死神教父
导读
格林兄弟笔下不全是“从此幸福地生活下去”的故事，《死神教父》便是其中一篇沉甸甸的寓言。我们把它改写成中国寓言体，是因为它的骨子里与中国民间智慧息息相通——它讲的正是“聪明反被聪明误”的道理。中国老话有“贪心不足蛇吞象”，也有“玩火者必自焚”：人一旦起了贪念，就会把忠告抛在脑后，一步一步走进自己挖的坑。故事里的名医，正是这样一个被贪念牵着走的人。细看格林原版会发现：他两次出手救人，头一回出于怜悯，第二回却为了美貌与王位——同样的医术，不同的用心，结局自然两样。这也是寓言最擅长的地方：用最简的情节，讲最深的道理。共读时，家长不必急着谈死亡，可以先问孩子：教父立下的规矩，医生为什么守不住？再借“命灯”的意象说说时间——有些东西错过了，就再也点不回来。
《死神教父》词汇精讲
本故事精选 12 个重点词汇，附中英释义与原文例句，帮助孩子扩展英语词汇量。
The basin in a church that holds water for a christening.
洗礼盆；教堂里举行洗礼时盛水用的盆。
"Poor man," said God, "I will hold your child at the font and give him a happy life."
“可怜的人，我愿抱着你的孩子受洗，让他一生平安快活。”
Valuable things; great wealth.
财富；珍宝。
"You give riches to the rich and let the poor go hungry. I do not want you."
“你让富人享福，却叫穷人挨饿，我不要你做教父。”
A plant used as medicine or to add flavour to food.
草药；香草。
Give him a little of this herb, and he will get well.
喂他一小口这草，自会痊愈。
A doctor who treats illness with medicine.
医生；内科大夫。
Soon the young man became the most famous physician in the land.
没过多久，年轻人果然成了天下闻名的神医。
The feeling that you are sure about something.
把握；信心。
If I stand at the patient's head, you may say with confidence that you can cure him.
若我站在病人头边，你尽可大胆说能医好他。
To trick someone or act in a dishonest way to get what you want.
欺骗；蒙骗。
"What if I cheat Death just this once?" the physician thought.
“我若骗过死神这一回，他虽会生气，可我是他的教子，他多半会睁一只眼闭一只眼。”
Broke the trust of someone who believed in you.
背叛；辜负了信任。
"You have betrayed me," he said.
“你背叛了我。”
In a very serious or dangerous way.
严重地；危重地。
Not long after, the princess fell gravely ill.
没过多久，公主又病重了。
The short piece that is left when most of a candle has burned away.
残根；（蜡烛的）残头。
Death pointed at a small stump that was about to go out.
死神指着一小截将灭的残烛。
Harming someone in return for a wrong they did to you.
报复；复仇。
But he wanted his revenge.
可他心中只想着报复。
A strong, selfish wish to have more than you need.
贪心；贪婪。
The lesson is clear: when greed takes hold of the heart, people forget the rules.
这故事告诉我们：人心一贪，就会忘了该守的规矩。
Looking at someone with anger and an intense stare.
怒目而视；瞪视。
He did not even see Death glaring at him, shaking a thin, bony fist in the air.
他竟没看见死神正瞪着他，把一只枯瘦的拳头举在半空。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
规矩不可轻破，贪心不可纵容。再聪明的人，也骗不过生死这道大坎。
教育价值
帮助孩子理解“守规矩”与“抵御诱惑”的分量，借“命灯”的意象，温和地开启关于生命有限与人人平等的思考。
家长共读提示
这则故事结局沉重，适合八岁以上的孩子。共读时不必急于谈死亡，先问问孩子“医生哪里做错了”；再借“命灯”的意象，聊聊时间宝贵、说话算话、选择要慎重。
和孩子聊一聊
- 农夫先后拒绝了上帝和魔鬼，最后却选了死神。你觉得死神真像他说的那样“最公平”吗？为什么？
- 医生第一次救国王，是出于同情；第二次救公主，是想当国王。同样是救人，这两次有什么不一样？
- 教父明明警告过医生，医生为什么还是管不住自己？如果你是他，你会怎么做？
- 故事把每个人的生命比作一支蜡烛。如果蜡烛烧完就不能再点亮，你会怎样安排自己的一天？
- “命灯”又高又亮，就一定代表活得幸福吗？说说你的想法。
