英国文学史_The_Victorian_Period_(2)

TheVictorianPeriod(2)VictorianNovelsInmorethanonesense,theVictorianperiodwasanageofthenovel.Thenovelbecamenaturallythemostpopularformofalltheliteraryart.ItsthreemajorphasesofgrowthTheearlyphase(fromthe1830stothemiddleofthecentury)1.Englishsocietybegantofeeltheimpactofchangebutstillmanagedtokeeptheoldvaluesintact.2.Industrializationandcapitalismhadbeguntobringwretchednessintothecountry,butlifehadnotbecometotallyimpossible.3.Writerswerebasicallyoptimistic.Theywereawareofmodernills,butstillwrotewiththenotionthattheworldwasbasicallygoodandcouldbecamebetter.4.arepresentativeauthor:CharlesDickens(1812-1870)ThemidorHighVictorianphase(the1870s)1.Thecountryhadchangedfromanagriculturaltoanindustrialnation.2.Lifeimproved,problemsappearedwiththeprogressofcivilization,mindsbecameconfusedasaresultofDarwinism,andcrisesofdifferentdimensionswererightdowntheroad.3.Thiswasaperiodofdichotomyandhighcomplexity.4.Writersdealtwithitwithsubtledexterity.5.arepresentativeauthor:GeorgeEliot(1819-1880)Thelaterphase(fromthelate1880sonward):1.Dramaticchangeshadoccurred.2.WhathadappearedinDickensandGeorgeEliotasasilhouetteoftheimpendingcrisisbecamedazzlinglysharpinthevisionoflaternovelists.3.ManbecameinsignificantinaworldcoldandindifferentandprobablyGodless.4.Manwasimpotentinfaceoftheoverwhelmingoddsoffateandstruggledinvainforsurvival.5.Whatwasinstoreformanwasfrustrationanddespair.6.Theageofnaturalismhadarrived.7.arepresentativeauthor:ThomasHardy(1840-1928)Somesalientfeaturesincommon1.Thealltrytoteachaswellastoentertain.2.Theyareessentiallyurban,reflectingthevaluesofthemiddleclass.3.Theyhavethepatternofspiritualconversionbuiltintotheirtextualfabric,exhibitastrongsenseofhistory,andseehomeandmarriageassacred.4.AllgreatVictoriannovelsfollowthemoralstandard:Goodtriumphsoverevil,goodispraised,andbadcastigated(thoughWutheringHeightsisnotexactlyinkeepingwiththispattern).5.DespitedeparturessuchasDickens’occasionalromanticandhalf-surrealistmethod,socialrealismremainstheVictoriannovelists’predominantmodeofrepresentationoflife.6.ThemainpointofviewemployedinVictoriannovelsisthethird-personomniscient,theunlimitedvisionofwhichhelpstopaintthebroadcanvasoflife.SomeVictorianNovelistsCharlesDickens(1812-1870)1.thefirsttoachievefame2.aprolificwriter:20-oddnovelsandthehostofhisotherwritings3.hiseffectonthereaders:theyfeelinstantlythattheyareinthepresenceofgreatness4.Dickens’writingcareer:3stagesA.thefirststage:theperiodofyouthfuloptimism(1833-1841)a.PickwickPapers,1836《匹克威克外传》b.OliverTwist,1837-1838《雾都孤儿》c.NicholasNickleby,1838-1839《尼古拉斯·尼克尔贝》d.TheOldCuriosityShop,1840-1841《老古玩店》e.BarnabyRudge,1841《巴纳比·拉奇》B.thesecondstage:theperiodofexcitementandirritation(1842-1850)a.DombeyandSon,1847-1848《董贝父子》b.DavidCopperfield,1849-1850《大卫·科波菲尔》hissemi-autobiography;C.thethirdstage:theperiodofsteadilyintensifyingpessimism(1851-1870)a.BleakHouse,1852-1853《凄凉院》b.HardTimes,1854《艰难时世》c.LittleDorrit,1855-1857《小杜丽》d.ATaleofTwoCities,1859《双城记》e.GreatExpectation,1860-1861《远大前程》f.OurMutualFriend,1864-1865《我们共同的朋友》g.EdwinDrood,1870《艾德温德鲁特》5.Dickens’featuresofwritingA.basicallyoptimisticinthefirsttwostagesa.ThesystemwastoDickensgoodandcapableofbecomingbetter.b.Heseemedtohavefaithinthecharitablespiritofhumanbeings,andportrayedbenevolentcharacterswithwarmthandenthusiasm.B.moreandmoregloomyandpessimisticinthethirdstagea.Man’scrueltytohisfellowcreaturesmadehimfeelverybad.b.Hethinkshisgenerationasawickedone.c.Hewassorelyfrustratedandevendespairedtoseethecountryheadingtowardsomeominousdirection.d.Hepaintedasocialpicturedisconcertinglydismalandagonizing.C.hisprovince:thewholeofEnglishsocietyofhistimea.Itisaworldthrongedwiththediversespecimensofhumanity.b.Itisaworldwherethereaderscangetabird’s-eyeviewofthepanoramaofEnglishlifethen.D.essentiallyanintuitiveartistSpontaneitywashistrademark.Heneverlostthisprimalqualityofhiscreativegenius.Generally,hisearlyworksweremorespontaneousthanhislaterones.E.basicallycomicHishumorhastodowithhishappynatureandhisoptimisticoutlookonlifeandsociety.a.thegrotesqueeffectThegrotesqueissomethingoddandfantasticthatattractsandamazesbyvirtueofitsout-of-ordinariness.Manyofhischaractersappearlikecaricatures;insuchcasestheevilisallevilwhilethegoodisallgood.b.themelodramaticeffectThemelodramaisadramaticformofhappyandboisterousfarce,normallyemployedtoproducelaughterandrelievetheheavinessofthemainplot.Hisuniquemanipulationofplot,masking,anddisguisedidentitiesallconspiretogivehisworksanexceptionallycharmingmelodramaticeffect.F.highlycriticalofhisagea.Socialcriticismisahallmarkofallhisworks.b.Heissupremelyhumanandkeenlysensitivetotheproblemsofhisageandtheplightofhispeople.c.HespearheadshisbitingattackstowardEnglishlawandtheprisonsystem.d.fortheillsoftheBritishparliamentarysystemandtheelectionsandrepresentativegovernment,hehasnothingbutcontempt.e.Hehasnofaithandtrustinphilanthropyandevangelicalreligionorinanyorganizedsocialreform.f.Hestandsforeveronthesideofthepoorandfeelsadamantaboutthejustandrighteousnatureoftheirstrugglesforsurvival.6.Nomatterhowextensiv