世纪中后期文学

VictorianLiteratureBackgroundofThisAgeLiteratureinThisAgeMajorLiteraryFiguresExerciseforThisPartBackgroundoftheAgeDevelopmentofCapitalistIndustryandItsRepercussionsTheVictorianAgewasaperiodofrapidgrowth,development,andreform.EnglandbecameatypicalcapitalistcountryandthestrugglebetweentheworkersandcapitalistsbecamethefundamentalcontradictioninEnglishsociallife.In1836arosetheworking-classmovementknownasChartism.”Back

LiteratureoftheAge

TheVictorianAge(1832-1902)isoneofthegreatestandmostcreativeperiodsinthehistoryofEnglishliterature,standingonlynexttotheElizabethanAgeandtheAgeofRomanticism.TheageproducedsuchgreatnovelistsasDickens,andThackeray,suchgreatpoetsasTennyson,andBrowning,andsuchgreatessayistsasCarlyleandRuskin.Theagewaslargelyanageofprose,especiallythenovelaswellasliteraryandsocialcriticism.BackMajorLiteraryFiguresinThisPeriodA.NovelofCriticalRealism:CharlesDickens:OliverTwist,DavidCopperfield,ATaleofTwoCitiesWilliamThackeray:VanityFairGorgeEliot:AdamBedeCharlotteBronte:JaneEyreEmilyBronte:WutheringHeightsB.VictorianPoetry:AlfredLordTennyson

RobertBrowning

ElizabethBarrelBrowning:The

CryoftheChildren,SonnetsfromthePortugueseC:TheAestheticism“artforart’ssake”OscarWildeBackCharlesDickens(1812-1870)

CharlesDickens

ThegreatestrepresentativeofEnglishcriticalrealism

BorninPortsmouth,EnglandonFeb.7,1812OnlyhadafewyearsofprivateeducationatWilliamGiles'sSchool,in

ChathambeforehisfatherwasimprisonedWhenhewas12,heworkedinafactoryputtinglabelsonbottlesofshoepolish,helpingsopporthisfamily.Afterhisfatherwasparoled(假释),heattendedtheWellintonHouseAcademyinNorthLondon

Dickenslivedherein1817-1822In1830,hemethisfirstlove,MariaBeadnell.ThiscourtshipendedwithMaria’spareantsdisapproval.In1836,hemarriedCatherineThomsonHogarth,andhad10children.In1858,hedivorcedCatherineandthenlivedsecretlywithanactressEllenTernenPoet’sCornerCharlesDickensdiesbystrokeonJune9,1870andhewasburiedatWestminsterAbbeyinthePoet’sCorner.Hisworkhasbeenpraisedforitsmastery(精通)ofprose（散文）anduniquepersonalitiesbywriterssuchasGeorgeGissing,LeoTolstoyandG.K.Chesterton.

However,HenryJamesandVirginiaWoolfcriticisedhisworkforsentimentalityandimplausibility（难以置信）.CommentsMajorWorks1836“SketchesbyBoz”«博兹特写集»1836-37“ThePickwickPapers”«匹克威克外»1837-38“OliverTwist”《雾都孤儿》1838-39“NicholasNickleby”«尼古拉斯·尼克尔贝»1840-41“TheOldCuriosityShop”«老古玩店»1841“BarnabyRudge”«巴纳比·拉奇»

MajorWorksB.1842“AmericanNotes”«美国札记»1843-45“MartinChuzzlewit”«马丁·朱述尔维特»1843“AChristmasCarol”《圣诞颂歌》1844“TheChimes”《教堂钟声》1845“TheCricketontheHearth”《灶上蟋蟀》1846-48“Dombeyandson”《董贝父子》1849-50“DavidCopperfield《大卫·科波菲尔德》

MajorWoksC.1852—53“BleakHouse” «荒凉山庄»1854“HardTimes” «艰难时世»1855—57“LittleDorrit” «小杜丽»1859“ATaleofTwoCities” «双城记»1860---61“GreatExpectations” «远大前途»1864---65“OurMutualFriend” «我们旳共同朋友»1870“EdwinDrood” «艾德温·德鲁德之迷».

ThePickwickPapers(1836)HisFirstNovelTakenfromthemovieOliverTwistThisnoveltellsthestoryofDickens’lifeattheblackingfactory.Theunhappyperiodinhisyouthwasturnedintohisfavourite,andmostautobiographicalnovel,DavidCopperfield."Ataleoftwocities"isoneofDickens'smostimportantrepresentativeworks．

ATaleofTwoCities

Background:FrenchRevolutionTimePeriod:seventyyearsbeforetheVictorianAgeSettings:LondonandParisATaleofTwoCities

ChapterOne:ThePeriodItwasthebestoftimes,itwastheworstoftimes,itwastheageofwisdom,itwastheageoffoolishness,itwastheepochofbelief,itwastheepochofincredulity,itwastheseasonofLight,itwastheseasonofDarkness,itwasthespringofhope,itwasthewinterofdespair,wehadeverythingbeforeus,wehadnothingbeforeus,wewereallgoingdirecttoHeaven,wewereallgoingdirecttheotherway--inshort,theperiodwasso.farlikethepresentperiod,thatsomeofitsnoisiestauthoritiesinsistedonitsbeingreceived,forgoodorforevil,inthesuperlativedegreeofcomparisononly.《双城记》

第一章时代

那是最美妙旳时代，那是最糟糕旳时代；那是智慧旳年头，那是愚昧旳年头；那是信仰旳时期，那是怀疑旳时期；那是光明旳季节，那是黑暗旳季节；那是希望旳春天，那是失望旳冬天；我们全都在直奔天堂，我们全都在直奔相反旳方向--简而言之，那时跟目前非常相象，某些最喧嚣旳权威坚持要用形容词旳最高级来形容它。说它好，是最高级旳；说它不好，也是最高级旳。MajorcharactersDr.AlexandreManette–aphysician,Lucie'sfatherMarquisofEvermond–anaristocratandDarnay’sfatherCharlesDarnay–respectableyoungFrenchmanwhodetestsaristocracy;SydneyCarton–quick-mindedbutdepressedEnglishlawyer;LucieManette–youngFrenchwomanwhomDarnayandCartonbothlove;Themes:

Hatredfortyrannyofrulingclass,oldwaysofoppressionmustbechangedthroughrevolutionMixedfeelingsfortheFrenchRevolution:anunderstandingoftheeruptionoftherevolutionandadeepconcernfortheviolencethatmayoccurinthemassrevolution.Criticizethebloodshedinrevolution,disapproveofextrememeasuresDistinctFeaturesofHisNovels1)CharacterPortrayalandExaggerationsTypicalcharactersundertypicalcircumstances.Asamasterofcharacterization,Dickenswasskillfulindrawingvividcaricaturesketchesbyexaggeratingsome,peculiarities,andingivingthemexactly,theactionsandwordsthatfitthem,thatis,rightwordsandrightactionsfor,therightperson.

2)BroadHumorandPenetratingSatireHeisoneofthegreatesthumoristsintheworld.

SatireisfrequentlyemployedbyDickenstoachievetheeffectofirony.

3)ComplicatedandFascinatingPlotInDickens’novels,themainplotisofteninterwovenwithmorethanonesub-plotsothatsomeinterestingminorcharactersaswellasabroaderviewoflifemaybeintroduced.AdistinctfeatureofDickens’plotformulaisthehappyending.

4)ThePowerofExposureAsthegreatestrepresentativeofEnglishcriticalrealism,Dickensmadehisnoveltheinstrumentofmoralityandjustice.Eachofhisnovelsrevealsasspecificsocialproblem(sometimesmorethanone).

Back

CommentsonDickens1.

ThegreatestnovelistoftheVictorianperiodandthegreatestrepresentativeofEnglishcriticalrealism2.Dickenssetsafullmap&alarge-scalecriticismofthe19th-centuryEngland3.Dickensisamasterstory-teller.Hislanguagecould,inaway,becomparedwithShakespeare's.Hishumorandwitseeminexhaustible.Character-portrayalisthemostoutstandingfeatureofhisworks.ThomasHardy(1840-1928)ThomasHardy:

Englishpoetandnovelist,famousforhisdepictionsoftheimaginarycountry“Wessex”.Hardy’sworksreflectedhispessimismandsenseoftragedyinhumanlife.ThomasHardyThomasHardy,wasanEnglishauthorofthenaturalistmovement,thoughheregardedhimselfprimarilyasapoetandcomposednovelsmainlyforfinancialgain.Thebulkofhiswork,setmainlyinthesemi-fictionallandofWessex,delineatescharactersstrugglingagainsttheirpassionsandcircumstances.ThomasHardySonofavillagebuilderinDorset,southwestofEnglandwhichusedtobeaSaxonkingdomnamesWessex,anameHardyusedproudlyinhiswriting.StudyarchitectureinLondonforfiveyearsWorkasanarchitectinhisnativelandBeginhisliterarycareerasapoetTurntowritingnovelsAtabout60returntopoetrywritingHardy’sFirstWifeEmmaGifford:awomanofhighsocialstatus.ShehadaveryinterestingpersonalityandwasalwaysrememberedbyvisitorstotheHardyhousehold.Shediedin1912.ThomasandEmmaHardyresidedatMaxGatefrom1884onward.DesighedbyHardyhimselfSecondwife—Hardy’snurse,companionandfan.In1914,HardymarriedhissecretaryFlorenceEmilyDugdale,whowas39yearshisjunior.

DuetoFlorence’scare,Hardycouldremainhealthyandcontinuehiswritingcareer.TheHardycottageinHigherBockhampton,Dorchester

Hardy’sworkasanarchitectHardyinRealLifeHardybecameillwithpleurisyinDecember1927anddiedinJanuary1928,havingdictatedhisfinalpoemtohiswifeonhisdeathbed.Hisfuneralwason16JanuaryatWestminsterAbbey,anditprovedacontroversialoccasionbecauseHardyandhisfamilyandfriendshadwishedforhisbodytobeinterredatStinsfordinthesamegraveashisfirstwife,Emma.However,hisexecutor,SirSydneyCarlyleCockerell,insistedthathebeplacedintheabbey'sfamousPoets'Corner.AcompromisewasreachedwherebyhisheartwasburiedatStinsfordwithEmma,andhisashesinPoets'Corner.MajorWorksHardyhimselfdividedhisnovelsintothreegroups:1)NovelsofCharacter&Environment2)NovelsofRomances&Fantasies3)NovelsofIngenuity

1.NovelsofCharacterandEnvironment

ThePoorManandtheLady(1867)《穷汉与贵妇人》

UndertheGreenwoodTree(1872)《绿树荫下

》FarfromtheMaddingCrowd(1874)《远离尘嚣》TheMayorofCasterbridge(1886)《卡斯特桥市长》

Tessofthed'Urbervilles(1891)《德伯家旳苔丝》

JudetheObscure(1895)《无名旳裘德》

Heexploredtragiccharactersstrugglingagainsttheirpassions

&socialcircumstances

&sethisfictionsinthesemi-fictionallandofWessexwherehegrewup.

ThisClassisaboutpeople’spursuittohappinessandawarenessoftheirdreams,reflectingtheacuteconflictsbetweenpeopleandtheenvironmentaroundthem.2.RomancesandFantasies

（传奇与幻想小说）APairofBlueEyes(1873)《一双蓝眼睛》TwoonaTower(1882) 《塔里旳两个人》TheWell-Beloved(1897)《心爱旳人》MainlyRomanticLoveStories.3.NovelsofIngenuity

（机巧和试验小说）DesperateRemedies(1871) 《铤而走险》TheHandofEthelberta(1876)《埃塞尔伯塔旳婚姻》ALaodicean(1881)《冷漠旳人》FeaturesofHardy’sNovelsTimePeriod:Hardy’snovelsareallVictorianindate.Settings:MostofthemaresetinWessexComment:Bothanaturalisticandacriticalrealistwriter.Themes:Theconflictbetweenthetraditionandthemodernisbroughttothecenterofthestage.The

WessexNovelsMostofHardy’snovelsaresetinWessex,thefictionalprimitiveandcruelruralregionwhichisreallythehomeplacehebothlovesandhates.Theyareknownforthevividdescriptionofthevicissitudes(变化无常)ofpeoplewholiveinanagriculturalsetting,menacedbytheforcesofinvadingcapitalism.WessexNovelsTheWessexNovelsincludeUndertheGreenwoodTree,FarfromtheMaddingCrowd,TheReturnoftheNative,TheMayorofCasterbridge,TessoftheD’Urbervilles,JudetheObscure.MajorworksUndertheGreenwoodTreeFarfromtheMaddingCrowd(1874)TheReturnoftheNative(1878)WessexTales(1888)

TheWoodlanders(1887)TheMayorofCasterbridge(1886)

DeterminismItreferstothebeliefortheorythathumanactionsandeventsarecontrolledbyandresultfromcausesthatdeterminethem.AccordingtoKarlMarx,aman’seconomicenvironmentdetermineshisactionsandlife;AccordingtoDarwin,itisthescientificlawsgoverningevolution;AccordingtoFreud,itisthehumanunconsciousness;andaccordingtosomereligiousitisthewillofagodorgodsAccordingtoHardy:Theman’sfateispredeterminedlytragic,drivenbyacombinedforceof“nature”,bothinsideandoutside.NaturalismThenaturalistswentbeyondtherealists’insistenceontheobjectivepresentationofthedetailsofeverydaylifeandinsistedthatmaterialsofliteratureshouldbearrangedtoreflectadeterministicuniverseinwhichapersonisbiologicalcreaturecontrolledbyhisenvironmentandheredity.Thenaturalisticwritingsaremoreseriousandpessimistic.Pointsofview1.Asamanintellectuallyadvancedandemotionallytraditional,Hardycherishedthebeauty,simplicity,andhonestyoftherurallife,butwasawareofthesavagery,narrownessandbackwardnessofthelife.2.Newdiscoveriesandmodernphilosophiesofthetimeopenedhiseyetothestarkrealityandbroughtaboutinhimanewunderstandingoftheobjectivity,inevitabilityandcrueltyofthenaturallawsof“survivalofthefittest”.3.Hardy’sviewoftheworldwasratherdarkandgloomy.Hebelievedintheinevitabilityoftheconflictbetweentheinner,subjectivehumannatureandtheouter,objective,wildnatureorsocialenvironment,andtheinevitabletragedyofhumanlife.4.Hardybelievedintheexistenceofsomemysterious,supernaturalpowerwhichwasverypowerful,half-blind,impulsive,anduncaringtotheindividuals,anddeterminedtheirfate,however,hardtheytriedtochangeorescapeit.5.Hardy’sworksarealsonotedfortherealisticpresentationoflifeandsocialcriticism.Theyarefullofbitterexposureandsharpcriticismofthecorrupted,unjust,hypocriticalVictoriansocialsystem,thecruelexploitationofcapitalism,theutilitariancommercialism,andtheirrational,inhumansocialconventionsanmoralswhichkilledhumanwillsanddesiresanddestroyedpeople’snaturalemotionsandrelationships.Hardy’stwonovels,Tessofthed’Urbervilles(1891)andJudetheObscure(1895)arehislastlongfictionworks.ThelastnovelschallengedthesensibilitiesofVictorianreaderswithsituationsthatruffledmanyaVictorianfeather:immoralsex,murder,illegitimatechildren,andtheunmarriedlivingtogether.HeateddebateandcriticismoverthesetwobookshelpedHardydecidethathewouldratherwritepoetry.Infact,sostungwashebythecriticismofhisworksthatHardydidnotwriteanothernovel.JudeTheObscureHardy'sJudeTheObscure(1895)arousedevenmoredebate.Thestorydramatizedtheconflictbetweencarnalandspirituallife,tracingJudeFawley'slifefromhisboyhoodtohisearlydeath.JudemarriesArabella,butdesertsher.Hefallsinlovewithhiscousin,hypersensitiveSueBridehead,whomarriesthedecayingschoolmaster,Phillotson,inamasochistfit.JudeandSueobtaindivorces,buttheirlifetogetherdeterioratesunderthepressureofpovertyandsocialdisapproval.TheeldestsonofJudeandArabella,agrotesqueboynicknamed'FatherTime',killstheirchildrenandhimself.Brokenbytheloss,SuegoesbacktoPhillotson,andJudereturnstoArabella.SoonthereafterJudedies,

TessofTheD’UrbervillesFeaturesofTessTimePeriod:

Settings:FictionalWessexCharacters:Tess---Theoldestdaughterfromapoorfamilywitha nobleoriginAlec----Arichmanfromawealthyfamilywho boughtthefamilynamed'UrbervillesfromTess’s family

Angel---Ayoungmanwhohatestheoldfamilyandlikes farmingFeaturesofTessStructure:Basedonacyclicalpatternswiththreeparts(PartIPrelude+PartIIMainBody,thelovestorybetweenTessandAngel+PartIIITess’decline)Plot:Theme:Mankindissubjectedtotheruleofsomehostileandmysteriousfate,whichbringsmisfortunetohumanlife.Determinism+Naturalism《德伯家旳苔丝》

《德伯家旳苔丝》讲述旳是一种纯洁质朴、聪明漂亮旳农村姑娘被逼得走头无路，终于杀人旳故事。小说一开始，苔丝替她爸爸赶马车去城里送货，黑夜里她旳马车与邮车相撞，把家里旳老马弄死了。苔丝闯了大祸，出于一种赎罪心理，来到杜伯维尔家去做工，以贴补家用。杜伯维尔家少爷阿列克在林中将她奸污。苔丝失贞后来，选择离开阿列克，回到家生下了孩子。孩子病死后，她去一家牛奶场做工，认识了安琪儿·克莱尔，并与他相爱。新婚之夜，安琪儿了解到苔丝旳失贞，便离她而去，远走巴西，苔丝转到另一种农场做工。爸爸死后，房东将她家住旳房子收回。为了不让家人流落街头，苔丝被迫又回到阿列克身边。安琪儿后来悔过，忽然回来找她，苔丝心情十分痛苦，用刀子将阿列克杀死。小说结束时，苔丝作为杀人犯被处以绞刑。

《德伯家旳苔丝》是哈代最著名旳小说，小说旳女主人公苔丝则是哈代所塑造旳最成功旳女性形象。

Featuresofhisworks1.Hardyisagreatpainterofnature.Inhishand,thewessexprairiecomestolife,withitsowncolor,temper,mystery,omen,andforceofdestruction.Itisasmuchalivingcharacterasmenandwomeninthenovels.2.Theunderlyingthemeofhisnovelisthestrugglebetweenmanandhisenvironment,betweenaspiringhumanspiritandtheexternalinanimatenature.(determinism)3.Hardytakescommonworking-classpeopleasheroesandheroinesinhisnovels.Hisheroesareusuallytragiconeswhoacquireself-consciousnessandquestionthefundamentalsofthesociety.4.Inhisworks,thestrongelementsofnaturalismarecombinedwithatendencytowardssymbolism.LifeStoryBorninDublintoasurgeonfatherandapoetmother.WildestudiedclassicsatTrinityAwardedascholarshiptoOxford,theexperienceofwhichmadehimanadvocateofAthleticism.In1878,wontheNewdigatePrizeforhispoemRovenna.In1882,WildewasinvitedtomakespeechforayearinAmerica.In1884,WildemarriedhadtwosonsAround1986,heacknowledgehishomosexualityinpublicandwasimprisonedfortwoyearsAfterhisreleasein1897heleftforParisanddiedthere.MajorWorksEarly1880s,TwoplaysVera 《薇拉》TheDuchessofPadua 《帕都瓦公爵夫人》In1891,theonlynovelpublishedThepictureofDorianGrey 《道林格雷画像》Worksbetween1892-1895madehimanestablisheddramatistLadyWindermere'sFan 《温夫人旳扇子》Salomé 《莎乐美》AWomanofNoImportance 《无足轻重旳女人》TheImportanceofBeingEarnest《不可儿戏》AnIdealHusband 《理想旳丈夫》Wheninjail,hewrotelongpoemTheBalladofReadingHisMajorWorks:fourcomediesLadyWindermere'sFan(1892),AWomanofNoImportance(1893),AnIdealHusband(1895),andTheImportanceofBeingEarnest(1895),allcharacterizedbyadroitlycontrivedplotsandremarkablywittydialogue.TheImportanceofBeingEarnest

(1895).-masterpieceBackBackBackAestheticismBeginning:InthelateVictorianperiodfromaround1868to1901, Beautyistruth,truthbeauty(Keats:OdeonaGrecianUrn,1819)Ending:GenerallyconsideredtohaveendedwiththetrialofOscarWildewhichoccurredin1895Definition:A19thcenturyEuropeanmovementthatemphasizedaestheticvaluesovermoralorsocialthemesinliterature,fineart,thedecorativearts,andinteriordesign.Itbelongstotheanti-Victorianreactionandhadpostromanticroots,andassuchanticipatesmodernismAestheticMovement:ArtforArt’sSakeAstherepresentative,Wildeadvocatestheartificialityofart,claiming“thereisnosuchthingasamoraloranimmoralbook.Booksarewellwritten,orbadlywritten.That’sall.”Accordingtohim,artisindependentoflife.Artisnotthereflectionofnaturebutrathernatureiscreatedbyart.Herejectedassociatingliteraturewithmorality,whilepraisingByronasafighter-poetandShellyforhisrebellionagainstthehypocriticalEnglishsociety.DorianGrayWilde’sfirstandonlynovel.Writtenover100yearsago(1891)OpenedtomuchcriticismUltimately,wasverysuccessfulSomanycurrentthemes:sinandredemptionhedonismloveandmarriagefriendshipyouthandbeautyGossipinfluence/manipulationart(then-paintings,opera;now-films,music,etc.)Basedonrevelationsaboutevilinhumanity,pleasuresofevilanddestructivenessofevil.MajorCharacterEdward-ThepainterLordHenry-DorianGray’sFriendDorianGray-TheActressActress’brotherSemi-autobiographical

QuoteIhavenothingtodeclareexceptmygenius.Experienceissimplythenamewegiveourmistakes.Amancanbehappywithanywomanaslongashedoesnotloveher.BernardShawLifeStoryBorninDublin,IrelandIn1876,ShawwenttoLondon,becameinterestedinsocialism,joinedtheFabianSocietyin1884.In1892,startedcareerasadramatist.Inthe30s,visitedSovietUnionandChinaIn1925,acceptedtheNobelPrize.Wrote51playsallhislife.10/10/202366MajorWorksArmsandtheMan，1894《武器与人》Mrs.Warren'sProfession1898《华伦夫人旳职业》ManandSuperman1903《人与超人》JohnBull‘sOtherIsland,1904）《英国佬旳另一种岛》MajorBarbara,1905《巴巴拉少校》Pygmalion,1913《皮格马利翁》SaintJoan,1924《圣女贞德》PygmalionARomanceinFiveActs(1912)inwhichProfessorofphoneticsHenryHigginsmakesabetthathecantrainabedraggledCockneyflowergirl,ElizaDoolittle,topassforaduchessatanambassador'sgardenpartybyteachinghertoassumeaveneerofgentility,themostimportantelementofwhich,hebelieves,isimpeccablespeech.

Settings&TimePeriod,

Settings:CoventGarden,Londonin professorHiggin'slaboratory,Mrs.Higgin'slivingroom,andafancyhighsocietyparty.TimePeriod:Earlytwentiethcentury.

Characters

ProfessorHenryHiggins

-

HenryHigginsisaprofessorofphonetics;ElizaDoolittle-theheroine,

asassy,smart-mouthedkerbstoneflowergirlwithdeplorableEnglish

ColonelPickering

-

theauthorofSpokenSanskrit,isamatchforHigginsinhispassionforphonetics.AlfredDoolittle

-

AlfredDoolittleisEliza'sfather,anelderlybutvigorousdustmanwhohashadatleastsixwives

Mrs.Higgins

-

ProfessorHiggins'mother,FreddyEynsfordHill-ayoung,viablemarriageoptionforEliza,PygmalionEffect（皮革马利翁效应） ThePygmalionEffectisthatpeopletendtobehaveasyouexpecttheywill.Ifyouexpectapersontotakeresponsibility,theyprobablywill.Ifyouexpectthemnottoeventry,theyprobablywon’t.QuoteofBernardShaw

Iwasbornintelligent-educationruinedme.

Practicemakesperfect.....Butnobodysperfect......sowhypractice?

Everymanshouldmarry.Afterall,happinessisnottheonlythinginlife."Yourfuturedependsonyourdreams."Sogotosleep.CommentsonBernardShaw’sWorksSocialcriticismcharacterizesalmostallhisfifty-oneplays.Shawisgoodatraisingquestionsoversocialissueswithoutattemptingtoprovidesolutions.CommentsonBernardShawAvisionaryandmysticwhosephilosophyofmoralpassionpermeateshisplays,ShawwasalsothemosttrenchantpamphleteersinceSwift;ThemostreadablemusiccriticinEnglish;thebesttheatrecriticofhisgeneration;Aprodigiouslecturerandessayistonpolitics,economics,andsociologicalsubjects;Oneofthemostprolificletterwritersinliterature.HisvisittoChina萧伯纳和鲁迅，宋庆龄等合影WilliamMakepeaceThackeray

1811-1863

LifeStoryBorninIndianin1811andmovedtoEnglandatsix.StudiedatCambridge,butleftwithouttakingadegree.WentbankruptcyduetothefailureofIndianbankandhadtoworkajournalistforaliving.TheSnobsofEnglandpublishedin1846-1847Twohistoricalnovels,HenryEsmond(1852)andTheVirginians(1859)published,whichlEnglishjournalist,novelist,famousforhisnovel“VanityFair”.Thackeraystudiedinasatiricalandmoralisticupperandmiddle-classEnglishlife.HewasonceseenastheequalofhiscontemporaryDickens,orevenashissuperior.“VanityFair”:masterpieceonsocialcriticism“TheBookofSnobs”“Pendenis”“TheNewcomes”historicalNovels“HenryEsmond”“TheVirginians”

“VanityFair,orANovelWithoutaHero"1.introduction:thetitleoriginatesfromthe“ThePilgrim'sProgress”byJohnBunyan,setatthetimeoftheNapoleonicwars

“VanityFair”establishedThackeray'sfamepermanently.SetinthetimejustbeforeandaftertheBattleofWaterloo,thisnoveldepartedfromconventioninhavingnoheroorheroineandnoplotintheconventionalsense.Itisaportraitofsocietycenteredonthreefamiliesinterrelatedbyacquaintanceandmarriage,theeventsofwhoselivesareorganizedbythebroadmovementoftime.2.majorcharacters

AmeliaDobbinGeorgeOsborne

BeckySharpJosephCrawleyRments(1)＊sub-title(ANovelwithoutaHero):thenovelisconcernednotwithindividualheroesbutwiththesocietyasawholethecharactersareallflawedtoagreaterorlesserdegree;eventhemostsympathetichaveweaknesses

＊ThistendencyofThackeray'stoemphasizefaultsinallofhischaractersdisplayshisdesireforagreaterlevelofrealisminhisfictioncomparedtotheratherunlikelyoridealizedpeopleinmanycontemporarynovels.＊ThehumanweaknessesThackerayillustratesaremostlytodowith

greed,idleness,snobbery,thescheming,deceitandhypocrisy.Butnoneofthecharactersarewhollyevil.

EvenBecky,whoisimmoralandcunning,isthrownonherownresourcesbypovertyandsocialprejudice.(2)characterization:＊Amelia:conventionalheroine:good,passive,sentimental,self-sacrificing,gentle,tender,andloving,submittofate＊BeckySharp:tricky,resourceful,practicalandcapable.Bornwithnoadvantages,inasocietythatvaluesrankandwealth,Beckymakesherwaytothehighestlevelsofsocietythroughherownbeauty,intelligence,hardwork,andtalent.

sheconstantlymanipulatesothers,shelies,shecheats,shesteals,shebetraysAmelia,andperhapssheevencommitsamurder.★

Botharetypicalwomeninabourgeoissociety,behaveinsharplydifferentways,botharevictimsofthatsociety＊Dobbin:good,honest,helpful,self-sacrifice,ductofhisageandthemoralityofbourgeoissociety.(3)theme:struggleformoneyandsocialstatuswitheverymeans,byeverybodyagainsteverybodyelseamongtheupperclasses

(4)limitation:satireofsocietycharacterizedbyhypocrisyandopportunism,butnotareformingnovel:nosuggestionthatsocialorpoliticalchangescouldimprovethenatureofsociety.

(5)“VanityFair”wasaturningpointinThackeray'slifeandcareer.Thesuccessof“VanityFair”quicklyestablishedThackeray'sliteraryreputation.CommentonThackeraymostoftencomparedtoCharlesDickens.DuringtheVictorianera,hewasrankedsecondonlytoDickens,butheisnowmuchlessread.AlfredTennyson

1809-1892

ThemostfamouspoetoftheVictorianage,aprofoundspokesmanfortheideasandvaluesofhistimes.1.

Arthuriantheme“TheLadyofShalott”“Morted’Arthur”“IdyllsOfTheKing”:long2.Odessey:influenceofSpenser“TheLotos-Eaters”“Ulysses”:blankverse3.deathofArthurHallam“Break,Break,Break”“InMemoriam”4.typicalVictorianviews“TheTwoVoices”:strugglebetweenpessimismandoptimism,skepticismandfaith“TheVisionofSin”:puritanviewagainstpleasure-seeking5.socialinequalityforwomen:inferioritytomen“Dora”“LocksleyHall”