Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #3
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
His old nurse Peggotty's niece Emily fled away with his best friend Mr. James Steerforth, leaving her fiance behind.
Peggotty's elder brother Mr. Peggotty has sought for her niece Emily after her leaving.
Emily's old friend Martha found out her, kept her in her lodging.
Martha led the narrator to the place, but James Steerforth's cousin Rosa Dartle arrived ahead.
A low crying, on the part of Emily, interrupted her here. She stopped, and listened to it as if it were music.
'I am of a strange nature, perhaps,' Rosa Dartle went on; 'but I can't breathe freely in the air you breathe. I find it sickly. Therefore, I will have it cleared; I will have it purified of you. If you live here tomorrow, I'll have your story and your character proclaimed on the common stair. There are decent women in the house, I am told; and it is a pity such a light as you should be among them, and concealed. If, leaving here, you seek any refuge in this town in any character but your true one (which you are welcome to bear, without molestation from me), the same service shall be done you, if I hear of your retreat. Being assisted by a gentleman who not long ago aspired to the favour of your hand, I am sanguine as to that.'
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if "am of" means "have."
2. I'd like to know why it is "the house," not "the houses."
3. I'd like to know what "light" means here.
4. And I'd like to know if the blue phrase is a gerund phrase and "that" refers to it.
Thank you in advance for your help.
His old nurse Peggotty's niece Emily fled away with his best friend Mr. James Steerforth, leaving her fiance behind.
Peggotty's elder brother Mr. Peggotty has sought for her niece Emily after her leaving.
Emily's old friend Martha found out her, kept her in her lodging.
Martha led the narrator to the place, but James Steerforth's cousin Rosa Dartle arrived ahead.
Chapter 50 Mr. PEGGOTTY'S DREAM COMES TRUE
.................................A low crying, on the part of Emily, interrupted her here. She stopped, and listened to it as if it were music.
'I am of a strange nature, perhaps,' Rosa Dartle went on; 'but I can't breathe freely in the air you breathe. I find it sickly. Therefore, I will have it cleared; I will have it purified of you. If you live here tomorrow, I'll have your story and your character proclaimed on the common stair. There are decent women in the house, I am told; and it is a pity such a light as you should be among them, and concealed. If, leaving here, you seek any refuge in this town in any character but your true one (which you are welcome to bear, without molestation from me), the same service shall be done you, if I hear of your retreat. Being assisted by a gentleman who not long ago aspired to the favour of your hand, I am sanguine as to that.'
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if "am of" means "have."
2. I'd like to know why it is "the house," not "the houses."
3. I'd like to know what "light" means here.
4. And I'd like to know if the blue phrase is a gerund phrase and "that" refers to it.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon 1. " Yes. park sang joon 2.
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park sang joon1. I'd like to know if "am of" means "have."Yes.
park sang joon2. I'd like to know why it is "the house," not "the houses."Because the reference is to only one house. The women spoken of live in the same house.
park sang joon3. I'd like to know what "light" means here.I t
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Thank you, CalifJim, for your so very helpful answer. 
4. Then I was wondering why a dangling participle is used here.
4. Then I was wondering why a dangling participle is used here.
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park sang joon4. Then I was wondering why a dangling participle is used here.I did not interpret it as a dangling participle. Wasn't the speaker the one who was assisted?
CJ
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Thank you, CalifJim, for your message.
No.
The speaker is Rosa Dartle, one of the antagonists.
One who might be assiste
No.
The speaker is Rosa Dartle, one of the antagonists.
One who might be assiste
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park sang joonThe speaker is Rosa Dartle, one of the antagonists.One who might be assisted is Emily.Then we have learned that even a famous author can write dangling participles.
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