英语专业高英课程 Lesson 8 A ROSE FOR EMILY

.,ARoseforEmily,.,I.BackgroundInformation,.,AbouttheAuthor,WilliamFaulkner(Sep25th,1897Jul6th,1962)wasanAmericanwriterofnovels,shortstories,poetryandoccasionalscreenplays.WhenwetalkaboutWilliamFaulknerslife,themostimportantfactisthathewasbornandbredintheAmericanSouthandlivedtherealmostallhislife.,.,ThemajorityofhisworksarebasedinhisnativestateofMississippi.FaulknerisconsideredoneofthemostimportantwritersoftheSouthernliteratureoftheUnitedStates,alongwithMarkTwain,FlanneryOConnor,EudoraWelty,ThomasWolfe,andTennesseeWilliams.Thoughhisworkwaspublishedasearlyas1919,andlargelyduringthe1920sand1930s,Faulknerwasrelativelyunknownuntilreceivingthe1950NobelPrizeinLiterature.,.,TheyoungerFaulknerwasgreatlyinfluencedbythehistoryofhisfamilyandtheregioninwhichhelived.Mississippimarkedhissenseofhumor,hissenseofthetragicpositionofBlackandWhiteAmericans,hischaracterizationofSoutherncharacters,andhistimelessthemes.Theboygrewuplisteningtoallsortsofstoriesabouthisgreat-grandfatherandotherpeopleinhishometown.ThestoriestheNegronannytoldhimandthegossipheheardfromthetownspeoplerestingandchattingonthesmalldowntownsquareprovidedFaulknerwithanoraltraditionofstorytellingasanimportantpartofhiseducation.,.,DuringWWIFaulknerservedwiththeRoyalCanadianAirForce.Afterthearmistice(休战)in1918hereturnedtoOxford,asmalltowninMississippi,andforsometimeheledalifeinaratherlistlessway.HeattendedtheUniversityofMississippibutlefttheuniversitywithinayear;hetriedhishandatpoetrybutwithoutsuccess;hewentnorthtotheculturalmetropolitancityofNewYork,butwasdrivenbackhomesoonbyloneliness.Hebecameapostmaster,butinlessthanthreeyearsheresignedfromthispost.,.,Allthistime,hehadbeenreading,firstwhateverinterestedhim,andlater,thegreatpoetsandnovelists.InNewYork,FaulknermetSherwoodAnderson,afamouswriter,andthenwhenhetraveledtoNewOrleansin1925hegainedentryintothisartisticcenterthroughAnderson.InspiredbyAnderson,Faulknerbegantowritenovels.,.,Faulknerwrote19novelsandnearlyahundredshortstories.Thesettingof15novelsandthemajorityoftheshortfictionistheAmericanSouth.InthemtheauthortellsstoriesaboutpeoplefromasmallregioninMississippi,afictionalplacetheauthorcallsYoknapatawphaCountry.Heevendrewamapoftheplaceandgavespecificdetailsaboutthepopulationthere.HismajorworksincludenovelsTheSoundandTheFury(1929),AsILayDying(1930),LightinAugust(1932),andAbsalom,Absalom!(1936).,.,BecausethesettingofmostofhisworksistheAmericanSouth,heisregardedasaregionalwriter.Buttheword“regional”ismisleadingbecauseFaulknerdealswithsomeofthemajoruniversalthemesinliteraturesoprofoundlythatheisreadandrecognizednationallyandinternationally.,.,Asfaraswritingtechniquesareconcerned,Faulknerisamongthegreatestexperimentalistsofthe20thcenturynovel.Hiseffectiveuseofthestreamofconsciousness,multiplepointsofview,symbolismandimagery,placehimamongtherankofthegreatestmodernwritersalongwithJamesJoyceandVirginiaWoolf.In1950hereceivedtheNoblePrizeforLiterature.,.,AboutARoseforEmily,ItisashortstorybyAmericanauthorWilliamFaulknerfirstpublishedintheApril30,1931issueofForum.ThisstorytakesplaceinFaulknersfictionalcity,Jefferson,MississippiinthefictionalcountyofYoknapatawphaCounty.ItwasFaulknersfirstshortstorypublishedinanationalmagazine.,.,Althoughitisoneofhismostfrequentlyanthologized(收入选集的)shortstoriesandiswidelyusedintheAmericanclassroom,Chinesestudentsmayfinditdifficulttounderstandandappreciate.SomeofthemmaythinkitisabizarrestoryaboutanoldeccentricladyinanAmericanSoutherntown.ItstruethatthesettingofthestoryistheAmericanSouth.Yet,thethemeofthestoryisuniversal,transcendingtheboundariesoftimeandspace,likemanyotherworksofliterature,thisshortstorytellsaboutlove,death,honor,pride,change,andloss.,.,In“ARoseforEmily”wecanseehowtheauthortellsagoodstoryskillfully,howhecreatesanatmosphereneededforthestorytelling,howhekeepsthesuspenseandunfoldstheconflictbitbybit,andhowhedigsdeepintothesocialworldofhischaracter.,.,Thisstoryisarichandmodern20thcenturyliterarytext.ThosewhoarenotsofamiliarwithmodernAmericanliteraturemayencountersomeobstaclesinreadingthisstory:vaguereferences,ambiguities,symbolism,experimentalpointofview,jumbledtimesequences,avoidanceofcleartransitions,withholdingofvitalinformation,etc.Byexploitingthose“tricks”,Faulknerhopestoinviteusreaderstoparticipateintheprocessofseekingthetruthsofreadingthestory.Itslikeworkingatapuzzle:whenwestarttofigureitout,itwillbecomemoreandmoreinteresting.,.,Task1:Howdoyouunderstandthetitle?Task2:Makeasummaryofthechronologyofeventsintheshortstory.Task3:Whatsthemainideaofeachsection?Task4:Howmanycharactersinthestory?Whataretheircharacteristicsrespectively?,TASK,.,II.TextAnalysis,.,1.Title,Faulknerexplainedthereasonforhischoiceofthetitleas:Thetitlewasanallegorical(比喻的，寓意的)title;themeaningwas,herewasawomanwhohashadatragedy,anirrevocable(不可改变的)tragedyandnothingcouldbedoneaboutit,andIpitiedherandthiswasasalute.toawomanyouwouldhandarose.,.,Themeaningofthetitleisambiguous,capableofvariousinterpretations.Aroseisaclich(陈词滥调),symbolizingloveandapledge(保证)offaithfulness.Fromthestory,wecanseeMissEmilywasdeniedlove.So,inthissense,thetitlehasanironicmeaning.Aroseforsbcanalsomeanakindofmemorial,anoffering,inmemoryofsb.,.,2.ChronologyofEvents,Emilysfatherdies.,Col.SartorispaysEmilystaxes.,Col.Sartorisdies.,Homerarrivers.,Emilybuysarsenic.,Homerdisappears.,Aldermentrytocollecttaxes.,Smellappears.,Emilydies.,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,.,3.AnalysisofEachSection,Thejumbledchronologyisstructuredlikea“gossipstory”.EachsectionisdesignedforthereadertomakethejudgmentofEmily.,.,SectionI,PeopletalkabouthowEmilyhasntpaidhertaxes.Shehasbeenshelteredherwholelifebyherdad.ColonelSartoris(mayor)knewhewouldntgettaxesfromher.Hecreatesastorywhyshedoesntpay.Shebelievesthestoryandbuysintoit.,.,SectionII,AstrangesmellemitsfromEmilyshouse.Menhavetosneakaroundherhousetospreadlimetocoversmell.,.,SectionIII,ThefirstappearanceofHomerBarron.Townspeoplereact-womengossiping.Emilyisseenbuyingarsenic.,.,SectionIV,Emilyscousinsarrivetoprepareherformarriage.Emilybuysmensclothingandtoiletries.ThisisthelasttimeanyoneseesHomer.Emilydies.,.,SectionV,Backtopresenttime.Emilyisdead.Thetownspeopleopenherbedroomdoorthathasbeenshutforover30years.Theirdiscoverycreatesshudders(颤栗)ofhorroranddisgust.Thefinaljudgment/responsefromthereaderislaidout.,.,4.CharacterList,EmilyGriersonHomerBarronMr.GriersonColonelSartorisJudgeStevensTobe,.,EmilyGrierson-Themaincharacterinthestory.Aneccentricrecluse,Emilyisamysteriousfigurewhochangesfromavibrantandhopefulyounggirltoacloisteredandsecretiveoldwoman.Devastatedandaloneafterherfathersdeath,sheisanobjectofpityforthetownspeople.Afteralifeofhavingpotentialsuitorsrejectedbyherfather,shespendstimeafterhisdeathwithanewcomer,HomerBarron,althoughthechancesofhismarryingherdecreaseastheyearspass.,.,SheultimatelypoisonsHomerandsealshiscorpseintoanupstairsroom.Thestorystartsatherdeath,thenloopsbackaroundandtellsyouherlife.Refusestoacceptchanges.,.,HomerBarron-AforemanfromtheNorth.Homerisalargemanwithadarkcomplexion,aboomingvoice,andlight-coloredeyes.Agruffanddemandingboss,hewinsmanyadmirersinJeffersonbecauseofhisgregarious(爱交际的)natureandgoodsenseofhumor.HedevelopsaninterestinEmilyandtakesherforSundaydrivesinayellow-wheeledbuggy.,.,Despitehisattributes,thetownspeopleviewhimasapoor,ifnotscandalous,choiceforamate.HedisappearsinEmilyshouseanddecomposes(腐烂)inanatticbedroomaftershepoisonshim.,.,Mr.Grierson-Emilysfather.Mr.Griersonisacontrolling,loomingpresenceevenindeath,andthecommunityclearlyseeshislastinginfluenceoverEmily.Hedeliberatelythwarts(阻止)Emilysattemptstofindahusbandinordertokeepherunderhiscontrol.Wegetglimpsesofhiminthestory:inthecrayonportraitkeptonthegilt-edgedeaselintheparlor,andsilhouetted(出现轮廓)inthedoorway,horsewhipinhand,havingchasedoffanotherofhisdaughterssuitors.,.,Afterhisdeath,Emilywillnotletthetownspeopletakehisdeadbodyfromherhomeforthreedays.Possessive(占有欲强的)anddomineering(专制的).,.,ColonelSartoris-AformermayorofJefferson.Heabsolves(赦免)Emilyofanytaxburdenafterthedeathofherfather,whichlatercausesconsternation(惊骇)tosucceedinggenerationsoftownleaders.,.,JudgeStevens-AmayorofJefferson.Eightyyearsold,heattemptstodelicatelyhandlethecomplaintsaboutthesmellemanatingfromtheGriersonproperty.ToberespectfulofEmilysprideandformerpositioninthecommunity,heandthealdermendecidetosprinklelimeonthepropertyinthemiddleofthenight.,.,Tobe-Emilysservant.Hisvoicesupposedlyrustyfromlackofuse,istheonlylifelineEmilyhastotheoutsideworldandhecaresforherandtendstoherneeds.Afterherdeath,hewalksoutthebackdoorandneverreturns.appearstohavecoveredEmilyssecret,.,5.Conflicts,MissEmilyvs.herfatherMissEmilyvs.HomerMissEmilyvs.herselfMissEmilyvs.town,.,Emilyvs.herFatherKeepshersinglechaseshersuitorsResolution:hedies,leavingheralone.,.,MissEmilyvs.HomerEmilyissouthernaristocracy,desperateformarriage.Homerisnorthern,daylaborer,notmarryingkind.Resolution:shekillshimandkeepshisbody.,.,Emilyvs.HerselfMaintainstatusormarryTakesalovervs.religionandtraditionMurderswhatsheloves“Loving”Homerafterdeathwasheratonement(赎罪，弥补).,.,Emilyvs.TownTaxesWhatisacceptable(smell,Homer)GossipIsthereresolution?,.,6.OldSouthernSetting,Whatmakesthisuniquelysouthern?InfluenceoftraditionsNegroservantRoleofclergy/relatives/womenClassconsiderationsGothicelements:Oldhouse,mysteriousactivities,smell,strangeservant,closedrooms,dust,darkness,decay,.,WhatwastheOldSouthLike?BeforetheCivilWar,Southernsocietywascomposedoflandedgentry(上流社会人士),merchants,tenant(佃户)farmers,andslaves.Thearistocraticmenofthisperiodhadanunspokencodeofchivalry,andwomenweretheinnocent,pureguardiansofmorality.However,post-CivilWarsocietyintheSouthwasradicallydifferent.Atonetime,theGriersonhomewasinoneofthefinestneighborhoodsinJefferson;bythetimeofEmilysdeath,itwasoneofthemostrun-down.,.,ThegenerationthatfollowsisnotswayedbytheoldSoutherncodeofhonor.Emilyschina-paintinglessonsalsoshowthechangeinSouthernsociety.HerpupilsarethedaughtersandgranddaughtersofColonelSartoriscontemporaries.However,thenarratornotesthat“thepaintingpupilsgrewupandfellawayanddidnotsendtheirchildrentoherwithboxesofcolorandtediousbrushesandpicturescutfromtheladiesmagazines.”Finally,EmilysdarksecretservesasametaphorforthegeneraldecadenceoftheOldSouth.,.,7.Style,Long,complicatedsentences.(SeeS1)-interruptions-big,bookishwords(SeeS2)Lotsofdescription.(SeeS6)Flashbacks.(SeeS3)Notmuchdialog.,(Thewaytheauthortellsthestory.),.,ExtendedReading,Toseeforthefirsttime,Emilyisanoddperson:allherbehaviorsarenotsointelligibleintheviewofpersonsnowadays,stayingindoors,lackingoffriendsinlife,theunusualtalkandattitude.Thelastandthemost,shelovesapersonbutkillshiminordertoachievethegoalofoccupyinghimandbeingtogetherwithhimforever.,.,Tounderstandhowtomouldthefigurecantbebrokenawayfromtheerabackgroundofpersonages.ThestorytakesplacewhentheCivilWarisover.Theimpactofthenortherncivilizationmakesitnotbelegaltoholdslavesanymore.Thefoundationthateconomydependsonforexistenceattheplantationhasbeenoutofexistence.Plantationeconomymovestowardscollapsing.InthefaceoftheneweconomicmodeoftheNorthandculturevalues,somepeoplefightstubbornlywithonesbacktothewall.,.,Emilyisundoubtedlythemodelsofthesedecliningaristocrats.Southernrepresentsdecline,whilenorthernrepresentsrise.Betweenthedeclineandrise,therearesomepeoplewhoarebearingthemisfortuneduetodefendingtenaciously(固执地)afterall.Thebackgroundofthecontradictionbetweennorthandsouth,whenitisreflectedinapersonshistory,isnamelythetragediesofloveandlife.,.,Emilywasborninthatstratum(社会阶层)ofthatera,thusshewasaguardianofthatstratumnaturally.Ifnot,shehadnowaytomakealive.Whatshelearnediswhatyoungladiesinrichfamilieslearnforfun.Sherefusedtopaytaxes,andresistedtochange,defendingtenaciouslythelargehouseandantiquatedlifestyle.Butshehasalsoreceivedsomebenefitsfromthepast,suchashonorablesurname,peoplesrespectfromit,andsomeprivilegedtreatmentleftover.,.,Whileatthesametime,sheisavictim.Sheisbesieged(围攻)bypeoplescommentsfromcommoncustoms,bythesuppressionofherfatherwhoistheauthoritysymbol,duringtheyearswhenanavelittlegirlgrowsup,shehasnofreedom,nolove.Emilysmotherishardlymentionedinthenovel.Motherisarolewhichsymbolizessoftnessandwarmness.Itseemedthatsuchcolorsneverappearinherlife.Itl