第 19 节
作者:沸点123      更新:2021-02-27 02:03      字数:9322
  they see most clearly what you see most largely。 Draw; then; from a full
  well; not from a supply so low that the pumps wheeze at every pull。
  Dramatic power of the reasonably quiet and suggestive type demanded
  for telling a story will come pretty surely in the train of effort along these
  lines;   it   follows   the   clear   concept   and   sincerity   in   imparting   it;   and   is   a
  natural consequence of the visualising imagination。
  It   is   inextricably   bound   up;   also;   with   the   causes   and   results   of   the
  quality which finds place in my final injunction; to tell your story WITH
  ZEST。   It   might   almost   be   assumed   that   the   final   suggestion   renders   the
  preceding one superfluous; so direct is the effect of a lively interest on the
  dramatic quality of a narration; but it would not of itself be adequate; the
  necessity   of   visualising   imagination   is   paramount。   Zest   is;   however;   a
  close second to this clearness of mental vision。 It is entirely necessary to
  be interested in your own story; to enjoy it as you tell it。 If you are bored
  and   tired;   the   children   will   soon   be   bored   and   tired;   too。   If   you   are   not
  interested your manner cannot get that vitalised spontaneity which makes
  dramatic power possible。 Nothing else will give that relish on the lips; that
  gusto; which communicates its joy to the audience and makes it receptive
  to   every   impression。   I   used   to   say   to   teachers;   〃Tell   your   story   with   all
  your   might;〃   but   I  found   that   this by  a   natural   misconception   was   often
  interpreted to mean 〃laboriously。〃 And of course nothing is more injurious
  to   the   enjoyment   of   an   audience   than   obvious   effort   on   the   part   of   the
  entertainer。   True      zest  can    beoften    isextremely   quiet;      but  it  gives   a
  savour nothing else can impart。
  〃But how; at the end of a hard morning's work; can I be interested in a
  story I have told twenty times before?〃 asks the kindergarten or primary
  teacher; not without reason。
  There are two things to be said。 The first is a reminder of the wisdom
  of choosing stories in which you originally have interest; and of having a
  store large enough to permit variety。 The second applies to those inevitable
  times   of   weariness   which   attack   the   most   interested   and   well…   stocked
  story…teller。 You are; perhaps; tired out physically。 You have told a certain
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  story till it seems as if a repetition of it must produce bodily effects dire to
  contemplate; yet that happens to be the very story you must tell。 What can
  you do? I answer; 〃Make believe。〃 The device seems incongruous with the
  repeated   warnings   against   pretence;   but   it   is   necessary;   and   it   is   wise。
  Pretend as hard as ever you can to be interested。 And the result will be
  before you know itthat you will BE interested。 That is the chief cause of
  the recommendation; it brings about the result it simulates。 Make believe;
  as   well   as   you   know   how;   and   the   probability   is   that   you   will   not   even
  know when the transition from pretended to real interest comes。
  And fortunately; the children never know the difference。 They have not
  that   psychological   infallibility   which   is   often   attributed   to   them。   They
  might; indeed; detect a pretence which continued through a whole tale; but
  that is so seldom necessary that it needs little consideration。
  So then: enjoy your story; be interested in it;if you possibly can; and
  if you cannot; pretend to be; till the very pretence brings about the virtue
  you have assumed。
  There     is  much     else  which     might    be  said   and   urged    regarding     the
  method      of   story…telling;    even    without     encroaching      on   the   domain     of
  personal   variations。 A  whole   chapter   might;   for   example;   be   devoted   to
  voice   and   enunciation;   and   then   leave   the   subject   fertile。   But   voice   and
  enunciation are after all merely single manifestations of degree and quality
  of   culture;   of   taste;   and   of   natural   gift。   No   set   rules   can   bring   charm  of
  voice and speech to a person whose feeling and habitual point of view are
  fundamentally        wrong;     the   person     whose     habitual    feeling    and   mental
  attitude are fundamentally right needs few or no rules。 As the whole matter
  of   story…telling     is  in  the   first  instance    an  expression      of  the   complex
  personal product; so will this feature of it vary in perfection according to
  the beauty and culture of the human mechanism manifesting it。
  A   few   generally   applicable   suggestions   may;   however;   be   useful;
  always assuming the story… teller to have the fundamental qualifications of
  fine and wholesome habit。 These are not rules for the art of speaking; they
  are    merely     some     practical    considerations       regarding      speaking     to   an
  audience。
  First; I would reiterate my earlier advice; be simple。 Affectation is the
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  worst     enemy     of   voice   and    enunciation     alike。   Slovenly     enunciation      is
  certainly   very   dreadful;   but   the   unregenerate   may   be   pardoned   if   they
  prefer   it   to   the   affected   mouthing   which   some   over…nice   people   without
  due sense of values expend on every syllable which is so unlucky as to fall
  between their teeth。
  Next I would urge avoidance of a fault very common with those who
  speak much in large rooms;the mistaken effort at loudness。 This results
  in tightening and straining the throat; finally producing nasal head…tones or
  a voice of metallic harshness。 And it is entirely unnecessary。 There is no
  need to   speak   loudly。 The   ordinary schoolroom  needs no vocal   effort。 A
  hall   seating   three   or   four   hundred   persons   demands   no   effort   whatever
  beyond a certain clearness and definiteness of speech。 A hall seating from
  five    to  eight   hundred     needs    more    skill   in  aiming    the   voice;   but   still
  demands no shouting。
  It   is   indeed   largely  the  psychological   quality  of   a   tone  that   makes   it
  reach   in   through   the   ear   to   the   comprehension。   The   quiet;   clear;   restful;
  persuasive tone of a speaker who knows his power goes straight home; but
  loud   speech   confuses。   Never   speak   loudly。   In   a   small   room;   speak   as
  gently and easily as in conversation; in a large room; think of the people
  farthest away; and speak clearly; with a slight separation between words;
  and     with   definite    phrasing;     aiming     your   MIND       toward     the  distant
  listeners。
  If one is conscious of nasality or throatiness of voice; it certainly pays
  to   study   the   subject   seriously   with   an   intelligent   teacher。   But   a   good;
  natural     speaking…voice;      free   from    extraordinary      vices;   will   fill  all  the
  requirements   of   story…telling   to   small   audiences;   without   other   attention
  than comes indirectly from following the general principles of the art。
  To sum it all up; then; let us say of the method likely to bring success
  in telling stories; that it includes sympathy; grasp; spontaneity: one must
  appreciate the story; and know it; and then; using the realising imagination
  as a constant vivifying force; and dominated by the mood of the story; one
  must tell it with all one's might;simply; vitally; joyously。
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  CHAPTER V
  SOME SPECIFIC SCHOOLROOM USES OF STORY…TELLING
  In Chapter II。; I have tried to give my conception of the general aim of
  story…telling in school。 From that conception; it is not difficult to deduce
  certain   specific   uses。   The   one   most   plainly   intimated   is   that   of   a   brief
  recreation   period;   a   feature   which   has   proved   valuable   in   many   classes。
  Less   definitely   implied;   but   not   to   be   ignored;   was   the   use   of   the   story
  during; or accessory to; the lesson in science or history。
  But more distinctive and valuable than these; I think; is a specific use
  which   I   have   recently   had   the   pleasure   of   seeing   exemplified   in   great
  completeness in the schools of Providenc