すら / よけて

[eeky]

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]

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.

 

[eeky]

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]

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.

 

[eeky]

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?

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

 

[Glenn]

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

 

[Toritoribe]

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

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?

 

[eeky]

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]

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?

 

[eeky]

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.