马克吐温的讽刺手法.doc

09届 英美文学 论文题 目 On the Meaning of the Number SEVEN in the Eastern and Western Culture专业班级 学 号 学生姓名 指导教师 学院名称 外语学院 完成日期： 2011 年 12 月 22 日 AbstractMark twain is a master of humor teller. But his product is more than humor because after laughing people are also cogitate it. His work is really thought-provoking. The Million Pound Note is a novel written by Mark Twain. In this novel Mark Twain depicts he story vividly and use a Satire expression. He used the satire in many of his works.Key words: Mark Twain , The Million Pound Note, satire 摘 要马克吐温是一个幽默大师。但是他的作品不仅仅让人发笑，更是能在笑过之后发人深省。百万英镑是他的中篇小说，在这篇小说里，马克吐温用漫画式的手法生动地描写了小说中的人物以及这个有些传奇色彩的故事。他在小说中运用讽刺的笔法批评了当时社会的拜金主义和阶级观念。在马克吐温的其它作品中，讽刺也是必不可少的一部分。关键词：马克吐温, 百万英镑，讽刺手法 1 Introduction1 .1 A Brief Introduction of the WriterSamuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist. He is most noted for his novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), the latter often called1 the Great American Novel. He achieved great success as a writer and public speaker. His wit and satire earned praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty.1.2 A Brief Introduction of the Novel Henry Adams, a impecunious American young man lives by his wits in London .Henry becomes the object of a wager between millionaire brothers Oliver and Roderick Montpelier ,who want to find out if a man with a million pound note in his bank account could live comfortably for one month on the strength of that note -without ever spending a penny of it. When Henry is giving the note and lets it known that he has it, every courtesy imaginable is extended to him by hoteliers, restaurateurs, ect . Trouble brews when Henry uses the note as an act of faith, Henry is unable to do so. The hero Adams, eventually harvests both money and love the niece of one of the old brothers .1.3 the background of the novelThis novel is written in the late nineteenth century. At that time the Englishmen are keen on money worship . There are even some daydreamers want to gain by sacrifice nothing. They have a strong class consciousness,and have the thought that money can do anything. The writer mark twain lived on that period, so he authoring this novel to satirize the phenomenon. 2 Satire expression 2.1 SatireSatire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement.2 Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon.A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasmin satire, irony is militant3but parody, burlesque, exaggeration, juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. This militant irony or sarcasm often professes to approve of (or at least accept as natural) the very things the satirist wishes to attack.Satirical works often contain straight humor, usually to give relief from what might otherwise be relentless preaching. Mark twain is a master of humor teller. But his product is more than humor because after laughing people are also cogitate it. His work is really thought-provoking.The Italian satirical playwright Dario Fo points out the difference between satire and good-humoured teasing, or sfott, which is an ancient form of buffoonery. According to Fo, satire has a subversive character; it is directed against oppression, and has a moral dimension. On the other hand sfott (simple poking fun, benign spoof, light parodying and mockery) is a form of comedy without satires subversive edge. Historically, people in positions of power have tried to censor and repress satire, but have often welcomed good-humoured buffoonery.45 From this, Fo draws criteria to tell real satire from sfott, saying that one can tell real satire from the reaction it arouses in the powerful.6 Sfott on a powerful individual, by focusing on superficial matters such as personal appearance, may actually draw sympathy towards its target;7 Hermann Gring propagated jests and jokes against himself, with the aim of humanizing his image.892.2 Satire in the million pound note Mark Twain was a great American satirist Twains younger contemporary Ambrose Bierce gained notoriety as a cynic, pessimist and black humorist with his dark, bitterly ironic stories, many set during the American Civil War, which satirized the limitations of human perception and reason. The million pound note is also given a satirical tone. We can find many parts in this novel which could show this character. The article reflected his sharp satire everywhere. The hole novel tells us a lucky story about a poor youngHenry Adams. His legend experience is totally a great irony. There are many versions about the poor young men Start from scratch and eventually become successful. But they get their success by determination and persevere rather than a bet by two rich men. Mark twain create this story not only too make people laugh. He satirize the Society at that time.They saw many honest faces go by that were not intelligent enough; many that were intelligent, but not honest enough; many that were both, but the possessors were not poor enough, or, if poor enough, were not strangers. There was always a defect, until I came along; but they agreed that I filled the bill all around; so they elected me unanimously, and there I was now waiting to know why I was called in. They began to ask me questions about myself, and pretty soon they had my story. Finally they told me I would answer their purpose. ( The Million Pound Note, Mark Twain)The two noblemen really have a meticulous observation. When the poors are straggle for there lives, they are endeavoring for their bet. The writer limns this not to praise the rich brothers but to reveal the cozy life of the rich people. They need do nothing but they are still wealthy and powerful. This is common on his time. Before Henry show them the million pound note，the counterjumper treat him badly. As if he is not a custom but a beggar. I asked if they had a misfit suit that had been thrown on their hands. The fellow I spoke to nodded his head towards another fellow, and gave me no answer. I went to the indicated fellow, and he indicated another fellow with his head, and no words.The fellow worked up a most sarcastic expression of countenance, and said: Oh, you havent? Well, of course, I didnt expect it. Id only expect gentlemen like you to carry large change. ( The Million Pound Note, Mark Twain)But when he uncover the magical note, all the people change their attitude immediately. He received it with a smile, one of those large smiles which goes all around over, and has folds in it, and wrinkles, and spirals, and looks like the place where you have thrown a brick in a pond; and then in the act of his taking a glimpse of the bill this smile froze solid, and turned yellow, and looked like those wavy, wormy spreads of lava which you find hardened on little levels on the side of Vesuvius. I never before saw a smile caught like that, and perpetuated. The man stood there holding the bill, and looking like that, and the proprietor hustled up to see what was the matter, and said, briskly: Come, come; get him his change, Tod; get him his change. ( The Million Pound Note, Mark Twain)Mark twain draw their react expression vividly. By the comparison of peoples attitude, depicting the characters in great detail, readers can image the scene. Its funny. But its more than funny. Readers are also able to tell the ugly features of the characters after laughing. Its the Mark Twains way of humor. He satirizes this behavior by comic and exaggerate depict.The Duke of Shoreditch wanted to take precedence, and sit at the head of the table, holding that he outranked a minister who represented merely a nation and not a monarch; but I stood for my rights, and refused to yield. In the gossip column I ranked all dukes not royal, and said so, and claimed precedence of this one. It couldnt be settled, of course, struggle as we might and did, he finally (and injudiciously) trying to play birth and antiquity, and I seeing his Conqueror and raising him with Adam, whose direct posterity I was, as shown by my name, while he was of a collateral branch, as shown by his, and by his recent Norman origin; so we all processioned back to the drawing-room again and had a perpendicular lunch - plate of sardines and a strawberry, and you group yourself and stand up and eat it. ( The Million Pound Note, Mark Twain)The British attaches great importance to hierarchy. The dispute for seat is also a reflection of that The contents of dispute in the novel is very amusing. The Duke of Shoreditch insisted to sit at the head of the table because he wants superiority. However , I stood for my rights, and refused to yield. The author uses the words right and yield as if it is a battle rather than a so-called dinner for the upper classes. Everyone is serious. Thats the cream of the joke which makes readers laugh- they overestimate seriousness of on it. They even play birth and antiquity. Adams, a vagrant from America, actually overcame the Duke. What a sarcastic thing!After refreshment, tables were brought, and we all played cribbage, sixpence a game. The English never play any game for amusement. If they cant make something or lose something - they dont care which - they wont play. ( The Million Pound Note, Mark Twain)This is also to satirize the Englishman. They are gambling addict. If there is no wager, they will lose the interest to play.2.3 Satire in other novels of Mark TwainSmiley said all a frog wanted was education, and he could do almost anything.(The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,Mark Twain)Education is usually used on people, but the writer uses is on the frog here. Smiley is so patient on that little frog, just like teach his son. Why does he so patient? Out of love? Definitely not. Because that frog can earn money for him. He is a well-educated man judged by his words, but he uses his knowledge on such things. Twain satirizes Smiley and many other people like him in just a few words. Well, one day a stranger came in and says to Smiley, What might be that you have got in the box?And Smiley says, Its only just a frog. And the man took it, and looked at it careful, and turned it round this way and that, and says, Hm, so it is. Well, what is he good for?Well, Smiley says, easy and careless, he can out jump any frog in Calaveras County.The man took the box again, and took another long look, and gave it back to Smiley, and says, Well, I dont see anything about that frog that is any better than any other frog.Maybe you dont, Smiley says. Maybe you understand frogs and maybe you dont. Anyways, I will risk forty dollars and bet you that he can jump farther than any frog in Calaveras County.(The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,Mark Twain)In this dialogue, Smiley tries to hide the fact that his frog is special. When the stranger asks him, he pretends that that is just a common one. Its only just a frog. Why does he says that? Because he wants the stranger to bet. His frog is well-trained. However， he is going to grab another untrained frog to compete with Danl. Everyone all know who will be the winner. Ironically, Smiley eventually lost to strangers, and expenses a large sum of money. His Danl isnt bring him luck and fortune this time. Nobody in this town sympathy him or help him. Definitely the stranger cheats in the gambling, but none of the spectators