Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #1
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
He was an apprentice for Mr. Spenlow.
He and Mr. Spenlow's only daughter Dora fell in love with each other, but after Mr. Spenlow's sudden death, she moved in with her two aunts.
Now He is married to Dora.
.................................
I doubt whether two young birds could have known less about keeping house, than I and my pretty Dora did. We had a servant, of course. She kept house for us. I have still a latent belief that she must have been Mrs. Crupp's daughter in disguise, we had such an awful time of it with Mary Anne.
Her name was Paragon. Her nature was represented to us, when we engaged her, as being feebly expressed in her name. She had a written character, as large as a proclamation; and, according to this document, could do everything of a domestic nature that ever I heard of, and a great many things that I never did hear of. She was a woman in the prime of life; of a severe countenance; and subject (particularly in the arms) to a sort of perpetual measles or fiery rash.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "an awful time of it" means.
2. I'd like to know what "a written character" means.
3. I don't think it is possible that anyone can catch the measles more than once.
So I was wondering what "perpetual measles" indicates.
Thank you in advance for your help.
He was an apprentice for Mr. Spenlow.
He and Mr. Spenlow's only daughter Dora fell in love with each other, but after Mr. Spenlow's sudden death, she moved in with her two aunts.
Now He is married to Dora.
.................................
I doubt whether two young birds could have known less about keeping house, than I and my pretty Dora did. We had a servant, of course. She kept house for us. I have still a latent belief that she must have been Mrs. Crupp's daughter in disguise, we had such an awful time of it with Mary Anne.
Her name was Paragon. Her nature was represented to us, when we engaged her, as being feebly expressed in her name. She had a written character, as large as a proclamation; and, according to this document, could do everything of a domestic nature that ever I heard of, and a great many things that I never did hear of. She was a woman in the prime of life; of a severe countenance; and subject (particularly in the arms) to a sort of perpetual measles or fiery rash.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "an awful time of it" means.
2. I'd like to know what "a written character" means.
3. I don't think it is possible that anyone can catch the measles more than once.
So I was wondering what "perpetual measles" indicates.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon 1. I'd like to know what "an awful time of it" means. a difficult experience park sang joon 2.
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park sang joon1. I'd like to know what "an awful time of it" means.a difficult experience
park sang joon2. I'd like to know what "a written character" means.Her name indicated her character (nature/personality)
park sang joon. I don't think it is possible that anyone can catch the meas
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Thank you, Mr. Micawber, for your so very helpful answer. 
1. Her name indicated her character (nature/personalit
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a character here is an archaic term for a reference from a previous employer.
a written character means it was in writing, probably in the form of a letter. (eg To Whom It May Concern)
Clive
a written character means it was in writing, probably in the form of a letter. (eg To Whom It May Concern)
Clive
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park sang joonThen I was wondering what "it" refers to.Yes, Clive is right. I took 'Her name is Paragon' literally, when it is a metaphor.
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