FacetofacewithHurricaneCamille

1、Less on oneIn troductio n:Face to face with Hurricane Camille is a piece ofnarration. (To tell a story, forexample in speech or writing. To give an account or a description.叙述或描绘) Simply defined, narration is the telling of a story. A good story has a beginning, a middle and an end, eve n though it

2、may start in the middle or at some other point in the action and move backward to the earlier happenings. Narration is concerned with action, with life in motion, with a meaningful series of actions. It revolves around people, called characters, in some kind of struggle or conflict against other peo

3、ple, nature, society or themselves. In the story the leading character is called the hero or protagonist and the people or forces he fights aga inst is called the an tag onist or the en emy. The actions, that is, i ncide nts and eve nts are gen erally prese nted in order of their occurre nee, follow

4、i ng the n atural time seque nee of the happe nings (chr ono logical order). As the con flict develops, suspe nse and tension in crease un til the highest point or the climax of the struggle is reached. After the climax, the story quickly moves to a conclusion, which is sometimes called a deno ueme

5、nt.(结局to un do 源自 des no uer 解开The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot. last part, esp of a novel,play, etc, in which everythi ng is settled or made clear)Action (plot) usually dominates narration; however, some narratives focus on character, theme (the idea behind the

6、story), or atmosphere the mood or tone)Face to face with Hurricane Camille describes heroic struggle of the Koshaks and their friends against the forces of a devastating hurricane. The story focuses mainly on action but the writer also clearly and sympathetically delineates(depict. To draw or trace

7、the outline of; sketch out.画出：勾划出的轮廓；画出 )the characters in the story. The hero or the protagonist in the story is John Koshak, Jr., and the an tago nist is hurrica ne.The first paragraphs are introductory paragraphs, giving the time, place and background of the conflict- -man versus hurricanes. Thes

8、e paras also introduce the characters in the story. The writer builds up and susta ins the suspe nsei n the story and gives order and logical movement to the sequenee of happenings by describ ing in detail and vividly the in cide nts show ing how the Koshaks and their friends struggled against each

9、onslaught (A violent attack.猛烈的攻击 An overwhelming outpouring: 大量的倾泻： slach a striking) of the hurricane. The writer describes theses acti ons in the order of their occurre nee. This n atural time seque nee or chrono logical order holds the story together. The story reaches its climax in paragraph 27

10、 and from there on the story moves rapidly to its conclusion. In the last para the writer states his theme or the purpose behind his story in the reflect ion of Gran dmother Koshak: We lost practically all our possessions,but the family came through it. When I think of that, I realize we lost nothin

11、g important. ”In Face to Face with Hurrica ne Camille, all headi ngs and titles are gen erally succinet (adj (approv 褒)expressedbriefly and clearly; concise 简明的； 简洁的; 简要的:* a succinet summary of the argument 论点的概要.> succinctly adv. succinctness n U. Characterized by clear, precise expression in f

12、ew words; concise and terse:简明的，简炼的：以简短的言词表达清晰准确的意思为特征的； 简明扼要的：)and particular care is give n to the choice of words. The aim in to prese nt the article, story, etc. as vividly and as forcefully as possible to attract the atte nti on of would-be readers.Face To Face With Hurrica ne Camille1 John Kos

13、hak, Jr., knew Hurricane Camille would be bad. Radio and television warnings had soun ded throughout that Sun day. Last August 17, as Camille lashed northwestward across the Gulf of Mexico. It was certain to pummel Gulfport, Miss., where the Koshaks lived. Along the coasts of Louisia na, Mississippi

14、 and Alabama, n early 150,000 people fled inland to safer ground. But like thousa nds of others in the coastal com mun ities, Joh n was relucta nt to aba ndon his home uni ess the family his wife, Janis and their seve n childre n, aged 3 to 11 was clearly endan gered.2 Trying to reason outthe best c

15、ourse of action, he talked with his father and mother, who had moved in to the ten-room house with the Koshaks a month earlier from California. He also consulted Charles Hill, a Iongtime friend, who had driven from Las Vegas for a visit.3 Joh n, 37whose bus in ess was right there in his home (he des

16、ig ned and developed educational toys and supplies and all of Magna Products 'orrespondence, engin eeri ng draw ings and art work were there on the first floor) was familiar with the power of a hurricane. Four years earlier Hurricane Betsy had demolished his former home a few miles west of Gulfp

17、ort (Koshak had moved his family to a motelfor the night). But that house had stood only a few feet above sea level. “We re elevated23 feet, ” he told his father,“ and we ' re a good 250 yards from the sea. Theplace has been here since 1915, and no hurricane has ever bothered it. We' ll prob

18、be as safe here as an yplace else.”4 The elder Koshak, a gruff, warmhearted expert machinist of 67 agreed. “We:anbattendown and ride it out, ” he said.“If we see signserf damcan get out beforedark.5 The men methodically prepared for the hurrica ne. Si nee water mai ns might be damaged they filled ba

19、thtubs and pails. A power failure was likely, so they checked out batteries for the portable radio and flashlights, and fuel for the Ian tern. Joh n' s father moved a small generator into the downstairs hallway, wired several light bulbs to it and prepared a conn ectiorto the refrigerator.6 Rain

20、 fell steadily that after noon; gray clouds scuddedi n from the Gulf on the rising wind. The family had an early supper. A n eighbor, whose husba nd was in Viet nam, asked if she and her two childre n could sit out the storm with the Koshaks. Ano ther neighbor came by on his way inlandwould the Kosh

21、aks mind taking care of his dog?7 It grew dark before 7 o ' clock. Wind and rain now whipped the house. John sent his oldest son and daughter upstairs to bring dow n mattressesa nd pillows for the young childre n. He wan ted to keep the group together on one floor. “ Stayway from thewindows, ” h

22、e warneconcerned aboutglass flying from storm-shatteredpane.As the wind moun ted to a roar, the house bega n leak ingthe rain seem in gly drive n right through the walls. With mops, towels, pots and buckets the Koshaks began struggle aga inst the rapidly spread ing water. At 8:30, power failed, and

23、Koshak tur ned on the gen erator.8 The roar of the hurricane now wasoverwhelming. The house shook, and theceiling in the living room was falling pieces by pieces. The French doors in an upstairs room blew in with an explosive sound, and the group heard gun-like reports as other upstairs windows disi

24、ntegrated Water rose above theirankles.9 Then the front door started tobreak away from its frame. John and Charlie put their shoulders against it, but a blast of water hit the house, flinging open the door and shoving them down the hall. The generator was doused and the lights went out. Charlie lick

25、ed his lips and shouted to John. “I think we ' re in real trouble. That water tastedsalty. ” The sea had reached the house, and the water wasoyistingminute.10 “ Everybody outthe back door to the car! ” Johnled. “We ll phtsschildrenalong betwee n us. Count them! Nine!”11 The children went from ad

26、ult to adult like buckets in a fire brigade. But the cars wouldn ' start: the electrical systems had been killed by water. The wind was too strong and the water too deep to flee on foot. “ Backto the house! ”John yelled.“ Count the childre n! Cou nt Ni ne!”12 As they scrambled back, John ordered

27、, “ Everybodyon the stairs! Frightened, breathless and wet, the group settled on the stairs, which were protected by two interior walls. The children put the cat, spooky, and a box with her four kittens on the landing. She peered nervously at her litter. The neighbor ' scddgd up and went to slee

28、p.13 The wind sounded like the roar of a train passing a few yards away. The house shuddered and shifted on its foundations. Water inched its way up the steps as first-floor outside walls collapsed. No one spoke. Every one knew there wasno escape they would live or die in the house.14 Charlie Hill h

29、ad more or less taken responsibility for the neighbor and her two childre n. The mother on the vergeof panic. She clutched his arm and kept repeati ng,I can t swim, I can t swim.15 You won' t have tohe told her, with outward calm.“It ' s bound to end soon. ”16 Grandmother Koshak reached an a

30、rm around husband' shoulder and put hermouth close to his ear.“Pop, ” she said, “I love you. ” He turned his head and ans“I love you and-his voice lacked its usual gruffness.17 John watched the water lap at the steps, and felt a crushing guilt. He had underestimated the ferocity of Camille. He h

31、ad assumed that what had never happe ned could not happe nHe held his head betwee n his han dsa nd sile ntly prayed:“ Get us through this mess, will You?”18 A moment later, the hurricane, in one mighty swipe, lifted the entire roof off the house an dskimmed it 40 feet through the air. The bottom ste

32、ps of the staircasebroke apart One wall bega ncrumbli ng on themaro oned group.19 Dr. Robert H. Simps on, director of the Nati onal Hurrica ne Cen ter in Miami, Fla., gradedHurrica ne Camille as“ the greatest recorded storm ever topopulated areain the Western Hemisphere.” comcitentratedbreadth of so

33、me 70 miles it shot outwinds of nearly 200 mph and raised tides as high as 30 feet. Along the Gulf Coast it devastated everythi ng in its swath: 19,467 homes and 709 small bus in esseswere demolished or severely damaged It seized a 600,000-gallon Gulfport oil tank and dumped it 3.5 miles away. It to

34、re three large cargo ships from their moorings and beached them. Teleph one poles and 20-i nch-thick pines cracked like guns as the winds sn apped them.20 To the west of the Gulfport the town of Pass Christian was virtually wiped out. Several vacati oners at the luxurious Richelieu Apartme nts there

35、 held a hurrica ne party to watch the storm from their spectacular vantagepoint. Richelieu Apartments were smashed apart as if by a giga ntic fist, and 26 peoplperished21 Seconds after the roof blew off the Koshak house, John yelled,“ Up thestairs into our bedroom! Count the kids!” Thehddiltieidrin

36、the slashing rainwithin the circle of adults. Gran dmother Koshak implored,“ Childre n, let ' s si ng! ” The children were too frightened to respond. Shecarried on alone for a few bars; then her voice trailed away.22 Debris flew as the living-room fireplace and its chimney collapsed. With two wa

37、lls in their bedroom san ctuarybeg inning to dis in tegrate, Joh n order,“Into the televisi onroom! ” This was the room farthest from the direct ion of the storm.23 For an in sta nt, Joh n put his arm around his wife. Janis un derstood. Shiveri ng from the wind and rain and fear, clutching two child

38、ren to her, she thought, Dear Lord, give me the stre ngth to en dure what I have to. She felt an ger aga inst the hurrica ne. We won' t let it win.24 Pop Koshak raged silently, frustrated at not being able to do anything to fight Camille. Without reason, he dragged a cedar chest and a double mat

39、tress from a bedroom in to the TV room. At that mome nt, the wi nd tore out one wall and exti nguished the Ian tern. A sec ond wall moved, wavered, Charlie Hill tried to support it, but it toppled on him injuring his back. The house, shudderi ng and rock ing, had moved 25 feet from its foun datio n.

40、 The world seemed to be break ing apart.s get that mJoh n shouted to his father.leOM-aoeagai nstthe wind. Get the kids under it. We carprop it up with our heads and shoulders!26 The larger children sprawled on the floor, with smaller ones in a layer on top of them, and the adults bent over all nine.

41、 The floor tilted. The box containing the litter of the kittens slid off a shelf and vanished in the wind. Spooky flew off the top of a sliding bookcase and also disappeared.The dog cowered with eyes closed. A third wall gave way. Water lapped across the sla nting floor. Joh n grabbed a door which w

42、as still hin ged to one closet wall. “If the floor goes, ” he yelled at his father,“ let 'kids on this. ”27 In that mome nt, the wind slightly dimini shed, and the water stopped rising. The n the water bega n recedi ng. The main thrust of Camille had passed. The Koshaks and their friends had sur

43、vived.28 With the dawn, Gulfport people started coming back to their homes. They saw huma n bodies more tha n 130 men, wome n and childre n died along the Mississippi coast the parts of the beach and highway were strew n with dead dogs, cats, cattle. Strips of cloth ing festo oned the sta nding tree

44、s, and blow n-dow n power lines coiled like black spaghettiover the roads.29 None of the retur nees moved quickly or spoke loudly; they stood shocked, trying to absorb the shattering scenesbefore their eyes. “ Whatdo we do?” they asked.Where do we go?30 By this time, organizations within the area an

45、d, in effect, the entire population of the United States had come to the aid of the devastated coast. Before dawn, the Mississippi Natio nal Guard civil-defe nse un its were moving in to han dle traffic, guard property, set up com muni cati ons cen ters, help clear the debris and take the homelessby

46、 truck and bus to refugee cen ter. By 10 a.m., the Salvatio n Army' s can tee n trucksand Red Cross volun teers and stuffers wereg oing wherever possible to distribute hot drin ks, food, clothi ng and bedd ing.31 From hun dreds of tow ns and cities across the country came several milli on dollar

47、s in don ati ons; household and medical supplies streamed in by pla ne, train, truck and car. The Federal government shipped 4,400,000 pounds of food, moved in mobile homes, set up portable classrooms, ope ned offices to provide low-i nterest, Io ng-term bus in essloa ns.32 Camille, mean while, had

48、raked its way no rthward across Mississippi, dropp ing more than 28 inches of rain into West Virginia and southern Virginia, causing rampagingfloods, huge mountain slides and 111 additional deaths before breaking up over the Atla ntic Ocea n.33 Like many other Gulfport families, the Koshaks quickly

49、began reorganizing their lives. John divided his family in the homes of two friends. The neighbor with her two children went to a refugee center. Charlie Hill found a room for rent. By Tuesday, Charlie ' s back had improved, and pitched in with Seabeesn the worst volunteer work of all searching for bodies. Three days after the storm, he decided not to return to Las Vegas, but to rema in in Gulfport and help rebuild the com muni ty.34 Near the end of th