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Pride and Prejudice — Page 6

English → De Preface Level 7/10

_The characteristics of Miss Austen's humour are so subtle and delicate that they are, perhaps, at all times easier to apprehend than to express, and at any particular time likely to be differently apprehended by different persons.

Die Merkmale von Miss Austens Humor sind so subtil und fein, dass sie vielleicht zu allen Zeiten leichter zu erfassen als auszudrücken sind, und zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt wahrscheinlich von verschiedenen Personen unterschiedlich aufgefasst werden.

To me this humour seems to possess a greater affinity, on the whole, to that of Addison than to any other of the numerous species of this great British genus.

Mir scheint dieser Humor im Großen und Ganzen eine größere Verwandtschaft mit dem Addisons aufzuweisen als mit einer anderen der zahlreichen Arten dieser großen britischen Gattung.

The differences of scheme, of time, of subject, of literary convention, are, of course, obvious enough; the difference of sex does not, perhaps, count for much, for there was a distinctly feminine element in "Mr. Spectator," and in Jane Austen's genius there was, though nothing mannish, much that was masculine.

Die Unterschiede in Anlage, Zeit, Thema und literarischer Konvention sind natürlich offensichtlich genug; der Unterschied des Geschlechts zählt vielleicht nicht viel, denn im „Mr. Spectator" war ein deutlich weibliches Element vorhanden, und in Jane Austens Genie gab es, obwohl nichts Männisches, doch viel Männliches.

But the likeness of quality consists in a great number of common subdivisions of quality--demureness, extreme minuteness of touch, avoidance of loud tones and glaring effects.

Aber die Ähnlichkeit der Qualität besteht in einer großen Anzahl gemeinsamer Unterarten der Qualität – Gesittetheit, äußerste Feinheit der Berührung, Vermeidung lauter Töne und greller Effekte.

Also there is in both a certain not inhuman or unamiable cruelty.

Auch findet sich in beiden eine gewisse nicht unmenschliche oder unliebenswürdige Grausamkeit.

It is the custom with those who judge grossly to contrast the good nature of Addison with the savagery of Swift, the mildness of Miss Austen with the boisterousness of Fielding and Smollett, even with the ferocious practical jokes that her immediate predecessor, Miss Burney, allowed without very much protest.

Es ist bei denen, die oberflächlich urteilen, Brauch, die Gutmütigkeit Addisons der Wildheit Swifts gegenüberzustellen, die Sanftheit von Miss Austen der Ausgelassenheit von Fielding und Smollett, sogar den grausamen Streichen, die ihre unmittelbare Vorgängerin, Miss Burney, ohne großen Widerspruch zuließ.

Yet, both in Mr. Addison and in Miss Austen there is, though a restrained and well-mannered, an insatiable and ruthless delight in roasting and cutting up a fool.

Und doch findet sich sowohl bei Mr. Addison als auch bei Miss Austen, wenngleich zurückhaltend und wohlerzogen, ein unersättliches und rücksichtsloses Vergnügen daran, einen Narren zu verspotten und zu zerlegen.

Vocabulary

Die
Definite article, feminine singular or plural nominative.
Merkmale
Characteristics, features, or distinctive marks of something.
von
Preposition indicating possession, origin, or relationship between nouns.
Miss
Title for unmarried woman; here referring to Jane Austen.
Humor
Comedy, wit, or the ability to perceive amusing things.
sind
Third person plural present tense of sein, to be.
so
Adverb meaning so, thus, or to such a degree.
subtil
Subtle, delicate, or not immediately apparent or obvious.
und
Conjunction meaning and, connecting words or clauses together.
fein
Fine, delicate, subtle, or of high quality or refinement.
dass
Subordinating conjunction introducing a dependent clause, meaning that.
sie
Third person pronoun, she or they, depending on context.
vielleicht
Adverb meaning perhaps, possibly, or maybe in uncertain situations.
zu
Preposition or infinitive marker meaning to or toward.
allen
Dative plural of all, meaning all or every one.
Zeiten
Plural of Zeit, meaning times, periods, or eras.
leichter
Comparative form of leicht, easier or more easily.
erfassen
To grasp, comprehend, understand, or seize mentally or physically.
als
Conjunction meaning than or as, used for comparisons.
auszudrücken
Infinitive of ausdrücken, to express, articulate, or communicate.
einem
Dative singular of ein, a or an, in dative case.
bestimmten
Adjective meaning specific, particular, or certain definite.
Zeitpunkt
Point in time, moment, or specific occasion or instance.
wahrscheinlich
Adverb meaning probably, likely, or presumably in likelihood.
verschiedenen
Adjective meaning different, various, or diverse in nature.
Personen
Plural of Person, meaning persons, people, or individuals.
unterschiedlich
Adjective meaning different, varying, or dissimilar in character.
aufgefasst
Past participle of auffassen, understood or interpreted in particular way.
werden
Infinitive of werden, to become or to be in passive voice.
Mir
Dative of ich, to me or for me in dative case.
scheint
Third person singular of scheinen, to seem or appear.
dieser
Demonstrative pronoun meaning this, that, or the latter.
im
Contraction of in dem, in the or within the.
Großen
Adjective meaning large or great, used in phrase on whole.
Ganzen
Noun meaning whole or entirety, used in phrase on whole.
eine
Indefinite article, feminine singular nominative, meaning a or one.
größere
Comparative form of groß, meaning larger or greater in.
Verwandtschaft
Relationship, kinship, or similarity between people or things.
mit
Preposition meaning with or accompanied by or together.
dem
Dative singular masculine of definite article, meaning the.
aufzuweisen
Infinitive of aufweisen, to show, exhibit, or display.
einer
Dative or genitive singular feminine of ein, a one.
anderen
Adjective meaning other, different, or another in alternative.
der
Definite article, feminine singular or plural genitive case.
zahlreichen
Adjective meaning numerous, many, or existing in large quantities.
Arten
Plural of Art, meaning kinds, types, or species.
großen
Adjective meaning large, great, or big in size extent.
britischen
Adjective meaning British, relating to Britain or Great Britain.
Gattung
Genre, type, category, or class of literary or other.
Unterschiede
Plural of Unterschied, meaning differences, distinctions, or contrasts.
in
Preposition meaning in, into, or within indicating location.
Anlage
Design, layout, inclination, or natural tendency or disposition.
Zeit
Time, period, or era in which something occurs.
Thema
Subject, topic, or theme of discussion or composition.
literarischer
Adjective meaning literary, relating to or characteristic of literature.
Konvention
Convention, established practice, or agreed upon rule.
natürlich
Adverb meaning naturally, of course, or obviously certainly.
offensichtlich
Adverb meaning obviously, evidently, or clearly in apparent.
genug
Adverb meaning enough, sufficiently, or adequately in quantity.
Unterschied
Difference, distinction, or contrast between two things.
des
Genitive singular masculine of definite article, meaning the.
Geschlechts
Genitive singular of Geschlecht, meaning of sex or gender.
zählt
Third person singular of zählen, to count or matter.
nicht
Adverb meaning not or negating word in German sentence.
viel
Adverb or adjective meaning much, a lot, or considerable.
denn
Conjunction or adverb meaning because, for, or then.
Mr
Title for gentleman, abbreviation of Mister in English.
war
Past tense singular of sein, was or existed previously.
ein
Indefinite article or numeral one, meaning a or.
deutlich
Adverb or adjective meaning clear, distinct, or plainly evident.
weibliches
Adjective meaning feminine, female, or characteristic of woman.
Element
Element, component, part, or basic constituent of something.
vorhanden
Adjective meaning present, available, or existing in quantity.
Genie
Genius, talented person, or person of exceptional intellectual ability.
gab
Past tense singular of geben, gave or provided something.
es
Third person singular neuter pronoun meaning it in German.
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