英语文学赏析论文.doc

The Magic Barrel : A Journey in English Literature 魔桶 ：一次英语文化之旅 Mao Xin 毛欣Student Number：20106656 Course PaperSubmitted in partial fulfillmentOf the requirements for the Literature CourseCollege of AutomationChongqing UniversityDecember 21, 2011 AbstractMagic barrel is a well-known representative Malamuds short story , and widely included in the literature, teaching materials . The story describes the Jewish old man Salzman, in order to help his beloved daughter find her husband, he thought hard , and even unscrupulous and cunning .But the performance of his good-hearted nature, also depicts the Slazmans daughter and his favorite the image of Leo, in the harmony and witty which gives a warm feeling.The plot of the novel is clear and marvelous . To introduce Jewish marriage as a career , the old man Salzman for Jewish students introduce to marriage Jewish students Leo, he strongly recommended several nice girls with wealthy families to Leo , but unfortunately no one suit Leo appetite. Finally, in a bunch of pictures he found the girl who he likes when he learned thats Schatzmans daughter, he still loved her, but he had some doubts . And they eventually came together. This thesisaims to analysis the short stories Main characters ，Narrative point of view，Symbolism in the work，Cultural implications in the work Images in the work ，Language characteristics 。Further understand the background of story, writing emotional, writing themes and reflection of the social situation . And learn the text by using a series of rhetorical devices, such as symbolism .Develop our understanding and perception of English literature promote our learning ability, English language proficiency, and English-speaking countries cultural understanding.Key words ：Main characters ，narrative point of view，symbolism，cultural implications ，language characteristics . IntroductionAbout the author Bernard Malamud (1914-1986) was a distinguishable American novelist and short-story writer。. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Malamud was educated at the City College of New York and Columbia University. Beginning in 1961 he taught at Bennington College. On March 18 ，1968 ，he died of heart attack in New York .Malamuds first novel, The Natural (1952), reworks the legend of the Holy Grail as an allegorical fantasy about a star baseball player (see Allegory). His second novel, The Assistant (1957), is concerned with Jewish themes and reflects the sad, impoverished Brooklyn scenes of his childhood. The Fixer (1966), for which Malamud received the 1967 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is a poignant novel (based on a true story) of the suffering of a Russian Jewish workman sentenced unjustly to prison; it demonstrates how human beings can come through suffering to an affirmative view of life. The Tenants (1971), about the relationship between a Jewish man and a black man, deals with inner-city tensions. Malamuds later novels include Dubins Lives (1979), about a writer of biographies, and Gods Grace (1982). Malamud also had great genius in short stories . His major short-story collections are The Magic Barrel(1958), Idiots First (1963) ,Picture of Fidelman (1969) , Rembrandts Hat(1973) , and The Stories of Bernard Malamud ( 1983) .About the storyBernard Malamuds first book of short stories, The Magic Barrel, has been recognized as a classic from the time it was published in 1959. The stories are set in New York and in Italy (where Malamuds alter ego, the struggling New York Jewish Painter Arthur Fidelman, roams amid the ruins of old Europe in search of his artistic patrimony); they tell of egg handlers and shoemakers, matchmakers, and rabbis, in a voice that blends vigorous urban realism, Yiddish idiom, and a dash of artistic magic.The Magic Barrel is a book about New York and about the immigrant experience, and it is high point in the modern American short story. Few books of any kind have managed to depict struggle and frustration and heartbreak with such delight, or such artistry. I will focus on analyzing the characteristics of this character, narrative point of view, symbolism,cultural implications and language features.AnalysisMain characters :Leo is a young man , who is about to be pastor , his character is indecisive and lack of experience .Salzman is a dedicated man matchmaker, and his has a lively personality, he put a gimmick, tantalize, resembled an old slick, but without losing the good mind.Stela is a beautiful and young girl , she has strong feeling of hatred and love , She is a girl separate from the secular tradition-bound, and has herown independent thinking.Narrative point of viewThis novel uses a third-person narrative perspective , and usedirect speech and free direct speech .Direct Speech and free direct Speech analysis :1. Adjusting point of view2. Adjusting the narrative distance3. Manipulating the linguistic feature and the authorial tone The following are the advantages :1. Speeding up the narration of the story2. Enhancing the sense of sympathy or irony3. Enhancing semantic densitySymbolism in the workMagic barrel: a symbol of loveColor : symbolize that most of her is good, but there are less than a small part of the badFish: rebirthSeason of conversion: the process of Leos rebirth Cultural implications in the work Jews unique atmosphere of loneliness and sadness.Throughout this novel filled with unique Jewish atmosphere of loneliness and sadness, even Salzmans cunning, also appear to be so careful, full of love and pain.2. The characters and plots are cleverly designed to combine perfectly.Because Leo is a young man with a bright future, matchmaker Salzman phased him, and because he is very simple, he was swayed by the magic barrel of love, because Salzman wily and loves her daughter like his own fate , he elaborate an layout to won his daughter the love and life.Images in the workLeo Finkle Leos life is very simple, very longings for love, but with no experience.He is willing to trust others, unwilling to let others embarrassed.He would rather endure the pain of the heart but not to hide his vanity, not like others to deify himself.SalzmanLove businessman Salzman has a shrewd and cunning businessmans side, he was good at the wind blows, good test. But as a father, he was very caring and compassion. On the one hand he faced his daughters fall felt deeply painful, when referred to her daughter , he was moved to tears, but the other hand, he continued to look good man for their daughter .Language characteristics1. The author is good at describing a characters appearance , through the eyes of another character.Salzmans gentle and sad eyes are seen through Leo eyes , Leos deep-knowledge eyes are secretly seen by Schatzman, Stellas very pure eyes are seen through Leo eyes . The author not only describes the appearance, but also through the physical description of the characters ethos, more importantly, shows the characters and between characters even some subtle magic link.2. Precise and accurate details of the description.Fine details of the novel and accurate description, as if inadvertently revealed the characters true feelings , not only the characters become more vivid, and promote the development of the plot. ConclusionUnsophisticated Leo found himself inside a real need to become passionate dedication. Leo loved Stella, love as repented starting point and the starting point for a new life.Finally led to the combination of Leo and Stella, Salzman not ecstatic, but leaning against the co