作品作家和重點串講資料

強人總結《英美文學選讀》自學資料(全)

AmericanLiterature

Chapterone：Theromanticperiod

I.Emersonstranscendentalismandhisattitudetowardnature：

1.Transcendentalism-itisaphilosophicandliterarymovementthatflourishinNewEngland,asareactionagainstrationalismand

Calvinism.Itstressedintuitiveunderstandingofgodwithoutthehelpofthechurch,andadvocatedindependenceofthemind.

2.Emerson'stranscendentalism：

Theover-soul-itisanall-pervadingpowergoodness,fromwhichoilthingscomeandofwhichallareapart.Itisasupremereality

ofmind,aspiritualunityofallbeingsandareligion.Itisacommunicationbetweenanindividualsoulandtheuniversalover-soul.

Andhestronglybelieveinthedivinityandinfinityofmanasanindividual,somancantotallyrelyonhimself.

3.Histowardnature：

Emersonlovesnature.Hisnatureisthegarmentoftheover-soul,symbolicandmoralbound.Natureisnotsomethingpurelyofthe

matter,butalivewithGod'spresence.Itexerciseahealthyandrestorativeinfluenceonhumanbeings.Childrencanseenature

betterthanadult.

II.HawthornesPuritanismandhisblackvisionofman：

1.Puritanism-itisthereligiousbeliefofthePuristans,whohadintendedtopurifyandsimplifythereligiousritualofthechurch

ofEngland.

2.hisblackvisionofman-bytheCalvinisticconceptoforiginalsin,hebelievedthathumanbeingareevilnaturedandsinful,and

thissiniseverpresentinhumanheartandwillpassonegenerationtoanother.

3.YoungGoodmanBrown-itshowsthateveryonehassomeevilsecrets.Theinnocentandna<ï；veBrownisconfrontedwith

thevisionofhumanevilinoneterriblenight,andthenhebecomesdistrustfulanddoubtful.Brownstandsforeveryone,who

isbornpureandhasnocontactwiththerealworld,andtheprominentpeopleofthevillageandchurch.Theycovertheirsecrets

duringdailylives,andundersomecircumstancessuchasthewitch'sSabbath,theybecomewhattheyare.Evenhisclosed

wife.Faith,isnoexception.SoBrownisagedinthatnight.

III.ThesymbolismofMelville'sMobby-bick

l.Thevoyagetocatchthewhitewhaleistheoneofthemindinquestofthetruthandknowledgeofuniverse.

2.ToAhab,thewhaleisanevilcreatureortheagentofanevilforcethatcontroltheuniverse.Astoreaders,thewhaleisa

symbolofphysicallimits,orasymbolofnature.Italsocanstandfortheultimatemysteryoftheuniverseandthewallbehind

whichunknownmaliciousthingsarehiding.

IV.WhitmanandhisLeavesofGrass:

1.Theme：singofthe"en-mass"andtheself/pursuitoflove,happiness,and***uallove/sometimesaboutpolitics(Drumtaps)

2.Whitmansoriginalityfirstinhisuseofthepoeticformfreeverse(i.e.poetrywithoutafixedbeatorregularrhymescheme),by

meansofwhichhebecomesconversationalandcasual.

3.HeusesthefirstpersonpronounTtostressindividualism,andorallanguagetoacquiresympathyfromthecommonreader.

Chaptertwo：Therealisticperiod

I.ThecharacteranalysisandsocialmeaningofHuckFinninAdventureofHuckleberryFinnbyMarkTwain

HuckisatypicalAmericanboywithMasoundheartandadeformedconscience”.Heappearstobevulgarinlanguageandinmanner,

butheishonestanddecentinessence.HisremarkableraffsjourneydownontheMississippirivercanberegardedashis

processofeducationandhiswaytogrowup.Atfirst,hestandsbyslavery,forheclingstotheideathatifheletsgothe

slave,hewillbedamnedtogotohell.Andwhenthe"King"sellsJimformoney,HuckdecidestoinformJim'smaster.Afterhe

thinksofthepastgoodtimewhenJimandheareontheraftwhereJimshowsgreatcareanddeepaffectionforhim,hedecideto

rescueJim.AndHuckstillthinksheiswrongwhileheisdoingtherightthing.

Huckisthesonofnatureandasymbolforfreedomandearthlypragmatism.ThroughtheeyeofHuck,theinnocentand

reluctantrebel,weseethepre-CivilWarAmericansocietyfullyexposed.Twaincontraststhelifeontheriverandthelife

onthebanks,theinnocenceandtheexperience,thenatureandtheculture,thewildernessandthecivilization.

II.DaisyMillerbyHenryJames

1.Theme：ThenovelisastoryaboutAmericaninnocencedefeatedbythestiff,traditionalvaluesofEurope.Jamescondemns

theAmericanfailuretoadoptexpressivemannersintelligentlyandpointoutthefalsebelievingthatagoodheartisreadily

visibletoall.ThedeathofDaisyresultsfromthemisunderstandingbetweenpeoplewithdifferentculturalbackgrounds.

2.ThecharacteranalysisofDaisy：SherepresentstypicalAmericangirl,whoisuninformedandwithoutthematureguidance.

Ignoranceandparentalindulgencecombinetofosterheassertiveself-confidenceandfiercewillfulness.Shebehavesinthesame

daringnaivewayinEuropeasshedoesathome.Whensomeoneisagainsther,shebecomesmorecontrary.Sheknowsthat

shemeansnoharmandisamazedthatanyoneshouldthinkshedoes.ShedoesnotcompromisetotheEuropeanmanners.

3.ThecharacteranalysisofWinterbourne：HeisaEuropeanizedAmerican,whohaslivetoolonginforeignparts.Heisvery

experienceandhasaproblemunderstandingDaisy.Heendeavorstoputherinsortofformula,i.e.toclassifyher.

III.SisterCarriebyTheodoreDreiser：

1.Theme：TheauthorinventedthesuccessofCarrieandthedownfallofHurstwoodoutofaninevitableandnaturaljudgment,

becausethefittestcansurviveinacompetitive,amoralsocietyaccordingtothesocialDarwinism.

2.ThecharacteranalysisofCarrie：ShefollowstherightdirectiontoapursuitoftheAmericandream,andthecircumstances

andherdesireforabetterlifedirecttothesuccessfulgoal.Butsheisnotcontented,becausewithwealthandfame,shestill

findsherselflonely.Sheisaproductofthesociety,arealizationofthetheoryofthesurvivalofthefittest.

3.ThecharacteranalysisofHurstwood：Heisanegativeevidenceofthetheoryofthesurvivalofthefittest.Becauseheisstill

conventionalandcannotthrowawaythesocialmorals,heisnotfittedtoliveinNewYork.

Chapterthree：TheModernPeriod

I.EzraPoundandhistheoryofImagism

1.Theprinciples：a.directtreatmentofthething;b.touseabsolutelynowordthatdoesnotcontributetothepresentation;

c.tocomposeinthesequenceofthemusical;d.tousethelanguageofcommonspeechandtheexactword;e.tocreatenew

rhythms;f.absolutelyfreedominthechoiceofsubject.

2.Imagismistopresentanintellectualandemotionalcomplexinaninstantoftime.Animagisticpoemmustpresenttheobject

exactlythewaythethingisseen.Andthereadercanformtheimageoftheobjectthroughtheprocessofreadingtheabstract

andconcretewords.

II.Frostandhispoetryonnature：

Frostisdeeplyinterestedinnatureandinmen'srelationshiptonature.Natureappearsasanexplicatorandamediatorforman

andserveasthecenterofreferenceofhisbehavior.PeaceandordercanbefoundinFrost'spoeticalnaturalworld.Withsurface

simplicityofhispoems,thethematicconcernsarealwayspresentedinrichsymbols.Thereforehisworkresistseasy

interpretation.

III.F.ScottFitzgeraldandhisTheGreatGatsby

1.Theme：GatsbyisAmericanEveryman.Hisextraordinaryenergyandwealthmakehimpursuethedream.Hisdeathinthe

endpointsatthetruthaboutthewitheringoftheAmericanbream.Thespiritualandmoralsterilitythathasresultedfrom

thewitheredAmericanbreamisfullyrevealedinthearticle.However,althoughheisdefeated,thedreamhasgaveGatsbya

dignityandasetofqualities.Hishopeandbeliefinthepromiseoffuturemakeshimtheembodimentofthevaluesofthe

incorruptibleAmericanbream.

2.ThecharacteranalysisofGatsby：Gatsbyisgreat,becauseheisdignifiedandennobledbyhisdreamandhismythicvisionoflife.

Hehasthedesiretorepeatthepast,thedesireformoney,andthedesireforincarnationofunutterablevisiononthismaterial

earth.ForGatsby,Daisyisthesoulofhisdreams.HebelievehecanregainDaisyandromanticallyrebelsoftime.Althoughhe

hasthewealththatcanmatchwiththeleisuredclass,hedoesnothavetheirmanners.Histragedyliesinhispossessionof

anaivesenseandchivalry.

IV.ErnestHemingwaysartisticfeatures：

1.TheHemingwaycodeheroesandgraceunderpressure：

Theyhaveseenthecoldworld,andforonecause,theyboldlyandcourageouslyfacethereality.Theyhasanindestructible

spiritforhisoptimisticviewoflife.Whateveristheresultis,thearereadytolivewithgraceunderpressure.Nomatterhow

tragictheendingis,theywillneverbedefeated.Finally,theywillbeprevailbecauseoftheirindestructiblespiritandcourage.

2.Theicebergtechnique：

Hemingwaybelievethatagoodwriterdoesnotneedtorevealeverydetailofacharacteroraction.Theone-eighththeis

presentedwillsuggestallothermeaningfuldimensionsofthestory.Thus,Hemingwayslanguageissymbolicandsuggestive.

V.ThecharacteranalysisofEmilyinARoseforEmily：

Emilyisasymbolofoldvalues,standingfortradition,dutyandpastglory.Butsheisalsoavictimtoallthoseshecaresand

embrace.ThesourceofEmilysstrangenessisfromherbornprideandself-esteem,thedomineeringbehaviorofherfather

andthebetrayalofherlover.Barricadedinherhouse,shehasfrozenthepasttoprotectherdreams.Herlifeistragicbecause

thedefianceofthecommunity,herrefusaltoacceptthechangeandherextremepridehavepushedhertoabnormalityand

insanity.

EnglishLiterature

ChapterOneTheRenaissancePeriod

I.Shakespeare'ssonnets

1.Withafewexceptions,ShakespearewriteshissonnetsinthepopularEnglishformofthreequatrainsandacouplet.Thecouplet

usuallytiesthesonnettooneofthegeneralthemes,leavingthequatrainsfreetodevelopthepoeticintensity.

2.Thesonnefsmostcommonthemesconcernthedestructiveeffectsoftime,thequicknessofphysicaldecay,andthelossof

beauty,vigor,andlove.Althoughthepoemscelebratelife,theyarealwayswithakeenawarenessofdeath.

3.Hissonnet18expressesthatbeautifulthingscanrelyontheforceofliteraturetoreacheternity.Literatureiscreatedbyman,

thusitdeclaresman'seternity.Thepoemshowsthemightyself-confidenceofthenewlyclass.Thevivid,variableandrichimages

reflectthelivelyandadventurousspiritsofthosewhowereopeningnewworld.

II.ShakespearesAMerchantofVenice

1.Theme

(1)Justicevs.mercy：Shakespearesuggeststhatallmenshouldbemerciful.Thereisafurtheraspectofjustice-theinjustice

revealedintheChristians'treatmentoftheJews.

(2)Appearancevs.reality：e.g.superficialorexternalbeautyvs.moralorspiritualbeautyortruth(inthecaseofthreecaskets);

thelettersoflawvs.thespiritofthelaw.

(3)Commercialormaterialvaluesvs.love：Trueloveismuchmoreworthwhilethanmoneyandmaterialvalues.Antonioepitomizes

trueloveinhisfriendshipforBassanio.

2.ThecharacteranalysisofShylock

ShylockisaJewishusurer,andheisatragic-comiccharacter.

Heiscomicbecausehefinallybecomestheonepunishedbyhisownevildeed.Heisavaricious.Heaccumulatesasmuchwealth

ashecanandheevenequateshislostdaughterwithhislostmoney.Heisalsocruel.Inordertorevenge,hewouldratherclaima

poundoffleshfromhisenemyAntoniothangetbackhisloan.

Heistragic,becauseheisthevictimofthesociety.AsaJew,heisnottreatedequallybythesociety.Thelawisharshtohim.He

hastomakeasmuchmoneyashecaninordertoprotecthim.HeisabusedbyAntonio,sohewantstogetrevenge.

III.ThecharacteranalysisofHamlet

Hamletisascholarandawarrior.Hisfatherhasbeenkilledbyhisuncle,Claudius,whothentakethethroneandmarrieshis

mother.Hamletisinformedbytheghostofhisfathertotakerevenge,buttheweaknessofindecisivenessorindeterminationin

hischaracteralwaysdelayhisaction,andfinallyleadstohistragicfallofdeath.Hamletisnotamanofaction,butamanof

thinkingatfirst.Hehesitatesatsomecrucialmoments.Atlastwhenheisforcedtotakesomeactions,hedoeskillClaudius

gloriously,buthealsosacrificeshisownlife.

IV.bonneandhis"TheSunRising"

1.Metaphysicalpoet：Hewrotepoemsbyusingunconventionalandsurprisingconceitsandfullofwitandhumor,butsometimesthe

logicargumentandconceitsbecomepervasive.Thelanguageiscolloquialbutpowerful,creatingunorthodoximagesonthe

reader'smind.

2.His"TheSunRising"：Inthispoem,thelove'sweddingroomhasbeenintrudedbysunandthemantakesoffenceattheintrusion.

Heattackthesunasanunrulyservant,andfinallyheallowthesuntoentertheirchamberandwarmthem.Thepoem'struesubject

isthelady-histrueemotionallove.Everyinsulttothesunisacomplimenttothelady.

V.MiltonsParadiseLost：

l.Structure：ThestoryistakenfromtheOldTestament.ItextendschronologicallyfromtheexaltationofChristbeforethe

creatureofuniversetothesecondcomingofChrist.Geographically,itrangesovertheentireworld.

2.ThecharacteranalysisofSatan：

Hehasthestrength,thecourageandthecapacityforleadership,buthedevotedallthosequalitiestoevil.HisdefianceofGod

showshisegoisticpride,hisfalseconceptionoffreedom,andhisalienationfromallgood.Hisownevilanddamnationgivehim

potentiallytragicdimensions.Therefore,Satanisenvelopedindramaticironybecausehefightinignoranceoftheunshakable

powerofGodandgoodness.

3.Features：Parallelandcontrast

Thecentralconflictandcontrastbetweengoodandevilareintensifiedbythecontrastbetweenheavenandhell,lightand

darkness,loveandhate,reasonandpassion,etc.

ChapterTwoTheNeo-classicalPeriod

I.TheallegoricalmeaningofMTheVanityFair"inJohnBunyansThePilgrim'sProgress

TheVanityFairreferstotherealworldwherepeoplehavebecomesodegeneratedthatalltheyareconcernedistobuyandsell

everythingtheycan.Itallegoricallyrepresentsvanitybothinthesocietyandinpeoplesheart,sopeoplearespirituallylost.

However,thepilgrimsrefusetobuyanyofthethingsintheVanityFair.ItspurposeistourgepeopletoabidebyChristian

doctrinesandseeksalvationthroughconstantstrugglewiththeirownweaknessandsocialevils.Christians*refusalshowsthat

theyareonestepnearertheCelestialCity.

II.Popespointofviewonpoetrycriticismandthecharacteristicsofhisownpoetry

1.Pope'spointofviewonpoetrycriticismisbestshowninhisAnEssaysonCriticism.Heemphasizingthatliteraryworksshouldbe

judgedbyclassicalrulesoforder,reason,logic,restrainedemotionandgoodtaste.HecallsonpeopletoturntotheoldGreekand

Romanwritersforguidance.Headvisesthecriticsnottostresstoomuchtheartificialuseofconceitortheexternalbeautyof

language,buttopayspecialattentiontotruewitwhichisbestsetinaplainstyle.

2.Pope'spoemstrictlyfollowshisideaofneoclassicism.Hedevelopedasatiric,concise,smooth,gracefulandwell-balancedstyle,

andfinallybroughttoitslastperfectionoftheheroiccouplet.

II.ThesocialsatireofJonathanSwift'sGulliver'sTravels

TheaccountofLilliputianlife,especiallythegamesforpeopleatcourt,alludestothesimilarridiculouspracticesortricksinthe

Englishgovernment.Thedescriptionofthecompetitioninthegamesbeforetheroyalmembersleadstothefactthatthesuccess

ofthosegovernmentofficialssuchasthePrimeMinisterliesnotintheirbeinganywiserorbetterbutintheirbeingmore

dexterousinthegame.ThisalludestothepracticesinEngland.AndthepompouswordssingingoftheLilliputianemperorridicule

thearistocraticarroganceandvanity.

V.HenryFieldingandhisTomJones

ItisagoodexampleofMcomicepicinprose**.FieldingdescribesthefightbetweenMollyandthevillagersandherfistfightwith

GoodyBrowninthegrandstyleoftheHomericepic.HefirstofallcallsontheMusestoassisthiminrecountingthefightasifit

wereofgreathistoricalimportance.LikeHomerwhowouldlistnamesofgodsinvolvedinthebattle,heliststhenamesofthe

villagers.HetreatsMollyasagreatheroatbattle,an''Amazonianheroine".Besides,heusesamock-epictoneandseemsvery

solemnaboutwhatheisdescribing.Heusesformalwordsandrefinedlanguage.Finally,hemakesuseofdifferentfiguresof

speech,particularly,ironyandhyperbole.

V.ThomasGrayandhisMElegyWritteninaCountyChurch”

Inthepoem,Graypresentsapictureofthequietandsolitarycountyatduskthroughthesoundingofthecurfew,thehome-coming

plowman,thetinklingofbellsunderthenecksofthecattle,themopingowl,thenarrowcell(grave),etc..Hebemoansthefateof

thosecommonlaborerswhoarenowburiedinthegraves,triestoimaginehowtheyhadlivedaslovingparentsandhardworking

people,andpraisetheirhomelyjoys.Hethenexpresshiscontemptforthosenoblemenwhooncelivedapompouslife,anddespised

thepoor,buthaveendedupinawaynobetterthantheordinaryfolk.WecanseeGray'ssympathyforthepoorandcontemptfor

therich.

ChapterThreeTheRomanticPeriod

I.WordsworthandhisMIwanderedlonelyasacloud”

Thepoemiscrystalclearandlucid.Belowtheimmediatesurface,wefindthatalltherealisticdetailsoftheflowers,thetrees,

thewaves,thewind,andalltherealisticdetailsoftheactivejoy,areabsorbedintoanover-allconcretemetaphor,therecurrent

imageofthedance.Theflowers,thestars,thewavesareunitsinthisdancingpatternoforderindiversity,oflinkedeternal

harmonyandvitality.Throughtherevelationandrecognitionofhiskinshipwithnature,thepoethimselfbecomesasitwereapart

ofthewholecosmicdance.

II.Shelleyandhis''OdetotheWestWind11

Inthepoem,Shelleyeulogizesthewestwindasapowerfulphenomenonofnaturethatisbothdestroyerandpreserver.Thewind

enjoysboundlessfreedomandhasthepowertospreadmessagesfarandwide.ThekeynoteinthepoemisShelley'sever-present

wishforhimselfandhisfellowmentosharethefreedomofthewestwind,rememberingmeanwhilehisownandcommonhuman

miseries.Andthedominantmoodisthatofhoperatherthandespair,asthepoetishopingfortherealizationofthefreedomand

joy.Theoptimismexpressedinthelasttwolinesshowthepoet'scriticalattitudetowardtheuglysocialrealityandhisfaithina

brightfutureforhumanity.

III.JohnKeatsandhisMOdeonaGrecianUrn”

InthepoemKeatsshowsthecontrastbetweenthepermanenceofartandthetransienceofhumanpassion.Thepoethasabsorbed

himselfintothetimelessbeautifulsceneryontheGrecianurn：thelovers,musiciansandworshipperscarvedontheurn,andtheir

everlastingjoys.Theyareunaffectedbytime,stilledinexpectation.Thisisthegloryandthelimitationoftheworldconjuredup

byandobjectofart.Theurncelebratesbutsimplifiesintuitionsofjoybydefyingourpainandsuffering.Butatlast,theurn

presentshisambivalenceabouttimeandthenatureofbeauty.

IV.ThecharacteranalysisofElizabethinJaneAusten'sPrideandPrejudice

ElizabethisabeautifulyoungladyintheBennets.Sheisintelligent,contrastingherempty-minded,snobbishandvulgarmother.

Sheisawomenofdistinctcharacter.Sheisnotpassive,butpursuehertruelovebravely.SheturnsdownAAr.Collin'smarriage

proposalandseekingherhappinesswithDarcy,theoneshepossessestrueaffectionforher.Sheisalsocourageous.WhenDarcy's

auntladycomestoforceherintoapromiseofneverconsentingtomarryDarcy,sheboldlychallengesherauthority,contemptand

arrogance.Onthewhole,Elizabethisatypicalimageofthegood,attractiveladyinthe19thcentury.

ChapterTwoTheNeo-classicalPeriod

I.TheallegoricalmeaningofMTheVanityFair“inJohnBunyan'sThePilgrim'sProgress

TheVanityFairreferstotherealworldwherepeoplehavebecomesodegeneratedthatalltheyareconcernedistobuyandsell

everythingtheycan.Itallegoricallyrepresentsvanitybothinthesocietyandinpeoplesheart,sopeoplearespirituallylost.

However,thepilgrimsrefusetobuyanyofthethingsintheVanityFair.ItspurposeistourgepeopletoabidebyChristian

doctrinesandseeksalvationthroughconstantstrugglewiththeirownweaknessandsocialevils.Christians'refusalshowsthat

theyareonestepnearertheCelestialCity.

II.Pope'spointofviewonpoetrycriticismandthecharacteristicsofhisownpoetry

1.PopespointofviewonpoetrycriticismisbestshowninhisAnEssaysonCriticism.Heemphasizingthatliteraryworksshouldbe

judgedbyclassicalrulesoforder,reason,logic,restrainedemotionandgoodtaste.HecallsonpeopletoturntotheoldGreekand

Romanwritersforguidance.Headvisesthecriticsnottostresstoomuchtheartificialuseofconceitortheexternalbeautyof

language,buttopayspecialattentiontotruewitwhichisbestsetinaplainstyle.

2.Pope'spoemstrictlyfollowshisideaofneoclassicism.Hedevelopedasatiric,concise,smooth,gracefulandwell-balancedstyle,

andfinallybroughttoitslastperfectionoftheheroiccouplet.

III.ThesocialsatireofJonathanSwift'sGulliversTravels

TheaccountofLilliputianlife,especiallythegamesforpeopleatcourt,alludestothesimilarridiculouspracticesortricksinthe

Englishgovernment.Thedescriptionofthecompetitioninthegamesbeforetheroyalmembersleadstothefactthatthesuccess

ofthosegovernmentofficialssuchasthePrimeMinisterliesnotintheirbeinganywiserorbetterbutintheirbeingmore

dexterousinthegame.ThisalludestothepracticesinEngland.AndthepompouswordssingingoftheLilliputianemperorridicule

thearistocraticarroganceandvanity.

IV.HenryFieldingandhisTomJones

Itisagoodexampleof"comicepicinprose".FieldingdescribesthefightbetweenMollyandthevillagersandherfistfightwith

GoodyBrowninthegrandstyleoftheHomericepic.HefirstofallcallsontheMusestoassisthiminrecountingthefightasifit

wereofgreathistoricalimportance.LikeHomerwhowouldlistnamesofgodsinvolvedinthebattle,heliststhenamesofthe

villagers.HetreatsMollyasagreatheroatbattle,an''Amazonianheroine0.Besides,heusesamock-epictoneandseemsvery

solemnaboutwhatheisdescribing.Heusesformalwordsandrefinedlanguage.Finally,hemakesuseofdifferentfiguresof

speech,particularly,ironyandhyperbole.

V.ThomasGrayandhis''ElegyWritteninaCountyChurch”

Inthepoem,Graypresentsapictureofthequietandsolitarycountyatduskthroughthesoundingofthecurfewzthehome-coming

plowman,thetinklingofbellsunderthenecksofthecattle,themopingowl,thenarrowcell(grave),etc..Hebemoansthefateof

thosecommonlaborerswhoarenowburiedinthegraves,triestoimaginehowtheyhadlivedaslovingparentsandhardworking

people,andpraisetheirhomelyjoys.Hethenexpresshiscontemptforthosenoblemenwhooncelivedapompouslife,anddespised

thepoor,buthaveendedupinawaynobetterthantheordinaryfolk.WecanseeGray'ssympathyforthepoorandcontemptfor

therich.

ChapterThreeTheRomanticPeriod

I.WordsworthandhisMIwanderedlonelyasacloud”

Thepoemiscrystalclearandlucid.Belowtheimmediatesurface,wefindthatalltherealisticdetailsoftheflowers,thetrees,

thewaves,thewind,andalltherealisticdetailsoftheactivejoy,areabsorbedintoanover-allconcretemetaphor,therecurrent

imageofthedance.Theflowers,thestars,thewavesareunitsinthisdancingpatternoforderindiversity,oflinkedeternal

harmonyandvitality.Throughtherevelationandrecognitionofhiskinshipwithnature,thepoethimselfbecomesasitwereapart

ofthewholecosmicdance.

II.Shelleyandhis"OdetotheWestWind"

Inthepoem,Shelleyeulogizesthewestwindasapowerfulphenomenonofnaturethatisbothdestroyerandpreserver.Thewind

enjoysboundlessfreedomandhasthepowertospreadmessagesfarandwide.ThekeynoteinthepoemisShelleysever-present

wishforhimselfandhisfellowmentosharethefreedomofthewestwind,rememberingmeanwhilehisownandcommonhuman

miseries.Andthedominantmoodisthatofhoperatherthandespair,asthepoetishopingfortherealizationofthefreedomand

joy.Theoptimismexpressedinthelasttwolinesshowthepoet'scriticalattitudetowardtheuglysocialrealityandhisfaithina

brightfutureforhumanity.

III.JohnKeatsandhisM0deonaGrecianUrn”

InthepoemKeatsshowsthecontrastbetweenthepermanenceofartandthetransienceofhumanpassion.Thepoethasabsorbed

himselfintothetimelessbeautifulsceneryontheGrecianurn：thelovers,musiciansandworshipperscarvedontheurn,andtheir

everlastingjoys.Theyareunaffectedbytime,stilledinexpectation.Thisisthegloryandthelimitationoftheworldconjuredup

byandobjectofart.Theurncelebratesbutsimplifiesintuitionsofjoybydefyingourpainandsuffering.Butatlast,theurn

presentshisambivalenceabouttimeandthenatureofbeauty.

IV.ThecharacteranalysisofElizabethinJaneAusten'sPrideandPrejudice

ElizabethisabeautifulyoungladyintheBennets.Sheisintelligent,contrastingherempty-minded,snobbishandvulgarmother.

Sheisawomenofdistinctcharacter.Sheisnotpassive,butpursuehertruelovebravely.SheturnsdownAAr.Collin'smarriage

proposalandseekingherhappinesswithDarcy,theoneshepossessestrueaffectionforher.Sheisalsocourageous.WhenDarcy's

auntladycomestoforceherintoapromiseofneverconsentingtomarryDarcy,sheboldlychallengesherauthority,contemptand

arrogance.Onthewhole,Elizabethisatypicalimageofthegood,attractiveladyinthe19thcentury.

ChapterFourTheVictorian