白蛇
导读
这是一个温暖的'知恩图报'故事，属于世界各地都非常喜爱的'感恩的动物'类型（ATU 554）：善良的主人公一路上帮助了三种小动物——搁浅的鱼、被马蹄踩到的蚂蚁、快饿死的小乌鸦；后来当他面对三道不可能完成的难题时，正是这些动物飞来、游来、爬来，一一报答了他。故事开头那条能让人'听懂动物语言'的白蛇，也很有来头：在很多古老神话里，尝到某种神奇的食物就能听懂鸟兽之言——北欧英雄西格弗里德尝了龙血，就听懂了鸟语。这个故事最打动人的地方在于：主人公的善良是'要付出代价'的善良——为了喂饱饿坏的小乌鸦，他甚至杀掉了自己的坐骑。它悄悄告诉孩子：真正的善意，有时不只是举手之劳，而是愿意为弱小者付出。读的时候可以和孩子聊聊：主人公帮助那些小动物时，并不知道以后会有回报——不图回报的善良，和'为了得到好处'的善良，有什么不一样？
《白蛇》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。
Well known and admired; famous.
著名的；闻名的。
A long time ago there lived a king who was famed for his wisdom through all the land.
很久以前，有一位国王以智慧闻名全国。
A usual way of doing something; a habit or tradition.
习惯；风俗；惯例。
But he had a strange custom; every day after dinner a trusty servant had to bring him one more dish.
但他有一个奇怪的习惯：每天晚餐后，一位忠实的侍从必须给他端上最后一道菜。
A strong wish to know or find out about something.
好奇心；求知欲。
One day the servant was overcome with such curiosity that he could not help carrying the dish into his room.
有一天，那个侍从实在按捺不住好奇心，忍不住把盘子端进了自己的房间。
Talking quickly and continuously about unimportant things.
喋喋不休地说；（鸟）啁啾。
It was the sparrows who were chattering together, and telling one another of all kinds of things.
原来是麻雀们在聊天，互相讲述着各种见闻。
A feeling that someone has done something wrong.
怀疑；嫌疑。
The Queen lost her most beautiful ring, and suspicion of having stolen it fell upon this trusty servant.
王后丢失了她最美丽的一枚戒指，嫌疑落在了这个忠实的侍从身上。
The state of being not guilty of a crime.
无辜；清白。
In vain he declared his innocence; he was dismissed with no better answer.
侍从极力申辩自己是无辜的，但这无济于事，他被赶了出来。
To die, especially in a sudden or violent way.
死亡；丧生；灭亡。
He heard them lamenting that they must perish so miserably.
他听到它们在哀叹自己将要悲惨地死去。
Tall grass-like plants that grow in or near water.
芦苇。
He came to a pond, where he saw three fishes caught in the reeds and gasping for water.
他来到一个池塘边，看到三条鱼被困在芦苇丛中，缺水挣扎。
To lose something (or one's life) as a penalty for failing.
丧失；被没收；（作为代价）付出。
Whoever sues for her hand must perform a hard task, and if he does not succeed he will forfeit his life.
求婚者必须完成一项艰难的任务，如果失败，就要付出生命的代价。
A small sea or river animal with a dark, hinged shell.
贻贝；淡菜；蚌。
The one in the middle held a mussel in its mouth, which it laid on the shore at the youth's feet.
中间那条嘴里衔着一只蚌，把它放在年轻人脚边的岸上。
Looked down on someone as worthless; treated with contempt.
轻蔑；鄙视；看不起。
When the proud princess perceived that he was not her equal in birth, she scorned him.
当骄傲的公主发现他出身并不高贵时，便看不起他。
A cereal plant with tiny seeds, grown for food.
小米；粟；黍。
She strewed with her own hands ten sacks-full of millet-seed on the grass.
她亲手在草地上撒了十袋小米种子。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
善待每一个弱小的生命，善意终会以意想不到的方式回报；真正的善良，愿意为他人付出代价。
教育价值
培养孩子的同理心与爱护弱小之心，理解'不求回报的善良'，并体会知恩图报的美好。
家长共读提示
和孩子一起找出主人公帮助过的三种动物，再看它们各自是怎么报答他的，玩'配对'游戏；也可聊聊：帮助别人时，该不该先想着回报？
和孩子聊一聊
- 主人公帮助小鱼、蚂蚁和乌鸦时，并不知道以后会有回报。不图回报的善良，和'为了得到好处'的善良，有什么不一样？
- 为了喂饱快饿死的小乌鸦，他甚至杀掉了自己的马。你觉得这样做值得吗？善良需要'付出代价'时，还容易做到吗？
- 三种最不起眼的小动物（鱼、蚂蚁、乌鸦），最后帮他完成了人都做不到的任务。这告诉我们，该怎么看待'弱小'的人或生命？
- 公主一开始因为他出身低就看不起他，出了一道又一道难题。你觉得她最后是被什么打动的？
