《中西文化比较（英文版）（第2版）》unit 10 The Chinese and Western Mythology

中西文化比较TheComparisonbetweenChineseandWesternCulture

Unit10TheChineseandWestern

MythologyBackgroundMythologycanrefertothecollectionofmythsofagroupofpeople.BoththeancientChineseandWesternersusedmythstoexplaintheworldwhentheycouldnotunderstandsomephenomena.Chinesemythologyiscloselyrelatedwithhumanexistence.Theheroesinthestoriesarefullofambitionandpower,andoftenhavedistinctpersonalities.Westernmythologyisfilledwithadventure,love,betrayal,war,jealousy,loyalty,tragedy,andheroicdeeds.Therearemightygodsandgoddesses,nobleheroes,andterrifyingmonsterstofueltheimagination.VocabularyExtensionTextA

Notes1.intertwinedadj.

twistedtogetherorcloselyconnectedsoastobedifficulttoseparate①ThroughoutChinesehistory,mythsandrealityhavebeenintertwined.

在中国历史上，神话与史实相互交织。②Hempropesintertwinedtogetherwillbestrongerandlastlonger.

几股麻绳拧到一起结实很多，也能用更长时间。TextA

Notes2.suffocatev.

tocausesomeonetodiebecauseofnothavingenoughoxygen①Thereportsaysthathewassuffocatedtodeathinthebigfire.报告中说他是在大火中因窒息而亡。②Parentsshouldbeverycarefulbecauselittlebabieswillbeeasilysuffocatedif

theyeatimproperly.

父母们一定要小心，小孩子很容易因为吃得不恰当而出现窒息的现象。

TextA

Notes3.broadaxn.

averybigaxJane:Whatisitonyourkeychain?Itlookslovely.Jack:Oh,itisawoodenax.Jane:Whyyouwearit?Jack:TheChinesecharacterforanax“斧”soundssimilarwithanothercharacter“福”whichmeanshappinessandgoodluck.Jane:Oh,youknowalotaboutChineseculture.TextA

Notes4.savageadj.

extremelyviolent,wild,orfrightening①Qiongqiissaidtobeanancientsavageinlegendarystories.穷奇是传说故事中上古的一种野兽。②

Pandaslookmildandadorable,butthewildoneswilllaunchsavage

attacksifoffended.大熊猫看起来软萌可爱，但是如果你惹到野生的大熊猫，他就会

发起野蛮的攻击。TextA

Notes5.devourv.

toeatsomethingeagerlyandinlargeamountssothatnothingisleft①APythonwasgoingtodevouralivedog.一只大蟒蛇想要生吞了一条狗。②Withinminutesthefiredevouredhisbarn.几分钟的时间，大火就吞噬了他的仓房。IwishIhaveneverseenit!TextA

Notes6.beakn.①thehard,pointedpartofa

bird’smouth②(informal)

alargenose①Ananthracoceroscoronatus（冠斑犀鸟）hasahugebeakandastrong

body.Theylikeinsectsmorethanfruitsandmakesoundslikeayak-

yak-yak-yak-yak.

冠斑犀鸟长着一只巨大的喙。他们身体强壮，喜食昆虫，会发出

嘎嘎嘎的叫声。②He’dbe

handsome

ifitwasn’tforthat

huge

beakofhis.他被他的大鼻子给耽误了，要不还挺帅。TextA

Notes7.

disobedient

adj.

refusingtodowhatsomeoneinauthoritytellsyoudisobediencen.①Beingdisobedientdoesnotmeanthesamewithhavingnovelideas

andbeingspecial.遇事总是不服并不意味着这个人就有创新思想，比别人特殊。②Peopleusevariousfunnyemotionpicturestoshowdisobedience.现在人们使用各种各样搞笑的表情包来表达不服。TextA

Notes8.

elixirn.

asubstanceusuallyaliquid,withamagicalpowertocure,improve,orpreservesomething①Thereisnosuchthingaselixirintheworld,butwecanprolongourlife

throughahealthyeatinghabitandproperexercise.世上没有长生不老药，但是我们却可以通过健康的饮食和适当的锻

炼来延长我们的生命。②ThefruitwhichlookslikeababyisakindofelixirintheJourneytothe

West.Hewhoeatsitwillbecomeanimmortal.《西游记》中的人参果就是一种长生不老药，谁吃了就可以获得永生，

与天地同寿。TextA

Notes9.maternaladj.

behavingorfeelinginthewaythatamotherdoestowardsherchild,especiallyinakind,lovingway①Mrs.WilliamswillstarthermaternalleavefromnextMonday,soweneed

someonetotakeherplace.威廉夫人从下周一开始休产假，所以我们需要一个人来顶替她。②Myformerhomeroomteacherinseniorhighschoolalwaysshowedher

maternallovetous.我高中时的班主任在我们面前总是闪耀着母性的光辉。TextA

Notes10.eliten.

therichest,mostpowerful,besteducated,orbest-trainedgroupinasociety①Somepeopleuse“白骨精”quotedfromtheworkJourneytotheWesttorefertowomen

whobelongtothegroupsofwhite-collared,backboneemployeesandelites.有人引用《西游记》中的人物“白骨精”来指三类职场女性：白领、骨干和精英。②Ifyouarenotanelite,youatleastcandothingslikeanelite,becauseIfirmlybelievethe

saying“Fakeituntilyoumakeit.”如果你还不是一个精英，你至少可以先学做精英，因为我坚信“演着演着就真的会了”。TextA

KeySentences1.

However,herspiritturnedintoasmallbird.Assheflewovertheroaringsea,thebirdcriedsadlywithasoundlike“Jingwei”.Peoplelaternamedthebirdafterhersound.turninto变为①Shewasturnedintoagood-manneredstudentwithinjusthalfayearunderthe

guidanceofMrs.Zhang.②Youwillturnintoafatmanifyoueattoomuchforeverymeal.nameafter以……命名①ThisaircraftcarrierwasnamedafterQueenElizabeth.②Henamedhissonafterhisgreatgrandfather.TextA

KeySentences2.

Latertheyweretiredofthisroutine.So,thetensunsdecidedtoappearalltogetherinthesky.Theheatmadelifeontheearthunbearable:cropsweredyingout,forestswereburningintoflames,andtheseaswereboiling.betiredof厌烦，厌倦①Wheneveryouaretiredofyourjob,thinkaboutthosewho

workmuchharderbutwithoutapropershelter.②Themotherallowedhersontoplaycomputergamesallday

longinthehopethathewillsoonbetiredofit.TextA

KeySentences3.AftersurvivingadventureswithmanybelovedcharactersofChinesemythology,ChenXiangfinallymaturedintoacourageousyoungmanwhofoughtwiththeGodofErlangtowinSanshengmu’sfreedom.matureinto成长为①Youwillmatureintoagoodwriteraslongasyoukeepgoingwithcourage

andenthusiasm.②Ittakesfourstagesforacaterpillartomatureintoabutterfly.TextAI.AnswerthefollowingquestionsinEnglish.1.ListsomefamousancientChinesemyths.TextA2.

WriteashortpassageaboutNezha.

Oneday,themortalsprayedforrainandsacrificedfoodtotheDragonKinginEasternSea.TheKingrejectedthefoodandrequiredgirlsandboystoeatinstead.Nezhathenfoughthimandinjuredhimseverely.TheDragonKingsenthisthirdsontofight,butthelatterwasslainbyNezha.TextA3.

Whatistherelationshipbetweenmythologyandcultureintotemworship?

Fromatotem,culturecandrawinferencesfromethnicgroup’smyths,historicalrecords,andcustoms.Inprimitivetimes,itwasbelievedthatcertainnaturalobjectsoranimatebeingshadabloodconnectionwiththeirethnicheritageandculture.Therefore,acertainanimalorplantcouldbeusedastheimageorsignoftheethnicgrouptorepresenttheirculturesymbol.TextAII.ExplainthefollowingwordsandexpressionsinEnglish.1.PanGu

PanGuseparatedtheskyfromtheearth.Theskyandtheearthwereatfirstoneblurredentitylikeanegg.PanGuwasbornintoit.Theseparationoftheskyandtheearthtookeighteenthousandyears.TheYangwhichwaslightandpurerosetobecomethesky,andtheYinwhichwasheavyandmurkysanktoformtheearth.TextA2.Nuwa

NuwawastheancestorofmankindinthemythologyofancientChina.Aslegendgoes,shehadtheupperbodyofawomanandthelowerbodyofasnake.Shecreatedhumanbeingsbysplashingaropeintothemud.Shealsomendedtheskyandsavedthepeopleshemadeduringthedoomsday.TextA3.EightImmortals

TheEightImmortalsrepresentedacrosssectionoftheChineseorevenhumansociety.ThescholarisLuDongbin;royaltyandsocialelitesareCaoGuojiuandHanXiangzi;theelderlyareZhangGuolaoandHanZongli;thehandicappedisTieGuaili;thewomanisHeXianguandtheyoungboyisLanCaihe.TextA4.Chang’eChang’eistheChinesegoddessoftheMoon.SheisthesubjectofseverallegendsinChinesemythology.Inmoderntimes,Chang’ehasbeenthenamesakeoftheChineseLunarExplorationProgram.TextA5.Jingwei

JingweiisabirdinChinesemythology,whichwastransformedfromthedaughterofEmperorYan.AfterdrownedintheEasternSea,shehatedtheseasomuchthatshedecidedtofillupthesea.Everydaysheflewtoandfrobetweenthemountainandthesea,carryingatwigorapebbleanddroppingitintothesea.TextAIII.Matchthefollowingwordsandexpressionswiththe

correctChinese.TextAIII.Matchthefollowingwordsandexpressionswiththe

correctChinese.TextAIV.TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglish.1.龙的图腾崇拜在中国大约已有八千多年的历史。龙是古人将鱼、蛇、马、牛等动物形象与云雾、雷电等自然天象集合而成的一种神物。中国龙的形成与中华民族的多元融合过程同步。1.ThetotemworshipofChinesedragonhasahistoryofaround8,000years.Chineseancientsconsideredthedragonafetishthatcombinedanimalimagesincludingthefish,snake,horse,andoxwithcloud,thunder,lightning,andothernaturalcelestialphenomena.TheimageofChinesedragonwasformedinaccordancewiththemulticulturalfusionprocessoftheChinesenation.TextA2.在古代神话传说中，鲤鱼跳过龙门就会变成龙。人们用“鲤鱼跳龙门”比喻中举、升官等飞黄腾达之事，现在还可以比喻逆流前进，奋发图强。2.IntheancientChineselegend,thecarpwhichleapedthroughthedragongatemightbecomedragonafterwards.“Thecarphasleapedthroughthedragongate”meansonesucceedsinthecivilserviceexamination,getspromotion,andmakesrapidadvancementincareer.Italsocanbeusedtodescribeapersonstrivingforprogresswithdetermination.TextB

Notes1.Titann.

apersonwhoisveryimportant,powerful,strong,big,clever,etc.①ThesoftdrinkTitanCoca-cola

companyisfacingunprecedentedfierce

competition.世界饮料巨头可口可乐公司正面临着前所未有的激烈竞争。②Anintellectualtitanmightbeagreenhandinlife.一个学界泰斗有可能是一个生活小白。TextB

Notes2.hawkn.①atypeoflargebirdthatcatchessmallbirdsandanimalsforfood②Apersonwhostronglysupportstheuseofforceinpoliticalrelationshipsratherthandiscussionorothermorepeacefulsolutions①Hawksaretrainedtohunt.人们训练鹰隼捕猎。②Thehawkswontheelectionandwarwasdeclared.鹰派主战分子赢得大选，便对外宣战。TextB

Notes3.oracle

n.

①(especiallyinancientGreece)afemalepriestwhogavepeoplewisebutoftenmysteriousadvicefromagod,ortheadvicegiven②someonewhoknowsalotabout

asubjectandcangivegoodadvice①Anoracleoncetoldhimthathewouldbeoverthrownbyhischildren.女祭司曾经告诉他，他会被自己的子女推翻。②Thisyoungmanwasconsideredanoracleincomputergames.

这位年轻人被奉为电脑游戏的神人。TextB

Notes4.overthrowv.todefeatorremovesomeonefrompower,usingforce①The

conspiracytooverthrowthegovernmentwasfoundjustafewdaysof

thecelebration.就在庆祝活动开始的几天前一场推翻政府的密谋才被发现。②Galileohadbeenthefirsttoturnatelescopetothesky,andhehadseen

thereevidenceenoughto

overthrow

AristotleandPtolemytogether.伽利略是第一个用望远镜观测天空的人，他看到的东西足以推翻亚里

士多德和托勒密的观点。TextB

Notes5.unbearableadj.

toopainfulorunpleasantforyoutocontinuetoexperienceJane:Howdoyoulikethismovie?David:Tobefrank,Iwillgivethemoviesixoutoften.Whatisunbearabletomeisthemusic.Jane:Iagreewithyou.Thescarymusicisabsolutelymeaningless.TextB

Notes6.

Hephaestusn.

thegodoffireinGreekmythology①HephaestusisthesonofZeusandHeraandheis

notlikedbyhisparents.赫菲斯托斯，是宙斯和天后赫拉的儿子，但是

并不被父母喜爱。②Hephaestuswaslameanduglyandsufferedalotin

hislife.赫菲斯托斯又瘸又丑陋，一生不幸。TextB

Notes7.bridle

n.asetofleatherstrapsthatareputaroundahorse’sheadtoallowitsridertocontrolitbridlev.①toputabridleonahorseora

similaranimal②toshowsuddenanger①Sullybridledhishorseandwaitedinexcitementforhisgrandpatocomeandteachhimtoride.萨利给马套上龙头，兴奋地等待着爷爷过来

教他骑马。②ThebluebridleisPolly’sfavorite,soIcanfeelher

happinesswhenshewearsit.波莉最喜欢蓝色的龙头，我能感到她戴着它很

开心。Hello,mynameisPolly.TextB

Notes8.squashv.

tocrushsomethingintoaflatshape①Thetwopartieshavebeenrivalsforyearsandtriedeveryopportunity

tosquasheachother.双方是多年的宿敌，总想找机会碾压对方。②Thetomatogotsquashedundertheweightofalltheotherfood.西红柿放在最下面都被其他食物压碎了。

TextB

Notes9.fawnn.ayoungdeer①Wendycriedhardbegginghermumnotsendingthefawnaway.

温迪大哭，请求妈妈不要把小鹿送走。②Fawnsweigh4.5-7kilogramsatbirthandgrowfast.Theywillbe

independentafter10-12months.

小鹿出生时体重约为4.5至7公斤，生长迅速，长到10至12个

月即可独立。TextB

Notes10.swoonvi.tofeelalotofpleasure,love,etc.becauseofsomethingorsomeone①Theaudienceswoonedwhilethemusicwas

flowingthroughtheconcerthall.

音乐在大厅中流淌，观众们听得痴迷。②Allthegirlsareswooningoverthenewmaths

teacher.所有的女同学都迷上了那位新来的数学老师。TextB

KeySentences1.WhenMetistoldZeusaboutthisprophecy,hebecameveryangryandscreamedatthetopofhislungs.Itwassaidthatthescreamcouldbeheardallovertheworld.atthetopofsb’slungs勃然大怒，用最大的声音①MymumscreamedandcriticizedmeatthetopofherlungswhensheknewthatIhad

quittedmycollege.

当妈妈知道我从大学退学后勃然大怒，大声地训斥我。②

I’mhererightinfront

of

you.Whyareyouyellingatme

at

the

top

of

your

lungs?

我就站在你面前，为什么要那么大声地吼？TextB

KeySentences1.

Oneday,PanchallengedApollotoamusicalduel.Apolloagreed,laughingatPan’sconfidence.HewantedtosquashPan’svanityandprovetoallthathismusicwaswithoutequal.challengesbtosth/challengesbtodosth挑战某人Iwaschallengedtoawordtestandthewinnerwillgettwomovietickets.有人以单词测试来挑战我，获胜的人可以获得两张电影票。bewithoutequal独占鳌头，无敌Hercookingskillsarewithoutequalinthislivingcommunity.在这个社区，她的厨艺最棒。TextB

KeySentences3.Atalantastoppedeachtimetopickuptheapple,andsoHippomenesovertookherandwontherace.Foolishly,theyoungmanforgottothankAphroditeforherhelp,whichangeredthegoddess.stoptodosth停下一件事去做另一件事stopdoingsth停下正在做的事情

Whilehiking,mylittledogwillstoptowaitformetocatchupeveryfewminutes.ShewillnotstopbarkingtoshowherdiscontentifIoftensitandtakearest.

TextBI.AnswerthefollowingquestionsinEnglish.1.MakeageneraldescriptiontothebirthofAthena.NinemonthspassedandZeuswasstrickenwithanunbearableheadache.HermestoldHephaestustosplitZeus’sskullwithhisax.Assoonashedidthis,thegoddessAthenacameintobeing,fullgrownandclothedinasuitofarmor.ThemomentZeussawAthena,shewonhisheartandbecamehisfavoritechild.Athenawasforeverknownasthegoddessofwisdomandintelligence,becauseshecamefromZeus’shead.TextB2.MakeacommentonPan’smusicandApollo’smusicaccordingtothetext.Pan’smusicthatcamefromhispipeswassosweetandwildthatthebirdsflewintonearbytreestolisten,thefawnsdancedwithjoy,andthemelodytickledtheearsoftherabbits.Apolloplayedhisgoldenlyresobeautifullythatmortalsswooned,andwildcreaturessatperfectlystilltolisten.TextB3.WhatisAthenainchargeofinGreekmythology?

Athenawasknownasthegoddessofwisdomandintelligence.ShewasthegoddessofthecityAthens,protectorofcivilizedlife,handicrafts,agriculture,andtheinventorofthebridle.TextBII.ExplainthefollowingwordsandexpressionsinEnglish.1.ApolloApolloisoneofthemostimportantandcomplexOlympiandeitiesinGreekandRomanmythology.Apollohasbeenvariouslyrecognizedasagodofmusic,truthandprophecy,healing,thesunandlight,plague,poetry,andmore.ApolloisthesonofZeusandLetowithatwinsister,thechastehuntressArtemis.TextB2.Titans

InGreekmythology,theTitansandTitanessesweremembersofthesecondgenerationofdivinebeings,descendingfromtheprimordialdeitiesandprecedingtheOlympiandeities.ThemostfamousTitansincludedthefirsttwelvechildrenoftheprimordialGaiaandUranus.Theyweregiantdeitiesofincrediblestrength,whoruledduringthelegendaryGoldenAge.TextB3.PrometheusPrometheusstolethefirethatthegodskeptinheavenandbroughtitdowntomen.InordertopunishPrometheus,Zeushadhimchainedfastbyhishandsandfeettoagreatlonelymountainandsentaneagletopickandtearathislivereveryday,whileeverynightthewoundhealedafresh.ButstillPrometheusrefusedtoyield.Sofor10,000yearshesufferedinthisway.TextB4.MetisMetiswasaTitanandoneofthewisestofthemall.ShewasthefirstwifeofZeusandwasswallowedbyherhusbandwhenshewaspregnant.MetiswasAthena’smother.TextB5.PerseusPerseusInGreekmythology,Perseus,thelegendaryfounderofMycenaeandthePerseidDynastyofDanaans,wasthegreatestGreekheroandslayerofmonsters.PerseuswasthesonofthemortalDanaeandthegodZeus.Hewasalsothehalf-brotherandgreatgrandfatherofHeracles.TextBIII.Matchthefollowingwordsandexpressionswiththe

correctChinese.TextBIII.Matchthefollowingwordsandexpressionswiththe

correctChinese.TextBIV.TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoChinese.1.Manysourcesformythshavebeenproposed,rangingfrompersonificationofnatureornaturalphenomenatotruthfulorhyperbolicaccountsofhistoricalevents,toexplanationsofexistingrituals.1.从自然或自然现象的拟人化到历史事件的真实描述或夸张表达，许多神话的起源被用来解释现存的习俗。TextB2.Romanmythsgivereasonsfortherituals,ceremonies,andfestivalsheldinhonorofspecificdeitieswhorepresentedimportantfunctionsindailylife.Therituals,however,camefirst—thenmythswerecreatedtogowiththedeitiesbeinghonored.2.罗马神话解释了为什么有各种礼节、仪式和节日来向代表重要日常职能的诸神致敬。然而事实上，各种礼节是先出现的，然后人们才创造了关于神的故事。ShanHaiJingTheIliad

TextCComparison1KunlunMountainMountOlympusTextCComparison2TheRiverSnailTheNineMusesTextCComparison3ChineseDragonGreekDragonTextCComparison4TheBattleofZhuoluTrojanWarTextCComparison5Case

Study

中国神话故事真有趣大卫是一个来自英国的留学生，他非常喜欢中国文化。有一次，他跟几个中国朋友聊起了中西神话故事的差异。在西方文化中，上帝创造了人类。大卫很想知道在中国文化中，人类是怎样产生的。朋友们告诉他，关于人类的产生，流传最广的就是女娲造人的传说。女娲是一个上半身是人，下半身是蛇的女神。有一天，女娲走在苍茫的原野上，感到非常孤独。她觉得在这天地之间，应该添点什么，让它变得富有生气，因此她用水和泥，照着自己的样子捏泥人。Case

Study

西方有诺亚方舟的故事，中国有大禹治水的传说。相传禹是一个半神人，可以将自己变成熊、龙或人类。彼时洪水泛滥，人民流离失所。大禹采用疏导的方法，经过13年的时间，终于治理了水患，人们得以过上幸福而富足的生活。朋友们又给大卫讲了“盘古开天地”“后羿射日”“愚公移山”“精卫填海”的故事。大卫听得津津有味，最后还总结说：“中国神话故事中的人物都很有个性，他们都很勇敢、大胆呀！”Case

Study

分析点评

神话传说是人类历史的回响。西方神话与中国神话有诸多差异。中国很多神话故事都体现出了中华民族的斗争精神。这种精神，从上古开始便在中国人的血液中流淌。西方多数是命运论。在神的形象上，西方神话中人神相通，神也拥有人的情感。对于中西神话，我们应有正确的态度和认知，吸取精华，增长见识，提升文化修养。Translation

汉译英

1.神话

尽管中国古代神话(mythology)没有十分完整的情节，神话人物也没有系统的家谱(genealogy)，却有着鲜明的东方文化特色，其中尤为显著的是其尚德(esteemingvirtue)精神。这种尚德精神在与西方神话(特别是希腊神话)比较时，显得更加突出。西方神话(尤其是希腊神话)对神的褒贬多以智慧、力量为准则，而中国古代神话对神的褒贬则多以道德为准绳。这种思维方式深植于中国文化之中。几千年来，这种尚德精神影响着人们对历史人物的品评和对现实人物的期望。Translation

Keys

Mythology

AlthoughancientChinesemythologydoesnothaverelativelycompleteplotandmythologicalfiguresdon’thavesystematicgenealogy,theyhavedistinctfeaturesoforientalculture,amongwhichthespiritofesteemingvirtueisparticularlysignificant.WhencomparedwithWesternmythology,especiallyGreekmythology,thisspiritofesteemingvirtueisevenmoreprominent.InWesternmythology,especiallyGreekmythology,thecriteriaforjudgingwhetheragodisgoodornotaremostlythegod’swisdomandstrength,whileinancientChinesemythology,thecriterionliesinmorality.ThiswayofthinkingisdeeplyrootedinChineseculture.Forthousandsofyears,thisspiritofesteemingvirtuehasaffectedpeople’scommentsonhistoricalfiguresandexpectationsofrealpeople.Translation

2.

《牛郎织女》

《牛郎织女》是中国古代著名的民间爱情故事，主要讲述孤儿牛郎与仙女相爱却被迫分离的故事。他们坚贞的爱情感动了喜鹊，无数喜鹊飞来，用身体搭成一道跨越天河的彩桥，让牛郎织女相会。天帝无奈，只好允许他们每年在鹊桥上相会一次。此后，每年的农历七月初七这一天，牛郎织女都能相见，这也是七夕节的由来。汉译英

Translation

Keys

2.TheCowherdandtheWeaverGirl

TheCowherdandtheWeaverGirlisafamousfolklovestoryinancientChina.Thest