| Idiom: At the end of one's rope | The proper position for "Also" |
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 Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:58 am Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book' |
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Hi,
Sorry to bother you again. I've got some more questions from the book.
| Quote: | "Sit down," said the mule, "or you'll snap your long stick-legs between the guns." He cocked one ear and listened. "Bullocks!" he said. "Gun bullocks. On my word, you and your friends have waked the camp very thoroughly. It takes a good deal of prodding to put up a gun-bullock."
I heard a chain dragging along the ground, and a yoke of the great sulky white bullocks that drag the heavy siege guns when the elephants won't go any nearer to the firing, came shouldering along together. And almost stepping on the chain was another battery mule, calling wildly for "Billy." |
1. Does 'put up' mean 'awaken'?
2. Does 'firing' mean 'shooting' here?
3. What does 'came shouldering along together' mean?
| Quote: | | "But this wasn't harness or anything that jingled," said the young mule. "You know I don't mind that now, Billy. It was Things like trees, and they fell up and down the lines and bubbled; and my head-rope broke, and I couldn't find my driver, and I couldn't find you, Billy, so I ran off with—with these gentlemen." |
4. Could this be paraphrased as: It was Things like trees I mind, which fell all over the lines and gurgled?
| Quote: | | We've broken out of our pickets, again and again, four hundred and fifty of us, just because a new recruit got to telling tales of whip snakes at home in Australia till we were scared to death of the loose ends of our head-ropes." |
5. Could it be paraphrased as: a new recruit kept telling tales of whip snakes at home in Australia till we got scared to death of the loose ends of our head-ropes. If so, I feel 'got to' is a little far away from 'kept'. In fact I haven't quite got hold of the structure of the sentence.
Could you help me out with them. Many thanks.
Haihao |
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Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1389
Location: Japan
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| Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:19 am Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book' |
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1. Does 'put up' mean 'awaken'? -- or 'alarm' or 'disturb'. (Sports) To startle (game animals) from cover: 'put up grouse'.
2. Does 'firing' mean 'shooting' here?-- Yes
3. What does 'came shouldering along together' mean? -- A yoked pair came along, shoulder to shoulder (of necessity, since they are tied together at the yoke).
4. Could this be paraphrased as: It was Things like trees I mind, which fell all over the lines and gurgled? -- Yes, Things that looked like trees.
5. Could it be paraphrased as: a new recruit kept telling tales of whip snakes at home in Australia till we got scared to death of the loose ends of our head-ropes. -- Yes, except for 'kept'.
If so, I feel 'got to' is a little far away from 'kept'. In fact I haven't quite got hold of the structure of the sentence. -- Get to + -ing = begin + -ing.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber
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| Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:59 am Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book' |
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Hi Mister Micawber,
Thank you so very much again for your interpretions and I have been made again rest in complete satisfaction with the answers! Also, very happily, Mister Micawber, I would like to tell you that with those last questions I have at last finished up 'The Jungle Book', which is really so wonderful a book, though quite difficult and challenging for me to understand it well.... I have always had a feeling that it is just like that Mister Micawber always heartfeltly being there with David that you have been shouldering me along for my venture through the jungle.
With all the gratefulness and respectfulness,
Haihao |
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Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1389
Location: Japan
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| Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:03 am Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book' |
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I'm glad you enjoyed it. What's next on your reading list?
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber
Language Coach
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Location: Yokohama, Japan
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| Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:42 am Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book' |
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I am thinking of some 20th century English novels, Mister Micawber, such as The Great Gatsby, Main Street and Ulysses. But I have heard Ulysses is a difficult book so maybe it'd be better for me to take up Main Street first. Would you please carry me along the Main Street then?  Thank you in advance.
Haihao |
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Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1389
Location: Japan
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| Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:30 am Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book' |
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'Main Street'? I can't even remember whether it was written by Upton Sinclair, or Sinclair Lewis.
Guess I'll have to brush up on it a bit.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
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Location: Yokohama, Japan
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| Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:10 am Some more questions from 'The Jungle Book' |
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Good morning! Mister Micawber. Thank you for your kindness. It's by Sinclair Lewis. I have already got the book recently and begun my new journey on it.
Haihao |
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Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1389
Location: Japan
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| Idiom: At the end of one's rope | The proper position for "Also" |
