The analyses of a text #3

Question

The narrator recalls his adolescence.He is an apprentice for the lawyer Mr. Spenlow.His grand aunt and her distant relative Mr. Dick came to London after her going bankrupt.Now, He works as the secretary for Doctor Strong in his spare time, who was the head master of the school the protagonist went to.Mrs. Crupp is his land lady.My aunt had obtained a signal victory over Mrs. Crupp, by paying her off, throwing the first pitcher she planted on the stairs out of window, and protecting in person, up and down the staircase, a supernumerary whom she engaged from the outer world. These vigorous measures struck such terror to the breast of Mrs. Crupp, that she subsided into her own kitchen, under the impression that my aunt was mad. My aunt being supremely indifferent to Mrs. Crupp's opinion and everybody else's, and rather favouring than discouraging the idea, Mrs. Crupp, of late the bold, became within a few days so faint-hearted, that rather than encounter my aunt upon the staircase, she would endeavour to hide her portly form behind doors - leaving visible, however, a wide margin of flannel petticoat - or would shrink into dark corners. This gave my aunt such unspeakable satisfaction, that I believe she took a delight in prowling up and down, with her bonnet insanely perched on the top of her head, at times when Mrs. Crupp was likely to be in the way.[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]1. I'd like to know if "up and down the staircase" modifies "protecting."2. I'd like to know if "of late the bold" modifies "Mrs. Crupp."3. I'd like to know what "however, a wide margin of flannel petticoat" means.4. I think the underlined clause is in an apposition to "the idea."If so, I was wondering why there isn't a finite verb in the clause in red.Thank you in advance for your help.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

park sang joon1. I'd like to know if "up and down the staircase" modifies "protecting."

Yes.

park sang joon2. I'd like to know if "of late the bold" modifies "Mrs. Crupp."

Yes.

park sang joon3. I'd like to know what "however, a wide margin of flannel petticoat" means.

to hide .... However, she could not or did not hide all of her large skirt, which was made of flannel fabric (so obviously she was not hiding very effectively). Mrs. Crupp was a large woman, so it was difficult for her to hide both herself and all the clothes she wore without being noticed by others.

park sang joon4. I think the underlined clause is in an apposition to "the idea."

"apposition" is the wrong word, but yes, you've got the general idea right. "the idea" is a reference to the first clause of the part in red, namely, My aunt being supremely indifferent to Mrs. Crupp's opinion and everybody else's.

park sang joonI was wondering why there isn't a finite verb in the clause in red.

I wonder why you thought a reference like this has to involve a finite verb. A finite verb is not necessary for the clause to be an "idea".

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, CalifJim, for your So very helpful answer.

4.

My aunt being supremely indifferent to Mrs. Crupp's opinion and everybody else's, and rather favouring than discouraging the idea, Mrs. Crupp, of late the bold, became within a few days so faint-hearted, that rather than encounter my aunt upon the staircase, she would endeavour to hide her portly form behind doors - leaving visible, however, a wide margin of flannel petticoat - or would shrink into dark corners. This gave my aunt such unspeakable satisfaction, that I believe she took a delight in prowling up and down, with her bonnet insanely perched on the top of her head, at times when Mrs. Crupp was likely to be in the way.

I think any sentence has a finite verb as main verb.
But I can't find a main verb in the underlined sentence.

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonmain verb in the underlined sentence.

(Mrs. Crupp) became (so faint-hearted that ... she would endeavor to hide ...)

OK?

In Dickens' works there is so much extra descriptive material that the simple structure that underlies his sentences can easily go missing.

CJ

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, CalifJim, for your continuing support.

And I'm so sorry for my tardy question.

"apposition" is the wrong word, but yes, you've got the general idea right.

I should confess to you that I didn't.

My aunt being supremely indifferent to Mrs. Crupp's opinion and everybody else's, and rather favouring than discouraging the idea, Mrs. Crupp, of late the bold, became within a few days so faint-hearted, that rather than encounter my aunt upon the staircase, she would endeavour to hide her portly form behind doors - leaving visible, however, a wide margin of flannel petticoat - or would shrink into dark corners. This gave my aunt such unspeakable satisfaction, that I believe she took a delight in prowling up and down, with her bonnet insanely perched on the top of her head, at times when Mrs. Crupp was likely to be in the way.

I'd like to know if I can rephrase the underlined phrase as the following.
Because My aunt is indifferent to Mrs. Crupp's opinion and everybody else's and favored than discouraged the idea.

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonBecause My aunt is indifferent to Mrs. Crupp's opinion and everybody else's and favored than discouraged the idea.

Hmm. That is not my interpretation (though you must allow that my interpretation may be wrong). In my opinion, the participial construction "rather favouring than discouraging the idea" applies to Mrs. Crupp.

{My aunt being supremely indifferent to Mrs. Crupp's opinion and everybody else's,} || and {rather favouring than discouraging the idea,} Mrs. Crupp, of late the bold, became ... faint-hearted ...
=
My aunt was indifferent to Mrs. Crupp's opinion (just as she was indifferent to everybody else's opinion).
Mrs. Crupp did not discourage my aunt's attitude, but went along with it (acquiesced to it).
Consequently, Mrs. Crupp, who had formerly been bold, became ... meek ...

CJ

The analyses of a text #3

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