Now under the balcony, when Cyrano says, as Christian, "Somehow I've never spoken from the heart till now," his blissed-out self-astonishment lets us know that he's speaking as himself, as well.
If self-astonishment was easy, everyone would do it.
Dr. Spelke, who first came to prominence by delineating how infants learn about objects, numbers, the lay of the land, shook her head in self-mocking astonishment.
An early fight scene features some whimsical ricochets reminiscent of "Tears of the Black Tiger," but done without the comically self-conscious astonishment.
He is very matter of fact about his accomplishments; if there is no self-effacing humor or self-doubt or astonishment, neither is there any bragging.
As Aston, Mr. Cox also has meaty chunks of dialogue in which he laments his own disappointments to young Lily, who gobbles up his self-deprecating speeches with astonishment that someone so seemingly accomplished could feel so unfulfilled.
And then you fall onto your knees, and you're looking at yourself, twice, both of you pitched forward, blinking in astonishment at a self who is blinking in astonishment at you, who are blinking in astonishment at him, who is blinking in astonishment at you. . . .
The most pernicious damage results in self-harm, which draws collective astonishment as if it were wholly unexpected.
BOSTON, OCT. 14 -- Driving in the rain through the maze around Fenway Park, two columnists from New York and Baltimore listen to the radio in astonishment: the Cubs self-destruct after a clueless fan touches a foul ball.
But he was equally good as a Richard III, full of bustling energy and self-loathing: I remember his astonishment at realising that Lady Anne found him "a marvellous proper man".
Jack spends the initial stages of his quest listening with slack-jawed astonishment to the obsessive, self-centered monologues of the eccentric adults he encounters, giving Mr. Maquiling the opportunity to create some memorably bizarre character sketches.
