Nathaniel-Hawthorne.ppt

NathanielHawthorne(18041864),I.Introductiontothewriter,1.1.LifeexperienceBorntoafamilywithalongPuritantraditioninSalem,Massachusetts.HisancestorswerenotoriousforthepersecutionoftheQuakersandfortheSalemWitchcraftTrialin1692.adarkshadowonhisheartWhenhewas4,hisfather,aseacaptain,died.Hewasbroughtupbyhisuncle.HegraduatedformBowdoinCollegein1842inthesameclasswithLongfellowandFranklinPierce(the14thU.SPresident).Aftergraduation,hereturnedtoSalemtoliveinhismothershouseandtopursuehisliterarycareer.Hislifeexperiencehadgreatinfluenceonhischaracter,aswellasonhiswritingcareer.,1.2.Pointofview,Blackvisionofhumannature:ObsessedbytheCalvinisticconceptoftheoriginalsin,Hawthornebelieveshumanbeingsareevil-naturedandsinfulandthissinandeviliseverpresentinhumanheartandwillpassonfromonegenerationtoanother.Hiswritingsaretoshowhowweareallwrongedandwrongers,andavengeoneanother.,1.3.MajorWorks,TheScarletLetterTwice-ToldTalesWhichincludes“TheMinistersBlackVeil”MossesfromanOldManseWhichincluded“YoungGoodmanBrown”TheHousesoftheSevenGablesTheMarbleFaun,1.4.ThemesofHawthorneswriting,1.Exploretherelationshipbetweenthepastandthepresent2.Explorethehiddenmotivationsofhischaracters.3.Examinetheeffectofhiddensinandsecretguilt4.Moralorimmoral,rightorwrongisthequestionHawthornealwaystalksaboutinhisworks.,1.5.Style,1.Hisstylewassoft,flowingandalmostfeminine.2.Language:smooth,clear,beautifulinsoundandmeaning3.Healsofrequentlyusessymbolsandsettingstorevealthepsychologyofthecharacters.,II.Appreciationof“YoungGoodmanBrown”,2.1.Themainideaofthework(referencetop434-435)2.2.Understandingoftheexcerpt,2.3.Analysisofthestructure,Atsunset,GoodmanBrownleaveshiswifeFaith,spendsthenightintheforest,andatdawnreturnsachangedman.Withinthisbasicstructure,thestoryfurtherdividesintofourseparatescenes,thefirstandlastofwhich,thatis,thedeparturefromandthereturntoSalem,arebalanced.(tobecontinued),Thenightintheforestfallsnaturallyintotwoparts:thetemptationbytheDevilandthemeetingofthewitch.Thetwoscenes,particularlytheformer,makefullandcarefuluseofthedramaticdevicesofsuspenseandclimaticarrangement.TheclimaxofthestorycomeswhenBrowncallsuponhiswifetolookuptoheaven,andresistthewickedone,whichiscutoffabruptlybyanticlimaxasthemeetingvanishesinaroaringwind,andBrownleaningagainsttherockfindsitchillanddamptohistouch.,2.4.Analysisofthetheme,Everyonepossessessomeevilsecret.,2.5.Analysisofthewritingstyle,2.5.1.Ambiguity:WhethertheeventsofthenightareactualordreamlikeWhetherBrownislosttothedevilorsavedbyFaith,2.5.2.Contrast,DayandnightGoodandEvilTheredoffireandbloodandtheblackofnightandforest,2.5.3.Symbolism,dayandthetown:humanconventionandsocietynightandforest:symbolsofdoubtandwanderingred:SinorEvilblack:doubtoftherealityofeitherEvilorGoodthattorturesBrown,2.5.4.Allegory,ThestoryisoftenreadasaconventionalallegoryinthesensethatYoungGoodmaniseveryman,andhisjourneytothedarkforestandhisencounterwiththedevilaresymbolicofmanslifejourneyfrominnocencetoknowledge,fromgoodtoevil.Faith,iftakenasanallegoricalfigure,istheincarnationofChristianbelief.,III.Commentonthewriter,3.1.thegreatromanticnovelistinthenineteenthcentury3.2.thepioneerofpsychologicalanalystinthehistoryofAmericanliterature.,AppreciationofTheScarletLetter,1.MainCharacterHesterPrynneRogerChillingworthArthurDimmesdale2.MainIdea3.CharacterAnalysisHester:brave,strong-minded,warm-hearted,intelligent,sacrificing,decisiveDimmesdale:timid,selfish,irresponsible,cowardly,weak-mindedChillingworth:cold-blooded,dehumanized,ThemeofTheScarletLetter,Toescapethebondageofreligioneitheronpeoplesspiritoronpeo