Uncle Sam and the Rest of the Gang(b)|山姆、约翰、玛丽安，还有

by Matthew Brown

Many countries have recognizable figures that symbolize what that country is.

许多国家都有一个公认象征该国的人物。

Of course, the United States isn't the only country with a national personification. Many, if not most, countries have at least one. England, for example, has the well-known personification of John Bull. John Bull is a bit of a strange fellow for a country to choose as its symbol because he's usually shown as a middle-aged man with a large belly. Around this large waist he wears the Union Jack, the flag of the UK. John Bull has appeared in many political cartoons over the years and has developed his own personality. He is a man who has common sense, just wants peace at home, and appreciates a good beer. Sometimes, in connection with his name, he is accompanied by a pet bulldog. He is not a hero, nor is he a leader like Uncle Sam. Instead, John Bull is meant to symbolize the average Englishman of the past.

There seem to be at least as many female personifications of nations as there are male. France's Marianne, a symbol with a long history, is one of these. She is supposed to represent two combined values: reason and liberty. Another female example is the Maiden of Finland, a woman usually portrayed with one arm reaching up into the air. The Maiden of Finland is actually based on the shape of the country. On a map, Finland looks a bit like a woman in a skirt with a raised arm. Similar to countries and their people, national personifications change with the times.

1.  What was the drawing of Uncle Sam originally used for?

(A) To represent a popular magazine.

(B) To warn Americans that another war was coming.

(C) To show Americans that all wars must stop.

(D) To inspire Americans to do what they could to contribute to the war.

2.  Who did Uncle Sam look like?

(A) James Montgomery Flagg.

(B) President Roosevelt.

(C) No one knows.

(D) A typical American citizen.

3.  Which of the following is NOT true of John Bull?

(A) He is tall and muscular.

(B) He wears a flag around his stomach.

(C) He sometimes has a pet with him.

(D) He symbolizes an ordinary British man.

4.  France's Marianne _____.

(A) is a new symbol for the country

(B) always gives speeches about reason and liberty

(C) has been around for a while

(D) looks like the shape of France

　当然，美国不是唯一一个有国家拟人∕物化形象的国家。就算不是绝大多数的国家，很多国家也都至少有一个。比方说，英国就有一个知名的拟人化形象――约翰‧布尔。选择约翰‧布尔作为国家的拟人化形象有一点奇怪，因为约翰‧布尔多半是以大肚子的中年男子形象出现。在他的大肚皮上穿的是『联合杰克』――也就是大英联合王国的旗帜。多年来，约翰‧布尔在许多政治卡通里出现过，而且逐渐发展出他的个性。他是一个常识丰富、只想待在家里享清福，而且很能享受好啤酒滋味的人。有时候因为名字的关系，他会和宠物牛头犬一同出现。他不是英雄人物，也不像山姆大叔一样是个领导人物。相反的，约翰‧布尔象征的是昔日的英国平民百姓。

女性的国家拟人∕物化形象似乎至少和男性一样多。法国的玛丽安――一个有着悠久历史的象征――就是其中之一。她所应该代表的是两种价值的结合：理性与自由。另一个女性的例子是『芬兰的女儿』，通常她被画成是一个一只手高举的女性形象。『芬兰的女儿』其实是根据芬兰国土的形状。在地图上，芬兰看起来有点像是一个身穿裙子、高举着一只手的女人。而就像国家及其人民一样，国家的拟人∕物化象征也会随着时代而改变。

   1.  山姆大叔的画作最初是用来作何种用途？

(A) 代表一本很受欢迎的杂志。

(B) 警告美国人民另一场战争即将来临。

(C) 告诉美国人民，所有的战争都必须停止。

(D) 激励美国人民尽全力对战事有所贡献。

   2.  山姆大叔长得像谁？

(A) 詹姆士‧蒙哥马利‧弗莱格。

(B) 罗斯福总统。

(C) 没有人知道。

(D) 典型的美国公民。

   3.  以下对约翰‧布尔的叙述何者不实？

(A) 他又高又壮。

(B) 他穿的衣服在肚子上有国旗的图案。

(C) 他有时带着宠物出现。

(D) 他象征英国的平民百姓。

   4.  法国的玛丽安 _____。

(A) 是该国的新象征

(B) 总是发表关于理性与自由的演说

(C) 已经存在好一段时间

(D) 看起来像法国的形状

答案：1. (D)2. (A)3. (A)4. (C)

For Your Information

其他国家的拟人化形象:

Australia: Boxing kangaroo（拳击袋鼠）

Czech Republic: The Good Soldier Svejk（好兵帅克）

Europe: Europa（欧萝巴）

Germany: Germania（日耳曼尼亚）

Greece: Athena（阿西娜）

Iceland: Lady of the Mountains（群山女士）

India: Bharat Mata（印度之母）

Russia: Mother Russia（俄罗斯母亲）

（数据源：维基百科）