《美国文学》教学课件Edgar Allan Poe

1、Edgar Allan PoePoes Unique Position in American literaturePoe was the first major American critic who offered a set of formulated principles in relation to the criticism of literature as well as to the creation of the work of art.Poe is the first American author who formalized the technique of the s

2、hort story.Poe invented the detective story and is regarded as the father of the modern short story and also turned out the earliest American detective fiction and science fiction.Edgar Allan Poe I. A brief introduction to PoeEdgar Allan Poe is considered one of the most gifted writers of American l

3、iterature. Born in BostonAdopted by John AllanEducated in England from 1815-1820Entered the University of Virginia in 1826Edgar Allan PoeIn 1827, enlisted in the Army , served at West PointFrom 1830, became an editorIn 1836 ,married his 13-year-old cousin Virginia ClemmIn 1847, his wife diedIn 1849,

4、 Poe died Poes Literary AchievementsMajor poetry: Poems 诗集The Raven 乌鸦 To Helen 致海伦Israfel 依兹拉菲尔Annabel Lee 安娜贝尔丽 Poes Poetic theoriesThe poem should be short, readable at one sitting.The chief aim of poem is beauty, to produce a feeling of beauty in the reader .Melancholy is the most legitimate of

5、all the poetic tones.The death of a beautiful woman is the most poetical topic in the world.The RavenOnce upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of some one gent

6、ly rapping, rapping at my chamber door.Tis some visiter, I muttered, tapping at my chamber door-Only this and nothing more. II. Poes Theory of the Short Story 1).The primary purpose of a short story is to create an effect, then the writer may proceed to find the events and characters in aid of const

7、ructing the effect. 2) The very first sentence of the story should bring out this effect.3)A short story, according to Poe, must be work of brevity- to be read at one sitting.Poes Theory of the Short Story4) The work should have the totality of effect- the unity of tone, setting, characters etc. No

8、word should be used which doesnt contribute to the “pre-established design of the work 5) A reader should feel a sense of full satisfaction from having read the story. The last sentence should leave the reader with a sense of finality.Poes short storyImportant worksTales of the Grotesque and Arabesq

9、ue (Poes first collection of short stories) 述异集The Fall of the House of Usher 厄舍古屋的倒塌The Black CatThe Cask of Amontillado 一桶酒的故事Gothic Novel The Gothic novel, or “Gothic romance” flourished through the early nineteenth century. Authors of such novels set their stories in the medieval period, often i

10、n a gloomy castle, and made plentiful use of ghosts, mysterious disappearances, and other sensational and supernatural occurrences; their principal aim was to evoke chilling terror by exploiting mystery, cruelty, and a variety of horrors. The term “gothic” has also been extended to denote a type of

11、fiction that a. develops an atmosphere of gloom or terror, b. represents events which are mysterious, horrible, or extremely violent, and c. often deals with abnormal psychological states. The Cask of Amontillado1. Genre -an Arabesque short story. 2. Summary 3.A brief analysis of the work: 1)Themes:

12、 loss of face, revenge, murder2). Setting: Time: middle ages, carnival night; Place: catacombs in Montresors palazzo3). Gothic touches: castle, catacombs, darkness, night, dampness, arches, torches, skeletons, chains, madmen, mediaeval setting, midnight burial4). Mood/atmosphere: gloomy, damp, uneasy, insane, dark, ancientThe Cask of Amontillado5). Characters: Montresor, Fortunato, Luchesi6). Conflict: Protagonist: Montresor; Motives: madness, revenge; Antagonist: Fortunato; Motives: connoirsseurship, drunkenness7). Plot: Montresors vow,