英美文学选读-英国现代时期

TheModernPeriod,Importantwriters,1.ModernEnglishpoetry：Itis，insomesense，arevolutionagainsttheconventionalideasandformsoftheVictorianpoetry.Themodernistpoetsfoughtagainsttheromanticfuzzinessandself-indulgedemotionalism，advocatingnewideasinpoetry-writingsuchastousethelanguageofcommonspeech，tocreatenewrhythmsastheexpressionofanewmood，toallowabsolutefreedominchoosingsubjects，andtousehard，clearandpreciseimagesinpoems.,2.ModernEnglishnovels：Thefirstthreedecadesof20thcenturyweregoldenyearsofthemodernistnovel.Instimulatingthetechnicalinnovationsofnovelcreation，thetheoryoftheFreudianandJungianpsycho-analysisplayedaparticularlyimportantrole.Withthenotionthatmultiplelevelsofconsciousnessexistedsimultaneouslyinthehumanmind，thatonespresentwasthesumofhispast，presentandfuture，andthatthewholetruthabouthumanbeingsexistedintheunique，isolated，andprivateworldofeachindividual，writerslikeDorothyRichardson，JamesJoyceandVirginiaWoolfconcentratedalltheireffortsondiggingintothehumanconsciousness.Theyhadcreatedunprecedentedstream-of-consciousnessnovelssuchasPilgrimagebyRichardson，Ulysses（1922）byJoyce，andMrs.Dalloway（1925）byWoolf.Oneoftheremarkablefeaturesoftheirwritingswastheircontinuousexperimentationonnewandsophisticatedtechniquesinnovelwriting，whichmadetremendousimpactsonthecreationofbothrealisticandmodernistnovelsinthiscentury.,WhatisModernism？Modernismwasacomplexanddiverseinternationalmovementinallcreativearts，originatingabouttheendofthe19thcentury.Modernismtakestheirrationalphilosophyandthetheoryofpsycho-analysisasitstheoreticalbase.Themajorthemesofthemodernistliteraturearethedistorted，alienatedandillrelationshipsbetweenmanandnature，manandsociety，manandman，andmanandhimself.Themodernistwritersconcentratemoreontheprivatethanonthepublic，moreonthesubjectivethanontheobjective.Theyaremainlyconcernedwiththeinnerbeingofanindividual.Byadvocatingafreeexperimentationonnewformsandnewtechniquesinliterarycreation，Modernismcastsawayalmostallthetraditionalelementsinliteraturesuchasstory，plot，character，chronologicalnarration，etc.，whichareessentialtorealism.Asaresult，theworkscreatedbythemodernistwritersareoftenlabeledasanti-novel，anti-poetryandanti-drama.,I.GeorgeBernardShaw（1856-1950）一。一般识记：Hislifeandwriting：BernardShaw，abrilliantdramatist，wasborninDublin，Ireland，ofEnglishparentage.HeonceworkedinalandagentsofficewherehehadmuchcontactwiththepoorpeopleinDublinandcametoknowtheirmiserablelife.Thisexperiencesurelyenrichedhisunderstandingofthesocietyandthesufferingsofthepeople.In1876ShawgaveuphisjobandwenttoLondon，wherehedevotedmuchofhistimetoself-educationbywidereading.ShawcameundertheinfluenceofHenryGeorgeandWilliamMorrisandtookaninterestinsocialisttheories.HestartedtoattendallkindsofpublicmeetingsandtoreadKarlMarxintheBritishMuseum.In1884ShawjoinedtheFabianSocietyandbecameoneofitsmostinfluentialmembers.,二。识记1.Shawsreformideas：Heregardedtheestablishmentofsocialismbytheemancipationoflandandindustrialcapitalfromindividualandclassownershipasthefinalgoal.Butonhowtoachieveit，hedifferedgreatlyfromtheMarxists.Hewasagainstthemeansofviolentrevolutionorarmedstruggleinachievingthegoalofsocialism；healsohadadistrustoftheuneducatedworkingclassinfightingagainstcapitalists.Thisreformistviewofhiscausedhimapainful，oftenconscious，innerconflictbetweenhissinceredesireforthenewworldandhisinabilitytobreakoutofthesnobbishintellectualisolationthroughouthislifeandwork.,2.Hismajorworks：ShawwrotefivenovelsinallthebestofwhichisCashelByronsProfession（1886），whichisaboutaworld-famousprizefightermarryingapriggishlyrefinedladyofproperty.HiscriticismisentitledOurTheatersintheNineties（1931）。Inhislongdramaticcareer，Shawwrotemorethan50playsofavarietyofsubjects：（1）Hisearlyplaysweremainlyconcernedwithsocialproblemsanddirectedtowardsthecriticismofthecontemporarysocial，economic，moralandreligiousevils.WidowersHouseisagrotesquelyrealisticexposureofslumlandlordism；Mrs.WarrensProfessionisaplayabouttheeconomicoppressionofwomen.（2）Shawwrotequiteafewhistoryplays，inwhichhekeptaneyeonthecontemporarysociety.TheimportantplaysofthisgroupareCaesarandCleopatra（1898）andSt.Joan（1923）。（3）Shawalsoproducedseveralplays，exploringhisideaofLifeForce，thepowerthatwouldcreatesuperiorbeingstobeequaltoGodandtosolveallthesocial，moral，andmetaphysicalproblemsofhumansociety.ThetypicalexamplesofthisgroupareManandSuperman（1904）andBacktoMethuselah（1921）。（4）Besides，Shawwroteplaysonmiscellaneoussubjects：forinstance.TheAppleCart（1929）isaboutpolitics；JohnBullsOtherIsland（1904）isaboutracialproblems；Pygmalion（1912）isaboutcultureandart；GettingMarried（1908），Misalliance（1910）andFannysFirstPlay（1911）areabouttheproblemoffamilyandmarriage；andTheDoctorsDilemma（1906）isabouttheignorance，incompetence，arroganceandbigotryofthemedicalprofession.TooTruetoBeGood（1932）isabetterplayofthelaterperiod，withtheauthorsalmostnihilisticbitternessonthesubjectsofthecrueltyandmadnessofWorldWarIandtheaimlessnessanddisillusionoftheyoung.,三。领会1.Shawsliteraryideas：Shawheldthatartshouldservesocialpurposesbyreflectinghumanlife，revealingsocialcontradictionsandeducatingthecommonpeople.Beingadramacritic，ShawdirectedhisattacksontheNeo-Romantictraditionandthefashionabledrawingdrama.Themissionofhisdramawastorevealthemoral,politicalandeconomictruthfromaradicalreformistpointofview.,2.ThemaincharacteristicsofBernardShawsplays：（1）Structurallyandthematically，Shawfollowedthegreattraditionsofrealism.Asarealisticdramatist，hetookthemodernsocialissuesashissubjectswiththeaimofdirectingsocialreforms.Mostofhisplays，termedasproblemplays，areconcernedwithpolitical，economic，moral，orreligiousproblems.Andhisplayshaveonlyonepassion，i.e.indignationagainstoppressionandexploitation，againsthypocrisyandlying，againstprostitutionandslavery，againstpoverty，dirtanddisorder.（2）OnefeatureofShawscharacterizationisthathemakesthetrickofshowinguponecharactervividlyattheexpenseofanother.Usuallyhewouldtakeanunconventionalcharacter，apersonwiththegiftofinsightandfreedom，andimpingeituponagroupofconventionalsocialanimals，soastorevealateveryturnstocknotions，prejudicesanddishonesties.AnotherfeatureisthatShawscharactersaretherepresentativesofideas，pointsofview，thatshiftandalterduringtheplay，forMr.Shawisprimarilyinterestedindoctrines.（3）MuchofShaviandramaisconstructedaroundtheinversionofaconventionaltheatricalsituation.Theinversion，adevicefoundinShawfrombeginningtoend，isanintegralpartofaninterpretationoflife.Inversionisalsousedincharacterportrayaltoachievecomiceffects.（4）Shawsplayshaveplots，buttheydonotworkbyplots.Theplotisusuallythedisregardedbackbonetoonelong，unbrokenconversation.Itisthevitalityofthetalkthattakesprimacyovermerestory.Actionisreducedtoaminimum，whilethedialogueandtheinterplayofthemindsofthecharactersmaintaintheinterestoftheaudience.Theforwardmotionconsistsnotintheunrollingofplotbutintheoperationofthespiritofdiscourse.,四。应用：SelectedReading：AnExcerptfromActIIofMrs.WarrensProfession：TheoutlineandsocialsignificanceofShawsMrs.WarrensProfession：（1）Theoutline：Mrs.WarrensProfessionisaplayabouttheeconomicoppressionofwomen.Mrs.Warrensprofessioniskeepingbrothels.SirGeorgeCrofts，anoldaristocrat，isherpartnerinthisbusiness.Vivie，Mrs.Warrensdaughter，iseducatedinaverymoralatmosphereataboardingschool.Upongraduation，shereturnshomeandbyaccidentdiscoversthesourceofhermothersincome.HerconversationswithMrs.WarrenandSirGeorgeCroftsrevealtheunscrupulousnessofthesemembersoftherulingclass.Itmustbenoted，however，thatwhileprotestingstronglyagainstbourgeoisexploitationandtheimmoralityoftheEnglishrulingclasses，Shawpointsoutnocorrective.HisheroineViviesimplyleaveshermotherand，livingindependently，triestoearnherbreadbyhonestwork.LikeShaw，sheisunderthedelusionthatpiecemeal，prettyandgradualreformwilleventuallydoawaywiththeevilsofcapitalism.,（2）Thesocialsignificance：Theplaytellsanoutrageoustruth：inamoribundcapitalistsociety，evenprostitutioncanbemadeameansofexploitationbyanex-prostitutionMrs.Warren，andasoundinvestmentbyarespectablearistocratSirGeorgeCrofts.Hereheexposesandsatirizestheentirecapitalistsystem，showshisinfinitesympathyfortheexploited，andthereforesharplyanddaringlytouchesonthemostfundamentalbeingofthecapitalistsystem.,。JohnGalsworthy（1867-1933）一。一般识记Hislife：JohnGalsworthywasbornintoanupper-middleclassfamily.HewaseducatedfirstatHarrowandthenatOxford.Afterpractisingthelawforashorttime，heturnedtoliterature.,识记Hismajorworks：Hepublishedhisfirstbook，FromtheFourWinds（avolumeofshortstories），in1897underthepseudonymofJohnSinjohn.TheexperiencesofhiswifesunhappylifeofthefirstmarriagewerereflectedinTheManofProperty（1906），which，togetherwithhisfirstp1ay，TheSilverBox（1906），establishedhimasaprominentnovelistandplaywrightinthepublicmind.AftertheFirstWor1dWarhecompletedTheForsyteSaga，hisfirsttrilogy：TheManofProperty，InChancery（1920）andToLet（1921）。HissecondForsytetrilogy，AModernComedy，appearedin1929，andthethird，EndoftheChapter，posthumous1yin1934,领会1.JohnGalsworthybasicliteraryideas：Galsworthywasessentiallyabourgeoisliberal，areformist.Throughouthislife，hewaspreoccupiedwiththesocialinjusticeinhistime.Heregardedhumanlifeasastrugglebetweentherichandthepoor.Andhissympathyalwayswentouttothesufferingpoor.Inhisworks，hecriticizesadull，parasiticandinhumanclassoftherich，whichisagainstanykindofchange；andshowedgreatsympathytotheoppressed，butrebelliousandunyie1dingclassofthepoor，whichisbentonreformingthings.Hebattledformanyliberalcauses，fromwomenssuffragetotheabo1itionofcensorship.Hewasalsoamoralistandacriticwhoseprimaryaimasawriterwasnottocreateanewsocietybuttocriticizetheexistingone，thoughhisfinalaimwastokeepabalancebetweentherichandthepoor.Hisworksweredesignedtohelpimprovethestatusquo；therewasnosuggestioninthemthatsocietyshou1dberadical1yandpainfullyreconstructedifsocia1enemiesweretobereconciledandsociali11sremedied.,2.ThecharacteristicsofGalsworthyscriticalrealismanditssocialeffect：Ga1sworthywasaconventionalwriter，havinginheritedthefinetraditionsofthegreatVictoriannove1istsofthecriticalrealismsuchasDickensandThackeray.HelearnedfromMaupassantforthevigor，economyandclarityofwriting，Turgenevforthewisdomandnaturalness，andTostoyforthedepthofinsightandthebreadthofcharacterdrawing.Technically，hewasmoretraditionalthanadventurous，focusingonplotdevelopmentandcharacterportrayal.Withanobjectiveobservationandanaturalisticdescription，Galsworthyhadtriedhisbesttomakeanimpartialpresentationofthesocial1ifeinadocumentaryprecision.Byemphasizingthecriticalelementinhiswriting，hedaunt1esslylaidbarethetruefeaturesofthegoodandtheevi1ofthebourgeoissociety.Hewasalsosuccessfulinhisattempttopresentsatireandhumorinhiswriting.Hewroteinaclearandunpretentioussty1ewithac1earandstraightforwardlanguage.,应用：SelectedReading：AnExcerptfromChapterl3ofTheManofProperty1.Theoutlineofthestory：TheManofPropertyisthefirstnoveloftheForsytetrilogieswhichtelltheupsanddownsoftheForsytefamilyfrom1886to1926.ThisnovelcentersitselfontheSoames-Irene-Bosinneytriangle.SoamesForsyte，atypicalForsyte，representstheessenceoftheprinciplethattheaccumulationofwealthisthesoleaimoflife，forheconsiderseverythingintermsofonesproperty.Irene，hisyoungandbeautifulwife，onthecontrary，lovesartandcherishesnobleidealsoflife.ButSoamesneverpayanyattentiontoherthoughtsandfeeling；hetakeshermerelyaspartofhisownproperty.Thus，Ireneisnothappyabouthermarriage.Inordertopleasehiswife，SoamesasksBosinney，ayoungarchitect，tobuildacountryhouseforthem.LikeIrene，Bosinneyisalsointerestedinartandnotinpracticalthingsinlife.Duringthedesigningandbuildingofthehouse，thetwocometoenjoyagreatdealofeachotherscompanyandfinallyfallinlovewitheachother.RumorsariseandSoameswantshisrevenge.HesuesBosinneyatthecourtforspendingmoremoneythanstipulated.TheconflictofthetriangleendstragicallywithBosinneysdeathinacaraccidentandIrenesleavingSoamesforgood.,2.Thethemeofthisnovel：ItisthatofthepredominantpossessiveinstinctoftheForsytesanditseffectsuponthepersonalrelationshipsofthefamilywiththeunderlyingassumptionthathumanrelationshipsofthecontemporaryEnglishsocietyaremerelyanextensionofpropertyrelationships.Theharshsatireonthisinhumansenseofpropertyisbroughtoutveryeffectivelyintheearlychaptersofthenovel.Butinthelaterpartofthenovel，theharshtonegraduallychangesintoamoretolerantone，andfinallyitbecomesadistinctlysentimentalone，thusweakeningtheeffectofthenovel.,WilliamButlerYeats（1865-1939）一。一般识记：W.B.YeatswasbornintoanAnglo-IrishProtestantfamilyinDub1in.HewasbroughtupwhereoldIrishwayof1ifeandfolk1orewerestil1verystrong.WithastrongpassionforCeltic1egends，hereadIrishpoetryandtheGaelicsagasintranslation.HisyouthwasspentduringthehightideoftheIrishNationalistMovement.Hewasamoderatenationalist.WiththecommonculturalideasofrevivingtheIrishliterature，Yeats，LadyGregoryandJohnSyngeorganizedtheIrishNationalDramaticSocietyandopenedtheAbbeyTheaterin1904.Yeatsservedasitsdirectorandwrotemorethan20p1aysforthetheater.In1923，hewasawardedNobeIPrizefor1iterature.,识记和领会：1.Yeatssliteraryideas：Notcontentwithanydogmainanyoftheestablishedreligiousinstitutions，Yeatsbuiltupforhimselfamysticalsystemofbeliefs.Inchoosingthemysticalbeliefofcyclicalhistoryoverthemodernconceptionofprogress，YeatsowedagreatdealtotheItalianphilosopherVico，andtheGermanphilosopherNietzsche.Hebelievedthathistory，andlife，followedacircular，spiralpatternconsistingoflongcycleswhichrepeatedthemselvesoverandoverondifferentlevels.Andsymbols1ikewindingstairs，spinningtops，gyresandspiralswerepartofhiselaboratetheoryofhistory，whichhadobviouslybecomethecentralcoreoforderinhisgreatpoems.Yeatslaterdisagreedwiththeideaofartforartssake.Hecametoseethatliteratureshouldnotbeanendinitselfbuttheexpressionofconvictionandthegarmentofnobleemotion.TowriteaboutIre1andforanIrishaudienceandtorecreateaspecificallyIrishliteraturetheseweretheaimsthatYeatswasfightingforasapoetandaplaywright.,2.ThethreeperiodsofYeatsspoeticcreationandtheirrespectivefeatures：Generally，hispoeticcareerstartingintheromantictraditionandfinishingasamaturedmodernistpoetcanbedividedintothreeperiodsaccordingtothecontentsandsty1eofhispoetry.（1）Asayoungmaninthelastdecadesofthe19th-century，Yeatsbeganhispoeticcareerintheromantictradition.ThemajorthemesareusuallyCeltic1egends，localfolkta1es，orstoriesoftheheroicageinIrishhistory.Manyofhisearlypoemshaveadreamyquality，expressingmelancho1y，passiveandself-indulgentfeelings.TherepresentativeworksareTheLakeIsleofInnisfree，TheManWhoDreamedofFaeryland.Theoverallstyleofhisearlypoetryisverydelicatewithnaturalimagery，dream-likeatmophereand，musicalbeauty.,（2）Yeatsturnedfromthetraditionalpoetrytoamodernistoneduringthefirsttwodecadesofthe20thcentury.Ideologically，herespondedtoNietzschesworkswithgreatexcitement；artistically，hecameundertheinfluenceofFrenchSymbolismandJohnDonnesmetaphysicalpoetry；andpoetically，heacceptedthemodernistideasinpoetrywritingadvocatedbyEzraPoundandT.S.Eliot.Yeatsbegantowritewithrealisticandconcretethemesonavarietyofsubjects，exploringtheprofoundandcomplicatedhumanproblems，suchaslife，love，politics，andreligion.Theearlypassiveanddreamymoodwasreplacedbyanger，disillusionandbittersatire.Hisstyleisbothsimpleandrich，colloquialandformal，withaqualityofmetaphysicalwitandsymbolicvision，whichindicatesthatYeatshasalreadybeenonhiswaytomodernistpoetry.TherepresentativepoemsareEasterof1916andNewEra.（3）Yeatsreachedthelaststageofhispoeticcreationwhenhewasoverfifty.Hefeltmorebitterandmoredisillusioned.Yeatscametorealizethateternalbeautycouldonlyliveintherealmofart.Hisconcernhasturnedtothegreatsubjectsofdichotomy，suchas，youthandage，loveandwar，vigorandwisdom，bodyandsoul，andlifeandart.Andthisdichotomyhasbroughtconstanttensionsinhisworksandrevealedthehumanpredicament.Inthislastperiod，Yeatshasdevelopedatough，complexandsymbolicalstyle.TherepresentativepoemsareSailingtoByzantium，LedaandtheSwanandMonumentsofUnagingintellect.,3.Yeatsasadramatistandhiscontributiontomoderntheater：Hewroteverseplaysinmostofthecases.Hewrotemorethan20playsinastretchof48years.ThestoriesofhisearlyplaysallcamefromtheIrishmythorlegends.HissucessfulplaysincludeTheCountessCathleen（1892），CathleenniHoulihan（1902）TheLandofHeartsDesire（1894），TheShadowyWaters（1900）andPurgatory（1935）。Inhislaterphaseofdramaticcareer，inordertoreflectthedeepsofthemind，Yeatsbeganexperimentingwithtechniquessuchastheuseofmasks，ofritualizedactions，andofsymboliclanguagestogetherwiththecombinationofmusicanddance.Inacertainway，hisexperimentsanticipatedtheabstractmovementofmoderntheater.However，eveninhisplaysYeatshasremainedalyricalpoet.Hisplaysareenjoyedmoreforthebeautyoftheirlanguagethanfordramaticsituations.,应用：SelectedReadings：1.TheLakeIsleofInnisfreeThepoemiswrittenin1893.Tiredofthelifeofhisday，Yeatssoughttoescapeintoanidealfairylandwherehecouldlivecalmlyasahermitandenjoythebeautyofnature.Thepoemconsistsofthreequatrainsofiambicpentameter，witheachstanzarhymedabab.InnisfreeisaninletinthelakeinIrishlegends.Heretheauthorisreferringtoaplaceforhermitage.ThispoemisjustapopularrepresentativeofthepoemsinwhichYeatshasachievedsuggestivepatternsofmeaningbyacarefulcounterpointingofcontrastingideasorimageslikehumanandfairy，natura1andartificial，domesticandwild，andephemeralandpermanent.Aroundafairylandbackground，thepoemisc1oselywoven，easy，subtleandmusical；thec1arityandcontroloftheimagerygivethepoemahauntingquality.,2.DownbytheSalleyGardensOriginallyentitledAnOldSongResung，withYeatssfootnote：ThisisanattempttoreconstructanoldsongfromthreelinesimperfectlyrememberedbyanoldpeasantwomaninthevillageofBallysodare，Sligo，whooftensingsthemtoherself.Thethemeofthepoemisverysimple：aboyhasfalleninlovewithabeautifulgirlwhoiscarefreeandadvisestheboynottobesoseriousaboutloveandlife.Buthedoesnotagreewithherandsuffersalot.,。T.S.Eliot（1888-1965）一。一般识记：Hislifeandwriting：ThomasSteamsEliotwasbornatSt.Louis，Missouri，U.S.A.EliotwasfirsteducatedatSmithAcademyandthenatHarvardwhereheconcentratedhisenergiesonstudyingphilosophyandlogic.HetookinterestinElizabethanliterature，theItalianRenaissanceandIndianmysticalphilosophyofBuddhism.HewasalsoattractedbytheFrenchsymbolistpoetry.HeworkedastheeditorofTheEgoistandTheCriterion，thetwomostinfluentialliteraryreviewsof20thcentury.Hewonvariousawards，includingtheNobelPrizeandtheOrderofMeritin1948.,识记与领会：