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Spradini Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

What does these parts mean?

Hi there,

I'm translating a short story and there are two parts I don't understand:

1)Suddenly, as I was maundering and treading dark waters, I heard his spine stiffen behind me. He gasped a great death rattle, sucked air, and blew it out in a yell that curled and bleached my hair:

"Dive! Dive!"


2)Very calmly, in the fashion of Conrad Veidt in Casablanca, or Erich Von like Jack Nicklaus hits a ball? Bamm. A hand grenade!

what does the underlined part in first paragraph mean, and what is the role of Erich Von in the second sentence? Thank you very much for answering in advance.

  

Top answer

Spradini I'm translating a short story and there are two parts I don't understand: Lots o' luck. That is Bradbury at his most abstruse. I'd never read that one.

— Anonymous

  • Spradini I'm translating a short story and there are two parts I don't understand: Lots o' luck.
  • That is Bradbury at his most abstruse.
  • I'd never read that one.
  • Spradini what does the underlined part in first paragraph mean That is totally fanciful.
  • Nobody can hear a spine stiffen, but Seyfertitz drew himself erect abruptly.
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3 Answers
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SpradiniI'm translating a short story and there are two parts I don't understand:

Lots o' luck. That is Bradbury at his most abstruse. I'd never read that one.

Spradiniwhat does the underlined part in first paragraph mean

That is totally fanciful. Nobody can hear a spine stiffen, but Seyfertitz drew himself erect a

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Spradini I heard his spine stiffen behind me.

It is literal, although I cannot imagine that straightening one's back would emit a sound.

The spine stiffens when we are on high alert, or alarmed. It is an autonomic response.

SpradiniErich Von

A typical German male name.


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The metaphoric meaning of "stiffen your spine" is to develop courage, be brave, unafraid, fearless, heroic. There is not enough context to determine whether the occurrence of that phrase in your story is metaphoric or literal.

"Erich Von" is probably a reference to Erich Von Manstein, a German commander in World War II, as already suggested by another contributor to this thread.

T

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