JOHN-STEINBACK

JOHNSTEINBACKTheGrapesofWrath---周艳林Content•Author•Literaryworks•Evaluation•TheGrapesofWrathJohnSteinbeck(1902—1968)•1902borninSalinas,California•ReadwidelyespeciallyinEnglishclassicalliterature•Hisdifferentworkingexperiencesprovidedmaterialsformanyofhisnovelsandmayalsoaccountforwhyhewrotesympatheticallyaboutcommonpeople.•1920enrolledinStanfordUniversitybutleftearlybeforehecouldgethisdegree•1925wenttoNewYork•1925returnedtoCaliforniaandstartedhiscareer.•1935wonhisfirstliteraryprize•Publishinghismasterpiece“TheGrapesofWrath”in1939•1940thePulitzerprize•1943,SteinbeckservedasaWWIIwarcorrespondent.•1962NobelPrizeforliterature•1967wenttoVietnam•1968DiedofheartdiseaseinNewYorkAwardsCommonwealthClubofCaliforniaGoldMedalforBestNovelforTortillaFlatandInDubiousBattlein1935and1936.NewYorkDramaCriticsAwardforOfMiceandMenin1938PulitzerPrizeforTheGrapesofWrathin1940In1962,hewasawardedtheNobelPrizeforLiteratureforhis“realisticandimaginativewriting,combiningasitdoessympathetichumorandkeensocialperception.”“通过现实主义的、寓于想象的创作，表现出富于同情的幽默和对社会的敏感观察”1964,hewasdecoratedwiththeUnitedStatesMedalofFreedomandPressMedalofFreedom.Majorworks•CupofGold(1929)《金杯》—hisfirstbook•TortillaFlat(1935)《煎饼坪》—animmediatesuccessuponitspublication•Aseriesof“CaliforniaNovels”—Dustbowltrilogy▫InDubiousBattle(1936)《胜负未定》—hismost“proletarian”(无产阶级)novelofclassstruggle.▫OfMiceandMan(1937)《人鼠之间》▫TheGrapesofWrath(1939)《愤怒的葡萄》Literatureworks•PasturesofHeaven(1932)《天堂牧场》•TheRedPony(1933)《小红马》•ToaGodUnknown(1933)《大地的象征》•TheLongValley(1938)—acollectionof12shortstoriessetinSalinasValley.•TheMoonIsDown(1942)《月亮下去了》•Thepearl(1947)《珍珠》•EastofEden(1952)《伊甸之东》•TravelswithCharley(1962)《与查理一起旅行》Evaluation•InspiredbytheterrainofhisnorthernCaliforniabackground,Steinbecksethisfictioninruralareas.Believingthatthewriter’sfirstdutywasto“setdownhistimeasnearlyashecanunderstandit”andtoservedas“thewatch-dogofsociety…tosatirizetheoppressed,who,thoughtrappedinanunfairworld,remainsympatheticandheroichumanbeingsandshowaquietdignitywhilefacinguptoabominablechallengespresentedbyexternalforcessuchasnature,society,andfate.•Steinbeck'sfictioncombinesrealismandromance.Hisapproachissometimeslyricandmystical,sometimesrealisticandsociological.Withnaturalistandsymbolisttechniques,hislyricprosevividlycatchesthequalitiesofthespeechofhischaracterstodepicttheirplightsandexpresscompassion,andadmirationinresponsetotheirsufferings.Despitesomeperiodofadversecriticism,particularlyintheUnitedStated,SteinbeckhasbeenpopularandesteemedinEuropeandremainedamajorliteraryfiguresincethe1930s.Writingstyle•Poeticprose(诗性语言)•Metaphoricallanguages•Regionaldialect•Characteristics:manytypesofcharactersratherthanindividuals•Symbolicthemes•focus:speakingforthepoverty-strickenandoppressedpeople•ReferencetotheBible(圣经引用)AnalysisofTheGrapesofWrath•Background•Sourceofthetitle•Introductionofthestory•Majorcharacters•Writingtechniques•ThemesSocialbackground•1.Aperiodofeconomicdisasterandphysicalwasteland▫Duringtheearly1930s,aseveredroughtledtoamassiveagriculturalfailureinpartsofthesouthernGreatPlains,particularthroughoutwesternOklahomaandtheTexaspanhandle.•2.TheGreatDepression(Oct.24.1929)Majorfeaturesofthe1930s’literature•Content▫Socialinvolvementandconcernaboutthesociety.•Technique:▫Therevivalofnaturalismandrealisminadditiontotheinfluenceofmodernism.TheGrapesofWrath•ThestoryofthemigrationofadispossessedfamilyfromtheOklahomaDustBowltoCaliforniaandtheirsubsequentexploitationbyruthlesssystemofagriculturaleconomics.•Itwasthelastofhisnaturalisticnovelsofthe1930swithproletarianthemes.Intheseworks,therichsymbolicstructures,effectivelyconveythemythopoeic(诗性智慧)andsymbolicqualitiesofhischaracters.Thesourceofthetitle•ItisfromawarsongoftheCivilWar,“TheBattleHymnoftheRepublic”《共和国的战斗赞美诗》：▫MineeyeshaveseenthegloryofthecomingoftheLord;▫Heistrampingoutthevintagewherethegrapesofwratharestored;▫我已看见伴随上帝降临时所带来的荣耀光芒，▫他正在踩踏摧毁储藏盛怒葡萄的地方;MajorcharactersGrandpaJoadGrandmaJoadJohnJoadMaJoadPaJoadTomJoadJimCasyNoahJoadAlJoadRoseofSharonConnieRiverRuthieJoadMajorcharacters•TomJoad—theprotagonistofthestory.(II)•Dissolute•Reckless•Aggressive•individualisticEgotist(利己主义者)•Family-oriented•Caring•Revolted•devotedAltruist(利他主义者)Maincharacters•JimCasy—aradicalphilosopher,amotivatorandunifierofmen,andamartyr(殉道者)SkilledRespectableskepticalSelflessDetermineddedicatedpreacherProletarianleaderMaincharacters•RoseofSharonA“hoyden”-ahighspiritedandsaucygirlAsecretiveandmysteriouswomanChildishanddreamyteenagedaughterwhodevelopsasthenovelProgressestobecomeamaturewoman.Shesymbolizesregrowthwhenshehelpsthestarvingstranger.Writingtechnique•Motifs•Symbols•Flashback•Dramaticdescription•Slangandmetaphor•Rhythmedlanguage(节奏感语言)Motifs•Motifsarerecurringstructures,contrast,orliterarydevicesthathassymbolicsignificanceinastoryandcanhelptodevelopandinformthetext’smajorthemes.TheimprovisedleadershipstructureGrandpaMaJoadThewomenfigureThisrevolutionparallelsasimilarupheavalinlargereconomichierarchies.TheworkersattheWeedpatchcampgovernthemselvesandsharetasksaccordingtotheirownr