal essay with his memorable OldChina and Dream’s Children. (Para.1)
month of Sundays: (colloquial) a long time, quitea while
Paraphrase: Charles Lamb is the sort ofcheerful, lively, original, and imaginative person one rarely encounters. Hewrote “Old China” and “Dream’s Children,” which set free the informal essay. ( That is, meant that there was now much morelatitude in the way one could write such an essay. Lamb’s example freed theinformal essay from conventions that had previously applied.)
Translation: 像查尔斯·兰姆这样快乐和富有创新精神的人物并不常见，他写了《古瓷》和《梦中的孩子》两篇文章，这两篇文章可以说解放了散文。
2. There follows an informal essaythat ventures even beyond Lamb’s frontier. (Para. 1)
Metaphor, comparing the newstandards set by Lamb to a frontier.
Paraphrase: This informal essay iseven freer in form than the ones Lamb wrote.
3. Indeed, “informal” may not bequite the right word to describe this essay; “limp” or “flaccid” or possibly“spongy” are perhaps more appropriate. (Para. 1)
1) limp: drooping; lacking firmness
2) flaccid: soft, flabby; hanging in loosefolds
3) spongy: like a sponge; soft and porous
4) Theauthor is being humorous with his self-mocking tone. His essay is anything but“limp”, “flaccid” and “spongy.”
4. Vague though its category, it iswithout doubt an essay. (Para. 2)
1) Theauthor uses inversion for emphasis.
2) Paraphrase: Although it is difficult to saywhich category it belongs to, it is undoubtedly an essay.
5. Could Carlyle do more? CouldRuskin? (Para. 2)
These rhetorical questions areused for emphasis.
6. Read, then, the following essaywhich undertakes to demonstrate that logic, far from being a dry, pedanticdiscipline, is a living, breathing thing, full of beauty, passion, and trauma.(Para. 3)
1) Thesentence contains a metaphor, which compares logic to a living human being.
2) Translation: 那么，就读读下面这篇文章吧，它将向我们展示逻辑并不是一门枯燥乏味、迂腐不堪的学科；恰恰相反，逻辑是一个活生生的事物，充满美丽、激情和心灵的创伤。
3) far from: not at all
4) discipline: a branch of knowledge orlearning
5) trauma: a term in psychiatry meaning a painfulemotional experience or shock, often producing a lasting psychic effect
7. Cool was I and logical. (Para. 4)
Inversion is used to emphasize“cool.”
How does the narrator describehimself? What does that show? How does the author bring out the narrator’spomposity? What makes the satire humorous?
The writer is satirizing a smug,conceited law school freshman. The narrator heaps upon himself all thebeautiful words of praise he can think of—cool, logical, keen, calculating,perspicacious, acute, astute, powerful, precise and penetrating. Thisexaggerated self-praise and the profuse use of similes and metaphors help tomake the satire humorous.
8. Keen, calculating, perspicacious,acute and astute—I was all of these. (Para. 4)
1) Notethe use of the dash, which emphasizes the adjectives before it.
2) Allof these adjectives—keen, calculating, perspicacious, acute and astute—refer tounusual mental agility or perceptiveness. Keensuggests both these attributes, adding to them a vigorous and forceful abilityto grapple with complex or obscure problems, e.g. a keen mind for distinctions. Sometimes by analogy with good vision,the word may suggest an ability to observe details and see them as part of alarger pattern, e.g. a keenunderstanding of the problems facing the conservation movement.
Acutesuggests a finely honed sensitivity or receptivity to nuances that might escapeothers; it might also imply a high-keyed state of nervous attention that is notsustainable for long, e.g. an acuteawareness of the slightest ambiguity in each statement made by his opponent; anacute alertness, heightened by thestrange silence in the enemy trenches.
Astute suggests a thorough and profoundunderstanding, stemming from a scholarly or experienced mind that is in fullcommand of a given field, e.g. an astuteassessment of the strengths and weakness of the plans for reorganizing thedepartment; an astute evaluation ofthe gaps in our knowledge of how life evolved.
Perspicacious is the most formal of thesewords; it stresses intensity of perception, without being very rich in otherconnotations, e.g. a perspicaciousremark that illuminated the whole problem for all of them.
Calculating means shrewd or cunning.
9. My brain was as powerful as adynamo, as precise as a chemist’s scale, as penetrating as a scalpel. (Para. 4)
1) The narrator uses similes tocompare his brain to three different things. It is an obvious hyperbole.
2) Translation:我的头脑像发电机一样强大，像药剂师的天平一样精确，像手术刀一样锐利。
3) dynamo:an earlier form for generator, a machine that converts mechanical energy intoelectrical energy
4) chemist’s scales: They are more precise andaccurate than ordinary scales.
5) penetrating: sharp (as of knife); keen or acute(as of mind)
10. And—think of it—Iwas only eighteen. (Para. 4)
1) The dashes introduce an emphasis.
2) Think of it:an exclamatory phrase to intensify what follows. Some similar phrases are “Onlythink!” “Just think!” “Can you believe it!”
11.It is not often that one so young has such a giant intellect. (Para. 5)
giant intellect: great mind or intelligence. “Giant” is usedfor exaggeration.
12. Same age, samebackground, but dumb as an ox. (Para. 5)
1) Ellipsis.He and I are the same age and have the same background but he is as dumb as anox.
2) Theuse of elliptical sentences, together with short sentences and dashes helpmaintain the speed of the narration.
3) dumb: (American colloquialism) stupid;unintelligent
4) dumb as an ox: simile, as stupid as an ox; verystupid. Note the Chinese equivalent is “笨驴”.
5) Whydoes the narrator consider Petey Burch dumb as an ox?
The narrator considers Petey Burch dumbbecause Petey is emotional and impressionable. Moreover, Petey is a faddist andis swept up in every new craze that comes along.
13. A nice enough youngfellow, you understand, but nothing upstairs. (Para. 5)
1) Ellipsis.He is a nice enough young fellow, you understand, but there is nothingupstairs.
2) nothing upstairs: (American slang) empty-headed; anitwit. A British slang equivalent might be “unfurnished in the upper storey.”
14. Emotional type.Unstable. Impressionable. Worst of all, a faddist. (Para. 5)
1) Theseare elliptical sentences. The subject and the verb “he is” are left out.
2) faddist: a person who follows a passingfashion or craze
15. Fads, I submit, arethe very negation of reason. (Para. 5)
1) Paraphrase: I believe that following passingcrazes shows a complete lack of sound judgment.
2) submit: to offer as an opinion; suggest, propose.
3) very negation: the complete (absolute) lack oropposite of some positive characteristic or quality
4) reason: sound thought or judgment; good sense
5) Compare:Fashion is the prevailing custom indress, manners, speech, etc. of a particular place or time, especially asestablished by the dominant section of society or the leaders in the fields of art, literature, etc. Fad stresses the impulsive enthusiasmwith which a fashion is taken up for a short time.
16. To be swept up inevery new craze that comes along, to surrender yourself to
idiocy just because everybody elseis doing it—this, to me, is the acme of mindlessness. (Para. 5)
to be swept up in: to be carried away by; to followenthusiastically
craze: something that is currently the fashion;fad
to surrender yourself: to yield; to indulge (in)
idiocy: behavior like that of an idiot; greatfoolishness or stupidity
the acme of mindlessness: the height of stupidity; theutter absence of intelligence愚蠢到了极点
17. However, not toPetey. (Para. 5)
Ellipsis. However, this was not the acme ofmindlessness to Petey. Petey did not consider such behavior as the acme ofmindlessness.
18. One afternoon Ifound Petey lying on his bed with an expression of such distress on his face that I immediately diagnosedappendicitis. (Para. 6)
One afternoon, when I came back, Petey waslying on his bed. He wore such a depressed look that I thought he was sufferingfrom appendicitis.
19. Don’t take alaxative. (Para. 6)
It is dangerous for people suffering fromappendicitis to take any kind of laxative.
20. “Raccoon?” I said, pausing in myflight. (Para. 8)
1) Thenarrator repeated “raccoon” as a question to show that he didn’t understand whyPetey mentioned raccoon.
2) flight:fleeing or running away from. Here it means that the narrator suddenly stopped.
21. …pounding histemples. (Para. 11)
pound:strike or hit heavily and repeatedly
temple: either of the flat surfaces alongside theforehead, in front of each ear太阳穴
translation:捶打着太阳穴
22. I should have knownthey’d come back when the Charleston came back. (Para. 11)
“They” stand for raccoon coats.
23. “Can you mean,” Isaid incredulously… (Para. 12)
1) incredulous: unwilling or unable to believe;doubting; skeptical; showing doubt or disbelief, e.g. an incredulous look
2) Compare:incredible: not credible;unbelievable, e.g. an incrediblestory; an incredible amount of money
24. Where’ve you been?(Para. 13)
This sentence should be taken figuratively.It implies that the narrator was rather ignorant and did not know whateverybody knew.
25.“In the library,” I said, naming a place notfrequented by Big Men on Campus. (Para. 14)
1) In the library: ellipsis. I’ve been in the library. This is a deliberate retort bythe narrator. He took Petey’s words literally, pretending not to understand hisimplied criticism.
2) frequent:vt. to go to constantly; be at often
3) Big Men on Campus: 学校里的大块头们； He is referring to people likePetey Burch who are rarely seen in libraries, only on/at football fields.
26.“I’ve got to have a raccoon coat,” he saidpassionately. (Para. 15)
Compare: Passionusually implies a strong emotion that has an overpowering or compelling effect,connoting especially sexual love or intense anger. Eagerness implies great enthusiasm, zeal or impatience in thedesire of or pursuit of something.
27. Petey, why? (Para.16)
Petey, why must you have a raccoon coat? (Ellipsis.)
28. Look at itrationally. (Para. 16)
“It” is a rather vague pronoun here. Itstands for the whole issue of owning and wearing a raccoon coat.
29. They shed. (Para.16)
The raccoon coats (the fur of the coats) castoff or lose hair (all the time).
30. It’s the thing todo. (Para. 17)
It’s the right, proper or fashionable thingto do.
31. Don’t you want tobe in the swim? (Para. 17)
Paraphrase: Don’t you want to follow thecurrent fashions? Don’t you want to be doing what everyone else is doing?
in the swim: conforming to the current fashions, oractive in the main current of affairs
32. My brain, thatprecision instrument, slipped into high gear. (Para. 20)
1) Mixedmetaphor, comparing at the same time the narrator’s brain to a precisioninstrument and also to a machine that has gears.
2) Paraphrase: My brain, which is as precise asa chemist’s scales, began to work at high speed.
3) slipped into high gear: began to work at high speed orefficiency. A machine is in high gear when the arrangement or gears provide thegreatest speed. (S: but little power???)
33. “Anything?” Iasked, looking at him narrowly. (Para. 20)
1) Anything: ellipsis. Would you really giveanything for a raccoon coat? Are you indeed willing to give anything in returnfor a raccoon coat?
2) narrowly: closely; carefully
34. “Anything,” heaffirmed in ringing tones. (Para. 21)
1) Anything: ellipsis. Yes, I’m willing to giveanything for a raccoon coat.
2) ringing: sounding loudly; resonant; clearand firm
3) he affirmed in ringing tones: 他毫不含糊地大声说道
35.I stroked my chinthoughtfully. (Para. 22)
stroke: to draw one’s hand, a tool, etc.gently over the surface of, as in caressing or smoothing
36. It so happened thatI knew where to get my hands on a raccoon coat. (Para. 22)
Paraphrase:Luckily I happened to know where I could get hold of a raccoon coat.
get one’s hands on: usually lay one’s hands on,to get hold of; to seize
37. He didn’t have itexactly, but at least he had first rights on it. (Para. 22)
He didn’t really own Polly Espy, or PollyEspy didn’t really belong to him. They were not married or going steady. ButPetey got to know her before the narrator; therefore he had the first claim.
38. I refer to hisgirl, Polly Espy. (Para. 22)
The writer might have deliberately chosen thename “Espy,” i.e. to catch sight of, which may allude to her amazing physicalattraction. (S: I find this a little far-fetched. For one thing, I think thepronunciation would be different. There seem to be several different possibleorigins of the name Espy: Middle English ‘apse’ meaning ‘aspen’, a kind oftree; Old French ‘espine’ meaning thorn; and Scottish, where Espy is said to bea shortened form of the surname ‘Gillespie’.)
39. Why was thenarrator interested in Polly Espy? What kind of girl was she? (Paras. 23-27)
According to the narrator, he was interestedin Polly “for a shrewdly calculated, entirely cerebral reason.” He wanted Pollyto help further his career as a lawyer. Polly was beautiful, gracious; only shewas not intelligent. The narrator considered Polly “a beautiful dumb girl,” whowould smarten up under his guidance to become a suitable wife for him.
40. Let me emphasizethat my desire for this young woman was not emotional in nature. (Para. 23)
The narrator wants to emphasize that hewanted to marry Polly Espy because he thought she would help further his careeras a lawyer. As a law student he takes pride in being practical, calculating,and logical. He regards it as a sign of weakness to allow personal emotionssuch as love to enter his important decisions.
41. She was, to besure, a girl who excited the emotions. But I was not one to let my heart rulemy head. (Para. 23)
Paraphrase: She was beautiful and attractiveenough to arouse the desires and passions of men, but I would not let feelingsand emotions get the upper hand over reason and good sense.
to let my heart rulemy head:metonymy. “Heart” stands for “feelings and emotions” and “head” for “reason andgood sense.”
42. I wanted Polly fora shrewdly calculated, entirely cerebral reason. (Para. 23)
Paraphrase:I wanted Polly entirely for a carefully thought-out reason.
shrewd:clever; sharp in practical affairs
calculated:undertaken or accepted after the probable results have been estimated
cerebral: (humorous) requiring the use of theintellect; intellectual rather than emotional
43. In a few years Iwould be out in practice. (Para. 24)
Paraphrase: In a few years I would be out of school andstarting my profession as a lawyer.
practice:the exercise of a profession or occupation
44. I was well aware ofthe importance of the right kind of wife in furthering a lawyer’s career.(Para. 24)
Paraphrase: I knew very well how importantit was for a lawyer to have the right kind of wife. The right kind of wifewould help promote a lawyer’s career.
further:to give aid to; promote
45. With one omission,Polly fitted these specifications perfectly. (Para. 24)
Paraphrase: Except for one thing(intelligence) Polly met all the other requirements (beauty and grace).
specification: (usually pl.) a statement orenumeration of particulars, as to actual or required size, quality,performance, terms, etc. The use of “specifications” shows that the narratorwants to sound like someone talking about a serious business transaction.
46. Beautiful she was.(Para. 25)
Inversion to emphasize “beautiful.” Samepattern for “Gracious she was” and “Intelligent she was not.”
47. She was not yet ofpin-up proportions, but I felt sure that time would supply the lack. (Para. 25)
Paraphrase: She was not yet as attractive asthe women displayed on wall posters, but I felt sure that, given time, shewould become just as glamorous. (S: Actually, I expect this refers only to thesize of her breasts.)
pin-up: (American colloquialism) aposter showing a sex symbol, designed to be displayed on a wall
proportion:lines, shape of the body
supply the lack: supply what is wanting. Thenarrator implies that time will give her a perfect figure. But he deliberatelyavoids using explicit words describing female physical attractions. (S: Yes.)
48. She already had the makings. (Para. 25)
Paraphrase: She already had all the physicalqualities needed for developing into a very beautiful woman.
makings: the material or qualities neededfor the making or development of something
49. She had anerectness of carriage, an ease of bearing, a poise that clearly indicated thebest of breeding. (Para. 26)
1) “Carriage”and “bearing” are synonymous. “Bearing,” in the context, denotes manner ofcarrying or conducting oneself and refers to characteristic physical and mentalposture. “Carriage” also applies to posture, specifically stresses the physicalaspects of a person’s bearing, e.g. an erect carriage.
2) Translation: 她亭亭玉立、体态优雅，这一切都表明她出身高贵。
50. I had seen her atthe Kozy Kampus Korner eating the specialty of the house—a sandwich thatcontained scraps of pot roast, gravy, chopped nuts, and a dipper ofsauerkraut—without even getting her fingers moist. (Para. 26)
Kozy Kampus Korner: for “Cozy Campus Corner,” nameof a campus restaurant or cafeteria
specialty of the house: the special dish which the restaurant or cafeteria sells
pot roast:meat, usually a large cut of beef, cooked in one piece by braising
without even gettingher fingers moist:(showing her dainty and refined table manners) Her fingers didn’t even getslightly wet. The implied humor is that the woman had an usually good appetite.(S: Probably not, since she couldn’t “wolf down everything” and still havedainty and refined manners.)
51. In fact she veeredin the opposite direction. (Para. 27)
Paraphrase: In fact, she went in theopposite direction. This is a sarcastic way of saying that she was ratherstupid.
veer: to change direction; to shift;to turn or swing around
52. But I believed thatunder my guidance she would smarten up. (Para. 27)
The narrator is conceited and considershimself superior to Polly. He believes that Polly will become more intelligentwith his help.
53. It is, after all,easier to make a beautiful dumb girl smart than to make an ugly smart girlbeautiful. (Para. 27)
Antithesis,“beautiful dumb” and “smart” are balanced against “ugly smart” and “beautiful.”
54. I think she’s akeen kid. (Para. 29)
keen:(American slang) good, fine, excellent, etc., a general term of approval
kid:(American colloquialism) a young person
55. I mean are yougoing steady or anything like that? (Para. 30)
Paraphrase:I mean are you two seriously dating?
go steady: (American colloquialism) to datesomeone of the opposite sex regularly and exclusively; be sweethearts
56. We see each otherquite a bit, but we both have other dates. (Para. 31)
date: (American colloquialism) apersonal with whom one has a social or romantic engagement
57. In other words, ifyou were out of the picture, the field would be open. (Para. 34)
1) Metaphor,comparing the competing for friendship to an athletic event.
2) Paraphrase: If you’re no longer dating her,others would be free to court her.
3) out of the picture: not considered as involved in asituation
4) field: an area where games or athletic events areheld
5) open: free to take part or compete in (gamesbeing held in the field)
58.“Nothing, nothing,” Isaid innocently, and took my suitcase out of the closet. (Para. 36)
Ellipsis. I’m implying or suggesting nothing.
59. … while you’rehome, you couldn’t get some money from your old man, could you, and lend it tome so I can buy a raccoon coat? (Para. 39)
Note “you couldn’t…could you” is used here toexpress an eager request while uncertain of its acceptance.
60. I may do better thanthat… (Para. 40)
I may do better than lending yousome money to buy a raccoon coat. I can actually get you a raccoon coat.
61. I said with amysterious wink… (Para. 40)
This is a transferred epithet. The narratorwas mysterious, not the wink.
62. I throw open thesuitcase and revealed the huge, hairy, gamy object… (Para. 41)
gamy object:the raccoon fur coat had a strong smell
Translation:我一下子打开了手提箱，露出气味刺鼻的一团毛乎乎的东西。
63. “Oh yes!” he cried,clutching the greasy pelt to him. (Para. 44)
“Oh yes, I would like to have it,” he cried,as he tightly clutched the oily fur coat.
64. Then a canny lookcame into his eyes. (Para. 44)
Then a cautious look came into his eyes. Hesuddenly became alert and cautious.
65. “Your girl,” Isaid, mincing no words. (Para. 45)
Paraphrase:I said directly and forcefully, “I want your girl.”
Mince: tolessen the force of; weaken, as by euphemism
66.“Polly? ” he said ina horrified whisper. (Para. 46)
a horrified whisper:惊愕地失声低语
67. “Never,” he saidstoutly. (Para. 48)
Paraphrase:I will never give you Polly.
stoutly:firmly and resolutely
68. He was a torn man.(Para. 50)
1) Paraphrase: He was agitated and tormented,not knowing what was the right thing to do.
2) a torn man:一个不知所措、左右为难的人
3) Thisis the topic sentence of this paragraph. The writer develops the paragraph byillustrating the behavior of the torn man.
69. First he looked atthe coat with the expression of a waif at a bakery window. (Para. 50)
Simile, comparing his longing for the raccooncoat with the expression of a hungry homeless child looking longingly at thesweet and savory items beautifully displayed in a bakery
70. Then he turned awayand set his jaw resolutely. (Para. 50)
sethis jaw:He put his jaw in a fixed or rigid position. This action shows fixed,unyielding determination.
to set his jaw resolutely: 挺着下巴，表示坚定不屈
71. Back and forth hishead swiveled, desire waxing, resolution waning. (Para. 50)
1) Paraphrase:His looked at the coat and then looked away from the coat. Every time helooked, his desire for the coat grew stronger and his resolution not to give awayPolly became weaker.
2) Antithesis. “Desire waxing” isbalanced against “resolution waning.”
72. … he just stood andstared with mad lust at the coat. (Para. 50)
1) Hyperbole. It’s an exaggeration todescribe his longing for the coat as “mad lust.”
2) mad lust:frantic, insane, overmastering desire
73. “It isn’t as thoughI was in love with Polly,” he said thickly. “Or going steady or anything likethat.” (Para. 51)
Petey Burch was tryingto rationalize his action. He was trying to find an excuse for finally decidingto accept the coat and give up Polly.
74.What’s Polly to me, or me to Polly? (Para. 53)
Petey went on rationalizing. Hewas trying to persuade himself that he had no reason to weep over losing Polly.
75. Not a thing. (Para.54)
Ellipsis: Polly means not a thing to you.
76. It’s just been acasual kick—just a few laughs, that’s all. (Para. 55)
1) Afinal reason that eases Petey’s conscience. We occasionally went out for a bitof fun, that’s all.
2) casual kick: (American colloquialism) anoccasional pleasure; a casual relationship; a passing affair; not a seriouscommitment
77. The coat bunchedhigh over his ears and dropped all the way down to his shoe tops. (Para. 57)
1) Thecoat did not suit Petey. It was obviously too long.
2) bunch: to gather into loose folds or wads, as a dress,skirt, etc.
78. Is it a deal?(Para. 58)
Is it a bargain? Will you take the coat andgive me your girlfriend?
79. I had my first datewith Polly the following evening. (Para. 60)
1) The narrator had his first datewith Polly to find out how dumb she really was. The result was disheartening.Polly was more ignorant than he had expected. The narrator realized that he hadto make a great effort to make Polly smart enough to be his wife.
2) The writer deliberately makesPolly Espy use a lot of exclamatory words like “Gee, Oo, wow-dow” and clippedvulgar forms like “delish, marvy, sensaysh, etc.” to create the impression of asimple and rather stupid girl. This contrasts strongly with the language of thenarrator, thus increasing the force of satire and irony.
80. Gee, that was sdelish dinner. (Para. 60)
gee: anexclamation of surprise, wonder, etc.
delish:clipped vulgar form for “delicious”
81. Gee, that was amarvy movie. (Para. 60)
Oh, that was a marvelous movie (see point95).
82. Gee, I had asensaysh time. (Para. 60)
Oh, I had a sensational time.
83. I went back to my roomwith a heavy heart. (Para. 61)
The language in this paragraph is lesscolloquial. The narrator felt depressed after the first date with Polly. Tobring out the narrator’s feelings and to create a humorous effect, the writeruses rather pedantic phrases such as “with a heavy heart,” “gravelyunderestimated the size of the task,” “lack of information,” “a project of nosmall dimensions,” etc.
The narrator decided to teach Polly Espylogic because he wanted a wife who would help further his career as a lawyer.Polly was pretty, but the problem with her was that she did not know how tothink, so he decided to teach her logic, the science of thinking. The narratorsucceeded only too well for in the end Polly refused to go steady with him andused all the “logical fallacies” she had been taught to reject his offer.
84. This loomed as aproject of no small dimensions, and at first I was tempted to give her back toPetey. (Para. 61)
Paraphrase: To teach her to think appearedto be a very big task, and at first I even thought of giving her back to Petey.
no small dimensions: understatement or litotes, inwhich something is expressed by a negation of the contrary. For example, “nosmall” for “great” or “not a few regrets” for “many regrets”, etc.
85. But then I got tothinking about her abundant physical charms and about the way she entered aroom and the way she handled a knife and fork… (Para. 61)
1) Thenarrator reassured himself with Polly’s merits that made her ideal as prospectivewife.
2) the way she entered a room: her carriage and poise ofbearing
3) the way she handled a knife andfork: her refinedtable manners
86. … so I had all thefacts at my finger tips. (Para. 62)
Paraphrase:So I was completely familiar with all the facts.
to have sth. atone’s finger tips:to be completely familiar with sth.; to have sth. available for instant use
87.“Oo, terrif,” shereplied. (Para. 63)
Oh, terrific. Oh! It’s wonderful.
88.… you would go farto find another so agreeable. (Para. 63)
Paraphrase:It is not at all easy to find a girl so agreeable.
Translation:这么可爱的人可不容易找。
89.We went to theKnoll, the campus trysting place, and we sat down under an old oak… (Para.64)
1) Animplied allusion to Robin Hood, whose trysting (meeting) place was under ahuge oak tree in Sherwood Forest. Robin Hood, in English legend, was an outlawof the 12th century who lived with his followers in Sherwood Forest and robbedthe rich to help the poor.
2) Knoll:the name of the campus meeting place. Perhaps it was given this name because itwas a small mound or hillock.
3) trystingplace: meeting place, especially where lovers meet secretly
90. Magnif. (Para. 66)
Paraphrase: Magnificent. Logic would be anexcellent subject to talk about.
91. “Wow-dow!” she cried,clapping her hands delightedly. (Para. 68)
Wow-dow: Interjection, an exclamation ofsurprise, wonder, pleasure, etc.
92. “By all means,” sheurged, batting her lashes eagerly (Para. 70)
by all means:of course, certainly
batting her lashes eagerly: blinking her eye-lashes rapidly to show excitement
93. I mean exercise iswonderful. I mean it builds the body and everything. (Para. 72)
“And everything” is more or less ameaningless phrase here. It’s a weak, vague way of ending a sentence when thespeaker fails to find something important to say. A similar phrase is “oranything like that” (see Paras. 30 and 51).
94.Youmust qualify the generalization. (Para. 73)
Translation: 对某种一般的陈述进行限定
95. Otherwise you havecommitted a Dicto Simpliciter. (Para. 73)
Metonymy. Otherwise you have committed alogical fallacy called “a Dicto Simpliciter ad dictum secundum quid” (see Note8).
96. It will be betterif you stop tugging at my sleeve… (Para. 75)
1) Polly,in her excitement, was tugging at the narrator’s sleeve and urging him toexplain more logical fallacies. The narrator told Polly rather brusquely tostop this.
2) it will be better: a request showing displeasure
97. Really? Nobody?(Para. 76)
These are two elliptical rhetoricalquestions. Is it really true that nobody at the University of Minnesota canspeak French?
98. I hid myexasperation. (Para. 77)
1) Thenarrator was greatly annoyed by Polly’s stupidity when she did not understandthat he was only making a supposition. He managed to control his temper.
2) exasperation: great irritation or annoyance
99. This is more funthan dancing even (Para. 78)
The regular word order would be: “This ismore fun even than dancing.”
100. I fought off a wave of despair. (Para. 79)
For a moment a feeling of hopelessness cameover me, but I managed to keep it away.
101. I was getting nowhere with this girl,absolutely nowhere. (Para. 79)
Paraphrase:I was making no progress with this girl.
get nowhere:to make no progress; accomplish nothing
102. I am nothing if not persistent. (Para. 79)
This is a case of a double negative making apositive. I am very persistent.
Translation: 我要是意志不坚定，我就不是我了。
103. Next comes Post Hoc. (Para. 80)
The next logical fallacy is Post Hoc.
104. Eula Becker, her name is. (Para. 81)
The inversion is to emphasize the name of thegirl.
105. It never fails. (Para. 81)
“It” stands for what comes in the followingsentence “Every single time we take her on a picnic, it rains.”
106. You are guilty of Post Hoc…. (Para. 82)
Metonymy. You have committed the logicalfallacy called Post Hoc (See Note 9).
107. Yes, let’s. (Para. 87)
Polly is trying to be as agreeable aspossible, so she repeats what he says: “Yes, let’s (try ContradictoryPremises).”
108. I frowned, but plunged ahead.(Para. 88)
Translation: 我皱了一下眉头，但鼓足勇气地继续往下讲。
plunge: to move violently and rapidlydownward or forward; here used figuratively, meaning going on with theexplanation of the fallacy
109. If there is an irresistible force, there canbe no immovable object. If there is an immovable object, there can be noirresistible force. (Para. 94)
Antithesis, “irresistible” and “immovable”are balanced against each other.
110. Get it? (Para. 94)
(Americanism) Do you understand?
111. Tell me some more of this keen stuff. (Para.95)
Tell me some more of this exciting stuff.
112. I consulted my watch.(Para. 96)
Paraphrase:I looked at my watch to see what time it was.
consult:to refer to or turn to, especially for information
113. I deposited her at the girls’ dormitory…(Para. 97)
Paraphrase: I took her back and left her atthe girls’ dormitory.
deposit: (formal and humorous here)to put, lay or set down
114. … the raccoon coat huddled like agreat hairy beast at his feet. (Para. 97)
Simile. The coat looked like a hairy animalsitting near Petey’s feet.
115. The girl simply had a logic-proof head. (Para.97)
Paraphrase: Polly had a head that wasresistant to logic. Polly would never understand logic.
-proof:resistant to, unaffected by, e.g., fireproof, waterproof, etc.
a logic-proof head: 学不会逻辑的脑袋；对逻辑一窍不通
116. Who knew? (Para. 98)
This is a rhetorical question, expressingsome doubt or hope. The narrator thought he might still succeed in teachingPolly some logic. Nobody could tell for sure.
117. Maybe somewhere in the extinct crater of hermind, a few embers still smoldered. (Para. 98)
1) Metaphor,comparing Polly’s mind to the extinct crater of a volcano, and “embers” to somesparks of intelligence. Perhaps there is still some intelligence left inPolly’s empty (or stupid) head.
2) Translation: 也许，在她死火山般的脑袋里，还有一点余火仍在闪烁冒烟。
118. Maybe somehow I could fan them into flame.(Para. 98)
The metaphor is carried through. Perhaps Icould develop the tiny bit of intelligence that still existed in Polly’s head.
119. Admittedly it was not a prospect fraught withhope… (Para. 98)
Paraphrase:One must admit that the outcome does not look very hopeful.
admittedly:(adv.) by general admission; as must be acknowledged
to be fraught with: to be filled, charged, or loaded with
120. When the boss... and winter is coming (Para.101)
This is a long and loose sentence, whichordinarily would be broken up into two or three separate sentences.
121. Have you got a handkerchief? (Para. 104)
The author is humorously projecting an imageof a simple-minded, dumb girl who keeps side-tracking the issue underdiscussion.
122. I said in a carefully controlled tone. (Para.105)
He had to control his tone to keep himselffrom screaming.
123. …lawyers have briefs to guide themduring a trial… (Para. 105)
Paraphrase: Lawyers have a written summaryof the main points of a case to guide them during a trial.
brief: a concise statement of the mainpoints of a law case, usually filed by counsel for the information of the court
124. There now… is the most marvy idea I’ve heardin years. (Para. 106)
There now is the most marvelous idea I’veheard in a long time. Polly thought the narrator was suggesting that studentsshould be allowed to look at their textbooks during an examination andenthusiastically embraced the idea. She did not realize that the narrator wasactually discussing a logical fallacy.
125. “Nuts” I muttered. (Para. 109)
“Nuts” is American slang. It is anexclamation of disgust, scorn, disappointment, refusal, etc.
126. Doggedly I pressed on. (Para. 109)
I went ahead stubbornly. I kept onpersistently.
127. Sounds yummy. (Para. 110)
Paraphrase:Sounds fine.
yummy: (American colloquialism, echoicof a sound made in expressing pleasure at a taste) very tasty, delicious. Womensometimes use it as a generalized term of approval.
128. … it just knocked me out. (Para.112)
Paraphrase:The movie filled me with excitement and pleasure.
knock (oneself) out: (American slang) to elicitenthusiasm or an emotional response, especially deep sympathy or laughter
129. That Walter Pidgeon is so dreamy. (Para. 112)
Paraphrase:That well-known actor Walter Pidgeon is so wonderful.
that:adjective, designating someone not described but well known or easilyrecognizable
dreamy: (American slang) excellent,wonderful, delightful, etc.: a general term of approval (S: ‘dreamy’ wasspecifically used by women of men to indicate the physical attractiveness ofthe man in question: one would dream about him.)
130. I mean he fractures me. (Para. 112)
Paraphrase:I mean he made me laugh. I mean he enchanted me.
fracture:(slang) to cause to laugh heartily; to amuse highly
131. You can’t start with a hypothesis that is nottrue and then draw any supportable conclusions from it. (Para. 113)
You can’t start with a supposition(in this case the “if” clause, “If Madame Curie had not happened to leave aphotographic plate in a drawer with a chunk of pitchblende”) that is not trueand then draw conclusions (here, “the world today would not know about radium”)that you expect to be true.
132. They ought to put Walter Pidgeon in morepictures. (Para. 114)
Paraphrase:They ought to let Walter Pidgeon act in more movies.
picture:same as “moving picture/ motion picture”; a movie
133. One more chance, I decided. (Para. 115)
Ellipsis and inversion. I decided that Iwould give her one more chance.
134. There is a limit to what flesh and blood canbear. (Para. 115)
Paraphrase:There is a limit to what any human being can bear.
flesh and blood: synecdoche, material for the thing made.
135. Poisoning the well (Para. 115)
This logical fallacy is called “ad hominem,”meaning speaking “against the man” rather than to the issue. The writercompares “the personal attack on a person holding some thesis” to “poisoningthe well”—a metaphor.
136. How cute! (Para. 116)
(American slang) How clever!
137. I watched her closely as she knit her creamybrow in concentration. (Para. 118)
Paraphrase:I watched her as she thought very hard.
knit the brow: to draw the brows together (as when thinking very hard)
creamy:soft, white color (of Polly’s complexion)
knit her creamy brow in concentration: （她）紧锁眉头，聚精会神（进行思考）
138. … a glimmer of intelligence… cameinto her eyes. (Para. 118)
Paraphrase: From her eyes I could see thatfor the first time she was beginning to understand the problem.
a glimmer ofintelligence: 一丝智慧的闪光
139. The first man has poisoned the well beforeanybody could drink from it. (Para. 119)
This is a metaphor, comparing the speaker’spersonal attack to poisoning the well.
140. He has hamstrung his opponent before he couldeven start…. (Para. 119)
This is a metaphor, comparing the speaker’spersonal attack to disabling a person by cutting one of the tendons at the backof his knee.
141. Think-examine-evaluate. (Para. 121)
Ellipsis. All you have to do is tothink, examine and evaluate.
142. “Fire away,” She said with an airywave of her hand. (Para. 122)
fire away:(American colloquialism) Begin! Start! Come on!
an airy wave of herhand: She wavedher hand in a vivacious or gay manner. This showed that she was pleased withthe praise she received from (S: the narrator? He’s not her boyfriend. Also,‘airy’, here, denotes confidence, nonchalance.)
143. Over and over and over again I citedinstances, pointed out flaws, kept hammering away without let-up. (Para. 123)
Paraphrase: Over and over again I gaveexamples and pointed out the logical mistakes involved. I kept emphasizing allthis without stopping.
to hammer away (at): to keep emphasizing or talkingabout
let-up: stopping; relaxing
144. It was like digging a tunnel. (Para. 123)
This is a simile, comparing his teaching tothe hard work of digging a tunnel.
145. At first everything was work, sweat, anddarkness… And then the chink got bigger and the sun came pouring in and all wasbright. (Para. 123)
The comparison is kept up/maintained anddeveloped throughout the rest of the paragraph. At first it was very hard work(sweating and working in the dark) but finally he saw the light at the end ofthe tunnel and knew he had succeeded. After a lot of hard work he managed tomake Polly think logically. When he came out/emerged at the other end of thetunnel he found the sun shining brightly.
146. Five grueling nights this took, but it wasworth it. (Para. 124)
1) Theinversion to emphasize “five grueling nights.”
2) Paraphrase: This (teaching Polly logic) tookfive extremely trying (exhausting) nights, but it was worth all the trouble.
147. I had made a logician out of Polly. (Para.124)
Paraphrase:I had turned Polly into a logician.
to make a logician out of Polly: 把波莉培养成逻辑学家
148. She was worthy of me at last. (Para. 124)
This, once again, shows the narrator’sconceit. Polly was now good enough to be his wife.
149. She was a fit wife for me, a proper hostessfor my many mansions, a suitable mother for my well-heeled children. (Para.124)
1) Herethe narrator describes the role, which, he thinks, a wife should play. Firstshe should be a proper hostess for a rich man who owns many mansions. In otherwords she should be good at entertaining his rich friends and clients and thusfurther his career. Second, she should be a good mother and properly look afterhis rich and prosperous children.
2) mansion: a large, imposing house; statelyresidence
3) well-heeled: (American slang) rich,prosperous
150. It must not be thought that I was without lovefor this girl. (Para. 125)
The narrator claimed that he loved Polly.Just as Pygmalion loved the perfect woman he had fashioned, the narrator nowloved Polly as his creation. Now he was ready to propose marriage to her.
151. Quite the contrary. (Para. 125)
This is an ellipsis. Quite the contrary, Iloved this girl.
152. How did Polly respond to the narrator’sarguments for going steady with her? Why did she reject him? What does it show?As the story progresses, Polly turned out to be smarter than the narrator hadpreviously thought. How does this contrast contribute to the humor of thepiece? (Paras. 128-154)
The narrator taught Polly Espy how torecognize common logical fallacies. He succeeded too well because the wholething backfired. Polly refuted all his protestations of love as logicalfallacies and finally rejected him. In desperation, the narrator argues that“the things you learn in school don’t have anything to do with life.” Thisappeal doesn’t work with Polly because she didn’t reject him on logicalgrounds. She rejected him because he didn’t own a raccoon coat as Petey Burchdid.
153. It is clear that we are well matched. (Para.128)
It is clear that we suit each other, thatwe’d make a wonderful couple.
154. I beg your pardon (Para. 130)
This is a polite formula of apology,disagreement, etc. Here the narrator uses this polite formula to express hissurprise and disbelief. He does not know what to make of Polly’s answer.
155. How can you say that we are well matched onthe basis of only five dates? (Para. 131)
How can you come to the conclusion that we’dmake a good couple when we’ve been out together only five times. Your conclusionis hasty because it is not based on enough data.
156. The dear child had learned her lessons well(Para. 132)
The narrator is adopting a very patronizingattitude towards Polly.
157. … patting her hand in a tolerantmanner. (Para. 132)
He is patronizing not only in speech and tonebut also in action. He pats her hand in such a way as to show that he is readyto ignore something he does not quite like.
158. … five dates is plenty. (Para.132)
The singular verb is used for emphasis and“five dates” is considered a single concept.
159. The dear child had learned her lessons perhapstoo well. (Para. 134)
1) Thenarrator’s patronizing and tolerant air was giving way to one of impatience orexasperation.
2) learned too well: learned so well as to be able tochallenge the teacher
160. You are the whole world to me, and the moonand the stars and the constellations of outer space. (Para. 135)
This is hyperbole. The narrator wanted toappeal to Polly Espy’s emotions.
161. … say that you will go steady withme. (Para. 135)
Please promise to go out with me only and noone else.
162. I will languish. (Para. 135)
Languish means to suffer with longing. Suffer means to undergo something thatis painful or unpleasant, as injury, grief, a loss, etc.
163. I will wander the face of the earth, ashambling, hollow-eyed hulk. (Para. 135)
Paraphrase: Worn, wearied and dragging myfeet, I’ll roam disconsolately all over the world. This is hyperbole.
wander:roam, go about aimlessly
shambling:walking in a lazy or clumsy manner, barely lifting the feet
hollow-eyed: having dark areas under theeyes, as from sickness, mental suffering or fatigue
hulk: anawkward person
164. There, I thought, folding my arms, that oughtto do it. (Para. 136)
Paraphrase:This direct declaration of love should move Polly to accept my love.
Translation:这回波莉该动心了（应该能达到我的目的了），我双臂交叉在胸前，想道。
165. I ground my teeth. (Para. 138)
This action shows extreme exasperation, butthe narrator was still trying hard to control his rising temper.
166. I was not Pygmalion; I was Frankenstein, andmy monster had me by the throat. (Para. 138)
1) have sb. by the throat: attack by seizing and squeezing one’s throat
2) The narrator makes two well-chosenallusions - to Pygmalion and to Frankenstein. He planned to be Pygmalion, tofashion an ideal wife for himself, but he becomes Frankenstein for Polly (hisstudent) who (S:?) ultimately rejects him (her teacher).
167. Frantically I fought back the tide of panicsurging through me. (Para. 138)
Idesperately tried to stop the feeling of panic that was overwhelming me.
168. You’re darn right. (Para. 140)
Paraphrase:You’ re damned right. You’ re absolutely right.
darn:(American colloquialism) a euphemism for “damn”
169. “Polly,” I croaked, “you mustn’t take allthese things so literally…” (Para. 145)
1) Thenarrator’s feelings turned from exasperation to desperation. He was making alast attempt to win Polly’s love.
2) Paraphrase: Polly, you mustn’t take all thelogical fallacies I taught you seriously.
3) croak: to make a deep, hoarse sound; to speakhuskily
170. I mean this is just classroom stuff. (Para.145)
I mean that all the fallacies I taught youare just things taught in a classroom (implying they have no real use, thatthey are foolish or worthless ideas).
171. You know that the things you learn in schooldon’t have anything to do with life. (Para. 145)
1) Thisis the narrator’s final desperate attempt to make Polly forget the fallacies hetaught her. He might yet be able to convince Polly that he loves her and thatshe should go steady with him.
2) Paraphrase: You know that the (foolish andworthless) things you learn in school have no real use in life.
172. That did it. (Para. 147)
1) Paraphrase: That was the final straw. Thatmade me finally lose patience completely.
2) Thisidiomatic phrase is used often and the meaning depends largely on the context.“That” refers to what has been mentioned before and “it” refers to the resultor consequence brought about by “that.” Here “that” refers to Polly’s lastanswer and “it” to the narrator’s losing his temper and “bellowing like abull.”
173. I leaped to my feet, bellowing like a bull.(Para. 147)
1) Thisis a simile, comparing his angry shouts to the bellowing of a bull.
2) Paraphrase: I got so angry that I jumped tomy feet and shouted.
174. I reeled back, overcome with the infamy of it.(Para. 151)
Paraphrase: I staggered back, overcome by Petey’straitorous act.
175. After he promised, after he made a deal, afterhe shook my hand. (Para. 151)
1) Ellipsis.He did this traitorous act after he promised…
2) shook my hand: The shaking of hands seals abargain. It is the final act to show that the deal is made.
176. The rat! (Para. 151)
1) Thisis a metaphor, comparing Petey to a rat.
2) “Rat” (American slang) is used todescribe a despicable or contemptible person
177. I shrieked, kicking up great chunks of turf.(Para. 151)
The narrator had now thoroughly lost controlof himself and his temper. He now screamed and kicked up big pieces of grassyearth in his anger.
178. an immense effort of will:
Translation: 用强大的意志力，竭力
179. How could you choose Petey Burch over me?(Para. 153)
Paraphrase:How could you prefer Petey Burch to me?
over: inpreference to
180. Look at me—a brilliant student, a tremendousintellectual, a man with an assured future. Look at Petey—a knot-head, ajitterbug, a guy who’ll never know where his next meal is coming from. (Para.153)
1) Antithesis.“Brilliant, intellectual and assured” are balanced against “knot-head,jitterbug and never know where his next meal is coming from”.
2) assured future: a safe and secure future
3) knot-head: (American slang) an incompetentor stupid person
4) jitterbug: (slang) a jittery, emotionallyunstable person
5) never know where his next meal iscoming from:never be able to make a living; will always be poor
181. “He’s got a raccoon coat.” (Para. 154)
Polly’sfinal answer makes the irony complete.
(Acknowledgement: The teachers’ Notes for“Love is a Fallacy” are based on the ones prepared by Prof. Zhang Hanxi)
Suggestedtranslation of the fallacies mentioned in the text:
Hasty generalization (急忙）以偏概全，一概而论，笼而统之
Post Hoc 将前后发生的事情说成因果关系；牵强附会
Hypothesis contrary to fact 假设不成立
Dictor Simplicitor 看问题简单化
Ad Misericordian 博取同情
False analogy 比喻不当；似是而非；风马牛不相及
Contradictory Premises 前提本身矛盾
Poisoning theWell 井里投毒；污水战；将水搅浑
