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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #2
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
His old nurse Peggotty's elder brother and his niece Emily and his so very poor, old friend Mr. Micawber's family are about to emigrate to Australia on a ship.
He is seeing them off on the ship.
Chapter 57 THE EMIGRANTS
.................................
The time was come. I embraced him, took my weeping nurse upon my arm, and hurried away. On deck, I took leave of poor Mrs. Micawber. She was looking distractedly about for her family, even then; and her last words to me were, that she never would desert Mr. Micawber.
We went over the side into our boat, and lay at a little distance, to see the ship wafted on her course. It was then calm, radiant sunset. She lay between us, and the red light; and every taper line and spar was visible against the glow. A sight at once so beautiful, so mournful, and so hopeful, as the glorious ship, lying, still, on the flushed water, with all the life on board her crowded at the bulwarks, and there clustering, for a moment, bare-headed and silent, I never saw.
Silent, only for a moment. As the sails rose to the wind, and the ship began to move, there broke from all the boats three resounding cheers, which those on board took up, and echoed back, and which were echoed and re-echoed. My heart burst out when I heard the sound, and beheld the waving of the hats and handkerchiefs - and then I saw her!
Then I saw her, at her uncle's side, and trembling on his shoulder. He pointed to us with an eager hand; and she saw us, and waved her last good-bye to me. Aye, Emily, beautiful and drooping, cling to him with the utmost trust of thy bruised heart; for he has clung to thee, with all the might of his great love!
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "lay" means here.
2. I'd like to know what "she" refers to.
3. I'd like to know why there is "her" before "crowded."
4. And I'd like to know why it is "cling," not "clung."
Thank you in advance for your help.
His old nurse Peggotty's elder brother and his niece Emily and his so very poor, old friend Mr. Micawber's family are about to emigrate to Australia on a ship.
He is seeing them off on the ship.
Chapter 57 THE EMIGRANTS
.................................
The time was come. I embraced him, took my weeping nurse upon my arm, and hurried away. On deck, I took leave of poor Mrs. Micawber. She was looking distractedly about for her family, even then; and her last words to me were, that she never would desert Mr. Micawber.
We went over the side into our boat, and lay at a little distance, to see the ship wafted on her course. It was then calm, radiant sunset. She lay between us, and the red light; and every taper line and spar was visible against the glow. A sight at once so beautiful, so mournful, and so hopeful, as the glorious ship, lying, still, on the flushed water, with all the life on board her crowded at the bulwarks, and there clustering, for a moment, bare-headed and silent, I never saw.
Silent, only for a moment. As the sails rose to the wind, and the ship began to move, there broke from all the boats three resounding cheers, which those on board took up, and echoed back, and which were echoed and re-echoed. My heart burst out when I heard the sound, and beheld the waving of the hats and handkerchiefs - and then I saw her!
Then I saw her, at her uncle's side, and trembling on his shoulder. He pointed to us with an eager hand; and she saw us, and waved her last good-bye to me. Aye, Emily, beautiful and drooping, cling to him with the utmost trust of thy bruised heart; for he has clung to thee, with all the might of his great love!
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "lay" means here.
2. I'd like to know what "she" refers to.
3. I'd like to know why there is "her" before "crowded."
4. And I'd like to know why it is "cling," not "clung."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
1. "Lay" means their boat rested in the water (did not move). 2.
- 1.
- "Lay" means their boat rested in the water (did not move).
- 2.
- " 3.
- "Her" is the boat again.
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7 Answers
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1. "Lay" means their boat rested in the water (did not move).
2. Boats are traditionally referred to as "she."
3. "Her" is the boat again. "All the life on board the ship (her) crowded at the bulwarks." That is, every person on board the ship moved over to the side of the ship (to say goodbye).
4. It is "cling" because it is a command (imperative) for action; it is not a d
2. Boats are traditionally referred to as "she."
3. "Her" is the boat again. "All the life on board the ship (her) crowded at the bulwarks." That is, every person on board the ship moved over to the side of the ship (to say goodbye).
4. It is "cling" because it is a command (imperative) for action; it is not a d
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Thank you, Doctor D, for your so very helpful answer. 
1. Then I was wondering why "she/ our boat" is omitted before "lay."
1. Then I was wondering why "she/ our boat" is omitted before "lay."
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1. The boat is understood. The sentences says that we lay off from the departing ship. They were in the boat, but they are the ones who aren't moving.
2. To be more exact, the larger craft is the ship and the smaller craft is the boat.
Yes "she" refers to the larger ship. (It was between the people in the rowboat (?) and the sun).
2. To be more exact, the larger craft is the ship and the smaller craft is the boat.
Yes "she" refers to the larger ship. (It was between the people in the rowboat (?) and the sun).
00
Thank you, Doctor D, for your continuing support.
We went over the side into our boat, and lay at a little distance
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Actually, the subject is included. Although he omits the subject in the second part, this can be seen as two actions with a single subject.
We went over the side into our boat, and lay at a little distance ...
To boil it down: We went and lay.
He could have said "We went and we lay," but the second "we" is not needed.
We went over the side into our boat, and lay at a little distance ...
To boil it down: We went and lay.
He could have said "We went and we lay," but the second "we" is not needed.
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Thank you, Doctor D, so much for your so very kind, helpful answers.
I think I now see what you meant.
The author identifie
I think I now see what you meant.
The author identifie
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Yes, since it is really the boat that lays off in the distance. (They are only aboard it.)
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