The Great Gatsby | Progressive Translation Books for Danish B2 Learners

The Great Gatsby | Progressive Translation Books for Danish B2 Learners

Discover the advantages of this innovative translation method, designed to cater to your learning needs. You can select your preferred difficulty level, ensuring a well-balanced challenge that isn't too overwhelming. This technique sharpens your comprehension skills by encouraging you to derive meaning from context, minimizing the need for direct translations. While some words are purposefully obscured to promote contextual guessing, looking up unclear terms is always an option. With this method, language learning becomes both accessible and enjoyable, blending challenge with support. Explore translated classics and experience the excitement of learning through literature.

I
Inmyyoungerandmore
sårbare
vulnerable
yearsmyfathergavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.
“Wheneveryoufeellike
kritisere
criticizing
anyone,”hetoldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”
Hedidn’tsayanymore,butwe’vealwaysbeen
usædvanligt
unusually
communicativeinareservedway,andIunderstoodthathemeantagreatdealmorethanthat.
In
følge
consequence
,I’minclinedtoreservealljudgements,a
vane
habit
thathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeandalsomademethevictimofnotafew
veteran
veteran
bores.
Theabnormalmindisquickto
opdage
detect
andattachitselftothisqualitywhenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustly
anklaget
accused
ofbeingapolitician,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ora
fjendtlig
hostile
levitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignthatan
intim
intimate
revelationwasquiveringonthe
horisonten
horizon
;
fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.
Reservingjudgementsisamatterofinfinitehope.
IamstillalittleafraidofmissingsomethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthe
grundlæggende
fundamental
decenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.
And,after
prale
boasting
thiswayofmy
tolerance
tolerance
,Icometotheadmissionthatithasa
grænse
limit
.
Conductmaybefoundedonthehardrockorthewetmarshes,butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedon.
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlast
efterår
autumn
IfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortof
moralsk
moral
attentionforever;
Iwantednomoreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintothehumanheart.
OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,who
repræsenterede
represented
everythingforwhichIhaveanunaffected
foragt
scorn
.
Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightened
følsomhed
sensitivity
tothepromisesoflife,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoseintricatemachinesthat
registrerer
register
earthquakestenthousandmilesaway.
Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedunderthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.
No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldust
flød
floated
inthewakeofhisdreamsthat
midlertidigt
temporarily
closedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.
Myfamilyhavebeen
fremtrædende
prominent
,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddleWesterncityforthreegenerations.
TheCarrawaysaresomethingofa
klan
clan
,andwehavea
tradition
tradition
thatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,butthe
egentlige
actual
founderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,whocamehereinfifty-one,senta
erstatning
substitute
totheCivilWar,andstartedthe
engros
wholesale
hardwarebusinessthatmyfathercarriesontoday.
Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecial
henvisning
reference
totheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.
IgraduatedfromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacenturyaftermyfather,andalittlelaterI
deltog
participated
inthatdelayedTeutonic
migration
migration
knownastheGreatWar.
Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughlythatIcameback
rastløs
restless
.
Insteadofbeingthewarm
centrum
centre
oftheworld,theMiddleWestnowseemedliketheraggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastandlearnthebondbusiness.
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportonemoresingleman.
Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withverygrave,hesitantfaces.
Fatheragreedto
finansiere
finance
meforayear,andafter
forskellige
various
delaysIcameEast,
permanent
permanently
,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.
The
praktiske
practical
thingwastofindroomsinthecity,butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.
Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beaten
pap
cardboard
bungalowateightyamonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountryalone.
Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway—andanold
Dodge
Dodge
andaFinnishwoman,whomademybedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnish
visdom
wisdom
toherselfoverthe
elektriske
electric
stove.
Itwaslonelyforadayorsountilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad.
“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itoldhim.
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehad
tilfældigt
casually
conferredonmethefreedomofthe
nabolaget
neighbourhood
.
Andsowiththesunshineandthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliar
overbevisning
conviction
thatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer.
Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.
Iboughta
dusin
dozen
volumesonbankingandcreditandinvestmentsecurities,andtheystoodonmy
hylde
shelf
inredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemint,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.
AndIhadthehigh
hensigt
intention
ofreadingmanyotherbooksbesides.
Iwasratherliteraryincollege—oneyearIwroteaseriesofvery
højtidelige
solemn
andobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandbecomeagainthatmost
begrænsede
limited
ofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeismuchmore
vellykket
successfully
lookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.
ItwasamatterofchancethatIshouldhaverentedahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.
ItwasonthatslenderriotousislandwhichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—andwherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,twounusualformationsofland.
Twentymilesfromthecityapairof
enorme
enormous
eggs,identicalincontourandseparatedonlybya
høflighed
courtesy
bay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterinthe
Vestlige
Western
hemisphere,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.
Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyareboth
knust
crushed
flatatthecontactend—buttheirphysical
lighed
resemblance
mustbeasourceof
evig
perpetual
wondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.
Tothewinglessamoreinteresting
fænomen
phenomenon
istheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapeandsize.
IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,thelessfashionableofthetwo,thoughthisisamost
overfladisk
superficial
tagtoexpressthe
bizarre
bizarre
andnotalittlesinister
kontrast
contrast
betweenthem.
Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,and
presset
squeezed
betweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.
Theoneonmyrightwasacolossalaffairbyanystandard—itwasafactual
efterligning
imitation
ofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewunderathin
skæg
beard
ofrawivy,anda
marmor
marble
swimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresof
græsplæne
lawn
andgarden.
ItwasGatsby’s
palæ
mansion
.
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasa
palæ
mansion
inhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.
Myownhousewasaneyesore,butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeen
overset
overlooked
,soIhadaviewofthewater,a
delvis
partial
viewofmyneighbour’s
græsplæne
lawn
,andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.
Acrossthecourtesy
bay
bay
thewhitepalacesoffashionableEastEggglitteredalongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.
Daisy
Daisy
wasmysecondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.
AndjustafterthewarIspenttwodayswiththeminChicago.
Herhusband,among
forskellige
various
physicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchan
akut
acute
limitedexcellenceattwenty-onethateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.
Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasamatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:
for
eksempel
instance
,he’dbroughtdownastringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.
Itwashardtorealizethatamaninmyowngenerationwaswealthyenoughtodothat.
WhytheycameEastIdon’tknow.
TheyhadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularreason,andthendriftedhereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloandwererichtogether.
Thiswasa
permanent
permanent
move,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,butIfeltthatTomwoulddriftonforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forthe
dramatiske
dramatic
turbulenceofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.
Andsoithappenedthatonawarm
blæsende
windy
eveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomI
næppe
scarcely
knewatall.
TheirhousewasevenmoreelaboratethanIexpected,acheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgian
Kolonialt
Colonial
mansion,overlookingthebay.
Thelawnstartedatthebeachandrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsand
mursten
brick
walksandburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehousedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthe
momentum
momentum
ofitsrun.
ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowingnowwith
reflekteret
reflected
goldandwideopentothewarm
blæsende
windy
afternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefrontporch.
HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Nowhewasa
robust
sturdy
straw-hairedmanofthirty,witharatherhardmouthandasupercilious
måde
manner
.
Twoshiningarroganteyeshadestablisheddominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimtheappearanceofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.
Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidethe
enorme
enormous
powerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsuntilhe
anstrengt
strained
thetoplacing,andyoucouldseeagreatpackof
muskler
muscle
shiftingwhenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.
Itwasabodycapableof
enorm
enormous
leverage—acruelbody.
Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtotheimpressionoffractiousnessheconveyed.
Therewasatouchofpaternal
foragt
contempt
init,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenwhohadhatedhisguts.
“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamanthanyouare.”
Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,andwhilewewerenever
intime
intimate
Ialwayshadthe
indtryk
impression
thatheapprovedofmeandwantedmetolikehimwithsome
hårde
harsh
,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.
Wetalkedforafewminutesonthe
solrige
sunny
porch.
“I’vegotaniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.
Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemoveda
bred
broad
flathandalongthefrontvista,includinginitssweepasunkenItaliangarden,ahalf
hektar
acre
ofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthat
stødte
bumped
thetideoffshore.
“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearoundagain,
høfligt
politely
andabruptly.
“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthroughahighhallwayintoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.
Thewindowswereajarandgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassoutsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.
A
brise
breeze
blewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandouttheotherlikepaleflags,
vride
twisting
themuptowardthefrostedwedding-cakeoftheceiling,andthenrippledoverthewine-coloured
tæppe
rug
,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.
Theonlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasan
enorm
enormous
couchonwhichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponan
forankret
anchored
balloon.
Theywerebothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadjustbeenblownbackinafterashortflightaroundthehouse.
Imusthavestoodforafewmomentslisteningtothewhipandsnapofthecurtainsandthe
stønnede
groan
ofapictureonthewall.
ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchananshuttherearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.
Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangertome.
Shewas
udvidet
extended
fulllengthatherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithher
hage
chin
raisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingsomethingonitwhichwasquitelikelytofall.
Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegaveno
antydning
hint
ofit—indeed,Iwasalmostsurprisedintomurmuringan
undskyldning
apology
forhavingdisturbedherbycomingin.
Theothergirl,
Daisy
Daisy
,madeanattempttorise—sheleanedslightlyforwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,an
absurd
absurd
,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.
“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughedagain,asifshesaidsomethingverywitty,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtosee.
Thatwasawayshehad.
Shehintedinamurmurthatthesurnameofthebalancinggirlwas
Baker
Baker
.
(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasonlytomakepeoplelean
mod
toward
her;
anirrelevantcriticismthatmadeitnolesscharming.)
Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,she
nikkede
nodded
atmealmostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherheadbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofa
skræk
fright
.
Againasortof
undskyldning
apology
arosetomylips.
Almostany
udstilling
exhibition
ofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunned
hyldest
tribute
fromme.
Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollowsupanddown,asifeachspeechisanarrangementofnotesthatwillneverbeplayedagain.
Herfacewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesandabright
lidenskabelig
passionate
mouth,buttherewasan
begejstring
excitement
inhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:
asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthingshoveringinthenexthour.
ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,andhowa
dusin
dozen
peoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.
“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“Thewholetownis
øde
desolate
.
Allthecarshavetheleftrearwheelpaintedblackasamourning
krans
wreath
,andthere’sapersistentwailallnightalongthenorthshore.”
“Howgorgeous!
Let’sgoback,Tom.
Tomorrow!”
Thensheaddedirrelevantly:
“Yououghttoseethebaby.”
“I’dliketo.”
“She’sasleep.
She’sthreeyearsold.
Haven’tyoueverseenher?”
“Never.”
“Well,yououghttoseeher.
She’s—”.
TomBuchanan,whohadbeenhoveringrestlesslyabouttheroom,stoppedandrestedhishandonmyshoulder.
“Whatyoudoing,Nick?”
“I’mabondman.”
“Whowith?”
Itoldhim.
“Neverheardofthem,”heremarkeddecisively.
This
irriterede
annoyed
me.
“Youwill,”Iansweredshortly.
“YouwillifyoustayintheEast.”
“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingat
Daisy
Daisy
andthenbackatme,asifhewerealertforsomethingmore.
“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMiss
Baker
Baker
said:
“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthefirstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.
Åbenbart
Evidently
itsurprisedherasmuchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.
“I’mstiff,”she
klagede
complained
,“I’vebeenlyingonthat
sofa
sofa
foraslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’tlookatme,”
Daisy
Daisy
retorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”
“No,thanks,”saidMiss
Baker
Baker
tothefourcocktailsjustinfromthepantry.
“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Her
vært
host
lookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.
“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
IlookedatMiss
Baker
Baker
,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”
Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasa
slank
slender
,small-breastedgirl,withan
oprejst
erect
carriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderslikeayoung
kadet
cadet
.
Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewith
høflig
polite
reciprocalcuriosityoutofawan,charming,discontentedface.
ItoccurredtomenowthatIhadseenher,orapictureofher,somewherebefore.
“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
krævede
demanded
Daisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcould
svare
reply
thathewasmy
nabo
neighbour
dinnerwasannounced;
wedginghistensearmimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckertoanothersquare.
Slenderly,languidly,theirhandsset
let
lightly
ontheirhips,thetwoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-coloured
veranda
porch
,opentowardthesunset,wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.
“Whycandles?”
objected
Daisy
Daisy
,frowning.
Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“Intwoweeksit’llbethe
længste
longest
dayintheyear.”
Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyoualwayswatchforthe
længste
longest
dayoftheyearandthenmissit?
Ialwayswatchforthe
længste
longest
dayintheyearandthenmissit.”
“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMiss
Baker
Baker
,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.
“Allright,”said
Daisy
Daisy
.
“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyes
fastgjort
fastened
withanawedexpressiononherlittlefinger.
“Look!”
she
klagede
complained
;
“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—theknucklewasblackandblue.
“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“Iknowyoudidn’tmeanto,butyoudiddoit.
That’swhatIgetformarryinga
brute
brute
ofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysical
eksemplar
specimen
ofa—”.
“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”
insisterede
insisted
Daisy.
SometimessheandMiss
Baker
Baker
talkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesinthe
fravær
absence
ofalldesire.
Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlya
høflig
polite
pleasantefforttoentertainortobe
underholde
entertained
.
Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverandcasuallyputaway.
Itwas
skarpt
sharply
differentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfrom
fase
phase
tophasetowardsitsclose,ina
løbende
continually
disappointedanticipationorelseinsheernervous
frygt
dread
ofthemomentitself.
“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”I
indrømmede
confessed
onmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.
“Can’tyoutalkaboutcropsorsomething?”
Imeantnothinginparticularbythis
bemærkning
remark
,butitwastakenupinan
uventet
unexpected
way.
“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTom
voldsomt
violently
.
“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’safinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadit.
Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiteracewillbe—willbe
fuldstændig
utterly
submerged.
It’sallscientificstuff;
it’sbeenproved.”