强盗新郎
导读
这是一个'相信直觉、以智取胜'的惊险故事，属于'危险新郎'类型（ATU 955），和英国的《狐狸先生》、法国的《蓝胡子》是一个家族——都在讲一个看似体面的求婚者背后藏着可怕的秘密。故事里有两个特别巧妙的地方。第一：姑娘从一开始就'看到他心里就发凉'——她相信了自己的直觉。第二，也是最妙的：强盗为了让她找到路，在林间撒了灰烬；姑娘却偷偷撒下豌豆和扁豆。结果，强盗的灰烬被风吹散了，而姑娘的豆子生根发芽，在月光下指引她逃回了家——是不是比《糖果屋》里韩赛尔的面包屑更聪明？（面包屑被鸟吃了，豆子却能长大。）最精彩的是结尾：在婚宴上，姑娘假装讲一个'梦'，一句句还原真相，还不停地说'亲爱的，梦还没完'吊足胃口，最后猛地掏出那根带戒指的手指当证据——用一个故事，把凶手钉在了当场。读的时候可以和孩子聊聊：姑娘一开始说不清为什么怕他，只是'心里发凉'。这种说不出理由的'直觉'，该不该相信？（提示家长：本篇含凶杀、食人等黑暗情节，更适合大孩子，可侧重'机智勇敢的女主角'来讲。）
《强盗新郎》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。
Worried; also, eager for something to happen.
焦虑的；急切的；渴望的。
When she was grown up he became anxious that she should be well married and taken care of.
女儿长大后，他便急着想把她嫁出去、有个好归宿。
Something that makes a person worse off; here, something bad known about him.
不利之处；缺点；（此处指）不好的把柄。
As the miller knew nothing to his disadvantage, he promised him his daughter.
磨坊主对他并不了解，也没发现什么不妥，就答应把女儿许配给他。
A feeling of cold, often from fear.
寒意；（因恐惧引起的）发冷。
As often as she saw him or thought about him, she felt a chill at her heart.
每当她看到他或想起他，心里就会感到一阵寒意。
To scatter things over a surface.
撒；散播。
I will strew ashes on the path through the wood, so that you will be sure to find it.
我会在森林的小路上撒上灰烬，你肯定能找到的。
Small round dried seeds eaten as food, like tiny beans.
扁豆；小扁豆。
She filled both pockets full of peas and lentils.
她在两个口袋里装满了豌豆和扁豆。
Complete quiet and lack of movement.
寂静；静止；沉寂。
She walked in, but there was no one there, and the greatest stillness reigned.
她走了进去，里面空无一人，一片死寂。
An underground room below a house.
地窖；地下室。
At last she reached the cellar, and there sat a very old woman nodding her head.
最后她来到地下室，看到一个白发苍苍的老妇人坐在那里点头。
People (or creatures) that eat human flesh.
食人者；吃人肉的人。
They will cut you in pieces without mercy, cook you, and eat you, for they are cannibals.
他们会毫不留情地把你碎尸万段，煮了吃掉，因为他们是食人魔。
A large wooden barrel for holding liquids.
大桶；木桶。
Then the old woman hid her behind a great cask, where she could not be seen.
老妇人把她藏在一个大桶后面，让她不被看见。
Began to grow; put out small new shoots.
发芽；抽芽；萌芽。
The peas and lentils had budded and sprung up, and the moonshine upon them showed the way.
豌豆和扁豆已经生根发芽，在月光的照耀下指明了回家的路。
Came together in one place as a group.
聚集；集合。
When the wedding-day came, the friends and neighbours assembled, the miller having invited them.
到了结婚那天，亲朋好友和邻居们都应磨坊主之邀前来参加婚礼。
Put to death as a legal punishment.
处决；处死。
He and his whole gang were, for their evil deeds, condemned and executed.
他和他的整伙强盗最终都因恶行被处以死刑。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
相信自己的直觉，警惕表里不一的人；面对强大的恶人，机智和勇气是最好的武器。
教育价值
帮助孩子学会倾听内心的警觉、识别危险，并体会女主角用智慧而非蛮力取胜的可贵。
家长共读提示
本篇含凶杀、食人等黑暗情节，更适合大孩子，可侧重'机智勇敢的女主角'。可以和《糖果屋》对照：为什么豆子比面包屑更靠得住？
和孩子聊一聊
- 姑娘一开始说不清为什么怕未婚夫，只是'看到他心里就发凉'。这种说不出理由的'直觉'，该不该相信？
- 强盗撒灰烬，姑娘撒豆子，结果灰烬被吹散、豆子却发了芽。这两种'做记号'的办法，为什么结果差这么多？
- 姑娘在婚宴上没有直接指认新郎，而是假装'讲一个梦'。她为什么要用这种方式，而不是一进门就大喊'他是凶手'？
- 面对一个比自己强壮、危险的坏人，姑娘靠的是什么赢的？
