Which Events Are Significant · 哪些事件具有重要性
A narrative is events related to a conflict
- A story, or narrative, is delivered through a series of events that relate to a conflict.
- So the conflict is the thread; events are what hang on it.
- An event with no relation to the conflict is scenery, however dramatic.
A picnic may be delightful, but if it never touches the conflict, it is the plot’s lunch break.
叙事是与冲突相关的一系列事件
- 故事或叙事,是通过一系列与冲突相关的事件来传递的。
- 因此冲突是那根线;事件是挂在上面的东西。
- 与冲突无关的事件只是布景,无论它多么富有戏剧性。
野餐可以很愉快，但若它与冲突毫无关系，就是情节去吃午饭了。
A narrative is delivered through events that relate to a conflict. · 叙事通过涉及冲突的事件传达。
The conflict is the thread; events are what hang on it. · 冲突是主线；事件是悬挂其上的东西。
Episodes, encounters, scenes
- Events include episodes, encounters and scenes that can introduce and develop a plot.
- The three words are not decorative: an encounter puts two characters together, an episode is self-contained, a scene is continuous in place and time.
- Naming which kind you are analysing already sharpens the answer.
片段、遭遇、场景
- 事件包括能够引入并展开情节的片段、遭遇与场景。
- 这三个词不是装饰:遭遇让两个人物碰到一起,片段是自成一体的,场景在地点与时间上是连续的。
- 说出你分析的是哪一类,答案就已经更锋利了。
Select all · 所有 the kinds of events the CED names. · 选择所有CED命名的事件类型。
A summary is a mode of narration, not a kind of event. · 摘要是一种叙述方式，而非事件种类。
Match each word to what it specifies. · 将每个单词与其指定的内容匹配。
Naming which kind you are analysing already sharpens the answer. · 命名你正在分析的类别本身就能使答案更精准。
Significance is relational
- The significance of an event depends on its relationship to the narrative, the conflict, and the development of characters.
- So significance is never a property of the event by itself.
- A death can be insignificant; a letter not sent can be the centre of a novel.
重要性是关系性的
- 一个事件的重要性,取决于它与叙事、与冲突、与人物发展之间的关系。
- 因此重要性绝不是事件本身的属性。
- 一场死亡可以无关紧要;一封没有寄出的信,却可以是一部小说的中心。
Which relationship does this event have? · 该事件具有何种关系？
Sort each event by the relationship that makes it significant. · 根据使其重要的关系对每个事件进行排序。
The significance of an event depends on... · 事件的重要性取决于……
A duel that changes nothing is less significant than a silence that changes everything. · 一场毫无改变的双决斗比一场改变一切沉默的重要性更低。
Dramatic is not the same as significant. The CED makes significance depend on an event's relationship to the narrative, the conflict and character development — so a duel that changes nothing is less significant than a silence that changes everything.
富有戏剧性不等于重要。CED 使重要性取决于事件与叙事、与冲突、与人物发展之间的关系——因此一场什么也没改变的决斗,不如一次改变了一切的沉默重要。
Test an event by asking whether it moves the narrative, touches the , and develops a character. · 通过提问检验事件：它是否推动了叙事、触及了，并发展了人物。
Three questions, one for each relationship the CED names. · 三个问题，分别对应CED命名的每种关系。
Testing an event for significance
- Ask three questions, one for each relationship the CED names.
- Does it move the narrative? Does it touch the conflict? Does it develop a character?
- An event that answers yes to all three is where an essay should be built.
检验一个事件是否重要
- 问三个问题,对应 CED 所说的三种关系。
- 它是否推动叙事?它是否触及冲突?它是否使某个人物得到发展?
- 三项都为"是"的事件,正是一篇文章应当建立其上的地方。
Choosing an event to write about
- On an exam you will be given a prompt and must choose the event yourself.
- Choose one that scores on all three relationships, not the one you remember best.
- The best-remembered event is often the most dramatic, which is not the same thing.
选择一个可写的事件
- 在考试中,你会拿到一个题目,而必须自己选择事件。
- 选那个在三种关系上都得分的,而不是你记得最清楚的那个。
- 记得最清楚的事件往往是最富戏剧性的,而这并不是一回事。
A letter is written and not sent. Nothing visible happens. But it moves the narrative (the misunderstanding survives), touches the conflict (she chooses her family over him), and develops her (she can now do the thing she said she never would). Three relationships out of three.
一封信写好了,却没有寄出。表面上什么也没发生。但它推动了叙事(误会得以延续)、触及了冲突(她选择了家人而非他)、并使她得到发展(她如今能做出自己说过绝不会做的事)。三种关系,三项全中。
A narrative is events that relate to a conflict. Events include episodes, encounters and scenes that introduce and develop plot. Significance depends on an event's relationship to the narrative, the conflict and character development — so test an event on all three, and remember that dramatic ≠ significant.
叙事是与冲突相关的事件。事件包括引入并展开情节的片段、遭遇与场景。重要性取决于事件与叙事、与冲突、与人物发展之间的关系——因此要在三项上检验一个事件,并记住:富有戏剧性 ≠ 重要。