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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #3
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
He is an apprentice for the lawyer Mr. Spenlow.
He and Mr. Spenlow's only daughter Dora fell in love with each other.
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, who lives in Highgate now, in his spare time, who was the head master of the school the protagonist went to.
Dora's guardian Miss Murdstone discovered their secret love affair and disclosed it to Mr. Spenlow.
And Mr. Spenlow called the narrator into a coffee house, where Miss Murdstone was waiting for.
...............................
'I should not allow,' said Mr. Spenlow, with an evident increase of pious sentiment, and slowly shaking his head as he poised himself upon his toes and heels alternately, 'my suitable provision for my child to be influenced by a piece of youthful folly like the present. It is mere folly. Mere nonsense. In a little while, it will weigh lighter than any feather. But I might - I might - if this silly business were not completely relinquished altogether, be induced in some anxious moment to guard her from, and surround her with protections against, the consequences of any foolish step in the way of marriage. Now, Mr. Copperfield, I hope that you will not render it necessary for me to open, even for a quarter of an hour, that closed page in the book of life, and unsettle, even for a quarter of an hour, grave affairs long since composed.'
There was a serenity, a tranquillity, a calm sunset air about him, which quite affected me. He was so peaceful and resigned - clearly had his affairs in such perfect train, and so systematically wound up - that he was a man to feel touched in the contemplation of. I really think I saw tears rise to his eyes, from the depth of his own feeling of all this.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "grave affairs" means.
2. I'd like to know the adverbial clause "since composed" modifies "long."
3. I'd like to know what is the object of "of."
4. And I'd like to know what "of all this" means here.
Thank you in advance for your help.
He is an apprentice for the lawyer Mr. Spenlow.
He and Mr. Spenlow's only daughter Dora fell in love with each other.
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, who lives in Highgate now, in his spare time, who was the head master of the school the protagonist went to.
Dora's guardian Miss Murdstone discovered their secret love affair and disclosed it to Mr. Spenlow.
And Mr. Spenlow called the narrator into a coffee house, where Miss Murdstone was waiting for.
...............................
'I should not allow,' said Mr. Spenlow, with an evident increase of pious sentiment, and slowly shaking his head as he poised himself upon his toes and heels alternately, 'my suitable provision for my child to be influenced by a piece of youthful folly like the present. It is mere folly. Mere nonsense. In a little while, it will weigh lighter than any feather. But I might - I might - if this silly business were not completely relinquished altogether, be induced in some anxious moment to guard her from, and surround her with protections against, the consequences of any foolish step in the way of marriage. Now, Mr. Copperfield, I hope that you will not render it necessary for me to open, even for a quarter of an hour, that closed page in the book of life, and unsettle, even for a quarter of an hour, grave affairs long since composed.'
There was a serenity, a tranquillity, a calm sunset air about him, which quite affected me. He was so peaceful and resigned - clearly had his affairs in such perfect train, and so systematically wound up - that he was a man to feel touched in the contemplation of. I really think I saw tears rise to his eyes, from the depth of his own feeling of all this.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "grave affairs" means.
2. I'd like to know the adverbial clause "since composed" modifies "long."
3. I'd like to know what is the object of "of."
4. And I'd like to know what "of all this" means here.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon 1. I'd like to know what "grave affairs" means. serious matters park sang joon 2.
- park sang joon 1.
- I'd like to know what "grave affairs" means.
- serious matters park sang joon 2.
- " No.
- "long" modifies "since" just as it can modify "ago" in phrases like It happened long ago .
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4 Answers
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park sang joon1. I'd like to know what "grave affairs" means.serious matters
park sang joon2. I'd like to know the adverbial clause "since composed" modifies "long."No. "long" modifies "since" just as it can modify "ago" in phrases like It happened long ago.
park sang joon3. I'd like to know
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1. "Grave affairs" means "serious" or "important" affairs.
2. On the contrary, "composed" is modified by "long since."
Compare: The bridge was long since abandoned. (It was abandoned long ago).
3. I would say there is a missing word (which the reader would fill in). To paraphrase: His affairs were in such good order that he was moved by the contemplation of [them].
2. On the contrary, "composed" is modified by "long since."
Compare: The bridge was long since abandoned. (It was abandoned long ago).
3. I would say there is a missing word (which the reader would fill in). To paraphrase: His affairs were in such good order that he was moved by the contemplation of [them].
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Thank you, CalifJim and Doctor D, for your so very helpful answers. 
2. Then I was wondering if "since" means "ago" here.
2. Then I was wondering if "since" means "ago" here.
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