Graceful Hands 课文结构分析/text structure analysis

Graceful Hands

In narrative, it is common to write according to a chronological order: — listing events just according to the time sequence. This kind of writing is much used in brief biographical and autobiographical sketches, and in telling stories. For this reading passage, while the author is describing what happens according to the time sequence, she takes care to zero in on a single dominant impression that is to be left to readers. Look at the following chart and you will find:

    1. The first part of the passage consists of 4 paragraphs, from Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 4, telling us something about “I”, the author — a medical worker, the patient — Mrs. Clark and how the patient is. The descriptions are presented in a chronological order. First the author tells us that she has never seen the patient — Mrs. Clark before and she learns from the medical report that the patient will die that night. Then the author describes what she sees on entering the room in Paragraph 2. From Paragraph 3 to Paragraph 4, the author gives a detailed description about the patient's conditions — she is very thin; the skin hangs loosely around her skeleton; her sunken chest rises and falls with the uneven breaths; when the author feels about the patient she is shocked to find her thin fingers ice cold and her pulse faint. All the descriptions join to leave readers a dominant impression that the patient is dying.

    2. The second part has only one paragraph, Paragraph 5, which is arranged according to the time sequence too, though without any time markers. We can understand the time sequence from our knowledge of the real world: after the author examines the patient, she does something for the patient as a medical worker. Through her service to the patient, the author creates a dominant impression on readers that the patient is seriously ill, too weak for anything.

    3. The third part is made up of 2 paragraphs, from Paragraph 6 to Paragraph 7. Here
we have a clear time marker: “When I am finished” with helping the patient. We have the real exchange between the two human beings. It is also the first time that the author mentions that the patient's graceful hands catch her attention. And in this part the author comes to understand what is in the patient's mind. The patient chooses to send her family home and expresses her thanks to the author for being with her at this special moment.

    4. The fourth part is Paragraph 8. We can find the time marker — “Some unknown interval of time passes before her eyes open again”, which clearly connects the present part to the preceding one. The patient dies. And the author seems to have a better understanding of the patient. Mrs. Clark spares her family from seeing her die and the author feels it a privilege to be there with the patient.

    5. The fifth part is Paragraph 9. It is only two days after Mrs. Clark's death that the author comes to learn more about her from the newspaper.

    6. The last part is Paragraph 10 — only one line: Yes, they were long and graceful fingers. It leaves readers much space for further thoughts.

　I have never seen the patient, Mrs. Clark before, but I know that she will die tonight.
Para. 1

In the patient's room: It is typical of a seriously ill patient's room.
The only light from a piece of medical equipment is flashing; the smell of decay hits my nose; and it is very quiet with the light on.
Para. 2

About the patient's conditions: The patient is dying.
Mrs. Clark lies motionless, too weak to say anything. She is very thin; the skin hangs loosely around her skeleton; her sunken chest rises and falls with the uneven breaths.
I feel about the patient to find her thin fingers ice cold and her pulse faint. I help her to some water and she manages to swallow some liquid with difficulty.
Paras. 3-4

Paras. 1-4

I offer service to the patient, who is too weak for anything.
I go about providing for her needs without asking her. I turn her on her side, rub cream into her yellow skin and place a pillow between her legs.
Para. 5

The exchange between the two human beings:

I notice for the first time her long, thin and graceful fingers and wonder why she is alone without anyone by her side. Mrs. Clark answers my thoughts with her last ounce of strength, “I sent … my family ... home … tonight … didn’t want …them … to see …” and she asks me to stay.
Para. 6

Time seems to stand still. Our eyes meet and her long fingers curl easily around my hand and without words, I receive her thanks through her yellowed eyes.
Para. 7

    The patient dies.
    Without warning, her shallow breathing stops. There is a swell of emotion within me for this stranger. Yet I feel it was a privilege she has allowed me to stay with her at her last moment of life. Mrs. Clark spared her family from seeing her die, yet she did not want to die alone. And I am glad I was there for her.
    Para. 8

    Who was the patient?
    Two days later, I read about Mrs. Clark in the newspaper. She was the mother of seven, grandmother of eighteen, an active member of her church, a leader of volunteer associations in her community, a concert piano player, and a piano teacher for over thirty years.
    Para. 9

    What do I remember of her?
    Yes, they were long and graceful fingers.
    Para. 10

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Graceful Hands 课文结构分析/text structure analysis

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