背囊、帽子和号角
导读
这是一则经典的'魔法宝物'故事,民俗学家编号 ATU 569。它的开头就藏着一个耐人寻味的选择:三兄弟先后遇到一座银山、一座金山,前两个各取所需就满足地回家了,唯有老三说'银子金子打动不了我',坚持往前走,最后得到的三件宝物——取之不尽的许愿桌布、能召唤军队的背囊、发射大炮的帽子、夷平城墙的号角——反而远胜金银。那块自动摆满美食的桌布,其实和本站另一篇《许愿桌布、点金驴和打人棍》里的宝物同出一族(德文里都叫 Tischlein deck dich,'小桌子摆好');而'许愿帽+用不完的财富'又能追溯到中世纪传奇《福尔图纳图斯》。故事后半段还有一个熟悉的身影:那位骗出丈夫魔法秘密、再趁他熟睡偷走宝物的公主——这和本站《金山王》里偷走许愿戒指的妻子如出一辙,也和《圣经》中大利拉哄出参孙力量之源的故事遥相呼应。不过要提醒的是,这个主人公并不是传统意义上的好榜样:他靠机智,也靠反复的欺骗和武力取胜,结局更是血腥。老故事把'痛快'和'代价'一起摆在孩子面前,正好留给我们一个讨论的空间。
《背囊、帽子和号角》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 state of being very poor.
贫穷;贫困。
There were once three brothers who had fallen deeper and deeper into poverty.
从前有三兄弟,他们越来越穷,陷入了贫困。
Extremely tired; having no energy left.
筋疲力尽的;耗尽的。
As he found nothing to eat or to drink, he was all but exhausted.
由于找不到吃喝,他几乎筋疲力尽。
To give up a claim, right, or possession, especially formally.
放弃;抛弃(权利、机会等)。
Silver and gold do not move me, I will not renounce my chance of fortune.
银子和金子打动不了我,我不会放弃我的机会。
Satisfied or calmed a need or feeling (such as hunger).
满足;平息(饥饿、怒气等)。
He approached the table, and ate with enjoyment until he had appeased his hunger.
他走到桌前尽情享用,直到吃饱(平息了饥饿)为止。
To become aware of or understand something.
察觉;意识到;看出。
Now I perceive, said he, in what kitchen my cooking is done.
现在我明白(看出)了,他说,我的饭是在哪个厨房做的。
Hidden; kept out of sight.
隐藏的;暗藏的。
There hangs a soldier's knapsack, in it lie concealed wonderful powers.
那边挂着一个士兵的背囊,里面藏着神奇的力量。
Worn-out and in poor condition.
破旧的;褴褛的。
He came in a ragged coat, with his shabby hat on his head, and his old knapsack on his back.
他穿着破烂的外套,戴着破旧的帽子,背着旧背囊。
Rude and disrespectful.
傲慢无礼的;蛮横的。
Two of them were to take hazel-sticks, and beat the two insolent men until they knew who he was.
其中两人要带着榛木棍,狠狠地揍那两个傲慢的人,直到他们认出他是谁。
Looked down on; regarded with contempt.
鄙视;看不起。
Thou art our brother who despised silver and gold, and craved for something still better.
你说你是我们那个视金银如粪土、渴望更好东西的兄弟。
Hid one's true feelings or intentions; pretended.
掩饰(真实感情或意图);假装。
She dissembled and caressed him, and when his heart was softened, she said...
她假意亲热,抚爱着他,当他心软时,她说……
In a skilful, nimble way with the hands.
灵巧地;敏捷娴熟地。
She dexterously took the knapsack off his shoulders, and ran away with it.
她敏捷地从他肩上取下背囊,拿着它跑了。
Laughed at someone in a cruel, scornful way.
嘲笑;奚落。
They mocked and said, "Thou givest out that thou art our brother..."
他们嘲笑说:'你说你是我们的兄弟……'
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
两个哥哥满足于眼前的一堆银子、一堆金子,老三却相信'也许还有更好的在后面'——不轻易被眼前的好处绊住脚,往往能走得更远。但故事也提醒我们:拥有强大的力量,若只用来报复与征服,结局未必幸福。真正的难题,从来不是如何取胜,而是懂得什么时候收手。
教育价值
既可讨论'延迟满足'与远大志向,也可引导孩子思考力量的两面性:主人公靠机智与宝物翻身固然痛快,但他反复骗取、以武力压人、最终酿成惨烈结局,是绝佳的思辨素材——强大之后,该如何自处?
家长共读提示
温馨提示:结尾主人公吹响号角,压死了国王和公主,相当激烈。别把这当成值得效仿的'胜利',反而正好和孩子讨论:他一次次用武力解决问题,真的让他更快乐吗?公主偷走宝物固然可恨,但用'夷平一切'来回应是否过头?也可以聊聊:老三当初为什么放着银山金山不要?
和孩子聊一聊
- 两个哥哥拿了银子、金子就满足地回家了,老三却说'也许还有更好的在后面'。你觉得他这样想是聪明还是太贪心?换作是你,会在哪座山停下?
- 老三反复用桌布去换宝物,转头又派士兵把桌布抢回来。这种'占尽便宜'的聪明,你觉得公平吗?
- 公主哄出丈夫的秘密再偷走宝物——这和《金山王》里的妻子几乎一样。为什么这么多故事里,最厉害的宝物都栽在'亲近的人'手上?
- 主人公最后吹号角压死了国王和公主。他赢了,可你觉得他快乐吗?有没有别的办法收场?
- 如果这三件宝物到了你手里,你会用它们来做什么?


