Flour Mill on the River Floss

Author: Eliot
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-02-01
Features: Easy Read Classics Series. To promote English learning among Chinese middle school students and cultivate their cultural literacy and literary appreciation, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, after extensive deliberation and market research, decided to introduce a series of abridged literary classics from the British Macmillan Publishing Company to Chinese middle school students. From this series of abridged literary classics by Macmillan Publishing, SFLP carefully selected 40 books, forming the "Easy Read Classics Series," with difficulty levels spanning from Level 3 to Level 8 of the "English Curriculum Standards." This series includes classic works by literary masters from the UK, the US, France, and other countries, such as those by Shakespeare, Dickens, Mark Twain, Hardy, and Alexandre Dumas. To help middle school students better grasp the essence of the original works and the creative journey of the authors, SFLP has specially annotated the language difficulties in the reading materials and added background introductions about the authors and their works. We sincerely hope that the "Easy Read Classics Series" will help improve the literary appreciation level of Chinese middle school students, cultivate their moral character, enhance their English reading skills, and become the key to opening the door to reading English literary classics. The Mill on the Floss tells the story of the siblings Maggie and Tom. In the town of St. Ogg's by the River Floss, the miller Tulliver, due to debt, faces a lawsuit and is defeated in court, leading to significant changes in the lives of his children, Tom and Maggie. Tom is forced to give up his opportunity for a good education and works hard to support the family. Maggie also changes from her previously willful nature and takes on household chores. After years of effort, the intelligent and hardworking Tom finally saves enough money to pay off his debts and buy back the mill, but his overly excited father passes away from excessive joy. After the bankruptcy, Tom holds a grudge against the opposing lawyer Wakem. Although Maggie develops a fondness for Wakem's son Philip, Tom forbids her from associating with him and forces her to leave the mill. Living alone, Maggie falls in love with her cousin's fiancé. During a boat trip alone with him, they are swept away by the tide and drift overnight. Upon learning this, Tom, in anger, kicks his sister out of the house. As Maggie is left to regret her actions alone, a flood occurs that night, submerging the mill. Maggie single-handedly rows her boat to the mill to rescue Tom, and the two reconcile in the midst of the danger. The fierce flood ultimately claims the lives of the siblings, but their deep bond as brother and sister leaves a moving impression.