英美文学选读考前总复习1

一.WhatisthethemeofBeowulf?Thematicallythepoempresentsavividpictureofhowtheprimitivepeoplewageheroicstrugglesagainstthehostileforcesofthenaturalworldunderawiseandmightyleader.Thepoemisanexampleoftheminglingofnaturemythsandheroiclegends.二.WilliamShakespeare(iNamehisfourgreatesttragedies.(2Whatarethecharacteristicsofthefourtragediesincommon?(3Brieflysummarizeeachhero‘sweaknessofnature.1.Shakespeare‘sfourgreatesttragediesare:Hamlet,Othello,Kinglear,andMacbeth.2.Eachportrayssomenoblehero,whofacestheinjusticeofhumanlifeandiscaughtinadifficultsituationandwhosefateiscloselyconnectedwiththefateofthewholenation.3.Eachherohashisweaknessofnature;theoldkingLearwhoisunwillingtototallygiveuphispower;andMacbeth‘slustforpowerstirsuphisambitionandleadshimtoincessantcrimes三.trytodiscussWilliamShakespeare‗sartofcreations.1.Shakespeare‘smajorcharactersareneithermerelyindividualonesnortypeones;theyareindividualsrepresentingcertaintypes.eachcharacterhashisorherownpersonalities;meanwhile,theymaysharefeatureswithothers.2.Byapplyingapsycho-analyticalapproach,Shakespearesucceedsinexploringthecharacters‘innermind.3.Shakespeareseldominventshisownplots;instead,heborrowsthemfromsomeoldplaysorstorybooks,orfromancientGreekandRomansources.4.Inhiswritings,disguiseisalsoanimportantdevicetocreatedramaticirony,usuallywithwomandisguisedasman.5.Heoftenwroteskillfullyindifferentpoeticforms,likethesonnet,theblankverse,andtherhymedcouplet.四.BrieflydiscusswhyHamletissoimpressiveinShakespeare‘sHamlet.1.TheheroHamletinShakespesareisplayHamletisnotedforhishesitiontotakehisrevenge,hismelancholynatureofactiononlytodenypossibilitiestodoanything.2.Hecametoknowthathisfatherwasmurderedbyhisunclewhobecameking.Hehatedhimsodeeplythathewantedtokillhim.Buthelovedhiswidowedmotherwholatermarriedhisuncle.Thismadehimdeepintrouble.3.Whenheplannedtokillhisuncle,hewasafraidtohurthismother.Andalso,wheneverythingwasreadyforhimtokillhisuncle,heforgavehimforhisunclewasprayingtoGodforhiscrime.Thushelostgoodchance.4.Hamletrepresentedhumanismofhistime.五.WhyisJohnMiltonthegreatestwriterofhistime?Inhislife,Miltonshowshimselfarealrevolutionary,amasterpoetandagreatprosewriter.HefoughtforfreedominallaspectsasaChristianhumanist,whilehisachievementsinliteraturemakehimtoweroveralltheotherEnglishwritersofhistimeandexertagreatinfluenceoverlaterones.六Accordingtothesettingofthepoem―ParadiseLost,‖discussthetheme,theauthor‘sintensiontocreateitandtheimplicationthatthepoemexpresses.1.Thethemeofthepoem―ParadiseLost‖isthe‖FallofMan,‖i.e.mansdisobedienceandthelossofParadise,withitsprimecause----Satan.2.Theathor‘sintentiontowritethispoemistoexposethewaysofSatanto‖justifythewaysofGodtomen.‖3.Inthispoem,theauthorimplicitlyexpresseshisfundamentalconcernwithfreedomandchoiceandhisbeliefthattheunquestionabletruthofbiblicalrevelationmeansthatanall-knowingGodwasjustinallowingAdamandevetobetemptedandoftheirfreewilltochoosesinanditsinevitablepunishment.一.DiscussCrusoe,theprotagonistofthenovel,asanembodimentoftherisingmiddle-classvirtuesinthemid-eighteenthcenturyEngland.A.Socialbackground:TheEighteenthCenturyEnglandwitnessedthegrowingimportanceofthebourgeoisormiddleclass.a.TheIndustrialRevolution;b.Theexpansionofinternationalmarkets;c.Valuesdifferentfromthoseofthefeudalaristocraticclass—courageous,fullofenergy,hardworking,practical,resourceful,selfreliant,etc.d.Literatureshouldgivearealisticpresentationofthelifeofthecommonpeople;itshouldmeettheinterestofthemiddleclasspeople.B.RobinsonCrusoeembodiesthevirtuesofthemiddleclasspeople.a.Crusoeasanadventurousmanfullofenergyandcourageb.Crusoeasapracticalmanc.Crusoeasaresourcefulmand.Crusoeasapatientman.一DiscusswhyRobinsonCrusebecamesosuccessfulwhenitwaspublished?(DanielDefoe1.RobisonCrusoeissupposedlybasedontherealadventureofanAlexanderSelkirkwhooncestayedaloneontheuninhabitedislandforfiveyears.Actually,thestoryisanimagination.2.InRobisonCrusoe,DefoetracesthegrowthofRobisonfromanaïveandartlessyouthintoashrewdandhardenedman,temperedbynumeroustrialsinhiseventfullife.3.Inthenovel,Robisonisarealheroandheisanembodimentoftherisingmiddle-classvirtuesinthemid-eighteenthcenturyEngland.4.RobisonCrusoeisanadventurestoryverymuchinthespiritofthetime.Becauseoftheabovereasons,whenitwaspublished,peoplealllikedthatstory,anditbecameanimmediatesuccess.一.Explainwhyheclenchedhisfingerssohardthathebrokethefragilecup.(JohnGalsworthy,ThemanofProperty1.hehadneverknown,wouldneverknowwhatshewasthinking.thesightofherinscrutableface,thethoughtofallthehundredsofeveningshehadseenhersittingtherelikethatsoftandpassive,butsounreadable,unknown,enragedhimbeyondmeasure.一.ByanalyzingthepoemsbyPercyByssheShelley,discusshisartofpoems.1.PercyByssheShellyisanintenseandoriginallyricalpoetintheEnglishlanguage.2.Hispoemsarefullofclassicalandmythologicalallusions.3.Hisstyleaboundsinpersonificationandmetaphorandotherfiguresofspeech.4.Hedescribesvividlywhatweseeandfeel,orexpresswhatparsionatelymovesus.一.Basedonherwritings,discussJaneAustenisgreatestcontributiontoEnglishliterature.1.JaneAustenisoneofthemostimportantRomanticnovelistsinEnglishliterature.Shecreatessixinfluentialnovels.2.Hermainlitearyconcernisabouthumanbeingsintheirpersonalrelationships,whichmakehernovelshaveauniver-salsignificance.3.JaneAustenhasbroughttheEnglishnovel,asanartofform,toismaturitybecauseofhersensitivitytouniversalpat-ternsofhumanbehaviorandheraccurateportrayalofhumanindividuals.4.Shedescribestheworldfromawomanispointofview,anddepictsagroupofauthenticandcommonwomen.一.HowdoyouunderstandthatDicKensisthegreatestcriticalrealistwriteroftheVictorianAge?1.Inhisworks,Dickenssetsoutafullmapandalarge-scalecriticismofthenineteenthcenturyEngland.Itishisseriousintensiontoexposeandcriticizeinhisworksallthepoverty,injustice,hypocrisyandcorruptnessheseesaroundhim2.Withhisfirstsentence,Dickensengagesthereadersattentionandholdsittotheend。3.Thesettingsofhishaveanextraordinaryvividness.4.Inlanguage,HeisoftencomparedwithShakespeareforhisadeptnesswiththevernacularandlargevocabulary.5.Character-portravalisthemostdistinguishingfeatureofhisworks.6.Dickensworksarealsocharacterizedbyaminglingofhumorandpathos.一,DiscussDickensisartofnovels:thesetting,thelanguage,andthecharacters,etc.basedonhisnovelOliverTwist.1.Heusesamixtureofthecontemporaryandrecollectedpastashisfictionalsettings.2.Withhisfirstsentence,heengagesthereaderisattentionandholdsittotheend.3.Hisbest-depictscharactersarethoseinnocent,virtuous,persecuted,helplesschildcharacterssuchasOliverTwist.4.Thefiguresthathedepicted,markedoutbysomepeculiarityinphysical,speechormanner,arebothtypesandindi-viduals.5.Dickenisworksareaisocharacterizedbyaminglingofhumorandpathos.6.Adeptwiththevernacualarandlargevocabulary,hebringsoutmanyawonderfulverbalpictureofmanandscene一.Explainwhytheboy[OliverTwist]startedfirst,thentrembledviolentlyandburstintotearswhenthewordswerekindlysaid...(CharlesDickens,OliveTwist1.Theboystartedatthewordsbecausekindwordswerenotexpected;itis(wasthefirsttimeinallhislifethattheboy(OliverTwisthadeverbeenkindlygreeted;Yet,tohimstrangesoundsmaypredictsuffering.一.DoyouthinkHeathciff‘saboveaccusationofCatherine‘sbetrayalcanbejustified?Ifyouthinkso,whatreasonsdoesCatherinehavetobetrayheathcliffandtheirlove?A.Heathcliff‘saccusationcanbejustified.B.Thereasonsofherbetrayalmaybe:(1Thefancyshefeltforlinton‘spleasantpersonality,hisrichknowledge,andhiselegantmanners.(2Hervainglorymadeherdesireakindofupperclasslifeandsocialstatus.(3ShewasafraidthatshemightsufferpovertyandbedegradedifshehadgotmarriedtoHeathecliff.(4Shefanciedifshegotmarriedtolinton,shemighthavethemeanstohelpheathecliffingettingagoodeducationandbecomingagentlemansothattheycouldbeunitedwithoutbeingdegraded.一.WhyisJaneEyrebyCharlotteBronteasuccessfulnovel?.1.Thestoryopenswiththetitularheroine,JaneEyre,aplainlittleorphan.2.Thisnovelsharplycriticizetheexistingsociety,e.g.thereligioushypocrisyofcharityinstitutions,thesocialdiscrimi-nationJaneexperiencesandthefalsesocialconventionasconcerningloveandmarriage.3.ThesuccessofthenovelisalsoduetoitsintroductiontotheEnglishnovelthefirstgovernessheroineJaneEyre.4.Itisanintensemoralfableatthesametime.Jans,likeMr.Rochester,hastoundergoaseriesofphysicalandmor-alteststogrowupandachieveherfinalhappiness.一.BasedonJaneEyrebyCharlotteBronte,discussthethemeofherworks,theimageofwomanprotagonistsandthecomprehensivesenseforcontemporarysociety.1.Charlotte‘sworksareallaboutthestruggleofanindividualconsciousnesstowardsself-realization,aboutsomelonelyandneglectedyoungwomenwithafiercelongingforlove,understandingandafull,happylife.2.Allherheroines‘highestjoysarisesfromsomesacrificeofselforsomehumanweaknessovercome.3.Theimageofwomanprotagonistsinherworksaremostlythatofthemiddle-classworkingwomen,particularlygovernesseswithstrongfeelings,fierypassionsandsomeextraordinarypersonalities.4.HerworkspresentavividrealisticpictureoftheEnglishsocietybyexposingthecruelty,hypocrisyandotherevilsoftheupperclasses,andbyshowingthemiseryandsufferingofthepoor.EspeciallyinJaneEyre,shesharplycriticizestheexistingsociety,e.g.religioushypocrisyofcharityinstitutions.一.AnalyzethecharacterofJaneEyrebasedontheselectiontakenfromchapterxx3ofJaneeyre.1.JaneEyre,anorphanchildwithafieryspiritandalongingtoloveandbeloved,apoor,plain,littlegovernesswhodarestolovehermaster.2.InChapterXX3,JanefindsherselfhopelesslyinlovewithMr.Rochesterbatsheisawarethatherloveisoutofthequestion.WhenforcedtoconfrontMr.Rochester,shedesperateldandopenlydeclaresherequalitywithhimandloveforhim.一.HowarenaturalismandcriticismreflectedinHardy‘snovels?1.Inhisworks,manisshowninevitablyboundbyhisowninherentnatureandhereditarytraitswhichprompthimtogoandsearchforsomespecifichappinessorsuccessandsethiminconflictwiththeenvironment.Theoutsidenaturethenaturalenvironmentornatureherself---isshownassomemysterioussupernaturalforce,verypowerfulbuthalf-blind,impulsiveanduncaringtorheindividual‘swill,hope,passionorsuffering.2.ThoughnaturalismseemstohaveplayedanimportantpartinHary‘sworks,thereisalsobitterandsharpcriticismandevenopenchallengeoftheirrational,hypocriticalandunfairVictorianinstitutions,conventionsandmoralswhichstrangletheindividualwillanddestroynaturalhumanemotionsandrelationships.一.TrytodiscussthefateofTessinthiswork.ThomasHardyTessisabeautiful,innocentpeasantgirl.thepovertyofthefamilyforceshertoclaimkinshipwiththeshambutrichUrbervilles.Alec,theyoungmasteroftheUrbervilles,adandy,seducesTessandimpregnatesher.Tessreturnshomeandlatergivesbirthtoababy,whodiessoon.people‘sopinionforcesTesstoleavehometoworkonadairyfarm.thereshemeetsAngelClare,sonofaclergyman.Thetwofallinlovewitheachother.Ontheirweddingnight,AnglemakesaconfessionabouthispastdissipationandreadilyforgivenbyTess,butwhenTessrevealsherownpast,Angeljustwouldn‘tforgiveheranddesertsherthatverynight.helplessandhopeless,Tesshastowanderfromplacetoplace,doingthehardestworkandbearingtheharshestinsult.whenherfather‘sdeathtransfersthewholeburdenofthefamilyonher,sheisforcedtogobacktoAlec,nowapreacher.beforelong,therepentantAngelreturnsfromabroad,Tess,puttingalltheblamesofherunhappinessonAlec,killshim.shefleeswithAngelbutiscaughtbythepoliceandhanged.HardycreatedtheheroineTessinTessoftheDurbervillesjusttocriticizethesocietyinhistime.Tessisatragicpersonsimplybecausesheisnotacceptedbythesocietyinwhichagricultureismenacedbytheforcesofinvadingcapitalism.soinaway,wesay,Tess‘sfateisdecidedbyhersociety一.ItissaidthatB.Shaw‘splay,Mrs.Warren‘sProfession,hasastrongrealistictheme,whichfullyreflectsthedramatist‘sFabianistidea.Trytosummarizethisthemebriefly.A.AsoneoftheinfluentialmembersoftheFabianSociety,Shawregardedtheestablishmentofsocialismbytheemancipationoflandandindustrialcapitalfromindividualandclassownershipasthefinalgoal.B.Asarealisticdramatist,hetookthemodernsocialissuesashissubjects.Mostofhisplaysareconcernedwithpolitical,economic,moral,orreligiousproblems.C.Mrs.Warren‘sprofessionisaplayabouttheeconomicoppressionofwomen.一.BriefthefeaturesofBernardshaw‘sworks.1.Hisplaywrightshaveavarietyofsubjects.Hisearlyplaysweremainlyconcernedwitthsocialproblemsanddirect-edtowardsthecritcismofthecontemporarysocial,economic,moralandreligiousevils.2.Stucturallyandthematically,Shawfollowedthegreattraditionsofrealism.Asarealisticdramatist,hetookthemod-ernsocialissuesashissubjectswiththeaimofdirectingsocialreforms.3.OnefeatureofShawischaracterizationisthatmakesthetrickofshowinguponecharactervividlyattheexpenseofanother.AnotherfeatureisthatShawischaractersaretherepresentativesofideasandpointsofview.4.MuchofShaviandramaisconstrucedaroundtheinversionofaconventionaltheatricalsituation.一.BasedonHawthorneisworkTheScarletLetter,discussthecharactersofhiswritings.1.Thestructureandtheformofhiswritingsarealwayscarefullyworkedouttocaterforthethematicconcern。2.Heisgoodatexploringthecomplexityofhumanpsychoiogy.3.Thereisntmuchaction,orphysicalmovementgoingoninhisworks.4.Heemphasizespsychologicalaspectofhumanbeings.5.ThesymbolCanbefoundeverywhereinhiswriting.6.Hiswritingisusuallyambiguousfortheindrniteinterpretationofsymbols.一.whatisthethemeof‖the―YoungGoodmanBrown‖?Giveexamplesfromthestorytoshowhawthorne‘smasterfuluseofsymbolism.Thethemeofthestoryistheconcernofguitandevil.Takethenameofthehero,brownforexample.itstandsforeverymaminthesociety.一.TrytodiscussthethemeofYoungGoodmanBrown.(NathanielHawthorne1.YoungGoodmanBrownisessentiallyanallegory.Itisconcernedwithayoungpuritanwhoattendsawitches‘Sabbathinthewoods.2.Browning‘spoetryisnoteasytoread.Hisrhythmsareoftentoofast,tooroughandunmusical.Thesyntaxisususllyclippedandhighlycompressed.Thesimilesandillustrationsappeartooprofusely.3.Theallusionsandimplicationsaresometimesoddandfarfetched.Allthismakesuphisobscurity.4.Thereareabundantmetaphorsinhispoems.一.Whitisagiantofamericanletters.discusswhitman‘sartofpoem;thelanguage,thecharacters,etc.1.Whitman‘spoeticstyleismarkedbytheuseofthepoetic‗I‖2.Whatheprefersforhisnewsubjectandnewpoeticfeelingsis‖freeverse,‖thatis,poetrywithoutafixedbeatorregularrhymescheme.3.Whitman‘spoetryisrelativelysimpleandevenrathercrude.4.Mostofthepictureshepaintedwithwordsarehonest,undistortedimagesofdifferentaspectsofamericaoftheday.一..whatarethefeaturesofwhitman‗spoetry?1.Hispoeticstyleismarkedbytheuseofthepoetic‖I‖2.Headopted―freeverse‖,poetry,withoutafixedbeatorregularrhymescheme.3.Theimageinhispoemsareunconventional.4.HeusesoralEnglish.5.Hisvocabularyisamazing.6.Parallelismandphoneticrecurrenceareusedatthebeginningoflines.一.TrytodiscussthesymbolisminMoby-Dickbook.(Melville1.ItisamixtureoffantasyandrealismbasedupontheSouthPacificwhalingindustry.Itmightbereadasaninitia-yionstoryaboutIshmael,theoutcast,findinghimselfinarealwordofhardworkanddangerandunrealworldofspeculationandmystery.2.ItisafabulousdramatizationofAhabisobsesseddeterminationtorevengehimselfinthepursuitofoneparticularwhalewhohaspreviouslydestroyedhisboatandhumiliatedhimbyrippingoffoneofhislegs.Thebookhassooftenbeeninterpretedinsomanyways,allegoricallyandsymbolically.3.Malvilleisamasterofallegoryandsymbolism.InsteadofputtingthebattlebetweenAhabandthebigwhaleintosim-plestatements,usedsymbols,thatis,objectsorpersonswhorepresentsomethingelse.Differentpropleonboardtheshiparerepresentationsofdifferentideasanddifferentsocialandethnicgroups;factsbecomesymbolsandincidentsac-quireuniversalmeanings;thePequodisthemicrocosmofhumansocietyandthevoyagebecomesasearchfortruth.Thewhitewhale,MobyDick,symbolizesnaturenforMelville,foritiscomplex,unfathomable,malignant,andbeautifulaswell.4.ForthecharacterAhab,however,thewhaleonlyrepresentsevil.MobyDickislikeawall,hidingsomeunknown,mys-teriousthingsbehind.FortheauthoraswellasforthereaderandIshmelthenarrator,MobyDickisamystery,anulti-matemysteryoftheuniverse,andthevoyageofthemindwillforeverremainasearch,notadiscovery,ofthetruth.Thewholestoryturnsouttobeasymbolicvoyageofthemindinquestoftruthandknowledgeoftheuniverse,aspiritualexplorationintomanisdeeprealityandpsychology.一.DiscussthewaysymbolismisusedinMelville‘sMoby-Dick.1.ToAhab,thewhaleiseitheranevilcreatureitselfortheagentofanevilforcethatcontrolstheuniverse,orperhapsboth.thechaseofthewhitewhalesymbolizesAhab‘spursuitoftruthandfightingagainsttheevilpower.2.ToIshmael,thewhaleisanastonishingforce,animmensepower,whichdefiesrationalexplanationduetoasenseofmysteryitcarries.3.Italsorepresentsthetremendousorganicvitalityoftheuniverse.4.Tothereaders,thewhalecanbeviewedasasymbolofthephysicallimitsthatlifeimposesuponman.5.Itmayalsoberegardedasasymbolofnature.Attheendofthechapter,theauthorsays―---thegreatshroudofthesearolledonasitrolledfivethousandyearsago.‖Heretheseasymbolizesnaturethatremainsmovingbutunmoved.一.WhatmakesMarkTwain‘stheadventuresofHuckleberryFinnmorethanachild‘sadventurestory?Brieflydiscussthequestionfromthreeofthefollowingaspects:thesetting,thelanguage,thecharacter,thethemeandthestyle.A.Setting:InthenovelMarkTwainrecreatesasmalltownworldofAmericaandpresentsthelocalcolor.B.Language;Heusessimple,directlanguagefaithfultothecolloquialspeech,thevernacularlanguageofthelocalpeople.C,Characters:Theauthorrecreatestworebelsandfugitivesrunningawayfromcivilization,especiallyHuckleberryFinn,aninnocentboywhorefusestoaccepttheconventionalvillagemorality.E.Style;thenovelemploysahumorousstyleofnarrationandisalsohighlysymbolicwiththecentralsymbol.D;Theme;Thenovelisacriticismofsocialinjustice,hypocrisy,conservativenessandnarrow—mindednessoftheAmericansmalltownsociety.一.InAmericanliteraturewhatisthesignificanceofAdventuresofHuckleberryFinnbyMarkTwain?1.ThenoveliswritteninalanguagethatistotallydifferentfromtherhetoricallanguageusedbyEmerson,poeandMelville.Itisnotgrand,pompous,butsimple,direct,lucid,andfaithfultothecolloquialspeech.2.ThegreatstrenghthofthebookalsocomesfromtheshapegivetoitbythecourseoftheraftisjourneydowntheMis-sissippiasHuckandJimseektheirdifferentkindsoffreedom.3。TheprofoundportraitofHuckleberryFinnisanothergreatcontributionofthebooktothelegacyofAmericanliterature.一.DiscusstheheroHuckleberryFinn(MarkTwainThAdventureofHuckleberryFinnisbestknownforMarkTwain|‘swonderfulcharacterizationof“Huck”,atypicalAmericanboy.Theauthordescribeshimasaboywith“asoundheartandadeformedconscience,‖andthenovelisremarkablefortheraft‘sjourneydowntheMississippiriver,whichTwainusedbothrealisticallyandsymbolically.ThenovelbeginswithadescriptionofhowWidowDouglasattrmptstocivilizeHuckandendswithhimdecidingnottoletsuchcivilizationhappenagainatthehandsofauntSally.TheclimaxariseawithHuck‘sinnerstruggleontheMississippi,whenHuckispolarizedbythetwoopposingforcesbetweenhisheartandhishead,betweenhisaffectionforJimandthelawsofhesocietyagainstthosewhohelpslavesescape.Huck‘sfinaldecision—tofollowhisowngood–heartedmoralimpulseratherthanconventionalvillagemorality—amountstoavindicationofwhatMarkTwaincalled‖thedamnedhumanrace,‖damnedforitscomfortablehypocrisies,itsthoroughgoingdishonesties,anditspervasivecruelties,itsthoroughgoingdishonesties,anditspervasivecruelties.withtheeventualvictoryofhismoralconscienceoverhiscocialawareness,Huckgrows.Huckisnotonlyalovelyboyinthenovel,butalsoaportraitstandingfortheyoungAmerica.一..BasedonhisworkDaisyMiller,brieflydicusswhy.HenryJamesachievedthisglory.1.Jamessfamegenerallyrestsuponhisnovelsandstorieswiththeinternationaltheme.2.HenryJamesliterarycriticismisanjndispensablepartofhiscontributiontoliterature.Itisbothconcernedwithformanddevotedtohumanvalues.3.Jamesemphasisonpsychologyandonthehumanconsciousnessprovestobeabigbreakthroughinnovelwritingandhasgreatinfluenceonthecominggenerations.4.HenryJamesisnotonlyoneofthemostimportantrealistsoftheperiodbeforetheFirstWorldWar,butalsothemostexpertstylistofhistimes.一.WhatisthemostfamousthemeinHenryJames‘sfiction?andwhatishisfavouriteapproachincharacterization,whichmakeshimdifferentfromMarkTwainandW.D.Howellsasrealists?givetwotitlesofhisworksinwhichthisthemeandthisapproachareemployed.1.hismostfamousthemeisinternationaltheme.2.Psychologicalapproach3.Theportraitofalady;DaisyMiller一..WhatarethequalitiesofEmilyDikinsonpoems?(EmilyDikinson1.Dickinsonispoemsareusuallybasedonherownexperiences,hersorrowsandjoys.2.LoveisanothersubjectDickinsondwelton.3.ManypoemsDickinsonwroteareaboutnature,inwhichhergeneralskepticismabouttherelationshipbetweenmanandnatureiswell-expressed.4.Dickinsonispoetryisuniqueandunconventionalinownway.Herpoemshavenotitles,hencearealwaysquotedbytheirfirstlines.一.SisterCarrieisthegreatestliteraryworkbyTheodoreDreiser.DiscussCarrieMeeber,theprotagonistofthenovel.1.Carrier,pennilessandfullofillusionsofignoranceandyouth,leavesheryuralhometoseekworkinChicago.Dis-illusionedbumeagerincomeandterribleworkconditioninashoefactory,sheacceptesDrouetashismistress.Later,shefallsinlovewithDrouetisfriendHurstwoodandeloupeswithhim.However,whenHurstwoodislifeisonthedecline,Carrierleaveshim.Carrierbecomesastarofmusicalcomediesatlast;yetsheislonelyanddissatisfied.2.SisterCarriebestembodiesDreiserisnaturalisticbeliefthatwhilemenarecontrolledandconditionedbyheredity,in-stinctandchance,afewunsophisticatedhumanbeingsrefusetoaccepttheirfateandtrytofindmeaningandpurposefortheirexistence.Carrie,asoneofsuch,sensesthatsheismerelyacipherinanuncaringworldyetseekstograspthemys-teriesoflifeandtherebysatisfiesherdesireforsocialstatusandmaterialcomfort.一.DiscussthecharacterofCarrieMeeberinTheodoreDreiser‘sSisterCarrieandhisnaturalistictendencyinthenovel.CarrieMeeber:A.Penniless,naïve,‖fulloftheillusionsofinnocenceandyouth‖;B.InvolvedinthesearchfortheAmericanDream;C.Acipherinacoldandharshworld,driventomovelikeamechanismbydesireforbetterexistence;Dreiser‘snaturalistictendencyinthenovel:A.InfluencedbyDarwin‘sideaof―survivalofthefittest‖,Dreiserdescribesearthlyexistenceas―awelterofinscrutableforces,‖manasa“victimofforcesoverwhichhehasnocontrol‖;B.Thecharactersinhisnovelsareoftensubjecttothecontrolofnaturalforces—thoseofenvironmentandheredity;C.InSisterCarrieDreiserdescribesthepurposelessnessoflifeandattackstheconventionalvaluestandards.Afteraseriesofincidentsandcoincidents,CarrieobtainsfameandcomfortwhileHurstwoodloseshiswealth,socialposition,prideandeventuallyhislife.ThusthisnovelbestembodiesDreiser‘snaturalisticbeliefthatmenarecontrolledandconditionedbyheredity,instinctandchance.Neitherofthemcancontroltheirfates.Theyarejustdrivenbyfate,HurstwoodmorebyincidentsandCarriemorebyinstinct.一.Whatideacanyoudrawfromthe―rocking-chair‖?(fromTheoforeDreiser‘sSisterCarrieA.Therocking-chairisasymbolstandingforfate.Itislikeacradlethatmakesonefeelpeaceful.B.Itisalsolikeatidethatevergoesonwithlife,thedestinyofwhichisuncertian.1.WhatdoesTheodoredreiserdiscussinhisnovel?Giveexamplestoproveyourviewpoint.DreisersethimselftoprojecttheAmericanvaluesforwhathehadfoundthemtobe_materialistictothecore.Livinginsuchasocietywithsuchavaluesystem,thehumanindividualisobsessedwithanever—ending,yetmeaninglesssearchforsatisfactionofhisdesires.OneofthedesiresisformoneywhichwasamotivatingpurposeoflifeintheUnitedStatesinthelate19thcentury.Forexample,inSisterCarrie,thereisnotonecharacterwhosestatusisnotdeterminedeconomically.SexisanotherhumandesirethatDreiserexploredtoconsiderablelengthsinhisnovelstorevealthedarksideofhumannature.inSisterCarrier,Carrieclimbsupthesocialladderbymeansofhersexualappeal.Likeallnaturalistshewasrestrainedfromfindingasolutiontothesocialproblemsthatappearedinhisnovelsandaccordingly