英文原版小說看不下去？手把手教你讀
Many types of fiction give us great reading pleasure:
小說分成許多種類型，閱讀它們能讓我們感到極大的愉悅：
Novels and short stories can be historic, westerns, science fiction, thrillers, romance, horror, etc. The following can provide a framework for discussing these in book clubs and for writing book reports.
小說包括長篇小說和短篇小說，可分爲歷史小說，西部小說，科幻小說，驚悚小說，愛情小說，恐怖小說等類型。下面介紹的閱讀方法能爲你提供一種方法論，讓你在讀書俱樂部討論作品或者撰寫讀書報告的時候有法可依。
An author creates a person to tell the story, and this person is the narrator.
作者通過創造一個形象來講述故事，這個形象就是敘述者。
The narrator delivers the point of view of the story.
敘述者闡發故事蘊含的思想內涵。
multiple narrators of the story can also present multiple points of view.
多個敘述者敘述的故事能呈現多種不同的思想內涵。
A first person narrator
第一角度敘述
Uses the pronoun "I" to tell the story, and can be either a major or minor character.
用第一人稱“我”來講述故事，敘述者可以是主要角色，也可以是次要角色。
It may be easier for a reader to relate to a story told in a first person account.
用第一人稱講述的故事更容易將讀者帶入其中。
A subjective narrator is generally unreliable.
一個主觀的敘述者往往是不可靠的。
Because he/she is in the story and can only speak to his/her experience within it.
因爲他/她自身也是故事的一部分，只能以自己的經驗視域講述故事。
A second person narrator
第二角度敘述
Uses the pronoun "you" and is not used very often since it makes the reader a participant in the story (and you, as reader, may be reluctant to be in the action!).
用“你”這一人稱來講述故事。這種手法並不常用，因爲如此一來，讀者也參與了故事（作爲讀者，你可能並不願意參與故事的情節發展）。
A third person narrator
第三角度敘述
Uses the pronoun "he" or "she" and does not take part in the story and describes or interprets thoughts, feelings, motivations, of the characters. Details such as setting, scenes, and what was said is stronger with an objective observer.
用代詞“他”或者“她”敘述故事，並不參與故事的情節發展。客觀視角的敘述者是故事的觀察者，對所有角色的思想，感受，動機。在客觀敘述視角下，故事的情節背景，場景氛圍能表現的更加清晰。
An omniscient (omniscient = all knowing) narrator has access to all the actions and thoughts within fiction.
全知全能的敘述者知道故事中所有角色的行爲和思想。
A limited narrator has a restricted view of events, and doesn't "know" the whole story.
限制視角的敘述者看待事件的視域收到限制，不能全局洞知整個故事。
Questions:
問題：
How much does the narrator know?
敘述者對故事瞭解到何種程度？
Does he or she know everything, including the thoughts, feelings, motivations, etc. or present just limited information? Do you (the reader) know more?
他是否洞知一切，包括所有角色的思想，感受，動機？抑或只是呈現有限的信息？作爲讀者，你是否比敘述者更瞭解故事？
Time?
時間？
Do events take place "now" (verbs in the present tense)?
故事是“此刻”發生的嗎？（動詞時態爲現在時)
Or in the past (verbs are in the past tense)?
還是“過去”發生的呢？
Are past recollections fresh, or distant, and maybe hazy?
對過去的回憶是清晰一如昨日，還是遙遠模糊，或是渺遠不可辨認？
Is the narrator a participant in, or a witness to, the action?
敘述者是故事情節的參與者，還是故事情節的見證者？
Is the story second-hand, related "as told to" the narrator?
故事是否是敘述者轉述的，即敘述者“聽說”的？
Think of yourself telling someone something that happened:
設想你自己正在向別人訴說這個故事：
How much of the event do you know, and how does that affect the story?
你對故事瞭解到何種程度？你對故事的瞭解對故事的發展有何影響？
Why is the story being told, and why now?
爲什麼人們要訴說這個故事？爲何是在此刻訴說？
What is the motivation?
人們講述故事的動機爲何？
Character types in fiction
故事中的形象類型
Characters are the people of a story, or the opposing forces.
所謂形象，即故事中的人物，或故事矛盾的主體。
A protagonist or hero/heroine is the central character of the story.
主人公是故事的中心形象。
An antagonist is the counterpart to the protagonist.
反派主角即主角的對立角色。
Tension between the protagonist and antagonist creates the story.
故事的主體是主角和反派主角之間的矛盾衝突構建的。
Speech, thoughts, actions, appearance, desires, and relationships reveal characters, and each undergoes development and/or change as the story unfolds.
小說中的形象是通過他們的話語，思想，行動，外貌，渴望和關係建構的。隨着故事展開，每個角色都會成長或者蛻變。
