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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #2
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
After his young, charming wife Dora died of a disease, he took a long journey, during which he would think he and his old friend Agnes would have fallen for one another.
He came to his great aunt's house, and then he visited Agnes, who lives with her father, a retired lawyer Mr. Wikfield, operating a school at a neighboring village.
His great aunt had hinted at her having an affection for someon.
With her own sweet tranquillity, she calmed my agitation; led me back to the time of our parting; spoke to me of Emily, whom she had visited, in secret, many times; spoke to me tenderly of Dora's grave. With the unerring instinct of her noble heart, she touched the chords of my memory so softly and harmoniously, that not one jarred within me; I could listen to the sorrowful, distant music, and desire to shrink from nothing it awoke. How could I, when, blended with it all, was her dear self, the better angel of my life?
'And you, Agnes,' I said, by and by. 'Tell me of yourself. You have hardly ever told me of your own life, in all this lapse of time!'
'What should I tell?' she answered, with her radiant smile. 'Papa is well. You see us here, quiet in our own home; our anxieties set at rest, our home restored to us; and knowing that, dear Trotwood, you know all.'
'All, Agnes?' said I.
She looked at me, with some fluttering wonder in her face.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know why it is "nothing," not "something."
2. I'd like to know if "have" is omitted after "I."
3. I'd like to know if "when, blended with it all, was her dear self" means "when her dear self was blended with it all."
4. And I'd like to know if "knowing that" means "if you know that."
Thank you in advance for your help.
After his young, charming wife Dora died of a disease, he took a long journey, during which he would think he and his old friend Agnes would have fallen for one another.
He came to his great aunt's house, and then he visited Agnes, who lives with her father, a retired lawyer Mr. Wikfield, operating a school at a neighboring village.
His great aunt had hinted at her having an affection for someon.
Chapter 60 AGNES
.................................With her own sweet tranquillity, she calmed my agitation; led me back to the time of our parting; spoke to me of Emily, whom she had visited, in secret, many times; spoke to me tenderly of Dora's grave. With the unerring instinct of her noble heart, she touched the chords of my memory so softly and harmoniously, that not one jarred within me; I could listen to the sorrowful, distant music, and desire to shrink from nothing it awoke. How could I, when, blended with it all, was her dear self, the better angel of my life?
'And you, Agnes,' I said, by and by. 'Tell me of yourself. You have hardly ever told me of your own life, in all this lapse of time!'
'What should I tell?' she answered, with her radiant smile. 'Papa is well. You see us here, quiet in our own home; our anxieties set at rest, our home restored to us; and knowing that, dear Trotwood, you know all.'
'All, Agnes?' said I.
She looked at me, with some fluttering wonder in her face.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know why it is "nothing," not "something."
2. I'd like to know if "have" is omitted after "I."
3. I'd like to know if "when, blended with it all, was her dear self" means "when her dear self was blended with it all."
4. And I'd like to know if "knowing that" means "if you know that."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon 1. " desire to shrink from nothing it awoke. ~ did not want to shrink from anything it awoke.
- park sang joon 1.
- " desire to shrink from nothing it awoke.
- ~ did not want to shrink from anything it awoke.
- park sang joon 2.
- " 3.
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3 Answers
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park sang joon1. I'd like to know why it is "nothing," not "something."desire to shrink from nothing it awoke. ~ did not want to shrink from anything it awoke.
park sang joon2. I'd like to know if "have" is omitted after "I."
3. I'd like to know if "when, blended with it all, was her dear self" means "when her dear se
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Thank you, CalifJim, for your So Very helpful answer. 
2,3 Then I was wondering what difference "the better angel" has comp
2,3 Then I was wondering what difference "the better angel" has comp
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park sang joonthe better angelI believe the reference is to an age-old belief that there is a devil (bad angel) and a good angel (sometimes represented as sitting on each shoulder) who whisper advice into one ear or the other. In other words, we are often torn psychologically about what to do in any given situation — something good or something bad. In shor
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