Ludwig Van Beethoven was one of the greatest musicians in the 19 th century. John Lennon was one of the greatest musicians in the 20 th century. Although there is a period of about 200 years between them, they are quite similar in certain ways.

　　Both men expressed the spirit of their time in their music. Beethoven lived in the period of rising capitalism. At that time, people were trying to break the shackles of feudalism , and they were pursuing freedom, equality, and universal love. This social trend, especially the French revolution, greatly inspired Beethoven. His music was very active, passionate, and vigorous. Some of his works praised heroism, some conveyed the love for nature, and some extolled harmony among people. Similarly, Lennon’s music revealed his time. In the 1960s and 1970 s, the youth in America were deeply frustrated by the discrimination and injustice in the society and were longing to build a new one . Most of Lennon’s songs expressed the ideas of the youth. In one of his songs entitled Imagine, he sings,“Imagine all the people , living under peace ”, and“The world will be united together as one”. These words show his anti-war attitude and his hope for peace , and reflect the spirit of the 60s and 70 s.

　　Both men were social rebels to some extent. They refused to bow to social conventions and power. Beethoven was a devoted republican . When Napoleon was in power, who claimed to be a defender of republicanism, Beethoven admired him so much that he dedicated his Symphony No. 3, the theme of which is heroism, to him. But then Napoleon crowned himself and became an emperor. Beethoven was so angry that he openly declared he took back what he had said about Napoleon, regardless of possible persecution. Lennon was also considered a trouble-maker by the authorities because of his support for youth movements. For a time he was not even allowed to give public performances. But he ignored all this and stuck to his belief.

　　閱讀自測

　　Ⅰ. Fin d the correct me anings of the words in the left from the right side :

　　1. passionate A. praise somebody or something highly

　　2. dedicate B. discouraged, not satisfied

　　3. frustrated C. caused by or showing strong feelings

　　4. stick to D. not change something; keep to

　　5. extol E. address ( one’s book, a piece of music) to somebody as a way of showing respect

　?、? Fill in the blanks :

　　1. At the time of capitalism, people were trying to break the _____________( 枷鎖) of feudalism to pursue freedom _____________( 平等) and _____________( 博愛) . 2. In the 60 s and 70s, the youth in America were deeply frustrated by the _____________( 歧 視) and _____________( 不公正) in the society and were longing to build a new one. 3. They refused to bow to social _____________( 習俗) and power and Beethoven was a _____________( 忠實的) republican. 4. But then Napoleon ________( 加冕) himself and became an emperor.

　　參考答案

　?、? 1. C 2 . E 3. B 4 . D 5. A

　?、? 1. shackles / equality / universal love 2. discrimination / injustice 3. conventions / devoted 4. crowned

　　參考譯文

　　以音樂作武器

　　路 德維希· 馮· 貝多芬是18 世紀最偉大的音樂家之一。約翰· 列儂則是20 世紀最 有成就的音樂家之一。盡管兩人相距近兩百年, 但是他們在某些方面卻極其相似。

　　貝多芬和列儂都在音樂中表達各自的時代精神。貝多芬生活在資本主義崛起之時。 那時, 人們正試圖打破封建主義的枷鎖, 追求自由、平等和博愛。這種社會趨勢, 特別是法 國大革命, 給了他極大的啟發。貝多芬的音樂非常積極向上、熱情激昂、氣勢磅礴。他的音 樂作品有的贊美英雄主義, 有的表達對自然的熱愛之情, 還有的歌頌人與人之間的融洽情 感。和貝多芬一樣, 列儂的音樂也展示了他生活的那個時代。20 世紀60 年代與70 年代, 美國社會上出現的歧視與不公正現象強烈地打擊了青年們, 他們都期望建立新的社會。列 儂的歌曲大多表達了青年的這種思想。他在一首名為《想象》的歌曲中唱道,“ 想象全人類 都生活在和平之中”,“ 世界大同”。這些歌詞表達了他的反戰情緒以及對和平的向往之 情, 并反射出上世紀60 和70 年代的時代精神。

　　在 一定程度上, 兩人都是社會的叛逆者。他們拒絕向社會習俗和權勢低頭。貝多芬是 個忠實的共和黨人。拿破侖當權時曾宣稱自己是共和制的捍衛者, 貝多芬非常欽佩他, 就 把歌頌英雄主義的作品《第三交響曲》獻給了他。但是不久, 拿破侖就加冕稱帝了。貝多 芬異常氣憤, 不顧可能遭受的迫害, 公開宣布收回對拿破侖的贊揚。列儂因支持青年運動 也被當權者認定是搗亂分子, 甚至一度遭到封殺, 可他卻依然不顧一切地堅持自己的信仰。