六只天鹅
导读
这是一则关于'为爱坚持'的动人故事，属于民间故事里'妹妹寻找变成鸟的哥哥们'类型（ATU 451）。安徒生著名的《野天鹅》就是同一类型的文学改写——只是安徒生笔下的公主用的是荨麻，而格林兄弟用的是紫菀花。为了解开哥哥们身上的魔咒，妹妹必须整整六年不说话、不欢笑，一针一针缝制六件花衬衫。最打动人的是那份'不完美的圆满'：因为最后一件衬衫还差一只左袖没缝完，最小的哥哥变回人形后，左臂就永远留着一只天鹅翅膀——付出的代价，看得见、抹不掉。这个故事的分量在于：妹妹宁可被冤枉成吃人怪物、被推上火刑柴堆，也不肯开口喊冤，因为一开口，哥哥们就再也变不回来了。读的时候可以和孩子聊聊：有些沉默不是懦弱，而是最深的勇敢和爱——但也别忘了：真正爱你的人，是不会逼你用受苦来证明清白的。（提示家长：本篇有偷婴、火刑等紧张情节，可侧重'坚持与爱'来讲。）
《六只天鹅》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。
Chased after someone or something in order to catch it.
追赶；追逐；追捕。
He pursued a wild animal so eagerly that none of his people could follow him.
他如此急切地追逐一头野兽，以至于随从们都跟丢了。
Something that must be agreed to or done before something else can happen.
条件；前提。
Certainly I can; but I must make a condition, and if you do not fulfil it, you will never get out of the wood again.
当然可以；但我必须提一个条件，如果您不满足它，您就永远别想走出这片森林。
Harm, or naughty behaviour that causes trouble.
伤害；祸害；恶作剧。
As he was afraid the step-mother might not behave well to them, and perhaps would do them some mischief.
因为担心继母可能不会善待他们，甚至会加害于他们。
Gave someone money to get them to do something dishonest.
贿赂；收买。
She bribed his servants with much money, and they showed her the secret.
她用重金收买仆人，仆人泄露了秘密。
An outward form or appearance that hides what is real.
外表；伪装；样子。
She told him how she had seen from her window her brothers in the guise of swans fly away through the wood.
她告诉他，自己在窗前看到哥哥们变成天鹅的样子飞越了森林。
The state of being very tired.
疲倦；疲惫。
She went on all that night and the next day, until she could go no longer for weariness.
她走了整整一夜又一天，直到累得再也走不动了。
Came down and settled, as a bird does.
（鸟）落下；停歇。
They alighted on the ground, and blew at one another until they had blown all their feathers off.
它们落在地上，互相吹气，直到吹掉所有的羽毛。
A place where a person or group often goes or lives.
常去之地；出没的地方；巢穴。
This is a robbers' haunt, and if they were to come and find you here, they would kill you.
这是强盗的巢穴，如果他们回来发现你在这里，会杀了你的。
The act of making someone believe something that is not true.
欺骗；欺诈；诡计。
The next time that a fine boy was born, the wicked step-mother used the same deceit.
下一次，当一个漂亮的男孩出生时，邪恶的继母故技重施。
The act of betraying someone who trusts you.
背叛；背信弃义；奸诈。
She related to him the treachery of the step-mother, who had taken away the three children and hidden them.
她向国王讲述了老妇人的背叛行为，是她偷走了三个孩子并将他们藏了起来。
Became friendly again after a quarrel or misunderstanding.
和解；重归于好。
And she was reconciled to the king with great joy, and the wicked step-mother was bound to the stake.
她与国王满怀喜悦地和解了，而邪恶的婆婆被绑在了火刑柱上。
A sudden shaking of the body from fear or dislike.
战栗；颤抖；哆嗦。
Though he saw that she was very beautiful, she did not please him, and he could not look at her without an inward shudder.
虽然国王看出她确实非常美丽，但他并不喜欢她，甚至看她一眼都会不由自主地战栗。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
真正的爱需要耐心、坚持和自我牺牲；沉默有时不是软弱，而是最深沉的勇气。
教育价值
帮助孩子理解坚持、忠诚与为他人付出的意义，体会'相信'的力量，并学会分辨诬陷与真相。
家长共读提示
本篇情节紧张（偷婴、火刑），建议侧重'为爱坚持'的主题来讲。也可以和安徒生的《野天鹅》对照读，看看两位作家怎么讲同一个故事。
和孩子聊一聊
- 妹妹被冤枉成吃人怪物、要被烧死，却始终不肯开口喊冤。你能理解她为什么宁可受这样的委屈吗？
- 因为衬衫少缝了一只袖子，最小的哥哥永远带着一只天鹅翅膀。这个'不完美的结局'让你有什么感觉？
- 六年不说话、不笑，是一件极难的事。你能坚持做一件很难又很久的事去帮助你爱的人吗？
- 国王一直相信妻子是无辜的，即便证据看起来对她不利。'相信一个人'需要什么？
