{精品}英美文学选读 复习资料 重点知识点.doc

一、 名词解释1. Meter: Meter is the measured arrangement of words in the poetry, the rhythmic pattern of a stanza, determined by the kind and number of lines. Its the beat of the poem and meter is an organized way to arrange unstressed and stressed syllables. The length of lines is described by the number of repeated meters in the line. 1 meter, 2 dimeter, 3 trimeter, 4 tetrameter, 5 pentameter, 6 hexameter, 7 heptameter, 8 octameter2. Stressed pattern: The most common stressed pattern in English is the iamb, which consists of 2 syllables and the 2nd one of which is accented. Another common stressed pattern is trochee (also 2 syllables, but with the 1st accented).Iamb: unstressed/ stressedTrochee: stressed/ unstressedAnapest: unstressed/ unstressed/ stressedDactyl: stressed/ unstressed/ unstressed A line with three iambic feet is known as iambic trimester. A line with six dactylic feet is known as dactylic hexameter. Shakespeare is famous for his use of the iambic pentameter.3. Rhyme: Rhyme is when the endings of the words sound the same.4. Rhyme Scheme: Rhyme Scheme is the pattern of rhyming word at the end of each line. Not all poetry has rhyme scheme. Poems of more than one stanza often repeat the same rhyme scheme in each stanza.5. Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of the same sounds or the same kinds of sound at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables. Modern alliteration is predominantly consonantal. 6. Assonance: 谐音，类韵 Assonance is the relatively close succession of the same or similar vowel sounds, but with different consonants and its a kind of vowel rhyme.7. Consonance: 尾韵 Consonance is the relatively close succession of the same end consonants with different vowel sounds and its a kind of consonant rhyme. 8. Repetition: Repetition is the repeating of a sound, word, or phrase for emphasis. 10. Meaning devices: Diction is the writers choice of words. The words that a writer chooses to use may carry both denotative and connotative meanings. Denotative is the explicit definition as listed in a dictionary, while connotative is the association or set of associations that a word usually brings to mind. 11. Figurative language: Figurative language is any language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to furnish new effects or fresh insights into an idea or a subject. Whenever you describe sth. by comparing it with sth. else, youre using figurative language. Simile: A simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduces by “like” or “as”. Metaphor:A metaphor is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have sth. important in common. Symbol: Symbol is an image that comes to stand for sth. (often an idea) beyond itself. Pun: A pun occurs when a word is used in such a way as to have more than one meaning and in this way. Its a kind of instant metaphor. Imagery:Imagery is an appeal to the senses. The poet describes sth. to help you see, hear, smell, taste or touch the topic of the poem. Its similar to descriptive writing only in poetry form. Personification:Personification is a figure of speech, which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object or an idea. Its a comparison, which the author uses to show sth. in an entirely new light, to communicate a certain feeling or attitude towards it and to control the way a reader perceives it. Paradox:Paradox is a statement that on the surface seems to contradict itself and doesnt make sense, but that at another level expresses a truth. 12. English Romanticism . It prevailed in English during the period of 17981832. The publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1798 marked its beginning and the death of Water Scott in 1832 marked its ending. . Highlights of English RomanticismImagination is the supreme faculty of the mindIdealization of Nature: that Nature never did betray the heart that loved herIndividualism: man is an individual in a solitary state; the exploration and evaluation of the inner self.13. Point of view: Point of view is the vantage point from which a story is told. The First Person Point of View: A character from the story is telling the story; uses pronouns “he”, “she”, “they”. In the first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story; knows and can tell only what he or she thinks and feels; may be reliable and trustworthy or may be an unreliable narrator. . Types of Third-Person Point of View: Third-person limited: the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings on only ONE character in a story. Third-person omniscient: the narrator knows the thoughts and feeling of ALL the characters in a story. Third-Person-Limited Point of View:In Third-person-limited point of view, the narrator plays no part in the story; he knows and can tell what a single character is thinking and feeling. Omniscient point of view:In the omniscient point of view, the all-knowing narrator plays no part in the story; knows and can tell what any character is thinking and feeling; knows what is happening in all of the storys settings.14. Setting Setting generally provides the time and place of a story; Setting can also include the mood of the time period, situation and event; Setting can be the social, political, environmental or emotional climate; Setting can also include the emotional state of a character. 15. Character The term character refers to a person or an animal in a story, play or other literary work. Characterization is the way a writer reveals the personality of a character. The protagonist is the main character in a story and the story often revolves around this character. The antagonist is the force that or character who opposes the protagonist. Minor characters are present, generally named and have a role that in some way was highlights the protagonist. 16. Theme Theme is the general idea or insight about life that a work of literature reveals. Theme is a main idea or strong message tied to life. Theme threads itself through a story, chapter or scene to make a point about life, society or human nature. Theme is typically implied rather than explicit. The reader has to think about it. Generally, theres one major theme in a piece of literature. Additional themes can often be found in a piece of literature. 17. Parts of a plot Plot is the sequence of events that happen in a story. Plot provides a story with structure, like a map of a story. Exposition: introduction; This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (problem). Rising action: events that occur as result of central conflictThis part of the story begins to develop the conflicts. A building of interest or suspense occurs and leads to the climax. Complication arises. Climax: highest point of interest or suspense of a storyThis is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way and this is the most intense moment. Falling action: tension eases; events show the results of how the main character begins to resolve the conflict. Its the action that follows the climax and ultimately leads to the resolution. Resolution: the conclusion; all loose ends are tied up; the conflict is solvedEither the character defeats the problem, learns to live with the problem or the problem defeats the character. 18. Conflict Conflict is a problem that must be solved; its an issue between the protagonist and antagonist forces. It forms the basis of the plot and conflict can be external or internal. External conflict: exists when a character struggles against some outside force such as another character, group, society, nature, fate or a nonhuman obstacle. E.g. . Man vs. Man is the conflict of one person against another person. . Man vs. Nature is the conflict a person encounters with the forces of nature, and shows how insignificant one person can be when compared to the cosmic scheme of things . Man vs. Society is the conflict of a person/ people and the views of society. Prejudice/Racism is a good example. Internal conflict exits within the mind of a character who is torn between different courses of action. E.g. Man vs. Himself is internal conflict. Its those conflicts an individual has with his conscience.19. Special Techniques used in a Story . Suspense: excitement, tension, curiosity . Foreshadowing: hint or clue about what will happen in story . Flashback: interrupts the normal sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past . Symbolism: use of specific objects or images to represent ideas . Personification: when you make a thing, idea or animal do something only humans do . Surprise Ending: conclusion that reader does not expect 二、 文学作品节选承上启下aconnectinglinkbetweentheprecedingandthefollowing1. A Rose for Emily - William FaulknerThe narration shifts in time frequently and gives out bits of information about the main character Miss Emily in such a way that the reader has to piece them together by himself.Para.1 It tells us who is the main character and who is telling the story. The author chooses “we”, the people of the town, as the collective narrator. “We” represents the gossip of the town, they are observers of the events. But this collective narrator does not know everything. None of “us” have benn inside Miss Emilys house until her death. So inevitably there are gaps in the narration that are bound to cause confusion on the part of the readers or the listener of the story. That leaves a lot of room for reader participation. Para. 2 This paragraph provides details about the setting of the story - the place and the time. From the descriptions of the appearance of Miss Emilys house we learn something about her family and her character, and from the visible changes on the streets over the years we get to know something about the historical and social changes that were taking place then.Part 2. In this part time is shifted back to thirty years before the visit of the deputation. Three things took place during this period of time. There was a bad smell coming from Miss Emilys house. Two years before that her father dies, and Emily behaved rather strangely by refusing to let the townspeople bury him. A short time after that she had a sweetheart, whom the townspeople believed deserted her.2. A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickensantithesis对照/对仗， anaphora首语重复法， repetition, juxtaposition 并列， oxymoron 矛盾3. Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare4. Persuasion - Jane Austen三、 诗歌欣赏1. A Red Red Rose - Robert Burns A Red Red Rose is a ballad that written by Robert Burns. It consists of 4 quatrains (four-line stanzas), in iambic tetrameter in first and third lines, and iambic trimeter second and fourth lines. The rhyme scheme is abcb. The poem focuses on the theme of love. A man professes his true love for his beloved girl. In the first stanza the author describes her pretty appearance and praise he fine disposition. And he addresses the young lady as bonnie in second stanzas. He pledges his eternal and faithful love in the next 3 stanzas from 3 dimensions: Depth, length and distance. The man vows to love her however far he may go. There are four main figurative languages used in the poetry. In the first place, the author compares his beloved girl to a red rose which has recently blossomed in June by using simile. And he compares her to melody which is the beauty lives on abstraction. Those make the poetry vivid and live.In the second place, he uses hyperbole in the sentence “Till a the seas gang dry” to show that all is possible. Furthermore, the author repeat the sentence “Till a the seas gang dry” to show the permanent love. The repetition not only emphasizes his love but also add some musicality to the poetry.In addition, the author uses symbol to expresses his faithful love. Rose symbolizes passionate love, and rock symbolizes staunch love, sands symbolizes eternal love, seas symbolizes deep love.2. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud - William Wordsworth I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud is a lyric poem written by William Wordsworth. This poem presents the deep feelings and emotions of the poet rather than telling a story or presenting a witty observation. It consists of 4 six-line stanzas, in iambic tetrameter and an ABABCC rhyme scheme. Figurative language: Using personification, the author compares the cloud to a lonely human.By using simile, there is the comparison of the speakers solitariness to that of a cloud.Alliteration: lonely as a cloud(line 1) Diction & Tone：Diction can be assumed as indifferent or melancholy in the first two lines. The speaker is comparing himself to a cloud that floats carelessly and yet feels distant or separated from the world beneath himBy the third line “when all at once I saw a crowd” the poem shifts into a blithe/joyful attitude, an interest towards the gorgeous scene which he describes and keeps throughout the poem.-Fluttering/dancing/shine/twinkle/sprightly/dance/glee/gay/jocund/wealth/bliss/ pleasure fills Analysis ： In the first stanzas, Wordsworth describes the scene when we wanders “as lonely as a cloud”. He compares himself to a single cloud that is floating over the valleys and the hills. The speaker feels distant and seperated from the world below. The poet says that he is like a cloud. Thats a simile.Then he sees a “crowd” of golden daffodils which are under the trees and beside a lake and are “fluttering and dancing in the breeze”. He uses calm and soft words.In the second stanza, the speaker makes a connection with the daffodils and the stars. This stanza is still full of imagery. He compares the daffodils to the shining stars that sparkle in the Milky Way as the number of daffodils are near the river seem to be thousands in number.In the third stanza, he again compares the waves of the lake to the waves of daffodils. He decides that even though the lake is “sparkling”, the daffodils win because they have more “glee.” He felt so happy and expressed his feeling as gay in such a jocund company. He looked at the scene for a long time ,but while he was there, he couldnt understand what he had gained from his experience. The repetition of “gaze” tells us that he kept looking at the flowers for a long time.In the last stanza, he describes how that scene affected him because whenever he is at home and on his own “in the bliss of solitude,” he remembers the flowers that fills him with pleasure and his heart “dances with the daffodils”. Again the use of words like “bliss” show his happiness each time the memory of those flowers and the way they danced that day comes back to him.This is a beautiful but simple poem about the beauty of nature and how inspiring it can be. This poem was written so that you can visualize and image how it would look in your perspective. In most of this poem, he gave the flowers a human quality, like dancing. There are rhyming words at the end of every alternate line of the poem giving it both continuity and a sense of rhythm.3. Break, Break, Break - Alfred Tennyson Break, Break, Break is a lyric poem that written by Alfred Tennyson. The poem contains four quatrains with combined iambic and anapestic. Most lines have three feet and some four. The rhyme scheme is abcb. This poem expresses Tennysons grief after his friend died, the preciousness of youth and indifference of nature. Namely, the world continues to be busy and beautiful, but the happy moments of ones life never stay. Hallam died of a stroke in 1833 when he was only 22. Nature, of course, does not stop to mourn the loss of anyone. Cold and indifferent, it carries on, the waves of the ocean breaking against rocks along the seashore without pausing even for a moment. The rest of the world carries on as well: the fishermans boy happily playing with his sister, the sailor merrily singing, the ship busily plying the waters of commerce. Downcast, isolated by his grief, the narrator yearns to touch the hand of his friend once more, to hear the sound of his voice. But, no, Hallam is gone forever; his tender grace will never again return. The author use repetition in the title and the first line to emphasizes that the ocean waves are going to keep breaking.Apostrophe (Lines 1 and 2): The narrator addresses the sea. Personification and metaphor also occur in Lines 1 and 2, for the poet regards the sea as a human being. Alliteration (Line 8): boat on the bay (Lines 9-12): Stanza 3 uses this figure of speech as follows: And the stately ships go on To their haven under the hill; But O for the touch of a vanished hand, And the sound of a voice that is still! Alliteration (Line 15): day that is dead Repetend: Line 13 repeats Line 1; Line 7 repeats the first two words of Line 5. Paradox: Touch of a vanished hand (Line 11), sound of a voice that is still (Line 12). 4. Because I Could Not Stop for Death - Emily Dickinson Because I Could Not Stop for Death is written by Emily Dickinson. It consists of 6 four-line stanzas, in iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter. The rhyme is not strict. The poem focuses on the theme of death and immortality. The authors puzzling over death leading to immortality. Namely, the arrival of death is not unpleasant. Death means eternity. The author us