すら / よけて

E

eeky

先輩

8 Jun 2010

2,431

22

• 9 Aug 2013

• #1

Hi,


1. もうあの板の上を男らしく歩くことすら、のぞめなくな りました。

This ought to mean that they no could no longer hope to walk the plank manfully (this is because they had lost their courage). However, I am unsure what role すら is playing. Dictionary meanings are "even; if only; if just; as long as; the only thing needed", but I don't really understand how any of these fit the sentence.


2. 海賊たちは敬意をはらって、フックのために、よけて、 道を作ってやりました。

What does よけて refer to? And, according to the dictionary, it is a transitive verb, so what is its object?

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 9 Aug 2013

• #2

1)
That's "even". 板の上を男らしく歩くこと is the least example they used to be able to do (when they still had courage).

2)
The subject is 海賊たち, and the object is フック.

 

E

eeky

先輩

8 Jun 2010

2,431

22

• 9 Aug 2013

• Thread starter
• #3

Thanks,

1. Does it imply that 板の上を男らしく歩くこと is a small or minor thing? Actually, that is the main (in fact only) thing that they need courage for. This is why I don't understand any of the meanings like "even" or "the least...". They don't seem to make sense in the context.

2. Oh, does it mean they moved out of his way, so that he (フック) could pass by?

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 9 Aug 2013

• #4

1)
Even if other things than 板の上を男らしく歩くこと are not mentioned, すら implies that they used to do things harder than 板の上を男らしく歩くこと. Doesn't this make sense?

2)
Exactly.

 

E

eeky

先輩

8 Jun 2010

2,431

22

• 9 Aug 2013

• Thread starter
• #5

Toritoribe said:

1)
Even if other things than 板の上を男らしく歩くこと are not mentioned, すら implies that they used to do things harder than 板の上を男らしく歩くこと. Doesn't this make sense?

Click to expand...

No, 板の上を歩く would lead to their death and would require more courage than anything else previously done.

 

Glenn

一切皆苦

8 Jan 2004

7,842

200

• 9 Aug 2013

• #6

This is probably just a POV difference between you and the author. I've had that happen before.

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 9 Aug 2013

• #7

eeky said:

No, 板の上を歩く would lead to their death and would require more courage than anything else previously done.

Click to expand...

Just for clarification, 臨めなくなりました makes sense? (I.e., they can't do that thing because they are not on board currently.) What are the sentences preceding or following it?

 

E

eeky

先輩

8 Jun 2010

2,431

22

• 9 Aug 2013

• Thread starter
• #8

Some children have been captured by pirates and are being held on the pirate ship. The pirates intend to make them "walk the plank", as it is in English, meaning that they will be forced to walk off the side of the ship into the sea and will then be left to drown. The children were previously trying to be brave and manful. Then:

みんなの目は、板の上だけにそそがれていたのです。二、三歩歩けば、おだぶつです。もうあの板の上を男らしく歩くことすら、のぞめなくな りました。物を考える力もなくなり、ただ、板をじっと見つめて、ふるえているだけです。

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 9 Aug 2013

• #9

I see, then that's 望む.

板の上を男らしく歩くこと is the only thing he can do bravely and manfully for his pride, but now he can't even do that since he is thoroughly intimidated by the situation. (He hoped to walk at least bravely and manfully, but he can't even do that.)

How about this?

 

E

eeky

先輩

8 Jun 2010

2,431

22

• 9 Aug 2013

• Thread starter
• #10

To be honest I still don't see it, but thanks anyway. It may be, as Glenn said, that different people have different perceptions of what is being described.