Theme文学原理教程演示课件

1、1 Theme 2 Definition - The central idea or statement about life that unifies and controls the total work. 3 A theme may be stated or implied. It is the perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to communicate. 4 Misconceptions about Theme 1. Each a novel has a theme / themes. 5 The

2、me only exists in the novel that seriously attempts to reflect life faithfully; intends to reveal truth about life; are based on ideas or theories of life. 6 Eg: Novels of ratiocination (推理) / horror have no theme. - They are aimed at entertaining the reader, not at improving his understanding of li

3、fe. 7 2. The theme is largely what the novel is. 8 The difference between Theme sth. of a rule by which one can regulate his behavior. Eg: - Be kind to your neighbours. - Honesty is the best policy. 11 Theme - More complicated as a novel is to enhance ones awareness of life rather than simply to tel

4、l him how to behave. 12 4. One novel has only one theme. Some have several subthemes to the main theme. Some are appreciated for their thematic ambiguity. 13 5. The theme is confused with the subject. 14 Subject - A matter / an affair Theme - An idea Subject - The topic on which an author has chosen

5、 to write. Theme - Some statement about or some opinion on that topic. 15 Eg: Love - Subject Love is invincible. - Theme War - Subject War is useless. - Theme 16 Theme - Particular to the novel, though some are similar; Subject - Universal. Eg: The Scarlet Letter The Great Gatsby Women in Love Subje

6、ct - Love Theme - Different 17 Five Requirements for Stating a Theme A theme must be expressed in the form of a statement with a subject and a predicate. Eg: “Love of ones country often inspires heroic self-sacrifice”. 18 Pay attention to its convertibility to sentence form if a theme is stated in t

7、he phrase form. Eg: “Futility of envy” Envy is futile. “Selfless maternal love” Maternal love is selfless. 19 2. Names of characters 2. Death of Emilys father; 3. Death of old lady Wyatt, Emilys great-aunt; 4. Corpse of Homer Barron 37 The Decline of the Old South 1. At one time, the Grierson home w

8、as in one of the finest neighborhoods in Jefferson; by the time of Emilys death, “. . . garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of that neighborhood.” 38 2. The reaction to the Yankee, Homer Barron: - The younger generation finds it easier to accept Homer, while

9、the older folks find his relationship with a woman born to old Southern gentility unacceptable. 39 Community Vs. Isolation - The odd relationship between the town of Jefferson and Emily. 40 1. At her funeral, the narrator notes that Emily has been “. . .a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of her

10、editary obligation upon the town.” However, Emily has very little to do with the townspeople during her life. 41 2. Her father prevents her from dating anyone; after his death, Emily continues to isolate herself from the rest of the community for the better part of her life. 42 3. Although Emily is indifferent to the town, the town seems to be almost obsessed with her. The reaction Jefferson has to her relationship with Homer Barron exemplifies this obsession