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Vsuresh Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary
meaning
Hi
Please tell me what this means in the context.
This is from chapter 2 of the story The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.
At night Tom reached home so wet and tired and hungry that it was not possible for his father and grandmother to observe his
forlorn condition and not be moved (Does this mean they get angry seeing him returning home empty handed?)—after their fashion (I am unable to understand what this means) ; wherefore they gave him a brisk cuffing at once (Does this mean he was beaten?) and sent him to bed. For a long time his pain and hunger, and the swearing and fighting going on in the building, kept him awake; but at last his thoughts drifted away
Please tell me what this means in the context.
This is from chapter 2 of the story The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.
At night Tom reached home so wet and tired and hungry that it was not possible for his father and grandmother to observe his
forlorn condition and not be moved (Does this mean they get angry seeing him returning home empty handed?)—after their fashion (I am unable to understand what this means) ; wherefore they gave him a brisk cuffing at once (Does this mean he was beaten?) and sent him to bed. For a long time his pain and hunger, and the swearing and fighting going on in the building, kept him awake; but at last his thoughts drifted away
Top answer
They could not help being "moved" by the sight of him. "moved" means emotionally affected; normally it implies sympathy, compassion, humanity, etc.. "after their fashion" means that they were "moved" in a way special or peculiar to themselves, which in this case caused them to beat him, as you say.
- They could not help being "moved" by the sight of him.
- "moved" means emotionally affected; normally it implies sympathy, compassion, humanity, etc..
- "after their fashion" means that they were "moved" in a way special or peculiar to themselves, which in this case caused them to beat him, as you say.
- So, the passage plays on the fact that the interpretation of "moved" relevant to them is different from the normal or expected meaning, and uses this contrast to shed light on their characters.
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6 Answers
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They could not help being "moved" by the sight of him. "moved" means emotionally affected; normally it implies sympathy, compassion, humanity, etc.. "after their fashion" means that they were "moved" in a way special or peculiar to themselves, which in this case caused them to beat him, as you say. So, the passage plays on the fact that the interpretation of "moved" relevant to them is different f
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GPYSo, the passage plays on the fact that the interpretation of "moved" relevant to them is different from the normal or expected meaning, and uses this contrast to shed light on their characters.That's why I had question.
So moved here can mean that they anger was roused. Am I right?
Thank you for comments.
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vsureshSo moved here can mean that they anger was roused. Am I right?Yes. However, when you first read "moved" that is (intentionally) not what you think of.
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GPYHowever, when you first read "moved" that is (intentionally) not what you think of.Yes,I thought they turned sad seeing their boy in miserable condition.
Actually this "..they gave him a brisk cuffing and sent him to bed" made me think it on that line differently.
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vsureshYes,I thought they turned sad seeing their boy in miserable condition.Actually this "..they gave him a brisk cuffing and sent him to bed" made me think it on that line differently.In that case, you read it exactly correctly.
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