Speech on Hitler演讲

Speech on Hitler's Invasion of the U.S.S.RWinston S.Churchill

Structure of the TextPart I. Churchill's preparation for the speech (p.71-72) a piece of narration which provides some background information of the speechPart II. The original text of the speech (p.73-75) the speech proper which is an argument or persuasion

The First Part:

Important Words and Phrases

Paraphrase

Cultural Points

Surprise (verb) Cause sb to feel surprise She’s over 80? You surprise me! She was surprised by the boy’s intelligence. Attack, discover sb suddenly and unexpectedly We returned early and surprised the burglars searching through the cupboards. Surprise the enemy Surprise sb into sth / doing sth: cause sb to do sth through sudden unexpected action By firing a few shots we can surprise them into revealing their positions.

Postpone /v/ arrange sth at a later time ;defer sth

e.g. Let’s postpone making a decision until we have more information . round up: to gather together scattered animals, to collect together animals that are scattered

e.g.A cowboy rounds up the cattle . Luncheon /n/ a lunch especially a formal one

Luncheon meat (罐头)午餐肉

To the effect that: with the meaning that…,giving the information that…大意为 e.g. He left a note to the effect that he would not be returning. 他留下一张字条，大意是说他不回来了。

count on: rely on; depend on; expect with confidence e.g.We count on you to help.

revert (to):return (to a former state,

condition, topic, etc.) e.g.The fields have reverted to moorland. be true of: be in conformity with; in accordance with reality or fact e.g.This is true of the rural area as well as of the urban area.

be true to: accurately conforming to (a standard or expectation); faithful to e.g.Lei Feng was always true to his words.

Paraphrase: 1.Nor indeed what to say. Para:Nor had I indeed the slightest doubt as to what I was (ought) to say. 2.There remained the task of composing it. Para: The only task left was to put what I was going to say into shape; to write sown what I was going to say; to work out the statement. 3.…and seemed to be driving forward with great rapidity and violence. Para: and seemed to be advancing rapidly, and their attack was fierce.

4.…and the thought that Hitler was counting on enlisting capitalist and Right Wing sympathies in this country and the U.S.A. Para: Hitler was hoping that if he attacked Russia, he would win in Britain and the U.S. the support of those who were enemies of Communism. 5.If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons.

Para: If Hitler should attack Hell, a most hated place, I would still say a word in favour of the Devil, the foe of mankind, in the House of Commons; I would say a word in favour fo anyone who is attacked by Hitler,

no matrter how bad, how wicked or evil he had been in the past.

Cultural Points Right Wing: The terms Right and Left were coined during the French Revolution,referring to seating arrangements in parliument. Rimmon:a deity worshipped by Syrians of Damascus. croquet ['kroukei]: an outdoor game: wooden balls are driven by mallets through a series of square-topped hoops set out on a lawn

槌球游戏

Chequers or Chequers Court

croquet

LocationChequers Court Near Ellesborough, to the south east of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England, at the foot of the Chiltern Hills.

Chequers,Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire,Eng.

History12th century in 1565 be built restored and enlarged by William Hawtre

1565—1567

guarded a royal prisoner – Lady Mary Greythe owner married John Russell

In 1715

Lady Mary Grey younger sister of Lady Jane Grey great granddaughter of King Henry VII

married without her family's consent banished from court by Queen Elizabeth I remained at Chequers for a period of two years

19th century

made modern alterations in the gothic style

latter halt of 19th century be changed into tudor style

World War I

became a hospital & a convalescent home for officerswas given to the nation as a country retreat for the serving Prime Minister

After the war