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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #1
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
He is looking at a wreck on the shore.
The second mast was yet standing, with the rags of a rent sail, and a wild confusion of broken cordage flapping to and fro. The ship had struck once, the same boatman hoarsely said in my ear, and then lifted in and struck again. I understood him to add that she was parting amidships, and I could readily suppose so, for the rolling and beating were too tremendous for any human work to suffer long. As he spoke, there was another great cry of pity from the beach; four men arose with the wreck out of the deep, clinging to the rigging of the remaining mast; uppermost, the active figure with the curling hair.
There was a bell on board; and as the ship rolled and dashed, like a desperate creature driven mad, now showing us the whole sweep of her deck, as she turned on her beam-ends towards the shore, now nothing but her keel, as she sprung wildly over and turned towards the sea, the bell rang; and its sound, the knell of those unhappy men, was borne towards us on the wind. Again we lost her, and again she rose. Two men were gone.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if "it was" is omitted before "a wild confusion."
2. I'd like to know the two blue clauses are the objects of "said."
3. I'd like to know if "understood him to add" means "understood enough him to add."
4. I'd like to know if "showing" is implied before "nothing."
Thank you in advance for your help.
He is looking at a wreck on the shore.
Chapter 55 TEMPEST
.................................The second mast was yet standing, with the rags of a rent sail, and a wild confusion of broken cordage flapping to and fro. The ship had struck once, the same boatman hoarsely said in my ear, and then lifted in and struck again. I understood him to add that she was parting amidships, and I could readily suppose so, for the rolling and beating were too tremendous for any human work to suffer long. As he spoke, there was another great cry of pity from the beach; four men arose with the wreck out of the deep, clinging to the rigging of the remaining mast; uppermost, the active figure with the curling hair.
There was a bell on board; and as the ship rolled and dashed, like a desperate creature driven mad, now showing us the whole sweep of her deck, as she turned on her beam-ends towards the shore, now nothing but her keel, as she sprung wildly over and turned towards the sea, the bell rang; and its sound, the knell of those unhappy men, was borne towards us on the wind. Again we lost her, and again she rose. Two men were gone.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if "it was" is omitted before "a wild confusion."
2. I'd like to know the two blue clauses are the objects of "said."
3. I'd like to know if "understood him to add" means "understood enough him to add."
4. I'd like to know if "showing" is implied before "nothing."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
1. No, there's no "it was" implied here. " 2.
- 1.
- No, there's no "it was" implied here.
- " 2.
- This is more like a transcribed quotation: "The ship had struck once," said the same boatman hoarsely in my ear, "and then it lifted in and struck again.
- 3.
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4 Answers
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1. No, there's no "it was" implied here. "A wild confusion of broken cordage" means a wild mess of broken ropes." So the sense here is: "The second mast was yet standing, with the rags of a rent sail, and a wild mess of broken ropes flapping to and fro."
2. This is more like a transcribed quotation: "The ship had struck once," said the same boatman hoarsely in my ear, "and then it l
2. This is more like a transcribed quotation: "The ship had struck once," said the same boatman hoarsely in my ear, "and then it l
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Thank you, No Name One, for your so very helpful answer. 
1. Then, I was wondering why there is "and" before "a wild confus
1. Then, I was wondering why there is "and" before "a wild confus
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Two things are being described which are attached to the second mast and flapping to and fro, remnants of a sail and broken ropes: "The second mast was still standing, with the torn remnants of a sail, and a mess of broken ropes flapping to and fro."
Copperfield is saying that the boatman first said, "The ship struck once, and then lifted in and struck again." Then Copperfield understan
Copperfield is saying that the boatman first said, "The ship struck once, and then lifted in and struck again." Then Copperfield understan
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Thank you, No Name One, for your continuing support.
1. I'd like to know if you mean "a wild confusion" is in a parallel r
1. I'd like to know if you mean "a wild confusion" is in a parallel r
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