難句分析：
1. In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely primarily on speculation, since there is little concrete evidence on which to draw.
短語(yǔ)：in seeking to：在尋求…的過(guò)程中
draw on：引用，憑借
分句：“l(fā)ittle concrete evidence on which to draw”即“l(fā)ittle concrete evidence to draw on”
釋義：即試圖描述戲劇的起源，人們必須主要依靠猜測(cè)，因?yàn)椴](méi)有多少確切證據(jù)可以引用。
2. The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual.
短語(yǔ)：envision…as…：把……視為……
釋義：最為廣泛接受的理論得到了19世紀(jì)末20世紀(jì)初的人類學(xué)家們的擁護(hù)，該理論認(rèn)為戲劇來(lái)源于神話和宗教儀式。
3. Having little understanding of natural causes, it attributes both desirable and undesirable occurrences to supernatural or magical forces, and it searches for means to win the favor of these forces.
短語(yǔ)：attribute…to：把…歸因于
分句：“Having little understanding of natural causes”作原因狀語(yǔ)從句
釋義：由于缺少對(duì)自然原因的了解，社會(huì)將好的與不好的現(xiàn)象都?xì)w因于超自然的或者魔法力量，并且它尋求得到這股力量好感的方式。
4. Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires, the group repeats, refines and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.
主干：Perceiving an connection between actions and the result,the group repeats,refines and formalizes actions into ceremonies or rituals
釋義：由于認(rèn)為群體所表現(xiàn)的特定行為與其所期待的結(jié)果有明顯聯(lián)系，該群體重復(fù)、修正并將這些行為正式化，使其成為固定的典禮或宗教儀式。
5. Frequently the myths include representatives of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence.
分句：that the rites celebrate or hope to influence修飾supernatural forces，指儀式所試圖慶?；蛉ビ绊懙某匀涣α?BR> 主干：the myths include representatives of supernatural forces
釋義：神話中頻繁出現(xiàn)超自然力量的代表，這些力量正是儀式所試圖慶?；蛉ビ绊懙摹?BR> 6. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group’s oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites.
短語(yǔ)：be divorced from：與…遠(yuǎn)離，與…相脫節(jié)
分句：that have grown up around the rites修飾myths，指圍繞著儀式所產(chǎn)生的神話故事
主干：the myths may continue as…and may even come to be acted out…
釋義：但圍繞著儀式所產(chǎn)生的神話很可能繼續(xù)作為該群體口頭講述傳統(tǒng)的一部分，并甚至可能在與原有儀式相脫節(jié)的情況下依然被表現(xiàn)出來(lái)。
7. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and socially efficacious concerns.
短語(yǔ)：be taken toward：向…邁進(jìn)
autonomous activity：自主活動(dòng)，autonomous原意為“自治的”，此處引申為“自主的”
entertainment and aesthetic values：（戲劇的）娛樂(lè)和審美價(jià)值
mystical and socially efficacious concerns：神話和迷信的觀點(diǎn)
釋義：當(dāng)這一情況發(fā)生時(shí)，戲劇作為自主活動(dòng)便邁出了第一步，接著其娛樂(lè)和審美價(jià)值會(huì)漸漸取代人們先前對(duì)其神話和迷信作用的關(guān)注。
8. Thus, the recalling of an event (a hunt, battle, or other feat) is elaborated through the narrator’s pantomime and impersonation and eventually through each role being assumed by a different person.
短語(yǔ)：be assumed by…：由…來(lái)?yè)?dān)任（角色）
主干：the recalling of an event is elaborated and being assumed by person
釋義：這樣，對(duì)某一事件（如打獵，戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)等）的回憶被講述者通過(guò)啞劇或模仿詳細(xì)化，最終故事的每一角色都被不同的人來(lái)?yè)?dān)任。
9. A closely related theory sees theater as evolving out of dances that are primarily pantomimic, rhythmical or gymnastic, or from imitations of animal noises and sounds.
短語(yǔ)：see…as…：把…視為…
evolve out of：從…進(jìn)化而來(lái)
主干：a theory sees theater as evolving out of dances or from imitations
釋義：一個(gè)與之緊密相關(guān)的理論認(rèn)為戲劇來(lái)源于舞蹈，這些舞蹈最初是啞劇的，有節(jié)奏的或者體操性質(zhì)的，亦或者來(lái)源于對(duì)動(dòng)物發(fā)出聲音的模仿。
10. Admiration for the performer’s skill, virtuosity, and grace are seen as motivation for elaborating the activities into fully realized theatrical performances.
主干：admiration are seen as motivation for elaborating the activities into performances
釋義：對(duì)于表演者技巧，精湛技術(shù)和優(yōu)雅的崇拜被認(rèn)為是一種激勵(lì)，它促使將這些活動(dòng)精致化并使其最終成為夸張的表演。
11. One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations.
短語(yǔ)：be set forth by…：由…提出
take pleasure in doing…：從…中獲得樂(lè)趣
主干：One sees human as imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating… and in seeing…
釋義：一種理論在公元前4世紀(jì)由亞里士多德提出，它認(rèn)為人類天生具有模仿性----通過(guò)模仿他人、他物和動(dòng)作以及觀看這種模仿來(lái)獲得歡愉。
12. Another, advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life.
分句：“through which they seek to reshape…”作定語(yǔ)從句修飾fantasy
主干：Another suggests that human have a gift for fantansy
釋義：另一在12世紀(jì)得到發(fā)展的理論認(rèn)為人類具有幻想的天賦，通過(guò)幻想人類試圖重塑現(xiàn)實(shí)，使其變得比現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中所遇到的更加令人滿意。
13. Thus, fantasy or fiction (of which drama is one form) permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them, and fulfill their hopes in fiction if not fact.
主干：fantasy or fiction permits people to objectify…,confront…and fulfill…
釋義：這樣，幻想和虛擬作品允許人們將他們的焦慮、恐懼具現(xiàn)化，并面對(duì)它們，同時(shí)滿足在現(xiàn)實(shí)中不能滿足的愿望。
14. The theater, then, is one tool whereby people define and understand their world or escape from unpleasant realities.
分句：whereby意為“據(jù)此”，“whereby people define and understand…”作定語(yǔ)修飾tool
主干：theater is one tool
釋義：這樣，戲劇便成為人類定義生活，理解生活或者逃避痛苦現(xiàn)實(shí)的工具。
15. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic vision, since comedy requires sufficient detachment to view some deviations from social norms as ridiculous rather than as serious threats to the welfare of the entire group.
詞匯：detachment原指“偏離”，此處指一種超脫的觀點(diǎn)
短語(yǔ)：deviations from social norms：指與社會(huì)準(zhǔn)則相偏離的表現(xiàn)
主干：one sign is the appearance of the comic vision,since comedy requires detachment to view deviation as ridiculous rather than as threats
釋義：例如，這種情況的一個(gè)標(biāo)志是喜劇觀點(diǎn)的出現(xiàn)，因?yàn)橄矂∫笕藗兂浞值貜耐纯嘀忻撾x，并將一些與社會(huì)準(zhǔn)則相偏離的表現(xiàn)看做滑稽可笑的而不是視其為對(duì)群體利益的巨大威脅。
16. For example, some early societies ceased to consider certain rites essential to their well-being and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites and admired them for their artistic qualities rather than for their religious usefulness.
短語(yǔ)：cease to：停止（做某事）
retain… as…：將…作為…保留下來(lái)
分句：“they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites”為倒裝，實(shí)際上即“they retained the myths（that had grown up around the rites ）as parts of their oral tradition”;
主干： some societies ceased to consider rites essential and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained myths as oral tradition and admired them
釋義：例如，一些早期社會(huì)不再認(rèn)為特定儀式與他們的安康息息相關(guān)從而拋棄了這些儀式，然而，他們將圍繞儀式產(chǎn)生的神話變?yōu)榭陬^傳授傳統(tǒng)的一部分，并且對(duì)其所具有的藝術(shù)價(jià)值而不是宗教價(jià)值進(jìn)行贊美。
1. In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely primarily on speculation, since there is little concrete evidence on which to draw.
短語(yǔ)：in seeking to：在尋求…的過(guò)程中
draw on：引用，憑借
分句：“l(fā)ittle concrete evidence on which to draw”即“l(fā)ittle concrete evidence to draw on”
釋義：即試圖描述戲劇的起源，人們必須主要依靠猜測(cè)，因?yàn)椴](méi)有多少確切證據(jù)可以引用。
2. The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual.
短語(yǔ)：envision…as…：把……視為……
釋義：最為廣泛接受的理論得到了19世紀(jì)末20世紀(jì)初的人類學(xué)家們的擁護(hù)，該理論認(rèn)為戲劇來(lái)源于神話和宗教儀式。
3. Having little understanding of natural causes, it attributes both desirable and undesirable occurrences to supernatural or magical forces, and it searches for means to win the favor of these forces.
短語(yǔ)：attribute…to：把…歸因于
分句：“Having little understanding of natural causes”作原因狀語(yǔ)從句
釋義：由于缺少對(duì)自然原因的了解，社會(huì)將好的與不好的現(xiàn)象都?xì)w因于超自然的或者魔法力量，并且它尋求得到這股力量好感的方式。
4. Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires, the group repeats, refines and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.
主干：Perceiving an connection between actions and the result,the group repeats,refines and formalizes actions into ceremonies or rituals
釋義：由于認(rèn)為群體所表現(xiàn)的特定行為與其所期待的結(jié)果有明顯聯(lián)系，該群體重復(fù)、修正并將這些行為正式化，使其成為固定的典禮或宗教儀式。
5. Frequently the myths include representatives of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence.
分句：that the rites celebrate or hope to influence修飾supernatural forces，指儀式所試圖慶?；蛉ビ绊懙某匀涣α?BR> 主干：the myths include representatives of supernatural forces
釋義：神話中頻繁出現(xiàn)超自然力量的代表，這些力量正是儀式所試圖慶?；蛉ビ绊懙摹?BR> 6. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group’s oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites.
短語(yǔ)：be divorced from：與…遠(yuǎn)離，與…相脫節(jié)
分句：that have grown up around the rites修飾myths，指圍繞著儀式所產(chǎn)生的神話故事
主干：the myths may continue as…and may even come to be acted out…
釋義：但圍繞著儀式所產(chǎn)生的神話很可能繼續(xù)作為該群體口頭講述傳統(tǒng)的一部分，并甚至可能在與原有儀式相脫節(jié)的情況下依然被表現(xiàn)出來(lái)。
7. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and socially efficacious concerns.
短語(yǔ)：be taken toward：向…邁進(jìn)
autonomous activity：自主活動(dòng)，autonomous原意為“自治的”，此處引申為“自主的”
entertainment and aesthetic values：（戲劇的）娛樂(lè)和審美價(jià)值
mystical and socially efficacious concerns：神話和迷信的觀點(diǎn)
釋義：當(dāng)這一情況發(fā)生時(shí)，戲劇作為自主活動(dòng)便邁出了第一步，接著其娛樂(lè)和審美價(jià)值會(huì)漸漸取代人們先前對(duì)其神話和迷信作用的關(guān)注。
8. Thus, the recalling of an event (a hunt, battle, or other feat) is elaborated through the narrator’s pantomime and impersonation and eventually through each role being assumed by a different person.
短語(yǔ)：be assumed by…：由…來(lái)?yè)?dān)任（角色）
主干：the recalling of an event is elaborated and being assumed by person
釋義：這樣，對(duì)某一事件（如打獵，戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)等）的回憶被講述者通過(guò)啞劇或模仿詳細(xì)化，最終故事的每一角色都被不同的人來(lái)?yè)?dān)任。
9. A closely related theory sees theater as evolving out of dances that are primarily pantomimic, rhythmical or gymnastic, or from imitations of animal noises and sounds.
短語(yǔ)：see…as…：把…視為…
evolve out of：從…進(jìn)化而來(lái)
主干：a theory sees theater as evolving out of dances or from imitations
釋義：一個(gè)與之緊密相關(guān)的理論認(rèn)為戲劇來(lái)源于舞蹈，這些舞蹈最初是啞劇的，有節(jié)奏的或者體操性質(zhì)的，亦或者來(lái)源于對(duì)動(dòng)物發(fā)出聲音的模仿。
10. Admiration for the performer’s skill, virtuosity, and grace are seen as motivation for elaborating the activities into fully realized theatrical performances.
主干：admiration are seen as motivation for elaborating the activities into performances
釋義：對(duì)于表演者技巧，精湛技術(shù)和優(yōu)雅的崇拜被認(rèn)為是一種激勵(lì)，它促使將這些活動(dòng)精致化并使其最終成為夸張的表演。
11. One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations.
短語(yǔ)：be set forth by…：由…提出
take pleasure in doing…：從…中獲得樂(lè)趣
主干：One sees human as imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating… and in seeing…
釋義：一種理論在公元前4世紀(jì)由亞里士多德提出，它認(rèn)為人類天生具有模仿性----通過(guò)模仿他人、他物和動(dòng)作以及觀看這種模仿來(lái)獲得歡愉。
12. Another, advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life.
分句：“through which they seek to reshape…”作定語(yǔ)從句修飾fantasy
主干：Another suggests that human have a gift for fantansy
釋義：另一在12世紀(jì)得到發(fā)展的理論認(rèn)為人類具有幻想的天賦，通過(guò)幻想人類試圖重塑現(xiàn)實(shí)，使其變得比現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中所遇到的更加令人滿意。
13. Thus, fantasy or fiction (of which drama is one form) permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them, and fulfill their hopes in fiction if not fact.
主干：fantasy or fiction permits people to objectify…,confront…and fulfill…
釋義：這樣，幻想和虛擬作品允許人們將他們的焦慮、恐懼具現(xiàn)化，并面對(duì)它們，同時(shí)滿足在現(xiàn)實(shí)中不能滿足的愿望。
14. The theater, then, is one tool whereby people define and understand their world or escape from unpleasant realities.
分句：whereby意為“據(jù)此”，“whereby people define and understand…”作定語(yǔ)修飾tool
主干：theater is one tool
釋義：這樣，戲劇便成為人類定義生活，理解生活或者逃避痛苦現(xiàn)實(shí)的工具。
15. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic vision, since comedy requires sufficient detachment to view some deviations from social norms as ridiculous rather than as serious threats to the welfare of the entire group.
詞匯：detachment原指“偏離”，此處指一種超脫的觀點(diǎn)
短語(yǔ)：deviations from social norms：指與社會(huì)準(zhǔn)則相偏離的表現(xiàn)
主干：one sign is the appearance of the comic vision,since comedy requires detachment to view deviation as ridiculous rather than as threats
釋義：例如，這種情況的一個(gè)標(biāo)志是喜劇觀點(diǎn)的出現(xiàn)，因?yàn)橄矂∫笕藗兂浞值貜耐纯嘀忻撾x，并將一些與社會(huì)準(zhǔn)則相偏離的表現(xiàn)看做滑稽可笑的而不是視其為對(duì)群體利益的巨大威脅。
16. For example, some early societies ceased to consider certain rites essential to their well-being and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites and admired them for their artistic qualities rather than for their religious usefulness.
短語(yǔ)：cease to：停止（做某事）
retain… as…：將…作為…保留下來(lái)
分句：“they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites”為倒裝，實(shí)際上即“they retained the myths（that had grown up around the rites ）as parts of their oral tradition”;
主干： some societies ceased to consider rites essential and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained myths as oral tradition and admired them
釋義：例如，一些早期社會(huì)不再認(rèn)為特定儀式與他們的安康息息相關(guān)從而拋棄了這些儀式，然而，他們將圍繞儀式產(chǎn)生的神話變?yōu)榭陬^傳授傳統(tǒng)的一部分，并且對(duì)其所具有的藝術(shù)價(jià)值而不是宗教價(jià)值進(jìn)行贊美。