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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #3
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
His old nurse Peggotty's niece Emily fled away with his best friend Mr. James, leaving her fiance behind.
Peggotty's elder brother Mr. Peggotty has sought for her niece Emily after her leaving.
One day, the narrator was heard from Mr. James's servant Mr. Littimer that after Mr. James leaving behind Mr. Littimer and Emily at Naples, Emily's mood got worse and worse, ran away from Mr. Littimer.
He came to Mr. Peggotty's lodging to tell him about Emily.
Now they seek for Emily's best friend Martha, who fled to London from home before Emily, for some information.
Here "her" refers to Martha.
.................................
We were now down in Westminster. We had turned back to follow her, having encountered her coming towards us; and Westminster Abbey was the point at which she passed from the lights and noise of the leading streets. She proceeded so quickly, when she got free of the two currents of passengers setting towards and from the bridge, that, between this and the advance she had of us when she struck off, we were in the narrow water-side street by Millbank before we came up with her. At that moment she crossed the road, as if to avoid the footsteps that she heard so close behind; and, without looking back, passed on even more rapidly.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "this" refers to.
2. I'd like to know what "had of" means.
3. And I'd like to know what "struck off" means.
Thank you in advance for your help.
His old nurse Peggotty's niece Emily fled away with his best friend Mr. James, leaving her fiance behind.
Peggotty's elder brother Mr. Peggotty has sought for her niece Emily after her leaving.
One day, the narrator was heard from Mr. James's servant Mr. Littimer that after Mr. James leaving behind Mr. Littimer and Emily at Naples, Emily's mood got worse and worse, ran away from Mr. Littimer.
He came to Mr. Peggotty's lodging to tell him about Emily.
Now they seek for Emily's best friend Martha, who fled to London from home before Emily, for some information.
Here "her" refers to Martha.
.................................
We were now down in Westminster. We had turned back to follow her, having encountered her coming towards us; and Westminster Abbey was the point at which she passed from the lights and noise of the leading streets. She proceeded so quickly, when she got free of the two currents of passengers setting towards and from the bridge, that, between this and the advance she had of us when she struck off, we were in the narrow water-side street by Millbank before we came up with her. At that moment she crossed the road, as if to avoid the footsteps that she heard so close behind; and, without looking back, passed on even more rapidly.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "this" refers to.
2. I'd like to know what "had of" means.
3. And I'd like to know what "struck off" means.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
1. "This" refers to the "quick" progress she made once she got clear of the crowd. 2.
- 1.
- "This" refers to the "quick" progress she made once she got clear of the crowd.
- 2.
- What she "had of" them was an increased distance ahead of them.
- 3.
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3 Answers
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1. "This" refers to the "quick" progress she made once she got clear of the crowd.
2. What she "had of" them was an increased distance ahead of them.
3. In this case "struck off" means "to go" or "to start on your way."
2. What she "had of" them was an increased distance ahead of them.
3. In this case "struck off" means "to go" or "to start on your way."
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Thank you, DoctorD, for your so very helpful answer. 
2. What she "had of" them was an increased distance ahead of t
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I'm not sure it is necessarily an idiom, but it is uncommon usage now.
In the passage, "have" seems to be used in the sense of to "hold" or "take possession of." She has an advantage over her pursuers. So, I think "of" is used in the sense of "from."
She took from them an advantage, which she now holds.
In older literature, the usage would be something like t
In the passage, "have" seems to be used in the sense of to "hold" or "take possession of." She has an advantage over her pursuers. So, I think "of" is used in the sense of "from."
She took from them an advantage, which she now holds.
In older literature, the usage would be something like t
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