《傲慢与偏见》文学语言的鉴赏 -毕业论文.doc

【标题】傲慢与偏见文学语言的鉴赏 【作者】姚 芳 【关键词】语言特色；句法安排；反讽；对话 【指导老师】刘 敏 【专业】英语 【正文】I. IntroductionJane Austen lived and worked at the turn of the century. She has written six novels in all: Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion. Among them, Pride and Prejudice is the most widely read. It(the original manuscript titled First Impression) appeared on the scene of English Literature in 1813. It achieved a popularity that has endured to this day. For over 150 years, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. It is well known all over the world for its polished linguistic form and the vivid characters. It portrays life in the genteel rural society of the day, tells of the initial misunderstandings and later mutual enlightenment between self-respected Elizabeth and Darcy. Through the description of the daily talks and doings of young men and women, Austen paints very real and vivid characters. Her characters range from the proud aristocratic Darcy to the talkative dull-witted Mrs. Bennet, from the good-natured Elizabeth Bennet to the jealous hypocritical Miss Bingley.From 1813 up to now, this novel has been a special attraction to readers and enjoyed enormous popularity. Jane Austen regards the novel as her“own darling child”1, she considers“Elizabeth as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print”2. Critics have evaluated this novel from different angles: George Henry Lewes praises the construction and artistic economy of Pride and Prejudice; Virgina Woolf discusses Austens characterisation, range of subject matter and narrative viewpoint, comments on the social and physical restrictions of the environment in which Austen writes it; Mary Lascelles publishes the book, Jane Austen and Her Art, which is a comprehensive study about Jane Austen; Marvin Mudrick explored how the quality of irony functioned in Pride and Prejudice in 1952. Within these recent two decades, a great deal of research about Jane Austen and her novels has been done and been very fruitful: for instance, David Monaghams Jane Austen: Structure and Social Vision(1980), Michad Willamss Jane Austen: Six Novels and Their methods(1986). Vivien Joness How to Study a Jane Austen Novel(1987). Roger Gards Jane Austens Novels: The Art of Clarity(1992). Approaches to Teaching Austens Pride and Prejudice edited by Mareia Mcclintock Folsom(1993). In brief, among these nearly two centuries critics emphasised on the characterisation and satire; and the 20th century critics focused on the dramatic structure of the novel, language, irony and sociological background. Walter Scott thus praised her:That young lady has a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with. The big bow-wow strain I can do myself, like any now going; but the exquisite touch which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me. What a pity such a gifted creature died so early!3II. The Features of the LanguageIn Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses language superbly, but not in showy and superficial ways. On the contrary, she writes with great clarity and precision. She selects the words carefully and refines them repeatedly and colours them elaborately. She also arranges the sentence structures ingeniously. Thus characterises the language of this novel by symmetry and neatness and makes it as rhythmic as a poem. The fresh flow and quick-witted sense of humour of the language attracts and impresses the readers most.A. The Ingenious Arrangement of Syntactic StructureIn an artistic work, sentence structures often contain strong expressive force. Sentences in English, according to their structures, are divided into three types, simple sentence, coordinate sentence and complex sentence. But in point of the length, simple sentences are not always very short while compound sentences are not always very long. The lengths of sentences have countless changes. Short sentences possess the features of directness, clearness, powerfulness as well as lucidness and liveliness. So novelists tend to use this type of sentences in the conversations among characters in their novels. In Pride and Prejudice, a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in the first chapter can be a good example of this point:“What is his name?”“Bingley.”“Is he married or single?”“Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls.”“How so? How can it affect them?”4The above is a“Question and Answer” between this couple. One asks simply while the other answers with excitement. These sentences are all short and incomplete ones. But they mirror the personality of these two clearly, i.e. Mr. Bennet considers himself wise and smart, while his wife is a silly woman who indulges in fantasy.However, long sentences are often used to convey complicated ideas for they are very complex in structure. And this feature is also displayed obviously in this novel. When there are such occasions as heated arguments and even confrontations, the language of the characters will take on another kind of characteristic, i.e., long sentences are mainly used and they are not only complete but also attached by clauses in order to convey complicated meanings. Although the tones are courteous, there exists sharpness hidden inside. For instance:I do assure you that I am not one of those young ladies(if such young ladies there are) who are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second time. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so.Nay, were your friend Lady Catherine to know me, I am persuaded she would find me in every respect ill qualified for the situation.5In addition, different length and structure of sentences are also used by Austen to characterise some figure in this novel. Here is a passage taken from Mr. Collins proposal to Elizabeth:Almost as soon as I entered the house I singled you out as the companion of my future life. But before I am run away by my feelings on this subject, perhaps it will be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying and moreover for coming into Hertfordshire with the desire of selecting a wife, as I certainly did. My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances(like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honor of calling patroness.6Mr. Collins is one of the comic characters rendered emphatically and intentionally by Austen. In his speech of proposing marriage to Elizabeth, his speaking style is rambling and full of long and convoluted sentences. This equals to that famous saying- style shows the man. He originally intended to show off the profoundness of his mind and the sincerity of his affection. But the outcome turns out to run counter to his intentions and it proves that he is only making a fool of himself. His speech only thoroughly reveals the icy cold of his affection and the shallowness of his mind. Consequently, an earnest speech of proposal is made to a rigid and dull official document. Thus the readers can see the comic image of Mr. Collins easily and can hardly suppress a smile.An author has his own unique features in controlling words and applying language anyway. But as an individual of his time, he can not avoid the influence of the time and national environment in which he is living. Therefore, authors in the same age may have certain kind of common characteristic of that age and nation. Jane Austen is also not an exception. This novel is created at the end of the 18th century and its language inevitably carries the features of the English prose in the 18th century-neatness and elegance. Narrative in this book carries these features in particular. Take the beginning of this novel as an example:It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughter.7These are two paragraphs in the novel, but in fact they are just two sentences with special features. The first one can be named as“periodic sentence”, which originated from Latin. Its peculiarity lies in introducing details first and placing the main points to the end of a sentence. Thus creates suspense and strengthens the effect of language. This type of sentence is often used in detective novels. As its style is dignified and elegant, it is seldom used in oral speech. In this sentence,“truth”“universally” and“acknowledge” are located at the head of the sentence. They present a sense of grandness and seriousness. But what follows them collaborately is colloquial language. In this way, seriocomic effect is produced, i.e., a light sense of humour is conveyed through ironic and comic means. We seem to see that the author is declaring a truth seriously but out of everyones expectation this truth is a simple fact that everybody knows. The author shows her ingenuity fully, taking readers anticipation toward its peak in a dignified and elegant form. But the vulgar content of the last word pushes it down to the bottom. Thus results in a strong effect of irony. The second sentence is also a specially arranged one: inversion sentence. It is also seldom spoken by people but often employed as written language. It is a commonly used approach of emphasis and the emphasised part is put at the beginning of a sentence. Using an inversion sentence here, the humour of this novel is highlighted greatly.B. The Variety of Speech Forms in NarrativeAnother outstanding feature of the language of Pride and Prejudice is the various forms of speech in narratives. One passage of narrative in the 6th chapter of Volume II, which is about Elizabeth and Collinses visit to Rosings invited by Lady Catherine, well presents this feature:When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted(1).She enquired into Charlottes domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and gave her a great deal of advice, as to the management of them all; told her thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as hers, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry(2).Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great Ladys attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others(3).In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew the least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl(4).She asked her at different times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mothers maiden name(5)?-Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions, but answered them very composedly(6).8Here, sentence 1 and 2 can be called narrative report of speech act. The narrator summarises and reports Lady Catherines unceasing enquiries and instructions into Charlottes domestic concerns, which are of little importance in effect. The third sentence can be called narrative report of thought act. It reveals Elizabeths inner thoughts and her preliminary impression to Lady Catherines arrogance. The fourth sentence is also a narrative report of speech act which exposes Lady Catherines fondness of controlling the whole talking. The 5th sentence is an indirect speech, which further exhibits the impertinent attitude of Lady Catherine. The 6th sentence is both narrative report of thought act and narrative report of speech act. It describes Elizabeths view and attitude toward Lady Catherine with a delicate touch. From the above analysis, readers can learn that various forms of speech are employed by the author in the narrative of this novel.III. The Use of IronyIn Pride and Prejudice, Austen achieves mastery of irony both in narrative and dialogue. Understanding what irony is and how it is functioned will definitely help us fully appreciate its humour and artistry. In this novel, irony is employed as the lens through which society and human nature are viewed. Through the novel, Austen studies social relationships in the limited society of a country neighborhood and investigates them in detail with an often ironic and humorous eye. Moreover, irony is also used as a means for growth in the self-consciousness of major characters. In addition, irony is as well used as the principal, most widespread and most obvious form of humour in this novel, thus achieved the purpose of entertaining the readers.A. Definition of IronyIrony refers to a mode of expression, through words(verbal irony) or events(irony of situation), conveying a reality different from and usually opposite to appearance or expectation. A writer may say the opposite of what he means, create a reversal between expectation and its fulfilment, or give the audience knowledge what a character lacks, making the characters words have meaning to the audience.In verbal irony, the writers meaning or even his attitude may be different from what he says. At the beginning of this novel, Austen states:“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”9 Reading literally, its meaning is“Everyone knows that a single rich man is looking for a wife.” However, read ironically, the sentence means something other than its literal meaning:“Everyone knows that a single rich man will be pursued by women who want to be his wife.” An example of situational irony in Pride and Prejudice is Elizabeths decision to keep Wickhams true nature a secret. She debates making her knowledge public but decides,“that it ought not to be attemptedI am not equal to it. Wickham will soon be gone; and therefore it will not signify to anybody here, what he really is”10. Elizabeth is tragically wrong; in an ironic twist, Lydia runs away with Mr. Wickham and the scandal threatens to ruin the entire Bennet family. Upon learning of their elopement, Elizabeth remarks,“Had I but explained some part of it only some part of what I learnt, to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not have happened”11.B. Function of Irony1. Irony as a Social CritiqueAusten uses irony in much more straightforward ways. Her use of irony as a social critique has long been remarked upon. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen uses irony to comment on the titled gentry. As Rachel M. Brownstein remarks that titled ladies are not among the most admirable characters in the novel12. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, though the highest character on the social ladder in the novel, is abominably rude and has very little real power. When she hears rumours of Elizabeths engagement to her nephew, Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine travels to Longbourn to attempt to dissuade Elizabeth. Her rudeness compels Elizabeth to refuse to answer her questions.Of a possible marriage between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine says:Honour, decorum, prudence, nay interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by every one connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.13Using Lady Catherine as an example, Austen displays the way in which nobility does not necessarily result in good manners.Austen also attacks social pretentiousness. Mr. Bingleys sisters, Caroline and Mrs. Hurst, are extremely pretentious. Caroline Bingley, especially, is willing to do just about anything to gain Mr. Darcys affection. As well as thinking more highly of themselves than they ought, Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Hurst also unfairly criticise those who they consider to be inferior.Moreover, Austen studies social relationship in the limited society of a country neighborhood and investigates them in detail with an often ironic and humorous eye. Note her presentation of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, for example. Their contrasting temperaments are first shown through their manner of conversation; Mrs. Bennet chatters on while Mr. Bennet counters her talk with mildly sarcastic statements, the mocking tone of which Mrs. Bennet completely misses. After letting the reader hear the contrast between the couple through their dialogue, Austen then provides a general summary of the two parents differing personalities. The disparity between them is amusing, but it is also ironic. In a novel about couples overcoming misunderstandings of each other to reach marital happiness, the readers first view of marriage is one of a mismatched couple that cannot communicate