尹立平
摘 ? ?要:高考的讀后續(xù)寫,重視對語篇的類型、整體結構、主題意義、主線邏輯以及推理判斷其背后隱含的作者意圖等的考查,重視對續(xù)寫內容思想性的考查(回扣主題,思想升華)。然而,學生的讀后續(xù)寫存在腳踩西瓜皮、狗尾續(xù)貂、情節(jié)至上等問題。對此,教師在教學中要引導學生學會緊緊依托主題進行寫作。
關鍵詞:高中英語;讀后續(xù)寫;語篇主題
讀后續(xù)寫是一種典型的讀寫結合的綜合性高考題型。這個題型自然地融入了“品讀—理解—創(chuàng)新”的學習步驟,讓學生的讀和寫完全融合在一起。在讀后續(xù)寫中,“續(xù)”是主體,而閱讀語篇是續(xù)寫的基礎資源。語篇賦予了續(xù)寫段落創(chuàng)作所需的絕大部分內容元素的主題、情景,并限定了續(xù)寫段落的內在邏輯結構、文體特征和語言形式。因此,深入研讀閱讀語篇,探究并把握語篇主題,是確保續(xù)寫與閱讀語篇協(xié)同的重要前提。
《普通高中英語課程標準(2017年版)》倡導主題意義探究的課程理念,并指出:“學生對主題意義的探究應是學生學習語言的最重要內容,直接影響學生語篇理解的程度、思維發(fā)展的水平和語言學習的成效。英語課程應該把對主題意義的探究視為教與學的核心任務,并以此整合學習內容,引領學生語言能力、文化意識、思維品質和學習能力的融合發(fā)展。”[1]海明威在文學創(chuàng)作中提出的冰山理論——“The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water”,充分展示了寫作中對故事主題意義探究的重要性。所謂“冰山理論”,就是用簡潔的文字塑造出鮮明的形象,把自身的感受和思想情緒最大限度地埋藏在形象之中,使之情感充沛又含而不露、思想深沉又隱而不晦,從而將文學的可感性與可思性巧妙地結合起來,讓讀者由鮮明形象的感受去發(fā)掘作品的思想意義。簡潔的文字、鮮明的形象、豐富的情感和深刻的思想是構成“冰山理論”的四個基本要素[2]。
所以,如果能從閱讀語篇中找到統(tǒng)貫全篇的主題,并在續(xù)寫中以自然而然的方式把主題繼續(xù)呈現(xiàn)出來,創(chuàng)作出一篇前后協(xié)同的故事,那么讀者對于續(xù)寫篇章一定會有一氣呵成的連貫感,閱讀的體驗也將得到滿足。
一、讀后續(xù)寫題中閱讀語篇的主題
浙江省2016—2021年高考讀后續(xù)寫題中閱讀語篇的主題和故事情節(jié)如表1所示。
由表1可知,近年來浙江省高考的讀后續(xù)寫,重視對語篇的類型、整體結構、主題意義、主線邏輯、推理判斷以及其背后隱含的作者意圖等的考查,重視對續(xù)寫內容思想性的考查(回扣主題,思想升華)。讀后續(xù)寫的主題范圍圍繞人與自我、人與社會、人與自然這三大主題,內容均來自實際生活,比如旅游、度假中所碰到的趣事或驚險故事,或是生活中所關心的話題如寵物等。可以想見,今后讀后續(xù)寫的主題將會繼續(xù)彰顯人性光輝,體現(xiàn)人與社會、人與自然、人與動物的和諧相處,以此來考查學生的邏輯思維、批判思維和創(chuàng)新思維能力。
二、學生在讀后續(xù)寫中的常見問題
(一)腳踩西瓜皮
很多學生未能把握閱讀語篇文本的寫作意圖,情節(jié)設置偏離語篇主旨,或不能充分考慮到事件發(fā)展是否與語篇主題語境相一致,甚至脫離生活實際。他們天馬行空地編造事件,腳踩西瓜皮,滑到哪里算哪里。這導致寫出來的文章前后不連貫,邏輯性不強。
(二)狗尾續(xù)貂
讀后續(xù)寫的評分有“使用詞匯豐富、準確”等要求。很多學生將之誤解為只要大量堆砌與細節(jié)描寫有關的好詞好句就能獲得高分。事實上,如果故事缺乏情節(jié)的合理推進,面目模糊,主題無跡可尋,故事框架和內涵缺失,那么細節(jié)描寫中有再多的好詞好句,也是沒有意義的。在主題支撐下的適量的細節(jié)描寫,是畫龍點睛;缺乏主題支撐的細節(jié)描寫,就是狗尾續(xù)貂。故事主題的缺失,如同缺少了水面下八分之七的冰山,水面上的八分之一也將不復存在。
(三)情節(jié)至上
很多學生會在故事情節(jié)的創(chuàng)新上投入大量的精力,認為只要有了精心設計的故事情節(jié),續(xù)寫就能得以圓滿。事實上,故事確實離不開情節(jié),情節(jié)如同一個故事的引擎,重要性不言而喻。但情節(jié)必須服務于語篇的主旨,脫離了語篇主題的情節(jié),無論多么跌宕起伏、多么驚心動魄,都沒有意義。
以上問題,都與對閱讀語篇主題把控和理解的不到位有關。學生未能從閱讀語篇拋出的問題或者矛盾中找出續(xù)寫篇章需要解決的問題。只有厘清矛盾對象和閱讀語篇中設置的伏筆,緊緊依托主題進行寫作,才能寫出符合要求的文章。
三、主題引領的讀后續(xù)寫教學案例
(一)試題呈現(xiàn)
In the far away land, there was a beautiful kingdom with its unique rule. The rule said, everyone may become the king, with all of his rights to govern the country for five years. After that he must be caught, his body will be tied and he will be thrown away to a remote island where the jungle is thick and there are plenty of wild animals and no human.
Then, one by one, people became the king. The first man said, “Ok, I’m ready to be the king.” And he became a king for five years. What he did in his five years was enjoying his position. He threw big parties, went to many beautiful places, married many women, collected many luxurious things and did other things that pleased himself. Those were all he did and he never prepared anything for his future.
Every other king was the same until a young man came and declared his wish. By the constitution he was granted his wish. He would be the king for five years before being thrown away to the island. But he thought that even if he had a happy and free life in the five years, his life as a king would come to an end at last. He was always thinking what to do.
Paragraph 1:
And not very long after that, he made a surprising decision.
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Paragraph 2:
Five years later, the final day came.
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(二)教學步驟
【Step 1】尋找伏筆,預測故事終點
原文第三段結尾處的“He was always thinking what to do”,暗示了作為一個和前任截然不同的國王,他的思考和決定一定是不同尋常的。據(jù)此,教師提問:“作為一個寓言或者半寓言故事,這個故事的主旨是什么?它希望傳遞給讀者的寓意是什么?”學生綜合閱讀語篇中的伏筆,匯總如下(表2):
【Step 2】根據(jù)預測結局,探究匹配細節(jié)
教師要求:閱讀原文,分析一下,以前的國王在他的五年中是怎么做的。
學生匯總如下(表3):
在此基礎上,學生預測The young man的做法(表4):
【Step 3】整合前兩步獲得的結局和細節(jié),確認故事主題
通過分析不同國王的具體差異,教師引導學生歸納出這一寓言故事可以承載的主題:
● ?We should resist the temptation of an immediate pleasure and struggle for a larger reward in the future. (我們應該抵制及時行樂的誘惑,爭取將來的大回報。)
● ?We should sacrifice the short-lived happiness in exchange for an assured future.(我們應該犧牲短暫的幸福,來換取一個安穩(wěn)的將來。)
● ?God helps those who help themselves. (自助者天助之。)
● ?Opportunities always favor those who are prepared. (機會總是偏愛那些有準備的人。)
● ?We should learn to save for a rainy day. (我們應該學會未雨綢繆。)
● ?One good turn deserves another. (禮尚往來,善有善報。)
學生選擇上述任一主題進行續(xù)寫。
以下是學生以“One good turn deserves another”為主題的一個續(xù)寫文本:
And not very long after that, he made a surprising decision. He carried out a five-year plan. He decided to take advantage of all his rights to ensure his future. In the first year, he sent troops and animal trainers to kill the wild animals or train them. In the second year, farmers were sent to start growing crops there. In the third year, the facilities like schools, hospitals and shops were built. In the fourth year, many young people were chosen to build local communities. In the last year, he sent all his families to the island. The task was so huge, but it was worthwhile.
Five years later, the final day came. Strong soldiers caught him, but he smiled. He had prepared everything for the final day, and the island had been transformed into a paradise on the earth, where everybody enjoyed a happy and comfortable life. The king was warmly welcomed by his people. They cheered, “ Long live the wise king.” From the story, we can learn that we should resist the temptation of an immediate pleasure and struggle for a larger reward in the future.
文本的最后一句,直接點明主題,將自己的觀點明確告知讀者。
以主題引領的讀后續(xù)寫,充分挖掘和探究閱讀語篇的主題。它是隱藏在續(xù)寫段落下的那八分之七。在日常教學中,教師要帶領學生探索、識別并確定主題,激發(fā)學生寫作的興趣,調動學生整合已有的語言知識和語言技能,培養(yǎng)學生的語言理解和表達能力,以此提升讀后續(xù)寫的內涵。
參考文獻:
[1]中華人民共和國教育部.普通高中英語課程標準(2017年版)[S].北京:人民教育出版社,2018:16.
[2]黃鸝.試析海明威的冰山理論[J].作家,2020(4):37.