【精品】英语论文《苔丝悲剧成因》开题报告范文.doc

1. Research IntentionTess of the Durbervilles, the greatest novel of British famous writer Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), describes the misfortune of a poor peasant girl Tess. In this novel, we can see Tess resist her unjust fate again and again, suffer setbacks again and again, till to be destroyed. We can not help but feel the intense emotions of pity and fear. At the same time we deeply feel that her tragedy is inevitable. The cause of her tragedy has always been the concern of people, such a beautiful, noble and pure woman as Tess should suffer inevitable ruin. What leads to her tragic destiny? What killed her? This paper will try to make a detailed analysis on the novel, to show the various causes of the heroines tragedy.2. Literary ReviewFrom the later nineteenth century until now,Thomas Hardy and his works have been the important topics of the criticism for a long time. After the Second World War, with the development of modern literary criticism, different critics interpret Tess of the Durbervilles and Thomas Hardys other novels from various perspectives. For instance, Professor Webster begins with a discussion of Hardys intentions in writing Tess. According to his views, Tess of the Durbervilles is a contribution to Hardys war against mans inhumanity. Arnold Kettle takes a different point of view. For him the subject of Tess of the Durbervilles is not the tragedy of a “pure woman”, but rather the destruction of the English peasantry. Mr. Kettle sees it as complete as a social novel. In China, Prof. Zhang and Wu have published their own books on Hardys novels and other works. There are 3. Research ProcessThis paper comprises three parts dealing respectively with several main factors that lead to Tesss final tragedy, including the background, the social environment, two persons who are very closely related to Tesss fate and finally the weakness of the central characters personalities. Besides, Tesss sufferings were the result of some mysterious and incidental factors. The following is the outline of the paper.Part 1. Introduction This part is a brief introduction to the author and his masterpiece.1.1Thomas Hardy and his works1.2Tess of the DurbervillesPart 2. Causes for the tragedy of TessThe cause of Tesss tragedy has always been the concern of people, such a beautiful, noble and pure woman as Tess should suffer inevitable ruin. What leads to her tragic destiny? What killed her? In this paper, I try to make a detailed analysis on the novel, to show the various causes of heroines tragedy.2.1 The impoverishment and decay of small farmersThis novel has for its setting the agricultural region of the southern countries of England. The writer truthfully depicts the impoverishment and decay of small farmers who become hired field hands and roam the country in search of seasonal job. These laborers are mercilessly exploited by the rich landowners. In this novel, we can see clearly that one of the real reasons that lead to her extermination is her impoverishment.2.2Alec and ClareIn this novel, Hardy describes how Tess was killed by the times she lived in clearly. There are two persons who are very closely related to Tesss fate. She, a daughter of poor peasants had been reduced to a wage laborer, so Alec- the vicious capitalist power of the Victorian Times and Clare - the representative of liberal bourgeoisie killed her cruelly and without mercy. It seemed that Alec was the prime culprit of Tess, but in fact, it was Clare who killed Tees more cruelly.2.3 The weakness of her characterApart from fierce Alec and hypocritical Clare, it is the weakness of her character that leads to her sad fate. Tess was able to fight against the unfairness of the society. She could face various difficulties in life bravely, yet she couldnt extricate herself from traditional moral principles. She was aware that she was the victim of social violence and moral principles.On the other hand, though she dared to beat back the unjustness, she couldnt break with traditional morality completely.2.4 Some mysterious and incidental factorsThe last but not the least, Tesss sufferings were the result of some mysterious and incidental factors. Examples of the fateful incidents abound in the novel.Part 3. ConclusionIt is the times she lived in and the weakness of her nature put her in such a poor situation. Cruel Alec and his peers are the direct reason for her death, but it is Angel who killed her indirectly but more cruelly. Facing such a serious situation, the weakness of her character became the accomplice. The tragic fate is not only that of Tess herself, but also the tragedy of the times she lived in.4. ConclusionThrough studying the representative workTess of the Durbervilles, we will be able to have a better appreciation of the great achievements of Thomas Hardy.It seemed that if there were no unexpected happenings, she might have a happy life; maybe she would finish her life peacefully. It appeared there were unexpected factors in her every important life stage, those factors lead to her tragedy. But in fact, just as we infer from our previous discussion, it is the times she lived in and the weakness of her nature put her in such a poor situation. Cruel Alec and his peers are the direct reason for her death, but it is Angel who killed her indirectly but more cruelly. Facing such a serious situation, the weakness of her character became the accomplice. The tragic fate is not only that of Tess herself, but also the tragedy of the times she lived in. Bibliography 1Chen Jia. Selected Readings in English Literature(Volume 2)M.The Commercial Press, 20042Chenxia. Analysis of the Tragic Mood in “Tess of the DUrbervilles”J.Journal of Renmin University of China (social societies), 1998(2):100-1023Huangjing.